Plant identification shrubs and trees

Abelia ×grandiflora

Glossy Abelia

Origin: Not naturally occurring.

Height: Up to 2.5 meters

USDA zone: 7 (5 °F/-15 °C)

Actinidia deliciosa cv.

Kiwifruit, Chinese Goosberry

Origin: The wild type is native to Eastern Asia.

Albizia julibrissin cv.

Persian silk tree

Origin: The wild type originates from Asia (East Asia, West Asia, Caucasus)

Height, habit: Deciduous tree or shrub, up to 8 meters

Allamanda cathartica

Golden Trumpet, Yellow Allamanda

Origin: Central to South America

Aloe plicatilis

Fan Aloe

Origin: South Africa

Amorpha canescens

Leadplant

Origin: North America (Canada, USA)

Height: 30 to 100 centimeters

USDA zone: 7 (10.4 °F/-12 °C)

Arbutus unedo

Strawberry Tree

Origin: North Africa, Western Asia, Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine)

Beaucarnea recurvata

Elephant's Foot, Ponytail Palm

Origin: Mexico

Begonia dregei

Maple leaf begonia

Origin: South Africa

Height, habit: Evergreen semi-shrub, 20 to 40 centimeters

Berberis julianae

Chinese Barberry

Origin: China

Berberis ×frikartii

Frikart's Barberry

Origin: The parent species are native to China.

Height: 50 to 150 centimeters

Broussonetia papyrifera

Paper Mulberry

Origin: Asia

Height: Up to 15meters

USDA zone: 7 (10.4 °F/-12 °C)

Bupleurum fruticosum

Shrubby Hare's-Ear

Origin: Africa (North Africa), Asia (West Asia), Europe (Southeast Europe, Southwest Europe)

Height: 100 to 250 centimeters

USDA zone: 7 (10.4 °F/-12 °C)

Callicarpa giraldii

Beauty Berry

Origin: China

Calotropis procera

Apple of Sodom, Sodom Apple

Origin: Africa, Asia and naturalized in Australia, North America, South America

Height, habit: Up to 6 meters, shrub, tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Campsis radicans cv.

Trumpet Vine, Trumpet Creeper

Origin: The wild type is native to the USA.

Capparis spinosa

Caper Bush, Flinders Rose

Origin: Mediterranean (Europe, North Africa, Western Asia), Australia, Pacific (Guam, Vanuatu)

Caryota sp.

Fishtail Palm

Origin: Tropical Asia

Castanea sativa

Sweet Chestnut

Origin: Asia, Europe, Northern Africa

Cedrus atlantica “Glauca”

Blue Atlas Cedar

Origin: The wild type is native to North Africa (Algeria, Morocco)

Height: Up to 25 meters

Ceratostigma willmottianum

Chinese plumbago

Origin: Asia (China)

Height, habit: 50 to 200 centimeters, semi-shrub

USDA zone: 7 (10.4 °F/-12 °C)

Chaenomeles × superba “Jet Fire”

Flowering Quince

Origin: China, Japan

Height, habit: Up to 1.5 meters, shrub

USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)

Chamaerops humilis

European Fan Palm

Origin: Italy, France, Portugal, Spain

Cocos nucifera

Coconut Palm

Origin: Tropical and subtropical regions

Codiaeum variegatum

Garden Croton, Variegated Croton

Origin: The wild type is native to tropical Asia, Australia, Southwestern Pacific.

Codiaeum variegatum “Mora”

Variegated Croton, Garden Croton

Origin: The wild type is native to tropical Asia (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines), Australia and the Pacific islands of Fiji and Vanuatu.

Height: Up to 2 meters

Colutea arborescens

Bladder-Senna

Origin: Europe (Central Europe, South-East Europe, South-West Europe), North Africa

Height: 1 to 4 meters

Common Ivy, English Ivy, European Ivy

Hedera helix

Origin: Africa (North Africa), Asia (Caucasus, Western Asia), Europe and as an introduced species also in in other regions.

Height: Up to 30 meters

Corylus colurna

Turkish Hazel, Turkish Filbert

Origin: South Eastern Europe, Iran, Turkey, Caucasus

Cotoneaster dammeri cv.

Bearberry Cotoneaster

Origin: The wild type is native to China

Cotoneaster multiflorus

Many-flowered Cotoneaster

Origin: Asia

Crataegus pedicellata

Scarlet Hawthorn, Red Haw

Origin: North America

Daphne gnidium

Flax-Leaved Daphne

Origin: North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (Turkey), Europe (Albania, former Yugoslavia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain)

Dasylirion serratifolium

Sandpaper Sotol

Origin: Mexico

Datisca cannabina

False hemp

Origin: Asia, Europe (Cyprus)

Height, habit: Up to 3 meters, herbaceous plant

USDA zone: 6 (-0.4 °F/-18 °C)

Dorstenia hildebrandtii

Hildebrandt's dorstenia

Origin: Africa

Height, habit: Succulent semi-shrub, caudex plant, up to 70 centimeters

Dracaena draco

Dragontree, Canary Islands Dragontree

Origin: Portugal (Madeira), Spain (Tenerife, Gran Canaria), Morocco

Duranta erecta

Golden Dewdrop, Pigeon Berry

Origin: Mexico to Argentina, Caribbean

Eriocephalus africanus

Wild Rosemary

Origin: South Africa

Height, habit: 20 to 50 centimeters, shrub

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Euonymus alatus “Compactus”

Burning Bush

Origin: The wild type is native to Asia (China, Japan, Korea)

Height: 90 to 190 centimeters

USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)

Euonymus europaeus “Albus”

European Spindle, Common Spindle

Origin: The wild type is native to Europe, Turkey, Caucasus.

Euonymus fortunei cv.

Spindle, Fortune's Spindle

Origin: The wild types comes from Asia, it is native to China, Japan, Korea and India, among others.

Height: The climbing shrub can grow up to 10 meters high.

Euphorbia bongolavensis

Spurge

Origin: Madagascar

Euphorbia leuconeura

Madagascar Jewel

Origin: Northern Madagascar

Euphorbia umbellata “Rubra”

African Milk Bush

Origin: Tropical Africa

Height, habit: Up to 10 meters, shrub, tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Ficus benjamina “Anastasia”

Weeping Fig

Height: Up to 8 meters

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Ficus elastica “Belize”

Rubber fig

Origin: Tropical Asia

Height, habit:

Ficus elastica “Tineke”

Rubber fig

Origin: Tropical Asia

Height, habit:

Ficus rubiginosa

Rusty Fig, Port Jackson Fig

Origin: Australia

Gaultheria procumbens

Eastern Teaberry, Checkerberry

Origin: North America

Halimione portulacoides

Sea Purslane

Origin: Southern Europe, Western Europe, North Africa, Western Asia

Height, habit: Evergreen semi-shrub, up to 80 centimetres tall

Hedera helix “Glacier”

Common Ivy, English Ivy, European Ivy

Origin: The wild type is native to Asia (Caucasus, Western Asia), Europe and North Africa and can be found as a naturalized species also in North America, New Zealand and Australia.

Height: Ivy is a shrubby or climbing plant, the shoots can be several meters long.

Hedera helix cv.

Common Ivy, English Ivy, European Ivy

Origin: The wild type is native to Asia (Caucasus, Western Asia), Europe and North Africa and can be found as a naturalized species also in North America, New Zealand and Australia.

Height: Ivy is a shrubby or climbing plant, the shoots can be several meters long.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis “Variegata”

Origin: The wild type is native to Vanuatu (South Pacific)

Hibiscus tiliaceus “Tricolor”

Sea Hibiscus

Origin: The wild type is native to Africa, Asia, Central and South America

Height, habit: Up to 6 meters, shrub, tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Hippophaë rhamnoides

Common Sea-Buckthorn, Sallow Thorn

Origin: Europe, Asia

Howea forsteriana

Kentia Palm

Origin: Australia

Height, habit: Up to 15 meters, tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Ilex aquifolium

Common Holly, English Holly

Origin: Europe, Western Asia and North Africa

Height: Up to 10 meters

Ilex aquifolium “Variegata”

Common Holly, English Holly

Origin: The wilde type is native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.

Height: Up to 10 meters

Jasminum nudiflorum

Winter Jasmine

Origin: China

Kleinia neriifolia

Canary Islands Candle Plant

Origin: Canary Islands

Height, habit: Up to 3 meters, succulent shrub

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Koelreuteria paniculata

Goldenrain-Tree, Pride of India

Origin: China

Lagunaria patersonia

Pyramid Tree, Norfolk Island Hibiscus

Origin: Australia, (Lord Howe Island, Queensland, Norfolk Island)

Laurus nobilis

Laurel, Bay Laurel

Origin: Asia, Europe, Northern Africa

USDA zone: 8 (19 F/-7 °C)

Laurustinus

Viburnum tinus

Origin: Mediterranean region (North Africa, West Asia, Europe)

Lonicera nitida

Boxleaf Honeysuckle, Wilson's Honeysuckle

Origin: China

Malus cv.

Crabapple

Origin: Only cultivated

Malus cv.

Crabapple

Origin: Only cultivated

Malus floribunda

Japanese Crabapple, Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Origin: Japan

Megaskepasma erythrochlamys

Brazilian Red-Cloak

Origin: South America (Suriname, Venezuela)

Height, habit: More than 3 meters, shrub, tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Mistletoe

Viscum album

Origin: Asia, Europe, North Africa and as an introduced species also in some parts of North America.

Myrtus communis

Myrtle

Origin: Mediterranean region (Asia, Europe, North Africa)

Height, habit: Up to 5 meters, evergreen shrub

USDA zone: 8 (19.4 °F/-7 °C)

Nannorrhops ritchieana

Mazari Palm

Origin: Asia (Afghanistan, India, Iran, Pakistan)

Height, habit: Up to 4 meters, shrub

Nerium oleander “Variegata”

Oleander, Nerium, Rose Bay

Origin: The wild type is native to Africa, Asia, Europe (Albania, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain).

Olea paniculata

Native Olive

Origin: Tropical Asia to Australia

Height, habit: Up to 20 meters, shrub, tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Origanum rotundifolium “Kent Beauty”

Round-Leaved Oregano

Origin: The wild type is native to Eurasia (Georgia, Turkey)

Height: Up to 20 centimeters

USDA zone: 7 (10.4 °F/-12 °C)

Pachira cubensis

Cuban Pachira

Origin: Cuba

Height, habit: More than 12 metres

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Paulownia tomentosa

Empress Tree, Princess Tree

Origin: China and as an ornamental tree also in other regions

Height: Up to 15 meters

Pereskia diaz-romeroana

Leaf Cactus

Origin: Bolivie

Height, habit: Up to 3 metres, shrub

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Pereskia weberiana

Cervetano

Origin: Bolivie

Height, habit: Over one meter, shrub

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Pinus mugo “Pumilio”

Dwarf Mountain Pine

Origin: Europe

Height: 100 to 150 centimeters

Pistacia lentiscus

Lentisk, Mastic

Origin: Southeastern Europe, Southwestern Europe, Western Asia, Northern Africa

Pittosporum tobira

Australian Laurel, Japanese Pittosporum

Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

Height, habit: Up to 6 meters, shrub, tree

USDA zone: 10 (35.6 °F/2 °C)

Platycladus orientalis

Chinese Thuja, Oriental Thuja

Origin: China, Korea

Plerandra elegantissima “Gold Crest”

False Aralia

USDA zone: 13 (59 °F/15 °C)

Plumeria sp.

Frangipani, Temple Tree

Origin: Central to South America, Caribbean

Podranea ricasoliana

Pink Trumpetvine, Port St. Johns Creeper

Origin: Southern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe)

Polygala myrtifolia

Myrtle-Leaf Milkwort

Origin: South Africa

Height, habit: Evergreen shrub, up to 4 meters

USDA zone: 11 (41 °F/5 °C)

Polyscias filicifolia

Fernleaf Aralia

Origin: New Caledonia, New Guinea

Height, habit: Up to 3 meters, tree, shrub

USDA zone: 13 (59 °F/15 °C)

Portugal Laurel

Prunus lusitanica

Origin: Europe (France, Portugal, Spain) to North Africa (Morocco)

Portulacaria afra

Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade

Origin: East Africa to South Africa

Height, habit: Up to 4 meters, succulent shrub or tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Portulacaria afra “Mediopicta”

Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade

Origin: East Africa to South Africa (wild type)

Height, habit: Up to 4 meters, succulent shrub or tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Portulacaria afra “Variegata”

Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade

Origin: East Africa to South Africa (wild type)

Height, habit: Up to 4 meters, succulent shrub or tree

USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)

Prunus cerasifera

Cherry Plum, Myrobalan Plum

Origin: Asia (Caucasus, China, Pakistan, West Asia), Southeast Europe and as a naturalized species in some parts of North America.

Height: Up to 8 meters

Prunus mahaleb

Mahaleb Cherry, St. Lucie Cherry

Origin: Asia, Europe, North Africa

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn, Sloe

Origin: Asia (Caucasus, Western Asia), Europe

Reynoutria japonica

Japanese Knotweed

Origin: East Asia

Height: 2 to 4 meters

USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)

Ribes uva-crispa

Gooseberry

Origin: The wild type is native to Eurasia, North Africa.

Ricinus communis

Castor Bean, Castor Oil Plant

Origin: Tropical Africa

Rosa spinosissima

Burnet Rose, Scotch Rose

Origin: Asia, Europe and as a cultivated shrub also in other regions.

Height: 30 to 180 centimeters

Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

Origin: Asia, Europe and as naturalized species also in New Zealand and North America (Canada, USA).

Rubus idaeus

Raspberry

Origin: Europe

Rubus laciniatus

Cutleaf Evergreen Blackberry, Evergreen Blackberry

Origin: Europe and as an introduced species also in in other regions.

Rubus phoenicolasius

Japanese Wineberry

Origin: Asia (China, Japan, Korea)

Height: Up to 3 meters

Russelia equisetiformis

Fountainbush

Height, habit: Up to 1.5 meters, shrub

USDA zone: 11 (41 °F/5 °C)

Russian Olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Origin: Eastern Europe to Asia (China, India, Turkey)

Salvia officinalis “Icterina”

Golden Sage, Garden Sage

Origin: The wild type is native to Southeastern Europe.

Salvia officinalis “Purpurascens”

Purple Sage, Garden Sage

Origin: The wild type is native to Southeastern Europe

Height: 40 to 60 centimeters

USDA zone: 7 (10.4 °F/-12 °C)

Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary

Origin: Mediterranean

Sambucus nigra

Elder

Origin: Asia, Europe, Northern Africa

Sambucus racemosa

Red Elderberry, Red Elder

Origin: Asia, Europe

Solanum pseudocapsicum

Jerusalem Cherry, Madeira Winter Cherry

Origin: Central to South America

Symphoricarpos albus

Common Snowberry

Origin: North America

Symphoricarpos × doorenbosii

Snowberry, Waxberry

Origin: Only cultivated

Tecoma stans

Yellow Trumpetbush

Origin: North America, South America

Height, habit: Shrub, tree, up to 10 meters

USDA zone: 11 (41 °F/5 °C)

Tetrapanax papyrifer

Rice-Paper-Plant

Origin: East Asia (China, Japan, Taiwan)

Height: 3 to 5 meters

USDA zone: 8 (19.4 °F/-7 °C)

Turnera ulmifolia

Ramgoat dashalong

Origin: Central America

Height, habit: Evergreen semi-shrub, 30 to 90 centimetres

Ulex gallii

Western Gorse

Origin: Europe (France, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain)

Height, habit: Evergreen shrub, 50 to 150 centimeters

Viburnum opulus

Guelder Rose

Origin: Europe to Asia

Yucca gigantea

Spineless Yucca, Soft-Tip Yucca

Origin: Mexico to South America (Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama)

Yucca rostrata

Beaked Yucca

Origin: USA (Texas), Mexico