Why plant native? There are many benefits to planting trees in general, and native trees in particular. Choosing a location for your tree: some info from Davey Tree<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Here’s an overview of trees and shrubs generally available at FLOW’s annual tree giveaway<\/a><\/strong> (species offered may vary by year, but these are common favorites). Compare size, sunlight and soil requirements, and growth rate.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TREES” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n (alphabetical by common name) [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”BALDCYPRESS (Taxodium distichum)” admin_label=”Toggle – Baldcypress” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Quick Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n Attributes<\/strong><\/p>\n Wildlife Usage <\/strong><\/p>\n Baldcypress forms characteristic groves in swampy areas that support complex and variable ecosystems and are used by many wildlife species.<\/span><\/p>\n Source: Arbor Day Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”BEECH – AMERICAN (Fagus grandifolia)” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Toggle – Beech” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Quick Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n Nuts produced by beech trees are an important food source for wildlife. The tree is also the host to numerous insects and sought after by many birds and small mammals.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”BUCKEYE – OHIO (Aesculus glabra)” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Toggle – Buckeye” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Quick facts<\/b><\/p>\n Attributes<\/b><\/p>\n Wildlife Usage<\/strong> Source: Arbor Day Foundation, USDA Plant Database<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”BLACK CHERRY (Prunus serotina)” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Toggle – Black Cherry” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quick facts<\/b><\/p>\n Attributes<\/b><\/p>\n Wildlife Usage Source: Arbor Day Foundation & USDA Plant Database, Morton Arboretum.<\/em><\/p>\n MORE INFO – PDF<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”DOGWOOD (Cornus \u2013)” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Toggle – Dogwood” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Quick facts<\/b><\/p>\n Attributes<\/b><\/p>\n Wildlife Usage <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”AMERICAN ELM (Ulmus Americana)” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Toggle – American Elm” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n ALMOST 200 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS USE ELM TREES AS A HOST PLANT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Quick facts<\/b><\/p>\n Attributes<\/b><\/p>\n Wildlife Usage Source: Wikipedia, Michael DIrr (1998), The Sibley Guide to Trees (2009)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”BLACK GUM \/ TUPELO \/ SOUR GUM (Nyssa sylvatica)” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Toggle – Black Gum” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Quick Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n Attributes<\/strong><\/p>\n Wildlife Usage<\/strong><\/p>\n The fruit of the black tupelo attracts many birds and wildlife. It also provides nutrition for bees in early to late spring.<\/span><\/p>\n Source: Arbor Day Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”HACKBERRY – (Celtis Occidentalis)” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Toggle – Hackberry” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/how-to-plant-173x300.png\")
<\/a>How to plant a container tree (video)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Pruning](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pruning-300x169.png\")
<\/a><\/strong>How to prune a young tree (video)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"protecting](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tree-collar-300x169.png\")
<\/a>How to protect your tree with a tree collar (video)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Go to our “GROW WITH THE FLOW”<\/a><\/strong> page for information on native trees’ benefits including:<\/p>\n\n
TREES<\/strong><\/h4>\n
See below for oak trees and shrubs<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Baldcypress\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/baldcypress_277959651-1024x683.jpeg\")
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![\"American](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/beech_459366082.jpg\")
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Attributes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Wildlife Usage<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/ohio-buckeye_520906873.jpg\")
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Despite the poisonous properties to humans and livestock, squirrels are known to eat the raw seeds.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BlackCherry-300x200.jpg\")
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<\/b>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.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"dogwood\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dogwood.jpg\")
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<\/b>The tree is used for nesting and many moths eat the tree\u2019s foliage. However, the leaves, seeds, and pulp are toxic to humans, pets, and livestock.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/elm-1469071847.jpg\")
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<\/span>The trunk is straight or slightly forked and an arching vase-shaped crown, with dark gray bark with thick ridges.<\/span><\/li>\n
<\/b>The leaves of the American elm serve as food for the\u00a0larvae\u00a0of a number of species of\u00a0Lepidoptera. 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).<\/p>\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/tupelo_206750865-1024x761.jpeg\")
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<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/HackberryTree-300x300.jpg\")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/HackberryBark-300x220.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Shagbark](\"https:\/\/www.olentangywatershed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/shagbark-hickory-leaves_904114203.jpg\")
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