Shrub Identification: Leaves, Stems, Flowers and Berries

Shrub identification begins by confirming you have a shrub. Wikipedia defines shrubs as woody plants with persistent stems above ground, distinguished from trees by multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 6 to 10 meters (20 to 33 feet); most definitions describe several stems and no main trunk. Shrubs under 2 meters (6.6 feet) are sometimes called subshrubs. By this definition a multi-stemmed lilac, which NC State lists at 8 to 16 feet, is still a shrub.

Note whether the shrub keeps its leaves in winter. From NC State Extension's plant pages: boxwood, oleander and American holly are broadleaf evergreens; rhododendrons are typically evergreen while most azaleas are deciduous; Chinese privet is evergreen or semi-evergreen; lilac, forsythia, bigleaf hydrangea and red-osier dogwood are deciduous. Needle or scale-leaved shrubs such as yew and juniper are covered on our evergreen tree identification page.

How leaves sit on the stem splits common shrubs into small groups. NC State Extension records:

• Opposite: lilac (heart-shaped leaves 3 to 6 inches), forsythia (lance-shaped, 3 to 5 inches, toothed on the upper half), bigleaf hydrangea (3 to 6 inches, toothed), boxwood (about 1 inch), Chinese privet (1 to 2 inches, smooth-edged) and red-osier dogwood.
• Alternate: azaleas and rhododendrons (leaves 3 to 6 inches, often clustered at the branch tips), American holly (spiny leaves) and roses.
• Whorled: oleander, with leathery leaves 4 to 7 inches long, opposite or in whorls of 3 or 4.

Look at several twigs, because a single twig can mislead when a leaf has fallen.

Most garden shrubs have simple leaves. Two common compound-leaved shrubs:

• Multiflora rose: alternate, odd-pinnate leaves with 5 to 11 toothed leaflets and fringed stipules at the base of each leaf, which separate it from brambles; stems carry sturdy curved prickles (NC State).
• Elderberry (Sambucus): opposite, pinnate leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets and large clusters of small white or cream flowers (Wikipedia).

Opposite and compound together is a short list: elderberry among shrubs, ash and boxelder among trees.

• Forsythia: yellow flowers in early spring before the leaves; brown, 4-ridged stems with chambered or hollow pith (NC State).
• Lilac: very fragrant flowers in conical clusters up to 8 inches long, in white, pink, purple, lavender or blue; 8 to 16 feet tall (NC State).
• Bigleaf hydrangea: white, pink, blue or purple flowers; acidic soil gives blue, alkaline soil gives pink (NC State).
• Azalea vs rhododendron: azalea flowers are funnel-shaped with 5 stamens and bloom in April; rhododendron flowers are bell-shaped with 10 stamens and bloom later in spring (NC State). Count the stamens.
• Red-osier dogwood: bright red to blood-red stems in winter and white fruit with a blue tinge (NC State).
• Chinese privet: small white flowers in late spring with an unpleasant smell, followed by clusters of black, olive-like fruit (NC State).
• Boxwood: some people find the leaves bad-smelling (NC State).
• Multiflora rose: small white to light pink five-petaled flowers and clusters of red hips 1/4 inch across (NC State).

• Hydrangea: opposite, large toothed leaves; flower color changes with soil pH
• Lilac: opposite, heart-shaped leaves; fragrant spring flower clusters
• Forsythia: opposite; yellow flowers before leaves; 4-ridged stems
• Boxwood: opposite, 1-inch glossy evergreen leaves; used for hedges
• Privet: opposite, 1 to 2 inch leaves; smelly white flowers, black fruit
• Red-osier dogwood: opposite; red winter stems
• Azalea / rhododendron: alternate leaves clustered at tips; 5 vs 10 stamens
• American holly: alternate, spiny evergreen leaves; red berries
• Oleander: leathery leaves in whorls of 3 or 4; highly toxic
• Multiflora rose: compound leaves with fringed stipules; curved prickles
• Elderberry: opposite compound leaves; flat white flower clusters

All facts from NC State Extension plant pages, except elderberry (Wikipedia).

Several of the most planted shrubs are poisonous, which none of the top-ranking shrub identifier pages explains. NC State Extension rates:

• Oleander: high-severity poison; all parts can be deadly if eaten, it contains cardiac glycosides, it can cause skin irritation, and smoke from burning it is harmful.
• Rhododendron and azalea: grayanotoxins in all parts; poisonous to people, cats, dogs and horses.
• Boxwood, bigleaf hydrangea and Chinese privet: low-severity poisons that can cause nausea and vomiting; boxwood sap can irritate skin.

If a child or adult swallows part of a shrub, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the US; for pets or horses, call your veterinarian. Do not burn oleander prunings.

NC State also lists multiflora rose (one plant can produce 500,000 seeds a year, with seeds viable for 10 to 20 years) and Chinese privet as invasive in North Carolina.

Photograph the whole plant to show its size and multi-stemmed form, a leaf from above and below, a twig showing how leaves are arranged, and any flowers, berries, thorns or stem color. Note the height and whether it kept its leaves in winter. Photograph it and the app identifies it, with free scans every day.

Research and drafting for this page used AI assistance. Every measurement, date, price and claim was then checked against the sources listed below, which were opened and read on 2026-09-25. Where two sources give different numbers, both are shown.