Revised
Deciduous shrubs
Many small trees and large shrubs thrive under large shade trees. These small trees are often a good size plant to use in small, urban yards where space and light may be limited.
Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
8 to 12 feet tall, 6 to 12 feet wide - Creamy white flower clusters in late spring, followed by blue-black berries in fall. Fall color varies from yellow to reddish-purple. Adapted to many soil conditions. Suckers freely.
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
8 to 12 feet tall, 8 to 15 feet wide - Showy panicles of white flowers in midsummer. Suckering, multi-stemmed shrub. Better pest tolerance than other buckeyes.
Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
8 to 10 feet tall, 6 to 8 feet wide - Flowers pink in bud, opening to fragrant white clusters 3 inches across in early spring. Semi-evergreen foliage. Adapts to most soil pHs. Prefers moist soil. Many similar hybrids are available in the nursery trade.
Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
- Shade tolerance
Light, medium to full - Size
20 to 25 feet tall, 15 to 20 feet wide - Yellow, straplike flowers in late fall, often at the same time as leaves are colored yellow. Best in moist shade.
Highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
8 to 12 feet tall and wide - White, 4 inches clusters of flowers in midspring, followed by bright red fruits in fall, persisting into winter. Fall foliage color ranges from yellow to reddish-purple. 'Compactum' and Arnold' are dwarf versions, 3 to 6 feet tall.
Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica)
- Shade tolerance
Light, medium to full - Size
3 to 6 feet tall, 6 to 9 feet wide - Spreading, arching plant with yellowish-green stems. Bright yellow flowers in midspring and sporadically through the season. Does best with low fertility and well-drained soils.
Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
4 to 8 feet tall and wide - Fragrant pinkish-white flowers in midspring. Dark green summer foliage sometimes turning purple in fall. 'Cayuga' is more disease tolerant.
Large fothergilla (Fothergilla major)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
6 to 10 feet tall, 4 to 8 feet wide - White, bottlebrush tufts of flowers in midspring. Fall leaf color is a mix of yellow, orange and red. Requires acidic soil.
Leatherwood (Dirca palustris)
- Shade tolerance
Light, medium to full - Size
3 to 6 feet tall and wide - Small yellow flowers in early spring. Yellow-green foliage. Prefers moist shade.
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
3 to 4 feet tall, 3 to 5 feet wide - Small white flowers in summer. Tolerates dry sites. Some leaf spot and mildew problems.
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
4 to 8 feet tall, 3 to 5 feet wide - White flowers in summer, changing to pink, then brown. Coarse, oak-leaf shaped foliage. Best in moist, well-drained soil.
Redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
8 to 12 feet tall and wide - Noted for dark red bark coloration. Prune out old stems to maintain best color. White flower clusters in late spring and sporadically through the summer. Fall color is sometimes reddish-purple. Compact forms 'Isanti' and 'Kelseyi' are susceptible to leaf spots.
Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
2 to 5 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide - Bluish-green foliage color. Bright yellow 1-inch flowers in summer. Seed capsules persist through winter. Well-adapted to dry, heavy soils.
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
- Shade tolerance
Light, medium to full - Size
3 to 5 feet tall and wide - Cultivar 'Annabelle' produces panicles of flowers up to 1' foot wide in mid- to late summer. Cut back to ground each winter. Suckers and spreads from roots. Does best with moisture.
Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
- Shade tolerance
Light, medium or full - Size
3 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide - Fragrant white to pink flowers in summer. Good for heavy shade and wet sites. Spreads slowly through suckers.
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Shade tolerance
Light, medium or full - Size
3 to 5 feet tall and wide - Fragrant racemes of white flowers in summer. Deep red fall foliage color. Does best in moist sites.
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
- Shade tolerance
Light to medium - Size
6 to 12 feet tall and wide - A deciduous holly. Separate male and female plants. Bright red berries on females in fall through early winter. Prefers moist, acid soil.