Tree/Shrub Descriptions
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Evergreen Trees
American Arborvitae (aka Northern White Cedar) (F): Grows best in moist to wet soils, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 40'. Has flat, scale-like, yellow-green aromatic needles and 1/3" - 1/2" cones.
Norway Red Pine (F): Grows best in dry soils, in full sun. Average mature height is 75'. A popular lumber tree. Has stiff, dull green needles, 4"- 6" long, scaly bark, and 1 ½" - 2 1/4" cones.
White Pine (M): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 75'. As Wisconsin's largest conifer, they can grow to 100' in height. Has picturesque, soft green needles, 3"-5" long, and 5"-8" cones.
White Spruce (M): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full sun. Average mature height is 70'. Has stiff green needles,
½"- 3/ 4" long, and 11/4" - 21/2" cones.
Tamarack (M): Grows best in moist swampy areas, in full to partial sun. Mature height ranges 30' to 60'. Has flat, soft slender needles, about 1", and ½" - 3/4" light brown cones.
Broadleaf Trees
Ash - Green (F): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 60'. Salt tolerant and also tolerates poor drainage. Composite leaves are 6"- 12" long, shiny yellow-green, turning yellow in autumn. Produces an abundance of winged seeds. Bark is furrowed into scaly ridges.
Birch - Paper (F): These medium-sized, fast-growing trees develop best on well-drained, sandy loams on cool moist sites. Paper birch is short-lived and rarely lives more than 140 years. Commercially the lumber is used for veneer, pulpwood, and many specialty items. The handsome foliage and showy white bark make the trees attractive for landscaping. They are important browse plants for animals, and the seeds, buds, and bark are also eaten by wildlife.
Birch - River (F): Grows well along rich bottomlands of streams and rivers and other wet conditions, but is tolerant to many types of soil. Has a reddish-brown exfoliating bark and is resistant to bronze birch borer.
Black Cherry (M): Prefers rich, moist soil, but grows well on dry sandy soil, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 40'. Has white flowers which produce many small purplish-black fruits eaten by wildlife. Leaves are 1"- 2" shiny dark green, turning orange in fall.
Black Walnut (M): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full sun. Average mature height is 80'. Valuable for lumber when mature, but has a toxicity to some other plants. Do not plant near other valuable species or gardens. The edible nut is enclosed in a yellow-green husk. The green, compound leaves are 12"- 24" long, turning yellow in autumn.
Butternut (M): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full sun. Average mature height is 60' to 80'. Alternate, compound leaves; 15" to 30", each with 11 to 17 sharply pointed, oblong, finely-toothed leaflets, about 2"- 3" long.
Hickory, Shagbark (M): Grows best in moist, fertile soils and on well drained hillsides, in full sun. Average mature height is 60' to 100'. Alternate, compound leaves; 8"- 14", with 5 to 7 leaflets. Yellow to golden-brown fall color. Edible nut.
Sugar Maple (M): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full to partial shade. Average mature height is 70'. It produces winged seed in fall. The 31/2" - 51/2" dull green leaves turn a brilliant red, orange, or yellow color in autumn. This tree is more sensitive to salt and stress than most.
Oak - Bur (S): Grows best in dry to moist, fertile soil, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 70'. Light gray, thick, rough, deeply furrowed bark. The 4" to 10" leaves are lobed at the ends. The acorns are the largest of the native oaks.
Oak - Pin (F): Grows best in moist, fertile soil, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 50' to 90'. It has dark gray, hard, smooth, bark. The leaves are 3" to 5" long, with pin-like tips, turning red to red-brown in autumn. The ½" acorns are an important wildlife food source.
Oak - Red (M): Grows best in dry, fertile soils, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 70'. Has 4" - 9" dull green leaves which turn red in fall. Acorns have a smooth cap.
Oak - White (S): Grows best in dry, fertile soils, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 80'. Acorns have a hairy cap. The 4"- 9" long leaves are a bright green, turning a red or brown in the fall; they tend to stay on through much of the winter.
Wildlife Shrubs
Red Osier Dogwood (F): Grows best in moist to wet soils, in full sun. Average mature height is 8' with a spread of 6'. Has white flowers atop of bright red twigs which produce white berries in late summer. Leaves are ½" - 2", dull green, turning a reddish-maroon in autumn.
Gray Dogwood (F) Grows in moist and dry soils. A native shrub. Grows 12' to 15'. Flowers are white, fruit white. Hardy everywhere.
American Elderberry (F): Grows best in moist to wet soils, in full sun. Average mature height is 12' with a spread of 9'. Has small white flowers in large flat clusters, which produce large quantities of black berries. Good for wildlife and for making jams, jellies and wine.
American Hazelnut (F): Grows best in moist soil, in full to partial sun. Average height is 8' with a spread of 6'. Produces small flavorful, edible nuts in autumn, also known as filberts. Leaves are green, turning orange-yellow in autumn.
Highbush Cranberry (F): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in partial to full shade. Average mature height is 15' with a spread of 15'. Has white lacy flowers, producing bright red berries, which persist through most of the winter season. The leaves are a dull green, turning maroon in autumn.
American Plum (F): Grows best in moist, fertile soils, in full to partial sun. Average mature height is 10' - 20'. Characterized as a small tree or large shrub. White flowers in early May. Edible fruits - red or yellow. Very hardy and drought resistant. Excellent for wildlife plantings.
Shadblow Serviceberry (F): Grows best in moist soils. Mature height of 40' and a diameter of 1'. Produces sweet black fruit and is characterized by a bronze color of its unfolding leaves. Leaves turn orange-red in fall.
