Abelia chinensis - this is a 5 to 7' tall upright spreading, oval-rounded deciduous shrub. It produces fragrant white flowers appearing (June) July to September. This is a great plant for attracting butterflies.

Buxus sempervirens - is a dense, multi-branched evergreen shrub of rounded outline that holds its foliage to the ground. It can grow 15 to 20' in height with an equal or greater spread. It has creamy yellow flowers that occur in April to May and are fragrant. This species is easily transplanted, prefers limestone soils with a pH of 6 or greater. 

Cercidiphyllum japonicum - this tree can range in size from 40 to 60' in height with a variable spread. It is pyramidal in youth and greatly variable with maturity. New leaves emerge a beautiful reddish purple and gradually changing to bluish green in the summer, and turning a magnificent yellow in the fall. The flowers are green and open from late March to early April but are not impressive. It is difficult to transplant, soil should be rich, moist and well drained. It is pH adaptable but seems to fall color better on acid soils.

Crytomeria japonica - is a pyramidal or conical tree with a stout trunk and erect, wide spreading branches. It can reach a height of 50 to 60' with a spread of 20 to 30'. The awl-shaped leaves are bright green to bluish green in the summer and a bronzy color in the winter. Easy to grow, prefers a rich and deep acid soil with abundant moisture.

Euonymous alatus - is a mounded to horizontal, spreading, flat-topped shrub that provides an excellent winter sillouhete. It can reach 15 to 20' tall with an equal or greater spread. Dark green leaves in the summer turning to a brilliant red in the fall. The flowers are ornamentally unimportant but they are yellow-green and occur in May to early June. Easily transplanted, very adaptable to a wide variety of conditions, but does best with a well-drained soil.

Ficus pumila - this vine grows like a pancake on walls reaching a height of 40 to 50' tall. It has dark green leaves and aerial rootlets that literally cement it to porous materials. It prefers a moist well-drained soil and high humidity and can be grown in full sun or partial shade.

Forsythia suspensa - grows 8 to 10' tall and 10 to 15' wide. The habit is upright, arching, almost fountain-like with slender, pendulous branches. The flowers are golden-yellow and appear in April.

Gingko biloba - is usually pyramidal in outline when young and becoming wide spreading with large massive picturesque branches. The growth pattern is quite variable but gets better with age. The leaves are a bright green turning to an excellent yellow in the fall. The flowers on the male are green and occur during March -April. Transplants easily, prefers a sandy, moderately moist soil but grows in most any condition.  It grows in full sun and is pH adaptable. When choosing a G. biloba it is important that you get a male because they are non-fruiting.

Hydrangea quercifolia - is an upright, little branched, irregular, stoloniferous shrub forming mounded colonies. It grows 4 to 6' in height with a spread as wide or wider. Leaves are deep green changing to shades of red, orangish brown and purple in fall. The flowers are white, changing to purplish pink and finally brown occurring in May to early June. It requires a moist, fertile well-drained soil and sun or partial shade. 

Illex cornuta - is a bushy, dense rounded evergreen shrub that can reach 8 to 10' with an equal spread. The flowers are small and dull white, the males producing a sickenly sweet fragrance, and occur in late March to early April. It is very adaptable, withstands drought and is usually container grown.

Juniperus conferta - is a dense, bushy, procumbent, evergreen shrub. It is a ground cover that has awl-shaped leaves. The flowers are dioecious and inconspicuous. It is very tolerant of poor soils, full sun and sandy soils of the seashore.

Pinus bungeana - is a pyramidal to rounded, becoming open, picturesque, flat-topped and broad spreading with age. It grows to a height of 30 to 50' and a spread of 20 to 35'. It has an exfoliating bark that gives it character and flowers that are moniecious. It prefers well-drained soils and sunny conditions.

Rhododendron catawbiense - is a heavy evergreen shrub with large, dense foliage to the ground and assumes a rounded outline. It grows to a height of 6 to 10' with a spread of 5 to 8'.  The flowers are lilac-purple, sometimes purplish-rose and bloom sometime between April and June depending on cultivar. In order to grow they must have well-drained soils.

Taxus cuspidata - can be grown as a tree or a multi-stemmed shrub with varying shape. Size varies greatly with a height ranging from 10 to 40' and a spread equal to or greater. The flowers are green appearing in March-April. The bark on older specimens is reddish brown and exfoliating.  It prefers a moist, sandy loam, must be well drained, shade or sun and can tolerate the conditions of the city.

Wisteria sinensis - is a stout vine that requires considerable support. It is a fast growing vine that reaches 30' or more. The flowers are blue-violet, not extremely fragrant, and occur in May. It is pH adaptable and sun loving.

To learn more about plants, search OSU PlantFacts.