Quercus turbinella
Desert Scrub Oak
Can be grown as a tree form, but more often serves as a shrub in tough conditions. Sharp-tipped leaves are evergreen but drop in spring as new leaves replace them. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Rhaphiolepis indica
Indian Hawthorn
Glossy, leathery leaves are an attraction. Best with some protection from the sun in hot summer regions. Check your local nursery for improved selections that offer different flower colors such as 'Jack Evans', bright pink flowers; and 'Clara', white flowers. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Rhus aromatica
Fragrant Sumac
Fragrant Sumac is a large, wide-spreading shrub with dense foliage. The leaves emit a pleasant fragrance when brushed or crushed. They turn orange then red in fall. Showy, edible red berries follow the flowers. 'Gro Low' , Dwarf Fragrant Sumac, shown in photos, reaches just 2 feet high, spreading 6 to 8 feet wide. Canopy coverage: 79 square feet.
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Rhus integrifolia
Lemonade Berry
Wide-spreading shrub that grows to 10 feet or more high; tops out a just a few feet high along the coast. Flowers and fruit are borne on female plants only. You can use the berries to make a refreshing drink, thus the common name Lemonade Berry. Excellent for erosion control. Plant in well draining soil. Canopy coverage: 79 square feet, perhaps more with time.
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Rhus ovata
Sugar Bush
The dense, rounded form of Sugar Bush is excellent as a screen or hedge. Flowers emerge as red buds then become flowers that bloom in cream-colored clusters. Canopy coverage: 79 square feet.
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Rhus trilobata
Squaw Bush
Squaw Bush is a good choice for a low-maintenance, naturalistic shrub. Yellow to red fall color is an attraction, as are the bright red berries. Canopy coverage: 113 square feet.
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Ribes aureum
Yellow-Flowering Currant
Yellow-Flowering Currant becomes a broad, rounded shrub. Attractions include the typically fragrant, yellow spring flowers, which are followed by edible berries in summer that turn from yellow to red to black. Canopy coverage: 26 square feet.
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Ribes viburnifolium
Catalina Currant, Evergreen Currant
A low-growing shrub with an open form that spreads roughly twice as wide as its height. Thin, dark red stems contrast with the glossy, deep green, oval leaves that are pleasantly fragrant. Small red fruit that attract birds follow the flowers in late spring. Useful in dry, shaded locations. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Robinia neomexicana
New Mexico Locust, Desert Locust
New Mexico Locust can be grown as a tree or shrub but most often a thicket-forming, spiny shrub, useful as a barrier or screen. Note that seeds are poisonous. Flowers are fragrant and are profuse in clusters. The interesting seed pods are dark brown, hairy, up to 4 inches long, and hang on branches for a long time. Canopy coverage: 113 square feet.
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Robinia pseudoacacia
Black Locust
Black Locust has an open, branching form. Requires pruning-training when young to develop into an appealing flowering tree. Canopy coverage: 2,827 square feet.
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Romneya coulteri
Matilija Poppy
Grown for its spectacular, crepe paper flowers up to 9 inches across. They are pure white with a yellow center, thus one of its common names Fried Egg Plant. Best for an informal, naturalistic landscape. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Rosa banksiae
Lady Banks' Rose
Lady Bank's Rose is a sprawling Rose that has no thorns and requires little maintenance. Plants can grow quite large with time. 'Lutea' features pale yellow flowers; 'Alba Plena' has white flowers. Canopy coverage: 491 square feet.
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Rosa californica
California Wild Rose
This California native develops into a thicket, becoming a thorny, barrier plant, excellent for wildlife habitat and as a security planting. It has other appealing features: profuse fragrant flowers, long bloom period, and orange-red hips, the seed capsules of Roses. To renew declining plantings, cut back canes severely in fall. Wear gloves and protective gear to defend yourself from the sharp, curved thorns. Canopy coverage: 79 square feet or more. Photos courtesy of Pam Pavela.
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Rosa foetida bicolor
Austrian Copper Rose
Austrian Copper is an old garden rose that makes an excellent flowering shrub and security screen. Prickly branches grow in an upright and arching form. Susceptible to blackspot disease. Canopy coverage: 20 square feet.
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Rosa foetida persiana
Persian Yellow Rose
Persian Yellow is an old garden rose introduced in the 1830s that makes an excellent flowering shrub and security screen. Blooms once a year but profuse in late spring to early summer. Flowers are lightly fragrant. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Rosa glauca
Shrub Rose
An Old Garden Rose that serves as a large shrub in the landscape. Interesting foliage in shades of gray-green and purple exist on the canes at the same time. Flowers are small but a striking deep pink color and have a slight fragrance. Large orange-red hips, the seed capsules of Roses, follow flowers and are ornamental as they remain on plant into winter. Canopy coverage: 20 square feet.
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Rosa species
Shrub Rose
There are of course numerous Rose varieties available in every size, flower color and fragrance. Floribunda forms are common Shrub Roses. Also consider David Austin landscape Roses, as well as Old Garden Roses. Photos: red rose hips; 'Iceberg' in container; hot pink 'Old Blush'; white 'Sally Holmes' in landscape and miniature 'Poker Chip'. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary
Rosemary is a desirable shrub for its ability to accept tough conditions, featuring fragrant foliage valued for culinary use. Groundcover forms such as 'Prostrata' are wide-spreading. It is an excellent choice for draping and trailing over the edges of walls and containers. Canopy coverage: 13 square feet.
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Ruellia brittoniana
Ruellia
Profuse purple, trumpet-shaped flowers bloom during the warm season. Prefers afternoon shade in hot-summer regions. Canopy coverage: 13 square feet.
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Salvia apiana
White Sagebrush
A sprawling form and color make this an easy to identify plant. Foliage is aromatic, particularly when brushed. Flowers are white and bloom in spikes above the 4-inch leaves, aging to light pink or lavender. It is a chaparral native so reduce watering in summer. Canopy coverage: 20 square feet.
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Salvia azurea var. grandiflora
Prairie Sage, Pitcher Sage
Prairie Sage, also known as Pitcher Sage, is a shrubby perennial with sky blue flowers. It is a tough plant that accepts about any well drained soil. In its native habitat it competes with prairie grasses. Cut back in midsummer to develop multi-branching plants that produce more flowers. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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