Category Archives: Shrubs

Shrubs that are native to Arkansas

Know Your Natives – Rough Leaf Dogwood

Rough Leaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii) of the Dogwood (Cornaceae) family is a small, deciduous tree with opposite leaves, open clusters of small white flowers, and striking, decorative white fruit. The genus name derives from the Latin for “horn” in apparent … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, Trees, White, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Ozark Mock Orange

Ozark Mock Orange (Philadelphus pubescens) of the Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) family, formerly of the Saxifrage (Saxifragaceae) family, is a deciduous shrub with bold, showy, four-petaled white flowers. The genus name is said to honor Ptolemy II Philadelphus, pharaoh of Egypt, 283-246 … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, White | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Hairy Mock Orange

Hairy Mock Orange (Philadelphus hirsutus) of the Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) family, formerly of the Saxifrage (Saxifragaceae) family, is a deciduous shrub with rather large, showy, four-petaled white flowers. The genus name is said to honor Ptolemy II Philadelphus, pharaoh of Egypt … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, White, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Winged Sumac

Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum*) of the Cashew (Anacardiaceae) family is a deciduous shrub or small tree that forms clonal colonies from lateral roots. Rhus is the old Greek and Latin name for sumac. The specific epithet, based on an Aztec … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, Trees, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Carolina Buckthorn

Carolina Buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana, formerly Rhamnus caroliniana) of the Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) family is an elegant, thornless (!), deciduous shrub or small tree, with simple shining leaves and red to black berry-like fruits. (The tiny, whitish flowers are easily overlooked.) The … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, Trees | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Fragrant Sumac

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica var. aromatica) of the Sumac (Anacardiaceae) family is a dioecious, low-growing, non-suckering, non-poisonous shrub with tiny yellow flowers that emerge before the leaves. The genus name Rhus is the old Greek and Latin name for sumac. … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Two-Wing Silverbell

Two-wing silverbell (Halesia diptera) of the Storax (Styracaceae) family is one of several understory trees in the family with pendant showy white flowers. The genus name recognizes English botanist Stephen Hales who authored Vegetable Staticks* in 1727. The specific epithet … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, White, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Pawpaw

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) of the Custard Apple (Annonaceae) family is a small deciduous understory tree with edible fruit. It is widespread in the deciduous forests of the eastern U.S., from eastern Texas and southeastern Nebraska, east across southern Michigan to … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, Trees | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Ninebark

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)* of the Rose (Rosaceae) family is a large shrub which bears tight clusters of small white flowers. The genus name, from Greek words for “bladder” and “fruit,” refers to the inflated carpels of the fruit. The specific … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, White, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Know Your Natives – Deerberry

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) of the Heath (Ericaceae) family is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that has small bell-shaped flowers with flared corolla lobes. The species occurs from east Texas and Oklahoma, northeast to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. In Arkansas, it … Continue reading

Posted in Know Your Natives, Native Plants, Shrubs, White, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment