Shrubs 3 feet or shorter
Honeysuckle, Kodiac Black
This Honeysuckle shrub is compact and deciduous. Mostly native to moist rocky areas, honeysuckle can show up in many environments. It provides pale yellow flowers during the summer in clusters preceding its fruit. It has a proper yellow-red fall color. The Kodiak Black cultivar is known for its purple foliage, red fall color, clustered yellow flowers, and heavy shade tolerance. They typically prefer medium moisture with well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can tolerate drought and large range of soils and spreads via underground stolons. This shrub can be used as a hedge or naturalization. 3-4 feet tall and wide.
Honeysuckle, Kodiak Orange
This cultivar is known for its orange new growth and orange fall color as well as yellow flower clusters and dry shade tolerance. 3-4 feet tall and wide.
Hydrangea, Summer Crush
Bigleaf Hydrangeas are rounded, deciduous shrubs with large, long-blooming flowers. They grow up to 6’ tall in good conditions and have a dense texture with large, dark green leaves. This species is typically known for its supreme foliage, while maintaining impressive blooms. The Summer Crush cultivar has brilliant blooms that either bloom bright pink-red or deep purple depending on the soil acidity. It also features improved winter resistance as well as a more compact and dense form. They prefer moist, well-drained soils in part shade. Can tolerate full sun with consistent moisture. This species of Hydrangea’s flowers can bloom either blue or pink based on soil acidity. Acidic soil produces blue blooms, while alkaline soil produces pink blooms – this is manipulatable to force a specific color. They need a bit of extra winter protection to keep blooms through the bitter cold months. Often used in groupings, borders, or specimen planting. 2-3 feet tall and wide.
Hydrangea, Tuff Stuff
Mountain Hydrangeas are small, compact, deciduous shrubs with smaller leaves and flowers relative to the other Hydrangeas. Native to moist, wooded areas with large, green leaves with long-lasting summer flowers. There are many fertile flower structures with sterile flowers around the margin. The Tuff Stuff cultivar has improved winter tolerance, far superior blooms specifically for pollinators, clean and compact form, as well as re-blooming on new wood and old wood in the same year. This species of Hydrangea’s flowers can bloom either blue or pink based on soil acidity. Acidic soil produces blue blooms, while alkaline soil produces pink blooms – this is manipulatable to force a specific color. They prefer moist, well-drained soil in part shade. Can tolerate sun with consistently moist soil. Used most often in shrub borders or specimen plantings. 2-3 feet tall and wide.
Spirea, Dolchica
Bumald Spireas are small, compact, deciduous shrub with light green, narrow leaves. Foliage emerges bronze-red and turns bronze-red again in the fall. Flowers are clusters of pink blooms in spring with a long-term bloom time. The Dolchica cultivar is known for deep serrations on leaf margins as well as a small, mounded form staying under 3’ tall. They prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates a variety of soils including very poor conditions. Re-blooms through the season if dead-headed. Flowers on new wood and can be pruned in late winter. Used often in small hedges and borders. 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide.
St. John’s Wort, Champagne
The Floralberry St. John’s Wort series features brilliant foliage, showy, typically yellow flowers, and abundant berries. Small (2”) leaves are aromatic when crushed and complement its summer flowers and decorative fruit. The Champagne cultivar features light yellow blooms with white berries through the fall. They prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun to shade. Can tolerate heavy shade as well as heavy sun and drought. Bitter winters can be harmful. Typically used in borders, rock gardens, or for hedging or screening. 3 feet tall and wide.
St. John’s Wort, Pinot
The Pinot cultivar features yellow flowers and wine-red berries persist into the fall. 3 feet tall and wide.
St. John’s Wort, Rosé
The Rosé cultivar features yellow blooms with rose colored berries into the fall. 3 feet tall and wide.
St.John’s Wort, Sangria
The Sangria cultivar features yellow flowers with red berries into the fall. It also features dark green foliage with red undersides. 3 feet tall and wide.
Weigela,Spilled Wine
This cultivar is known for its dwarf, broad habit reaching 3’ tall. Features bright pink blooms on top of dark burgundy-purple foliage. 1-2 feet tall by 2-3 feet wide.
3-6 foot shrubs
Althea,d’Amboise
Altheas or Rose of Sharon are well known as a long-blooming, upright, vase-shaped shrubs. Green foliage along upright stems. With a three month bloom time, Altheas have a supreme display of color with a range of virtually every flower color based on variety. The d’Amboise cultivar features a bloom with pink petals complemented by a red center. They prefer moist, rich soil, but tolerate poor soils and summer drought. Best flower should be in full sun, but will tolerate part shade as well. 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide.
Althea,de Chantilly
This variety features a bloom with white petals complemented by a purple center. 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide.
Althea,de Versailles
This variety has pale purple petals complemented by a deep purple center. 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide.
Burning Bush, Rudy Haag
Burning Bushes are a compact, rounded shrubs. This large shrub is great for screening, hedging, with excellent bright red foliage. Distinct wings along thick stems growing upright with a wide form. The Rudy Haag cultivar has a very compact form with dense foliage and remains under 5’ tall. Best fall color in full sun, but can tolerate a heavier shade. Prefers consistent moisture for quicker growth in full sun. 3-4′ tall by 4-5 feet wide.
Chokeberry, Ground Hog
Black Chokeberries are upright, open shrubs with interest through the winter. They are native to wooded areas including many areas of Southeast Nebraska. They provide clusters of white spring flowers with dark green, long leaves. They are known for their black berries and burgundy fall color. The Groundhog cultivar is a dwarf form that is utilized as a groundcover. It grows densely with glossy foliage and dark purple berries in the summer. They prefer medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun, but can tolerate some shade with the expense of growing more open. Used well in groupings or borders as well as wooded landscapes. 3-6 feet tall and wide.
Coralberry,Proud Berry
Coralberries is a dense, spreading, native, deciduous shrub with year round interest. Grows naturally in masses or groupings. Arching habit growing to 4-5’ with white flowers preceding coral colored berries. The berries mature in fall and persist through most of winter. The Proud Berry cultivar provides an abundant set of light pink berries with supreme flowers accompanied with heightened hardiness. They prefer average, well-drained soil, but tolerates a variety of conditions. Full sun is best to prevent open growth and suckers should be pruned to keep from spreading too far. 4 feet tall and wide.
Holly, Shamrock Inkberry
Inkberry Hollies are slow-growing, upright, evergreen shrub. It is native to wetland areas and tolerates very wet conditions. It foliage is dark green, sprinless, and relatively small. Insignificant flowers, if pollinated, make way for black berries that emerge in the fall and persist until Spring. This plant is dioecious meaning that the plant must be female for fruit production, but a male MUST be in close proximity for correct pollination. The Shamrock cultivar is known to have a more rounded, compact form staying under 4’ tall. This selection also tends to sucker less than its respective species. They prefer consistently moist, acidic soils in full sun, but can tolerate heavy shade. They are commonly used in water gardens, shrub borders, as well as some naturalized hedges. 3-4 feet tall and wide.
Hydrangea, Bigleaf Blue Enchantress
Bigleaf Hydrangeas are rounded, deciduous shrubs with large, long-blooming flowers. They grow up to 6’ tall in good conditions and have a dense texture with large, dark green leaves. This species is typically known for its supreme foliage, while maintaining impressive blooms. The Blue Enchantress cultivar has standard 5”, blue or pink blooms based on soil acidity. Ruby-black, strong stems support large flowers with repeating blooms. They prefer moist, well-drained soils in part shade. Can tolerate full sun with consistent moisture. This species of Hydrangea’s flowers can bloom either blue or pink based on soil acidity. Acidic soil produces blue blooms, while alkaline soil produces pink blooms – this is manipulatable to force a specific color. They need a bit of extra winter protection to keep blooms through the bitter cold months. Often used in groupings, borders, or specimen planting. 3-5 feet tall and wide.
Hydrangea, Bay Harbor
Smooth Hydrangeas are widely branched and deciduous. Grey-brown stems with large, green leaves with a pale yellow fall color. Large corymb flower structures with many white flowers bloom in early Summer. Their flowers are sterile and give way to seed capsules. The Bay Harbor cultivar is known as a smaller, compact form of Annabelle Hydrangea. It features similarly large white flowers, but is cultivated to produce straight, sturdy stems to prevent bending after rainfall. They prefer average, well-drained soils in part shade. Can tolerate full sun if given consistent moisture and attention. Blooms on new wood and can be pruned in late winter for best form. 4 feet tall and wide.
Mockorange, Blizzard
Mockoranges are rounded, deciduous shrubs with an impressive display of blooms in the spring. They have small, light green leaves and typically grow up to 3’ tall. They feature clusters of white, fragrant blooms with clusters of large, yellow stamens in the center. The flower gives way to brown seed pods that persist through the fall. The Blizzard cultivar is known for its month-long bloom time with heavy flower set, larger size (4-5’ tall) and improved winter performance. They prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun for best blooms. Can tolerate part shade and has impressive tolerance to drought and poor soils except for poorly drained soils. Prune immediately after flowering to keep desired size or cut back to the ground if needed. Used often as specimen, hedge, or border plantings. 4-5 feet tall by 3 feet wide.
Snowberry, Common
Snowberries are bushy, deciduous shrubs known for their summer and fall interest. They typically grow up to 4’ in poor conditions and tends to spread. Medium-green leaves support tiny, pink flower clusters in the summer. Flowers precede round berries emerging pale green and maturing to white by later summer Fruit remains on the stems through the winter because they do not particularly attract birds. They prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun, but can tolerate shade as well as a variety of poor soils. Most commonly used in shrub borders or screens as well as erosion control. 3-6 feet tall and wide.
Weigela, Sonic Bloom Pearl
Old Fashioned Weigelas are dense, rounded, spreading, deciduous shrubs that can grow up to 10’ tall naturally. Branches arch towards the ground and support funnel-shaped, pink flowers that often re-bloom in the spring through the summer. Medium green, long leaves with serrate margins support its dense texture. Very hummingbird attractant. The Sonic Bloom Pearl cultivar is known for its white-emerging flowers that transition to pink through the season. Low maintenance shrub with long-lasting interest. They prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Flower and foliage color depend on sun exposure, but will tolerate some shade. Prune to desired shape and size immediately after flowering. Used often in borders, informal hedges, or specimen plantings.4-5 feet tall and wide.
Shrubs over 6 feet
Althea, Hawaii
This cultivar has flowers with deep blue petals and a red-purple center. 5-8 feet tall by 4-7 feet wide.
Buckthorn, Fernleaf
Buckthorns are upright, spreading, deciduous shrubs. They retain their green leaf color well into the fall, compensating for its insignificant blooms. Flowers give way to berries that emerge green and transition to red and finally dark purple. The Fernleaf cultivar is known for its broad, upright, spreading habit growing to 10’ tall. Leaves are extremely thin with irregular margins. They prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun, but can tolerate shade and a variety of soils. Can be pruned in winter to desired size and shape. Used most often in borders and screens. 12-15 feet tall by 6-10 feet wide.
Buttonbush
Buttonbushes are a deciduous, open-rounded, native shrub. They grow well in wet, open areas as well as wooded areas, but are a very tolerant shrub great for screening, or water gardens. They have round, white flowers that are very attractive to pollinators and emerge in early summer. Long, glossy green leaves that grow to 6” in pairs or whorls emerge in late spring. Prefer moist, organically rich soil in full sun, but can tolerate light shade. Does not perform well in dry soils and may be cut back to the ground in early spring to keep a manageable size. 5-12 feet tall by 4-8 feet wide.
Dogwood, Cardinal Redstem
Redstem Dogwoods are a large, upright shrub with year round interest. Small, fragrant, white flowers that emerge in spring and most notably, its stems are a deep red color. They have green, long leaves that turn burgundy in the fall. They produce clusters of drupes in the summer that attract birds as well as providing a suitable habitat for many different animals. They have a tendency to spread through stoloniferous roots underground. The Cardinal cultivar is known for its rapid growth reaching up to 10’ tall. Improved stem color for extended winter interest. They prefer organically rich, moist soils in full sun for best flower and fruit production. This shrub can typically tolerate heavier shade situations. Pruning is not necessary, but encouraged in order to keep the plant a certain size. 8 feet tall by 10 feet wide.
Dogwood, Variegated Redstem
Variegated Redstem Dogwood is selection of Tatarian Dogwood. They have a large, rounded form with year round interest. Small, fragrant, white flowers that emerge in spring and most notably, its stems are a deep red color. They have green, long leaves that turn red-purple in the fall. They produce clusters of drupes in the summer that attract birds as well as providing a suitable habitat for many different animals. The Variegated or Elegantissima cultivar is a large sized, dense selection with green and white variegated leaves with red stems through the winter. They prefer organically rich, moist soils in full sun for best flower and fruit production. This shrub can typically tolerate heavier shade situations. Pruning is not necessary, but encouraged in order to keep the plant a certain size. 6-8 feet tall by 4-6 feet wide.
Holly, Blue Princess
Blue Hollies are evergreen, medium sized hollies with great variation based on selection. This shrub was cultivated for sufficient hardiness up to USDA zone 3. They have blue-dark green leaves with prominent spines and purplish stems. Insignificant flowers are redeemed by a stunning fruit set of red berries in the fall persisting into spring. This plant is dioecious meaning that the plant must be female for fruit production, but a male MUST be in close proximity for correct pollination. The Blue Princess cultivar typically grows to 5-7’ tall, although very slowly. This is a female variety designed to be paired with Blue Prince Holly, although other males can have success pollinating as well. They prefer acidic, moist, well-drained soils and can tolerate full sun as well as heavy shade. Performs best in more sun with protection from heavy winter winds. Used often as a screen, hedge, or border plant. 10-15 feet tall by 8-10 feet wide.
Holly, Wildfire Winterberry
Lilac, Korean
Korean Lilacs are rounded, slower growing, deciduous shrubs with impressive flowers. They can reach 8’ wide and tall in optimal conditions and has a strong structure that plays a useful role in the landscape. Purple blooms in 4” panicles in early spring with heavy fragrance. Features 2” dark green foliage with no notable fall color. They prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun with some tolerance for shade at the expense of lesser flower performance. Prune after flower and remove panicles before seed set to prevent spreading. Used often as specimen plantings, borders, hedges, or screens. 4-9 feet tall by 5-7 feet wide.
Ninebark, Satin Chocolate
Ninebarks are upright, spreading, vigorous, deciduous shrubs growing typically over 6’ tall. They are known for their exfoliating bark revealing several layers of red-brown bark providing appealing winter interest. They have large, pink flower clusters in late spring that precede a red fruit set. They feature light green, 3-5 lobed leaves with a yellow fall color. The Satin Chocolate cultivar is known for its all-season burgundy foliage with white spring blooms that emerge as pink buds. They tolerate a variety of soils and conditions, but prefer full sun with proper drainage. Prune immediately after blooming to keep desired size or cut back 1’ from the ground if needed. Used most often in borders, hedges, or screening. 4-5 feet tall and wide.
Viburnum, American Redwing
American Cranberry Bushes are dense, rounded, deciduous shrubs growing over 10’ tall naturally. White, flat-topped clusters of flowers emerge in the spring and give way to red drupes in the fall. Foliage consists of 3-lobed, dark green leaves with red fall color. The Redwing cultivar is known for its upright habit and bright red berries and fall color. They prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun, but can tolerate shade. Prune immediately after blooming for best flower performance. Used often in shrub borders, informal hedges, screening, or specimen plantings.8 feet tall by 6 feet wide.
Willow, Black Cat
Willows are dioecious, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrubs growing up to 15’ tall. Before foliage emerges, male plants display showy, grey, silky catkins, while females’ results are green and less showy. Male selections are recommended for ornamental use. Long, medium green leaves create an open, fine-textured shrub. The Black Cat cultivar is a hybrid that produces larger, black catkins in late winter with potential for natural occurrence. They prefer moist-wet, well-drained soils in full sun, but can tolerate some shade and a variety of soils, except for very dry conditions. Prune in late winter and can be cut back to the ground every 3-5 years to maintain size and form. Often used as specimen plantings or screenings. 10-12 feet tall and wide.
Willow, Winter Glory
This cultivar is known for it large size as well as its massive, white catkins. 10-12 feet tall by 5-8 feet wide.
