Wedged between two of North America’s largest freshwater resources, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Illinois is a 400-mile-long fertile plain where 5 major biomes meet and intersect. The Prairie State is home to some 54,000 species of plants, animals, and fungi living in a tableau of ever-changing natural communities formed by the land’s unique blend of soils, topography, and climate.
Nearly 500 plants and animals are classified as threatened or endangered in IL, and 33 have federal protections. From Piping Plovers at Montrose Beach to Rusty-patched Bumblebees in Bell Bowl Prairie and Greater Prairie Chickens at Prairie Ridge, the state’s incredible biodiversity is suffering from the effects of pollution, habitat loss, and competition from exotic invasive species (at least 1 out of 3 plants in Illinois’ woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands are non-native). Since natural resources and ecosystem services are the foundation of all food and agricultural systems, this pervasive biodiversity loss endangers us as well.
Despite the heart-rending loss of 90% of its wetlands and nearly all of its original prairie, Illinois still retains sizable tracts of high-quality habitat that offer protection and respite for its imperiled species. Landowners and managers throughout the state are partnering with conservation programs, working tirelessly toward ecological preservation and restoration. These alliances are imperative, as 96% of IL land is privately owned.
Anyone with plantable space (including container gardens on balconies or rooftops) can be a steward of biodiversity by growing native plants that perform essential ecosystem services. Illinois’ indigenous shrubs are particularly good at providing food and shelter for wildlife, filtering pollution from the air and water, preventing erosion, and mitigating stormwater runoff– all while still fitting into tighter spaces. Here are some of the most beautiful (and functional) native shrubs for your Illinois garden!
1) Prairie willow (Salix humilis)
Prairie willow stands out among our native Salix species both for its relatively compact size (it matures between 2 – 8 ft tall) and its preference for drier sites. In the Prairie State, S. humilis has been observed in most counties; it occurs in savannas, black soil, or sand prairies (especially remnants along railroads), barren areas, gravelly seeps, and on rocky balds.
A herald of spring, prairie willow typically blooms early in the season with silky catkins borne on bare, wandlike branches. Male and female catkins appear on separate plants, and the female florets give way to capsules that split open upon ripening to release tiny seeds embedded in cottony fluff– these seeds are then carried away by wind or birds gathering down for their nests (hummingbirds are especially fond of willow fibers).
Prairie willow’s fine, narrowly lanceolate leaves are gray-green with smooth margins and woolly undersides. Salix is a keystone genus in IL, supporting a whopping 289 species of Lepidoptera and 14 pollen-specialist bees. Of the butterflies and moths that utilize this plant as a larval host, notable species include the viceroy (Limenitis archippus), red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis), eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), and cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia).
Numerous songbirds and game birds build their nests in willow thickets or feed on the buds and catkins. White-tailed deer and rabbits are fond of the twigs and foliage, so it’s a good idea to protect young plants with fencing while they are becoming established.
Prairie willow is a versatile species that adapts well to a variety of soils and is easily propagated by cuttings– it thrives in full to partial sun and moist to dry-mesic conditions. It is relatively slow-growing for a willow but spreads gradually to form a rounded shrub that is wider than it is tall (establishing colonies in ideal conditions). S. humilis is an excellent species for bird or pollinator gardens, naturalized landscapes, and wildflower meadows. Tea made from the leaves has analgesic properties and can cure laryngitis. For NE Illinois, consider also the lovely pussy willow (Salix discolor).
2) American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
Boasting sensational fall color and sweet edible nuts bursting with flavor, the American hazelnut (or American filbert) is a thicket-forming shrub ideal for shady areas, woodland gardens, hedges, and naturalized landscapes. Corylus americana grows wild throughout Illinois in moist to dry-mesic woodlands, upland forests, pastures, prairies, savannas, and on rocky hillsides.
This species is monoecious, with both male and female flowers present on the same plant. Female blooms are mostly enclosed in protective bracts, but have scarlet stigmas and styles protruding from the buds– these give way to acorn-like nuts nestled inside ragged papery husks. The fawn-colored male catkins are 2 – 4 inches long and showy in late winter and early spring; bees are known to gather their abundant pollen, though cross-pollination is achieved by wind and the plants produce no available nectar. Two genetically variable specimens are needed for fertilization and fruit set (3 – 5 plants will ensure a good harvest).
Corylus is a keystone genus that hosts at least 108 species of Lepidoptera, including the enchanting luna moth (Actias luna). The nuts are devoured by wild turkey, northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, greater prairie chicken (state-endangered), woodpeckers, bluejays, foxes, deer, chipmunks, and squirrels. Oval-shaped, double-toothed leaves (and young twigs) are browsed by deer, rabbits, and beavers before taking on their vibrant fall hues– fall foliage is radiant yellow, fiery orange, or glowing crimson.
American hazelnut is easily grown in full sun or light shade– it performs well in a variety of soil types but likes good drainage. It forms a dense mound 6 – 12 ft tall, offering excellent cover for wildlife, but tends to sucker from the roots and may need to be thinned out in smaller gardens. It can be pruned at any time. The nuts are tasty and nutritious, and can be eaten raw, ground into flour, cooked into soups, or toasted and added to salads and pasta dishes– you can even make your own fresh and natural version of Nutella!
3) Pasture rose (Rosa carolina)
A low-growing, freely suckering shrub, pasture rose (also called Carolina rose) has smooth, dark green compound leaves with 5 – 7 leaflets and fragrant pink flowers on prickly stems. It reaches up to 6 ft tall, but typically matures between 1 – 3 ft, spreading by rhizomes to form small colonies. It makes for stunning groundcover! Planting this species with native prairie companions will encourage competition and help keep it manageable in a mixed bed or shrub border, but it’s also lovely when allowed to naturalize.
Many gardeners like this plant as a flowering hedge for bird or pollinator habitat. Native roses are a larval host for at least 102 species of Lepidoptera in IL, including the Io Moth (Automeris io). Rosa carolina’s richly-hued, five-petaled flowers bloom from May to June, attracting a variety of pollinators and other beneficial insects. Spent blossoms do not rebloom, but develop into bright red rose hips in August (deadheading is not recommended, as it removes the hips).
The ripe fruits are showy in fall, especially alongside burgundy fall foliage, and provide high-quality food for birds and small mammals through the winter. Wild rose hips have documented anti-cancer, antioxidant, and antiviral properties and can be made into teas or jelly.
Pasture rose can be found nearly throughout IL in dry prairies, savannas, sandy open woodlands, disturbed sites, and along roadsides. It tolerates drought and medium shade, but flowers best in full sun and rocky or sandy, well-drained soils. Other native roses to consider include smooth wild rose (Rosa blanda), climbing rose (Rosa setigera), and swamp rose (Rosa palustris).
4) New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
One of few true prairie shrubs left in the state, New Jersey tea (also called redroot or wild snowball) has been recorded in almost every county in IL– today, wild plants are found almost exclusively in high-quality habitats like prairie remnants, sandy savannas, rocky upland forests, limestone glades, and barrens. Fortunately, Ceanothus americanus is gaining popularity in the horticultural trade. Naturally rounded and compact, it forms a neat mound that reaches up to 3 ft tall on average (less commonly to 5 ft) and is covered in soft white, oval-shaped flower panicles from June through August.
The rich nectar and abundant pollen of the inflorescences draw a variety of insect pollinators, particularly specialist bees and hairstreak butterflies (Satyrium spp.). Several species of Lepidoptera, including the red-fronted emerald (Nemoria rubrifrontaria) and azure butterflies (Celastrina spp.) use New Jersey tea as a larval host. Deer, rabbits, and livestock browse the twigs and foliage (it’s a good idea to protect young plants with wire fencing), while upland game birds like wild turkey and northern bobwhite are fond of the seed capsules.
This species gets its name from the era of the Revolutionary War when American colonists used its velvety gray-green leaves as a flavorful substitute for imported teas. Though it lacks caffeine, this plant has a long history of medicinal use and contains chemical compounds effective in the treatment of a variety of ailments, including high blood pressure and lymph system problems.
Though not a legume, New Jersey tea (a member of the buckthorn or Rhamnaceae family) has nitrogen-fixing abilities and an extensive root system that makes it highly resistant to drought (though difficult to transplant)– it’s an excellent species for erosion control or slope stabilization. C. americanus is highly adaptable and will acclimate to various sandy, loamy, or limestone-based soils. New Jersey tea is easy to care for and vigorous as long as it has good drainage and adequate sunlight– it prefers full to partial sun.
5) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
An ideal plant for problematic wet areas and sunny rain gardens, buttonbush is a species of seasonal ephemeral plants that thrive in environments with fluctuating moisture levels. This multi-stemmed deciduous shrub is perfectly suited to handle the wide range of conditions and challenges that urban environments so often present. Though it does not tolerate extended periods of drought well, many home landscapes with seemingly dry sites will also have compacted, poorly drained soils that retain enough moisture to meet its needs. Buttonbush can also be semiaquatic, and loves to have ‘wet feet.’ It occurs nearly throughout Illinois (with the exception of a few northwestern counties) in floodplain forests, vernal pools, shrubby swamps, prairie swales, seeps, and along the margins of streams, marshes, lakes, and ponds.
Buttonbush’s dramatic white or cream-colored flowers are arranged in spheres, and each has a protruding style that gives the globe-like inflorescences a starburst or pincushion effect. These unusual, showy blooms, which appear in midsummer and last for about a month, make this species a favorite among gardeners and pollinators alike.
A wide array of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects visit the flowers for pollen and nectar. Hummingbirds are also frequent callers. Waterfowl and shorebirds feast on the persistent nutlets during their fall migration, and woodducks and songbirds nest or roost in the dense branches. The glossy, dark green leaves are a larval host for at least 25 species of Lepidoptera, including the promethea moth (Callosamia promethea).
Buttonbush grows to about 12 ft tall in full to partial sun and wet to moist conditions– it grows quickly, and seedlings can reach 5 ft in just a few years. It takes well to renewal pruning and shaping and can be cut back in late winter or early spring.
6) Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
An icon of upland prairies, leadplant (also called prairie shoestrings, buffalo bellows, or downy indigobush) is easily distinguished by its pinnately compound leaves covered in a soft, silvery-gray pubescence, and its spectacular blue-violet flower spikes with protruding red-orange stamens and yellow anthers. In the right light, the foliage is almost the exact color of galena, a sulfide mineral and the principal ore of lead– early settlers knew of this species’ extensive 15 ft root system and thought (erroneously) that its presence was a mark of nearby lead ore deposits (hence the common name). Leadplant demonstrates an impressive tolerance for drought and shade, making it an outstanding performer in home landscapes. It usually flowers from June to July but can have an extended bloom period.
A member of the Fabaceae or pea family, Amorpha canescens is a legume that is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen via a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria in its root nodules. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, particularly solitary bees, and a number of insects feed on the foliage, making this plant a productive foraging ground for insectivorous birds. Deer, rabbits, and livestock browse the leaves, so it is important to protect young plants while they are establishing roots.
Leadplant is an indicator of high-quality habitat and occurs throughout Illinois (though it is more common in the northern ⅔ of the state) in black soil prairies, sand prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, and black oak savannas. In a garden setting, it grows to 3 ft tall and prefers full sun and dry, well-drained rocky or sandy soils. Consider also the larger Amorpha fruticosa, false indigo bush.
7) Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis)
A loose, airy deciduous shrub with broad cymes of dainty white flowers, black elderberry (also called common elderberry or black elder) feeds at least 50 species of songbirds, upland game birds, and small mammals with its blue-black, berry-like drupes. The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) and the eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) have also been observed noshing on the fallen fruits. The long, graceful stems and pale to purplish-green compound leaves of the black elder (along with the unripe drupes) have low-severity poison characteristics if ingested, so this species is rarely browsed by mammalian herbivores (though the toxicity does decrease in the fall, and cottontail rabbits may gnaw on the bark if winter food sources are scarce).
American black elderberry– not to be confused with Sambucus nigra or European elder (‘Black Lace’ is a popular cultivar)– is common in Illinois and can be found in virtually every county. It occurs in river-bottom prairies, alluvial forests, riparian corridors, old fields, and disturbed sites. An underutilized shrub for home landscapes, black elder is great for naturalized areas, bird and pollinator gardens, shrub borders, or even as the focal point of a more formal planting. Though the flowers provide no nectar and are thought to be wind-pollinated, many insects (particularly solitary bees like Osmia spp.) visit this plant to collect pollen or build their nests in the pithy stems.
American black elder prefers full to partial sun and moist, fertile loams– it is a fast grower, reaching up to 12 ft tall, and can be an aggressive competitor. It is often able to crowd out weeds (or nearby herbaceous species) and may need to be cut down to the ground every other year or so to keep it in check. The fruits and flowers have a long history of medicinal and ethnobotanical use; today black elderberry is frequently used to make jam, syrup, wine, teas, and pie.
8) Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
A fabulous low-growing deciduous shrub for naturalized areas, informal borders, and woodland gardens, coralberry (also called buckbrush or Indian currant) produces clusters of lustrous magenta or coral-pink fruit in the fall. The dry, berry-like drupes persist through the winter, providing food for robins and northern bobwhites. White-tailed deer browse the foliage and shaggy bark with gusto– the smooth, matte green leaves are some of their favorite fare (hence the nickname ‘Buckbrush’).
Coralberry is a larval host for several Lepidoptera species, including the magnificent snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) and hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) moths. Numerous beneficial insects visit the greenish-white or cream-colored flowers for pollen and nectar. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus is sometimes confused with the exotic invasive bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) due to their similar foliage– it may also be mixed up with the lovely American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), which is native to neighboring Missouri but not to IL.
Coralberry is found throughout the southern ⅔ of the state and in some northeastern counties, along riparian corridors and in limestone glades, rocky woodlands, clearings, and edges. It forms an ample, sprawling mound 2 – 5 ft tall and up to 8 ft wide, offering excellent cover for wildlife. Coralberry is an adaptable species that thrives in dappled shade and moist to dry, rocky, or loamy soils– it likes good drainage. At least two genetic strains are needed for cross-pollination and fruit set. Coralberry spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies, but the runners can be deterred by a sharp spade. The whole plant can be cut down to the ground every few years to promote a bushier growth habit.
9) Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)
A sturdy, rounded deciduous shrub 12 – 15 ft tall, blackhaw viburnum (or smooth blackhaw) is a fine addition to home landscapes. Its handsome dark green foliage turns a rich reddish-plum color in the fall, while new growth is coppery around the edges. Sweeps of fragrant, creamy white flower cymes cover the plant in mid-spring before giving way to dark, glossy fruits that are blue-black at maturity.
The blooms are a lodestone for an assortment of insect pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbird moths. The caterpillars of azure butterflies (Celastrina spp.) and several moths feed on the foliage, buds, and flowers. Smooth blackhaw’s berry-like drupes are eaten by many songbirds, upland game birds, and small mammals– they are also edible to humans, and are suitable for jams and jellies. Deer mostly leave this plant alone in favor of tastier treats.
Blackhaw viburnum is native throughout most of Illinois, with the exception of some northwestern and southern counties. It is common in oak-dominated woodlands, but also occurs on rocky wooded slopes, in limestone glades, and along roadsides. Viburnum prunifolium makes an outstanding accent and is useful in borders, screens, and hedges. At least two genetically variable specimens are required for cross-pollination and fruit set.
Blackhaw viburnum performs best in moist to dry, well-drained soils– optimal flowering and fruiting will occur with at least half a day’s sun. This species is hardy and durable, with a remarkable tolerance to urban pollution. Consider also the nannyberry viburnum (V. lentago) and American cranberrybush (V. opulus).
10) Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
A terrific shrub for rain gardens, borders, and naturalizing (especially in tough sites like pond margins or streambanks), gray dogwood is an underutilized, showy Cornus species with tremendous wildlife value. Easily distinguishable from other dogwoods by its dome-shaped (rather than flat-topped) flower panicles, C. racemosa is an adaptable deciduous shrub that is found in most counties in Illinois. It occurs in both high-quality habitats and disturbed sites, from woodlands, savannas, prairies, and limestone glades to old fields, roadsides, and powerline clearances.
Gray dogwood reaches up to 16 ft tall (though it is usually much shorter) and is multi-stemmed with rough, ashy limbs. New twigs and fruit pedicels are often crimson, providing a striking backdrop for snow-white, berry-like drupes that are quickly devoured by songbirds, upland game birds, and many mammals (including black bears, foxes, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and chipmunks). The gray-green leaves are one of the most important food sources for white-tailed deer in the state. Cornus is a keystone genus in IL that supports at least 4 pollen-specialist bees and 98 species of Lepidoptera.
Gray dogwood spreads by underground runners and can form a dense clonal colony that offers high-quality habitat for many animals. Though it prefers full to partial sun and moist soils, it will acclimate to most conditions, including dry, rocky loams. C. racemosa is wonderful for erosion control or slope stabilization. For more formal landscapes, consider the red twig dogwood (Cornus alba var. stolonifera).
Anyone from Illinois have any experiences growing these native shrubs?