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Which Shrubs Grow Best in Oklahoma?
Which Shrubs Grow Best in Oklahoma?. With over 2,500 soil types, a full range of soil pH and some of the country's most diverse terrain, Oklahoma presents wide-ranging opportunities for its gardeners. The majority of the state lies firmly in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 7, with portions ranging from USDA zones 6a to 8a,...
With over 2,500 soil types, a full range of soil pH and some of the country's most diverse terrain, Oklahoma presents wide-ranging opportunities for its gardeners. The majority of the state lies firmly in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 7, with portions ranging from USDA zones 6a to 8a, providing a broad planting palette from which to choose. Many versatile, tried-and-true shrubs are up to the task of tackling Oklahoma's diversity and a variety of gardening tastes and goals.
Flowering Shrubs
For year-round beauty, Oklahoma's native oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) grows 8 feet tall and wide in full sun to light shade. Its pyramidal, cream-white flower clusters age to antique pink. Purple-red fall foliage and exfoliating bark add interest in USDA zones 5 through 9. Bonica shrub rose (Rosa "Meidomonac"), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, offers fully double, season-long blooms in full sun on a shrub 3 feet tall and 3 1/2 feet wide. The rich-pink, 3-inch-diameter blossoms deliver bright orange winter rose hips. Judd viburnum (Viburnum x juddii) grows 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide in full sun to part shade in USDA zones 4 through 8. Four-inch clusters of red, waxy buds open to fragrant white and soft-pink blooms. Maroon fall foliage completes its display.
Fruit-Bearing Bushes
For a show in Oklahoma autumns, Blue Muffin arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum "Christom") grows up to 5 feet tall and wide. Hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, this native plant selection thrives in full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. White spring flowers are surpassed by outstanding orange-red fall foliage paired with prolific blue berries that inspired this shrub's name. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) offers stunning purple fall fruit clustered up and down the current year's stems in USDA zones 6 through 10. Growing 5 to 10 feet tall and wide, the shrub prefers moist, well-drained soil and light shade. Give it protection from Oklahoma's afternoon sun.
Broadleaf Evergreens
"Vardar Valley" evergreen boxwood (Buxus semerpvirens "Vardar Valley") serves up apple-green new growth that matures blue-green. Full sun suits this shrub, but western Oklahomans give it afternoon summer shade. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, it grows 2 1/2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Water it every 12 to 14 days through winter. "Blue Princess" holly's (Ilex x meserveae "Blue Princess") spiny leaves run blue-green to bluish-purple. Up to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, it produces dark red winter berries when paired with a pollinator such as "Blue Prince" (Ilex meserveae "Blue Prince"), which grows up to 12 feet in height and spread. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7, both plants prefer full sun to part shade.
Special Interest
Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea "Midwinter Fire") brings Oklahoma gardens golden-yellow fall foliage and striking winter color. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 7, it grows 6 feet tall and wide. Golden-yellow at the base, stems top out in fiery red, with the most brilliant color on new growth. Cut back one-fourth of the stems each spring with sharp bypass pruners to encourage more color. Sterilize your blades with household disinfectant to prevent the spread of disease. "Blue Pacific" shore juniper, hardy in USDA 6 through 9, stays just 12 inches tall as it trails through gardens, spreading up to 6 feet. Its dense, fragrant, blue-green needles team with fleshy, silver-black, berry-like cones. The frosted foliage cascades beautifully over rocky Oklahoma walls.
