Plants that Are Both a Tree and a Shrub

Shrub or tree. It is up to the gardener to decide how some plants will grow. Simply put, if you prune away the suckers these plants send out sideways, the plant will focus its energy towards growing tall and the result will be a small tree, most with a single, central trunk. Let the suckers grow and the plant will spread out to the sides and become a tall shrub or bush. It takes a bit of work on the gardeners part, but shrubs are easy to trim the way you want them to be.

Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a member of the rose family and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. The shrub/tree grows to a height of 15 to 25 feet and can attain a similar spread. White flowers bloom in March and April and the plant likes full sun or partial shade. Plant in a moist, well-drained soil. The plant produces deciduous leaves and fragrant, white flowers with five petals that grow in hanging clusters and put in their appearance before the egg-shaped leaves. When the flowers are done in early summer, edible, dark purple to black berries put in their appearance.

White alder (Clethra barbinervis) is native to both China and Japan and is hardy in zones 5 to 8. The plant grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet and a spread of 10 to 15 feet. White flowers grow in 4 to 6 inch long clusters at the tip of the stems bloom in July and August. Glossy, dark-green leaves turn yellow or red in the fall. The clusters of flowers give way to clusters of dark-brown seed capsules that remain on the plant into the winter. Plant in full sun or partial shade and a moist to wet, well-drained soil. Protect the plant from the winter winds in zone 5.

Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens) is native as far north as zone 2 and grows up to 20 feet tall and a bit less in width. Compound, egg-shaped,leaves are made up of 8 to 12 leaflets up to 1 inch long each and measure from 1-1/2 to 3 inches long. Small, yellow flowers bloom in May, growing in clusters of four flowers. The flowers are replaced by tan seed pods up to 2 inches long. Plant in full sun and a soil that is moist to dry. The plant is a good choice for a windbreak.

Not all tall shrubs give the gardener the option of growing them as trees. But all shrubs are easy to trim the way you want them to be. Shrub/trees give you the advantage of not have to pass on a plant you like because it will not fit into the space you need to fill.