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Quercus marilandica

Black-jack Oak is a small to medium, deciduous tree of the red oak group. It is monoecious; male catkins and female spikes bloom separately on the same tree in May. Its dark green leaves are leathery with 3-5 bristle-tipped lobes. Foliage turns brown in fall. Black-jack Oak grows in sandy, infertile soil where it is hard for other plants to grow. The acorns provide food for birds and wildlife. Oaks are host to numerous beneficial insects, which in turn provide food for birds. Black-jack Oak provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use it in natural areas or native plant gardens around your yard. This tree is worth saving if it is already growing in your yard.

Quercus imbricaria

Shingle Oak is a medium-sized, deciduous tree of the red oak group. It grows in conical form with a rounded canopy. It accepts pruning well and can also be used as a shrub. It is monoecious; greenish-yellow flowers bloom on separate male and female catkins in April as leaves emerge. The acorns ripen every second year, and provide food for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is variable, sometimes yellow-brown to red-brown. Browned leaves persist on branches into winter and can help serve as a windbreak and provide winter shelter for beneficial insects. Oaks are host to numerous insects throughout the year, which in turn provide food for birds. Shingle Oak also provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use it as a street tree or shade tree for your yard, neighborhood park, or in natural areas. It may be pruned to use as a hedge or privacy screen.

Quercus bicolor

Swamp White Oak is a medium-sized, wildlife-friendly, deciduous tree with a short trunk and broad crown. It is monoecious; separate male and female catkins appear on the same tree in April. Fall foliage may be yellow-bronze or purple. Swamp White Oak grows naturally in swampy areas and prefers moist or wet soil, but is surprisingly drought-tolerant. Acorns provide food for birds and wildlife. Oaks are host to numerous, inconspicuous insects, which in turn provide food for birds. Swamp White Oak provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use Swamp White Oak as a street tree or shade tree for your large yard, park, or natural area.

Quercus alba

White Oak is a large, wildlife-friendly, deciduous tree of the white oak group. Mature White Oak trees are wide and spreading. It is monoecious; greenish-yellow flowers bloom on separate male and female catkins in April. It tolerates occasional flooding and drought, and has medium-high wind resistance. Acorns provide a valuable food source for birds and wildlife. White Oaks are host to numerous, inconspicuous insects, which in turn provide food for birds. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Edwards Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii). White Oak provides nesting space, cover, and shelter for wildlife. Use White Oak as a shade tree for your large yard, neighborhood park, or naturalized area. It can be used as a street tree, but needs room to spread.

Ptelea trifoliata

Common Hoptree is a small, deciduous, flowering tree or pruned shrub. Tiny, white flowers bloom in June. The flowers can have an unpleasant fragrance, and are pollinated by carrion flies. The fruit can be used as a substitute for hops. Common Hoptree is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes). Plant Common Hoptree as a specimen or in groups in your yard. It can also be used as a hedge or for a screen.

Prunus virginiana

Chokecherry is a small, wildlife-friendly, deciduous tree. It features white flowers, which bloom April-May, providing an early nectar source for butterflies and bees. Flowers are followed by edible fruit. The astringent berry changes from red to purple as it ripens. The berries can be used for jams, jellies, pies, sauces, and wine. The fruits are a valued food source for birds. Fall foliage is golden-yellow to orange. Chokecherry is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica), Sequoia Sphinx (Sphinx sequoiae), Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops), and Columbia Silkmoth (Hyalophora columbia). Use Chokecherry as a specimen in your yard and along foundations, plant in a mass and prune as a shrub border, or use in natural areas to attract wildlife to your yard.

Prunus americana

American Plum is a small, wildlife-friendly tree or multi-stemmed shrub. Aromatic clusters of white flowers bloom in mid-March, followed by edible red plums with yellow pulp, which ripen in midsummer. The nectar and fruit provide food sources for butterflies, bees, and birds. The fruit can be used for jams and jellies. American Plum can be used as a hedgerow, along borders, as a screen, or as a specimen in your yard.

Populus tremuloides

Quaking Aspen is a medium-sized deciduous tree. It is dioecious; inconspicuous flowers bloom in April on separate male or female trees. It features beautiful, white bark, and deep-green “quaking” leaves, which tremble in the wind. Fall foliage is a rich golden-yellow. Quaking Aspen prefers cooler climates, and is intolerant of heat and humidity. Quaking Aspen provides birds with nesting material and food. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), and Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). Plant Quaking Aspen as a specimen tree or in woodlands and natural areas of your yard.

Populus deltoides

Eastern Cottonwood is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree. It is dioecious; catkins bloom on separate male or female trees in March-April before leaves emerge. The female trees have fruit capsules packed with numerous, tufted seeds with silky white hairs, giving the appearance of cotton. Seeds provide a valued food source for birds. The “cotton” provides birds with nesting material. Eastern Cottonwood can be a messy tree, as it drops leaves, flowers, fruits, twigs, and branches. Although it is not typically used as an ornamental tree, you can plant it in rural areas along streams, where it may be difficult to grow other trees.

Polystichum acrostichoides

Christmas Fern is a clumping evergreen fern. It displays leathery, lance-shaped fronds. Emerging fiddleheads are silver in the spring. Christmas Fern does not spread; instead, the clump will increase in size as the plant ages. Christmas Fern has been known to attract ruffed grouse. Use it as a groundcover or in borders. It adds winter interest to your yard.