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

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

Bitternut Hickory

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Carya cordiformis

Height: 50-80'
Light: Shade intolerant
Site Conditions: Adapted to variety of soils, characteristic of forests with low-lying, moist, cool, fertile, deep soils; also stream borders, and lower upland slopes.
Notes: Provides nesting sites for cavity nesting birds; smoke from the wood is used to give a "hickory smoked" flavor to food.

Common Apple

Malus domestica

Height: 15-40'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows well on upland soils not subject to severe drought; commonly found in old fields, roadsides, and old home sites
Notes: Flowers in May; edible fruits August-September

Dolgo Crabapple

Malus x 'Dolgo'

Height: 30-40'
Light: Moderately tolerant
Site Conditions: Well drained, heavy loam soils
Notes: Pink-white flowers in early spring; yellow fall foliage; red-violet fruit lasting through the summer; fruit is edible and attracts birds

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

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

Mapleleaf Viburnum

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Viburnum acerifolium

Height: 4-6'
Light: Very shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Best in well-drained, moist soils, with partial shading; tolerant of acidic soils, dry sites, and deep shade
Notes: Attractive clusters of white flowers late spring to summer; birds eat the berry-like drupes; red, pink, or purple foliage in fall

Nannyberry

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Viburnum lentago

Height: 13-22'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a wide variety of soil conditions; characteristic of mesic and wet-mesic sites
Notes: Creamy-white flowers early to mid-May; red/blue fragrant edible berry

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

Winterberry

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Ilex verticillata

Height: 5-16'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Low, moist, cool, basic or acidic habitats with high water tables
Notes: Small greenish or yellowish-white flowers; red berries in fall/winter; wildlife food

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

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

Bitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformis

Common Apple

Malus domestica

Height: 15-40' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Grows well on upland soils not subject to severe drought; commonly found in old fields, roadsides, and old home sites Notes: Flowers in May; edible fruits August-September

Dolgo Crabapple

Malus x 'Dolgo'

Height: 30-40' Light: Moderately tolerant Site Conditions: Well drained, heavy loam soils Notes: Pink-white flowers in early spring; yellow fall foliage; red-violet fruit lasting through the summer; fruit is edible and attracts birds

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

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

Mapleleaf Viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

Height: 13-22' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Grows on a wide variety of soil conditions; characteristic of mesic and wet-mesic sites Notes: Creamy-white flowers early to mid-May; red/blue fragrant edible berry

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

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Height: 5-16' Light: Moderately shade tolerant Site Conditions: Low, moist, cool, basic or acidic habitats with high water tables Notes: Small greenish or yellowish-white flowers; red berries in fall/winter; wildlife food

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 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: 15-40'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows well on upland soils not subject to severe drought; commonly found in old fields, roadsides, and old home sites
Notes: Flowers in May; edible fruits August-September

Height: 30-40'
Light: Moderately tolerant
Site Conditions: Well drained, heavy loam soils
Notes: Pink-white flowers in early spring; yellow fall foliage; red-violet fruit lasting through the summer; fruit is edible and attracts birds

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: 13-22'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Grows on a wide variety of soil conditions; characteristic of mesic and wet-mesic sites
Notes: Creamy-white flowers early to mid-May; red/blue fragrant edible berry

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: 5-16'
Light: Moderately shade tolerant
Site Conditions: Low, moist, cool, basic or acidic habitats with high water tables
Notes: Small greenish or yellowish-white flowers; red berries in fall/winter; wildlife food