Shrubs
All shrubs are potted or balled and burlapped (B&B), branched, and nicely shaped. For additional shrubs not listed here, see our selection of Montana Native Plants. When carrying plants in an open pickup or trailer, please bring sheets or tarps to protect leaves and buds during travel.
Ornamental Shrub Catalog
Thinleaf Alder
(Alnus incana spp. tenuifolia): oval form with multiple stems; excellent choice for natural landscaping; attracts birds; of interest year round - we especially like its winter aspect: reddish buds noticeable for their contrast to gray bark, catkins, and attractive small cones; thrives in moist soil, but not limited to it; Montana native. (30')
Russian Almond
Medium to large size shrub with pink blooms in early spring; hairy fruit attract wildlife; wonderful red fall foliage. (6')
Ruby Carousel Barberry
Burgundy-purple leaves add contrast in the landscape; small, inconspicuous yellow flowers; bright red berries in fall attract birds; needs sun and moist, well-drained soils. (3’)
Cabernet Barberry
Dwarf, globe shaped shrubs with deep purple leaves, new growth is red giving the plant a glowing effect; low maintenance and tolerates a wide variety of soils; always a show stopper. (2-3’)
Concorde Barberry
Dwarf, globe shaped shrubs with deep purple leaves, new growth is red giving the plant a glowing effect; low maintenance and tolerates a wide variety of soils; always a show stopper. (2-3’)
Emerald Carousel Barberry
Other than its prickly spines we can only rave about this plant - beautiful yet not commonly grown; very hardy; outstanding red fall foliage that persists; yellow flowers and bright red berries; attractive shape - rounded with arching branches. (4-5')
Lustre Green Barberry
Glossy, emerald green leaves in summer turn brilliant orange and red in fall; persistent red berries in winter. (4')
Silver Buffaloberry
Silver-leafed, thorny shrub with orange-red fruits used for jellies...birds love them too! Suitable for a natural landscape setting; to assure fruit production, plant at least three. (8-12')
Siberian Peashrub Caragana
Yellow flowers in early summer; a favorite of hummingbirds; delicate leaves; withstands drought and alkaline soils better than most shrubs; makes nice hedge; very hardy. (12-15')
Dark Knight Caryopteris
Blooms late summer with purplish-blue flowers; silvery-green foliage; loved by butterflies and bees; drought-tolerant. (2-3')
Nanking Cherry
Showy white flowers in spring before leaves appear followed by red berries appealing to birds and excellent for jams and jellies. (8-10')
Autumn Magic Chokeberry
Continuous display of ornamental splendor: white flowers in May followed by edible black berries used for cooking and appealing to birds; leaves glossy green in spring/summer, turning a brilliant red in fall; not to be confused with chokecherry as they are quite different. (4-6') 'Iroquois Beauty' is a compact cultivar. (3-4')
Common Chokecherry
Attractive large plant with fruit coveted by our "fine feathered friends" as well as ourselves; purple-red fruit makes excellent jelly, syrup and wine; extremely hardy; vibrant fall foliage; ideal for natural landscaping. (15-25')
Canada Red Chokecherry
Foliage emerges bright green and turns purpe mid summer; fruit attracts wildlife and is excellent for jelly, syrup, and wine; prefers well drained soil; drought tolerant once established; extremely hardy. (20-30')
Cranberry Cotoneaster
a delightful, low growing shrub; small, shiny leaves, delicate pink flowers in spring followed by red berries in late summer/fall; ideal for tucking into a small space in your shrub bed. (2-3')
Hedge Cotoneaster
Dark green glossy leaves turn red in fall; black fruit; fast growing attractive hedge; very hardy. (8-10')
Alpine Currant
makes a great hedge - responds well to shearing; grows happily in sun or shade; very hardy. (4-5')
Green Mound Currant
Leafs out early providing spring greenery; yellow flowers in the spring; makes a beautiful, low, dense hedge; responds well to shearing but requires little pruning; grows well in sun, also a great choice for shade; very hardy. (3-4')
Golden Currant
Black berries are sweet and prolific; very hardy; prefers partial shade - does not like dry, exposed location; another of our favorite Montana native plants - attracts wildlife and also provides much people pleasure; makes excellent jelly. (4-6')
Carol Mackie Daphne
Small, compact shrub with variegated foliage; fragrant pink flowers. (2-3')
Arctic Fire Dogwood
Compact form; dark red twigs; fragrant white flowers followed by blue-white berries; scarlet red fall foliage. (4')
Bud's Yellow Dogwood
Yellow-stemmed dogwood combines with Red Twig Dogwoods for maximum winter impact. (8-10')
Isanti Dogwood
Similar to Red Twig in all ways except smaller size, more dense and spreading to 8'. (5-6')
Red Twig Dogwood
Attractive all year; white flowers in spring; berries for birds in autumn, brilliant, red bark in winter, takes partial shade. (8-10')
Variegated Ivory Halo Dogwood
Similar to other red-twigged varieties but more compact and exciting; green leaves with creamy-white margins make this an especially elegant plant. (5-6')
Arnold Red Honeysuckle
Deep pink tubular flowers in late spring followed by red berries; easy to grow in most soils; very hardy; makes a wonderful hedge. (8')
Annabelle Hydrangea
Beautiful, white flowering shrub that thrives in shade; large flowers bloom from mid summer to frost; low growing with rounded shape. (3')
Pink Diamond Hydrangea
Pink flowers in long pointed clusters; late season bloomer; dark green leaves; great for part shade; mid-size. (6-8')
Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea
Large conical clusters of white flowers turning deep pink; blooms from late summer to early fall. (6-8')
Common Purple Lilac
This is the lilac you see most often, with delicate, fragrant purple flowers in May; makes excellent hedge; very hardy. (12-15')
Common White Lilac
This is the lilac you see most often, with delicate, fragrant white flowers in May; makes excellent hedge; very hardy. (12-15')
Donald Wyman Lilac
Non-suckering, extremely hardy Canadian hybrid; extends lilac season since lavender flowers appear two weeks later than common lilac; ideal for hedge. (8-10')
Dwarf Korean Lilac
Spectacular, dwarf variety; profuse blooms at an early age; flowers are violet purple; foliage is delicate and very attractive; superb plant for its tidiness; Need we say more? (4-5')
Agincourt Beauty Lilac
A french hybrid lilac with one of the largest size deep purple blooms; Highly fragrant and very hardy.
Beauty of Moscow Lilac
Pink buds open to double white flowers; Excellent fragrance.
Charles Joly Lilac
A popular, old fashioned lilac with deep reddish-purple blooms.
Katherine Havemeyer Lilac
A Blake Nursery favorite with double pink-lavender blooms and bright green leaves.
Ludwig Spaeth Lilac
An older introduction from the 1880's, one of the deepest purple blooms; Highly fragrant and very cold hardy.
Madame Lemoine Lilac
Another favorite at Blake Nursery, this is a french hybrid lilac with showy double bright white flowers; very fragrant and cold hardy.
President Grevy Lilac
A popular lilac with a unique double blue flower.
Sensation Lilac
A more recent introduction with unique deep purple flowers with white edges. This is a popular lilac with deep green leaves and is very winter hardy.
James MacFarlane Lilac
Clear pink blossoms; non-suckering; blooms two weeks later than Common Lilac; extremely cold hardy. (8-10')
Minuet Lilac
Canadian introduction; light purple flower buds opening to soft, whitish pink; very hardy - will survive where other lilacs won't. (6-8')
Miss Canada Lilac
Bright pink flowers appear mid to late June - we enjoy extending the lilac season with these profuse, late-blooming plants; non-suckering; vigorous and extremely hardy. (6-9')
Miss Kim Lilac
Hardy, dwarf form from Korea; compact growth habit; dark glossy green foliage turns burgundy red in fall; fragrant pale lilac flowers bloom when other lilacs have finished. (6')
Amur Maple
Bailey Compact: very hardy shrub it would be hard to dislike; fragrant flowers; brilliant red fall foliage; graceful, spreading branches; disease-free; seeds attract birds. (7-9')
View our Tree section for full size plants.
Blizzard Mockorange
Beloved for their white, extremely fragrant flowers and hardiness. Blizzard, a selection of our native Lewis' Mockorange (Philadelphus lewisii), blooms profusely and is extremely hardy. (4-5')
Red Leafed Ninebark
Little Devil (3-4'), Tiny Wine (3-4'), Summerwine (5-6'): very hardy varieties; whitish pink flowers in spring followed by red fruit in summer; burgundy/maroon summer foliage; low maintenance, pest free shrubs that provide excellent contrast in the landscape.
Potentilla
A profusion of yellow, white or pink blooms on compact bushy plants from summer to autumn; very hardy; many varieties to choose from, including Abbotswood, Gold Drop, Goldstar, Jackman, Katherine Dykes, Mango Tango, Pink Beauty, Yellow Gem.
Rabbitbrush
Native woody shrub with attractive silver foliage; masses of yellow flowers in fall complement a variety of fall blooming asters; perfect addition to the drought garden. Add after drought garden; a fall magnet for butterflies, moths and bees, and fortunately not deer. (3-4')
Dwarf Rabbitbrush
Compact variety of Rubber Rabbitbrush. attracts masses of bees, butterflies and moths in fall, and fortunately not deer. (1-2')
If you love pink-flowering almonds, but are discouraged by their lack of hardiness, try this! Beautiful double pink blossoms on a vigorous plant. (6-10')
Sagebrush
Native plant with aromatic silver foliage; highly drought tolerant; varieties include Silver Sagebrush (Artemisia cana) 2-5', Wyoming Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis) 2-4', and Basin Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. tridentata) 4-8'.
Western Sandcherry
Fragrant white flowers in spring; purple-black edible fruit attract songbirds; silver green foliage turns red-purple in fall; drought resistant and extremely hardy Montana native. (5-6') 'Pawnee Buttes' is a groundcover selection only 18" high spreading 4-6', for large areas or banks.
Serviceberry
Outstanding native shrub with beautiful, graceful form; showy white flowers; black, sweet fruit that birds will devour if you don’t; attractive orange fall foliage; drought tolerant; Blake Nursery favorite. (10-12').
Learn more by reading our Serviceberry featured article.
Silverberry
Extremely hardy silver-leafed native shrub; small fragrant yellow flowers; silver-green berries enjoyed by birds; native to river banks and moist slopes, but tolerates drought and poor soils; excellent alternative to Russian Olive if you like attractive silver foliage. (6-12')
White Snowberry
Large, white berries follow dainty pink flowers; excellent plant for moist, shady areas, also grows in full sun; very hardy; highly recommended for streambank stabilization because of spreading root system. Very hardy Montana native. (4-6')
Fairy Queen Spirea
Superior foundation plant for small space; tidy shape with dark green lobed leaves and masses of white flowers. (3')
Fritschiana Spirea
Large clusters of white flowers; pleasingly mounded, tidy habit; purplish fall foliage; not well known yet it's one of our favorite plants; very hardy. (2-3')
Froebel Spirea
Flat clusters of bright pink flowers in May-June; beautiful red leaves in autumn; similar to all Blake Nursery spireas, it's very hardy. (3-4')
Goldflame Spirea
Spring foliage bright gold, turning green in summer and radiant copper-orange by fall; covered with light crimson flowers; colorful dwarf shrub; irresistible! (2-3')
Grefsheim Spirea
Flowers early spring; delicate arching branches covered with beautiful white flowers; moderately shade tolerant; one of our favorites. (4-6')
Little Princess Spirea
Refined, tidy plant with dainty pink flowers; irresistible once you see it! Dark red fall foliage. (2')
Renaissance Bridalwreath Spirea
Graceful arching branches covered in spring with a profusion of white flowers; very hardy. (5-7')
Tor Birchleaf Spirea
Very hardy compact shrub; white flowers in the spring; orange and red fall foliage; one of our favorites! (3-4')
Sem False Spirea
Plumes of creamy white flowers in summer; pinkish and chartreuse fern-like foliage turns bronze in fall; will tolerate some shade, but best foliage color when at least half day of sun; very hardy; prefers moist, well-drained soil; will sucker, so place with this in mind! (3-4')
Gro-Low Sumac
Fragrant flowers attracting butterflies adorn this low growing sumac; red, hairy fruits appeal to birds; spectacular scarlet fall foliage; wide spreading, suckering, thus great choice for groundcover on banks or large areas. (2.5')
Trilobe Sumac
Superior Montana native plant noted for hardiness, wildlife cover, drought tolerance, and excellent fall color; aka Skunkbush Sumac. (3-4')
Blue Muffin Viburnum
Compact variety with abundant white flowers; bright blue berries in summer; serrated leaves gives added summer interest; yellow fall foliage. (5-7')
Mohican Viburnum
Compact variety large, white flower clusters, red berries turn black and feed birds; prefers well drained soil; very handsome and hardy. (6-8')
Nannyberry Viburnum
Fabulous, informal and uncommon; white flowers; blue-black fruit good winter food for birds; striking red fall fall; sun or shade; extremely hardy. (20')
Yucca Glauca
Native evergreen shrub; sword-like leaves arise from a clump; white flowers on a 2-3 ft. stalk; deer resistant. (2-4')