Native Alternatives: Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimifolia), Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata), Black Chokeberry (Photinia melanocarpa), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Pinxterbloom Azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides), Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
Native Alternatives: Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimifolia), Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata), Black Chokeberry (Photinia melanocarpa), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Pinxterbloom Azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides), Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
Adam’s Needle, or simply Yucca, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with a unique form. It features yellowish-white flowers, which bloom in clusters on 3- to 6-foot panicles reaching above the foliage, May-July. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. The leaves are thick, fibrous blades, which extend both vertically and horizontally from the center of the basal stem, terminating in a sharp point — like a needle. Adam’s Needle is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae) and Cofaqui Giant-Skipper (Megathymus cofaqui). Yucca perfers dry, sandy soil and is drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for New Jersey yards. Plant Adam’s Needle in groups as accents, around foundations or borders, or as stand-alone specimens in your yard.
Blackhaw is a wildlife-friendly deciduous shrub featuring white flowers, which bloom April-May. The nectar is attractive to native bees and butterflies. The fruit is pinkish-rose and matures to bluish-black; it provides a good food source for birds and wildlife. The edible fruit is used for preserves and jellies. Blackhaw can be planted as a shrub border or as a small specimen tree in your yard.
Possumhaw is a deciduous shrub featuring white, fragrant flower clusters, which bloom June-July. The nectar provides a food source for bees and butterflies. Its berries are very ornamental, changing from green to salmon-pink, to lavender, to blue, to black, and all colors may be present in the fruit cluster at one time. The fruit attracts birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is red to reddish-purple. Plant Possumhaw as a shrub border or in natural areas of your yard. It is very similar to Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides.
Nannyberry is a deciduous shrub, which features white flowers blooming early to mid-May. The flowers provide a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. The fruits ripen September-October, changing color from green to yellow, rose, and pink, before maturing as blueish-black. The berries provide winter food for birds. Nannyberry is a host plant to butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon). Plant Nannyberry in your shrub border, or in natural areas of your yard.
Arrowwood is a wildlife-friendly deciduous shrub featuring white flowers with yellow stamens, which bloom May-July. The flowers provide a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Blue-black berries follow the flowers, and offer a valued food source for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage can be yellow, glossy red, or reddish-purple. Arrowwood is a host plant for Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) butterfly larvae. Use this durable plant in massed plantings, shrub borders, and in shrub hedges.
Withe-rod, or Witherod Viburnum, features white flowers with yellow stamens, which bloom June-July. The fruit is very ornamental, changing from green, to pink, to red, to blue, finally to black, and all colors may be present in the fruit cluster at one time. The berries persist after the leaves drop, and provide a good food source for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is orange-red, crimson, and purple. Witherod Viburnum is a good choice for naturalizing, mass plantings, and as a shrub border around your yard. It is very similar to Viburnum nudum.