Plants Identified

Comptonia peregrina

Sweetfern

Family: Myricaceae

Native Region: Eastern US and Canada

Plant Community: Old Field

Size: 2-5′ tall, 4-8′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 2-6

Habitat: Found in areas of poor, gravelly, infertile soils like roadsides, anthropogenic habitats, grasslands, meadows and fields, and woodlands. Prefers average, moist, acidic, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, but adapts to a range of poor soil conditions, wet soil conditions, urban areas, windy conditions, and sheltered seaside conditions. Rapidly spreads because of root rhizomes and colonizes barren soils.

Leaf: Deeply cut leaves are dark green in summer and transition to green with accents or orange, yellow, and brown in the fall.

Flower: Yellowish-green flowers, blooming from April to May.

Ecosystem services: This is a very adaptable species and can be used to restore nitrogen-poor areas because it works with bacteria to fix its own nitrogen, as well as colonize areas prone to erosion (especially sandy banks), and anthropogenic areas. It is well-suited to rain gardens and anthropogenic areas that other species can not handle. Smells like turpentine when crushed.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c240

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COPE80

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/comptonia/peregrina/

Taxus x Hunnewelliana

Hunnewell hybrid yew

Family: Taxaceae

Native Region: Garden origin in Massachusetts

Plant Community:

Size: 5-10′ tall

Hardiness Zone: 5

Habitat: Prefers average soil of medium moisture. Tolerates shade and urban conditions, but does not do well with wet conditions.

Leaf: Light green summer needles shift to reddish brown in the winter.

Flower: Non-flowering but instead has squishy, matte-red berries.

Ecosystem services: This is best if used as an ornamental screen in urban areas because it is an evergreen and has attractive red berries.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c237

https://conifersociety.org/conifers/taxus-hunnewelliana/

Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’

Cultivar of “Magnolia”

Family: Magnoliaceae

Native Region: Garden origin but can be planted along the central range of the US from West to East.

Plant Community:

Size: 20-35′ tall, 12-20′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-8

Habitat: Prefers rich, neutral to slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates air pollution but should be sheltered from strong winds and southern exposure.

Leaf: Green summer leaves transition to yellow in the fall.

Flower: Large, fragrant, yellow flowers with green accents near the base bloom from March to April. Red, cone-like fruit follow flower drop. Buds are fuzzy through the winter.

Ecosystem services: This species is best if used as an ornamental in a moist area, like in a park by water sources.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d133

Click to access magsoug.pdf

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp364

Salix × pendulina “Elegantissima”

Wisconsin weeping willow

Family: Salicaceae

Native Region: Garden origin, Naturalized: Select eastern central, and western US states, select portions of eastern and western Canada

Plant Community:

Size: 30-50′ tall and wide

Hardiness Zone: 4

Habitat: Prefers moist to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade and thrives best in moist soil with full sun. Tolerates deer and black walnut conditions, but not dry soil.

Leaf: Green summer leaves transition to greenish-yellow in the fall.

Flower: Greenish-yellow catkins blend in with the leaves and bloom from April to June.

Ecosystem services: This species can help with erosion control and can be used in floodplains or areas with constant saturation, like rain gardens or low topography. Is considered invasive in some areas and should not be used in urban conditions or areas with water infrastructure as roots can damage it.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=250476&isprofile=0&letter=S

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SAPE12

https://www.bluestem.ca/salix-pendulina-elegantissima.htm

Solidago rugosa

Common Wrinkle-leafed Goldenrod

Family: Asteraceae

Native Region: Eastern US and Canada

Plant Community: Old Field, Red Maple Swamp

Size: 2.5-3′ tall and wide

Hardiness Zone: 4-8

Habitat: Found in anthropogenic habitats, meadows and fields, swamps, and wetland margins. Prefers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil in full sun, but also tolerates light shade. This is a colonizing plant due to its rhizomatous root system and may self-seed. It tolerates deer, clay soil, and wet soil.

Leaf: Dark green summer leaves die back in the winter.

Flower: Yellow flowers bloom in September.

Ecosystem services: This is a good choice for disturbed areas or areas with need to erosion control. It can also be used in rain and butterfly gardens because of its natural inclination to wet soil and attractiveness to butterflies.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m400

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/solidago/rugosa/

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SORU2

Ulmus hollandica

Dutch Elm

Family: Ulmaceae

Native Region: Europe

Plant Community:

Size: 120′ tall, 80′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-7

Habitat: Found in parks and some other urban conditions. Prefers rich, moist, well-drained and consistently moist soil in full sun to partial shade. Tolerant of smog and short period of drought. Also tolerates a range of soil conditions, like clay, sandy, highly acidic soil, and highly alkaline soil. Decent fire resistance and tolerance of seaside conditions.

Leaf: Dark green leaves in the summer transition to yellow in the fall.

Flower: Green flowers bloom from March to April.

Ecosystem services: This tree should be planting sparingly due to its small range of soil moistures and susceptibility to the Dutch Elm Disease.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=257194&isprofile=0&

https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/ulmus-hollandica

Prunus serotina

Black Cherry

Family: Rosaceae

Native Region: Eastern US and Canada, Naturalized: PNW and Western Canada

Plant Community: Urban Growth, Barrier Beach, Oak Hickory

Size: 50-80′ tall, 30-60′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 3-9

Habitat: Found in anthropogenic areas, floodplains, forests, deciduous and mixed evergreen-deciduous forests, riparian terraces, and roadsides. Prefers medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of Black Walnut conditions. Long taproot prevents transplanting.

Leaf: Dark green in the summer, transitioning to yellow and rose in the fall.

Flower: Large clusters of white flowers, blooming from April to May. Dark red to dark purple, inedible cherries appear in the late summer.

Ecosystem services: This species is a good choice for an ornamental or anthropogenic areas. It easily colonizes after disturbance like fires and logging because of its prolific seeding and need for full sun. Can also be used as an ornamental because of its prolific flowering. This species has also been used to the past to restore areas disturbed by surface mining.

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PRSE2

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a914

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/prunus/serotina/

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Stipes, 2010.

Tilia cordata

Littleleaf Linden

Family: Tiliaceae

Native Region: Europe, southwestern Asia, Naturalized: Northeast US, southeast Canada

Plant Community:

Size: 50-75′ tall, 35-50′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 3-7

Habitat: Found in anthropogenic areas, forest edges, forests, roadsides, areas of habitation, parks. Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, but can tolerate a range of conditions including urban habitats and a range of soil conditions.

Leaf: Dark green, shiny leaves in the summer, transitioning to pale green and yellow in the fall.

Flower: Creamy, pale yellow drooping flowers bloom in June. They attract bees.

Ecosystem services: This species is a good ornamental choice because of its drooping, pale yellow flowers and tolerance for urban conditions. It can also be used in parks, but should not be used as a street tree because of its small nutlets that could pose an issue when they fall.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a918

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/tilia/cordata/

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TICO2

Template

Burr Oak or Mossycup Oak

Family:

Native Region:

Plant Community:

Size:

Hardiness Zone:

Habitat:

Leaf:

Flower:

Ecosystem services:

Rhus typhina

Staghorm Sumac

Family: Anacardiaceae

Native Region: Eastern North America, naturalized in central US

Plant Community: Old Field, Urban Growth

Size: 15-25′ tall, 20-30′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 3-8

Habitat: Found in anthropogenic areas, forest edges, meadows, woodland edges, roadsides, railroad embankments, stream/swamp margins and fields. Prefers average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, but tolerant of a range of soil conditions, including poorly drained soils, urban conditions, black walnut conditions, drought conditions, and shallow/rocky soil. Also are rabbit-resistant.

Leaf: Bright green in the summer, vibrant reds, oranges, burgundy, and yellow in the fall. Signature bark is red with fuzz.

Flower: Greenish-yellow flowers, blooming from June-July. Bright red fruit that darkens to dark red through the autumn.

Ecosystem services: Suckering roots make this species a good choice for areas that need erosion control. Also a good choice for floodplains with cyclical and constant flooding. Also, good for urban interventions like on roadsides, areas that need to colonized, and aren’t suitable to even the most adaptable species like junipers.