Native Shrubs for Mississippi Landscapes

Red Buckeye

Aesculus pavia. Family: Hippocastanaceae. Tree up north, small deciduous shrub in MS. Rarely larger than 10 feet. Part sun to Part Shade/ deciduous, spring flowers

Tag Alder

Alnus serrulata. Family: Betulaceae. Tall deciduous shrub can get 15 feet. wet, acidic soils. Round leaves with fin-toothed edges, produced long thin, "catkin" flowers in late fall. Sun to Shade, deciduous, spring flowers

Groundsel Bush

Baccharis halimifolia. Family: Asteraeae. Finely branched, gets 12 feet tall, 6 feet wide. Loose irregular form similar to Wax myrtle. Blooms are billowy and white and cover the plant. Butterflies. Sun to part-sun. Semi-evergreen. Fall flowers

Witch Alder

Fothergilla major. Family: Hamamelidaceae. a deciduous shrub that reaches 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Well-drained acidic soils. Upright form, effective understory shrub in natural settings. Large-toothed leaves have a red or orange fall color. Creamy-white bottlebrush flowers have a sweet fragrance and appear in early spring. Part shade to shade, deciduous, spring flowers.

Dwarf Huckleberry

Gaylussacia dumosa. Family: Ericaceae. 4 feet tall and wide. Found in woodlands with acidic soils, pine savannas and bogs. Upright-to-mounding form and is often sculptural. Small fine-textured leaves turn a brilliant red in autumn. Small, pink flowers bloom in spring and produce small, edible huckleberry fruits in early summer. these fruits are eaten by birds and wildlife. Sun to part sun, deciduous, summer fruits

Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana. Family: Hamamelidaceae. Large shrub or tree reaching 15 feet tall. along stream banks and woodlands. Large, scalloped leaves are attractive in summer and produce autumn color. The shrub has strap-like yellow flower petals that are fragrant and bloom from fall into winter. Spreading, sculptural form and is effective in landscape as understory specimen plant. Sun or shade. Deciduous, winter flowers.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia. Family: Hydrangeaceae. Excellent deciduous shrub with many ornamental qualities. grows 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. fertile, well-drained soil woodlands. Large Oak-like leaves, turning rich purple in fall. Produces large, creamy-white flower heads in late spring. Excellent for shady areas under trees in good draining soil conditions. Part shade to shade, deciduous, spring flowers.

Bigleaf Gallberry Holly

Ilex coriacea (Pursh) Chapman. Family: Aquifoliaceae. Can reach 15 feet. native to wetland soils of pine flatwoods, swamp edges, and bogs. Upright in form with multiple stems. Excellent hedge or barrier plant. Large, shiny, black fruits are produced in fall and winter. These holly fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals. It is a good, tough holly that is tolerant to extremes. Sun to part sun. Evergreen, winter fruits.

Winterberry Holly

Ilex verticillata. Family: Aquifoliaceae. Can get 10 feet high and 6 feet wide. Open, wide-spreading form with upright branches. This holly is found in wet woods, bogs, and along streams. Female plants produce large, red fruit in winter that persist through the cold. Nearby male plants are required for fruit set. Excellent speciment plant for courtyards and gardens. Sun to part sun, deciduous, winter fruits.

Star Anise

Illicium floridanum. Family: Illicaceae. Star anise is an evergreen shrub that can grow 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Grows in dense thickets along streams and moist woods. Upright, oval form with deep-green leaves of coarse texture. Leaves are heavily scented and noticeable when encountered. Deep maroon, starry flowers cover the plant in early spring. Star anise isa good landscape plant for soils that are shaded, have good drainage, or maintain moisture. shade to part shade, evergreen, spring flowers.

Virginia Sweetspire

Itea virginica. Family: Iteaceae. Grows 5 feet high and 3 feet wide. Along stream edges and swamps. Upright-to-spreading form with multiple stems. The medium-textured leaves turn a deep wine-red in autumn. Fragrant white flower clusters appear at the ends of branches in April and May. Tolerant of many garden conditions. Several cultivars available. Sun to part sun, deciduous, spring flowers.

Leucothoe

Leucothoe axillaris. Family: Ericaceae. Grows 3 feet tall and wide. Low-spreading shrub with arching and loosely formed stems. Grows in wet, acidic soils, bogs, creeks. Small, white, fragant blooms cluster along the flower stem in late winter to mid-spring. Can get leaf spot. Best at coastal areas. Part sun to shade, evergreen, spring flowers.

Lyonia

Lyonia lucida. Family: Ericaceae. Grows 3 feet tall and wide. Found along well-drained, sandy woodlands and streams. Small, nodding, bell-shaped, white flowers cluster along the stems in late spring. Caterpillars are associated with Lyonia, but do not cause major injury. Best in coastal areas. Parn sun to shade, evergreen, spring flowers.

Dwarf Palmetto

Sabal minor. Family: Arecaceae. Versatile shrub grows 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Primarily in river flood plains, can grow in wide variety of dry or wet soil types. Tropical leaf and is an excellent understory shrub, ground cover, or focal plant. Round, black fruits appear on long stems in late summer and persist through winter. Few insects or diseases. Sun to shade, evergreen, Late summer fruit

Fringe Tree

Chionanthus virginicus. Family: Oleaceae. Large shrub, grows 20 feet high, 12 feet wide. Upland pine forests, in well-drained soil. Rounded, "shrubby" form with multiple trunks. blooms in spring, with white, fringe-like petals with slight fragrance. small blue fruits in late summer, consumed by birds and wildlife. Large oval leaves have yellow autumn color. Great for home landscape. Sun to part sun, deciduous, spring flowers.

Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia. Family: Clethraceae. Averages 6 feet high and 4 feet wide. Acidic soils, bogs, swamps. Attractive dark green leaves are toothed and turn yellow in fall. Fragrant white bloom-spikes appear in early summer for several weeks. Upright form with medium textured foliage and is excellent for natural settings. Sun to part sun. Deciduous, summer flowers

Buckwheat Tree

Cliftonia Monophylla Gaertner. Family: Cyrillaceae. Large shrub that can reach 20 feet tall and wide. Found in moist acidic soils, swamps, bogs, etc. upright oval form with multiple trunks. White flower clusters appear at the ends of branches in winter and persist well into spring. Yellow "buckwheat" fruits appear in summer and are somewhat promenant. Sun to part sun, evergreen, winter flowers.

True Huckleberry

Vaccinium arboreum Marshall. Family: Ericaceae. Large, grows 20 feet high and 15 feet wide. Found in dry, sandy soils to moist stream edges. Small, bell-shaped flowers appear on plant from April through May, followed by small black fruits in early fall. Fuits are highly used by birds, deer, and many small mammals. It can be used as an ornamental tree because of its upright form. Leaves turn bright red in fall. Sun to part sun, semi-evergreen, summer fruits.

Elliott's Blueberry

Vaccinium elliottii Chapm. Family: Ericaceae. Wild blueberry that grows 12 feet high and 12 feet wide. Thrives in open pinelands, marshy edges, along streams and roads. Small, white blueberry flowers bloom in May and are followed by small, edible, black fruits in early summer. Has loose, round form and has bright-green stems. Green leaves are small and turn bright-red in the fall. Has few insects or diseases. Sun to part sun, deciduous, summer fruit.

Arrow-Wood Vibernum

Viburnum dentatum. Family: Caprifoliaceae. Reaches 20 feet high and 10 feet wide. Mainly acidic soils and moist soils of swamp and floodplains. Adapted to many soil types though. Attractive toothed leaf turns yellow and red in late fall. White flower clusters appear in March thru May, then numerous blue fruits in late summer. Birds and mammals use the fruits. The narrow, upright form of long, thin branches amkes this variety of viburnum a useful shrub for narrow beds and courtyard plantings. Sun to part sun, deciduous, summer fruits.

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana. Family: Verbenaceae. 8 feet tall, 6 feet wide. Broad, coarse leaves turn yellow in fall. Small rosey flowers in May and bright purple fruits in late summer. Birds and mammals eat them. Sun to part shade. Deciduous, showy fall fruit.

Sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridus. Family: Calycanthaceae. Can get 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Oval leaf with prominent veins. In the fall, it turns yellow. Few insects found on it. Useful in masses and in hedgrows in natural settings. Sun to Part Shade. Deciduous. Spring flowers.

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis. Family: Rubiaceae. Grows 10 feet high. Wet soils near water. open, sprawling form, has unusual white, globe-shaped flower visited by bees and butterflies. Sun to part sun, deciduous, summer flowers

American Sweet Olive

Osmanthus americanus. Family: Oleaceae. Reaches 20 feet high and 10 feet wide. native version of some Asian species, dry acidic soils. has an oval, open form. Rather than blooming in winter like the Chinese sweet olive, it blooms early spring. Small, white flowers occur on new wood, not fragrant. Has some problem pests and is useful as a hedge or screen. Sun to Part shade, evergreen, spring flowers.

Yellow Native Azalea

Rhododendron austrinum. Family: Ericaceae. Deciduous shrub grows 12 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Native to rich, well-drained woodlands along streams/rivers. Performs best with morning sun or filtered light. Yellow or orange fragrant blossoms appear for three weeks in April and May. Sensative to wet or poorly drained soil. Has few other problems. Many cultivars available that show other forms/colors. Part sun to shade. deciduous, spring flowers

Honeysuckle Azalea

Rhododendron canescens (Michx.) Sweet. Family: Ericaceae. Beautiful shrub grows 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. along streams and banks. Likes filtered light; foliage will burn in full sun. Large, fragrant flowers range from pure-white to dark-pink and bloom from late March to early April. This Azalea is more adaptive of soil types than Yellow Native Azalea, there are many cultivars. Part sun to shade, deciduous, spring flowers

Summer Azalea

Rhododendron serrulatum (Sm.) Mill. Family: Ericaceae. Grows 15 feet high and 10 feet wide. Native along streams and flood plains. Tolerant of wet soils. Blooms from June through August, unlike other azaleas. Extremely fragrant, white flowers. Tolerates and blooms well in shade. Part shade to shade, deciduous, summer flowers.

Staghorn Sumac

Rhus typhina. Family: Anarcardiaceae. Grows 20 feet tall and wide. Dry soil along roads and fields. The long, pinnate (feather-shaped) leaves are attractive and turn bright orange and red in fall. Flower clusters are green when they appear in early summer and mature to rich-red fruits before fall. The fruit will persist through winter. Tough, versatile shrub for difficult soils. Often forms broad colonies through root suckering. Sun to part sun, deciduous, summer fruit

Snowbell

Styrax americanus. Family: Styracaceae. Little-known shrub, grows 10 feet high and 6 feet wide. Wet soils in hardwood forests. Numerous small, white flowers that bloom from April thru May. Upright oval form. Sun to part shade, deciduous, spring flowers.

Mountain Laurel

kalmia latifolia. Family: Ericaceae. Reaches 10 feet high. Grows near creeks/rivers. Open, broad spread form with multiple branches. Foliage is dark-green, medium-textured, and slow growing. White or pink, wheel shaped flowers cover the plant in spring. Mature plants show reddish-brown, peeling bark. Shade to part shade, evergreen, spring flowers