Cassia marilandica, Senna marilandica

Topped with dense clusters of yellow pea-like flowers in mid-summer, Wild Senna is low maintenance & deer and rabbit resistance. Although shrubby in habit and therefore also included under "woody" here, it is an herbaceous perennial, sprouting at ground level each spring. Pollinator host plant to Sleepy Orange, Orange-barred Sulfur, Cloudless Sulfur, Silver-spotted Skipper butterflies & the Black Witch moth with wingspan to 7". Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average Moisture
Height: 3-6 feet
Blooms: July-August
Flowers: Yellow

Lindera benzoin

Larval host plant for the black and iridescent-blue Spicebush Swallowtail. The caterpillars are adorable, curling up in a leaf, with "eyes" to deter predators. Spicebush is a shrub that has highly aromatic foliage when crushed and turns a lovely pale yellow in autumn. Female bushes bear bright red fat-rich berries that are highly prized by birds. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 6 to 12 feet

Hydrangea arborescens

Medium sized shrub with clusters of lacy white flowers. Excellent choice for planting in groups along edge habitat in a woodland garden. Also good for rain gardens and along streams. Host to the nifty Hydrangea Sphinx moth with 2" to 3" wingspan. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Sun
Soil: Average to Moist
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: June-August
Flowers: White

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Shrub. Showy white flowers borne in spherical clusters draw numerous pollinators. Bees use nectar for making honey, seeds feed wildlife. Great for borders, rain gardens or as a specimen plant, even erosion control. Larval host plant for a number of species of Lepidoptera. Prune to desired shape. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 5 to 12 feet
Blooms: June-September
Flowers: White

Cercis canadensis

In spring Redbud is often loaded with purplish-pink blooms that support pollinators at a critical time of year. Leaves are heart-shaped and tree has graceful spreading form. Larval host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly and several species of moth. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: prefers Part Sun
Soil: Average
Height: to about 30 feet
Blooms: April
Flowers: Pink

Sambucus canadensis

Elderberry is a good choice for use in a hedge row, border or when planted for wildlife. It has fragrant clusters of white flowers and later, loads of purple berries that draw birds in late summer & fall. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 5 to 12 feet
Blooms: June-July
Flowers: White

Hibiscus moscheutos

Although not a woody plant, this plant fills out like a bush & dies back to the ground each winter. Rose Mallow flowers are large, 4" to 6" across and showy. Ideal for a rain garden, hummingbird garden, or grouped along a patio, pond or ditch. Trim to desired height. A larval host plant to the following butterflies: Common Checkered Skipper, Painted Lady, and Gray Hairstreak.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 3 to 7 feet
Blooms: July-October
Flowers: White to Pink with Maroon center

Euonymus americanus

Well behaved shrub producing showy fall fruits with hot pink capsules and dangling orange-red fleshy arils. Fall foliage is a wonderful crimson attached to the bright green stems. Attracts birds. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Blooms: May-June
Flowers: Green-Yellow

Hypericum frondosum

Similar to Shrubby St. John's wort with more bluish color to the foliage and fewer, but much larger yellow flowers (to 1.5" wide). Compact, attractive and certainly worthy of a front yard.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Medium
Height: to 4 feet
Blooms: June to July

Physocarpus opulifolius

Clusters of white-pink spirea-like flowers bloom in spring, pink fruit (pictured) and exfoliating bark in fall & winter give this shrub multi-season appeal. Good for erosion control, specimen & hedges. Larval host to many (40) native Lepidoptera.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 5 to 8 feet
Blooms: May to June
Flowers: White to Pink

Rosa carolina

Fragrant pink 2" wide flowers are followed by red hips in late summer. Best used in full sun & massed in a border. May sucker to form colonies. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: May
Flowers: Pink

Hypericum prolificum

Upright shrub tolerant of a wide variety of soil types and good for stabilizing embankments or creating a boundary or hedge. Flowers to 1" in diameter. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average (but drought-tolerant)
Height: usually 1 to 4 feet
Blooms: June to August
Flowers: Yellow

Itea virginica

Delightful mounding shrub with arching stems that produce drooping fragrant racemes of white flowers in summer, crimson foliage in autumn. Excellent for rain gardens, border, or adjacent to a pond or stream. Can sucker to form colonies.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Blooms: June-July
Flowers: White

Hamamelis virginiana

Winter interest provided by clusters of flowers appearing very late in the year. Showy & fragrant, these flowers have 4 ribbon-like yellow petals. Excellent for a use in a woodland garden or as a hedge, screen or border.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Blooms: October to December
Flowers: Yellow

Rosa palustris

Fragrant, showy flowers become bright red rose hips. Spreads by suckers. Good for a wet area susceptible to erosion. Kentucky source.

Light: Full Sun
Soil: Wet to Med
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: June to July

Ceanothus americanus

Shrub with a rounded form, fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds and yellow-green stems in winter. Deep roots makes this plant drought-tolerant but difficult to transplant.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average to Dry
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Blooms: May to July
Flowers: Creamy white

Rhamnus caroliniana

Also known as Indian Cherry, this small tree abounds with ornamental features & despite the common name, bears no thorns. The air is a-buzz with the sound of pollinators when flowering. Glossy green leaves are ornamental as is the fall fruit which turn from red to black. Fruit provides food for birds at a critical time of year. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Height: 10 to 15 feet
Soil: Average

Spiraea tomentosa

A good choice for a low hedge, in a rain garden or adjacent to a stream or lake. Pretty pink terminal flower spikes bloom in late summer. Trim in winter or early spring as flowers occur on new wood. Spreads by suckers. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full sun
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: July to Sept
Flowers: Pink

Aronia arbutifolia

Large multi-stem shrub with bountiful spring flowering followed by crimson berries that hang on into winter and brilliant red fall foliage. Best flowering in full sun. Excellent for hedges, borders, water's edge, or as a specimen. Suckers. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Blooms: April

Aralia racemosa

Although an herbaceous perennial, the growing season form would pass as a shrub at 3 to 5 feet tall and mounding. Excellent as a specimen with interesting flowers in summer and berries for birds in fall. Best placed in intermediate light, away from strong winds. Rhizomatous.

Light: Full sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Blooms: June to August

Philadelphus inodorus

Multi-stemmed shrub with clusters of mildly fragrant 1"-2" white flowers with 4 petals & yellow stamens. Good native alternative to invasive Japanese privet, it can be used for foundation plantings, hedges, & for privacy screens. Trim back after flowering.

Light: Full Sun to Light Shade
Soil: Medium
Height: to 10 feet & as wide
Blooms: April to May
Flowers: Creamy white with yellow stamens

Decodon verticillatus

Swamp loosestrife is a Kentucky native subshrub with a woody base that can rapidly colonize muddy banks of slow-moving waters. It can root where the arcing tip touches the water. Showy bright pink flowers & very attractive red color to lower leaves. Good for large landscapes and soil stabilization. (Not to be confused with the invasive nonnative Purple loosestrife.)

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Wet
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Blooms: July to August

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Shrub with coral-colored berries which attract birds & provide winter interest. Can grow in part shade & provide soil stabilization on slopes. Spreads by root suckers & runners. From Kentucky source seed.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Blooms: June to July

Aronia melanocarpa

With attractive flowers & berries, glossy leaves and great fall color, this is a nifty deciduous shrub. Trim to desired shape and remove suckers as needed. Though berries are edible, they are quite tart, hence the name.

Light: Full sun to Part shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Blooms: May