- Taxus canadensis (Canadian yew) – Many!
- Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping juniper) – Too shady for this to be very happy, but there are a couple of spots that get enough sun — by the firepit and near the top of the basement stairs.
- Rhododendrons & Azaleas
- Rhododendron maximum (Great laurel) – A bunch on the south side of the driveway; another bunch in the back yard; a few in the front yard
- Rhododendron calendulaceum (flame azalea) – Two in the front yard; one in the back yard
- Rhododendron atlanticum (Coastal azalea)
- Rhododendron viscosum (Swamp azalea)
- Rhododendron arborescens (Sweet azalea)
- Rhododendron minus (Carolina azalea)
- Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) – several in the front; one in the back
- Kalmia angustifolia (sheep laurel) – several, around.
- Viburnums
- Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood viburnum) – throughout the black
- Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-leafed viburnum) – a natural patch in the back
- Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry)
- Viburnum nudum (Witherod)
- Dogwoods – (Cornus, Swida) also listed in trees
- Cornus sericea (red twig dogwood, red osier dogwood)
- Swida amomum (Silky dogwood)
- Ilex
- Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) – One or two in the front yard, a couple in the backyard, and several near the raspberries & the big rock.
- Ilex glabra (Inkberry)
- Hydrangea
- Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth hydrangea) – At least one, by the front steps to the front yard.
- Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak-leaved hydrangea) – I love the foliage on this. We have a couple — one or two in the front, one or two near the firepit.
- Cherry
- Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry) (as well as numerous black cherry trees)
- Amelanchier / Serviceberry
- Amelanchier arborea (Downy serviceberry)
- Amelanchier canadensis (Canadian serviceberry)
- Amelanchier sanguinea (Roundleaf serviceberry)
- Amelanchier alnifolia (Western serviceberry)
- Berries
- Lingonberry
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry) – beautiful, but not enough sun to really work here.
- Sambucus canadensis (Common elderberry) – Planted 2021 & doing great.
- Rubus odoratus (flowering raspberry)
- Vaccinium angustifolium (low-bush blueberry)
- Vaccinium corymbosum (high-bush blueberry) – We do not have tons of son, but we do get some blueberries, if we keep the squirrels off!
- Gaylussacia brachycera (Box huckleberry) – very small shrub, on Ash Hill
- Calycanthus floridus – back yard
- Lindera benzoin (spicebush)
- Clethra alnifolia (Sweet pepperbush)
- Aronia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry)
- Aralia nudicaulis (Sarsaparilla)
White flowers:
- Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush) – planted two near the paper birch
- Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf fothergilla, bottlebrush) – three near laundry garden
- Aruncus dioicus (Goats beard) – quite a few planted in fern triangle
- Leucothoe fontanesiana (Mountain doghobble) – A batch on the south side, near Squirrel Hill.
- Itea virginica – planted 3 on Ash Hill
- Gale palustris (Myrica gale) – planted one near firepit
- Comptonia peregrina (Sweetfern) – planted several by front steps, and some near firepit pine trees
- Rhus aromatica (Fragrant sumac) – planted a couple near laundry garden, and a couple at street south border
- Honeysuckles
- Lonicera sempiverens – Two in the front, near the flame azaleas
- Dierville lonicera – Three in the back, under the oak tree
- (plus an invasive honeysuckle that I’ve seen a couple of times)
non-native shrubs that were planted:
- Rhododendron indicum (Indian azalea, Satsuki azalea)
- Japanese andromeda (japonica)
- spindle
- Buxus sempervirens (Common boxweed)
- Symphoricarpos (Snowberry)
- Pinus mugo (Dwarf mugo pine) – completely eaten by moths around 2019
- Rubus – other varieties of raspberry
- Ilex crenata (Japanese holly) – Trying to replace with Ilex glabra when appropriate.
- Viburnum dilatatum (Linden arrowwood)
- Forsythia – No, it’s not native! Trying to replace it with Lindera benzoin when I can.
- Deutzia scabra (Fuzzy deutzia) – In the back yard, intermingled with Japonica and rhododendrons. This is Japanese, in the hydrangea family. However, this one never blooms, because it is in too much shade (and perhaps it wants a friend). Will likely take it down!
- Spiraea vanhouttei (Vanhouttei Spirea, aka bridal wreath) – in the front ornamental bed, beautiful white flowers that bloom mid-May in most years. Native to China.
invasive shrubs I’m actively trying to remove when found:
- Euonymus elatus (Burning bush)
- Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
- Rosa multiflora (Multiflora rose)