Shrubs That Grow in Massachusetts

A large number of shrubs are native to Massachusetts, reports the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. These shrubs include types that produce edible berries and attractive flowers, with some suitable for ornamental purposes.

The highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ) is a native shrub in much of the eastern U.S., including Massachusetts. The United States Department of Agriculture notes that it is the main source of commercial blueberry production, with as many as 50 different cultivars in existence. This shrub attracts wildlife and can grow in wet areas. Highbush blueberry prefers acidic soil. The shrub can grow as high as 12 feet and its twigs possess a covering of small warts. The leaves are as long as 3 ? inches and highbush blueberry will produce fruit approximately 62 days after it flowers.

Dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), also called blue huckleberry, occurs in Massachusetts. The shrub is slender and grows to 6 feet high in the biggest individual specimens. Dangleberry produces a drupe containing about ten seeds, notes the United States Forest Service. Dangleberry can occur near bogs and swamps and in the sandy soil of rock-strewn woodlands. Animals that eat its berries include black bear, foxes, raccoons, squirrels and birds, including grouse, wild turkeys and catbirds.

The range of the red osier dogwood shrub (Cornus sericea) in Massachusetts includes the northern and western portion of the state. Red osier dogwood will grow as high as 10 feet and can spread out just as wide as it grows tall, according to the University of Connecticut Plant Database. Red osier dogwood typically has multiple stems and its green leaves usually change to a reddish-purple combination come fall. The white flowers are showy, blooming in May and the first weeks of June. Red osier dogwood is transplantable and its hybrids include species such as the cardinal, which has red stems that stand out in the Massachusetts winter.

The Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) normally stays under 3 feet tall, but some of these shrubs may grow as high as 6 feet. Canada yew occurs in Massachusetts in the damp soils of rich forests, along streams and rivers and near swamps. Canada yew is an evergreen conifer species, with smooth bark and thick branches radiating out from its trunk. Canada yew, also known as eastern yew, prefers acidic soil. In the winter, large mammals such as moose and white-tailed deer will browse on Canada yew to sustain their energy.