Tree & Shrub Descriptions

Conifers

Balsam Fir

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Abies balsamea

Height: 40-85"
Light: Very shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Can grow in poorly-drained swamps to well-drained uplands
Notes: Needles are persistent, aromatic, don't shed readily; common Christmas tree

Norway Spruce

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Picea abies

Height: 50-85'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Prefers moist, fertile soils; does not thrive on dry or sand-gravelly soils
Notes: Winter cover for wildlife; shallow root system in clay or poorly-drained soils

Red Cedar

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Juniperus virginiana

Height: 30-50'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Well adapted for most soils; found in well drained, sandy, gravelly soils in open areas
Notes: Excellent wildlife value, providing food, protective cover and nesting cover

Red Pine

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Picea resinosa

Height: 65-100'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Prefers well-drained, dry, very acid, sandy soils of outwash plains and gravely ridges
Notes: Provides cover and food for deer, small mammals, and songbirds

Northern White Cedar

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Thuja occidentalis

Height: 30-50'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a wide variety of soils; common in cool, moist, nutrient-rich sites
Notes: Foliage and twigs eaten by deer; fruit eaten by birds; good for screens and hedges

White Pine

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Pinus strobus

Height: 65-100'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Adaptable to most soils; prefers well-drained, sandy soils
Notes: Great for windbreaks; soft needles; a preferred deer food

White Spruce

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Picea glauca

Height: 50-85'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Able to establish on wet sites; can grow on moderately moist soils
Notes: Winter cover for wildlife; can grow on edges of swamps, rivers, lakes etc.

Deciduous

Basswood

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Tilia americana

Height: 60-80'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Occurs on rich, mesic sites such as lower slopes, river bottoms; well-drained soils
Notes: Prolific nectar producer and is valued by honeybees; good browse for birds and deer in winter

Paper Birch

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Betula papyrifera

Height: 40-65'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a variety of soils, best in well-drained acidic, sandy or silty loam
Notes: White bark on outer surface of trunk separating into thin, papery layers; snowshoe hair and deer browse; food for birds and small mammals

Persimmon

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Diospyros virginiana

Height: 15-40'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a wide range of conditions from dry, sterile, sandy woodlands to river bottoms to rocky hillsides
Notes: Thrives in full sun, but is shade-tolerant; flowers March-June and fruits September-November; has a deep taproot making it good for erosion control

Pin Oak

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Quercus palustris

Height: 40-65'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Adapts to many sites, not to continuously wet sites such as deciduous swamps
Notes: Attractive landscaping tree; leaves are bright red in fall

Red Maple

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Acer rubrum

Height: 50-70'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Well adapted to most soil and site conditions
Notes: Seeds provide food for wildlife; leaves brilliant red in fall; flowers early in spring

Sugar Maple

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Acer saccharum

Height: 60-100'
Light: Very shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soils; fertile soil to clay
Notes: Beautiful fall colors; main source of maple syrup; a preferred food for deer

Swamp White Oak

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Quercus bicolor

Height: 50-70'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Tolerant of poorly drained soils; often in floodplains, swamps and stream edges
Notes: Acorns are eaten by squirrels, ducks, and other wildlife

Sycamore

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Platanus occidentalis

Height: 60-100'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Moist soils, especially near rivers, floodplains, etc; also open, moist upland sites
Notes: Flood tolerant; fast growing, bark flakes off giving trunk interesting appearance

Tulip Poplar

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Liriodendron tulipifera

Height: 50-100'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Best on moderately moist, deep, well drained, loose textured soils
Notes: In magnolia family; fragrant greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers May-June

White Oak

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Quercus alba

Height: 60-85'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Found on many soil types, best on coarse, deep, moist, well drained soils; not on poorly drained soils
Notes: Fairly drought resistant after established; acorns eaten by a variety of wildlife

Yellow Birch

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Betula alleghaniensis

Height: 50-80'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Thrives on a variety of sites and soil conditions
Notes: Moderately fast-growing; long lived; browse for white-tailed deer and snowshoe hare; seeds eaten by songbirds and other wildlife

Shrubs

Black Elderberry

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Sambucus canadensis

Height: 4-12'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Well drained, slightly acid soils along streams; gray forest soils; muck soils
Notes: Flowers in June-July; edible fruit September-October; berries are excellent wildlife food

Gray Dogwood

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Cornus racemosa

Height: 3-13'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a variety of sites, growing best on rich, moise, well-drained soils
Notes: Flowers in May-July; fruit in August-October

Highbush Cranberry

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Viburnum trilobum

Height: 8-15'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Tolerates a wide range of soil types; frequent along streams, in open or lightly shaded wet grounds
Notes: Many arching stems form a dense, round topped crown; clusters of white flowers May-June and edible scarlet fruits in September

Redosier Dogwood

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Cornus stolonifera

Height: 3-10'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Grows best in moist, somewhat poorly drained, medium to coarse soils; not tolerant of droughty conditions
Notes: Showy red stems related to sun exposure; shade-grown plants have greenish stems; beneficial for slope stabilization

Spicebush

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Lindera benzoin

Height: 3-16'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows well in moist or dry situations when planted; best growth in muck soil of decidious swamps
Notes: Tolerant of high water tables; all parts of the plant are aromatic; food for green-clouded swallowtail and prometha moth caterpillars

Witch Hazel

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Hamamelis virginiana

Height: 8-20'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: May be found in rich deciduous forests, but more often in sandy dry forest and savanna with oak, hickory, aspen, or pine
Notes: Winter shrub that produces yellow flowers from October to November

Tree & Shrub Descriptions

Conifers

Balsam Fir

Abies balsamea

Height: 40-85" Light: Very shade tolerant Site Conditions: Can grow in poorly-drained swamps to well-drained uplands Notes: Needles are persistent, aromatic, don't shed readily; common Christmas tree

Norway Spruce

Picea abies

Height: 50-85' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Prefers moist, fertile soils; does not thrive on dry or sand-gravelly soils Notes: Winter cover for wildlife; shallow root system in clay or poorly-drained soils

Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

Height: 30-50' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Well adapted for most soils; found in well drained, sandy, gravelly soils in open areas Notes: Excellent wildlife value, providing food, protective cover and nesting cover

Red Pine

Picea resinosa

Height: 65-100' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Prefers well-drained, dry, very acid, sandy soils of outwash plains and gravely ridges Notes: Provides cover and food for deer, small mammals, and songbirds

Northern White Cedar

Thuja occidentalis

Height: 30-50' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Grows on a wide variety of soils; common in cool, moist, nutrient-rich sites Notes: Foliage and twigs eaten by deer; fruit eaten by birds; good for screens and hedges

White Pine

Pinus strobus

Height: 65-100' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Adaptable to most soils; prefers well-drained, sandy soils Notes: Great for windbreaks; soft needles; a preferred deer food

White Spruce

Picea glauca

Height: 50-85' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Able to establish on wet sites; can grow on moderately moist soils Notes: Winter cover for wildlife; can grow on edges of swamps, rivers, lakes etc.

Deciduous

Basswood

Tilia americana

Height: 60-80' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Occurs on rich, mesic sites such as lower slopes, river bottoms; well-drained soils Notes: Prolific nectar producer and is valued by honeybees; good browse for birds and deer in winter

Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera

Height: 40-65' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Grows on a variety of soils, best in well-drained acidic, sandy or silty loam Notes: White bark on outer surface of trunk separating into thin, papery layers; snowshoe hair and deer browse; food for birds and small mammals

Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Pin Oak

Quercus palustris

Height: 40-65' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Adapts to many sites, not to continuously wet sites such as deciduous swamps Notes: Attractive landscaping tree; leaves are bright red in fall

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Height: 50-70' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Well adapted to most soil and site conditions Notes: Seeds provide food for wildlife; leaves brilliant red in fall; flowers early in spring

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Height: 60-100' Light: Very shade tolerant Site Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soils; fertile soil to clay Notes: Beautiful fall colors; main source of maple syrup; a preferred food for deer

Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor

Height: 50-70' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Tolerant of poorly drained soils; often in floodplains, swamps and stream edges Notes: Acorns are eaten by squirrels, ducks, and other wildlife

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Height: 60-100' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Moist soils, especially near rivers, floodplains, etc; also open, moist upland sites Notes: Flood tolerant; fast growing, bark flakes off giving trunk interesting appearance

Tulip Poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

Height: 50-100' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Best on moderately moist, deep, well drained, loose textured soils Notes: In magnolia family; fragrant greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers May-June

White Oak

Quercus alba

Height: 60-85' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Found on many soil types, best on coarse, deep, moist, well drained soils; not on poorly drained soils Notes: Fairly drought resistant after established; acorns eaten by a variety of wildlife

Yellow Birch

Betula alleghaniensis

Height: 50-80' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Thrives on a variety of sites and soil conditions Notes: Moderately fast-growing; long lived; browse for white-tailed deer and snowshoe hare; seeds eaten by songbirds and other wildlife

Shrubs

Black Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Height: 4-12' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Well drained, slightly acid soils along streams; gray forest soils; muck soils Notes: Flowers in June-July; edible fruit September-October; berries are excellent wildlife food

Gray Dogwood

Cornus racemosa

Height: 3-13' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Grows on a variety of sites, growing best on rich, moise, well-drained soils Notes: Flowers in May-July; fruit in August-October

Highbush Cranberry

Viburnum trilobum

Height: 8-15' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Tolerates a wide range of soil types; frequent along streams, in open or lightly shaded wet grounds Notes: Many arching stems form a dense, round topped crown; clusters of white flowers May-June and edible scarlet fruits in September

Redosier Dogwood

Cornus stolonifera

Height: 3-10' Light: Shade intolerant Site Conditions: Grows best in moist, somewhat poorly drained, medium to coarse soils; not tolerant of droughty conditions Notes: Showy red stems related to sun exposure; shade-grown plants have greenish stems; beneficial for slope stabilization

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Height: 3-16' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: Grows well in moist or dry situations when planted; best growth in muck soil of decidious swamps Notes: Tolerant of high water tables; all parts of the plant are aromatic; food for green-clouded swallowtail and prometha moth caterpillars

Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Height: 8-20' Light: Shade tolerant Site Conditions: May be found in rich deciduous forests, but more often in sandy dry forest and savanna with oak, hickory, aspen, or pine Notes: Winter shrub that produces yellow flowers from October to November

Shiawassee Conservation District

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Height: 40-85"
Light: Very shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Can grow in poorly-drained swamps to well-drained uplands
Notes: Needles are persistent, aromatic, don't shed readily; common Christmas tree

Height: 50-85'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Prefers moist, fertile soils; does not thrive on dry or sand-gravelly soils
Notes: Winter cover for wildlife; shallow root system in clay or poorly-drained soils

Height: 30-50'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Well adapted for most soils; found in well drained, sandy, gravelly soils in open areas
Notes: Excellent wildlife value, providing food, protective cover and nesting cover

Height: 65-100'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Prefers well-drained, dry, very acid, sandy soils of outwash plains and gravely ridges
Notes: Provides cover and food for deer, small mammals, and songbirds

Height: 30-50'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a wide variety of soils; common in cool, moist, nutrient-rich sites
Notes: Foliage and twigs eaten by deer; fruit eaten by birds; good for screens and hedges

Height: 65-100'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Adaptable to most soils; prefers well-drained, sandy soils
Notes: Great for windbreaks; soft needles; a preferred deer food

Height: 50-85'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Able to establish on wet sites; can grow on moderately moist soils
Notes: Winter cover for wildlife; can grow on edges of swamps, rivers, lakes etc.

Height: 60-80'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Occurs on rich, mesic sites such as lower slopes, river bottoms; well-drained soils
Notes: Prolific nectar producer and is valued by honeybees; good browse for birds and deer in winter

Height: 40-65'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a variety of soils, best in well-drained acidic, sandy or silty loam
Notes: White bark on outer surface of trunk separating into thin, papery layers; snowshoe hair and deer browse; food for birds and small mammals

Height: 40-65'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Adapts to many sites, not to continuously wet sites such as deciduous swamps
Notes: Attractive landscaping tree; leaves are bright red in fall

Height: 50-70'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Well adapted to most soil and site conditions
Notes: Seeds provide food for wildlife; leaves brilliant red in fall; flowers early in spring

Height: 60-100'
Light: Very shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soils; fertile soil to clay
Notes: Beautiful fall colors; main source of maple syrup; a preferred food for deer

Height: 50-70'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Tolerant of poorly drained soils; often in floodplains, swamps and stream edges
Notes: Acorns are eaten by squirrels, ducks, and other wildlife

Height: 60-100'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Moist soils, especially near rivers, floodplains, etc; also open, moist upland sites
Notes: Flood tolerant; fast growing, bark flakes off giving trunk interesting appearance

Height: 50-100'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Best on moderately moist, deep, well drained, loose textured soils
Notes: In magnolia family; fragrant greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers May-June

Height: 60-85'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Found on many soil types, best on coarse, deep, moist, well drained soils; not on poorly drained soils
Notes: Fairly drought resistant after established; acorns eaten by a variety of wildlife

Height: 50-80'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Thrives on a variety of sites and soil conditions
Notes: Moderately fast-growing; long lived; browse for white-tailed deer and snowshoe hare; seeds eaten by songbirds and other wildlife

Height: 4-12'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Well drained, slightly acid soils along streams; gray forest soils; muck soils
Notes: Flowers in June-July; edible fruit September-October; berries are excellent wildlife food

Height: 3-13'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a variety of sites, growing best on rich, moise, well-drained soils
Notes: Flowers in May-July; fruit in August-October

Height: 8-15'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Tolerates a wide range of soil types; frequent along streams, in open or lightly shaded wet grounds
Notes: Many arching stems form a dense, round topped crown; clusters of white flowers May-June and edible scarlet fruits in September

Height: 3-10'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Grows best in moist, somewhat poorly drained, medium to coarse soils; not tolerant of droughty conditions
Notes: Showy red stems related to sun exposure; shade-grown plants have greenish stems; beneficial for slope stabilization

Height: 3-16'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows well in moist or dry situations when planted; best growth in muck soil of decidious swamps
Notes: Tolerant of high water tables; all parts of the plant are aromatic; food for green-clouded swallowtail and prometha moth caterpillars

Height: 8-20'
Light: Shade tolerant
Site Conditions: May be found in rich deciduous forests, but more often in sandy dry forest and savanna with oak, hickory, aspen, or pine
Notes: Winter shrub that produces yellow flowers from October to November