Dear neighbors,
Several of you have reached out asking for some help with replacement shrub options. The following list of both evergreen and deciduous shrubs should help give you some ideas. These shrubs are not official HOA recommendations. Nor is this an exhaustive list of shrub options. You are not required to use any of the plants on this list. The list merely contains shrubs commonly found in Abbottsford as well as some recommended by experienced nursery professionals and our HOA Landscape Architect. They are not listed in any particular order. I have included some key details, but please do your own research. Sunlight exposure, soil quality, moisture levels, and drainage throughout your yard may vary in different planting locations. Observe the sun exposure throughout the day and ask a trusted nursery professional for guidance with plant selections, if you are unsure what to plant. Providing them with a bagged soil sample will help them determine what soil amendments you may need. You are welcome to reach out to me if you have any questions or suggestions. I hope this helps. Thank you.
Ashley Cantrell
210-827-3736
‘Varieties’: Plant experts breed desired qualities into named ‘varieties.’ New and improved varieties show up regularly. They often have smaller sizes that require less pruning, improved disease resistance, and desirable features, like leaf/flower color.
Sunlight: Full Sun (6+ hours); Part Sun (4-6 hrs); Part Shade (2-4 hrs); Full Shade (<2 hrs)
Size: Typical height at maturity (Height x Width); Prune at the correct time for your shrub species to maintain shrubs at a smaller size without sacrificing flowers.
Moisture: Wet (W=Saturated soil); Moist (M=balance of wet & dry soil; forms a ball; crumbles easily when squeezed); Average (Avg=fluctuates between moderately dry & moist); Dry (D=low water content; does not form into a ball); Well-Drained (WD; most shrubs prefer this.)
Watering Tips: Water well after planting. Provide weekly, deep watering for trees and shrubs during the first year or two during dry periods to help them establish healthy root systems. Provide supplemental, deep waterings during extended dry periods in all seasons. Plants still need water even when it’s cold.
Soil Quality & Amendments: Plants uptake nutrients best when in their preferred pH range. Most soils in Abbottsford are loamy (excellent) and have neutral pH of 7. Sandy loam soils near pine trees have a pH of 6. Add soil amendments at planting to adjust soil ph, quality, & moisture retention/drainage. Well-aged compost is often used as a fertilizer for nutrient-depleted soils; add no more than 30% compost to the planting hole or top dress with a layer of compost. Bring a bagged soil sample to a nursery professional, so they can help you determine how to improve your soil. Loamy soils (even mix of clay, silt, & sand) are best for most plants. Loosen compacted clay soils with compost/soil conditioner and worm castings or select plants that can grow in such challenging soil.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: Nashville is located in zone 7. Some say 7a; others say 7b. Lower zones have colder average temps. Higher zones have hotter ones.
Notes: Drought-tolerant (DT) once established = deep roots uptake water during dry periods. Shallow rooted plants dry out faster. Selecting plants with 7 in the middle of their growing zones means plants will tolerate more extreme temperature fluctuations.
Native Range: Indicates where plants originate and are well adapted to soil, moisture, temperature, and humidity changes. Plants within their native ranges provide the most ecological benefit to birds, pollinators, other wildlife. Invasive plants should be avoided.
Planting & Mulching Tips: Please ensure your plants are planted correctly. If the person doing the planting is in a hurry, they may skip some of these important steps, which will negatively impact the health, appearance, disease-resistance and longevity of your plant. Best practices are to cut & loosen girdling roots; roots of plants grown in pots tend to encircle themselves. Healthy roots grow radially outward. The planting hole should be dug only as deep as the container is to the top of the soil line and 2-4 times the width with tapered sides. Plant at the correct height, a little higher (an inch or 2) to make room for soil settling and mulch applications. It’s better to plant a little too high than too deeply. Don’t forget to water your plants after planting. Mulch should be pulled back a few inches away from the base of your trees and shrubs to prevent root rot & disease. No volcano mulching, please. It may look good, but it will eventually weaken or even kill your plants, especially trees. The mulch layer on top of your planting areas should not exceed 3″. Redistribute excess mulch, if needed.Evergreen Shrubs
Boxwoods: All boxwoods are susceptible to blight to some degree. Korean boxwood varieties show more resistance to blight than English, American, and Japanese boxwoods. ‘Green Velvet’ and ‘Wintergreen’ are good boxwood options for Full Sun to Part Shade. Newgen ‘Independence,’ and ‘Freedom’ boxwoods show good blight resistance & ‘Liberty Belle’ is an improved variety that will be released in late 2024. ‘Winter Gem,’ ‘Little Missy,’ and other varieties show good boxwood blight resistance. Experiments continue to improve blight resistance on new cultivars (cultivated varieties). Boxwood experts recommend hand pruning in mid May to shape, never shearing. Shearing leads to dense leaf growth at the shearing sites, which blocks sunlight from reaching the interior of the shrub. Insufficient leaf volume at the base and interior of the boxwood is the result. Healthy shrubs are more resistant to various plant problems than weak ones. Grows in hardiness zones 5a-9b.
Azaleas: Prefers at least 4 hours of Morning Sun and Afternoon Shade; evergreen shrub prefers moist, acidic, rich soil; available in many varieties with different flower colors; zones 6a-8b; native to Asia, Europe, and North America.
‘Soft Touch’ Holly: Full Sun to Part Shade; low maintenance, evergreen shrub with soft, glossy leaves; a good boxwood alternative; mature height and width of 2′ to 3′; zones 5a-9b; native of Japan & East Asia.
Dwarf Yaupon Holly: ‘Nana,’ ‘Bordeaux,’ and ‘Schilling’s’ are low maintenance evergreens for Full Sun to Part Shade; good boxwood alternative (small leaves, minimal pruning needs, mounding habit); zones 7a-9b; native to the Eastern US and Mexico.
Inkberry Holly: Grown specifically as a boxwood look alike; Full Sun to Part Shade; Faster grower than boxwood, but not drought tolerant; needs moist, acidic soil; ‘Shamrock’ gets 5′-6′ tall and 3′-4′ wide, if unpruned, and is a shade tolerant evergreen. Inkberry responds well to pruning; adapts to wetter soil; lustrous, green leaves; apply fertilizer for acid-loving plants in spring; low maintenance when sited well; ‘Gem Box’ is more rounded and ‘Strongbox’ grows slightly taller than wide; good for birds; zones 4a-9b; native to the Southeastern US.‘Florida Sunshine’ Anise (Illicium parviflorum):
Morning Sun to Part Shade; requires protection from direct afternoon sun, which will scorch leaves; prefers moist soil; matures to 5′ tall and 3′ wide; Unique, chartreuse-colored, evergreen shrub for part shade areas; protect from wind; brightens dark spots; does not tolerate drought; fertilize in late winter; zones 7a-9b; native to the Southeastern US.
Leucothoe axillaris ‘ReJoyce’: Part Sun to Part Shadeevergreen shrub; 2′-3′ tall and 3′-4′ wide; prefers acidic, organically rich, moist, well-drained soil; zone 6-9; 4 season interest (red spring and fall leaves; purple leaves in winter); low maintenance; zones 6a-9b; native to southeastern coast of US.
Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Zeblid’: Part Shade to Full Shadeevergreen; 2′-3′ tall and wide; scarlet spring leaves turn glossy green in summer, then burgundy red in fall and bronze to purple red in winter; prefers moist, acidic, organically rich, well-drained soil; intolerant of drought and wind; zones 5a-8b; cultivar of species native to US, particularly Appalachia.
Common Myrtle: Full Sun to Part Shadeevergreen (needs 2+ hours sun/day); good boxwood alternative (small leaves, minimal pruning needs, mounding habit); zones 7b to 11b; Mediterranean native.
Abelia: Full Sun to Part Shade; ‘Canyon Creek’ variety is3′-6′ tall x 4′-6′ wide; evergreen with light pink blooms in summer and fall; glossy, dark green leaves turn vibrant gold and bronze in fall; ‘Little Richard’ varietystays compact 3’x3′ and has white blooms; ‘Miss Lemon’ has unique, variegated foliage; low maintenance; little to no pruning required; zones 4-11; hybrid of 2 native Asian plants.
‘Smaragd’ Emerald Green Arborvitae: Full Sun to Part Shadeevergreen foundation or screening tree grows 15′ tall x 3′-4′ wide; good for all but dry conditions and exposed, windy sites; low maintenance when well sited; zones 2-7b; native to Canada and Eastern US.
Camelia: Part Sun to Part Shade; prefers rich, acidic soil. Spring and Fall flowering, evergreen shrub with upright form and glossy, dark green leaves; excellent feature plant for part shade areas; Camelia japonica varieties have larger flowers, an upright growth habit, but do not tolerate direct, midday sun in summer; Camelia sasanqua varieties tolerate full sun, grow lower and broader, and have smaller blooms; native to China.
Dwarf Arborvitae Varieties: Full Sun to Part Sun diminutive evergreen; needs well-drained soil; low maintenance, whimsical shrub; no pruning needed. ‘Anna’s Magic Ball’ grows to a tiny 10″-15″ tall and wide with yellow foliage. ‘Tater Tot’ grows to 2′ tall and wide; zones 3a-7b; native to Canada and the Eastern US.
Japanese Plum Yew: Full Sun to Full Shade evergreen; long, narrow leaves provide textural variety; shorter growth habit than Japanese Yews; a tall groundcover option; zones 6a-9b; native to Japan. Caution-Contains toxins (Taxine A & B), which are fatal to dogs, if ingested.
‘Blue Star’ Juniper: Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit; blue-green, evergreen, compact, dwarf conifer; slow-growing groundcover; prefers Full Sun and moist, well-drained soil; drought tolerant; low maintenance; zones 4a-8b; native to Afghanistan, China, & Taiwan.
‘Blue Pacific’ Juniper: Full sun to Part Shade; tolerates drought, shade, sandy soils, and salt; needs well-drained soil; low, spreading evergreengroundcover to 12″ tall x 6′-8′ wide; grows more outward than upward; spreading, trailing habit; low maintenance; zones 6a-9b; native to Japan & Russia.
Nandina: Caution…Because this plant has a tendency to be invasive and considering its toxicity if ingested by pets or children, please consider using one of the non-flowering/non-fruiting cultivars such as ‘Fire Power’ or ‘Gulf Stream’; evergreen, colorful foliage; prune old canes to prevent leggy appearance, aka “witch’s broom”; native to Asia.‘Marvel’ Mahonia: Full Sun to Full Shade (Best in Part Shade); protect from winter winds; prefers moist, well-drained soil; drought-tolerant once established; Spiky leaves make for a good privacy hedge & corner foundation plant; yellow flowers in winter; unique leaves look almost tropical; cut longest stalk to control height; zones 6a-9b; native to North America & Asia.‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia: Part Shade to Full Shade evergreen, dwarf shrub with unique leaf texture; prefers average, well-drained soil; pairs well with Camelias, Hydrangeas, ‘Everillo’ Carex (lime green, grass-like leaves), and Coral Bells (Heuchera) in shady areas; zones 7a-9b; native to China.‘ScentAmazing’ Gardenia: Part Sun to Part Shade; compact, evergreen shrub; white flowers in spring & fall; prefers rich, well-drained soil; prune after flowering in spring; apply
acid-loving plant fertilizer in late winter; many frost-proof varieties exist; zone 7-10; native to tropical & subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, & Oceania.
Cherry Laurels: ‘Otto Luyken’ is a compact, evergreen commonly used as a groundcover hedge. ‘Zabeliana’ grows to 4′ tall with a 12′ spread. ‘Schipkaensis’ grows to 25′ tall and needs regular pruning in late spring and early summer to control its size; native to China and Asia. These were hit hard by the flash freeze; most have recovered.
Viburnums: Full Sun to Part Shade in moist, well-drained soil; Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring; Many evergreen and deciduous varieties exist; many different leaf types exist. Here are a few. Again, please research plants for your yard.
- David viburnum (Viburnum davidii): Considered a low, compact shrub, this plant has distinct leathery dark blue-green leaves. Pink flower buds appear as creamy white flowers in the spring. In the north, it can be a deciduous plant, making it semi-evergreen in cooler climates.
- ‘Spring Bouquet’ (Viburnum tinus): This popular cultivar grows 3 to 5 feet tall. It produces dense and subtly fragrant white flower clusters on reddish stems in the late winter and early spring developing into metallic blue-black fruit.
- ‘Emerald Lustre’ (Viburnum odoratissimum): The cultivar, also known as sweet viburnum, grows upright between 10 to 20 feet high. It has pink-tinged new growth and mid spring white blooms on lustrous and very large green leaves. Fruits are red turning purple-black as the plant matures.
- Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum): This native evergreen reaches 20 feet tall and is best for warmer climates (USDA zones 7-10). White flowers appear in the spring.
Deciduous Shrubs
Oakleaf Hydrangeas: Sun or Shade tolerant; year-round interest; leaves provide textural contrast and rich fall color; needs some sun for best flowering; low maintenance; many sizes & varieties, including dwarf varieties, are available; pruned after flowering to control size; zones 5a-9b; native to Southeastern US.
Smooth Hydrangeas: Prefers Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade; ‘Incrediball’ has stronger stems and is, thus, less floppy than ‘Annabelle’; ‘Haas Halo’ has lacecap blooms; ‘Invincibelle’ varieties have interesting color; cut back in late winter; apply 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring; zones 3a-9b; native to North America & Asia.
Winterberry Holly: Full to Part Sun; Red berries provide winter interest and food for songbirds. One male needed to maximize winter berry production; zones 3a-9b; North America Native.
‘Sibirica’ Red Twig Dogwood: Full Sun to Part Shade; Prefers organically rich, well-drained soils with average moisture. Do not allow to dry out; 4′-7′ tall and 3′-5′ wide, if unpruned; recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit; prized for its brilliant red stems in winter and creamy, white spring flowers; zones 2a-8b; native to Asia.
Ninebark: Full Sun to Part Shade; grows 5′-8′ tall and 4′-6′ wide; prefers moist, well-drained soil; pink-white spring flowers, varying leaf colors in fall, and peeling bark provide four season interest; zones 3a-7b; native to Southeastern US.
Dwarf Fothergilla: Full Sun to Part Sun; prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; no pruning is needed; no mulch should touch the stems; abundant honey-scented, white flowers in spring; outstanding fall color; can handle moist soil as long as it’s well-drained; very drought tolerant; little pruning needed; apply slow-release fertilizer in February or March; dwarf variety grows 2′-3′ tall and 3′-4′ wide; ‘Mount Airy’ grows to 5′-6′ tall & wide; ‘Legends of the Fall’ needs Full to Part Sun & grows 4′-5′ tall & wide; ‘Blue Shadow’ needs shady locations; zones 5a-8b; native to the Southeastern US.
Summersweet: Full Sun to Full Shade; Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil; low maintenance; tolerates alkaline soil, occasional flooding, road salt, and wet sites; does not tolerate hot, dry locations; magnificent sweet fragrance attracts butterflies, singbirds, and hummingbirds; ‘Ruby Spice’ has pink flowers; ‘Hummingbird’ has white flowers; ‘Sixteen Candles’ is a dwarf cultivar; reliably blooms, even in shade; many other varieties exist; zones 3a-9b; native to the Eastern US.
Virginia Sweetspire: Full Sun to Part Sun; Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil; ‘Little Henry’ grows 3′-5′ tall; excellent fall color; zones 5a-9b; native to eastern US.
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum): Full Sun to Part Shade; Prefers moist loam, but tolerates a wide range of soils; prune immediately after flowering; an upright, rounded shrub to 6′-10′ tall and wide; plant different varieties, such as ‘All That Glitters’ and ‘All That Glows’ for increased fruit production; zones 2a-8b; native to eastern North America.
‘Brandywine’ Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum nudum): Likes dry, Part Sun to Part Shade, acidic soil; vibrant display of glossy leaves, spring flowers, red leaves in fall, berries start out pink, then turn purple, then black on this upright combination; low maintenance; plant different varieties to increase fruit production; native to our area (endangered in some areas in the wild); zones 5a-9b; native to eastern and southeastern US.
‘Koreanspice’ Viburnum: Full Sun to Part Shade; Moist, well-drained soil; grows to 4′-6′ tall and wide, larger if unpruned; Fragrant flowering shrub with pink buds and white flowers in spring; red to purple fall leaves; low maintenance; prune in spring immediately after flowering to control its size; zones 4a-7b; Native to Korea and Japan.
Eastern Snowball Viburnum: Full Sun to Part Sun; grows to 10′-12′ tall and 10′ wide; good screening or specimen shrub; Large, white spring flowers and fall color; zones 3a-8b; native to Asia.
Spirea: Full Sun; deciduous shrub with abundant white, spring flowers and arching branches; ‘Bridal Wreath’ grows to 5′-9′ tall and 6′-8′ wide; prune immediately after flowering to control shape; zones 5b-8a; ‘White Gold’ is a compact variety growing to 2′-3′ tall and wide. It has yellow leaves in Full Sun and Chartreuse leaves in Part Sun from spring to fall; tolerates poor soil; a tough, low maintenance plant; zones 4a-8b; native to Taiwan and China.
‘Lowscape Mound’ Black Chokeberry: Full Sun to Part Shade; Grows to 12″ to 2′ tall and 2′ wide; Handles many different soil and moisture conditions once established; White spring flowers become berries in winter for songbirds; glossy, green summer leaves turn brilliant red to orange in fall; a low-maintenance, deciduous groundcover; birds love this plant; zones 3-9; native to US.
