Plants Identified

Betula papyrifera

Paper Birch

Family: Betulaceae

Native region: NE US, Canada, stretching to the Rocky Mountains

Plant Community: Northern Hardwood Swamp

Size: 50-70′ tall, 25-50′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 2-6

Habitat: Found in forests and forest edges. Prefers medium to wet, well-drained soils in sits with northern or eastern exposure that receives some afternoon shade. It needs consistently moist soils that are sandy or rocky. Thrives in cool climates.

Leaf: Dark green in the summer, yellow in the fall.

Flowers: Male flowers are yellowish-brown and female flowers are green, blooming in March and April.

Ecosystem services: This is a good choice for restoration areas near water sources and sandy river banks like flood plains, areas for stormwater management, and habitats for larger mammals like beavers that use the pliable bark for food and shelter.

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/betula/papyrifera/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a849

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

Betula alleghaniensis

Yellow Birch

Family: Betulaceae

Native region: Northeastern US and Canada

Plant Community: Red Maple Swamp

Size: 50’-100’ tall

Hardiness Zone:

Habitat: Forest edges, inland forests, swamps, and stream banks. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. It is not tolerant to heat and serves as the main canopy in a forest.

Leaf: Dull green above and yellow underneath in the summer, yellow in the fall.

Flowers: Yellow, green, and brown, blooming in April and May.

Ecosystem services: This tree makes a good choice for area close to flooding and storm water interventions because it is resistant to rot below the waterline and prefers wet soil.

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/betula/alleghaniensis/

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=BEAL2

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BEAL2

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

Aronia melanocarpa

Black Chokeberry

Family: Rosaceae

Native region: Eastern Canada, central and eastern US, eastern North America, Newfoundland to southern Ontario and Minnesota south to Missouri, Tennessee and Georgia

Size: 3-6’ tall and wide

Hardiness Zone: 3-8

Habitat: Low woods, swamps, bogs, cliffs, ledges, roadsides, peatlands and moist thickets but occasionally to dry upland areas. Prefers well-drained soils of medium moisture in full sun to part shade, but can tolerate boggy soil and wet conditions.

Leaf: Dark green in the summer, purple/red in the fall.

Flowers: White, blooming in May

Ecosystem services: Because this species can tolerate such wet soil conditions, it is a good candidate for areas of stormwater management, floodplains, and rain gardens.

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/aronia/melanocarpa/

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j420

Acer rubrum

Red Maple

Family: Sapindaceae

Native region: New England and eastern US

Plant Community: Old Field

Size: Cultivated 40’-60’, upper range in 100’-120’, 30-50’ wide

Hardiness Zone: 3-9

Habitat: Forest edges, forests, meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, wetland margins (edges of wetlands), woodlands. Though usually found in moist woodlands and wet swamps, also found in drier woods. Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers moist, slightly acid (pH <6.8) conditions. Very cold hardy.

Leaf: Red leaf petioles in summer and red samaras in female trees in early spring; most commonly bright red, sometimes yellow or greenish-yellow in fall.

Flowers: Reddish buds with pink/red flowers for male. Females have samaras. Blooms in March and April.

Ecosystem services: This species is not drought tolerant, but is heat tolerant, cold tolerant, and tolerant of air pollution. It works well to recolonize disturbed areas, areas with high water content like floodplains and areas for stormwater management. Because it is a generalist and can tolerate pollution and acidic soil, this is a good choice for urban environments as well. An added perk is that is grows quickly.

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/acer/rubrum/

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

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=acru

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j170

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

Oxydendrum arboretum

Sourwood

Family: Ericaceae

Native region: SE, E US

Plant Community:

Size: 20-50′ tall, 10-25′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-9

Habitat: Found in rocky wooded slopes, grows well with rhododendrons. Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Flowering and fall color most pronounced with full sun. Intolerant to drought and urban pollution.

Leaf: Green in the summer to yellow, red, and salmon in the fall.

Flowers: White, blooming from June to July

Ecosystem services: Works as a good shade tree in acidic soil, but not in urban environments.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a887 https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=OXAR

Cotinus coggyoria

European Smoketree

Family: Anacardiaceae

Native region: Temperate Asia and Europe

Plant Community:

Size: 10-15′ tall and wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-8

Habitat: Found in anthropogenic zones (man-made or disturbed habitats), roadsides, and waste areas. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, but thrives in infertile soils, rocky soils of medium moisture, sharp drainage, and full sun. Drought tolerant.

Leaf: Dark green, blueish green in the summer, transitioning to yellow, orange, purplish red in the fall.

Flowers: Yellowish flowers surrounded by billowing beige/pinkish puffs which bloom in May through July.

Ecosystem services: Great for sunny, disturbed areas like post-industrial sites, old fields, roadsides, and waste areas because of their adaptation to poor soil conditions. Drought tolerant, so a good plant for areas prone to drought.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c390 https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/cotinus/coggygria/?key=dichotomous#dkey https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COCO10

Vaccinium corymbosum

Highbush Blueberry

Family: Ericaceae

Native region: NE US and Canada, Western Canada, SE US, naturalized in Washington

Plant Community: Oak Hickory and Red Maple Swamp

Size: 6-12′ tall, 8-12′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-8

Habitat: Found in bogs, fens, forests, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, and woodlands. Prefers rich, acidic, moist to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.

Leaf: Medium yellowish-green in summer, transitioning to reddish purple in the fall.

Flowers: White and pinkish, fruit from June to end of summer, flowers blooming in May.

Ecosystem services: Fairs well in moist to wet soil, making this a good candidate for flood plains and areas of cyclical flooding. Also attracts birds and butterflies.

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/vaccinium/corymbosum/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m690

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

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

Rhododendron schlippenbachii

Deciduous Azalea

Family: Ericaceae

Native region: China, Japan, Korea

Plant Community:

Size: 4-6′ tall, 3-5′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 4-7

Habitat: Prefers acidic, humusy, organically rich, medium moisture, moisture-retentive but well-drained soils in dappled sun or high open shade. Can tolerate more neutral soils, but prefers acidic soils. Susceptible to root rot, so soil must be well-drained.

Leaf: Dark green in the summer, transitioning to red, orange, yellow, mottled with all three in the fall.

Flowers: White/pink, funnel-shaped flowers from April to May.

Ecosystem services: Good shrub choice to moist, acidic areas to prevent erosion from its fibrous roots system. However, roots cannot rot so they are good choices for raised planters. Beautiful, and attracts butterflies while being tolerant of bunnies, making it a good urban plant.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280043&isprofile=0&

Quercus marilandica

Blackjack Oak

Family: Fagaceae

Native region: Central and southeastern United States

Plant Community:

Size: 20-40′ tall and wide

Hardiness Zone: 6-9

Habitat: It is typically found in open, barren areas including fields, flatwoods, woodland peripheries, glades and dry ridges. Prefers dry to dry-moist, well-drained soils in poor sun. Tolerates drought and poor soil conditions well. Does not tolerate wet soil.

Leaf: Dark green with hairy rusty-brown underneath in the summer, transitioning to yellowish brown to russet in the fall.

Flowers: Insignificant, but bloom in May.

Ecosystem services: Great for open, barren areas with poor soil conditions like spaces after violent disturbance, clearing, or cultivation. Also good for drought-prone areas.

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=QUMA3

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280720&isprofile=0&

Quercus alba

White Oak

Family: Fagaceae

Native region: Eastern and Central US, naturalized in South Dakota

Plant Community:

Size: 50-80′ tall and wide

Hardiness Zone: 6-9

Habitat: Found in floodplains (river or stream floodplains), forests, swamps, and woodlands. Adapted to a wide range of soil and drought conditions, but prefers rich, moist, acidic, and well-drained soil in full sun. Moderate resistance to ice breakage.

Leaf: Pinkish when young, then dark green, transitioning to brownish reds in the fall.

Flowers: Yellow greenish, blooming in May.

Ecosystem services: A generalist, good for areas of drought but also a range of soil conditions, including poor soil conditions that are prohibitive to other species like rocky soil, clay soil, dry soil, and shallow-rocky soil. It is sensitive to flooding, but can take brief saltwater submergences and salt spray. However, it is sensitive to fire injury, coal smoke, and fly ash deposit on soil surface, making it not a good choice to areas from to fire damage. Can be used in areas of cyclical flooding from saltwater sources.