Short to Medium Shrubs for St Louis

The following is a wide selection of short to medium-sized shrubs recommended for the St. Louis area. Some are nativars (cultivars of Missouri native shrubs). Others are excellent, non-invasive exotics. All should perform well in St. Louis if planted in a suitable location.

These shrubs should mature at roughly 3 to 6 feet. The width varies; some are much wider than they are tall. Expected size is listed with each shrub.

To learn what conditions each shrub requires, click on the Latin name of the plant (orange text) for more information. Several of these shrubs are "Plants of Merit." Most have or are currently performing well at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Come and take a look at them.

	Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic' Black chokeberry Nativar, Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-6' tall, 4-7' wide Flowers: Clusters of showy white flowers in May Fruit: Black autumn berries Fall color: Purple-red Other notable characteristics: Attracts birds
	Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Blue' Butterfly bush Sun: Full sun Average size: 3-5' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Fragrant, mauve blue, June to September Foliage:  Gray-green Other notable characteristics: Attracts butterflies
	Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple' Butterfly bush Sun: Full sun Average size: 3-5' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Fragrant, lavender-purple, June to September Foliage:  Gray-green Other notable characteristics: Attracts butterflies
	Buxus 'Green Velvet' Boxwood Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 2-4' tall, 2-4' wide Foliage:  Evergreen
	Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Wintergreen' Boxwood Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 2-4' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Insignificant but very fragrant Foliage:  Evergreen
	Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' Beautyberry Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 4-5' wide Fruit: Glossy, amethyst-purple fruits in late summer, early fall
	Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Longwood Blue' Bluebeard Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun Average size: 2-4' tall, 2-4' wide Flowers: Fragrant, violet-blue flowers from late summer into fall Foliage:  Aromatic silvery-gray leaves Other notable characteristics: Attracts bees and butterflies
	Chaenomeles × superba 'Texas Scarlet' Flowering quince Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 4-5' wide Flowers: Watermelon red Fruit: Showy, edible Foliage:  Glossy dark green leaves
	Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' Sweet pepperbush or summersweet Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 2-4' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Sweetly fragrant white flowers July - August Fall color: Attractive shades of yellow to golden brown Other notable characteristics: Attracts butterflies and bees
	Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' Sweet pepperbush or summersweet Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Sweetly fragrant rose pink flowers July - August Fall color: Attractive shades of yellow to golden brown Other notable characteristics: Attracts butterflies and bees
	Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' Sweet pepperbush or summersweet Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-5' tall, 2-3' wide Flowers: Sweetly fragrant creamy white flowers July-August Fall color: Attractive shades of yellow to golden brown Other notable characteristics: Attracts butterflies and bees
	Cornus alba 'Bailhalo' IVORY HALO Tatarian dogwood Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 4-6' wide Fruit: Showy blue-white fruit in summer attracts birds Foliage:  White edged leaves Fall color: Purple-red Other notable characteristics: Bright red winter stems
	Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' Bloodtwig dogwood Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 5-6' tall, 5-6' wide Fruit: Attracts birds Fall color: Golden yellow Other notable characteristics: Yellow winter stems tipped with red
	Cornus sericea 'Farrow' ARCTIC FIRE Red twig dogwood Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 3-4' wide Fruit: Blue-white fruit in summer attracts birds Fall color: red to orange eventually fading to purple Other notable characteristics: Bright red winter stems
	Cornus sericea 'Isanti' Red twig dogwood Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-5' tall, 4-7' wide Fruit: Blue-white fruit in summer attracts birds Fall color: Red to orange eventually fading to purple Other notable characteristics: Bright red winter stems
	Deutzia gracilis Slender deutzia Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 2-5' tall, 2-5' wide Flowers: Fragrant, white
	Fothergilla 'Mount Airy' Dwarf fothergilla Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-5' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Profuse honey-scented white flowers April-May Fall color: Yellow, orange and red-purple
	Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' Smooth hydrangea Nativar Sun: Part shade Average size: 3-5' tall, 4-6' wide Flowers: Huge pure white heads for up to 2 months Foliage: Dark green
	Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' SNOW QUEEN Oakleaf hydrangea Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 6-8' wide Flowers: White changing to pink Foliage:  Oak-like, deep green leaves Fall color: Bronze, maroon or purple Other notable characteristics: Mature stems exfoliate to reveal a rich brown inner bark which is attractive in winter.
	Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' Oakleaf hydrangea Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 2.5-3' wide Flowers: White changing to pink Foliage:  Oak-like, dark green leaves Fall color: Bronze, maroon or purple Other notable characteristics: Mature stems exfoliate to reveal a rich brown inner bark which is attractive in winter.
	Hypericum frondosum 'Sunburst' St. John's wort Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: Bright yellow flowers with a dense bushy center Fruit: Reddish-brown capsules Foliage:  Blue green leaves   Other notable characteristics: Attractive exfoliating reddish-brown to purplish bark develops on mature stems.
	Ilex glabra 'Shamrock' Inkberry holly Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: Attracts bees Fruit: Attracts birds Foliage:  Broadleaf evergreen, spineless leaves
	Ilex verticillata 'Afterglow' Winterberry holly Nativar, Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-6' tall, 3-6' wide Fruit: Orange-red berries attract birds Other notable characteristics: 'Afterglow' is a female cultivar and requires a male pollinator (such as, 'Jim Dandy') to produce berries.
	Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' Virginia sweetspire Nativar, Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 4-6' wide Flowers: Fragrant, white Fall color: Varying shades of red, orange and gold
	Juniperus × pfitzeriana 'Sea Green' Chinese juniper Sun: Full sun Average size: 4-6' tall, 6-8' wide Foliage:  Evergreen
	Malus sargentii 'Tina' Sargent crabapple Sun: Full sun Average size: 4-5' tall, 4-5' wide Flowers: Pink buds open to profuse fragrant, white flowers Fruit: Pea-sized crabapples, attractive to birds
	Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' SUMMER WINE Ninebark Nativar Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 4-6' wide Flowers: Flattened clusters of pinkish white Foliage:  Deeply cut, wine-red foliage Other notable characteristics: Exfoliating bark on mature branches peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark in winter.
	Rhododendron 'Delaware Valley White' Evergreen azalea Sun: Part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: Clusters of white Foliage:  Yellow in winter
	Rhododendron 'Girard's Crimson' Evergreen azalea Sun: Part shade Average size: 2-4' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: Crimson red with darker eye Foliage:  Glossy, dark green leaves acquire red and copper tones in winter
	Rhododendron 'Girard's Fuchsia' Evergreen azalea Sun: Part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 4-6' wide Flowers: Reddish purple   Foliage: Evergreen
	Rhododendron 'Hino-crimson' Evergreen azalea Sun: Part shade Average size: 2-4' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Crimson red Foliage:  Small glossy dark green leaves acquire bronze tones in winter
	Rhododendron 'My Mary' Deciduous azalea Plant of Merit Sun: Part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Fragrant, bright yellow with orange tubes
	Rhododendron (PJM Group) Rhododendron Sun: Part shade to full shade Average size: 3-6' tall, 3-7' wide Flowers: Lavender, pink, rose (depending on cultivar) Foliage: Leathery, dark green leaves acquire purple tones in winter
	Rhododendron 'Stewartstonian' Evergreen azalea Sun: Part shade Average size: 4-5' tall, 4-5' wide Flowers: Orange-red Foliage:  Glossy, dark green foliage is evergreen, but turns reddish-chocolate in cold winters
	Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense Korean azalea Sun: Part shade to full shade Average size: 3-6' tall, 6-12' wide Flowers:  Lavender to rose purple with a darker blotch Fall color: Orange-red
	Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger' TIGER EYES Staghorn sumac Nativar Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-6' tall, 3-6' wide Fruit: Reddish clusters on female plants Foliage:  Bright yellow Fall color: Orange and scarlet
	Rosa 'Bucbi' CAREFREE BEAUTY Shrub rose Sun: Full sun Average size: 3-5' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: Large, fragrant, pink Fruit:  Orange hips in fall, persist into winter Foliage:  Glossy, dark green
	Rosa 'Meidomonac' BONICA Shrub rose Sun: Full sun Average size: 3-4' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: Large profuse clusters of soft pink, fully double Fruit:  Orange hips in fall, persist into winter
	Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' Japanese spirea Sun: Full sun Average size: 3-4' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: Flat-topped clusters of pink Foliage: Yellow-green Fall color: Yellow-orange-copper hues
	Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound' Spirea Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 2-4' tall, 2-4' wide Flowers: Profuse, snow white Foliage:  Blue-green
	Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon' Spirea Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun Average size: 3-5' tall, 3-5' wide Flowers: White clusters Foliage:  Fine, golden yellow leaves Fall color: Orange
	Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' Lilac Sun: Full sun Average size: 4-5' tall, 5-7' wide Flowers: Sweetly fragrant, pale pink
	Taxus × media 'Densiformis' Yew Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 4-6' wide Foliage:  Evergreen
	Taxus × media 'Wardii' Yew Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-6' tall, 8-20' wide Foliage:  Evergreen
	Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget' American arborvitae Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-4' tall, 4-5' wide Foliage:  Evergreen Other notable characteristics: Prune to maintain tight habit
	Viburnum × burkwoodii 'Conoy' Burkwood viburnum Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-5' tall, 4-8' wide Flowers: Fragrant, creamy white Fruit: Red berry-like, eventually turning black, attractive to birds Foliage:  Extremely glossy, dark green Fall color: Maroon
	Viburnum carlesii Koreanspice viburnum Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 4-6' tall, 4-7' wide Flowers: Extremely fragrant, pink-changing-to-white flowers arranged in snowball-like clusters
	Viburnum carlesii 'Compactum' Koreanspice viburnum Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 2.5-4' tall, 2.5-4' wide Flowers: Extremely fragrant, pink-changing-to-white flowers arranged in snowball-like clusters
	Viburnum dentatum 'Christom' BLUE MUFFIN Arrowwood viburnum Nativar, Plant of Merit Sun: Full sun to part shade Average size: 3-5' tall, 3-4' wide Flowers: White Fruit: Pea-sized blue berries that mature in late summer Foliage:  Dark green Fall color: Orange to burgundy-purple
	Weigela florida 'Alexandra' WINE AND ROSES Weigela Sun: Full sun Average size: 4-5' tall, 4-6' wide Flowers: Reddish-pink, funnel-shaped flowers Foliage: Burgundy-purple Fall color: Very dark purple Other notable characteristics: Attracts hummingbirds / Sporadic rebloom
	Weigela florida 'Bramwell' FINE WINE Weigela Sun: Full sun Average size: 2-4' tall, 2-4' wide Flowers: Rose-pink, funnel-shaped flowers Foliage: Dark burgundy Fall color: Dark burgundy Other notable characteristics: Attracts hummingbirds / Sporadic rebloom