Best shrubs on Reddit
129 reviews from r/landscaping, r/NativePlantGardening, r/Permaculture and 11 more subreddits
129 reviews from
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By Brand
/By Product
#1
Viburnum
4.1
(7)
"Various species of viburnum"
"May be good."
"Viburnum and Spicebush are great suggestions."
"You have several viburnum options, including high bush cranberry."
"Understory shrubs include Viburnums like V. acerifolium, V. prunifolium, V. nudum."
"Viburnum is a great fast growing hedge."
"Native maples, birches, wild plums, beeches and hollies, serviceberry, beauty berry, viburnum."
#2
Serviceberry
4.3
(6)
"To cover the aesthetic value a dogwood or serviceberry would be about equivalent."
"It’s not my favorite place to get plants, but if you do want a serviceberry."
"Service berries, sweet cherries on dwarfing root stock."
"Service berries (called Juneberries in NE MN), mountain-ash, hazelnuts."
"I like chokeberry, serviceberry as others have mentioned."
"Serviceberry, chokeberry are two possibilities."
#3
Spicebush
4.0
(4)
"Spicebush is a really good one."
"Deer resistant, birds love it."
"Is really nice and grows tall."
"I've planted spicebush, salvia azurea, oakleaf hydrangeas."
#4
Lavender
5.0
(3)
"I’d go with lavender or Jasmine. I’m partial to lavender just because I love it."
"Don't forget to add some pollinator plants in there amongst the privacy. Lavender is a good one."
"Lavender is a good idea. And it will also help a bit with smells."
#5
Hydrangea
4.7
(3)
"Very pretty and thrives in exactly the kind of light situation you described."
"Hydrangeas grow anywhere & are hard to kill."
"Hydrangea quercifolia is going to get much taller than what it sounds like you want."
#6
Arborvitae
4.7
(3)
"Did anyone suggest arborvitae?"
"Arborvitae’s every 3’"
"Arborvitaes are a classic, can be found easily and in various sizes."
#7
Rhododendron
3.5
(4)
"Deer only eat them if starving."
"Rhododendron might do well in your area."
"Rhododendron, azalea, burning bush, forsythia and lilac all do okay with being close to the shore."
"The deer here seem to like it."
#8
Ninebark
4.0
(3)
"Rarely if ever have deer damage."
"I’m loving the ninebarks I see blooming, they’re native."
"Shrubs like nine bark, viburnum, oakleaf hydrangea."
#9
Fruit Trees
5.0
(2)
"I personally love fruit trees. They’re a little more work, but there’s nothing like getting a bumper harvest."
"Nothing better than picking your own fruit from your own trees."
#10
Dawn Redwood
5.0
(2)
"DAWN REDWOOD!! DO IT DO IT!"
"DAWN REDWOOD!! DO IT DO IT!"
#11
Maples
4.5
(2)
"Maples grow fast."
"Maples grow fast."
#12
Azalea
4.5
(2)
"I just did the same and we bought azaleas, there are many different kinds."
"Azalea"
#13
Cornus
4.5
(2)
"Is a great species that loves shade."
"I've planted coloured stem dogwoods (cornus alba) and guelder rose (not actually a rose - viburnum opulus) in very soggy conditions and they've done fine."
#14
Podocarpus
4.0
(2)
"Second vote for podocarpus with your limited space."
"Podocarpus, Viburnum and Indian Hawthorn are all great choices."
#15
Holly
4.0
(2)
"I doubt they'd eat that."
"How about holly (ilex aquifolium) for its wildlife value."
#16
Butterfly Bush
4.0
(2)
"There are a lot of shrubs out there that grow well in containers."
"I might recommend a butterfly bush."
#17
Redbud
4.0
(2)
"Redbuds grow pretty quick."
"Redbuds are great/they’re blooming here now."
#18
Pieris
4.0
(2)
"2 more that look good in smaller yards are pieris and rhododendron."
#19
Privacy Trees
5.0
(1)
"I DO sell privacy trees. They grow on average 13 feet per growing season."
#20
Virginia Sweetspire
5.0
(1)
"Have never been touched."
#21
Native Plants
5.0
(1)
"Aim for things native to your region."
#22
RHS Pyracantha
5.0
(1)
"Personally, I love Pyracantha in front gardens!"
#23
Blue Nootka False Cypress
5.0
(1)
"I like Blue Nootka False Cypress, an evergreen that grows in a pyramid shape."
#24
Hummingbird Mint
5.0
(1)
"My hummingbird mint has also been successful and attracted lots of pollinators last year!"
#25
Lowbush Blueberry
5.0
(1)
"Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) sounds perfect for your situation otherwise."
#26
Mahonia
5.0
(1)
"Shrub suggestions would be: Mahonia 'Soft Caress' 3-5'Hx4'W. It has long graceful leaves and bright yellow flowers."
#27
Halehaven
5.0
(1)
"A freestone peach like a halehaven is at the top of my list!"
#28
Witch Hazel
5.0
(1)
"I personally love witch hazel and redosier dogwood for a bit of winter interest."
#29
Amelanchier
5.0
(1)
"To cover the aesthetic value a dogwood or serviceberry would be about equivalent."
#30
Cornus alternifolia
5.0
(1)
"Pagoda dogwood is beautiful and shade tolerant."
#31
Lonicera canadensis
5.0
(1)
"If you can find it, Fly Honeysuckle is a wonderful early bloomer in spring."
#32
Sophora secundiflora
5.0
(1)
"Texas mountain laurel! done and done."
#33
Cajanus cajan
5.0
(1)
"I used pigeon peas in South Florida. They worked really well."
#34
American Holly
5.0
(1)
"Grows in sun or shade, and takes well to pruning."
#35
Native Keystone Species
5.0
(1)
"Plant native keystone species: oaks, cherries, birches, willows, maples."
#36
Cotoneaster
4.0
(1)
"Berry-bearing low growing shrubs"
#37
Skimmia
4.0
(1)
"Skimmia?"
#38
Austree
4.0
(1)
"Austree's grow insanely fast and are awesome shade trees."
#39
Cryptomeria
4.0
(1)
"Fast privacy: cryptomeria, green giant arborvitae, tea olive."
#40
Dirca
4.0
(1)
"Should be good choices."
#41
Northern Bayberry
4.0
(1)
"Rarely if ever have deer damage."
#42
Nepeta
4.0
(1)
"Does well for me on an unforgiving dry sunny slope."
#43
Clethra
4.0
(1)
"Would be another good one."
#44
Honeyberries
4.0
(1)
#45
New Jersey Tea
4.0
(1)
#46
Fuchsia Hawkshead
4.0
(1)
"Fuchsia Hawkshead is bloody lovely."
#47
Physocarpus
4.0
(1)
"Something like a Physocarpus might work well. They're pretty sturdy, unfussy shrubs which prefer moist soil."
#48
Coffeeberry
4.0
(1)
"Coffeeberry, toyon (if you're ok with pruning it), and ceanothus concha, if it gets enough sun."
#49
California Lilac
4.0
(1)
"California lilac, hardy geraniums, dwarf varieties of berberis, loropetalum."
#50
Spice Bush
4.0
(1)
"Spice bush. Nice little tree looking shrubs. No maintenance."
#51
Pine
4.0
(1)
"Pine’s, evergreens, fruit trees, work well…"
#52
Russian Sage
4.0
(1)
"Russian sage (tho technically not native) does amazingly well here and the bees love it."
#53
Apache Plume
4.0
(1)
"I have an apache plume. You normally don't see them in urban & suburban gardens and it is one of the highlights of my native plant garden."
#54
Chokeberry
4.0
(1)
"I like chokeberry, serviceberry as others have mentioned."
#55
Evergreens
4.0
(1)
"I might want a few evergreens."
#56
Emerald Green Arborvitae
4.0
(1)
"Emerald Green or Green Giant Arborvitae."
#57
Green Giant Arborvitae
4.0
(1)
"Emerald Green or Green Giant Arborvitae."
#58
Blue Caltrops
4.0
(1)
"I like the little blue caltrops, op."
#59
Moringa
4.0
(1)
"Moringa tree grows 10-12 ft per year."
#60
Shumard Oak
4.0
(1)
"Shumard oaks grow moderately."
#61
Ginkgo
4.0
(1)
"Ginkgo."
#62
Chinese Pistache
4.0
(1)
"Friend planted a bunch of Chinese pistache with his oaks."
#63
Cottonwood
4.0
(1)
"...or even a Cottonwood if you are feeling brave."
#64
Sycamore
4.0
(1)
"How about adding a Sycamore (they're very fast growing but not weak)"
#65
Mountain Fetterbush
4.0
(1)
"Mountain Fetterbush (pieris floribunda) is a good one in my region."
#66
Choisya
4.0
(1)
"It slowly establishes, but easy to control when it matures."
#67
Kelsey's Red-twig Dogwood
4.0
(1)
"Any of the dogwood shrubs would work well in the shade."
#68
Chokecherry
4.0
(1)
"Perhaps chokecherry, serviceberry, elderberry, staghorn sumac, or dogwood?"
#69
Korean Spice Viburnum
4.0
(1)
"Check these- Korean spice viburnum, Judd viburnum, Sweetshrub."
#70
Prairie Moon
4.0
(1)
"Prairie Moon is a great national retailer for natives."
#71
Elder
4.0
(1)
"Seriously, get some fruit trees. Elder is native."
#72
Red Maple
4.0
(1)
"Red maple grow at a pretty good clip, beautiful fall color as well."
#73
Hemlock
4.0
(1)
"I like hemlocks for borders. Not crazy expensive for a taller tree."
#74
Corkscrew Willow
4.0
(1)
"Corkscrew willows grow 15 feet a year up to 50 feet."
#75
Willow Oak
4.0
(1)
"Willow Oaks grow fast, especially if you fertilize them."
#76
Pecan Tree
4.0
(1)
"I would do a pecan tree for sure and other nut/fruit bearing trees."
#77
Hazelnut
4.0
(1)
"If you love squirrel, plant some hazelnut. They grow and produce quickly."
#78
Lupine
4.0
(1)
"There are lupines native to Arizona. They are related to legumes."
#79
Bush Lupine
4.0
(1)
"Lupinus albufrons (bush lupine) spelling might be incorrect."
#80
Pontilla
4.0
(1)
"You could look into pontilla. They are pretty and cheap."
#81
Myrica cerifera
4.0
(1)
"Perhaps northern wax myrtle or a viburnum?"
#82
Hypericum prolificum
4.0
(1)
"Shrubby st John's wort? Might be a good fit to check out."
#83
Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'
4.0
(1)
"Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is also very nice."
#84
Hamamelis
4.0
(1)
"I will add witch hazel, Black cohosh, blue cohosh."
#85
Illicium
4.0
(1)
"Illicium."
#86
Prosopis
4.0
(1)
"Mesquite. Good nitrogen fixer also I believe the pods are edible."
#87
Parkinsonia
4.0
(1)
"Palo Verde. Young pods are edible like edamame."
#88
Senna
4.0
(1)
"Senna. Bees love it."
#89
Olneya tesota
4.0
(1)
"Ironwood. Also edible."
#90
Acacia
4.0
(1)
"Acacia. Bees also love it."
#91
Acacia greggii
4.0
(1)
"Catclaw. I think it’s technically an acacia variety."
#92
Calliandra
4.0
(1)
"Fairy duster. Bees love it."
#93
Diervilla
3.0
(1)
"Would probably work although it's not the showiest."
#94
Euonymus
3.0
(1)
"Deer love it so may have to cage for a while."
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