Descriptions–Shrubs

SHRUBS PEOPLE HAVE ORDERED

 Russian Almond (Prunus tenella)

 General Description

• A low, suckering shrub native to western Asia and eastern Siberia
• Hardy, but not highly desirable for landscape purposes because its’ suckering habit makes it difficult to control
• Dense thickets formed are excellent for wildlife food and cover
• Abundant pink to rosy flowers in early spring

Form

• Growth Habit – Upright, suckering
• Crown Height – 3 to 5 feet
• Crown Width – 3 to 5 feet

Soils

• Soil Texture – Prefers loamy soils
• Performs satisfactorily in heavy clay
• Soil pH – 5.0 to 8.0

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Fair drought resistance

 Light – Full sun only

 

 Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea)

 General Description

• A tall, thorny, thicket-forming native shrub
• Well adapted to dry, moderately alkaline and saline soils
• Tolerates infertile soils, in part because of its ability to fix and assimilate atmospheric nitrogen
• Berries used for jellies

 Form

• Growth Habit – Loosely branched shrub of rounded outline
• Crown Height – 6 to 14 feet
• Crown Width – 8 to 14 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Grows well in most soils
• Soil pH – 5.5 to 8.0
• Adapted to moderately alkaline and saline soils

 Cold Hardiness –  USDA Zone 2

 Water

• Drought tolerant
• Not adapted to wet, poorly-drained sites

 Light – Full sun

 

Caragana or Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens)

General Description

• Tall long-lived shrub native to Siberia
• Drought tolerant legume
• Ability to withstand extreme cold and dryness
• Major windbreak species

 Form

• Growth Habit – Erect, oval shrub with sparse branches
• Crown Height – 6 to 14 feet
• Crown Width – 6 to 12 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a wide range of soils
• Soil pH – 5.0 to 8.0

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Drought tolerant, does not perform well on very wet or very dry sandy soils

 Light – Full sun

  

Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa)

 General Description

• A winter hardy, moderately fast-growing, short-lived shrub native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas
• A broad spreading, densely twiggy shrub, becoming more open and picturesque with age.
• Also called Manchu cherry
• Edible fruits are dark red and excellent for pies and jellies

 Form

• Growth Habit – Upright, semi-spreading, and densely twiggy
• Crown Height – 6 to 10 feet
• Crown Width – 6 to 10 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Prefers loamy soils
• Soil pH – 5.0 to 7.5

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Tolerates considerable wind and dryness

 Light – Full sun only

  

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

 General Description

• Small suckering hardy tree or large shrub is native throughout North Dakota
• Fruits commonly used for jellies and jams

 Form

• Growth Habit – Oval to rounded, slender twigs
• Crown Height – 12 to 25 feet
• Crown Width – 10 to 20 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a wide variety of soils
• Soil pH – 5.0 to 8.0

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Moderate drought tolerance

 Light – Shade tolerant, but needs full sun to produce a good fruit crop

  

 Golden or Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum)

 General Description

• A small shrub native to western United States
• Similar to golden currant (R. aureum)
• Well adapted to growing conditions in the north
• Fragrant, yellow, clove-scented flowers

 Form

• Growth Habit – Upright spreading, becomes leggy
• Crown Height – 3 to 6 feet
• Crown Width – 3 to 6 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a variety of soils, tolerant of saline soils
• Soil pH – 5.5 to 8.0

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Currants are fairly drought tolerant

Light – Full sun to partial shade

  

Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

 General Description

• An open, spreading, multi-stemmed, medium to large shrub with horizontal branches at the base
• Dark, blood-red bark provides winter color

 Form

• Growth Habit – Loose and rounded in form with many stems
• Crown Height – 7 to 10 feet
• Crown Width – 10 to 15 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adaptable to a variety of soils
•  Soil pH – 5.0 to 7.5

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Grows best in moist to somewhat wet loams

 Light – Full sun to partial shade

 

 Juneberry or Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

 General Description

• A hardy, medium to tall, suckering shrub, native to prairie hillsides and woody draws
• Also called Saskatoon and Serviceberry
• Fruits are highly prized for food

 Form

• Growth Habit – Upright
• Crown Height – 6 to 15 feet
• Crown Width – 5 to 12 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Prefers loam to sandy loam soil high in organic matter
• Soil pH – 5.5 to 7.5

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – limited drought tolerace

Light – Full sun to partial shade

  

Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

 General Description

• A medium to large hardy shrub with stout, spreading branches developing a somewhat oval to irregularly rounded crown
• Spreads by suckering
• Showy, fragrant flowers

 Form

• Growth Habit – Upright leggy shrub with irregular outline
• Crown Height – 8 to 12 feet
• Crown Width – 6 to 12 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a wide variety of soils
• Soil pH – pH is 5.5 to 8.0

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 2

 Water – Drought tolerant does not withstand ponding

 Light – Full sun

  

 American Plum (Prunus americana)

 General Description

• Native tall shrub to small tree
• Thorny, winter-hardy, and thicket- forming
• Edible fruit used to make preserves and jellies

 Form

• Growth Habit – Round-headed crown, suckers freely
• Crown Height – 8 to 10 feet
• Crown Width – 8 to 10 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a wide variety of soil types
• Soil pH – 5.5 to 7.5

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 3

 Water – Fair to good drought tolerance

 Light – Full sun to partial shade

 

Western Sandcherry (Prunus besseyi)

 General Description

• Small, winter-hardy, relatively short-lived shrub native to the Northern Great Plains
• Edible fruits which are dark purple to black

 Form

• Growth Habit – Open, spreading
• Crown Height – 3 to 6 feet
• Crown Width – 3 to 6 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Prefers loamy soils
• Soil pH – 5.0 to 7.5

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 3

 Water – Fair drought tolerance

 Light – Full sun only

 

 Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata)

General Description

• Medium shrub
•  Native from the east coast to the Northwest Territories, through North Dakota and south to Utah
• Would be more popular, but it suckers profusely

 Form

• Growth Habit – Narrow, upright
• Crown Height – 5 to 9 feet
• Crown Width – 3 to 6 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Performs best on well drained, coarse textured soils with moist subsoil
• Soil pH – 6.0 to 8.0
• Adaptable to high pH and saline soils

 Cold Hardiness –  USDA Zone 2

 Water

• Prefers subsoil moisture as opposed to water-logged or ponded sites
• Drought tolerant

 Light – Full sun or light shade

 

 Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

General Description

• Large, loose, open-spreading shrub with a flattish crown
• Usually grows in masses and suckers profusely
• Outstanding red fall color
• Similar to Staghorn sumac but shorter

 Form

• Growth Habit – Upright, stout, branching, forms thicket, umbrella-like canopy
• Crown Height – 5 to 15 feet
• Crown Width – 10 to 15 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a variety of soil types
• Soil pH – 5.0 to 8.0

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 3

Water

• Moderately drought tolerant
• Available water determines mature plant height

 Light – Full sun, to partial shade

 

 Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

 General Description

• Large, loose, open-spreading shrub with a flattish crown, branches resembling antlers        
• Borderline hardiness, may regularly freeze back in winter

 Form

• Growth Habit – Upright, stout, branching, umbrella-like canopy
• Crown Height – 10 to 15 feet
• Crown Width – 10 to 20 feet

 Soils

• Soil Texture – Adapted to a variety of soil types
• Soil pH – 4.5 to 7.5, but prefers acidic soils

 Cold Hardiness – USDA Zone 3, however, stem dieback often occurs

 Water – Slightly less drought tolerant than Smooth Sumac

 Light – Full sun to partial shade