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.
To view or download a PDF version of this page, click here.
Resource Table
| Classification | Common Name | Scientific Name | Other Scientific Names | Factsheets | Videos | Statewide Distribution Map | National Distribution Map | Look-Alike Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Amur maple | Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala | Factsheet | Video | State Map | National Map | ||
| Restricted | Autumn olive | Elaeagnus umbellata | Factsheet 1 Factsheet 2 | State Map | National Map | |||
| Restricted | Common buckthorn | Rhamnus cathartica | Factsheet 1 Factsheet 2 | State Map | National Map | |||
| Restricted | Glossy buckthorn | Frangula alnus | Rhamnus frangula | Factsheet 1 Factsheet 2 | State Map | National Map | ||
| Restricted | Russian olive | Elaeagnus angustifolia | Factsheet | State Map | National Map | |||
| Prohibited | Scotch broom | Cytisus scoparius | Factsheet 1 Factsheet 2 | Not Present in Wisconsin | National Map | |||
| Restricted | Siberian peashrub | Caragana arborescens | Factsheet | State Map | National Map | |||
| Restricted | Winged burning bush | Euonymus alatus | Factsheet | State Map | National Map |
Species Summary Table
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Bark / Stem | Leaves | Flowers | Fruit/Seed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer tataricum | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian olive | New twigs densely covered in silvery-white scales, become smooth and shiny reddish- brown; sometimes have thorns up to 2” long | Alternate, lance-shaped, 1-4” long, 3/8 – ¾” wide, toothless; new leaves densely covered in silvery- white scales on both sides, upper surface becomes dull green | 1-3 funnel-shaped, ½” yellow flowers, 4 petal- like sepals; covered in silvery scales; June | Dull silver to yellow ½” oval fruit, covered in silvery scales when young |
| 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 |
| 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 | Simple, opposite 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 |
| Frangula alnus | Glossy buckthorn | Grey-brown with white lenticels; new growth reddish-green; oldest bark grey; cambium greenish yellow; heartwood reddish orange | Simple, alternate, elliptic, toothless, 6-9 strongly parallel veins per side point to edge of leaf | Clusters of 2-8 in new leaf axils; 5- parted,yellowish- greenish white; 1/8”; May – September | ¼ - 1/3” berry turning from red to shiny black when ripe |
| Rhamnus cathartica | Common buckthorn | Dark grey, shiny surface gets scaly with age; dark lenticels; cambium bright yellow-orange; heartwood deep orange | Mostly opposite, simple, egg-shaped, small teeth; 1 – 2 ¼” long, ¾ - 1 ½” wide; 3-4 prominent veins per side curve to tip | Clusters of ~10 in new leaf axils; 4-parted, yellowish green, <1/4”; June-July | ¼” berry ripens from dull green to shiny black |