what native shrub to replace dying azaleas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Toxicodendron Radicans”. It’s absolutely, positively native to eastern North America.

Low maintenance, easy to care for, drought tolerant and it has essentially no pest or deer browsing problems. Does well in sun, partial shade or full shade. Any soil type as long as it’s not waterlogged. Pretty much the perfect plant-it-and-forget-it perennial.

Don't be a jerk, PP. This is one of the few spaces on DCUM without a$$holes.

Some of our native plant “enthusiasts” (fetishists?) can get pretty tedious at times with their evangelistic adherence to native plant dogma.

I'm one of them, and agree. However, telling someone to plant poison ivy? That takes it to a whole another level (and I sincerely doubt they're any sort of a plant enthusiast, maybe an enthusiastic troll).

NP
I thought it was hilarious 😂. I didn’t know the Latin name but as I was reading the description, I was thinking “hey, this sounds perfect! This stuff can grow anywhere. I really need to get some and plant this” Then I searched the Latin name. That was pretty dang funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kalmia (mountain laurel) are evergreen for shade.

I’ve never seen anyone successfully grow this. Has really specific drainage needs.

We have a lot of them in our DC neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Viburnum smells lovely too!

Spice Girl, Korean viburnum variety has lovely fragrance and sweet pink blooms.

Yes, but OP wants native.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Toxicodendron Radicans”. It’s absolutely, positively native to eastern North America.

Low maintenance, easy to care for, drought tolerant and it has essentially no pest or deer browsing problems. Does well in sun, partial shade or full shade. Any soil type as long as it’s not waterlogged. Pretty much the perfect plant-it-and-forget-it perennial.

Don't be a jerk, PP. This is one of the few spaces on DCUM without a$$holes.

Some of our native plant “enthusiasts” (fetishists?) can get pretty tedious at times with their evangelistic adherence to native plant dogma.

OP specifically asked for native shrubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kalmia (mountain laurel) are evergreen for shade.

NP, we put those in and they all keeled over after 5-6 months. I don’t think they like the clay soil in NOVA.

I was going to say this. I had a couple and they did well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a guide for you:

https://www.plantnovanatives.org/_files/ugd/9c55f5_1d2d3e0424f0420dacbfc78a48acfb41.pdf

There is a section on shrubs and their ideal conditions (sun/shade and moisture tolerance).

In your shoes, I would look into Viburnum. They’re easy plants with multi season interest and high value for wildlife. Another un-fussy plant with multi-season interest is the Virginia sweetspire. It’s a great pollinator magnet. Since it suckers a bit (easy to remove), I always have some to give away come Spring. Join the Virginia Native Plant Swap group on FB. We are great enablers, and happy to send everyone home with new plants. There is a whole another group in Vienna as well.

Doesn’t viburnum need sun? I think OP said shady. I have the same problem and am also looking for something!

[Anonymous]

OP here Thanks for all the replies!

I’m leaning towards Virginia sweetspire in the sunny spot and fothergilla in the shady section. I’m in Springfield and I think I’ll try shopping through Earth Sangha, so it will depend also on what the have when they open up in March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a guide for you:

https://www.plantnovanatives.org/_files/ugd/9c55f5_1d2d3e0424f0420dacbfc78a48acfb41.pdf

There is a section on shrubs and their ideal conditions (sun/shade and moisture tolerance).

In your shoes, I would look into Viburnum. They’re easy plants with multi season interest and high value for wildlife. Another un-fussy plant with multi-season interest is the Virginia sweetspire. It’s a great pollinator magnet. Since it suckers a bit (easy to remove), I always have some to give away come Spring. Join the Virginia Native Plant Swap group on FB. We are great enablers, and happy to send everyone home with new plants. There is a whole another group in Vienna as well.

Doesn’t viburnum need sun? I think OP said shady. I have the same problem and am also looking for something!

V.dentatum and nudum can take considerable amount of shade. Flowering/fruiting is better in full sun to part shade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Toxicodendron Radicans”. It’s absolutely, positively native to eastern North America.

Low maintenance, easy to care for, drought tolerant and it has essentially no pest or deer browsing problems. Does well in sun, partial shade or full shade. Any soil type as long as it’s not waterlogged. Pretty much the perfect plant-it-and-forget-it perennial.

Don't be a jerk, PP. This is one of the few spaces on DCUM without a$$holes.

Some of our native plant “enthusiasts” (fetishists?) can get pretty tedious at times with their evangelistic adherence to native plant dogma.

OP specifically asked for native shrubs.

Well, it IS a shrub.

[Anonymous]

Are there any other nurseries that are good for native shrubs?Willing to make a drive for a good selection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any other nurseries that are good for native shrubs?Willing to make a drive for a good selection.

I'm not sure what you meant by 'other'. There are lots of good native plant sales in the Spring. There is a huge one in Arlington or Alexandria, and a slightly smaller one in Loudoun. Several of them also go to smaller events, like farmer's markets. I have had good luck with Hill House Nursery and Seven Bends. Earth Sangha, I hear, is wonderful as well. Pretty much all of them are small operations, and will require an appointment.

I also have been getting plants from Bloombox. They're a local small business, and will deliver to you, if you live in their delivery area (Baltimore -DC Metro). I have had EXCELLENT plants from them, although I buy less from them, because they're not an exclusively native nursery.

[Anonymous]

There are native azaleas. They're all deciduous, but can be quite pretty, and unlike the Asian azeleas, they can have a scent.

[Anonymous]

Other native plant nurseries besides Earth Sangha (which I love)--Nature by Design in Alexandria. Temporarily without a permanent home but they deliver and sell at various farmer's markets. More expensive than Earth Sangha but the plants are larger.

Re Virginia Sweetspire, if the conditions are right, I say go for it. I've planted one now want another one--the fall foliage is beautiful and hangs on all winter.

[Anonymous]

Back to the spirea comment--I was just looking at plantnovanatives.org and spirea popped up under Shrubs, common name Meadowsweet, spirea alba. That's the local native variety.