Native Trees and Shrubs in Maryland

glossary of terms

SHRUBS
Purchase native trees from TREEMENDOUS MARYLAND for public land planting.
SHADBUSH OR SERVICEBERRY (Amelanchier canadensis)
Height: 6'-20', Spread: 10'. Erect stems, often clumped. Blends well on the edge of woodland or shrub border with evergreen background. Important berry producer during the early summer months. Fruit eaten by bluebirds, cardinals, and tanagers. Foliage is used by browsers.
RED CHOKEBERRY (Aronia arbutifolia)
Height: 6'-10', Spread: 3'-5'. Upright multistemmed shrub, somewhat open and rounded. Adaptable to many soil types . Full sun to half shade. Used in border and mass plantings. Fruit eaten by grouse, chickadees and other songbirds.
SWEET PEPPERBUSH (Clethra alnifolia)
Height: 3'-8', Spread: 4'-6'. Oval, round topped, erect, dense leafy shrub. Transplant into moist, organic soils. Full sun or shade. Excellent for summer flower, shrub border. Good plant for wet areas and heavy shade. Limited wildlife value.
RED-OSIER DOGWOOD (Cornus sericea)
Height: 7'-9', Spread: 10'. Loose, broad spreading, rounded multistemmed shrub. Spreads freely. Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions. Does well in moist soil. Excellent for mass plantings in large areas. Effective bank cover to hold soils. Cuttings are easily established in early spring: simply prune the new growth, dip the cut end in a rooting hormone, such as ROOTONE, and push cut end into the ground. These shrubs establish themselves readily, and are a valuable wildlife food. High wildlife value for fruit and browse. Used by a wide variety of mammals and songbirds, including cardinals, evening grosbeaks, robins, thrush, vireos and cedar waxwing.
INKBERRY (Ilex glabra)
Height: 6'-8', Spread: 8'-10'. Upright multibranched, rounded shrub. Prefers moist, acid soils. Excellent for foundations, hedges, mass plantings and as accent plant. Berries used by a wide variety of wildlife. "Compacta" cultivar is a dwarf variety and is more readily available.
WINTERBERRY (Ilex verticillata)
Height: 6'-10', Spread: same. Oval, rounded, deciduous shrub holly. Tends to form multistemmed clumps. Does well in light and heavy soils. Prefers moist, organic soils. Excellent for mass plantings and shrub borders. Red fruit is beautiful in winter. A male plant is necessary for fertilization. Used extensively by many songbirds, particularly thrushes, mockingbirds, robins, bluebirds, and thrashers.
VIRGINIA SWEETSPIRE (Itea virginica)
Height: 3'-5', Spread: 6'-8'. Erect shrub with clustered branches. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Full sun or shade. Suited for wet areas. Excellent fall color. Fruit capsules are used by some songbirds.

MOUNTAIN LAUREL (Kalmia latifolia)
Height: 7'-15', Spread: same. Large, robust shrub, becomes open with age. Requires moist, well drained soils in full sun or shade. Use in mass in shady borders. Mammals eat foliage and twigs. Utilized extensively by mammals and birds for winter shelter.

SWEETBAY MAGNOLIA (Magnolia virginiana)
Multistemmed, open shrub. Likes wet, acid soils. Tolerates shade. Used as specimen tree. Wildlife value is low. Seeds are eaten by some mammals and birds. Foliage is used by several birds for nest building.

WAX MYRTLE (Myrica cerifera)
Height: 5'-12', Spread: same. Evergreen, upright, rounded, dense shrub. Adaptable to many soil conditions, including poor and wet soils. Full sun to ½ shade. Excellent for mass borders. Combines well with broadleaf evergreens. Berry wax is used for candles. Fruit is eaten by a variety of birds in small quantities including tree swallows and myrtle warblers.
ROSEBAY RHODODENDRON (Rhododendron maximum)
Height: 4'-10, Spread: same. Small, rounded evergreen shrub. Plant in moist, well drained soils. Prefers partial shade. Used in shrub borders, groupings, massings and foundations. Limited wildlife value except as browse for deer and winter cover for songbirds.
NATIVE AZALEAS Prefer sunnier locations than rhododendrons and are usually smaller in size. Azaleas are also limited in wildlife value but are beautiful in landscaped situations.
PIEDMONT AZALEA (Rhododendron canescens)
SWAMP AZALEAS (Rhododendron viscosum)
Prefers wet conditions.
HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Height: 6'-12', Spread: 8'-12'. Upright, multistemmed shrub with spreading branches. Requires moist, well-drained soils. Full sun or light shade. Blends well into shrub borders. Used heavily by grouse, scarlet tanager, bluebirds, thrushes and other songbirds.
ARROWWOOD VIBURNUM (Viburnum dentatum)
Height: 6'8', Spread: 6'-15'. Multistemmed, dense, rounded shrub. Adaptable to most soil conditions, but prefers well drained. Suckers freely. Good in hedges and mass plantings. Used by grouse, brown thrasher, cedar waxwing, squirrels and deer.
NANNYBERRY (Viburnum lentago)
Height: 15'-18', Spread: 6'10'. Shrub or small tree with open habit. Adapts to a wide range of soil conditions. sun or partial shade. Use as naturalized plant in shrub borders, as background or screen plant. See Arrowwood Viburnum for wildlife value.
BLACKHAW VIBURNUM (Viburnum prunifolium)
Height: 12'-15, Spread: 8'-12'. Round-headed tree or multistemmed shrub. Adaptable to many soil types. Sun or shade. Interesting as small specimen tree, or massing, shrub border or groupings. See Arrowwood Viburnum for wildlife value.
SMALL TREES

EASTERN REDBUD (Cercis canadensis)
Height: 20'-30', Spread: 25'-30'. Small tree with rounded crown, pink to purplish flowers in April. Likes moist, well drained soils. Full sun to light shade. Good as specimen tree or in shrub border. Limited wildlife value.

WHITE FRINGETREE (Chionanthus virginicus)
Height: 12'-20', Spread: same. Open habit, often wider than high. Prefers moist, fertile soils and full sun. Excellent specimen tree or in groups, borders or near large buildings. Limited wildlife value.

FLOWERING DOGWOOD (Cornus florida)
Height: 20', Spread: 15'-20'. Small tree with flat topped crown. Place in well drained soil. Full sun to partial shade. Has character in all four seasons. Excellent as specimen tree or used on the corner of a house or in a woodland group setting. Fruit is an important food source for songbirds including evening grosbeak, cardinals, robins and cedar waxwings.

WASHINGTON HAWTHORN (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Height: 25'-30', Spread: 20'-25'. Broadly rounded to oval, dense, thorny tree. Plant in well drained soil in full sun. Excellent specimen tree or for borders and hedges. Should not be used in high traffic areas. Dense thorns make excellent nesting sites for songbirds. Fruit is used by grouse, cedar waxwings and sparrows.

COMMON WITCHHAZEL (Hamamelis virginiana)
Height: 20-30', Spread: 20'-25'. Small tree or multistemmed shrub with yellow flowers in winter. Prefers moist soils in full sun or partial shade. Excellent for foundations, hedges, mass plantings and as an accent plant. Limited wildlife value.

AMERICAN HOLLY (Ilex opaca)
Height: 15'-30', Spread: 18'-25'. Dense, pyramidal in youth, opening up with age. Plant in moist, well drained soil. Full sun or partial shade. Use one male for every three females. Use as specimen plant or in groupings. Many cultivars. Used extensively by many songbirds including thrushes, mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds and thrashers. Foliage provides cover for songbirds and mammals.

LARGE TREES

RED MAPLE (Acer rubrum)
Height: 40'-60', Spread: same. Habit is pyramidal in youth and rounded with age. Tolerant of moist soils, but prefers slightly acid, moist conditions. Naturally occurs in wet areas. Excellent tree as specimen for lawn and park settings. Excellent fall color. Buds, flowers and leaves provide food for many birds and mammals. Chipmunks and squirrels eat seeds and some songbirds use stalks for nest building.

SILVER MAPLE (Acer saccharinum)
Height: 50'-70', Spread: 40'-50'. Has strong spreading branches which form a rounded crown. Tolerant of many soil types. One of the best trees for poor soils and wet conditions. Use of this tree should be limited to areas free of buildings and heavy human use as it is prone to internal decay and subsequent loss of branches. Provides fast shade. See Red Maple for wildlife users.
RIVER BIRCH (Betula nigra)
Height: 40'-70', Spread: 40'-60'. Pyramidal in youth and rounded with age. Often grown multistemmed. Best adapted to moist soils. Used in areas that are alternately wet and dry. Handsome tree used as specimen in parks and estates. Catkins are used by redpolls and pine siskins. Foliage is used by browsers.

SHAGBARK HICKORY (Carya ovata)
Height: 60'-80'+, Spread: 40'-60'. Straight trunk with an oblong crown. Bark breaks up in thin plates. Difficult to transplant, start as seedling. Should not be used in landscaped areas because its exfoliating bark and nuts make it a "dirty" tree. Best reserved for woodland border. Leaves are used by browsers. Nuts are also consumed by deer, turkey, foxes, wood ducks, and squirrels.

COMMON HACKBERRY (Celtis occidentalis)
Height: 40'-60', Spread same. In youth weakly pyramidal; in old age the crown is a broad top of ascending, arching branches. Medium to fast growth. Prefers rich, moist soils, but grows in dry, heavy or sandy, rocky soils; withstands acid or alkaline conditions; moderately wet or very dry areas; tolerates wind; full sun; withstands dirt and grime of cities. Fruit is fleshy, orange to dark purple, ripening in September to October. Leaves are yellow to yellow-green in fall. Good tree for park or large area use. Useful tree for adverse growing conditions. Fruit is popular with winter birds, especially the cedar waxwing, mockingbird, and robin.

AMERICAN BEECH (Fagus grandifolia)
Height: 50'-70'+, Spread: same. Often has short trunk with wide spreading crown. Likes moist, well drained soils. Does best in full sun, but tolerates shade. Should be restricted to large area use for parks and estates. Beechnuts are eaten by birds and mammals and are important food for chipmunks and squirrels.

WHITE ASH (Fraxinus americana)
Height: 50'-80', Spread: same. Pyramidal in youth and later developing an open rounded crown. Grows best on deep, well drained soils and full sun. Used often as a lawn tree in parks and golf courses. Moderate importance to wildlife. Seeds eaten by wood duck, finches, and cardinals.
GREEN ASH (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Height: 50'-60', Spread: 25'-30'. Pyramidal in youth, developing upright, spreading habit at maturity. Grows quickly in full sun and in a wide range of soils conditions. Naturally found on moist bottomlands. See White Ash for wildlife users.
COMMON HONEYLOCUST (Gleditsia triacanthos)
height: 30'-70', Spread: same. Usually has short trunk with open, oval crown. Fast grower. Withstands a wide range of conditions but prefers rich, moist bottomlands. Excellent lawn tree under filtered shade. Limited wildlife value.

BLACK WALNUT (Juglans nigra)
Height: 50'-75', Spread: same. Well formed trunk with oval crown. Prefers rich, moist soils. Often found on bottomlands. Difficult to transplant. Should be started as seedling. Produces toxins which are poisonous to many plants giving it an advantage in open field situations but creating problems for gardeners. Nuts are eaten by woodpeckers, foxes, and squirrels.

EASTERN RED CEDAR (Juniperus virginiana)
Height: 40'-50', Spread: 8'-20'. Densely pyramidal when young and slightly pendulous in old age. Medium rate of growth. Tolerant of adverse conditions. Prefers deep, moist soils. Will tolerate shade only in youth. Handsome reddish brown bark. Produces small cones. Useful for windbreaks, shelter belts, hedges and topiary work. Twigs and foliage are eaten by browsers. Seeds are eaten most extensively by cedar waxwings. Evergreen foliage provides nesting and roosting cover for sparrows, robins, mockingbirds, juncos, and warblers.

AMERICAN SWEETGUM (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Height: 60'-75'+, Spread: 2/3 height. Pyramidal in youth, rounded crown at maturity. Likes deep, moist, acid soils. Occurs naturally on bottomlands. Excellent for lawn or park area. Gumballs can be a problem in lawn settings. Goldfinches and purple finches eat winged seeds.

TULIP POPLAR (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Height: 70'-90', Spread: 30'-50'. Long, straight trunk with a narrow canopy. Fast grower. Plant in full sun and a well drained loam. Use in large areas. Wood somewhat weak. Moderate wildlife importance. The purple finch and cardinal are principal users.
BLACK GUM (Nyssa sylvatica)
Height: 30'-50', Spread: 20'-30'. Pyramidal in youth and irregularly crowned at maturity. Prefers moist, well drained, acid soils. Full sun or semi-shade. Deep taproot. Beautiful tree when used as a specimen. Fruit is relished by many songbirds. Users include wood ducks, robins, woodpeckers, thrashers, flickers, and mockingbirds.
EASTERN WHITE PINE (Pinus strobus)
Height: 50'-80'+, Spread: 20'-40'. Pyramidal in youth, crown at maturity has several horizontal and ascending branches. Fast grower. Grows best on fertile, well-drained soils, but is very adaptable. A very handsome and ornamental specimen, valuable for lawns, parks, and estates. Provides valuable cover and nesting sites for songbirds and mammals. Needles are used as nesting material. Seeds are eaten by quail, chickadees, grosbeaks, nuthatches and woodpeckers.
WHITE OAK (Quercus alba)
Height: 100', Spread; 50'-80'. Pyramidal in youth, becoming broad and rounded with wide spreading branches. Transplant as small tree. Prefers moist, well drained soils. Difficult to obtain from nurseries. Sometimes available as seedling. Worthwhile tree for large areas. Oasis, in general, are of major importance to wildlife. Acorns are at the top of the food preference list for wood ducks, pheasants, grackles, jays, nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, rabbits, foxes, squirrels and deer.
PIN OAK (Quercus palustris)
Height: 60'-70', Spread: 25'-40'. Strongly pyramidal with ascending branches. One of the faster growing oaks. Full sun. Tolerates wet soils but is adaptable to many soils types. Most widely used oak for landscaping. Used on lawns, parks, golf courses and around commercial buildings. See white oak for wildlife uses.
RED OAK (Quercus rubra)
Height: 60'-75', Spread: 40'-50'. Often larger in the wild. Habit is round-topped and symmetrical. Full sun. Prefers loamy, well drained soils. Fast growing tree for lawns, parks and estates. See white oak for wildlife uses.
WILLOW OAK (Quercus phellos)
Height: 50'-100', Spread 30'-70'. Fast growing oak with willow-like foliage. Good shade tree. Full sun or semi-shade. Easily grown in wet soils. See white oak for wildlife uses.
EASTERN HEMLOCK (Tsuga canadensis)
Height: 40'-70', Spread: 25'-35'. Pyramidal in youth, becoming more pendulous with age. Likes moist, well-drained soils. Plant in sheltered area. Tolerates shade. Relatively fast growing. Excellent for screens, hedges, accent plant and foundation plantings. Provides excellent cover for deer and songbirds. Nesting site for several warblers. Seeds are eaten by juncos, chickadees, and siskins.
Purchase native trees from TREEMENDOUS MARYLAND for public land planting.

Last updated on July 11, 2002.
glossary of terms