UACES Facebook Landscape Shrubs R - U by Scientific Name
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Landscape Shrubs R-U by Scientific Name

Scientific Name Common Name Comments 
Rhaphiolepis umbellata
Thumbnail picture closeup of Indian Hawthorn (Rhapiolepis umbellata) foliage and white flowers Select for larger images and more information.  		 Indian Hawthorn
  
  • Size: small (4' tall by 6' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: white/soft pink flowers in April
  • Fruit: dark purple/black fruit
  • Fall/winter color: some have darker winter foliage; new, emerging foliage can be attractive
  • Culture: sun; best in moist soil; cold hardy in zones 7 and 8
  • Disease/insect: fungal leaf spot more an aesthetic issue
  • Use: massed
  • Cultivars: Olivia™ , Eleanor Taber™ , Bay Breeze™
Rhododendron sp. 
Thumbnail picture of Azalea (Rhodedendron sp.) shrub covered in pink flowers Select for larger images and more information.  		 Azalea
  
  • Size: small/medium; deciduous or evergreen
  • Culture: partial shade; best in rich soil with organic matter and provide adequate moisture during summer
  • Disease/insect: lace bug very common (causes gold spotting on leaves)
  • Use: massed, woodland gardens, foundation
  • Large number of species/hybrids/cultivars; vary in flower color, plant size, cold hardiness
Rhododendron sp.
Thumbnail picture of Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.) shrub with white flowers Select for larger images and more information.  		 Rhododendron
  
  • Size: medium/large (9' tall by 9' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: dramatic flowers (vary in color from white, purple, pink, red)
  • Culture: partial shade; demands soil with organic matter and adequate moisture during summer; True rhododendrons are better suited to Northwest Arkansas or shaded landscapes in central Arkansas with soils rich in organic matter and moisture
  • Cultivars: many different species and cultivars
Rosa rugosa
Thumbnail picture closeup of Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa) showing white and pink flowers, leaves, and orange fruit Select for larger images and more information.  		 Rugosa Rose
  
  • Size: medium (5' tall by 5' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: pink/purple flowers
  • Fruit: orange, rose hip
  • Fall color: orange/red in cooler climates, generally not great in south
  • Culture: full sun; drought tolerant once established
  • Disease/insect: none serious; Less affected by diseases than hybrids
  • Use: massed
  • Cultivars: species rose
Rosa sp.
Thumbnail picture closupe of Hybrid Tea Rose (Rosa sp.) yellow flower. Select for larger images and more information.  		 Hybrid Tea Rose
  
  • Hundreds of choices for flower color
  • Full sun
  • Disease/insect: black spot fungus
  • Usually require lots of care
Spiraea prunifolia
Thumbnail picture of Bridalwreath Spirea (Spiraea prunifolia) covered with white flowers Select for larger images and more information.  		 Bridalwreath Spirea
  
  • Size: medium (6' tall by 7' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: dramatic white flowers in early spring (March)
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: none
  • Culture: full sun; adaptable to most soils
  • Disease/insect: none
  • Use: deciduous hedge, massed, mixed shrub border
  • Prune after spring flower display
Spiraea x bumalda
Thumbnail picture of Bumald Spirea (Spireaea x bumalda) shrub with pink flowers Select for larger images and more information.  		 Bumald Spirea
  
  • Size: low (3' tall by 3' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: showy, pink/purple flowers several months during summer
  • Fruit: not significant
  • Fall color: none
  • Culture: full sun; drought tolerant
  • Disease/insect: none significant
  • Cultivars: 'Anthony Waterer', 'Froebelii', and yellow/green foliage forms 'Goldflame' and 'Limemound'
Spiraea x vanhouttei
Thumbnail picture of Vanhoutte Spirea (Spiraea x vanhouttei) shrub form in dark orange fall color Select for larger images and more information.  		 Vanhoutte Spirea
  
  • Size: medium (6' tall by 7' wide) deciduous shrub, classic arching stemss
  • Flowers: dramatic white flowers in mid-spring (April)
  • Fruit: not significant (dry capsule)
  • Fall color: depending on fall can be nice purple/orange
  • Culture: full sun; adaptable to most soils
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Use: massed, mixed shrub border
  • Prune after flowering
Syringa vulgaris
Thumbnail picture closeup of Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) purple flower clusters Select for larger images and more information.  		 Common Lilac
  
  • Size: large (10' tall by 8' wide) deciduous shrub
  • Flowers: hundreds of cultivars, flower colors white, pink, purple; exceptional fragrance
  • Fruit: not significant (dry capsule)
  • Fall color: none
  • Culture: full sun; adaptable to most soils; Best suited to Northwest Arkansas (cooler)
  • Disease/insect: lilac borer; powdery mildew
  • Uses: deciduous hedge
  • Cultivars: hundreds
Taxus sp.
Thumbnail picture of Yew (Taxus sp.) shrub form Select for larger images and more information.  		 Yew
  
  • Needle evergreen
  • Culture: partial shade to shade; rich, moist soil best: Best suited to Northwest Arkansas (cooler)
  • Cultivars: many for plant habit
  • Trademark of landscapes in north
  • Tolerates shearing
Ternstroemia gymnanthera (f. Cleyera gymna.)
Thumbnail picture closeup of Japanese Ternstroemia (Ternstroemia gymnanthera f. Cleyera gymna.) foliage and pale red berry-like fruit Select for larger images and more information.  		 Japanese Ternstroemia  
  • Size: large (9' tall by 9' wide) broadleaf evergreen
  • Flowers: interesting but typically not dramatic
  • Fruit: not showy
  • Fall/winter color: broadleaf evergreen, foliage turns deep purple in winter
  • Culture: full sun to partial shade; adaptable to soils; best suited to cold hardiness zones 7 & 8
  • Disease/insect: none serious
  • Uses: wide hedge/screen plant
  • Incorrectly sold in most garden centers as Cleyera gymnanthera
Thuja occidentalis
Thumbnail picture closeup of Eastern Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) showing white fruit and needles. Select for larger images and more information.  		 Eastern Arborvitae
  
  • Size: large (12' tall by 5' wide) needle evergreen
  • Culture: partial shade to shade; best suited in moist soils; Best suited for Northwest Arkansas (cooler)
  • Disease/insect: bagworm
  • Use: hedge/screen plant
  • Many cultivars including globe-shaped 'Globosa' and columnar 'Emerald'
Thuja x 'Green Giant'
Thumbnail picture of Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja x 'Green Giant'). Select for larger images and more information.  		 Green Giant Arborvitae
  
  • Size: 45’ tall x 12’ wide
  • Culture: full sun
  • Use: hedge/screen
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