Question:
What native shrubs grow in dry soils?Answer:
North American native shrubs tolerant of wet soils include:
- indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa)*
- bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)*
- shrubby St. John's wort (Hypericum prolificum)
- common juniper (Juniperus communis)
- Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum)
- Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)*
- northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
- ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)*
- shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)*
- hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata)*
- staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)*
- meadow rose (Rosa blanda)*
- Carolina rose (Rosa carolina)*
- buffaloberry (Sheperdia argentea)*
- bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)*
- snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)*
- coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculata)*
- nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)*
- prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)*
* Native to Iowa
Last updated on
March 9, 2026