Macphail Woods
Native Shrubs of Prince Edward Island

The line between trees and shrubs is not a clear one. Distinctions are obvious between a large pine tree and a small, bushy alder. But other species fall somewhere in the middle, or have characterstics of both trees and shrubs.

Hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium) in fruit with red berries.

As a general definition, shrubs are low, woody plants that at maturity are under 25 feet (7.6 m) in height. They usually have several stems, but this is more common in some species than others. The definition is not important - the key is how interesting and useful shrubs can be. More and more people working in the areas of forest restoration, wildlife enhancement and watershed protection are realizing the values of shrubs. This is part of an increasing recognition that we need to view ecosystems as more than a few species of trees, ducks and fish.

Common Elder (Sambucus Canadensis) in clusters of white flowers.

This section focuses on native species of shrubs, yet the definition of "native" is also elusive. Plants migrate, their seeds spread by wind, water and animals (including people). There are plants native to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that are not considered native in this province. Would they have naturally migrated here, spread by wind or animals ? And since, 80% of Prince Edward Island was cleared for farming by the late 1800's, many small populations of shrubs could have been wiped out without anyone being aware of the loss. he Plants of Prince Edward Island (updated in 1985 with new records) is our best source of information and we try to stay within their findings of native and introduced species.

Native plants are usually very reliable - they have adapted to the climatic conditions of the area and serve a variety of functions within the ecosystem. The shrubs listed here are "native", but more important they are proven performers - hardy, fitting into a wide variety of habitats, valuable to wildlife, useful for stabilizing streambanks and/or controlling soil erosion.

• Alternate Leaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
• High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
• Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
• Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
• Red-Berried Elder (Sambucus pubens)
• Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)
• Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
• Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa)
• Common Elder (Sambucus Canadensis)
• Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
• Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp.)
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
• Hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium)
• Wild Raisin (Viburnum cassinoides)
• Wild Rose (Rosa spp.)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
• Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
• Willow (Salix spp.)

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) distinctive compound leaves.

From the Nursery:
The Macphail Woods operates a native tree and shrub nursery and offers many native trees and shrubs at affordable prices. Check out:

• Macphail Woods Nursery Catalogue
• Why Plant Native Shrubs?
• Growing Native Shrubs
• How to Plant Trees and Shrubs
• Tips on Transplanting
• Tree and Shrub Pruning Workshop

This series of webpages is based on the booklet "Native Shrubs of Prince Edward Island Growing and using fifteen favorite shrubs for: wildlife enhancement, erosion control, windbreaks, landscapes and much more" written by Gary Schneider. If your interested in receiving a hardcopy of this booklet, please see our publications page.

We offer a number of workshops and guided tours at the Macphail Woods and it is an opportunity to learn more about PEI native shrubs. Check out the Events Calendar for more information. Web development and maintenance by Chris Martin.

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