Shrub

A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized

perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have
persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either
deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by
their multiple stems and shorter height, less than 6–10 m (20–
33  ft) tall.[1][2] Small shrubs, less than 2  m (6.6  ft) tall are
sometimes termed as subshrubs. Many botanical groups have
species that are shrubs, and others that are trees and
herbaceous plants instead.

Some definitions state that a shrub is less than 6 m (20 ft) and
A broom shrub in flower
tree is over 6 m. Others use 10 m (33 ft) as the cut-off point for
classification.[2] Many species of tree may not reach this
mature height because of hostile less than ideal growing
conditions, and resemble a shrub-sized plant. However such
species have the potential to grow taller under the ideal
growing conditions for that plant. In terms of longevity, most
shrubs fit in a class between perennials and trees; some may
only last about five years even in good conditions, others,
usually the larger and more woody ones, may live to 70 or
more, but on average they last 7-10 years.[3]

Shrubland is the natural landscape dominated by various

A rhododendron shrubbery in Sheringham
shrubs; there are many distinct types around the world, Park
including fynbos, maquis, shrub-steppe, shrub swamp and
moorland. In gardens and parks, an area largely dedicated to
shrubs (now somewhat less fashionable than a century ago) is called a shrubbery, shrub border or shrub
garden. There are many garden cultivars of shrubs, bred for flowering, for example rhododendrons, and
sometimes even leaf colour or shape.

Compared to trees and herbaceous plants, perhaps a relatively small number of shrubs have agricultural or
commercial uses. Apart from the several berry-bearing species (using the culinary rather than botanical
definition), few are eaten directly, and they are generally too small for much timber use unlike trees.[4]
Those that are used include several perfumed species such as lavender and rose, and a wide range of plants
with medicinal uses. Tea and coffee are on the tree-shrub boundary;[5] they are normally harvested from
shrub-sized plants, but these would be large enough to become small trees if left to grow instead.

Contents
Definition
Use in gardens and parks
Botanical structure
List of shrubs
References
Definition
Shrubs are perennial woody plants, and therefore have persistent woody stems above ground (compare
with succulent stems of herbaceous plants).[2] Usually shrubs are distinguished from trees by their height
and multiple stems. Some shrubs are deciduous (e.g. hawthorn) and others evergreen (e.g. holly).[2]
Ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus divided the plant world into trees, shrubs and herbs.[6]

Small, low shrubs, generally less than 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, such as lavender, periwinkle and most small garden
varieties of rose, are often termed as subshrubs.[7][8]

Most definitions characterize shrubs as possessing multiple stems with no main trunk below.[2] This is
because the stems have branched below ground level. There are exceptions to this, with some shrubs
having main trunks, but these tend to be very short and divide into multiple stems close to ground level
without a reasonable length beforehand. Many trees can grow in multiple stemmed forms also while being
tall enough to be trees, such as oak or ash.[2]

Use in gardens and parks

An area of cultivated shrubs in a park or a garden is known as a shrubbery.[9] When clipped as topiary,
suitable species or varieties of shrubs develop dense foliage and many small leafy branches growing close
together.[10] Many shrubs respond well to renewal pruning, in which hard cutting back to a "stool",
removes everything but vital parts of the plant, resulting in long new stems known as "canes".[11] Other
shrubs respond better to selective pruning to dead or unhealthy, or otherwise unattractive parts to reveal
their structure and character.[12]

Shrubs in common garden practice are generally considered broad-leaved plants, though some smaller
conifers such as mountain pine and common juniper are also shrubby in structure. Species that grow into a
shrubby habit may be either deciduous or evergreen.[13]

Botanical structure
In botany and ecology, a shrub is more specifically used to describe
the particular physical canopy structure or plant life-form of woody
plants which are less than 8 metres (26 ft) high and usually multiple
stems arising at or near the surface of the ground. For example, a
descriptive system widely adopted in Australia is based on
structural characteristics based on life-form, plus the height and
amount of foliage cover of the tallest layer or dominant species.[14]

For shrubs that are 2–8 metres (6.6–26.2  ft) high the following
structural forms are categorized: Shrub vegetation (with some cactus)
in Webb County, Texas.
dense foliage cover (70–100%) — closed-shrubs
mid-dense foliage cover (30–70%) — open-shrubs
sparse foliage cover (10–30%) — tall shrubland
very sparse foliage cover (<10%) — tall open shrubland

For shrubs less than 2 metres (6.6 ft) high the following structural forms are categorized:
 dense foliage cover (70–100%) — closed-heath or
closed low shrubland—(North America)
mid-dense foliage cover (30–70%) — open-heath or
mid-dense low shrubland—(North America)
sparse foliage cover (10–30%) — low shrubland
very sparse foliage cover (<10%) — low open
shrubland

Blackthorn shrub (Prunus spinosa) in

List of shrubs the Vogelsberg

Those marked with * can also develop into tree form if in ideal
conditons.

Abelia (Abelia)
Acer (Maple) *
Actinidia (Actinidia)
Aloe (Aloe)
Aralia (Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club) * Hydrangea macrophylla

Arctostaphylos (Bearberry, Manzanita) *

Aronia (Chokeberry)
Artemisia (Sagebrush)
Aucuba (Aucuba)
B

Berberis (Barberry)
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea)
Brugmansia (Angel's trumpet)
Winter-flowering Witch-hazel
Buddleja (Butterfly bush)
(Hamamelis)
Buxus (Box) *
C

Calia (Mescalbean)
Callicarpa (Beautyberry) *
Callistemon (Bottlebrush) *
Calluna (Heather)
Calycanthus (Sweetshrub)
Camellia (Camellia, Tea) *
Caragana (Pea-tree) *
Carpenteria (Carpenteria) Senecio angulatus, a scrambling
Caryopteris (Blue Spiraea) shrub by the sea (yellow-flowered).
Cassiope (Moss-heather)
Ceanothus (Ceanothus) *
Celastrus (Staff vine) *
Ceratostigma (Hardy Plumbago)
Cercocarpus (Mountain-mahogany) *
 Chaenomeles (Japanese Quince)
Chamaebatiaria (Fernbush)
Chamaedaphne (Leatherleaf)
Chimonanthus (Wintersweet)
Chionanthus (Fringe-tree) *
Choisya (Mexican-orange Blossom) *
Cistus (Rockrose)
Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum)
Clethra (Summersweet, Pepperbush) *
Clianthus (Glory Pea)
Colletia (Colletia)
Colutea (Bladder Senna)
Comptonia (Sweetfern)
Cornus (Dogwood) *
Corylopsis (Winter-hazel) *
Cotinus (Smoketree) *
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) *
Cowania (Cliffrose)
Crataegus (Hawthorn) *
Crinodendron (Crinodendron) *
Cytisus and allied genera (Broom) *
D

Daboecia (Heath)
Danae (Alexandrian laurel)
Daphne (Daphne)
Decaisnea (Decaisnea)
Dasiphora (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
Dendromecon (Tree poppy)
Desfontainea (Desfontainea)
Deutzia (Deutzia)
Diervilla (Bush honeysuckle)
Dipelta (Dipelta)
Dirca (Leatherwood)
Dracaena (Dragon tree) *
Drimys (Winter's Bark) *
Dryas (Mountain Avens)
E

Edgeworthia (Paper Bush) *

Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus) *
Embothrium (Chilean Firebush) *
Empetrum (Crowberry)
Enkianthus (Pagoda Bush)
Ephedra (Ephedra)
Epigaea (Trailing Arbutus)
 Erica (Heath)
Eriobotrya (Loquat) *
Escallonia (Escallonia)
Eucryphia (Eucryphia) *
Euonymus (Spindle) *
Exochorda (Pearl Bush)
F

Fabiana (Fabiana)
Fallugia (Apache Plume)
Fatsia (Fatsia)
Forsythia (Forsythia)
Fothergilla (Fothergilla)
Franklinia (Franklinia) *
Fremontodendron (Flannelbush)
Fuchsia (Fuchsia) *
G

Garrya (Silk-tassel) *
Gaultheria (Salal)
Gaylussacia (Huckleberry)
Genista (Broom) *
Gordonia (Loblolly-bay) *
Grevillea (Grevillea)
Griselinia (Griselinia) *
H

Hakea (Hakea) *
Halesia (Silverbell) *
Halimium (Rockrose)
Hamamelis (Witch-hazel) *
Hebe (Hebe)
Hedera (Ivy)
Helianthemum (Rockrose)
Hibiscus (Hibiscus) *
Hippophae (Sea-buckthorn) *
Hoheria (Lacebark) *
Holodiscus (Creambush)
Hudsonia (Hudsonia)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea)
Hypericum (Rose of Sharon)
Hyssopus (Hyssop)
I

Ilex (Holly) *
Illicium (Star Anise) *
Indigofera (Indigo)
 Itea (Sweetspire)
J

Jamesia (Cliffbush)
Jasminum (Jasmine)
Juniperus (Juniper) *
K

Kalmia (Mountain-laurel)
Kerria (Kerria)
Kolkwitzia (Beauty-bush)
L

Lagerstroemia (Crape-myrtle) *
Lapageria (Copihue)
Lantana (Lantana)
Lavandula (Lavender)
Lavatera (Tree Mallow)
Ledum (Ledum)
Leitneria (Corkwood) *
Lespedeza (Bush Clover) *
Leptospermum (Manuka) *
Leucothoe (Doghobble)
Leycesteria (Leycesteria)
Ligustrum (Privet) *
Lindera (Spicebush) *
Linnaea (Twinflower)
Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
Lupinus (Tree Lupin)
Lycium (Boxthorn)
M

Magnolia (Magnolia)
Mahonia (Mahonia)
Malpighia (Acerola)
Menispermum (Moonseed)
Menziesia (Menziesia)
Mespilus (Medlar) *
Microcachrys (Microcachrys)
Myrica (Bayberry) *
Myricaria (Myricaria)
Myrtus and allied genera (Myrtle) *
N

Neillia (Neillia)
Nerium (Oleander)
O
 Olearia (Daisy bush) *
Osmanthus (Osmanthus)
P

Pachysandra (Pachysandra)
Paeonia (Tree-peony)
Persoonia (Geebungs)
Philadelphus (Mock orange) *
Phlomis (Jerusalem Sage)
Photinia (Photinia) *
Physocarpus (Ninebark) *
Pieris (Pieris)
Pistacia (Pistachio, Mastic) *
Pittosporum (Pittosporum) *
Plumbago (Leadwort)
Polygala (Milkwort)
Poncirus *
Prunus (Cherry) *
Purshia (Antelope Bush)
Pyracantha (Firethorn)
Q

Quassia (Quassia) *
Quercus (Oak) *
Quillaja (Quillay)
Quintinia (Tawheowheo) *
R

Rhamnus (Buckthorn) *
Rhododendron (Rhododendron, Azalea) *
Rhus (Sumac) *
Ribes (Currant, Gooseberry)
Romneya (Tree poppy)
Rosa (Rose)
Rosmarinus (Rosemary)
Rubus (Bramble, Raspberry, Salmonberry, Wineberry)
Ruta (Rue)
S

Sabia *
Salix (Willow) *
Salvia (Sage)
Salvia subg. Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Sambucus (Elder) *
Santolina (Lavender Cotton)
Sapindus (Soapberry) *
Senecio (Senecio)
 Simmondsia (Jojoba)
Skimmia (Skimmia)
Smilax (Smilax)
Sophora (Kowhai) *
Sorbaria (Sorbaria)
Spartium (Spanish Broom)
Spiraea (Spiraea) *
Staphylea (Bladdernut) *
Stephanandra (Stephanandra)
Styrax *
Symphoricarpos (Snowberry)
Syringa (Lilac) *
T

Tamarix (Tamarix) *
Taxus (Yew) *
Telopea (Waratah) *
Thuja cvs. (Arborvitae) *
Thymelaea
Thymus (Thyme)
Trochodendron *
U

Ulex (Gorse)
Ulmus pumila celer (Turkestan elm – Wonder Hedge)
Ungnadia (Mexican Buckeye)
V

Vaccinium (Bilberry, Blueberry, Cranberry)

Verbesina centroboyacana
Verbena (Vervain)
Viburnum (Viburnum) *
Vinca (Periwinkle)
Viscum (Mistletoe)
W

Weigela (Weigela)
X

Xanthoceras
Xanthorhiza (Yellowroot)
Xylosma
Y

Yucca (Yucca, Joshua tree) *

Z

Zanthoxylum *
 Zauschneria
Zenobia
Ziziphus *

References
1. Lawrence, Anna; Hawthorne, William (2006). Plant Identification: Creating User-friendly
Field Guides for Biodiversity Management (https://books.google.com/books?id=rHEpVBM5-
eIC&pg=PA138). Routledge. pp. 138–. ISBN 978-1-84407-079-4.
2. Allaby, Michael (2019). A dictionary of plant sciences. Oxford Oxford University Press.
ISBN 9780198833338. OCLC 1097073225 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1097073225).
3. "Life Spans of Small Trees and Shrubs" (https://temeculalandscapeconstruction.com/life-spa
ns-of-small-trees-and-shrubs/). McCabe's Landscape Construction. 2014-02-27. Retrieved
2022-04-29.
4. Rosewood does not come from roses.
5. Clayton, Liz. "Is The Coffee Plant A Tree, Bush, Or Shrub?" (https://sprudge.com/is-the-coffe
e-plant-a-tree-bush-or-shrub-181869.html). https://sprudge.com. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
{{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
6. Bremness, Lesley (1994). The complete book of herbs (https://books.google.com/books?id=
VqfnrH-W2kwC). Viking Studio Books. p. 8. ISBN 9780140238020.
7. Fischer, Peggy (1990). Essential shrubs: the 100 best for design and cultivation (https://book
s.google.com/books?id=QuLtawHEsJMC). Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-
1-56799-319-6. "... Examples of subshrubs include candytuft, lavender, and rosemary. These
broad definitions are ..."
8. "What is a Subshrub?" (https://worldoffloweringplants.com/subshrub/). World of Flowering
Plants. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
9. Whitefield, Patrick (2002). How to Make a Forest Garden (https://books.google.com/books?i
d=3rd3e69BnC8C&pg=PA113). Permanent Publications. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-1-85623-008-
7.
10. Varkulevicius, Jane (17 May 2010). Pruning for Flowers and Fruit (https://books.google.com/
books?id=a93TcRVsqLwC&q=topiary+pruning+dense+foliage&pg=PA100). Csiro
Publishing. ISBN 9780643101975. Retrieved 19 December 2017 – via Google Books.
11. "Rejuvenation or Renewal Pruning to Restore Overgrown Shrubs" (https://organicplantcarell
c.com/rejuvenation-or-renewal-pruning-to-restore-overgrown-shrubs/). Organic Plant Care
LLC | Organic Lawn & Plant Health Service in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset & Union
Counties, NJ and Bucks County, PA. 2019-02-21. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
12. Turpin, Jason (2018-08-29). "What is Selective Tree and Shrub Pruning-How to Prune
Correctly!" (https://www.turpinlandscapedesign.com/what-is-selective-tree-and-shrub-prunin
g-landscape-experts-answer-your-questions/). Turpin Landscape Design/Build. Retrieved
2022-04-29.
13. Elliott, Franklin Reuben (1 November 2008). Popular Deciduous and Evergreen Trees and
Shrubs (https://books.google.com/books?id=vlDxSBGB0cYC&q=shrub+deciduous+or+ever
green). Applewood Books. ISBN 9781429012904. Retrieved 19 December 2017 – via
Google Books.
14. Costermans, L. F. (1993) Native trees and shrubs of South-Eastern Australia. rev. ed.
ISBN 0-947116-76-1

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