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Celtis occidentalis

Common Hackberry is a medium to large, wildlife-friendly deciduous tree. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same plant); the tiny, greenish flowers bloom in April-May. The female flowers produce round, fleshy, dark purple, berry-like fruits valued by birds and wildlife as a food source. Berries can cause tree litter, so avoid planting this tree near walkways and sidewalks. It is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Wild Cherry Sphinx (Sphinx drupiferarum), Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton), American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), and Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa). Common Hackberry can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and air pollution, making it suitable for urban areas. Use it as a lawn tree or street tree.

Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory is a large, deciduous tree, which gets its name from its unique bark. The gray, “shaggy” bark is broken up into long, thin, peeling plates, adding ornamental interest for all seasons. The medium-green, compound leaves turn a golden color in the fall. This tree is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The flowers are followed by edible, hard-shelled nuts, which provide food for birds and other wildlife. People also enjoy eating the nuts. Hickory wood is hard and used in a variety of products, including baseball bats, and also used to smoke and cure meats. Give this large and lovely tree plenty of room to grow! Use Shagbark Hickory as a specimen tree or shade tree in large yards or in parks.

Carya glabra

Pignut Hickory is a large deciduous tree with yellowish-green leaves turning golden-yellow in the fall. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The female flowers are followed by nuts, but not until the tree is about 25 years old. The nuts are inside husks, which split open in the fall when ripe; the nuts are a food source for wildlife. Early settlers called this tree Pignut Hickory when they found their hogs would eat the nuts, which are too bitter for human consumption. This tree is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Luna Moth (Actias luna), Funerary Dagger (Acronicta funeralis), and Giant Regal (Citheronia regalis). It tolerates both dry and moist soils. Give this large tree plenty of room to grow! Use Pignut Hickory as a tall shade tree in large yards and in parks.

Carya cordiformis

Bitternut Hickory is a large deciduous shade tree distinguished by its bright yellow winter buds. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The nuts are bitter and inedible for humans, but are consumed by wildlife. This tree is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Luna Moth (Actias luna), Funerary Dagger (Acronicta funeralis), and Giant Regal (Citheronia regalis). The medium green, compound leaves turn yellow in the fall. Bitternut Hickory prefers moist, organically-rich soil. Give this large tree plenty of room to grow! Use as a tall shade tree in large yards and in parks.

Carya tomentosa

Mockernut Hickory is a large deciduous tree with yellowish-green leaves turning yellow in the fall. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree); the non-showy flowers bloom April-May. The difficulty in extracting the edible nuts from the husks led to its common name. The nuts are a food source for a variety of wildlife. Mockernut Hickory prefers moist, organically rich soil. Give this tree plenty of room to grow! Use it as a tall shade tree in large yards and in parks.

Carpinus caroliniana

Ironwood is a small deciduous tree, which grows well in shady areas. Its smooth, gray bark has vertical grooves, giving the appearance of rippling muscles along the trunk. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same tree); white female and green male flowers bloom in early spring. The female flowers are followed by papery, winged nutlets. The dark-green leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. Ironwood is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops), and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis). It thrives in moist soils and tolerates periodic flooding. Use Ironwood as a shade tree, street tree, and understory tree in woodland gardens.

Carpinus betulus

European Hornbeam is a medium-sized deciduous tree with a lovely, oval shape. Its smooth, gray bark has vertical grooves, giving the appearance of rippling muscles along the trunk. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers grow on the same tree). The small, greenish female and yellowish male flowers appear in March before the leaves emerge, followed by drooping clusters of small nutlets in the summer. The leaves turn yellow in the fall. Use European Hornbeam as a shade or street tree. It can also be used as a hedge or screen planting; it responds well to heavy pruning, which is best done from fall to mid-winter.

Betula populifolia

Gray Birch is a medium-sized, short-lived deciduous tree with chalky white bark. It grows best in areas where the soil is shaded, cool, and moist. Keep the shallow root system moist by using mulch and watering during dry weather. This tree can be short-lived in New Jersey. It does not tolerate heat and humidity well, and grows best in areas with cool summers. Use Gray Birch in rain gardens and other areas of the yard with moist soil conditions, or in woodland gardens.

Betula papyrifera

Paper Birch is a short-lived deciduous tree with beautiful, white bark that that peels in papery strips. Catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear just before the leaves emerge. The flowers are followed by cone-like fruits holding small, winged seeds. The seeds are a food source for a variety of birds. The dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Paper Birch grows best in areas where the soil is shaded, cool, and moist. Keep the root system moist by using mulch and watering during dry weather. This tree can be short-lived in New Jersey. It does not tolerate heat and humidity well, and grows best in areas with cool summers. Under the proper growing conditions, Paper Birch is an excellent specimen tree. It can also be used in woodland gardens.

Betula nigra

River Birch is a large deciduous tree with pinkish-brown, peeling bark, which provides year-round ornamental interest. The dark green, diamond-shaped leaves turn yellow in the fall. It prefers moist to wet soils, and tolerates periodic flooding. An adaptable tree, it will also grow in drier soils. Give this large tree with an extensive root system room to grow! Use River Birch as a specimen tree, or plant it in wet areas, such as rain gardens or along edges of ponds or streams.