Rhododendron ferrugineum (sometimes called alpenrose, snow-rose, or rusty-leaved alpenrose) is an evergreen shrub that grows just above the tree line in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and northern Apennines, on acid soils.It is the type species for the Rhododendron genus. It may grow up to 1 m tall and produces clusters of pinkish-red, bell-shaped flower..

Pokeberry (Phytolacca Americana) occurs naturally in the fields and woodlands of the eastern United States with rare occurrences west of the Mississippi River. It is a large species of plant, often reaching over 6 feet in height with ovate, textured leaves and a central flower stalk that develops into a cluster of purplish berries in late summer. A..

Arabian or Arabica coffee is a lovely upright evergreen shrub with graceful gray-barked branches, fragrant white flowers and fruits (drupes) that yield some of the best coffee for drinking. Native to Ethiopia but now cultivated in wooded, high-altitude plantations throughout the tropics, Arabica coffee is by far the most economically important of a..

Ninebark is a hardy deciduous shrub with long-lasting flowers and fruits and exfoliating bark. This native of the eastern United States suckers and has an irregular habit and informal look but tough constitution. In the wild it exists along the fields and forest margins of uplands and lowlands.The small lobed leaves of ninebark are typically dark g..

Though native to China, Korea and Japan, autumn olive has become naturalized across all of eastern North America since its initial introduction in 1830. The silvery red berries of this large deciduous shrub are produced in profusion and eaten and spread by birds and other wildlife. Tough and fast-growing, the autumn olive was once favored as a road..

Sambucus melanocarpa is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft 1in). It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from Jun to July, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in..

Small, pretty white blossoms in spring, orangey fall color and dark purplish-black berries make black chokeberry a great shrub for naturalistic massed plantings. An upright deciduous shrub that suckers to form a thicket of twigs and leaves, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Indivi..

Colutea arborescens is a species of leguminous shrub known by the common name bladder senna. It is native to Europe and North Africa, but it is known on other continents where it is grown as an ornamental and used in landscaping for erosion control. It is also known in the wild as an occasionally weedy escapee from cultivation. The shrub takes a ro..

Bloodtwig dogwood is a multi-stemmed, large, deciduous shrub with upright branches and a spreading, suckering habit. This European native is grown for its colorful young stems of blood red that turn dark red-green to brown as they age. In early summer it produces many flattened, rounded clusters of white flowers followed by small, oval, blue-black ..

Common box is a dense, rounded broadleaf evergreen shrub grown for its glossy green foliage and neat habit. Native to Europe, North Africa and Turkey, it is a classic hedge and specimen plant in many of the great European gardens. It tolerates shearing and can be shaped in ornamental forms. Its small leaves give the sheared plant a tidy texture.Com..

Grown for its beautiful clusters of elongated flowers, butterflybush is a tough medium-sized shrub with an upright to arching habit. Originating from China and Japan, it has green to gray-green leaves and produces large clusters of beautiful flowers at the ends of its branches. These appear from midsummer to frost, but will continue to bloom with g..

So why would gardeners grow such a deadly poisonous plant as a garden ornamental? Showy forms of castor bean are bold, brightly colored and thrive in high heat and drought. In tropical regions castor bean grows as a tall evergreen subshrub, but in temperate zones it is commonly grown as an annual/tender perennial. This native of northern Africa and..

A member of the witchhazel family, this medium-sized, broadleaf evergreen shrub is native to Japan and China. Fragrant, spider-like, white flowers appear in late winter and early spring and sporadically at other seasons. The arching, spherical habit and rich green rounded leaves are attractive year-round. Chinese fringe flower grows best in light s..

Chinese holly is a large, broadleaf evergreen shrub native to China and Korea. The squarish, dark green, shiny leaves typically bear conspicuous spines at the tips of their five lobes, although some cultivars have fewer or no spines. Female plants have long-lasting large red berries in fall. The flowers appear in early spring and have little orname..

Larger in leaf and flower than eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), this Chinese native makes a beautiful shrub or small tree for sun or light shade. The bright purple-pink pea-flowers cluster along the upright gray branches in mid-spring, before the large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves emerge. Abundant green seedpods follow the flowers, maturing to b..