# Native Shrubs

> Understory and hedgerow shrubs for birds, pollinators and privacy.

151 native shrubs and ten small trees for hedgerows, the understory and wet corners: [spicebush](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/spicebush/index.html.md), [winterberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/winterberry/index.html.md), [black elderberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/black-elderberry/index.html.md), [ninebark](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/ninebark/index.html.md), twelve viburnums, northern bayberry, mountain laurel, pinxterbloom azalea and more. They run from knee-high leadplant to small trees of 20 feet and over, hardy from USDA zone 2 to zone 10 depending on the species. Most [feed birds](https://bluewhaletrees.com/articles/native-trees-for-birds/index.html.md) or pollinators, many take wet ground, and several are rarely sold anywhere. All are offered as saplings and 157 of them as seed.

41 of 364 plants matching native to Rhode Island. Web version: https://bluewhaletrees.com/shop/shrubs/?native=RI. Each plant links to its own Markdown page with the full facts, description and growing guide.

Columns: Zones are the USDA hardiness zones the plant takes, from the coldest to the warmest it is rated for (zone 2 is the coldest, 10 the warmest); Height is mature height in feet; Sun and Soil list every condition the plant takes; Grown from is what the nursery offers it as (saplings, or acorns, nuts or seed to sow); Price is the lowest current price, or "ask" when the plant is not yet priced online (email captain@bluewhaletrees.com or join the waitlist on the web page).

This table accepts the shop's filters as query parameters on this address: size (shrub, small-tree, medium-tree, large-tree), sun (full, part, shade), moisture (dry, average, wet), zone (2 to 10), native (a state's two-letter code in capitals, such as PA: the plants native to that state by the USDA PLANTS records), want (a trait: flowers, fall-color, wildlife, honey, edible, evergreen, rare, drought, wet-tolerant, shade, early-bearing, screening, nitrogen-fixing, salt, winter-interest, street-tree, erosion-control; rare means uncommon in the wild or in nurseries, honey a nectar source for bees), as (acorns, seed, nuts, saplings) and q (a search word). Several values may be joined with commas.

| Plant | Botanical name | Group | Type | Height (ft) | Zones | Sun | Soil | Grown from | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Spicebush](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/spicebush/index.html.md) | *Lindera benzoin* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–12 | 4–9 | Part, Shade, Full | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Sweet Pepperbush (Summersweet)](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/sweet-pepperbush/index.html.md) | *Clethra alnifolia* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 4–8 | 4–9 | Full, Part, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Nannyberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/nannyberry/index.html.md) | *Viburnum lentago* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 12–18 | 2–8 | Full, Part, Shade | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Black Huckleberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/black-huckleberry/index.html.md) | *Gaylussacia baccata* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 1–3 | 3–7 | Full, Part | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Witch Hazel](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/witch-hazel/index.html.md) | *Hamamelis virginiana* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 12–20 | 3–8 | Part, Shade, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Black Elderberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/black-elderberry/index.html.md) | *Sambucus canadensis* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–12 | 3–9 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Red Elderberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/red-elderberry/index.html.md) | *Sambucus racemosa* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 8–12 | 3–7 | Part, Full, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Smooth Alder (Swamp Alder)](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/smooth-alder/index.html.md) | *Alnus serrulata* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 10–20 | 4–9 | Full, Part | Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Ninebark](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/ninebark/index.html.md) | *Physocarpus opulifolius* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–10 | 2–8 | Full, Part | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Staghorn Sumac](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/staghorn-sumac/index.html.md) | *Rhus typhina* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 15–25 | 3–8 | Full | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Rosebay Rhododendron](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/rosebay-rhododendron/index.html.md) | *Rhododendron maximum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 10–15 | 3–7 | Shade, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Mountain Laurel](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/mountain-laurel/index.html.md) | *Kalmia latifolia* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–12 | 4–9 | Part, Shade, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Winterberry Holly](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/winterberry/index.html.md) | *Ilex verticillata* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–12 | 3–9 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Swamp Doghobble](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/swamp-doghobble/index.html.md) | *Eubotrys racemosa* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 4–10 | 5–9 | Part, Shade, Full | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Black Chokeberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/black-chokeberry/index.html.md) | *Aronia melanocarpa* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–6 | 3–8 | Full, Part | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Silky Dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/silky-dogwood/index.html.md) | *Cornus amomum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–12 | 4–8 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [New Jersey Tea](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/new-jersey-tea/index.html.md) | *Ceanothus americanus* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 2–3 | 4–8 | Full, Part | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Northern Bayberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/northern-bayberry/index.html.md) | *Morella pensylvanica* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–10 | 3–7 | Full, Part | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Pinxterbloom Azalea](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/pinxterbloom-azalea/index.html.md) | *Rhododendron periclymenoides* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–6 | 4–9 | Part, Full, Shade | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Gray Dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/gray-dogwood/index.html.md) | *Cornus racemosa* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 4–10 | 4–8 | Full, Part, Shade | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Arrowwood Viburnum](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/arrowwood-viburnum/index.html.md) | *Viburnum dentatum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–10 | 2–8 | Full, Part, Shade | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Deerberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/deerberry/index.html.md) | *Vaccinium stamineum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–15 | 5–9 | Full, Part | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Common Prickly Ash (Toothache Tree)](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/common-prickly-ash/index.html.md) | *Zanthoxylum americanum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 10–20 | 3–8 | Full, Part | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Maleberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/maleberry/index.html.md) | *Lyonia ligustrina* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–12 | 5–9 | Full, Part | Wet, Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Nantucket Serviceberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/nantucket-serviceberry/index.html.md) | *Amelanchier nantucketensis* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 2–6 | 3–8 | Full | Dry, Average | Saplings | ask |
| [Hobblebush](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/hobblebush/index.html.md) | *Viburnum lantanoides* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–12 | 3–6 | Part, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Swamp Azalea](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/swamp-azalea/index.html.md) | *Rhododendron viscosum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–8 | 4–9 | Part, Full | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Possumhaw Viburnum](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/possumhaw-viburnum/index.html.md) | *Viburnum nudum* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–12 | 5–9 | Full, Part, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Mapleleaf Viburnum](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/mapleleaf-viburnum/index.html.md) | *Viburnum acerifolium* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–6 | 3–8 | Part, Shade, Full | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Canada Yew](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/canada-yew/index.html.md) | *Taxus canadensis* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–6 | 2–7 | Part, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Smooth Winterberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/smooth-winterberry/index.html.md) | *Ilex laevigata* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–10 | 5–8 | Full, Part | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Catberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/catberry/index.html.md) | *Ilex mucronata* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–10 | 3–7 | Full, Part | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Rhodora](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/rhodora/index.html.md) | *Rhododendron canadense* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 1–3 | 4–6 | Part, Full | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Staggerbush](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/staggerbush/index.html.md) | *Lyonia mariana* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 2–6 | 5–9 | Part, Full | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Golden Heather](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/golden-heather/index.html.md) | *Hudsonia ericoides* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 1–2 | 5–8 | Full | Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Woolly Beach Heather](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/woolly-beach-heather/index.html.md) | *Hudsonia tomentosa* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 1–2 | 2–8 | Full | Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Roundleaf Dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/roundleaf-dogwood/index.html.md) | *Cornus rugosa* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 3–10 | 2–8 | Part, Shade | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Creeping Juniper](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/creeping-juniper/index.html.md) | *Juniperus horizontalis* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 1–2 | 2–9 | Full | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Inkberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/inkberry/index.html.md) | *Ilex glabra* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–10 | 4–10 | Full, Part, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Red Osier Dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/red-osier-dogwood/index.html.md) | *Cornus sericea* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 6–12 | 2–7 | Full, Part, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Buttonbush](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/buttonbush/index.html.md) | *Cephalanthus occidentalis* | Native Shrubs | Shrub | 5–12 | 4–10 | Full, Part | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |