Illinois Native Shrubs

With the HeartLands Conservancy Native Plant Sale opening online on March 28th, swapping out basic, ornamental bushes for environmentally beneficial shrubs is as easy as matching your area to the right plant!

Make an impact with your garden. Provide native pollinators and wildlife with an oasis in your yard!

Full sun, moist soils:

Try:
• Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) – Full sun to partial shade in rich, moist soil, can tolerate deep shade, too!
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) – Tolerates moist clay soil and periodic flooding!
• Ozark Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) – Does best in moist, well-drained soils and flowers best in full sun.

Full sun, medium to dry soils:

Try:
• Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) – Will grow in almost any soil! Tolerates partial shade, but prefers sun.
• Deciduous Holly, “Possumhaw” (Ilex decidua) – Grows best in well-draining soil and partial to full sun, prefers slightly acidic soils.
• American plum (Prunus americana) – Plant in well-drained soil at a sunny site for the best fruit production.

Medium shade, medium moisture:

Try:
• Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)- Prefers medium to moist soils, will tolerate both full sun and part shade.
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)- Flowers best in full sun, but does well in partial shade. Requires a well-drained site.
• American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)- An all-rounder, will do well in both full sun and part shade with well-drained soil.

Wild Hydrangea, Deciduous Holly, New Jersey tea