Your new tree

TREES

OHIO BUCKEYE (Aesculus glabra)

Quick facts

• Mature size: 20-40 Feet
• Growth rate: 
• Round canopy
• Sun preference: Full to partial sunlight
• Soil and water: Grows in acidic, moist, well-drained soil
• State tree of Ohio  

Attributes

• Early Spring Flowers
• Fall leaves turn bring orange and yellow
• While highly poisonous, buckeye seeds contain much protein and were used as a food source by Native Americans who boiled and leached them to remove their toxins.

Wildlife Usage
Despite the poisonous properties to humans and livestock, squirrels are known to eat the raw seeds.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation, USDA Plant Database

RIVER BIRCH  (Betula nigra)

OVER 400 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS USE BIRCH TREES AS A HOST PLANT

Quick facts

• Ohio Native Tree &  Host Plant to over 411 species of moths and butterflies!
• Mature size: The river birch grows to a height of 40–70′ and a spread of 40–60′ at maturity.
• Growth rate: This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13″ to more than 24″ per year.
• Sun preference: Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil and water: The river birch grows well in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. It will tolerate moderate flooding as well as some drought.

Attributes:

• Features glossy green leaves that are 2–3″ long and somewhat triangular. Margins are double-toothed and leaves are arranged alternately.
• Produces brown and green catkins in April and May.
• Yields a large number of tiny nutlets after female catkins mature, typically in May and June.
• Develops a cinnamon-colored bark that curls and peels (once mature).
• Can grow as either a single- or multi-stemmed tree.
• Is the most borer-resistant birch.
• Works well for holding stream banks and keeping erosion in check.
• Grows in an oval shape.
• Should not be planted in very alkaline soil.

Wildlife Usage
River birches are great companions to wildlife, attracting butterflies, moths, songbirds and small mammals.  It hosts 411 species of moths and butterflies whose caterpillars eat the foliage. The caterpillars include butterflies such as Mourning Cloak and moths including Luna, Io, Polyphemus, and Cecropia.

The catkins of the River Birch are used by redpolls and pine siskins. The foliage is eaten by deer and other browsers. The small but plentiful seeds are appreciated by a wide range of songbirds.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

BLACK CHERRY (Prunus serotina)

Quick facts

• Mature size: Large- 50 to 60’ tall, 20-30’ spread
• Growth rate: Fast
• Sun preference: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil and water: Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Tolerates alkaline soils, and is moderately tolerant of drought and flooding.

Attributes

• Warning: The bark, leaves, twigs, and seeds can cause cyanide poisoning if ingested. Most livestock deaths come from eating wilted leaves, however. White-tailed deer may browse saplings without harm.
• Produces pea-sized edible fruit 
• Produces clusters of white flowers
• Has dark, scaly wood that is used for furniture

Wildlife Usage
Fruits are an important food for many animals, including passerine and game birds, as well as mammals such as red fox, raccoon, opossum, squirrels, rabbits, and black bears.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation & USDA Plant Database, Morton Arboretum.

MORE INFO – PDF

AMERICAN ELM (Ulmus Americana)

ALMOST 200 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS USE ELM TREES AS A HOST PLANT

Quick facts

• Mature size: 60-80′ tall, 30–52′ spread.
• Growth rate: Medium to Fast, 10- 12′ in 5 years..
• Sun preference: Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil: The American Elm occurs naturally in an assortment of habitats, most notably rich bottomlands, floodplains, stream banks, and swampy ground, although it also often thrives on hillsides, uplands and other well-drained soils.

Attributes

• The flowers are small, inconspicuous, greenish;  in drooping clusters of 3 to 5; appearing in early spring before the leaves.
• The fruit are small seeds enclosed in a rounded, flattened , papery, wafer-like covering with fuzzy edges that ripen in spring (February to June).
• Leaves are alternate, simple, smooth to slightly rough textured, 4-6 inches long, oval with double toothed edges, with an uneven base.
• The twigs are slender, smooth and slightly zigzag.
  The trunk is straight or slightly forked and an arching vase-shaped crown, with dark gray bark with thick ridges.
•  Since the Dutch Elm Disease (DED) started wiping out elms in the 1930’s, we have lost a lot of trees although some still remain. And thanks to the work of the United States Forest Service, work on finding the genetic mix that is resistant to DED is progressing.

Wildlife Usage
The leaves of the American elm serve as food for the larvae of a number of species of Lepidoptera. These include such butterflies as the Eastern Comma, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Painted Lady and Red-spotted Purple, as well as such moths as the Columbian Silkmoth and the Banded Tussock Moth (Pale Tiger Moth).

Source: Wikipedia, Michael DIrr (1998), The Sibley Guide to Trees (2009)

HACKBERRY – (Celtis Occidentalis)

Quick facts

• Mature size: The hackberry grows to a height of 40–60′ and a spread of 40–60′ at maturity.
• Growth rate: This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13″ to more than 24″ per year.
• Sun preference: Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil and water: The hackberry grows well in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. It has some tolerance for both flooding and drought.

Attributes

• Features leaves shaped like spearheads, approximately 2–4″ and 1½–2″ wide, arranged alternately along the twigs. Small teeth edge at least the upper half of the leaf.
• Produces small, dark red drupes about 1/3″ in diameter that turn dark purple as they mature in mid-autumn. These berry-like fruit persist into the winter.
• Develops a broad crown with arching branches.
• Forms characteristic corky ridges and warts on trunk and branches.
• Tolerates strong winds, pollution, heat, drought and salt.
• Grows in a rounded, vase-like shape.
• Has a growth pattern that resembles the elm–without the susceptibility to disease

Wildlife Usage
The fruit of the hackberry is popular with winter birds, especially the cedar waxwing, mockingbird and robin. The tree also attracts many butterfly species including American snout, hackberry, mourning cloak, and tawny emperor.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

MORE INFO – PDF

RED MAPLE (Acer Rubrum)

OVER 200 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS USE MAPLE TREES AS A HOST PLANT!

Quick Facts

• Mature size: Large- 40-60’ tall, 40’ spread
• Growth rate: Medium to fast- 13 to more than 24” per year
• Sun preference: Full sunlight
• Soil and water: Prefers wet soil, but has slight drought tolerance. Grows in acidic, rich, moist, well-drained, loamy, sandy, silty loam, and clay soils.

Attributes

• Leaves turn a vibrant yellow to red color in the fall.
• Yields samaras- twin seeds, bound together, with attached wings 1” in length. Seeds are ripe in Late spring.
• Produces clusters of small red (sometimes yellow) flowers winter to spring
• Can be toxic to horses if dry, wilted leaves are consumed

Wildlife Usage
Fruit (samaras) provide food for squirrels and other rodents. Rabbits and deer eat the shoots and leaves of red maples.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

MORE INFO – PDF

EASTERN REDBUD (Cercis canadensis)

Quick Facts

• Mature size: The eastern redbud grows to a height of 20–30′ and a spread of 25–35′ at maturity.
• Growth rate: This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.
• Sun preference: Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil and water: The eastern redbud grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils.

Attributes

• Pink to reddish purple flowers are grown on old twigs, branches, and trunks. Flowering occurs in March to May before leaf growth.
• Begin flowering at a young age, sometimes as early as 4 years.
• Features somewhat heart-shaped leaves 2–6″ in length. They emerge a reddish color, turning dark green as summer approaches and then yellow in the fall.
• Makes a bold landscape statement, with its irregular branching and graceful crown.
• Yields brown to brownish-black pods that are 2–3″ in length, remaining on the tree throughout winter.
• Grows in a rounded, vase shape.

Wildlife Usage
The Henry’s elfin butterfly (Callophyrus henrici) and hummingbirds utilize eastern redbud for nectar. Honeybees use the flowers for pollen. Whitetail deer browse the foliage and twigs during the spring and summer. Squirrels occasionally eat the buds, bark, and seed. Bobwhite quail and songbirds eat the seeds. However, for the animals which utilize eastern redbud, it is considered a less desirable or emergency food. The flowers can be fried and eaten.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

MORE INFO – PDF

TULIP TREE – (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Quick facts

• Mature size:  The tuliptree grows to a height of 70–90′ and a spread of around 40′ at maturity.
• Growth rate: This tree grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.
• Sun preference: Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil and water: The tuliptree grows well in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It prefers normal moisture but can tolerate drought in humid regions.

Attributes

• Blooms in May and June, producing tulip-shaped flowers 1½–2″ in diameter with greenish-yellow petals and a splash of orange at the base.
• Provides vibrant yellow color in the fall.
• Produces alternating leaves that are 3– 6″ long with distinctive lobes, a flat base and two ear-like tips.
• Yields colorful seeds held upright in the tree throughout the summer and into autumn.
• Features aromatic stems.
• Grows in an oval shape.

Wildlife Usage
This tree provides food in many forms for many animals. In fall and winter, young trees are browsed by white-tailed deer and rabbits. The spring flowers provide nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds. Tuliptree seeds, maturing in summer and persisting into winter, provide food for both birds and mammals, including finches, cardinals, quail, mice, red squirrels, gray squirrels and rabbits.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

MORE INFO – PDF

SYCAMORE (Plantanus Occidentalis)

Quick Facts

• Mature size: Very large- 75-100’, 50-70’ spread
• Growth rate: Fast
• Sun preference: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil and water:  Grows best in rich, wet, well-drained alkaline soil. Tolerant of acidic soil, wet sites, occasional flooding, clay soil, and road salt. Sycamore is often a natural early colonizer of disturbed sites.

Attributes

• Bark peels away in patches, creating a patchwork of browns, greens, and yellows, overtop a white background
• Sycamore produces brown, burr-like fruit that are about 1” in diameter
• Flowers are mostly inconspicuous
• Produces star-shaped leaves
• Can be messy- drops leaves, twigs, and fuzz-covered seeds

Wildlife Usage
Songbirds eat the seeds, along with beaver, squirrel, and muskrat. White-tailed deer occasionally browse the leaves. The tree attracts birds and is used for many purposes.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

 WHITE PINE (Pinus strobus)

Quick Facts

• Mature size: The eastern white pine grows to a height of 50–80′ and a spread of 20–40′ at maturity.
• Growth rate: This tree grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.
• Sun preference: Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil and water: The eastern white pine grows in acidic, moist, well-drained and dry soils. While it does best in moist soil, the tree can has been known to tolerate everything from dry, rocky ridges to bogs.

Attributes

• Transplants easily.
• Works well for windbreaks.
• Is widely used as a Christmas tree.
• Features long, slender, blue-green needles, sometimes reaching 5″ in length, grown in bundles of 5 that are soft and flexible.
• Produces elongated brown cones that are 3–8″ in length. Each is curved slightly and has smooth scales.
• Grows in an oval, pyramidal shape.
• Is sensitive to air pollution, road salt and soil compaction.

Wildlife Usage
Eastern white pine seeds are favored by black bears, rabbits, red squirrels and many birds, especially red crossbills. While potentially damaging to the trees, the bark is eaten by mammals such as beavers, snowshoe hares, porcupines, rabbits and mice. White pines provide nesting sites as well for many birds including woodpeckers, common grackles, mourning doves, chickadees and nuthatches.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

 PAWPAW (Asimina triloba)

Quick Facts

• Mature size: 9 to 40′ tall.
• Sun preference: They can be planted in the shade of tall, open trees or in partial shade, although they fruit best in sun.
• Soil and water: Pawpaws grow in humid climates and are highly frost tolerant. They grow in the shade in open woods usually in wet, fertile bottomlands, but can grow in upland areas on rich soils. The plants prefer moist, slightly acidic soils and require regular watering, but are adaptable to many conditions. 

Attributes

• The fruit, which is the largest edible fruit native to America, is high in amino acids.
• At least two plants are needed for cross-pollination.
• The plants are disease and pest resistant and they are not browsed by deer.

Wildlife Usage
Opossums, raccoons, foxes and squirrels eat the fruits. Larvae of the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly (Eurytides marcellus) feed exclusively on the leaves.

Source: USDA Plant Database

SHRUBS

SPICEBUSH (Lindera benzoin)

Quick facts

• Mature size: Shrub- 6 to 12’ tall, wide, with an open, rounded appearance
• Growth rate: Slow to moderate
• Sun preference: Prefers partial shade, will tolerate full sun if soil is adequately moist
• Soil and water: Acidic, moist, well-drained, wet soil. Will tolerate wet sites and occasional drought or flooding.

Attributes

• Male pollinator is needed for fruit to be produced on female plants. Female plants produce ½” long, clusters of bright red fruits, which ripen in July through October
• Spicebush plants are either male or female. Flowers are bright yellow, and appear in clusters before the leaves in early spring. Male flowers are showier.
• All parts of plant have a spicy scent when crushed

Wildlife Usage
Over 20 species of birds, as well as deer, rabbits, and raccoons, browse the leaves or eat the fruit. The fruits are a popular food for wood thrushes. The spicebush swallowtail lays its eggs on spicebush and other plants in the Laurel family.

Source: USDA Plant Database, Morton Arboretum

RED TWIG DOGWOOD (Cornus sericea)

• Mature size: The redosier dogwood grows to a height of 7–9′ and a spread of around 10′ at maturity.
• Growth rate: This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.
• Sun preference: Full sun and partial shade are best for this shrub, meaning it prefers a minimum of 4 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Soil and water: The redosier dogwood is very adaptable, growing in acidic to alkaline soils. It prefers moist soils and often grows in wet swamp lands. It does not, however, tolerate excessively dry soil.

Attributes
This shrub:

• Features vibrant red stems that make a bold statement in the wintertime landscape.
• Produces attractive clusters of white flowers in mid- to late spring.
• Yields pea-sized white drupes that mature in late summer to early fall.
• Is easy to transplant.
• Needs to be pruned only once a year.
• Can be cut back to the ground regularly for the red color of the younger stems to be more prevalent.
• Features opposite, simple leaves, ovate to oblong-lancelolate in shape and 2–5″ in length. The medium to dark green summer color changes to a ruddy red or purple in the fall.
• Has slow horizontal growth.
• Grows in a rounded shape.
• Can be planted 3–4′ apart to make a hedge.

Wildlife Usage
The redosier dogwood provides dense cover for wildlife. The white berries are eaten by at least 18 species of birds including ruffled grouse, bobwhite quail, wild turkey and gray catbird. The twigs and foliage are browsed by elk, deer, moose, rabbits and chipmunks.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation

ARROWOOD VIBURNUM (Viburnum dentatum)

Quick Facts

• Mature size: 6′ – 15′ with a 6′ – 15′ spread
• Growth rate: Medium
• Sun preference: Full Sun, Partial Sun/Shade
• Soil and water: Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy, Moist, Rich, Sandy, Silty Loam, Well Drained

Attributes

• Produces creamy white flowers in flat-topped clusters that are 2–4″ in diameter and bloom from May to early June
• Yields ½” blue-black drupes that appear after the flowers and ripen in the early fall
• Features lustrous dark green leaves with coarsely toothed margins that provide lovely fall color, turning yellow, glossy red, or reddish-purple
• Grows in an irregular, rounded shape

Wildlife Usage
It forms dense thickets and provides excellent cover and nesting sites. Birds consume the abundant fruits. It attracts Red Admiral, Eastern Comma and Question Mark butterflies and is larval plant food for the spring azure butterfly and hummingbird moth.

Source: Arbor Day Foundation