Shrubs Summary

Shrubs - Description of Terms - Summary Information - Approved Lists

SHRUBS: Summary of Specification Criteria

This table gives information typically used in the specification of shrubs. It is important to realise that plants are variable and growth varies between species and seasons. For this reason the details within the table give general, accepted dimensions and terms for the specification of shrubs but there are always well grown and health plants which are exceptions. A knowledge of the product and the methods of its production are important in specifying plants.

Values shown in bold type indicate the more typical for the range.

S2

S3

S4

S5

S6

S7

S8

AGE/CONDITION or x TRANSPLANTED

OVERALL HEIGHT

ROOT CONDITION

SIZE OF CONTAINER

HABIT

NUMBER OF BREAKS

NOTES

in cms

(D) = diameter

B = bagged (bareroot)
Ce = cell grown
RB = rootball
C = container

Minimum size range given in LITRES unless otherwise indicated

1+0 or 1/0

10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

B

Sometimes grown LOW DENSITY to get a more robust plant

1+0 or 1/0

10-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-90
15-30

Ce

100, or 200 cc.

A useful forestry product

0/1

40-50, 60-80, 80-100, 100-125

B

Useful landscape product

0/2

60-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150

B

Not so commonly grown

1+1 or 1/1

30-40, 40-50, 60-80, 80-100, 100-125

B or C

1, 2 or 5

Used for some species which resent transplanting

20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100 +

B

3, 4 or 5

Compact, low, medium and vigorous species/cvs.

15-30, 30-50, 50-80

B

Transplants

25-40, 40-70, 70-90

B

2 or 3 depending on height and vigour

Light shrubs

Height or spread in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-225, 225-250, above 250 in 50 cm steps, above 400 in 100 cm steps.

RB

Branched; Bushy;

2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

Low/compact species/cvs.
e.g. Cotoneaster 'Coral Beauty'; Genista lydia; Potentilla 'Elizabeth'

Height or spread in cm: 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-225, 225-250, above 250 in 50 cm steps, above 400 in 100 cm steps.

RB

Branched; Bushy; Leader and Laterals; Several Shoots; Single Leader;

2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

Medium species/cvs.
e.g. Berberis thunbergii, Cytisus scoparius; Escallonia 'Slieve Donard'; Euonymus alatus

Height or spread in cm: 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-250, 250-300, 300-400, above 400 in 100 cm. steps.

RB

Branched; Bushy; Leader and Laterals; Several Shoots; Single Leader;

2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

Vigorous species/cvs.
e.g. Cotoneaster 'Cornubia'; Elaeagnus x ebbingei; Hippophae rhamnoides; Hydrangea paniculata

Spread in cm:
10-15, 15-20, 20-(25), (25)-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80

RB

Branched; Bushy; Several Shoots;

2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

Ground cover species/cvs.
e.g. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens; Cotoneaster dammeri; Euonymus fortunei cvs.

Height or spread in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-120

RB

Branched; Bushy;

4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

For genus Rhododendron
Low/compact and medium :

Height or spread in cm. 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-120, 120-140, 140-160, 160-180, 180-200, 200-225, 225-250, 250-275, 275-300, above 300 in 50 cm steps.

RB

Branched; Bushy;

4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

For genus Rhododendron Vigorous :

Height in cm: 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-250, 250-300

RB

Branched; Bushy;

4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

Deciduous azaleas

Spread in cm: 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-120, 120-140

RB

Branched; Bushy;

4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.

Japanese azaleas

Height in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100

C

0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, or larger sizes for specimen shrubs

Branched; Bushy; Leader and Laterals; Several Shoots; Single Leader;

Branched, Several Shoots: 2-3; Bushy: 3-6; depending on height, age and growth habit.
Rhododendron: 4-10

Typical container grown shrubs specified by overall height. For Specimen shrubs both height and spread may be specified

Diameter in cm. 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40

C

0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, or larger sizes for specimen shrubs

Branched; Bushy; Several Shoots;

Branched, Several Shoots: 2-3; Bushy: 3-6; depending on height, age and growth habit.
Rhododendron: 4-10

Typical container grown shrubs specified by overall spread. For Specimen shrubs both height and spread may be specified

S9

OTHER DETAILS

Where appropriate other criteria can be specified. The following are examples:

Criterion

Qualification

Notes

Origin/Provenance

British grown
British Provenance
Local Provenance

Refer to Part 1. Note that British grown is not reliably British provenance or origin

Shape

Cone
Sphere
Spiral
Pyramid
Other shapes

More detailed information on the other criteria necessary for the specification of these shapes (girth measures, branch lengths, root condition, size of container, etc.) can be obtained from the specialists who supply these shrubs. Buxus spp., Taxus spp. Laurus spp Crataegus laevigata cvs., Malus cvs.

Roses

Budded - bagged (bare root)

Further Criteria for specification
BUSH Quality A or Quality B
or
STANDARD Quality A or Quality B

Budded - Container grown - C3 minimum

Further Criteria for specification
BUSH Quality A or Quality B
or
STANDARD Quality A or Quality B

Cutting raised - bagged (bare root)

Further Criteria for specification
Strong growing or Slow growing

Cutting raised - Container grown - C1 minimum

Further Criteria for specification:

Strong growing or Slow growing

S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8
AGE/CONDITION or x TRANSPLANTED	OVERALL HEIGHT	ROOT CONDITION	SIZE OF CONTAINER	HABIT	NUMBER OF BREAKS	NOTES
	in cms (D) = diameter	B = bagged (bareroot) Ce = cell grown RB = rootball C = container	Minimum size range given in LITRES unless otherwise indicated
1+0 or 1/0	10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80	B				Sometimes grown LOW DENSITY to get a more robust plant
1+0 or 1/0	10-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-90 15-30	Ce	100, or 200 cc.			A useful forestry product
0/1	40-50, 60-80, 80-100, 100-125	B				Useful landscape product
0/2	60-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150	B				Not so commonly grown
1+1 or 1/1	30-40, 40-50, 60-80, 80-100, 100-125	B or C	1, 2 or 5			Used for some species which resent transplanting
	20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100 +	B			3, 4 or 5	Compact, low, medium and vigorous species/cvs.
	15-30, 30-50, 50-80	B				Transplants
	25-40, 40-70, 70-90	B			2 or 3 depending on height and vigour	Light shrubs
	Height or spread in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-225, 225-250, above 250 in 50 cm steps, above 400 in 100 cm steps.	RB		Branched; Bushy;	2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	Low/compact species/cvs. e.g. Cotoneaster 'Coral Beauty'; Genista lydia; Potentilla 'Elizabeth'
	Height or spread in cm: 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-225, 225-250, above 250 in 50 cm steps, above 400 in 100 cm steps.	RB		Branched; Bushy; Leader and Laterals; Several Shoots; Single Leader;	2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	Medium species/cvs. e.g. Berberis thunbergii, Cytisus scoparius; Escallonia 'Slieve Donard'; Euonymus alatus
	Height or spread in cm: 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-250, 250-300, 300-400, above 400 in 100 cm. steps.	RB		Branched; Bushy; Leader and Laterals; Several Shoots; Single Leader;	2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	Vigorous species/cvs. e.g. Cotoneaster 'Cornubia'; Elaeagnus x ebbingei; Hippophae rhamnoides; Hydrangea paniculata
	Spread in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-(25), (25)-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80	RB		Branched; Bushy; Several Shoots;	2, 3/4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	Ground cover species/cvs. e.g. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens; Cotoneaster dammeri; Euonymus fortunei cvs.
	Height or spread in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-120	RB		Branched; Bushy;	4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	For genus *Rhododendron* Low/compact and medium :
	Height or spread in cm. 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-120, 120-140, 140-160, 160-180, 180-200, 200-225, 225-250, 250-275, 275-300, above 300 in 50 cm steps.	RB		Branched; Bushy;	4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	For genus Rhododendron Vigorous :
	Height in cm: 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-100, 100-125, 125-150, 150-175, 175-200, 200-250, 250-300	RB		Branched; Bushy;	4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	Deciduous azaleas
	Spread in cm: 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-120, 120-140	RB		Branched; Bushy;	4, 5/7, 8/12 depending on height, age and growth habit.	Japanese azaleas
	Height in cm: 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100	C	0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, or larger sizes for specimen shrubs	Branched; Bushy; Leader and Laterals; Several Shoots; Single Leader;	Branched, Several Shoots: 2-3; Bushy: 3-6; depending on height, age and growth habit. Rhododendron: 4-10	Typical container grown shrubs specified by overall height. For Specimen shrubs both height and spread may be specified
	Diameter in cm. 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-40	C	0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, or larger sizes for specimen shrubs	Branched; Bushy; Several Shoots;	Branched, Several Shoots: 2-3; Bushy: 3-6; depending on height, age and growth habit. Rhododendron: 4-10	Typical container grown shrubs specified by overall spread. For Specimen shrubs both height and spread may be specified

Criterion	Qualification	Notes
Origin/Provenance	British grown British Provenance Local Provenance	Refer to Part 1. Note that British grown is not reliably British provenance or origin
Shape	Cone Sphere Spiral Pyramid Other shapes	More detailed information on the other criteria necessary for the specification of these shapes (girth measures, branch lengths, root condition, size of container, etc.) can be obtained from the specialists who supply these shrubs. Buxus spp., Taxus spp. Laurus spp Crataegus laevigata cvs., Malus cvs.
Roses	Budded - bagged (bare root)	Further Criteria for specification BUSH Quality A or Quality B or STANDARD Quality A or Quality B
	Budded - Container grown - C3 minimum	Further Criteria for specification BUSH Quality A or Quality B or STANDARD Quality A or Quality B
	Cutting raised - bagged (bare root)	Further Criteria for specification Strong growing or Slow growing
	Cutting raised - Container grown - C1 minimum	Further Criteria for specification: Strong growing or Slow growing