Many of the shrubs used in typical foundation plantings, such as euonymus, cherry laurel, and Asian azaleas have been overused in our local landscape. Others, such as privet, nandina, and burning bush are considered invasive in Northern Virginia. Learn how to broaden your plant choices from a palette of alternative native shrubs that can add beauty and diversity to your home garden while providing nectar, pollen, and fruit for local insects and birds.
Speaker: Elaine Mills, an experienced Extension Master Gardener and a creative force behind the resource Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic. Elaine is a co-coordinator of the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden, a Virginia Cooperative Extension Demonstration Garden in Arlington, Virginia.
Zoom session, recorded July 10, 2020
Video of Presentation
Chapter Breaks
- 3:13 Issues with Typical Plantings
- 6:32 Advantages of Native Shrubs
- 7:50 Native Alternatives to Invasive Shrubs
- 24:21 Questions
- 30:36 Native Alternatives to Other Non-Native Shrubs
- 42:20 Other Attractive Native Shrubs
- 46:52 Best Practices
- 53:55 Foundation Plantings with Native Shrubs
- 58:29 Resources
- 1:03:03 Questions
Additional Resources
Addendum: Additional Details and Answers to Chat Questions
Invasive Shrubs & Native Alternatives
❌ Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
✅ Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
❌ Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
✅ Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
❌ Bush Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.)
✅ Sweet-shrub (Calycanthus floridus)
❌ Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
✅ New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
❌ Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japonica)
✅ Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa)
❌ Nandina (Nandina domestica)
✅ Strawberry-bush (Euonymus americanus)
❌ Privets (Ligustrum spp.)
✅ Possum-haw (Viburnum nudum)
❌ Viburnums [Non-Native] (Viburnum spp.)
✅ Arrow-wood (Viburnum dentatum)
Other Non-Native Shrubs & Native Alternatives
❌ Asian Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)
✅ Pinxterbloom Azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
❌ Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
✅ Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
❌ Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
✅ Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
❌ Japanese Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus)
✅ Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
❌ Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
✅ Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
❌ Yew (Taxus baccata)
✅ Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Other Attractive Native Shrubs
Shrubs with Interesting Flowers
✅ Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
✅ Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
✅ Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Shrubs with Nutritious Fruit
✅ American Beauty-berry (Callicarpa americana)
✅ Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
✅ Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Shrubs with Great Fall Color
✅ Fragrant Sumac ‘Gro-Low’ (Rhus aromatica)
✅ Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
✅ Witch Alder (Fothergilla gardenii)
Additional Native Viburnums
✅ Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)
✅ Maple Leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)