Native Shrubs

Saskatoon
Serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia

3-10 ft. tall

Rich, moist, well-drained soil. Sun to partial shade, drought tolerant,

Zone 2

A hardy, branching shrub that is attractive in the spring w/ blossoms and edible fruit.

Kinickinick

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

4 in. ht.

20 in. width

Well-drained lime-free soil in a sunny position, drought tolerant,
Zone 2

Evergreen, good for ground cover, containers, and rock gardens w/ white flowers flushed with pink; red fruit.

Fringed Sage

Artemisia frigida

18 in. tall

Well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 2

Semi-evergreen, use in shrub borders, or in dry gardens.

Big Sage

Artemisia tridentate

3-10 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 4

Semi-evergreen, multi-stemmed, silvery in color, aromatic shrub. Use for borders or in dry gardens for foliage contrast.

4-Wing Saltbush

Atriplex canescens

3-8 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 4

A dull green shrub, until early summer when its leaves take on a bronze tinge. Good in dry gardens and shrub borders.

Ceanothus
"Snowbrush"

Ceanothus velutinus Doug.

2-8 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, full sun, Zone 5

Evergreen, an aromatic, erect shrub w/ thick, glossy, dark green leaves, and small white flowers.

Mahogany,
Curl-leaf Mountain

Cercocarpus  ledifolius

12-15 ft. tall

Moist well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant, Zone 3

Shrubby evergreen, w/ twisted branches, good for borders and seaside gardens. Has tiny white flowers in summer; silver fruit.

Rubber/Grey
Rabbitbrush

Chrysothamnus nauseosus

3 ft. tall

Likes various soils that are moist and well-drained, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Evergreen; grey colored shrub w/ yellow corollas in late summer. Use for shrub borders.

Green Rabbitbrush

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus

2-3 ft. tall

Likes various soils that are moist and well-drained, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Evergreen; green in color which separates it from the rest of the sagebrush community. Retains its dried flower clusters through spring.

Silky Dogwood

Cornus  amomum

10 ft. tall

Fertile, well-drained, neutral-acidic soil.

Use for autumn color, shrub borders, w/ its dark green leaves turning red in autumn, white flowers in spring and blue-purple fruit.

Pumilla Dogwood
(Dwarf)

Cornus  pumila

8 ft. tall

Fertile, well-drained, neutral-acidic soil.

Has a compact branching habit, w/ clustering white flowers in the summer, great for borders and winter silhouette’s.

Red Twig
Dogwood

Cornus  sericea 'stolonifera'

6-8 ft. tall

Fertile, well-drained, neutral-acidic soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 2

A hardy shrub that spreads by suckering. In autumn leaves turn orange-red w/ white fruit. Use for borders and color.

Winterfat

Eurotia lanata

3 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

This low spreading shrub is good in dry gardens for foliage/ fruit contrast. Has gray felted leaves and silky white fruit.

Apache Plume

Falugia  paradoxa

6-8 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 5

Semi-evergreen w/ palm-shaped leaves, and white flowers, use for borders and contrast of foliage/ flower.

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

5 ft. tall

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil,

A spreading shrub, use in rock gardens and borders. Red fruit and white to pink flowers in spring.

Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virgianiana

12 ft. tall

Moist well-drained soil

An upright shrub that can be pruned into tree form, use in woodland gardens, borders, and group plantings. Yellow flowers in autumn.

Ocean Spray

Holodiscus discolor

6-12 ft. tall

12 ft. wide

Moist, fertile, well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Evergreen; great for bordering yard, in woodland gardens, it has creamy flowers in the summer.

Tall
Oregon Grape

Mahonia aquifolium

4-6 ft. tall

8 ft. wide

Moist, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant, Zone 5

Evergreen; a suckering clump-forming growth habit. Dark green leaflets and racemes of yellow flowers in late winter. Use in shrub borders, woodland gardens and informal hedges.

Cascade
Oregon Grape

Mahonia nervosa

18”-3 ft. tall

Moist, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, partial to full shade,
Zone 6

Evergreen; grey green leaflets which can get up to 24 in. long w/ yellow flowers and blue-black fruit. Use in containers, shrub borders.

Creeping
Oregon Grape

Mahonia repens

18 in. tall

Moist, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant, Zone 4

Evergreen; use for ground cover, under planting, spillovers. Deep yellow flowers in spring and blue-black fruit. Spreads by suckering.  

Mock Orange

Philadelphus lewisii

8-10 ft. tall

10 ft. wide

Moderately fertile, well-drained soil, sun to partial shade,
Zone 4

Use in shrub borders or woodland gardens. Has bright green leaves and sweet-scented white flowers.

Ninebark

Physocarpus malvaceus

3-6 ft. tall

Moist, fertile, well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant,
Zone 2

A branching thicker-forming shrub, use in mixed shrubbery. Lobed leaves, cup-shaped white flowers.

Dwarf Russian
Almond

Prunus tenella

5 ft. tall

Fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil,

A branching shrub w/ deep pinkish red flowers and dull yellow fruit. Use for shrub borders and spring gardens.

Bitterbrush

Purshia tridentate

4-8 ft. tall

Moist, well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 4

Evergreen; free branching form w/ pale yellow flowers. Browsed by wildlife.

Oakleaf Sumac

Rhus triloba

6-8 ft. tall

Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Use for shrub borders, informal hedge a screen. Leaves have 3 toothed leaflets, light green flowers and red fruit.

Smooth Sumac

Rhus  glabra

8-15 ft. tall

Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

A branching and sucking shrub w/ blue-green leaflets that turn red in autumn, greenish red flowers in summer and crimson fruit.

Golden Current

Ribes aureum

6 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant, Zone 3

Use in shrub borders, hedges, and under planting it has scented yellow flowers w/ purple black fruit.

Wax Current

Ribes cereum

2-5 ft. tall

Well-drained, dry soil, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Leaves are small w/ waxy upper surface, flowers are greenish-white and tubular, fruit is bright red or orange.

Sierra Current

Ribes nevadadense

3-5 ft. tall

Tolerates full sun, partial shade and seasonal flooding

Fragrant flowers from April to July, edible fruit

Red Flowering
Currant

Ribes sanguineum

6-8 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 3

Red-brown branches, dark green leaves, pink to red flowers w/ blue-black fruit. Use in shrub borders, hedges and for autumn color.

Rugosa Rose

Rosa Rugosa

3-8 ft. tall

Well-drained, medium loamy soil w/ added organic manure, full sun, drought tolerant,
Zone 2

Hardy shrub w/ prickly stems, white to pink scented flowers, use in rose gardens, borders and for erosion control.

Nootka Rose

Rosa nutkana

4-6 ft. tall

Well-drained, medium loamy soil w/ added organic manure, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Has scented lilac-pink flowers in summer, grey green leaves, use in rose gardens, tubs, or mixed shrub borders.

Woods Rose

Rosa woodsii

3-5 ft. tall

Well-drained, medium loamy soil w/ added organic manure, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant,
Zone 3

Edible fruit and pink flowers in the summer, leaves add color in the autumn, use in rose gardens or mixed shrub borders.

Prairie Cascade
Willow

Salix cascadensis

35-40 ft. tall

Wet sites, full sun,

Zone 3 to 5

Deciduous, golden bark adds winter color, extremely fast growing up to 18” per year. Can be pruned to a weeping form

Peach Leaf
Willow

Salix amygdaloides

30-60 ft. tall

Moist soil, full sun, Zone 3

Use for restoration, along streams, lakes and rivers or in large landscapes.

Coyote Willow

Salix exigua

12-20 ft. tall

Moist well-drained soil, full sun, drought tolerant, Zone 2

Grows rapidly, suckering habit, good for erosion control on streambanks. Size varies depending on soil moisture.

Sandbar Willow

Salix exigua – var. melanopsis

> 20 ft. in wet areas

Much smlr in dry areas

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 3

Establishes quickly, controls erosion on streambanks

Pacific Willow

Salix lasiandra

20-50 ft. tall

Wet soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 3

Use for restoration along streams, rivers, lakes, also in woodland gardens or large landscapes.

Yellow Willow

Salix lutea

20-40 ft. tall

Wet soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 3

Use for restoration along streams, rivers, lakes, also in woodland gardens or large landscapes.

Sitka Willow

Salix stichensis

Up to 30 ft. tall

Moist soil, prefers the coast, full sun, Zone 3

Shrub to tree w/ blue-green leaves that are shiny w/ velvety underneath,

Blue Elderberry

Sambucus caerulca

10-25 ft. tall

Moist well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant, Zone 3

Use in woodland gardens or mixed shrubbery, cream flowers and black fruit in summer.

Red Elderberry

Sambucus racemosa

8-12 ft. tall

Moist well-drained soil, partial shade, Zone 5

Use in mixed shrubbery, flowers are pale green to cream w/ tiny red berries.

Silver
Buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea

8-12 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 2

Silvery leaves w/ yellowish white flowers in spring, red fruit. Use for foliage contrast, dry gardens, borders.

Russet
Buffaloberry

Shepherdia Canadensis

6-8 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant,
Zone 2

Flowers range form small pale to bright red, w/ silvery leaves, use in shrub borders for foliage contrast.

Shiny Leaf Spirea

White Spirea

Spirea  betufolia

1-3 ft. tall

Moist sites, but can tolerate dry sites, shade tolerant
Zone 3 – 5

White and pink flowers in early to mid summer, good for disturbed sites

Douglas Spirea

Spirea  douglasii

3-6 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun, partial shade or full shade,
Zone 4

A suckering low growing shrub w/ white flowers and purple tone leaves in autumn, use in shrub borders.

White
Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

3-6 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, drought tolerant, Zone 3

Fast growing shrub w/ suckering habit, pink flowers and white berries, use in hedges, for screens or fruit displays.

Mountain
Snowberry

Symphoricarpos orephilus

2-5 ft. tall

Well-drained soil, sun to partial shade, Zone 3

Poisonous fruits, adds diverse color and foliage in woodland gardens, light pink tubular flowers.

Evergreen
Huckleberry

Vaccinium ovatum

8-12 ft tall

Cool, moist, humus-rich acidic, well-drained soil, partial to full shade,
Zone 7

Foliage lasts well into winter, white to pink flowers, blue-black fruit, use in informal hedges, tubs and borders.

Yucca
(narrow leaf)

Yucca angustissima

2 ft. tall

Semi-desert, foothills, partial shade to full sun Zone 4

Flower stalk emerges in early spring to 5ft. w/ white flowers

Yucca
(broader leaf)

Yucca baccata 

3 ft. tall

Semi-desert, foothills, partial shade to full sun Zone 4

Flowering stalk w/ banana like fruit