Large Deciduous Shrubs (over 8 feet)
Tagged as: 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 fall (deciduous)
- Recommended on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems
USES IN THE LANDSCAPE
- Create privacy or a sense of enclosure
- Define boundaries
- Screen unwanted views
- Provide seasonal interest with flowers, colorful fruits, nuts, seedpods, fall color, stem and bark color, texture, and form
- Muffle noise
- Provide a focal point in the landscape
- Create structure or "bones" in a mixed border
- Provide a backdrop against which other plants can be highlighted
RECOMMENDED LARGE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS
(OVER 8 FEET TALL)
| BOTANICAL NAME | COMMON NAME | HEIGHT | SPREAD | FORM | RATE | ZONE | CULTURAL/COMMENTS |
Aesculus parviflora  |
Bottlebrush Buckeye | 8-12' | 12-15' | Spreading | S | 4-8 | Best in shade; well-drained soil intolerant of drought; attractive spiked flowers in early July; yellow fall color |
|
Amelanchier canadensis 'Prince William'
|
Prince William Canada Serviceberry | 8-10' | 5-6' | Upright Oval | S-M | 4-9 | Part shade in a moist, well drained soil; mulch roots well. |
| Aralia elata 'Variegata' |
Variegated Angelica-Tree | 15' | 20' | Upright | S | 4-9 | Cream-edged foliage; remove unwanted suckers |
| Aralia spinosa |
Devil's Walking Stick | 10-20' | 10-20' | Erect thicket | S | 4-9 | Sun; urban tolerant; coarse textured; spiny; attractive flowers and fruit |
| Chionanthus virginicus |
Fringe Tree | 12-20' | 10-20' | Spreading | S | 4-9 | Sun to part shade; moist soil; slow growing small tree or large shrub; fragrant flowers; salt tolerant; bluish fruit on female plants |
| Cornus alternifolia |
Pagoda Dogwood | 15-25' | 20-35' | Spreading | S | 3-7 | Sun to part shade; cool, well-drained soil; large shrub or small tree with broad, horizontal branching; spring transplant; native in Midwest |
| Cornus racemosa |
Gray Dogwood | 10-15' | 10-15' | Erect suckering | S | 3-8 | Sun or shade; tolerant of wet or dry soils; good for dry shade; fruits attract birds, good for naturalizing |
| Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' (syn. 'Winter Flame') |
Midwinter Fire Blood-Twigged Dogwood | 8-10' | 8-10' | Rounded | F | 2-7 | Full sun to part shade; adaptable to soil pH; wet to moist soils |
| Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (stolonifera) |
Red-Osier Dogwood | 7-9' | Up to 10' | Spreading | F | 2-7 | Sun; adaptable to soil extremes but best in wet, moist soils; attractive red stems in winter |
| Cornus stolonifera var. baileyi |
Bailey Red-Osier Dogwood | 6-9 | 6-9' | Erect | F | 3-9 | Less spreading form; purple-red fall color |
| Cornus stolonifera 'Cardinal' |
Cardinal Red-Osier Dogwood | 6-9' | 6-9' | Spreading | F | 3-9 | Coral-red stems in winter; resistant to leaf spot |
| Cotinus coggygria |
Smoke Tree | 10-15' | 10-15' | Upright | M | 5-8 | Sun; intolerant of poor drainage; prefers dry gravelly soil; small tree to large shrub; plume-like flowers appear as puffs of smoke; red-purple fall color; susceptible to verticillium wilt |
| Cotinus coggygria 'Daydream' |
Daydream Eurasian Smoke Tree | 15-18' | 10-15' | Upright | M | 5-8 | Dense habit; blue-green leaves; persistent flowers produce 'smoke' effect |
| Cotinus coggygria 'Nordine' |
Nordine Smoke Tree | 8-10' | 10-12' | Upright spreading | M | 5-8 | Hardiest of purple forms; selected from The Morton Arboretum collections |
| Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' |
Royal Purple Smoke Tree | 8-10' | 10-12' | Open and spreading | M | 5-8 | Part shade, well-drained soil, adaptable to dry soils, avoid wet soils |
| Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak' |
Velvet Cloak Smoke Tree | 8-10' | 10-12' | Open, upright, spreading | M | 5-8 | Part shade, well-drained soil, may suffer some dieback in winter |
| Cotoneaster multiflora |
Many-flowered Cotoneaster | 8-12' | 10-15' | Mounded | M | 4-7 | Full sun; well drained soil; very wide spreading; showy red fruit |
| Euonymus atropurpureus |
Eastern Wahoo | 12-20' | 10-20' | Upright to flat-topped | M-F | 4-9 | Sun to shade; prefers moist soil; native small tree or large shrub; excellent pink fall color |
| Euonymus europaeus |
Spindle Tree | 12-25' | 10-20' | Upright | M-F | 4-7 | Sun; tolerates dry soil; urban tolerant; attractive fruit; seedlings can be weedy |
| Euonymus europaeus 'Redcap' |
Redcap Spindle Tree | 12-25' | 10-20' | Rounded | M | 4-7 | Numerous bright red fruits |
| Hamamelis mollis 'Brevipetala' |
Brevipetala Witch-Hazel | 8-10' | 8-10' | Upright in youth/rounded to vase-shaped with age | M | 5-8 | Full sun to part shade; organic, rich, well-drained soil |
| Hamamelis vernalis |
Vernal Witch-hazel |
6-10' | 10-15' | Rounded to spreading | M | 4-8 | Sun to dense shade; well drained soil; pH adaptable; yellow bronze flowers in late February; native in Midwest |
| Hamamelis virginiana |
Common Witch-hazel | 20-30' | 15-20' | Rounded to spreading | M | 3-8 | Full sun to shade; prefers moist, well-drained soil; avoid dry conditions; yellow flowers late October to December |
| Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' |
Arnold Promise Hybrid Witch-Hazel | 12-15' | 12-15' | Vase-shaped | M | 5-8 | Full sun to part shade; in organic, rich, well-drained soil |
| Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' |
Diane Hybrid Witch-Hazel | 8-12' | 10-15' | Spreading | M | 5-9 | Full sun to part shade; organic, rich, well-drained soil |
| Heptacodium miconioides |
Seven-Son Flower | 15-20' | 8-12' | Upright | F | 5-8 | Sun to part shade; moist, well-drained organic soil; open, loose habit; exfoliating bark; cluster of white flowers in late August followed by red bracts |
| Hydrangea paniculata * |
Panicle Hydrangea | 10-20' | 10-15' | Upright to spreading | F | 3-8 | Full sun to part shade; prefers moist soil; pyramidal-shaped white flowers in late July fading pink; then brown; urban tolerant |
| Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' * |
PeeGee Hydrangea | 10-20' | 10-15' | Rounded to spreading | F | 3-8 | Large (6-8") white, sterile flowers fading to pink; most common form |
| Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva' * |
Tardiva Panicled Hydrangea | 10-15' | 10-15' | Upright to spreading | F | 3-8 | Late summer flowering, more open and wider at base of flowers |
| Hydrangea paniculata 'Unique' * |
Unique Panicled Hydrangea | 10-15' | 10-15' | Upright to spreading | F | 3-8 | Large white flowers, borne in profusion; strong stems |
| Ilex decidua |
Possum-haw | 7-15' | 10-15' | Spreading, suckering | M | 5-9 | Sun; tolerant of wet soil; glossy foliage; showy red fruit on female plants (male plants required for fruiting); yellow fall color |
| Kolkwitzia amabilis |
Beauty Bush | 6-15' | 5-10' | Upright | F | 4-8 | Sun to part shade; tolerates drought; attractive pink flowers; exfoliating bark on older stems |
| Lindera benzoin |
Spicebush | 6-12' | 6-12' | Oval | S/M | 4-9 | Shade; best in moist well-drained soil; early yellow flowers; bright red fruit on female plants; native in Midwest |
| Prunus tomentosa |
Nanking Cherry | 6-10' | 10-15' | Rounded to spreading | M-F | 3-6(7) | Full sun; tolerates dry soil; reddish-brown exfoliating bark; early, fragrant white flowers; attractive, edible red fruits |
| Prunus triloba |
Flowering Almond | 12-15' | 12-15' | Rounded | M | 3-6(7) | Full sun; well-drained soil; tree-like; early, double pink flowers |
| Rhus copallina |
Shining Sumac | 10-20' | 15-20' | Suckering | F | 4-9 | Full sun; tolerates dry soil; glossy foliage; crimson and scarlet fall color; native, best for naturalizing |
| Rhus glabra |
Smooth Sumac | 10-15' | 10-15' | Suckering | F | 3-9 | Full sun tolerates dry soil; good on slopes or naturalizing; orange-red-yellow fall color; native in Midwest |
| Rhus typhina |
Staghorn Sumac | 15-25' | 15-30' | Suckering | F | 4-8 | Full sun; tolerates dry soil; velvety stems; attractive crimson fruit; tolerates salt; good for naturalizing |
| Rhus typhina 'Laciniata' |
Cut-leaved Sumac | 15-20' | 15-20' | Upright, suckering | F | 4-8 | Similar to above; fine-textured ferny foliage; irregular form |
| Staphylea trifolia |
American Bladdernut | 10-15' | 6-12' | Upright | M/F | 4-8 | Shade; moist, well-drained soil; interesting bladder-like fruits; native in Midwest |
| Syringa x chinensis |
Chinese Lilac | 8-15' | 8-15' | Vase | S/M | 3-7 | Full sun; tolerates dry, alkaline soils; purple-lilac flowers; smaller and more refined than common lilac |
| Syringa vulgaris |
Common Lilac | 8-15' | 6-12' | Upright | M | 3-7 | Full sun; well-drained soil; neutral pH; fragrant flowers in various colors; prune old wood; many cultivars available; susceptible to pest and disease problems |
| Viburnum dentatum ** |
Arrowwood Viburnum | 8-15' | 6-15' | Rounded to vase | M | 3-8 | Sun or shade; moist soil; white, flat-topped flowers; small, ink blue fruit attract birds; suckers freely |
| Viburnum dentatum 'Morton' ** |
Northern Burgundy™ | 10-12' | Upright | M | 3-8 | Dense form; burgundy fall color; Chicagoland Grows introduction | |
| Viburnum dentatum 'Ralph Senior'** |
Autumn Jazz™ | 8-10' | 6-8' | Vase | M | 3-8 | More compact; excellent yellow-orange-red-burgundy fall color; Chicagoland Grows introduction |
| Viburnum dentatum 'Synnestvedt' ** |
Chicago Lustre™ | 8-10' | 8-10' | Rounded | M | 3-8 | Lustrous, green foliage; late reddish-purple fall color; Chicagoland Grows introduction |
| Viburnum lantana ** |
Wayfaring Tree | 10-15' | 10-15' | Upright | M | 4-7 | Full sun or part shade; prefers well-drained soil; tolerant of dry soil; pest problems may limit use |
| Viburnum lantana 'Mohican'** |
Mohican Wayfaring Tree | 7-10' | 6-9' | Upright | M | 4-7 | USDA selection; better form and showier orange-red fruit, but need cross pollination, plant in mass for good fruit set |
| Viburnum lentago ** |
Nannyberry | 15-20' | 10-15' | Upright | M | 3-7 | Sun or shade; moist or dry soil; shrub or small tree; often leggy; white, flat-topped flowers; good for naturalizing |
| Viburnum prunifolium** |
Black Haw Viburnum | 12-15' | 8-12' | Spreading tree-like | S/M | 3-9 | Sun or shade; tolerates dry soil; attractive horizontal branching; reddish-purple fall color |
| Viburnum trilobum** |
American Cranberrybush Viburnum | 8-12' | 8-12' | Upright to Rounded | M | 2-7 | Sun or shade; moist soil; drought tolerant; lacy white flowers; red fruit; susceptible to borer problems |
| Viburnum trilobum 'Hahs' ** |
Hahs Cranberrybush Viburnum | 6-8' | 6-8' | Upright to rounded | M | 2-7 | Large, heavy fruiting selection |
| Viburnum trilobum 'J.N. Select' **
|
Redwing | 6-8' | 6-8' | Upright to rounded | M | 2-7 | Reddish leaves; excellent fruit and flowers, Chicagoland Grows introduction |
|
*For a list of additional hydrangeas, see our leaflet Hydrangeas |
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Key to Growth Rate:
F = Fast (more than 12 inches per year)
M = Medium (6-12 inches per year)
S = Slow (Less than 6 inches per year)
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
- Ultimate size. If your site is limited by overhangs, proximity to walks, driveways, patios and buildings or by surrounding plantings, keep in mind the ultimate height and width of the plant you're selecting. Shrubs can be long-lived and expensive or difficult to remove if they outgrow their location. Or, they can require constant pruning to maintain a desired size. You'll save yourself time, effort, and expense by selecting a shrub whose mature size suits the site.
- Maintenance. Large shrubs can offer seasonal interest with highly colored or textured stems, fruits, nuts, and seedpods. However, these can also be messy. Consider these factors when you're planting a large shrub near patios, walkways, entries, and driveways.
- Shape. Deciduous shrubs can have a variety of shapes: columnar, pyramidal, round, vase, weeping, upright. Be sure to select a variety that naturally grows in the shape you desire to avoid adding extra maintenance chores.
The chart above provides information about the size and other important characteristics of tall deciduous shrubs recommended by The Morton Arboretum for their suitability and desirability in the Midwest.
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