Smooth Sumac Rhus glabra Description & Overview Smooth sumac is a Wisconsin native shrub. It’s a vigorous, colonizing shrub with great value to wildlife, and it will thrive in exposed and challenging sites such as roadway embankments where few other plants would survive. Perhaps not for the more refined garden […]

Redosier Dogwood Cornus sericea Description & Overview Redosier Dogwood is a uniquely beautiful Wisconsin native shrub that provides food and shelter to nearly 100 species of birds. It can be used as a stunning hedge or border plant in just about any soil conditions. Thriving in wet areas, with suckering […]

Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Description & Overview A Wisconsin native deciduous shrub, vigorously suckering and spreading, Common Snowberry creates a cohesive bridge between ornamental interest and wildlife value in the landscape. With blueish-green foliage and dainty light pink clustered flower, spring and summer interest is covered. As the leaves drop […]

Common Witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Description & Overview A fall blooming large scale shrub, with native habitat and wildlife value, Common Witchhazel brings year round interest to wooded areas. Fragrant, four (4) crinkly petaled, ribbon-like flowers draw in your interest towards the end of fall. Its unique crooked branched crown is […]

Silky Dogwood Cornus amomum Description & Overview Native to Wisconsin’s streambeds and swamps, Silky Dogwood plays an important role in local ecosystems. A great choice for moist or wet areas. This large-to-medium sized lowland shrub produces spectacular porcelain-blue fruit clusters in late summer which are a favorite of local wildlife. […]

Sweet Fern Comptonia peregrina Description & Overview Sweet Fern, despite its name is not actually a fern (or a perennial). Sweet Fern is a Wisconsin native shrub with aromatically pleasing foliage, especially when its leaves are crushed; this poses a great investment for wildlife and landscape use. Great for slopes […]

Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Description & Overview Buttonbush brings more than its sweet scent and charming blooms into your garden – it is a magnet for wildlife! Another common name for this shrub is honey bells as its spherical white flowers are a favorite among honeybees and bumblebees. It is adapted […]

Common Winterberry Ilex verticillata Description & Overview Common Winterberry is the Wisconsin native deciduous holly, variable in size. Commonly grows in damp areas throughout much of Wisconsin. Abundant bright red fruits hug branches on the female plants from fall into winter. Plant in groups – as both male and female […]

American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis Description & Overview American Elderberry is a large, sprawling, Wisconsin native shrub with bright green leaves, white clusters of fragrant flowers, and juicy, edible black fruits. Elderberry blooms at a time of year when little else is. This native species can tolerate low, wet areas that […]

New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus Description & Overview An attractive Wisconsin native sub-shrub for our prairies and open savannas. A blanket of white flowers in late June to July, and its attractive, deep green foliage makes this shrub sensational for mass plantings. A lover of full sun and well-drained soil, […]

Running Serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera Description & Overview Running Serviceberry is a low-maintenance and adaptable shrub that’s great for natural areas and native gardens. Fruits are a boon to wildlife and people alike. With its upright spreading habit, showy blooms and vibrant fall color, this is a Wisconsin native that provides […]

Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina Description & Overview Staghorn sumac is a vigorous, colonizing small tree or large Wisconsin native shrub with great value to wildlife. It will thrive in exposed and challenging sites such as roadway embankments where few other plants would survive. It’s a low-maintenance plant (in natural or […]

Bladdernut Staphylea trifolia Description & Overview Bladdernut is a highly versatile under-used Wisconsin native shrub that is shade-tolerant, thicket-forming, and provides four-season interest. Bell-shaped white flowers hang from the stems in May. Inflated bladder-like seed capsules follow, persisting through fall and winter. The dark green trifoliate leaves turn a soft […]

Meadowsweet Spiraea alba Description & Overview Meadowsweet is a Wisconsin Native shrub that grows to be 2-4′ tall, thrives in full sun, and grows well in wet areas like bogs or along edges of streams. Meadowsweet doesn’t have the typical neat shrub like structure as it grows in colonies and […]

Glossy Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa var. elata Description & Overview Glossy Black Chokeberry is a suckering shrub native to Wisconsin with four season interest. It has fragrant white flower clusters in Spring, brilliant fall color, and large shiny dark berries that persist throughout winter. It provides habitat and food for […]

American Filbert Corylus americana Description & Overview American Filbert, also known as American Hazelnut, is a suckering shrub native to the edges and understory of Wisconsin woodlands. It will grow in a wide variety of conditions, attracts many species of wildlife, and has four-season interest. American hazelnut is an excellent […]