Low = under 3 feet, Medium = 3 feet to 6 feet, Tall = over 6 feet
Low Spring Shrubs
Scientific name USDA Zone Height X Width Description
Common name Water Exposure
Andromeda polifolia 2 1' X 2' Evergreen. Pink Flowers in spring.
Bog Rosemary High Sun Likes wet soil.
Azalea 'Gumpo' 6 1' X 4' Evergreen. Large pink or white
Gumpo Azalea Med. A.M. Sun flowers in May and June.
Berberis thunbe. 'Crimson Pygmy' 4 18" X 2' Deciduous. Purplish leaves. Yellow
Crimson Pygmy Barberry Med. Sun-Part flowers and red berries. Thorns.
Daphne cneorum 'Ruby Glow' 4 1' X 1' Evergreen. Pink flowers in April.
Ruby Glow Rock Daphne Low Sun Needs good drainage.
Genista lydia 3 2' X 3' Semi-evergreen. Yellow flowers in
Lydia Broom Low Sun May. Drought tolerant.
Genista pilosa 3 3" X 3' Deciduous. Yellow flowers in late
Creeping Broom Low Sun Spring. Very drought tolerant.
Mahonia nervosa 6 2' X 4' Native evergreen. Yellow flowers in
Leatherleaf Mahonia Low Sun-Shade spring. Drought tolerant.
Mahonia repens 5 1' X 3' Native evergreen. Yellow flowers in
Creeping Oregon Grape Low Sun-Shade March. Black, edible berries.
Pieris taiwanensis 'Prelude' 5 2' X 2' Evergreen. White flowers in spring.
Prelude Andromeda Med. Sun-Shade Compact growth.
Pittosporum tob. 'Wheeler's Dwf' 9 2' X 3' Evergreen. Fragrant white flowers
Wheeler's Dw. Mockorange Low Sun-Part in May.
Rhaphiolepis umbellata 'Minor' 8 2' X 2' Evergreen. Dark green round leaves.
Dwarf Yedda Hawthorn Low Sun White flowers in spring & summer.
Rhododendron dwarf 5 1-3' X 3' Evergreen. Many sizes and colors.
Dwarf Rhododendron Med. A.M. Sun Some bloom in March. Some in May.
Vaccinium vitis-idaea minus 2 1' X 2' Evergreen. Small white flowers in
Lingonberry High Full Sun May. Edible red berries.
Medium Spring Shrubs
Scientific name USDA Zone Height X Width Description
Common name Water Exposure
Aronia species 3 6' X 6' Bluish-white flowers in May. Black
Chokecherry Med. Sun-Part fruit in fall and winter.
Azalea 6 3' X 4' Evergreen. Red, pink, white, blue
Evergreen Azalea Med. A.M. Sun or purple flowers in spring.
Azalea exbury 5 5' X 5' Deciduous. Large pink, red, orange,
Exbury Azalea Med. Sun-Part yellow or white flowers in May.
Azalea occidentale 4 5' X 5' Native deciduous. Fragrant pink
Western Azalea Med. Sun-Part flowers in May.
Azalea schlippenbachii 5 6' X 6' Fragrant pink flowers in Spring.
Royal Azalea Med. Sun-Part Red/orange leaves in Fall.
Berberis gladwye. 'William Penn' 6 6' X 4' Evergreen. Bright yellow flowers in
William Penn Barberry Med. Sun-Part spring. Thorns.
Berberis thunbergii 4 4' X 4' Yellow flowers and red berries.
Japanese Barberry Med. Deciduous Thorns. Some with red leaves.
Chaenomeles japonica 5 5' X 5' Deciduous. Large pink, red or white
Japanese Flowerng Quince Med. Sun flowers in March and April.
Choisya ternata 7 6' X 6' Evergreen. Very fragrant white
Mexican Orange Med. Sun-Part flowers in Spring.
Daphne burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie' 5 3' X 3' Evergreen. Yellow edged leaves.
Carol Mackie Daphne Med. Part shade Fragrant pink flowers in Spring.
Deutzia gracillis 5 4' X 5' Deciduous. Arching stems with white
Slender Deutzia Med. Sun-Part flowers in May.
Exochorda x macrantha 5 3' X 4' Deciduous. White buds resemble
Pearlbush Med. Sun-Part pearls in spring.
Forsythia suspensa 5 5' X 5' Deciduous. Arching branches with
Weeping Forsythia Med. Sun yellow flowers in March.
Kalmia latifolia 5 5' X 5' Evergreen. Clusters of pink, red or
Mountain Laurel Med. A.M. Sun white flowers in May and June.
Kerria japonica 5 6' X 5' Deciduous. Large yellow flowers in
Japanese Kerria Low Sun-Part March to May.
Leucothoe axillaris 5 3' X 3' Native evergreen. Dark green leaves
Coast Leucothoe High Shade-Part turn purplish. White flowers.
Leucothoe fontanesiana 5 3' X 5' Evergreen. Pink, cream and green
Leucothoe Med. Part Shade leaves. White flowers in Spring.
Loropetalum chinensis 7 5' X 5' Purple round leaves all year. Pink
Fringe flower Med. Sun flowers in spring and summer.
Mahonia aquifolium 5 5' X 3' Native evergreen. Yellow flowers in
Oregon Grape Low Sun-Shade March. Black, edible berries.
Mahonia aquifolium 'Compacta' 5 3' X 3' Evergreen. Yellow flowers in March.
Compact Oregon Grape Low Sun-Shade Black, edible berries.
Osmanthus delavayi 7 4' X 4' Evergreen. Fragrant white flowers
Delavay Osmanthus Low Sun-Part in April.
Physocarpus opulus intermedia 2 4' X 3' Deciduous. White and pink flowers.
Dwarf Ninebark Med. Sun-Shade Reddish brown fall leaves.
Pieris japonica 5 5' X 5' Evergreen. White or pink flowers in
Andromeda Med. Sun-Shade March and April. Red new leaves.
Pittosporum tobira 8 6' X 6' Evergreen. Fragrant white flowers
Mock Orange Low Sun-Part in May and June.
Prunus glandulosa 4 5' X 4' Deciduous. White or pink flowers in
Flowering almond Med. Sun-Part March. Good for arrangements.
Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken 6 4' X 5' Evergreen. Fragrant white flowers
Otto Luyken Laurel Med. Sun-Shade in late spring. Easy to shape.
Rhaphiolepis indica 7 3' X 4' Evergreen. White or pink flowers in
Indian Hawthorn Low Sun spring and summer.
Rhododendron 6 4-8' X 8' Evergreen. Many sizes and colors.
Rhododendron Low A.M. Sun Some bloom in March. Some in May.
Rhododendron 'PJM' 4 5' X 5' Evergreen. Pink flowers in March.
PJM Rhododendron Med. Part Sun Spicy fragrant leaves go purple.
Ribes alpinum 2 5' X 5' Deciduous. Yellow flowers in Spring
Alpine Currant Med. Sun-Part Scarlet fruit in fall.
Ribes aureum 3 6' X 6' Native deciduous. Yellow flowers in
Golden Currant Low Sun-Part Spring. Very drought tolerant.
Ribes sanguineum 5 6' X 4' Native deciduous. Red flowers in
Red Flowering Currant Low Sun-Part March and April. Dark berries.
Rubus parviflorus 3 4' X 4' Native deciduous. White flowers in
Thimbleberry Low Sun-Part May to June. Edible berry.
Rubus spectabilis 7 5' X 5' Native. Deep pink flowers in Spring
Salmonberry Med. Part Shade and edible berries in Summer.
Skimmia japonica - female 7 3' X 3' Evergreen. White flowers. Red
Female Skimmia Med. Shade berries if male is nearby.
Skimmia japonica - male 7 3' X 3' Evergreen. White flowers in April.
Male Skimmia Med. Shade Pollinates female skimmias.
Skimmia japonica reevesiana 7 3' X 3' Evergreen. White flowers in May.
Reeves Skimmia Med. Shade Red berries in fall and winter.
Spiraea prunifolia 5 3' X 4' Deciduous. Arching branches with
Bridal Wreath Spirea Med. Sun-Part white flowers in April and May.
Spiraea vanhouttei 3 3' X 4' Deciduous. Long wands of white
Bridal Wreath Med. Sun-Part flowers in April and May.
Symphoricarpos alba 3 4' X 4' Native deciduous. White flowers in
Common Snowberry Low Sun-Shade May. White berries in Summer.
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus 4 4' X 4' Native deciduous. White flowers in
Coralberry Indian Curant Low Sun-Shade May. Coral berries in summer.
Syringa patula 3 5' X 4' Deciduous. Dense, twiggy, rounded
Korean Lilac Med. Sun shrub. Lavender flowers in May.
Ternstroemia gymnathera 3 6' X 6' Evergreen. Fragrant creamy flowers.
Ternstroemia Med. Sun-Part Shiny green leaves.
Vaccinium ovatum 7 4' X 4' Native evergreen. Pink flowers in
Evergreen Huckleberry Med. Sun-Shade spring. Edible black berries.
Vaccinium parvifolium 5 6' X 6' Native deciduous. White flowers in
Red Huckleberry Med. Part Shade April-May. Edible red berries.
Viburnum carlesii 4 5' X 4' Deciduous. Sweetly fragrant pink to
Korean Spicebush Med. Sun-Part white flowers in March to May.
Viburnum davidii 7 3' X 4' Evergreen. Leathery leaves.
David's Viburnum Med. Part Sun Clusters of small pink flowers.
Viburnum tinus 'Compactum' 7 5' X 4' Evergreen. Clusters of pink flowers
Spring Bouquet Viburnum Med. Sun-Part in spring & summer. Black berries
Viburnum trilobum 'Compactum' 2 4' X 4' Deciduous. White lace cap flowers
Dwarf Cranberry Bush Med. Sun-Part in spring. Edible red berries.
Yucca filamentosa 4 4' X 3' Native evergreen. Stiff leaves.
Adams Needle Yucca Low Sun Tall spike of white flowers May.
Tall Spring Shrubs
Scientific name USDA Zone Height X Width Description
Common name Water Exposure
Feijoa sellowianna 8 10' X 10' Evergreen. Leaves silvery white un-
Amelanchier canadensis 4 10' X 6' Native. White flowers in Spring.
Shadblow Serviceberry Med. Sun-Shade Purplish berries in Summer.
Cercocarpus ledifolius 3 12' X 10' Evergreen. Yellow funnel flowers in
Curl-leaf Mtn. Mahogany Low Sun-Part spring. Drought tolerant.
Corokia cotoneaster 8 8' X 5' Evergreen. Sparse, tiny leaves.
Wire-Netting Bush Med. Sun-Part Fragrant yellow flowers in spring
Forsythia interm. 'Lynwood Gold' 5 8' X 8' Deciduous. Yellow flowers in March.
Lynwood Gold Forsythia Med. Sun Yellow fall leaves.
Holodiscus discolor 4 8' X 8' Native deciduous. White flowers in
Ocean Spray Low Sun-Part May to July. Drought tolerant.
Osmanthus fragrans 8 10' X 8' Evergreen. Fragrant white flowers
Sweet Olive Low Sun-Part in April. Attractive screen.
Prunus lusitanica 7 12' X 8' Evergreen. Fragrant white flowers
Portugal Laurel Med. Sun-Part in May. Good tall hedge.
Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' 4 9' X 6' Deciduous. Pink, white & green
Dappled Willow Med. Sun variegated leaves.
Sambucus caerulea 4 8' X 5' Native deciduous. White flowers in
Blue Elderberry Med. Sun-Part spring. Blue berries attract bird
Shepherdia argenteus 2 8' X 5' Native deciduous. Silver gray. Red
Silver Buffalo Berry Any Sun-Part berries attract birds.
Syringa reticulata 4 20' X 15' Deciduous. Large leaves. Large
Japanese Tree Lilac Med. Sun white flower clusters in May-June
Syringa vulgaris 3 8' X 5' Deciduous. Very fragrant flowers in
Common Lilac Med. Sun-Part mid-spring.
Viburnum carlcephalum 6 8' X 4' Deciduous. Fragrant balls of waxy
Fragrant Snowball Med. Sun-Part white flowers in April to June.
Viburnum lentago 3 15' X 10' Deciduous. Creamy white flowers in
Nannyberry Med Sun-Shade spring. Edible red/black berries.
Viburnum opulus 4 8' X 6' Deciduous. White flowers and red
European Cranberry Bush Med. Sun-Part berries. Red fall leaves.
Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' 4 8' X 6' Deciduous. White flowers in April
Pink Snowball Bush Med. Sun-Part & May. Red fall leaves. No fruit.
Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii' 5 8' X 6' Deciduous. Clusters of white
Maries Doublefile Vibur. Med. Sun-Part flowers on spreading branches.
Viburnum tinus 'Robustum' 7 10' X 6' Evergreen. Clusters of pink flowers
Roundleaf Laurustinus Med. Sun-Part in spring & summer. Black berries
Viburnum trilobum 2 8' X 8' Deciduous. White, lace-cap flowers
American Cranberry Bush Med. Sun-Part in spring. Edible red berries.
