shrub

A woody plant smaller than a tree, with multiple stems arising at or near the ground.

Shrubs occupy the understory layer in forests and form hedgerows, windbreaks, and habitat corridors in cultivated landscapes.

Many shrubs produce edible fruit, berries, and leaves valued in food and medicine.

Bark and branching architecture vary across species, from dense thickets to open, airy forms.

In succession, shrubs colonize open ground after pioneer herbs and before canopy trees establish dominance.

Dwarf and compact cultivars are selected for container gardening and intensive polyculture systems.

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