The Morton Arb

Selection guide

Use the pulldowns below to find information about trees or shrubs

or

or

or

plant_clinic_hours

Container gardens & Spring bedding at The Morton Arboretum

Seasonal
Creations

Download a list of plants that can be found in our Container Gardens and Display Beds.

Subscribe NOW to our online newsletter

Use our Interactive Collections Map and our Plant Collections Map to identify where plants are located on our grounds.

Dig deeper. Take a class. Sign up now!

Search tree & plant advice

Articles tagged shrubs

  • Intermediate Sized Evergreens (6-20 feet)

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: shrubs, Intermediate-Sized Evergreens, Evergreens, tree selection
    Growing 6-20 feet tall, they retain foliage year-round, and soften structural edges around foundations, under windows, at corners, or against walls. Like mid-sized shrubs, they create structure and depth in mixed plantings, and provide backdrop for...

  • Low Growing Evergreens (generally less than 6 feet)

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: shrubs, Low Growing Evergreens, Evergreens, tree selection
    Generally growing less than 6 feet, these shrubs screen unwanted objects and views all year, can be used to stabilize slopes or embankments, and add color to winter landscapes. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from mounded to upright to...

  • Intermediate Sized Deciduous Shrubs (5-8 feet)

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: Lilac, Intermediate Sized, Deciduous, shrubs, Viburnum, Weigela
    Intermediate-sized Deciduous Shrubs for the Home Landscape Generally grow 5-8 feet tall Plants with multiple stems arising from a common crown at ground level or single-stemmed plants that begin branching at a point near the ground Lose their...

  • Large Deciduous Shrubs (over 8 feet)

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: Large Deciduous Shrubs, shrubs
    Large Deciduous Shrubs for the Home Landscape Generally grow 8 feet and taller Plants with multiple stems arising from a common crown at ground level, or single-stemmed plants that begin branching at a point near the ground Lose their leaves in...

  • Low Growing Deciduous Shrubs (under 5 feet)

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: shrubs, Deciduous, Low growing shrubs
    Generally grow up to 5 feet tall, easy to maintain in proper scale  Essentially, a low-growing woody plant that branches at its base Lose their leaves in fall (deciduous) Recommended for the Midwest on the basis of ornamental value,...

  • Preventing or Reducing Fruit on Ornamental Trees and Shrubs

    | Category: Tree & Plant Care | Tags: Ornamental Trees, shrubs
    “Nuisance fruit” is a concern for many people including homeowners, landscapers, and park and city officials. The fruits and seeds of some trees and shrubs, such as buckthorn, mulberry, persimmon, and (female) ginkgo are...

  • Planting Trees and Shrubs

    | Category: Tree & Plant Care | Tags: Transplanting Trees, shrubs
    Trees can be obtained from the nursery in many forms—bare root, container-grown, balled and burlapped, or dug by tree spade. Transplanting can be successful with all forms. Always put extra effort into the planting process to ensure a good start...

  • Native Shrubs of the Midwest

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: Midwest, shrubs, native
    A native plant is considered to be a species that existed in the Midwest prior to the arrival of European settlers, as opposed to a naturalized plant, which has been introduced into a new habitat by human influence. Native shrubs are part of the...

  • Invasive Trees, Shrubs, and Vines

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: shrubs, Invasive Trees
    Identifying Invasive Plants When settlers began gardening, they had a constant struggle to keep the natural ecosystem from invading and overwhelming their small cultivated patches. Today, humans have so altered the Midwest landscape that the...

  • Low-Growing Evergreen Shrubs

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: Evergreens, shrubs
    The fine-textured foliage and formal silhouette of Buxus 'Glencoe', Chicagoland Green™ boxwood, offers an important year-round structural element to any landscape Generally grow less than 4 feet tall Include cone-bearing plants with...

  • Snow Queen Oak-leaved Hydrangea

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: Intermediate Sized, Hydrangea, shrubs
    Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'Common Name: Snow Queen Oak-leaved Hydrangea Updated 7/2012 form bark flower fall color Click image to enlarge Height: 4-6' Spread: 4-6' Habit/Form: Compact and...

  • Oak-leaf Hydrangea

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: Four Season Landscape, Hydrangea, Intermediate Sized, shrubs
    Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifoliaCommon Name: Oak-leaf Hydrangea Updated 6/2012 form fall color Click image to enlargeHeight: 4-6'(8') Spread: 4-6' Habit/Form: Upright mounded  Growth Rate: Slow to medium  Zone:...

  • Brilliant Red Chokeberry

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: shrubs, Intermediate Sized
    Botanical Name:  Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'Common Name:  Brilliant Red Chokeberry Updated 2/2012 Click on an image to enlarge flowers form fruit Height:  6-8'  Spread: ...

  • Butterfly bush

    | Category: Tree & Plant Selection | Tags: shrubs, Intermediate Sized, butterfly, Butterflies
    Botanical Name:  Buddleia davidiiCommon Name: Butterfly Bush Updated 2/2012 'White Profusion' form 'Royal Red' flower Click an image to enlarge Height: 6-8'  Spread: 5-8' Habit/Form: Upright spreading Growth...