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Shrub/tree recommendations near house, north side #778156

Asked November 20, 2021, 2:03 PM EST

I have been looking for a tall shrub or short tree for the front yard. It would fill the space between the front two windows. The attached photos should give you an idea of the space. It is north facing, so does not get much sun, even in the summer (zero, one foot from the house). A native plant would be great. I like the idea of something with red berries, but not essential. Do you have any ideas?

Prince George's County Maryland

Expert Response

We can share a few ideas, though there will be more options than what we list below. Some will be regional natives but not local natives, meaning they occur in the eastern or southeastern U.S. but not necessarily in Maryland in the wild. Those that need pollination in order to produce berries can have the male plant used anywhere in the yard, though generally within perhaps fifty feet or so of the female would simplify discovery by the bees.

We'll assume you want the foliage to fill-in between the windows at window height, based on the evergreens already nearby and your description of "tall shrub or short tree." Your choice of candidates will partly depend on factors like soil conditions (wet, dry, poor drainage, etc.), issues with deer browsing, and desired mature size (not all shrubs will tolerate pruning to reduce size well). We're assuming the existing perennials/shrubs will be moved to make room for this addition, since space would otherwise be too tight to add a large-statured shrub in this spot.

  • Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) - regionally native, this spineless evergreen holly will have red berries IF it is a female variety that is pollinated by a male variety (of the same species); cultivars come in a range of mature sizes and shapes, and should be noted as male or female on the tag or signage with the plant (sexes will otherwise be indistinguishable from one another)
  • Florida Leucothoe (Agarista populifolia) - another regional native; despite the name, it is cold-hardy enough to withstand our typical winters, especially as climate change warms them; evergreen, but no showy berries; unlike other more commonly-planted Leucothoe species, this one will grow tall enough to fill-in the space between the windows; usually avoided by deer
  • Anise-shrub (Illicium parviflorum, Illicium floridanum, and a few hybrids) - regional natives; some varieties are dwarf, so opt for full-size varieties for the stature you want; evergreen, but no berries, though flowers can be interesting on some forms; aromatic foliage (when crushed) deters deer; as with the Leucothoe, more reliably hardy here as our climate warms
  • Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) - local native; deciduous; can have red berries on female plants if pollinated by a male Spicebush, though sexed individual plants are very hard to find; host plant for our Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly; aromatic foliage (when crushed) sometimes deters deer
  • Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) - local native; deciduous; no berries but blooms very late (Oct-Nov) with fragrant flowers; usually vase-shaped, with narrow base and wide-reaching branch crown, though can be trimmed lightly to tweak size a bit; regional native Vernal Witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis) is similar and may have one or two other options for flower color based on cultivar
  • Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus) - deciduous; regionally native; very fragrant late-spring blooms, but no berries; deer usually avoid
  • Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) - deciduous; local native; very fragrant midsummer blooms, but no berries; deer usually avoid; popular with pollinators; dwarf forms exist and are commonly used, but for your purposes, look for wild types or cultivars that are not dwarf
  • Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) - deciduous; local native; red berries on female plants if pollinated by a male (of the same species); numerous cultivars available for easier customization of mature height (more so among females than males, though) since pruning can interfere with berry production; sexes look identical otherwise; birds can eat the berries but generally leave them alone for most of the winter as they are not a preferred food source, so plants provide a long period of decoration

 

Miri

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