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A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height, less than tall. Small shrubs, less than 2 m (6.6 ft) tall are sometimes termed as
subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...
s. Many botanical groups have species that are shrubs, and others that are trees and herbaceous plants instead. Some definitions state that a shrub is less than and a tree is over 6 m. Others use as the cut-off point for classification. Many species of tree may not reach this mature height because of hostile less than ideal growing conditions, and resemble a shrub-sized plant. However, such species have the potential to grow taller under the ideal growing conditions for that plant. In terms of longevity, most shrubs fit in a class between perennials and trees; some may only last about five years even in good conditions, others, usually the larger and more woody ones, may live to 70 or more, but on average they last 7–10 years.
Shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...
is the natural landscape dominated by various shrubs; there are many distinct types around the world, including
fynbos Fynbos (; meaning fine plants) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean clim ...
,
maquis Maquis may refer to: Resistance groups * Maquis (World War II), predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance * Spanish Maquis, guerrillas who fought against Francoist Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War * The network ...
, shrub-steppe, shrub swamp and
moorland Moorland or moor is a type of habitat found in upland areas in temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and montane grasslands and shrublands biomes, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils. Moorland, nowadays, generally ...
. In gardens and parks, an area largely dedicated to shrubs (now somewhat less fashionable than a century ago) is called a shrubbery, shrub border or shrub garden. There are many garden cultivars of shrubs, bred for flowering, for example
rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...
s, and sometimes even leaf colour or shape. Compared to trees and herbaceous plants, perhaps a relatively small number of shrubs have agricultural or commercial uses. Apart from the several
berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...
-bearing species (using the culinary rather than botanical definition), few are eaten directly, and they are generally too small for much timber use unlike trees. Those that are used include several perfumed species such as lavender and rose, and a wide range of plants with medicinal uses. Tea and coffee are on the tree-shrub boundary; they are normally harvested from shrub-sized plants, but these would be large enough to become small trees if left to grow instead.


Definition

Shrubs are perennial woody plants, and therefore have persistent woody stems above ground (compare with succulent stems of herbaceous plants). Usually, shrubs are distinguished from trees by their height and multiple stems. Some shrubs are deciduous (e.g.
hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...
) and others evergreen (e.g. holly). Ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus divided the plant world into trees, shrubs and herbs. Small, low shrubs, generally less than tall, such as lavender, periwinkle and most small garden varieties of rose, are often termed as
subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...
s. Most definitions characterize shrubs as possessing multiple stems with no main trunk below. This is because the stems have branched below ground level. There are exceptions to this, with some shrubs having main trunks, but these tend to be very short and divide into multiple stems close to ground level without a reasonable length beforehand. Many trees can grow in multiple stemmed forms also while being tall enough to be trees, such as oak or
ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
.


Use in gardens and parks

An area of cultivated shrubs in a
park A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
or a garden is known as a shrubbery. When clipped as topiary, suitable species or varieties of shrubs develop dense foliage and many small leafy branches growing close together. Many shrubs respond well to renewal pruning, in which hard cutting back to a " stool", removes everything but vital parts of the plant, resulting in long new stems known as "canes". Other shrubs respond better to selective pruning to dead or unhealthy, or otherwise unattractive parts to reveal their structure and character. Shrubs in common garden practice are generally considered broad-leaved plants, though some smaller
conifers Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All extan ...
such as mountain pine and
common juniper ''Juniperus communis'', the common juniper, is a species of small tree or shrub in the cypress family Cupressaceae. An evergreen conifer, it has the largest geographical range of any woody plant, with a circumpolar distribution throughout the c ...
are also shrubby in structure. Species that grow into a shrubby habit may be either deciduous or evergreen.


Botanical structure

In botany and ecology, a shrub is more specifically used to describe the particular physical canopy structure or plant life-form of woody plants which are less than high and usually multiple stems arising at or near the surface of the ground. For example, a descriptive system widely adopted in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
is based on structural characteristics based on life-form, plus the height and amount of foliage cover of the tallest layer or dominant species.Costermans, L. F. (1993) ''Native trees and shrubs of South-Eastern Australia''. rev. ed. For shrubs that are high, the following structural forms are categorized: * dense foliage cover (70–100%) — closed-shrubs * mid-dense foliage cover (30–70%) — open-shrubs * sparse foliage cover (10–30%) — tall shrubland * very sparse foliage cover (<10%) — tall open shrubland For shrubs less than high, the following structural forms are categorized: * dense foliage cover (70–100%) — closed- heath or closed low shrubland—(''North America'') * mid-dense foliage cover (30–70%) — open-heath or mid-dense low shrubland—(''North America'') * sparse foliage cover (10–30%) — low shrubland * very sparse foliage cover (<10%) — low open shrubland


List of shrubs

Those marked with * can also develop into tree form if in ideal conditions. ;A * '' Abelia'' (Abelia) * '' Acer'' (Maple) * * ''
Actinidia ''Actinidia'' is a genus of woody and, with a few exceptions, dioecious plants native to temperate eastern Asia, occurring throughout most of China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, and extending north to southern areas of Russian Far East and south i ...
'' (Actinidia) * ''
Aloe ''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Accessed on: 06 Nov 2022 The most wid ...
'' (Aloe) * ''
Aralia ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...
'' (Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club) * * '' Arctostaphylos'' ( Bearberry, Manzanita) * * '' Aronia'' (Chokeberry) * ''
Artemisia Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...
'' ( Sagebrush) * ''
Aucuba ''Aucuba'' is a genus of three to ten species of flowering plants, now placed in the family Garryaceae, although formerly classified in the Aucubaceae or Cornaceae. ''Aucuba'' species are native to eastern Asia, from the eastern Himalayas east ...
'' (Aucuba) ;B * '' Berberis'' (Barberry) * '' Bougainvillea'' (Bougainvillea) * '' Brugmansia'' (Angel's trumpet) * '' Buddleja'' (Butterfly bush) * '' Buxus'' (Box) * ;C * ''
Calia ''Dermatophyllum'' is a genus of three or four species of shrubs and small trees in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family, Fabaceae. The genus is native to southwestern North America from western Texas to New Mexico and Arizona in the United ...
'' (Mescalbean) * '' Callicarpa'' (Beautyberry) * * ''
Callistemon ''Callistemon'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalised in scattered locations. Their status as a se ...
'' (Bottlebrush) * * '' Calluna'' (Heather) * '' Calycanthus'' (Sweetshrub) * '' Camellia'' (Camellia, Tea) * * '' Caragana'' ( Pea-tree) * * ''
Carpenteria ''Carpenteria'' , the tree anemone or bush anemone, is a genus of flowering plants in the hydrangea family Hydrangeaceae. It is closely related to the similar genus ''Philadelphus'' and is monotypic, being represented by the single species ''C ...
'' (Carpenteria) * ''
Caryopteris ''Caryopteris'' (bluebeard; ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae (formerly often placed in the family Verbenaceae). They are native to east Asia ( China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia).Germplasm Resources Information Network''Cary ...
'' (
Blue Spiraea Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when ob ...
) * '' Cassiope'' ( Moss-heather) * ''
Ceanothus ''Ceanothus'' is a genus of about 50–60 species of Actinorhizal plant, nitrogen-fixing shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Common names for members of this genus are buckbrush, California lilac, soap bush, or just ceano ...
'' (Ceanothus) * * '' Celastrus'' (Staff vine) * * ''
Ceratostigma ''Ceratostigma'' (;), or leadwort, plumbago, is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Plumbaginaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Common names are shared with the genus ''Plumbago''. De ...
'' (
Hardy Plumbago Hardy may refer to: People * Hardy (surname) * Hardy (given name) * Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica * Mount Hardy, Enderby Land * Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island * Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands Australia * Hardy, Sout ...
) * ''
Cercocarpus ''Cercocarpus'', commonly known as mountain mahogany, is a small genus of at least nine species of nitrogen-fixing flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae. They are native to the western United States and northern Mexico, where they grow i ...
'' (Mountain-mahogany) * * ''
Chaenomeles ''Chaenomeles'' is a genus of four species https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331479-2 of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1–3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to Southeast Asia. These plants are rela ...
'' (Japanese Quince) * ''
Chamaebatiaria ''Chamaebatiaria'' is a monotypic genus of aromatic shrub in the rose family containing the single species ''Chamaebatiaria millefolium'', which is known by the common names fern bush and desert sweet. Its genus name comes from its physical rese ...
'' (Fernbush) * ''
Chamaedaphne ''Chamaedaphne calyculata'', known commonly as leatherleaf or cassandra, is a perennial dwarf shrub in the plant family Ericaceae and the only species in the genus ''Chamaedaphne''. It is commonly seen in cold, acidic bogs and forms large, spread ...
'' (Leatherleaf) * '' Chimonanthus'' (Wintersweet) * '' Chionanthus'' (Fringe-tree) * * '' Choisya'' (Mexican-orange Blossom) * * ''
Cistus ''Cistus'' (from the Greek ''kistos'') is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, containing about 20 species (Ellul ''et al.'' 2002). They are perennial shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region ...
'' (Rockrose) * '' Clerodendrum'' (Clerodendrum) * ''
Clethra ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clianthus ''Clianthus'', commonly known as kakabeak (''kōwhai ngutukākā'' in Māori), is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae, comprising two species of shrubs native to New Zealand. They have striking clusters of red flowers whi ...
'' (
Glory Pea Glory may refer to: Honor and renown * Glory (honor), high renown, praise, and honor obtained by notable achievements * ''Kleos'', the Greek word for "glory", often translated to "renown" (what others hear about you) Arts and entertainment Ficti ...
) * ''
Colletia ''Colletia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rhamnaceae, with five species of spiny shrubs. All species of this genus are native to southern South America. They are non-legume nitrogen fixer Actinorhizal plants are a group of angios ...
'' (Colletia) * '' Colutea'' (Bladder Senna) * '' Comptonia'' (Sweetfern) * '' Cornus'' (Dogwood) * * ''
Corylopsis ''Corylopsis'' is a genus of nearly 30 species of shrubs in the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, native to eastern Asia with the majority of species endemic to China but with some also in Japan, Korea, and the Himalayas. This genus is also ...
'' (Winter-hazel) * * '' Cotinus'' (Smoketree) * * '' Cotoneaster'' (Cotoneaster) * * '' Cowania'' (
Cliffrose ''Purshia'' (bitterbrush or cliff-rose) is a small genus of 5–8 species of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae which are native to western North America. Description ''Purshia'' species form deciduous or evergreen shrubs, typically reach ...
) * ''
Crataegus ''Crataegus'' (), commonly called hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, Voss, E. G. 1985. ''Michigan Flora: A guide to the identification and occurrence of the native and naturalized seed-plants of the state. Part II: Dicots (Saururaceae–Cornacea ...
'' (Hawthorn) * * ''
Crinodendron ''Crinodendron'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Elaeocarpaceae. The eight species are evergreen shrubs or small trees native to the forests of Chile. They have narrow, leathery evergreen leaves and pendent bell-shaped flo ...
'' (Crinodendron) * * '' Cytisus'' and allied genera ( Broom) * ;D * '' Daboecia'' ( Heath) * '' Danae'' (Alexandrian laurel) * '' Daphne'' (Daphne) * ''
Decaisnea :''Decaisnea Lindl. is a synonym of Tropidia (plant), an orchid genus.'' ''Decaisnea'' Hook.f &Thomson, (猫儿屎属 mao er shi shu) known commonly as dead man's fingers, blue bean plant or blue sausage fruit, is a genus of flowering plant in ...
'' (Decaisnea) * ''
Dasiphora ''Dasiphora'' is a genus of shrubs in the rose family Rosaceae, native to Asia, with one species '' D. fruticosa'' (shrubby cinquefoil), ranging across the entire cool temperate Northern Hemisphere. In the past, the genus was normally included in ...
'' (Shrubby Cinquefoil) * ''
Dendromecon ''Dendromecon'', the tree poppy, is a genus of one or two species of shrubs to small trees, native to California and northern Baja California. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, lanceolate to ovate, 3–10 cm long. The flowers are yello ...
'' (Tree poppy) * ''
Desfontainea ''Chiropetalum'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1832. It is widespread across relatively dry regions of North and South America from Texas to Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic ...
'' (Desfontainea) * ''
Deutzia ''Deutzia'' ( or ) is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to eastern and central Asia (from the Himalayas east to Japan and the Philippines), and Central America and also Europe. By far the highest ...
'' (Deutzia) * '' Diervilla'' (Bush honeysuckle) * '' Dipelta'' (Dipelta) * '' Dirca'' (Leatherwood) * '' Dracaena'' (Dragon tree) * * ''
Drimys ''Drimys'' is a genus of about eight species of woody evergreen flowering plants, in the family Winteraceae. The species are native to the Neotropics, ranging from southern Mexico to the southern tip of South America. They are primitive dicots ...
'' (
Winter's Bark ''Drimys winteri'', the winter's bark or canelo, is a slender tree in the family Winteraceae, growing up to tall. It is native to the Magellanic and Valdivian temperate rain forests of Chile and Argentina, where it is a dominant tree in the coas ...
) * * '' Dryas'' (Mountain Avens) ;E * ''
Edgeworthia ''Edgeworthia'' (paper bush) is a genus of plants in the family Thymelaeaceae. When the genus was first described, it was published twice in the same year (1841), in two separate publications: '; and ''Denkschriften der Regensburgischen Botanisch ...
'' (Paper Bush) * * '' Elaeagnus'' ( Elaeagnus) * * '' Embothrium'' (
Chilean Firebush ''Embothrium coccineum'', Chilean firetree or Chilean firebush, commonly known in Chile and Argentina as ''notro'', ''ciruelillo'' and ''fósforo'' is a small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. It grows in the temperate fo ...
) * * ''
Empetrum ''Empetrum'' is a genus of three species of dwarf evergreen shrubs in the heath family Ericaceae. They are commonly known as crowberries and bear edible fruit. They are commonly found in the northern hemisphere, from temperate to subarctic clima ...
'' (
Crowberry ''Empetrum nigrum'', crowberry, black crowberry, or, in western Alaska, blackberry, is a flowering plant species in the heather family Ericaceae with a near circumboreal distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. It is usually dioecious, but there ...
) * ''
Enkianthus ''Enkianthus'' is a genus of shrubs or small trees in the heath family (Ericaceae). Its native range is in Asia, as far west as the eastern Himalayas, as far south as Indochina, and as far north and east as China and Japan. This genus is consid ...
'' (
Pagoda Bush A pagoda is an Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taois ...
) * '' Ephedra'' (Ephedra) * '' Epigaea'' (
Trailing Arbutus ''Epigaea repens'', the mayflower, trailing arbutus, or ground laurel, is a low, spreading shrub in the family Ericaceae. It is found from Newfoundland to Florida, west to Kentucky and the Northwest Territories. Description The plant is a slo ...
) * '' Erica'' ( Heath) * '' Eriobotrya'' (Loquat) * * ''
Escallonia ''Escallonia'' is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Escalloniaceae. They are native to North and South America. Taxonomy Currently valid species in ''Escallonia'' are: * '' Escallonia alpina'' * '' Escallonia angustifolia'' * '' Escal ...
'' (Escallonia) * '' Eucryphia'' (Eucryphia) * * '' Euonymus'' (Spindle) * * '' Exochorda'' (Pearl Bush) ;F * '' Fabiana'' (Fabiana) * ''
Fallugia ''Fallugia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing the single species ''Fallugia paradoxa'', which is known by the common names Apache plume and póñil. This plant is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, wh ...
'' (Apache Plume) * '' Fatsia'' (Fatsia) * ''
Forsythia ''Forsythia'' , is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. ''Forsythia'' – also one of the plant's common names – is ...
'' (Forsythia) * '' Fothergilla'' (Fothergilla) * '' Franklinia'' (Franklinia) * * ''
Fremontodendron ''Fremontodendron'', with the common names fremontia and flannelbush or flannel bush, is a genus of three known species of shrubs native to the Southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. Taxonomy They are within the botanical family Malv ...
'' (Flannelbush) * '' Fuchsia'' (Fuchsia) * ;G * ''
Garrya ''Garrya'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Garryaceae native to Mexico, the western United States, Central America and the Greater Antilles. Common names include silk tassel and tassel bush. They are evergreen dioecious wind-pollina ...
'' (Silk-tassel) * * '' Gaultheria'' ( Salal) * ''
Gaylussacia ''Gaylussacia'' is a genus of about fifty species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to the Americas, where they occur in eastern North America and in South America in the Andes and the mountains of southeastern Brazil (the majo ...
'' ( Huckleberry) * '' Genista'' ( Broom) * * '' Gordonia'' (
Loblolly-bay ''Gordonia lasianthus'' (loblolly-bay, holly-bay, gordonia, or bay) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree or shrub found in acidic, swampy soils of pinelands and bays on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States. ...
) * * '' Grevillea'' (Grevillea) * ''
Griselinia ''Griselinia'' is a genus of seven species of shrubs and trees, with a highly disjunct distribution native to New Zealand and South America. It is a classic example of the Antarctic flora. It is the sole genus in the family Griseliniaceae; in th ...
'' (Griselinia) * ;H * '' Hakea'' (Hakea) * * '' Halesia'' (
Silverbell ''Halesia'', also known as silverbell or snowdrop tree, is a small genus of four or five species of deciduous large shrubs or small trees in the family Styracaceae. Range They are native to eastern Asia (southeast China) and eastern North A ...
) * * ''
Halimium ''Halimium'' (rockrose, false sun-rose, or halimium) is a genus of 12 species of evergreen or semi-evergreen subshrubs in the family Cistaceae, closely related to ''Cistus''. They are native to Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor, with the centre ...
'' (Rockrose) * ''
Hamamelis Witch-hazels or witch hazels (''Hamamelis'') are a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, with three species in North America ('' H. ovalis'', '' H. virginiana'', and '' H. vernalis''), and one each in Japan ('' H.&nb ...
'' (Witch-hazel) * * '' Hebe'' (Hebe) * '' Hedera'' (Ivy) * '' Helianthemum'' (Rockrose) * '' Hibiscus'' (Hibiscus) * * ''
Hippophae ''Hippophae'' is the genus of sea buckthorns, deciduous shrubs in the family Elaeagnaceae. The name sea buckthorn may be hyphenated to avoid confusion with the unrelated true buckthorns (''Rhamnus'', family Rhamnaceae). It is also referred to a ...
'' (Sea-buckthorn) * * '' Hoheria'' (Lacebark) * * ''
Holodiscus ''Holodiscus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, native to the Americas, from southwestern British Columbia, Canada and the western United States south to Bolivia. The species are deciduous shrubs, growing to tall. Species ...
'' (
Creambush ''Holodiscus discolor'', commonly known as ocean spray or oceanspray, creambush, or ironwood, is a shrub of western North America. Description ''Holodiscus discolor'' is a fast-growing deciduous shrub usually from to in height, and up to ta ...
) * ''
Hudsonia ''Hudsonia'' (goldenheather, poverty grass) is a small genus of three species of flowering plants in the family Cistaceae, native to North America. They are typical of sand dune habitats. They are evergreen subshrubs growing to 20 cm tall. ...
'' (Hudsonia) * '' Hydrangea'' (Hydrangea) * '' Hypericum'' ( Rose of Sharon) * '' Hyssopus'' (Hyssop) ;I * '' Ilex'' ( Holly) * * '' Illicium'' (
Star Anise ''Illicium verum'' is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China. A spice commonly called star anise, staranise, star anise seed, star aniseed, star of anise, Chinese star anise, or badian that closely resembl ...
) * * '' Indigofera'' (Indigo) * '' Itea'' (
Sweetspire ''Itea virginica'', commonly known as Virginia willow or Virginia sweetspire, is a small North American flowering shrub that grows in low-lying woods and wetland margins. Virginia willow is a member of the Iteaceae family, and native to the south ...
) ;J * ''
Jamesia ''Jamesia'' is a genus of shrubs in the Hydrangeaceae, most commonly known as Jamesia, cliffbush or waxflower. It is native to interior western North America, in the U.S. states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wy ...
'' (Cliffbush) * '' Jasminum'' (Jasmine) * '' Juniperus'' (Juniper) * ;K * '' Kalmia'' (Mountain-laurel) * '' Kerria'' (Kerria) * ''
Kolkwitzia ''Linnaea amabilis'', also known under the synonym ''Kolkwitzia amabilis'' and the English name beauty bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae. It is a deciduous shrub grown as an ornamental plant. In China, where it ...
'' ( Beauty-bush) ;L * ''
Lagerstroemia ''Lagerstroemia'' (), commonly known as crape myrtle (also spelled crepe myrtle or crêpe myrtle), is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia ...
'' (Crape-myrtle) * * '' Lapageria'' (Copihue) * '' Lantana'' (Lantana) * '' Lavandula'' (Lavender) * ''
Lavatera ''Malva'' is a genus of herbaceous annual, biennial, and perennial plants in the family Malvaceae. It is one of several closely related genera in the family to bear the common English name mallow. The genus is widespread throughout the tempe ...
'' (Tree Mallow) * ''
Ledum ''Ledum'' was a genus in the family Ericaceae, including 8 species of evergreen shrubs native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and commonly known as Labrador tea. It is now recognised as a subsection of section R ...
'' (Ledum) * ''
Leitneria ''Leitneria floridana'' (corkwood), the sole species in the genus ''Leitneria'', is a deciduous dioecious shrub or small tree, found only in the southern United States states of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas. It grows at damp ...
'' (Corkwood) * * '' Lespedeza'' (Bush Clover) * * ''
Leptospermum ''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greate ...
'' (Manuka) * * '' Leucothoe'' (Doghobble) * ''
Leycesteria ''Leycesteria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, native to temperate Asia in the Himalaya and southwestern China. It contains six or seven species of shrubs with short-lived stems with soft wood, growing ...
'' (Leycesteria) * ''
Ligustrum A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...
'' (Privet) * * '' Lindera'' (Spicebush) * * '' Linnaea'' (Twinflower) * '' Lonicera'' (Honeysuckle) * '' Lupinus'' (Tree Lupin) * ''
Lycium ''Lycium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The genus has a disjunct distribution around the globe, with species occurring on most continents in temperate and subtropical regions. South America has the most spec ...
'' (Boxthorn) ;M * '' Magnolia'' (Magnolia) * '' Mahonia'' (Mahonia) * ''
Malpighia ''Malpighia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nance family, Malpighiaceae. It contains about 45 species of shrubs or small trees, all of which are native to the American tropics. The generic name honours Marcello Malpighi, a 17th-centur ...
'' (
Acerola ''Malpighia emarginata'' is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae. Common names include acerola cherry, Guarani cherry, Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry, and wild crepe myrtle. Acerola is native to Paragu ...
) * ''
Menispermum ''Menispermum'' (moonseed) is a small genus of deciduous climbing woody vines in the moonseed family (Menispermaceae). Plants in this genus have small dioecious flowers, and clusters of small grape-like drupes. The name, moonseed, comes from the ...
'' (Moonseed) * ''
Menziesia ''Menziesia'' was a genus of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. More recently it has been reclassified within the genus '' Rhododendron''. it was formally transferred in 2011. Species * ''Menziesia ciliicalyx'' (Miq.) Maxim. = '' Rhododend ...
'' (Menziesia) * '' Mespilus'' ( Medlar) * * ''
Microcachrys ''Microcachrys tetragona'', the creeping pine or creeping strawberry pine, is a species of dioecious conifer belonging to the podocarp family (Podocarpaceae).Christopher N. Page. 1990. "Podocarpaceae" pages 332-346. In: Klaus Kubitzki (general ...
'' (Microcachrys) * '' Myrica'' (Bayberry) * * '' Myricaria'' (Myricaria) * ''
Myrtus ''Myrtus'' (commonly called myrtle) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. It was first described by Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1753. Over 600 names have been proposed in the genus, but nearly all have either been moved ...
'' and allied genera (Myrtle) * ;N * ''
Neillia ''Neillia'' is a genus of the botanical family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain ...
'' (Neillia) * ''
Nerium ''Nerium oleander'' ( ), most commonly known as oleander or nerium, is a shrub or small tree cultivated worldwide in temperate and subtropical areas as an ornamental and landscaping plant. It is the only species currently classified in the ge ...
'' (Oleander) ;O * '' Olearia'' (Daisy bush) * * '' Osmanthus'' (Osmanthus) ;P * ''
Pachysandra ''Pachysandra'' is a genus of five species of evergreen perennials or subshrubs, belonging to the boxwood family Buxaceae. The species are native to eastern Asia and southeast North America, some reaching a height of , with only weakly woody ste ...
'' (Pachysandra) * '' Paeonia'' (Tree-peony) * '' Persoonia'' (Geebungs) * ''
Philadelphus ''Philadelphus'' () (mock-orange) is a genus of about 60 species of shrubs from 3–20 ft (1–6 m) tall, native to North America, Central America, Asia and (locally) in southeast Europe. They are named "mock-orange" in reference to their ...
'' (Mock orange) * * '' Phlomis'' (
Jerusalem Sage ''Phlomis fruticosa'', the Jerusalem sage, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and countries of the former Yugoslavia. It is a small evergreen shrub, up to tall by wide. ...
) * ''
Photinia ''Photinia'' () is a genus of about 30 species of small trees and large shrubs, but the taxonomy has recently varied greatly, with the genera ''Heteromeles'', ''Stranvaesia'' and ''Aronia'' sometimes included in ''Photinia''. They are a part of ...
'' (Photinia) * * ''
Physocarpus ''Physocarpus'', commonly called ninebark, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, native to North America (most species) and northeastern Asia (one species). Description ''Physocarpus'' are deciduous shrubs with peeling bark
'' (Ninebark) * * ''
Pieris Pieris may refer to: Organisms * ''Pieris'' (plant), the andromeda or fetterbush, a plant genus in the family Ericaceae * ''Pieris'' (butterfly), the garden whites, a butterfly genus in the family Pieridae * ''Pieris'', a synonym of the genus ...
'' (Pieris) * '' Pistacia'' (
Pistachio The pistachio (, ''Pistacia vera''), a member of the cashew family, is a small tree originating from Central Asia and the Middle East. The tree produces seeds that are widely consumed as food. ''Pistacia vera'' is often confused with other sp ...
, Mastic) * * '' Pittosporum'' (Pittosporum) * * '' Plumbago'' (Leadwort) * '' Polygala'' (Milkwort) * ''
Poncirus The trifoliate orange, ''Citrus trifoliata'' or ''Poncirus trifoliata'', is a member of the family Rutaceae. Whether the trifoliate oranges should be considered to belong to their own genus, ''Poncirus'', or be included in the genus ''Citrus'' is ...
'' * * '' Prunus'' (Cherry) * * ''
Purshia ''Purshia'' (bitterbrush or cliff-rose) is a small genus of 5–8 species of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae which are native to western North America. Description ''Purshia'' species form deciduous or evergreen shrubs, typically reach ...
'' (
Antelope Bush ''Purshia tridentata'', with the common name bitterbrush, is a shrub in the genus '' Purshia'' of the family Rosaceae. It is native to mountainous areas of western North America. Common names include antelope bitterbrush, antelope bush, buc ...
) * '' Pyracantha'' (Firethorn) ;Q * '' Quassia'' (Quassia) * * '' Quercus'' (Oak) * * ''
Quillaja ''Quillaja'' is a genus of flowering plants, the only extant genus in the family Quillajaceae with two or three known species. It was once thought to be in the rose family, Rosaceae, but recent research shows it belongs in its own family. The i ...
'' (
Quillay ''Quillaja saponaria'', the soap bark tree or soapbark, is an evergreen tree in the family Quillajaceae, native to warm temperate central Chile. In Chile it occurs from 32 to 40° South Latitude approximately and at up to 2000 m (6500&nb ...
) * '' Quintinia'' (
Tawheowheo ''Quintinia serrata'', the tawheowheo, is a species of evergreen trees in the genus ''Quintinia'' endemic to New Zealand. This plant has different patterns of anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-galactoside) in its leaves to pr ...
) * ;R * '' Rhamnus'' (Buckthorn) * * ''
Rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...
'' (Rhododendron,
Azalea Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus ''Rhododendron'', particularly the former sections ''Tsutsusi'' (evergreen) and '' Pentanthera'' (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in the spring (April and May in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, and Octob ...
) * * ''
Rhus Sumac ( or ), also spelled sumach, is any of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus ''Rhus'' and related genera in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae). Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, including Eas ...
'' (Sumac) * * '' Ribes'' (Currant, Gooseberry) * ''
Romneya ''Romneya'' () is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). There are two species in genus ''Romneya'', which was named for Irish astronomer John Thomas Romney Robinson. They are known commonly as Matilija poppies ...
'' (Tree poppy) * '' Rosa'' (Rose) * '' Rosmarinus'' ( Rosemary) * '' Rubus'' ( Bramble,
Raspberry The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus ''Rubus'' of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus '' Idaeobatus''. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Raspberries are perennial with w ...
, Salmonberry, Wineberry) * ''
Ruta ''Ruta'' (commonly known as rue) is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs, 20–60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. About ten species are accepted in the genus. T ...
'' ( Rue) ;S * '' Sabia'' * * '' Salix'' ( Willow) * * '' Salvia'' (Sage) ** ''Salvia'' subg. ''
Perovskia ''Salvia'' subgenus ''Perovskia'' is a group of species within the flowering plant genus ''Salvia'', which prior 2017 were treated as the separate genus ''Perovskia''. Members of the group are native to southwestern and central Asia. It includes ...
'' (
Russian Sage ''Salvia yangii'', previously known as ''Perovskia atriplicifolia'' (), and commonly called Russian sage, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant and subshrub. Although not previously a member of ''Salvia'', the genus widely known as sage, s ...
) * '' Sambucus'' (Elder) * * '' Santolina'' (
Lavender Cotton ''Lavandula'' (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found in Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, and from Europe across to northern and ea ...
) * ''
Sapindus ''Sapindus'' is a genus of about five to twelve species of shrubs and small trees in the lychee family, Sapindaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the world. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. Members of ...
'' (Soapberry) * * '' Senecio'' (Senecio) * '' Simmondsia'' (Jojoba) * '' Skimmia'' (Skimmia) * '' Smilax'' (Smilax) * '' Sophora'' ( Kowhai) * * ''
Sorbaria ''Sorbaria'' is a genus of around four species of flowering plants belonging to the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship ...
'' (Sorbaria) * '' Spartium'' (Spanish Broom) * '' Spiraea'' (Spiraea) * * ''
Staphylea ''Staphylea'', called bladdernuts, is a small genus of 10 or 11 species of flowering plants in the family Staphyleaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The highest species diversity is in China, where four species occur. ...
'' (Bladdernut) * * ''
Stephanandra ''Neillia'' is a genus of the botanical family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain ...
'' (Stephanandra) * '' Styrax'' * * ''
Symphoricarpos ''Symphoricarpos'', commonly known as the snowberry, waxberry, or ghostberry, is a small genus of about 15 species of deciduous shrubs in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. With the exception of the Chinese coralberry, '' S. sinensis'', wh ...
'' (Snowberry) * '' Syringa'' (
Lilac ''Syringa'' is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering plant, flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and wid ...
) * ;T * '' Tamarix'' (Tamarix) * * '' Taxus'' (Yew) * * '' Telopea'' (Waratah) * * '' Thuja'' cvs. (Arborvitae) * * ''
Thymelaea ''Thymelaea'' (English: the Sparrow-worts) is a genus of about 30 species of evergreen shrubs and herbs in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae, native to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean region, north to central Europe, and east to ...
'' * '' Thymus'' (Thyme) * '' Trochodendron'' * ;U * '' Ulex'' (Gorse) * ''
Ulmus pumila celer Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus ''Ulmus'' in the plant family Ulmaceae. They are distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabiting the temperate and tropical-montane regions of North ...
'' (
Turkestan elm – Wonder Hedge Turkestan, also spelled Turkistan ( fa, ترکستان, Torkestân, lit=Land of the Turks), is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the regions of Transoxiana and Xinjiang. Overview Known as Turan to the Persians, western Turke ...
) * ''
Ungnadia ''Ungnadia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae containing one species, ''Ungnadia speciosa'', the Mexican buckeye. It is native to northern Mexico, as well as Texas and southern New Mexico in the United States. The name h ...
'' (Mexican Buckeye) ;V * '' Vaccinium'' ( Bilberry,
Blueberry Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section ''Cyanococcus'' within the genus ''Vaccinium''. ''Vaccinium'' also includes cranberries, bi ...
, Cranberry) * ''
Verbesina centroboyacana ''Verbesina centroboyacana'' is a species of shrub in the family Asteraceae endemic to Colombia. Description Shrub that reaches 8 ft (2.5 m) in height. The leaves are alternate, coriaceous, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, glabrous on the upper s ...
'' * ''
Verbena ''Verbena'' (), also known as vervain or verveine, is a genus in the family Verbenaceae. It contains about 150 species of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants. The majority of the species are native to the Americas a ...
'' (Vervain) * ''
Viburnum ''Viburnum'' is a genus of about 150–175 species of flowering plants in the moschatel family Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny. It was previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. The membe ...
'' (Viburnum) * * '' Vinca'' (Periwinkle) * '' Viscum'' (
Mistletoe Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant. ...
) ;W * '' Weigela'' (Weigela) ;X * '' Xanthoceras'' * '' Xanthorhiza'' (Yellowroot) * ''
Xylosma ''Xylosma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae. It contains around 100 species of evergreen shrubs and trees commonly known as brushhollies, xylosmas, or, more ambiguously, " logwoods". The generic name is derived from the ...
'' ;Y * '' Yucca'' (Yucca, Joshua tree) * ;Z * '' Zanthoxylum'' * * ''
Zauschneria ''Epilobium canum'', also known as California fuchsia or Zauschneria, is a species of willowherb in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae).Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed., 2013, p99 It is native to dry slopes and in chaparral ...
'' * '' Zenobia'' * ''
Ziziphus ''Ziziphus'' is a genus of about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, distributed in the warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the world. The leaves are alternate, entire, with three promi ...
'' *


References

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