golden currant
- hardy
- have beautiful flowers
- many produce edible fruit
- provide shade, food and habitat for wildlife
- are useful in dividing areas into spaces or creating visual barriers
- control erosion
- help purify water
Riparian vs. drought tolerant
- Riparian shrubs are those found in or near water
- Drought tolerant shrubs gather moisture in the spring and usually develop significant tap roots to find water late in the season and during periods of drought. Most thrive with some water, but will survive with little to no water other than natural rainfall.
Deciduous vs. evergreen
- Deciduous shrubs usually lose their leaves in winter
- Evergreen shrubs keep their leaves or only lose some of their leaves in winter
Deer resistance
- Most native shrubs are gently browsed by deer – shrubs are their natural food
- Sage (Artemisia) species are not preferred by deer
- We promote use of fencing until shrubs reach a height where deer can’t reach easily
(click for information on each species)
big sage (Artemisia tridentata v. tridentata)
blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea)
fern bush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)
globe huckleberry (Vaccinium globulare)
golden currant (Ribes aureum)
mockorange (Philadelphus lewisii)
mountain big sage (Artemisia tridentata v. vaseyana)
ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceous)
Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum)
rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)
serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
silver sage (Artemisia cana)
