Velvet Celebrity Digest

Fresh star stories with a cool online feel.

3/15

Chokecherry (Prunus Virginiana) in BloomGrace Cary/Getty Images

‘Canada Red’ Chokecherry

With a mature height of 20 to 25 feet, ‘Canada Red’ is sometimes grown as a tree. However, it freely suckers from the roots because it naturally wants to be a large multi-stem shrub. Grow it either way and still enjoy its attributes: shiny, cinnamon-color bark, hanging clusters of fragrant, white flower panicles in spring, and bright green foliage that turns reddish purple in summer and takes on a tinge of red in fall. There is also reddish-purple fruit to feed the birds or make into a jam.

  • Name: ‘Canada Red’ Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • Growth rate: Fast
  • USDA hardiness zones: 2-10
  • Size: 20 to 25 feet tall, 15 to 20 feet wide
  • Growing conditions: Quite adaptable and tolerates harsh growing conditions.
  • Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil but is drought tolerant.

4/15

Smoke Bush Scumpia coggigria Smoke tree Cotinus fog, Venetian sumac, Smokebush, Wigtree, smoketree, Wig tree.Olena Lialina/Getty Images

Smokebush

This adaptable shrub gets its name from the airy flower structures that appear in summer and look like plumes of smoke, ranging in color from creamy gray to pinkish purple, depending on the cultivar. The effect is unusual and memorable, but this is no one-trick pony. Various cultivars have different colored foliage, including the dark purple of ‘Royal Purple’ and the chartreuse of ‘Golden Spirit.’ In addition, smokebush is known for its vibrant fall color.

Note: shrubs are easily cut back to restrain size, open up a view or cause new, colorful growth. However, the milky white sap can stain clothes and may cause skin irritation.

  • Name: Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)
  • Growth rate: Fast
  • USDA hardiness zones: 5-8
  • Size: 10 to 15 feet tall and wide
  • Growing conditions: Best color in full sun; some protection from wind is helpful
  • Soil: Drought tolerant and accepts a range of soils

5/15

Closeup of pink and white VIBURNUM x burkwoodii flowers and buds opening.Steve Hamilton/Getty Images

Burkwood Viburnum

While Burkwood viburnum matures at a more modest pace than other shrubs in this story, that can be good for those concerned about a shrub outgrowing its space. It features small pom-poms of fragrant white flowers and dark green foliage that turns rich hues of red and burgundy in fall. There are also black drupes that attract birds and other wildlife.

  • Name: Burkwood Viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii)
  • Growth rate: Medium
  • USDA hardiness zones: 5-8
  • Size: 6 to 12 feet tall, 4 to 4 feet wide
  • Growing conditions: Accepts part shade but is fuller and flowers better in full sun
  • Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil with acid to neutral pH

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