Small Shrubs

• Shrubs less than 6 feet tall that can thrive in the Inland Northwest include the tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium). This evergreen shrub is hardy to zone 5 and grows from 4 to 6 feet tall. A drought-tolerant shrub, tall Oregon grape produces yellow flowers followed by blue berries and prefers sun to partial shade. The mallow ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceous), a deciduous shrub, is hardy to zone 2. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and produces white blossoms. Mallow ninebark grows between 4 and 6 feet tall. Other small shrubs include golden current (Ribes aureum), woods rose (Rosa woodsii) and whitebark raspberry (Rubus leucodermus).
  
  

Large Shrubs

• The indigobush amorpha (Amorpha fruticosa) is hardy from zones 4 through 9. This deciduous shrub grows up to 20 feet tall and produces deep purple-blue flowers. This hardy shrub thrives in poor, sandy soils and full sun. Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) grows up to 12 feet tall. This broadleaf evergreen is hardy to zone 5. Japanese pieris prefers partial shade and produces fragrant white flowers in early spring. Other large shrubs include rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.), yews (Taxus spp.) and nannyberry viburnum (Viburnum lentago).
  
  

Deer-Resistant Shrubs

• Many areas in the Inland Northwest are home to large deer populations. Deer love to browse on irrigated and fertilized landscape plants, since they tend to be moist and tender. Though hungry deer will eat almost any plant, certain shrub species are less attractive. These include butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), western spice bush (Calycanthus occidentalis), thorned holly species (Ilex spp.) and junipers (Juniperus spp.). These shrubs contain deer-repelling characteristics such as a strong aroma, bitter taste, leathery or hairy leaves, pointed foliage or thorny stems.
  
  

Drought-Tolerant Shrubs

• The redtwig dogwood tolerates dry conditions and produces spring flowers.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Many regions of the Inland Northwest experience drought conditions on a regular basis, especially in summer when temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. Drought-tolerant shrubs that can thrive in dry soils include boxwoods (Buxus spp.), golden daisy bush (Eruryops pectinatus), Montana mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea), spurge (Euphorbia characias ssp. Wulfenii) and western redwoods (Cercis occidentalis).