Small Shrubs

Small Shrubs
In recent years, plant breeders have introduced many new and outstanding small or dwarf shrubs. Modern landscapes call for these plants which maintain a small dwarf-like effect. Normally, a dwarf plant is one that generally does not exceed three feet in ultimate height. Most dwarf plants are adaptable to planter boxes and tub plantings, or in restricted areas.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Size	Exposure	Features	Problems
Dwarf Yaupon	Ilex vomitoria nana	2 ft. x 2 ft.	sun or shade	-fine textured evergreen -does not produce berries -medium to slow rate of growth	.
Dwarf Bamboo	Bambusa sasa pygara	1 ft.	sun or shade	-evergreen -spreading clumps -winter hardy	.
Dwarf Purple-leaf Barberry	Berberis	1 ft. x 1 ft.	sun (for good color)	-medium rate of growth	.
Dwarf Sasanqua	Camellia sasanqua	.	-semi- or partial shade (but will grow in full sun) -prefers acid soil	-many good varieties -fall and winter flowering	.
Holly Fern	Cyrtomium falcatum	18 in.	-shade -cool, well-drained soil	-hardy evergreen fern -slow growth -very good pot plant	.
Dwarf Junipers	Several varieties	.	-sun -well-drained soil	-low and compact -attractive blue to silver foliage -fine texture	-susceptible to spider mites and bagworm
Lantana	Several varieties	.	sun	-summer flowering -yellow, orange, pink or white blossoms depending on variety -fast growth	-winter kills but returns in spring
Dwarf Pomegranate	Punica granatum nana	3-4 ft.	.	-deciduous shrub -fine texture -small orange blooms in summer -medium to slow rate of growth	.
Aspidistra	Aspidistra elatior	2 ft.	prefers shade	-leafy evergreen -very rugged -slow rate of growth	-winter kills but will return
Dwarf or Kurume Azaleas	Azalea obtusum	2-3 ft.	-prefers shade -acid soil	-many varieties -slow growing evergreen -spring flowering of pink, white, red and salmon flowers -mulch to protect shallow roots -must have loose organic soil	.
Boxwood	Buxus	2-3 ft.	sun or shade	-slow growing evergreen -will take severe clipping and pruning	-susceptible to nematodes
Cycad or Sago Palm	Cycas revoluta	3-4 ft. x 3-4 ft.	sun or shade (best in protected shaded areas)	-evergreen -very slow growing	-not completely winter hardy -may need protection
Leather-leaf Mahonia	Mahonia bealii	3-4 ft.	shade	-evergreen -very slow growth -clusters of yellow spiked blooms in fall -bluish-purple berries in February or early spring	.
Dwarf Nandina	Nandina domestica	.	sun or shade	-low, compact evergreen -rich fall color -easy, slow growing	.
Dwarf Pyracantha	Pyracantha "Tiny Tim"	3 ft.	.	-compact evergreen which is not as thorny as large Pyracantha -rich red-orange berries in late fall until early spring	.
Indian or Yeddo Hawthorne	Raphiolepis umbellata ovata	.	sun or shade	-many varieties -slow growing evergreen -clusters of soft pink, white, or bright pink blooms in late spring	.
Fatsia	Fatsia japonica	3-4 ft.	shade	-coarse textured tropical evergreen -medium-slow rate of growth	-may get scale insects
Dwarf Yucca	Yucca filamentosa	2 ft.	sun or shade	-waxy-white blooms on long stock in late spring into summer	.
Dwarf Chinese Holly	Ilex cornuta "Rotunda"	3 ft.	sun or shade	-dense evergreen -medium-slow rate of growth -no berries	.
Dwarf Holly	Ilex cornuta rotendifolia	.	.	-very dwarf and compact	.
Aucuba	Aucuba japonica	2-3 ft.	shade	-slow growing evergreen -variegated varieties -sometimes called "Gold Dust" plant	.
Purple Japanese Honeysuckle	Lonicera japonica chinensis	2-3 ft.	sun or partial shade	-mounding type evergreen shrub -fragrant honeysuckle blooms in late spring -purple winter color -fast growth	.