Climate Change and Resilient Shrubs

In Climate Change and Our Gardens: Organic Matter, we saw how organic matter helps our gardens withstand the unpredictable climates caused by climate change. It improves soil structure, increasing its porosity and its ability to retain moisture, enabling our plants to better withstand both drought and excessively wet conditions. The next step in protecting our gardens against uncertain weather is to choose plants that can withstand a variety of conditions, and shrubs are particularly versatile in this sense.

Particularly Resilient

Shrubs are champions of resilience! Unlike most perennials, their deep, extensive roots enable them to draw water from deep underground and stabilize the soil. Their woody structure gives them strength in the face of winds and storms. Their longevity helps them survive cycles of harsh conditions, and some multiply efficiently by vegetative means, making them excellent for colonizing new areas (sometimes too much!)

Compared with trees, shrubs have the advantage of being smaller and more compact, so less vulnerable to weather damage. Their root system is extensive, but shallower than that of trees, which helps them adapt quickly to variations in available water. They regenerate more easily from the base or roots. Shrubs grow faster and reach maturity earlier, enabling them to recover and reproduce quickly after damage.

Shrubs That Adapt to Almost Anything

Although shrubs are generally tolerant of a variety of conditions, some are even more so, like these, which are particularly tolerant of drought or excess humidity. Of course, they all have their own preferences, and it’s always best to choose the right plant for the right place. These shrubs are also very hardy and adapted to the Canadian climate, while requiring very little maintenance.

Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

The Saskatoon berry is a true champion of resilience and versatility in the garden. Its white, five-petaled flowers appear very early in the spring, often before other shrubs have even begun to bud. Flowering is brief, but spectacular: the whole shrub is covered with tiny white flowers. The medium-green foliage takes on brilliant autumn colors ranging from golden yellow to orange and rust. And let’s not forget the berries! Small red berries that turn purple-black when ripe, delicious and perfect for cooking, also attracting birds.

Why is it more resilient than other serviceberries? Simple: it tolerates a wide range of soils, including alkaline ones, and adapts to a variety of climatic conditions. Whether the soil is damp or there’s a slight drought, no problem! It takes it all in stride. And if you opt for cultivars, you’ll also benefit from increased resistance to rust, a common problem with this species.

Maintenance couldn’t be simpler: there’s little need for pruning except to encourage denser growth. Alder-leaved serviceberry grows to 2 to 3 meters (7-10′) in height and width, and adapts perfectly to sun or part shade.

Hardiness zone: 2 (USDA zones 2-7).

Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina)

If you’re looking for a versatile, easy-to-live-with shrub, try sweet fern. This plant, native to eastern North America, is a true all-rounder, perfect for lazy gardeners. With its long, narrow, deeply lobed and fragrant leaves, it looks more like a fern than a traditional shrub. What’s more, its balsamic scent comes through even in hot weather, adding a pleasant note to your garden.

Sweet fern adapts to almost any soil, whether rich or poor, wet or dry, acidic or alkaline. It prefers well-drained soils, but also tolerates some moisture, making it an excellent option for stabilizing banks and dunes. Drought- and salt-resistant, it is ideal for coastal areas and along salt-treated roads.

This shrub forms a dense mat thanks to its underground rhizomes, perfect for covering soil and preventing weeds. However, it can be invasive, so an underground barrier is recommended to control its spread. With low maintenance requirements, Comptonia is an ideal choice for naturalization and as ground cover in landscaping.

Hardiness zone: 2a (USDA zones 2-6).

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Red-osier dogwood is a North American shrub often used for naturalization and bank stabilization, thanks to its abundant suckers that form extensive thickets. Let’s face it: red-osier dogwood has a tendency to spread. With its bright red bark in winter, it adds a touch of color to winter landscapes.

Red-osier dogwood grows in all types of soil, even the wettest, and tolerates acid to alkaline soils. This shrub is also resistant to salt and compaction, making it an excellent choice for seashores and roads treated with de-icing products. It can reach 1.5 to 2 meters (5-7′) in height and up to 3 meters (10′) in width, with a globular, irregular habit.

It tolerates drought and humidity very well, thriving in a variety of conditions without requiring much maintenance. Regular pruning of branches over 3 years old is recommended to maintain the bright color of its young shoots. It also attracts birds and produces decorative fruit.

Hardiness zone: 2a (USDA zones 3-7).

Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

The common ninebark is an incredibly resilient and versatile shrub, perfect for lazy gardeners. It may not be the star of the garden, but it knows how to make itself indispensable. With a height of 1.5 to 3 m (5-10’) and a width of 2 to 3 m (7-10’), it adapts to almost any condition: sun or shade, ordinary or rich soil, wet to dry, acid to alkaline, and it’s even resistant to salt and compaction. Basically, it grows everywhere!

This shrub produces pretty white flowers in late spring and colorful fruit in autumn. The exfoliating bark adds winter interest, making it an attractive choice all year round. Maintenance is minimal: occasional pruning of branches 4 to 5 years old after flowering is all that’s needed, and rejuvenation pruning can be carried out on older trees. Perfect as a background, hedge or screen, or in damp corners and flowerbeds.

The species grows almost everywhere in North America, but there are also showy variants with golden or purple foliage. It’s the “no problem” shrub par excellence, robust and adaptable, perfect for those looking for an easy, reliable plant.

Hardiness zone: 2b (USDA zones 2-8).

Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)

Potentilla frutescens, or shrubby cinquefoil, is a popular shrub, reaching heights of 0.3 to 1.5 m (1-5’) depending on the variety, which is distinguished by its summer-long flowering in sun or semi-shade.

What makes shrubby cinquefoil even more interesting is its tolerance of varied conditions. It thrives in both well-drained and slightly damp soils, resisting drought and compaction. This hardiness makes it an excellent choice for borders, ground covers, hedges, or even seaside plantings.

In terms of maintenance, it requires very little. Occasional pruning to remove old or damaged branches is sufficient. It is also easy to propagate by herbaceous cuttings. Its small flowers, often yellow but sometimes pink, orange or red, add a long-lasting touch of color to the garden, although they can fade in intense sunlight.

Hardiness zone: 2a (USDA zones 3-7).

Canada Elderberry(Sambucus canadensis)

Canada elderberry, or American Elderberry, is a hardy, adaptable shrub. With a height and diameter of 2.5 to 4 m (8-13’), it grows well from sun to shade and adapts to almost any type of soil, although it prefers moist soils. It also tolerates dry soils, making it very versatile.

In summer, it produces large cymes of white flowers that turn to purple-black berries in autumn, attracting birds. These berries are delicious cooked and used in pies, syrups, jellies, and even wines and liqueurs. However, another elder nearby is needed for good cross-pollination.

Canada elderberry is easy to care for. Pruning after flowering encourages denser growth and keeps the shrub compact. It tolerates severe pruning well, as it blooms on this year’s wood.

Hardiness zone: 3 (USDA zones 3-9).

Nanny berry (Viburnum lentago)

The lentago viburnum, or nanny berry, is a robust native shrub perfect for good-sized hedges or screens with heights of 2 to 6 meters (7-20’) and widths of 2 to 3 meters (7-10’). Totally resistant to aphids and galls, it’s a carefree choice for your garden. Its simple, elliptical leaves turn from pale to glossy dark green in summer, then to crimson red in autumn, adding a touch of seasonal color.

In spring, nanny berry produces flattened corymbs of small, creamy-white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. In autumn, it produces edible fruits that change color from green to yellow, pink and then black. These fruits, even better after a frost, often persist throughout the winter, providing additional visual interest.

The nanny berrry is highly tolerant of growing conditions. It can thrive in a wide range of soils, both wet and dry, and grows equally well in sun or partial shade. Its ability to tolerate both drought and humidity makes it an extremely adaptable plant.

Zone de rusticité: 2a (USDA zones 2-8).