Shrubs
These species are perennial woody plants that generally grow in shrub form (multiple stems, shorter) but many can also grow in tree form (single trunk, taller). Species are differentiated by leaf size and shape, bark, and flower and fruit characteristics.
Invasive honeysuckles and shrubs with thorny or spiny stems are treated on separate pages.
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Resource Table
| Classification | Common Name | Scientific Name | Other Scientific Names | Resources | Videos | Weed ID slides ppt (AGR 375) | National Distribution Map | Look-Alike Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Amur maple | Acer ginnala | Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala | Link | Video | Acer ginnala | National Map | |
| Restricted | Autumn olive | Elaeagnus umbellata | Link 1 Link 2 | Elaeagnus umbellata | National Map | |||
| Prohibited | Scotch broom | Cytisus scoparius | Link 1 Link 2 | Cytisus scoparius | National Map | |||
| Restricted | Siberian peashrub | Caragana arborescens | Link | Caragana arborescens | National Map | |||
| Not Regulated | Privets | Ligustrum spp. | Link 1 Link 2 | Ligustrum spp. | National Map | |||
| Restricted | Winged burning bush | Euonymus alatus | Link | Euonymus alatus | National Map |
Species Summary Table
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Bark / Stem | Leaves | Flowers | Fruit | Leaf Division | Flower Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer ginnala | Amur maple | Multi-stemmed small tree | Opposite, toothed leaves up; 3 lobes, center lobe much larger; dark green above, pale below | Round 1 ½” clusters of 1/8” yellowish-white flowers; April - May | Samara, 1 – 1 ¼” long, wings nearly parallel | Simple, lobed | Yellowish white |
| Caragana arborescens | Siberian peashrub | New branches smooth, shiny, olive green to yellow brown; older bark dark gray | Alternate, compound leaves 3-5” long, 8-12 elliptic leaflets (no terminal leaflet); pair of spine-like stipules at base of each leaf node | Bundles of 1-5 fragrant yellow, ¾” long, pea- like flowers in leaf axils; May - June | Slender, 1-2” long pod ripens from green to yellow to brown | Pinnately compound | Yellow |
| Cytisus scoparius | Scotch broom | New branches greenish- brown with 5 ridges; older branches smoother and tan | Alternate, compound leaves with 3 leaflets; further up plant may be single leaves | Bright yellow, 1” pea- like, solitary or pairs, in upper leaf axils; March - June | Flat 1-2” seed pods with fuzzy edges; green turning brown or black as maturing | Trifoliate or unifoliate | Yellow |
| Elaeagnus umbellata | Autumn olive | New twigs covered in silvery- white scales, scattered brown scales; become red-brown; sometimes thorny | Alternate, lance-elliptic shaped, 1- 3” long, 1”+ wide; wavy edges; upper surface dark green, lower surface covered with silvery-white scales | 2-10 funnel-shaped, ½” creamy white to pale yellow, 4 petal-like sepals; covered in silvery scales; May – June | Oval fruit ¼ - 1/3” long, covered in pale scales when young, ripens to red in fall | Simple | White to cream |
| Ligustrum spp. | Privets | Grayish with lenticels | Opposite, simple, 1–2” long, elliptic, oval, or lance-shaped,tough, smooth, somewhat glossy, margins are entire | White, tubular, with 4 fused petals; flowers less than 3/10" long, held in pyramidal clusters at branch tips; June | Black berries | Simple | White |
| Euonymus alatus | Winged burning bush | Branchlets weakly 4-sided, newer branches with corky wings on at least 2 sides; older bark with thin grey-brown bark that splits to show green inner tissue | Opposite, simple leaves, 1- 3” long, ¾ - 1 ½” wide; finely toothed edges | Cluster in leaf axils; ¼ - 1/3”, pale yellow to greenish, 4 rounded petals; May – June | Capsule ½” across turns pinkish to red, splits open to show 1 -4 fleshy, bright red fruits | Simple | Yellowish or greenish |