Deciduous Trees

Birch-Paper (Betula papyrifera)

Familiar and handsome shade and ornamental tree that grows up to 80 feet.  Fast growing and shade tolerant.  Found on a great variety of soils but prefers moist sandy loams in pH range of 5.0 to 8.0.  Well-drained to somewhat poorly-drained soils.  Grouse utilize buds.  Host for mourning cloaks and white admiral butterflies. Native.

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

A moderately fast growing, moderately long-lived tree that grows up to 60 feet.  Shade tolerant in youth, becoming intolerant.  Does best on rich moist loams.  Will not tolerate poorly drained soils.  Purple-black fruit ripens in late summer makes an excellent jelly and is relished by grouse, song birds and a variety of mammals.  Host for swallow tails and viceroy butterflies.  Prized for its beautiful wood.  Native.

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Slow growing, long-lived tree that grows up to 80 feet.  Highly drought tolerant.  It prefers full sun on a moist site but is moderately shade tolerant and does grow on a broad range of soils.  It is found on wet clay soils and also those that are inundated in the spring.  Somewhat rough appearance makes it less desireable as an ornamental but the acorn is sweet, edible and much prized by wildlife.  Native.

Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

Does well in most soils except wet ground.  Found in jack pine stands, along roads and river banks.  A shrub or a small tree.  Red to black berries in late summer.  Fruit astringent but makes a good jelly.  Native.

Crabapple (Malus baccata)

Small tree reaching heights of 30 feet.  Prefers a well drained loamy soil.  Should be planted in full sunlight.  Ruffed grouse eat the twings and buds and join a host of other birds and numerous mammals that dine on the fruit.  The 1/4 inch fruits persit on the tree until spring.  Fallen fruit may cause clean-up problems.  Exotic.

Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)

Low wide-spreading tree that grows up to 20 feet.  Shade tolerant.  Adapted to a broad range of soil types including clay soils.  Will grow on sites waterlogged in spring.  Conspicuous flowers appear in May or June.  Compact crowns and thorns provide nesting cover.  Red fruits consumed by upland game birds, song birds, and other game and non-game wildlife as well as cattle.  Fruit available fall through winter.  Exotic.

Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)

Fast growing.  Height to 40 feet.  Beautiful white spring flowers.  Bright reddish-orange berries in the fall attract wildlife.  Grows best in rich moist soils of river banks and swamp borders, and in rocky forest areas.  Host for Swallowtail butterflies.  Exotic.

Red Maple (Acer rubum)

Fast growing and moderately long-lived tree reaching heights of 70 feet.  Shade tolerant.  Found in all sorts of woods.  It prefers a wet to moist poorly-drained sand or loam soil.  This is a well named tree as the flowers, young fruit, and autumn foliage are a brilliant red.  Often planted as a shade tree.  Native.

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Moderately fast growing large tree that thrives on rich moist soils but also grows on sand sites.  Long-lived, it reaches heights of 70 feet and does best in full sun or light shade.  Desireable street and lawn tree as it is tolerant of salt.  Acorns taken by grouse, squirrels, deer and other wildlife.  Native.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Hard maple.  Valued for its wood and also as a shade and ornamental tree.  Sap is a source for maple sugar.  Grows best on rich moist upland soils but will adapt to poorer, drier sites.  Slow growing and long-lived.  Reaches heights of 90 feet.  Native.

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Slow growing, large tree that reaches 90 feet in height.  Tolerates most soils except very wet sites.  Acorns are favorites of both birds and animals.  Leaves are red-brown in fall.  A valuable timber tree.  Native.