Field Guide Determining Tree Species

in the Riparian Corridor

Table of Contents

Reference Links 1

Silver Maple 2

Sugar Maple 3

Cottonwood 4

Green Ash 5

Sycamore 6

Box Elder 7

American Elm 8

Slippery Elm 9

Hackberry 10

Black Willow 11

Bur Oak 12

White Oak 13

Swamp White Oak 14

Black Walnut 15

Bitternut Hickory 16

Shellbark Hickory 17

River Birch 18

Kentucky Coffee Tree 19

Understory Trees include 20

Sandbar Willow 21

Gray Dogwood 22

Swamp Dogwood 23

PawPaw 24

Ohio Buckeye 25

Additional Riparian Oak Trees 26

Overcup Oak 27

Post Oak 28

Dwarf Chestnut Oak 29

Pin Oak 30

Nuttall Oak 31

Willow Oak 32

Cherrybark Oak 33

Shumard Oak 34

Chinkapin Oak 35

i

Reference Links Trees of MissouriRed Oaks

httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryr_oakhtm

Trees of MissouriWhite Oaks

httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

Trees of MissouriHickories

httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryhickoryhtm

Missouri Trees

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotrees

Key to Missouri Trees in Winter

httpwwwmdcnatureshopcomkey-to-mo-trees-in-winter-pr-295html

What kind of tree is that

httpmdcmogovforestwhatkindhtm

Missouri Conservation Trees and Shrubs

httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubscontentshtml

1

Reference Links Trees of MissouriRed Oaks

httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryr_oakhtm

Trees of MissouriWhite Oaks

httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

Trees of MissouriHickories

httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryhickoryhtm

Missouri Trees

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotrees

Key to Missouri Trees in Winter

httpwwwmdcnatureshopcomkey-to-mo-trees-in-winter-pr-295html

What kind of tree is that

httpmdcmogovforestwhatkindhtm

Missouri Conservation Trees and Shrubs

httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubscontentshtml

1

Silver Maple

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp46htm

httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubssilvermaplehtml

Acer saccharinum

Silver maple is a large fast-growing tree found in bottomlands The wood is used commercially as a soft hardwood Its rapid growth has encouraged the

overuse of silver maple as a shade tree However the brittle branches are easily broken in ice storms and windstorms and the abundant fruit produces litter

Special notes this is one species which should be avoided in yard plantings

Identifying Characteristics

Height

90 ft

Spread

90 ft

Leaves

Opposite simple 4 - 6 in diameter 5 lobes edges coarsely toothed pale green above silvery below

Flowers

In clusters along twigs reddish green

Fruit

Winged seed in pairs

Bark

Silvery-gray on young trees older bark gray breaking into long thin scaly plates

Associated species

Sweet gum green ash river birch hackberry pin oak

Ideal site conditions

Wet soil partial sun

Value to man

Erosion wood products

Value to wildlife

Food dens

Growth Rate

Fast

Range

2

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Sugar maple becomes a very large shade tree that is well-known for fall colors ranging from yellow to orange to shades of red It is less pollution tolerant than

red maple especially to de-icing salts along roadways Sugar maple thrives in deep rich soils It tolerates poor sites with good drainage but grows slowly It

needs plenty of space and therefore should be used in large yards parks golf courses or similar locations In shallow soils and other poor sites leaf scorch may

develop during dry periods Its dense shade and shallow roots prevent a good lawn from growing beneath it Sugar maple is tolerant of shade and can be used

near taller trees or buildings Many cultivars exist to provide a variety of shapes fall color and drought tolerance These should be selected when available

Some are `Green Mountain `Legacy `Bonfire and `Caddo Sugar maples grown from seed are much less predictable

Hardiness Zones 4-8

3

Eastern Cottonwood httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubscottonwoodhtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp10htm

Populus deltoides

Cottonwood is one of the largest and fastest growing of the eastern hardwoods It makes its best growth on deep moist bottomland soils The wood is used for

boxes crates furniture and pulpwood Cottonwood is short-lived but serves an important function by stabilizing new sandbars and bare flood plains

Identifying Characteristics

Height

90 ft

Spread

90 ft

Leaves

alternate simple 3 - 6 long triangular in shape edges have round teeth shiny dark green above paler below leaf stalk long and flattened

Flowers

male and female flowers on separate trees flowers in a catkin

Fruit

long hanging clusters of green capsules containing cottony seed

Bark

light greenish-yellow on young stems older bark light gray very thick divided by deep fissures

Associated species

silver maple bur oak river birch green ash hackberry

Ideal site conditions

wet soil full sun

Value to man

wood products erosion

Value to wildlife

dens food

Growth Rate

fast

Range

4

Eastern Cottonwood httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubscottonwoodhtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp10htm

Populus deltoides

Cottonwood is one of the largest and fastest growing of the eastern hardwoods It makes its best growth on deep moist bottomland soils The wood is used for

boxes crates furniture and pulpwood Cottonwood is short-lived but serves an important function by stabilizing new sandbars and bare flood plains

Identifying Characteristics

Height

90 ft

Spread

90 ft

Leaves

alternate simple 3 - 6 long triangular in shape edges have round teeth shiny dark green above paler below leaf stalk long and flattened

Flowers

male and female flowers on separate trees flowers in a catkin

Fruit

long hanging clusters of green capsules containing cottony seed

Bark

light greenish-yellow on young stems older bark light gray very thick divided by deep fissures

Associated species

silver maple bur oak river birch green ash hackberry

Ideal site conditions

wet soil full sun

Value to man

wood products erosion

Value to wildlife

dens food

Growth Rate

fast

Range

4

Green Ash httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsgreenashhtml

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Green ash is a medium-sized tree distributed throughout the state along streambanks and in moist bottoms It prefers wet soils but is adaptable to a wide range

of site conditions It has been used for urban plantings windbreaks and land reclamation Many varieties of green ash are available commercially

Identifying Characteristics

Height

60 ft

Spread

40 ft

Leaves

Opposite compound with 7-9 lance-shaped leaflets each leaflet 3 - 6 long finely toothed dark green

Flowers

Male and female flowers on separate trees female flowers green very small in clusters

Fruit

Winged seed

Bark

Gray ridges cross to form diamond pattern

Associated species

Silver maple hackberry pin oak sweetgum pecan

Ideal site conditions

Wet soil full sun

Value to man

Erosion control landscaping wood products windbreaks

Value to wildlife

Food dens

Growth Rate

Fast

Range

5

American Sycamore httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsasycamorehtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp39htm

Platanus occidentalis

Sycamore is one of the largest eastern hardwoods It is tolerant of wet soil conditions and is found in rich river bottoms Sycamore can be used to stabilize

streambanks along with other bottomland species where it provides nest sites for large birds such as bald eagles and great blue herons It is also a pioneer

species in old fields

Identifying Characteristics

Height

90 ft

Spread

90 ft

Leaves

Alternate simple 4 - 8 in diameter with 3-5 main lobes edges coarsely toothed yellow-green above paler below

Flowers

Tiny greenish in 1-2 ball-like drooping clusters

Fruit

Many seeded ball 1 - 1 l2 in diameter on a stem 3 - 6 long each seed attached to a hairy plume

Bark

Distinctive smooth whitish and mottled bark on upper trunk and branches lower bark thin dark brown scaly

Associated species

Cottonwood sweet gum river birch silver maple green ash pin oak

Ideal site conditions

Wet soil partial sun

Value to man

Landscaping wood products erosion

Value to wildlife

Dense cover

Growth Rate

Fast

Range

6

Box Elder httpenwikipediaorgwikiBoxelder

(Acer negundo)

Box elder is native to portions of the southern tier and Susquehana Valley but has become more broadly established throughout many parts of

the state Box elder grows commonly along the banks of streams and rivers and may occur as a weedy species in urban areas where its seeds

are able to germinate Box elder has a soft wood that has no commercial value but is important for wildlife and the stabilization of stream

banks where it grows Box elder is not recommended for horticultural plantings

Bark - smooth on younger trees but soon developing narrow ridges and shallow furrows Ridges and furrows are interlacing Bark on mature

trees is dark brown

Twigs - moderate to very stout smooth and covered with a waxy film giving the twig a shiny green to

purple color

Winter buds - white and covered with a

hairy scale Buds held tightly against the

twig Buds are located on the twig within leaf scars having a v-shaped notch

Leaves - pinnately compound and opposite usually 5 leaflets often resembles poison ivy which has

alternate pinnately (3 leaflets) compound leaves

Fruit - large clusters of V-shaped samaras mature in autumn

Outstanding features - pinnately compound leaves purple to green twigs ridged and furrowed bark

7

American Elm httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp28htm

Ulmus americana generally known as the American Elm or less commonly as the White Elm or Water Elm is a species

native to eastern North America occurring from Nova Scotia west as far as British Columbia from northern Alberta at the top of

its range south to Florida and central Texas It is an extremely hardy tree that can withstand winter temperatures as low as minus42 degC

(minus44 degF) Trees in areas unaffected by Dutch elm disease can live for several hundred years A prime example of the species was

the Sauble Elm [3] which grew in Ontario Canada to a height of 43 m (140 ft) with a dbh of 196 cm (643 ft) before

succumbing to Dutch elm disease Felled in 1968 a tree-ring count established that it had germinated in 1701

The American Elm is a deciduous tree which before the advent of Dutch elm disease commonly grew to gt 30 m (100 ft) tall with

a trunk gt 12 m (4 ft) dbh

Bark

The crown forms a high spreading canopy with open air space beneath The leaves are alternate 7ndash20 cm long with double-

serrate margins and an oblique base The tree is hermaphroditic having perfect flowers ie with both male and female parts and

is therefore capable of self-pollination The flowers are small purple-brown and being wind-pollinated are apetalous they

emerge in early spring before the leaves The fruit is a flat samara 2 cm long and 15 cm broad with a circular wing surrounding

the single 4ndash5 mm seed

Leaves

As in the closely related European White Elm U laevis the flowers and seeds are borne on 1ndash3 cm long stems American Elm is

wholly insensitive to daylight length (photoperiod) and will continue to grow well into autumn until injured by frost [2]

The tree reaches sexual maturity at around 15 years of age and is unique within the genus in being tetraploid ie having double

the usual number of chromosomes However nowadays it is uncommon for the tree to reach over 10 years of age such is its

susceptibility to Dutch elm disease

8

Slippery Elm httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp28htm

The Slippery Elm Ulmus rubra[2]

is a species of elm native to eastern North America (from southeast North Dakota east to

southern Quebec south to northernmost Florida and west to eastern Texas) It is similar to American Elm in general appearance

but more closely related to the European Wych Elm which has a very similar flower structure Other common names include Red

Elm Gray Elm Soft Elm Moose Elm and Indian Elm

The Slippery Elm is a deciduous tree which can grow to 20 m in height with a 50 cm dbh The tree has a different branching

pattern to the other American species and its heartwood is reddish-brown giving the tree its alternative common name Red Elm

The leaves are 10-18 cm long and have a rough texture coarsely double-serrate margin and an oblique base The perfect wind-

pollinated apetalous flowers are produced before the leaves in early spring usually in clusters of 10-20 The fruit is an oval

winged samara 20 mm long and containing a single central seed Slippery Elm may be distinguished from American Elm by the

hairiness of the buds and twigs (both smooth on the American Elm) and by its very short-stalked flowers

9

Hackberry httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubshackberryhtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp31htm

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry is a common bottomland species found over the entire state It does very well in prairie regions of the state and is used in windbreak plantings A

variety of birds eat the fruit

Identifying Characteristics

Height

90 ft

Spread

90 ft

Leaves

alternate simple 2 - 5 long oval usually sharply toothed leaf base unequal sided shiny green

Flowers

l8 greenish at base of young leaves

Fruit

l4 - 38 in diameter orange-red to dark purple one-seeded berry

Bark

gray smooth often with corky warts or ridges becoming scaly on old trees

Associated species

green ash silver maple red mulberry sycamore

Ideal site conditions

wide range partial sun

Value to man

landscaping wood products windbreaks

Value to wildlife

foodcover

Growth Rate

medium

Range

10

Black Willow httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp9htm

Salix nigra (Black Willow) is a species of willow native to eastern North America from New Brunswick and southern Ontario

west to Minnesota and south to northern Florida and Texas[2]

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree the largest North American species of willow growing to 10-30 m tall exceptionally up to 45

m with a trunk 50ndash80 cm diameter The bark is dark brown to blackish becoming fissured in older trees The shoots are slender

variable in color from green to brown yellow or purplish they are (like the related European Salix fragilis) brittle at the base

snapping evenly at the branch junction if bent sharply The foliage buds are small 2ndash4 mm long with a single pointed reddish-

brown bud scale The leaves are alternate long thin 5-15 cm long and 05-2 cm broad usually somewhat falcate dark shiny

green on both sides or with a lighter green underside with a finely serrated margin a short petiole and a pair of small stipules It is

dioecious with small green flowers borne on catkins 25-75 cm long in early spring at the same time as the new leaves appear

The fruit is a 5 mm capsule which splits open when mature to release the numerous minute down-covered seeds It is typically

found along streams and in swamps[3][4][5]

11

Bur Oak httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsburoakhtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp21htm

Quercus macrocarpa

Bur oak grows on both upland and lowland sites but does best on rich moist soils The acorns of bur oak distinguished by the very deep fringed cup are the

largest of all native oaks Its wood is similar to white oak and is used in the manufacture of watertight barrels

Identifying Characteristics

Height

85 ft

Spread

85 ft

Leaves

alternate simple 6 - 12 long 5-9 rounded lobes broadest above the middle dark green

Flowers

male flowers in yellow-green catkins female flowers inconspicuous

Fruit

acorn 34 - 2 in diameter with a fringed cap enclosing l2 to 34 of the acorn

Bark

light gray-brown thick divided into large broken ridges at maturity branches with corky ridges

Associated species

shagbark and shellbark hickory hackberry northern red oak

Ideal site conditions

moist soil full sun

Value to man

landscaping wood products

Value to wildlife

food cover dens

Growth Rate

slow

Range

12

White Oak httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp19htm

Quercus alba

The most important hardwood lumber tree in the United States and Missouri setting the standard of lumber for all other oaks The wood is outstanding for

making tight barrels for whiskey and other liquids It makes its best growth in deep moist well-drained soils of coves and bottomland benches but is found on

a variety of sites throughout the state

Identifying Characteristics

Height

85 ft

Spread

85 ft

Leaves

alternate simple 5 - 9 long 7-9 rounded lobes edges smooth bright green

Flowers

male flowers in yellow-green catkins female flowers inconspicuous

Fruit

acorn 34 long shiny brown with a thick warty cap

Bark

light gray rough with long loose scales becoming blocky on very old trees

Associated species

black oak northern red oak hickory black-gum flowering dogwood

Ideal site conditions

moist soil partial sun

Value to man

landscaping wood products

Value to wildlife

food cover dens

Growth Rate

slow

Range

13

Swamp White Oak httpenwikipediaorgwikiSwamp_white_oak

The Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) is a species of oak in the white oak section Quercus section Quercus primarily found

in the Midwestern and Eastern Seaboard regions of North America from southernmost Quebec and southern Maine west to

southern Minnesota It is rare south of the Ohio River As its name implies it is a tree of wetlands but grows farther north than the

other wetland white oaks (Swamp Chestnut Oak and Overcup Oak) It is not a large tree typically growing to 20-25m tall with

the tallest known reaching 29m

Swamp White Oak leaves

The bark resembles the White Oak The leaves are broad ovoid 12-18 cm long and 7-11 cm broad always more or less glaucous

on the underside and are shallowly lobed with five to seven lobes on each side intermediate between the Chestnut Oak and the

White Oak In autumn they turn brown yellow-brown or sometimes reddish but generally the color is not as reliable or as

brilliant as White Oak can be The fruit is an acorn 15-2 cm (rarely 25 cm) long and 1-2 cm broad maturing about 6 months

after pollination

It forms hybrids with Bur Oak where they occur together in the wild

14

Black Walnut httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsblackwalnuthtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp11htm

Juglans nigra

Black walnut is one of the scarcest and most valuable native hardwoods It is prized for its nuts and lumber Walnut grows best on deep alluvial soils It is very

site sensitive and growth rates decline rapidly with poorer site quality A chemical in the leaves and nuts will kill some plants such as tomatoes and apples

Special notes black walnut is the state tree nut

Identifying Characteristics

Height

85 ft

Spread

85 ft

Leaves

alternate compound 12 - 24 long with 13-23 leaflets each leaflet 2 - 4 long lance-shaped edges finely toothed yellow-green

Flowers

yellow-green catkin

Fruit

nut 1 - 1 l2 in diameter covered with a thick yellow-green fibrous husk

Bark

young bark smooth and gray older bark dark brown and furrowed

Associated species

northern red oak white oak tulip tree

Ideal site conditions

moist soil full sun

Value to man

food wood products

Value to wildlife

food cover dens

Growth Rate

medium

Range

15

Bitternut Hickory httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp16htm

THERE ARE SEVEN READILY recognizable hickories in Missouri but bitternut hickory is the only hickory tree which has long sulphur-yellow colored

buds It is widely distributed over the state

The nut is nearly globe-shaped and covered by a thin husk which is partially winged along the lines where it splits The kernel is bitter but the squirrels dont

seem to mind it For them it is an important winter food which they store in hollow trees and bury in the ground Forgotten buried nuts become new trees The

leaf ranging from 6 to 10 inches long is compound with 7 to 9 elliptically shaped leaflets They are usually broadest above the center with toothed edges

These leaflets are supported from hairy stalks and are dark yellow-green and smooth above pale and slightly hairy below

In winter this tree can be identified by its slender pale gray twigs which are dotted with corky rises The bark is nearly smooth and light gray when young

remaining on the trunk for several years As the tree ages the bark becomes shallowly furrowed with thin interconnecting ridges

Small bitternut hickory trees will grow in dense shade under the tops of sugar maple white oak white ash and black walnut among others and still survive It

is a moderately fast growing tree but short lived compared with other hickories

Bitternut hickory wood is used to some degree in making handles but is used largely for making charcoal for outdoor barbecuing This wood smoke gives meat

a rich flavor and aroma Some meats are smoke cured with hickory because of its distinctive taste It also makes an excellent fuelwood for cook stoves

furnaces or fireplaces

16

Shellbark Hickory httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsshellbarkhickoryhtml

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp13htm

Carya laciniosa

Shellbark hickory sometimes called big shagbark hickory is the largest of the true hickories Shellbark hickory is found in the fertile bottomland soils along

rivers and streams It occurs throughout most of Missouri with the exception of the Ozarks Shellbark hickory can be distinguished from shagbark hickory by

the larger leaves greater number of leaflets large nuts and orange twigs Special notes this is the best tasting of Missouri hickory nuts

Identifying Characteristics

Height

90 ft

Spread

50 ft

Leaves

alternate compound 12 - 24 long 7 leaflets each leaflet 5 - 9 long oval broadest above the middle edges finely toothed dark green

Flowers

male flowers in catkins female flowers in spikes at the end of branches

Fruit

nut 1 34 -2 l2 in diameter covered with a thick 4-part husk

Bark

similar to shagbark hickory

Associated species

green ash shagbark hickory Shumard oak white oak sweetgum

Ideal site conditions

moist soil partial sun

Value to man

food wood products

Value to wildlife

food cover dens

Growth Rate

slow

Range

17

River Birch httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsriverbirchhtml

Betula nigra

River birch is the only birch native to Missouri It is found throughout Missouri in lowlands and along streambanks Its ability to thrive on wet sites makes it

useful for streambank stabilization The attractive bark and its resistance to borers make river birch the preferred birch for landscaping

Identifying Characteristics

Height

60 ft

Spread

40 ft

Leaves

alternate simple 1 l2 - 3 long oval to triangular with a sharp point at tip edges doubly toothed dark green above pale yellow-green below

Flowers

flowers in catkins

Fruit

1 long cone-like clusters of small winged seeds

Bark

light reddish-brown to cinnamon colored peels off in thin papery layers

Associated species

sweetgum pin oak silver maple green ash cottonwood

Ideal site conditions

moist soilfull sun

Value to man

landscaping erosion

Value to wildlife

dens

Growth Rate

fast

Range

18

Kentucky Coffeetree httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubskentuckycoffeetreehtml

Gymnocladus dioicus

Kentucky coffeetree is distributed throughout the state although it is most common in the western part of Missouri It rarely grows in pure stands and is usually

found growing with other hardwoods It is a legume and the large persistent seedpods and short heavy twigs make this tree distinctive in winter

Identifying Characteristics

Height

85 ft

Spread

65 ft

Leaves

alternate doubly compound 12 - 30 long the axes with 3-8 pairs of side axes leaflets 1 - 3 long oval dull green

Flowers

male and female flowers on separate trees 58 - 34 long greenish-white with narrow tube and 4-5 spreading petals

Fruit

dark brown heavy wooden pod 4 - 7 long seeds 34 in diameter shiny dark brown

Bark

gray deeply furrowed into narrow scaly ridges often curling up on one edge

Associated species

green ash silver maple black walnut hackberry

Ideal site conditions

moist soilfull sun

Value to man

landscapingwindbreakserosion

Value to wildlife

food

Growth Rate

slow

Range

19

Understory Trees

Sandbar Willow httpwwwagndsuedutreeshandbookth-3-65pdf

Sandbar Willow (Salix interior)

General Description

A medium shrub native along riverbanks lakes and sloughs throughout most of North Dakota Suckers profusely

Leaves and Buds

Bud Arrangement - Alternate

Bud Color - Greenish-yellow

Bud Size - 18 to 14 inch long

Leaf Type and Shape - Linear to linear-lanceolate

Leaf Margins - Sharply toothed the teeth larger farther apart than on most willows

Leaf Surface - Smooth slightly pubescent on juvenile growth

Leaf Length - 2 to 4 inches

Leaf Width - 14 to 12 inch

Leaf Color - Green paler beneath

Flowers and Fruits

Flower Type - 34 to 2 inches long catkins on new leafy branches

Flower Color - Yellowish-green

Fruit Type - Capsule seed attached to cottony hairs

Fruit Color - Brown and white

Form

Growth Habit - Medium shrub rounded suckers to form a thicket of wispy slender stems

Texture - Fine summer medium-fine winter

Crown Height - 5 to 10 feet

Crown Width - 5 to 10 feet

Bark Color - Brownish-tan

Root System - Fibrous spreading

Environmental Requirements

Soils

Soil Texture - Performs best on deep moist loams found along stream beds Soil pH - 55 to 80 Adaptable to moderately high pH soils Windbreak

Suitability Groups- 1 1K 2 2K 2H

Cold Hardiness

USDA Zone 3

Water

Does well in moist sites and survives severe flooding Not drought tolerant

Light

Full sun

21

Sandbar Willow httpwwwagndsuedutreeshandbookth-3-65pdf

Sandbar Willow (Salix interior)

General Description

A medium shrub native along riverbanks lakes and sloughs throughout most of North Dakota Suckers profusely

Leaves and Buds

Bud Arrangement - Alternate

Bud Color - Greenish-yellow

Bud Size - 18 to 14 inch long

Leaf Type and Shape - Linear to linear-lanceolate

Leaf Margins - Sharply toothed the teeth larger farther apart than on most willows

Leaf Surface - Smooth slightly pubescent on juvenile growth

Leaf Length - 2 to 4 inches

Leaf Width - 14 to 12 inch

Leaf Color - Green paler beneath

Flowers and Fruits

Flower Type - 34 to 2 inches long catkins on new leafy branches

Flower Color - Yellowish-green

Fruit Type - Capsule seed attached to cottony hairs

Fruit Color - Brown and white

Form

Growth Habit - Medium shrub rounded suckers to form a thicket of wispy slender stems

Texture - Fine summer medium-fine winter

Crown Height - 5 to 10 feet

Crown Width - 5 to 10 feet

Bark Color - Brownish-tan

Root System - Fibrous spreading

Environmental Requirements

Soils

Soil Texture - Performs best on deep moist loams found along stream beds Soil pH - 55 to 80 Adaptable to moderately high pH soils Windbreak

Suitability Groups- 1 1K 2 2K 2H

Cold Hardiness

USDA Zone 3

Water

Does well in moist sites and survives severe flooding Not drought tolerant

Light

Full sun

21

Gray Dogwood httpplantsusdagovfactsheetpdffs_cora6pdf

Uses

Gray dogwood is useful as a low-growing wild hedge which provides summer food and some cover for small animals and birds

Status Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plantrsquos current status (eg threatened or endangered species

state noxious status and wetland indicator values)

Description

Cornus racemosa Lam gray dogwood is a thickly branched slow growing dogwood seldom more than 6 feet high at maturity Its flowers which bloom in

June or July are white and loosely clustered and its white fruit which appears in September and October is set off by bright red fruit-stalks Its leaves are

opposite taper-pointed and oval

Adaptation Gray dogwood has a range of adaptability equaled by few other shrubs and it tolerates many climatic conditions Tolerance to shade is considered

intermediate It is not well adapted to coastal plain conditions

Gray dogwood is distributed throughout the northeastern United States For a current distribution map please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on

the PLANTS Website

Establishment Only seedlings of gray dogwood are practical All should be planted as early in the spring as possible When using dogwood for streambank planting eroded or

steep banks should be graded before planting Plant in the early spring with dormant planting stock Planting after May will severely reduce chances for

success One-year rooted cuttings or seedlings can be planted vertically into the bank with one or two inches of cutting wood protruding They should be stuck

in a hole large enough to accommodate the root system when well spread The soil must be tamped well around the roots Fresh unrooted hardwood cuttings

easier to handle but less reliable should be stuck vertically into the bank leaving one to two inches above ground A dibble can be used to make a hole Tamp

adequately to provide complete contact between the cutting and the soil Cuttings may also be buried horizontally two inches deep in damp soil if the ground is

stony Fresh hardwood cuttings 38 to 12 inch at the thick end 9 inches long and made while dormant are ideal Without cold storage planting should be

done as soon as possible after cutting Plant both rooted cuttings and unrooted hardwood cuttings on 2 feet spacing in a diamond pattern When using for

wildlife or screening purposes the planting site should be cultivated to destroy existing vegetation If not the sod should be removed from an area two feet

across for each plant The holes should be deep enough to allow for the full extension of the roots Spacing for hedges and screens should be staggered and 2 x

2 feet and 4 to 5 feet for windbreaks A small handful of fertilizer can be placed around each plant

Management Dogwoods used on streambanks are subject to mechanical damage The site should be inspected annually for needed repairs in the spring after heavy runoff or

ice floes Fill in gaps by replanting or by laying down and covering branches of nearby plants Any mechanical measures used to control the bank Chris Miller

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program such as riprap must be kept in repair to maintain effective protection

Competing vegetation should be controlled around all dogwood plants used for hedges screens etc This is particularly important during the first few years

after planting

Pests and Potential Problems

There are currently no serious pests of gray dogwood

Cultivars Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) No cultivars are available at this time however common seedlings are available at most commercial hardwood nurseries

Prepared By amp Species Coordinator USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

22

Swamp Dogwood httpplantsusdagovfactsheetpdffs_cofopdf

Uses Wildlife Fruits are eaten by several species of birds including quail catbirds mockingbirds robins and brown thrashers

Recreation and Beautification Excellent landscape tree for its very attractive form and profuse white flowers Frequently used for massing or naturalizing

screen and border

Status Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plantrsquos current status (eg threatened or endangered species

state noxious status and wetland indicator values)

Description Cornus foemina P Mill swamp dogwood is primarily found along the coastal plain from eastern Virginia to central Florida west to Louisiana and north to

southeastern Missouri It is a deciduous small tree to large shrub growing to 15 ft in height with multiple trunks 4 inches in diameter Its bark is thick and

smooth frequently furrowed with shallow ridges exposing gray inner bark The plantrsquos leaves are opposite and oval-shaped with smooth margins Flowers are

creamy white loose and small they occur in flat topped clusters without showy bracts Fruits are small open clusters of bluish to purple drupes (fleshy one-

seeded fruits)

Adaptation and Distribution

Swamp dogwood generally grows in swampy low wetland habitats barrier islands and along streams riverbanks marshes and creeks It is found growing

along ditches on the second road back from the ocean at Emerald Isle and found to exhibit moderate salt tolerance

Swamp dogwood is distributed throughout most of the southeast United States For a current distribution map please consult the Plant Profile page for this

species on the PLANTS Website

Establishment Like most dogwoods this species can be grown easily from seeds collected from mature native trees and from softwood cuttings Seeds at maturity must be

either planted immediately or prechilled Seeds sown in nursery beds should be covered with frac14 to frac12 inch of soil and mulched during the winter

Management Plant in moist soils in full sun to partial shade as it is tolerant to wet andor low fertility soils It requires little maintenance in naturalized settings When used

for massing pruning to within a few inches of the ground every few years promotes fullness

Pests and Potential Problems

This plant has no serious insects and diseases except occasional infestation by scale insects and leaf spot

Cultivars Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) None recommended Plants are not readily available from nurseries

Prepared By amp Species Coordinator USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

23

Pawpaw

httpwwwcesncsuedudeptshortconsumerfactsheetstrees-newasimina_trilobahtml

Hardiness Zones 5-9

Habit Deciduous

Growth Rate Moderate

Site Requirements Sun to partial shade moist well drained soil

Texture Medium to coarse

Form Multistemmed with short trunk and spreading branches

Height 15 to 30

Width 15 to 20

Leaf 6 to 12 alternate simple leaves has an unpleasant odor when crushed yellow fall foliage

FlowerFruit Maroon flowers in early spring 3 to 5 yellowish green fruit ripens to dark brown with yellow pulp taste similar to

banana

Comments Native difficult to transplant best used along edges of property may form clumps from root sprouts larva food for

zebra swallowtail butterflies

24

Ohio Buckeye

httpwwwagndsuedutreeshandbookth-3-109pdf

(Aesculus glabra)

General Description

A medium-sized tree with an oval to rounded crown Unique characteristics include palmate compound leaves terminal candle-like flowers and large globose

fruits The largest tree in North Dakota is 49 feet tall with a canopy spread of 38 feet

Leaves and Buds

Bud Arrangement - Opposite

Bud Color - Brown prominent scales

Bud Size - Large 12 to 1-15 inches long

Leaf Type and Shape - Palmate compound leaves with 5 and rarely 7 leaflets leaflets are elliptic to obovate

Leaf Margins - Acuminate cuneate and finely serrate

Leaf Surface - Pubescent when young beneath nearly glabrous when mature

Leaf Length - 6 to 9 inches leaflets 3 to 5 inches

Leaf Width - 5 to 6 inches leaflets 1 to 2 inches

Leaf Color - Medium green yellow to amber fall color

Flowers and Fruits

Flower Type - Upright panicles

Flower Color - Greenish-yellow

Fruit Type - Obovoid capsule dehiscent 1 to 2 inches long with a prickly husk

Fruit Color - Light brown nutlike ovule or ldquobuckeyerdquo dark brown glossy

Form

Growth Habit - Dense broad-oblong crowns becoming rounded with age

Texture - Medium-coarse summer coarse winter

Crown Height - 20 to 40 feet

Crown Width - 20 to 35 feet

Bark Color - Thick ashy gray deeply furrowed and plated

Root System - Forms a tap root

Environmental Requirements

Soils

Soil Texture - Adapted to a variety of soils prefers moist loams Leaf scorch is a problem on dry sites

Soil pH - 50 to 75

Windbreak Suitability Group - 1 3 4 4C

Cold Hardiness

USDA Zone 3

Water

Not drought resistant Needs adequate moisture during drought or leaf scorch may become a problem

25

Additional Riparian

Oak Trees

Overcup Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

(Quercus lyrata)

Leaves Lobed with irregular broad lobes of varying depths Leaf is dark green and shiny above light green and

hairy beneath

Bark Brownish-gray and rough with large irregular plates or ridges

Acorns Up to 1-inch in diameter almost entirely enclosed in a deep unfringed cup

Restricted to southeast bottomlands and a few localities in east-central Missouri

27

Overcup Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

(Quercus lyrata)

Leaves Lobed with irregular broad lobes of varying depths Leaf is dark green and shiny above light green and

hairy beneath

Bark Brownish-gray and rough with large irregular plates or ridges

Acorns Up to 1-inch in diameter almost entirely enclosed in a deep unfringed cup

Restricted to southeast bottomlands and a few localities in east-central Missouri

27

Post Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

httpmdcmogovnathisplantpagefloramotreesp20htm

(Quercus stellata) - Grows in dry and rocky upland woods to 60 feet tall Characteristics similar to white oak

Although it is found in nearly every county of the state it is most common in the Ozarks

Leaves Usually with five lobes two of which above the middle of the leaf are broad forming a cross with the

axis of the leaf These and the top lobe are normally slightly indented

Bark Light brown divided by deep fissures and scaly ridges

Acorns Small to 34-inch long the cup overs one-third to one-half of the nut

The name post oak indicates that the wood used to made into fence posts

The Latin Stellata means star referring to the starlike tufts of hair on the surfaces of the leaf

SAWMILL MEN GROUP POST OAK with other white oaks in the manufacture of lumber since the wood properties

are similar Woods fires scar the trunks or trees exposing live wood This makes an easy opening for decay to hollow

the center of wounded trees As a result of this decay final gross board-foot volume is reduced

Probably the key identifying feature of post oak is its cross-shaped leaf Being alternate and simple it usually has five

lobes is shiny green and fuzzy yellow below

The acorn is 34 inch log and 12 inch wide It is enclosed for about one-third of its length in a bowl-shaped cup Forest

wildlife such as the gray and fox squirrel raccoon quail deer wild turkey and ruffed grouse make this acorn a part of

their diet

Twigs are moderately stout orange-tan in color They are wooly at first darker and smooth later The buds are globe to

egg-shaped and wooly The bark is light brown and divided by deep furrows and scaly ridges

Found in almost every county in the state post oak seldom exceeds 60 feet in height Many poor timber growing areas

support stands of post and blackjack oak Under average conditions post oak is a very slow growing tree

Post oak wood is used for the same purposes as white oak except for stave bolts because of defects

28

Dwarf Chestnut Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

(Quercus prinoides) - (also know as dwarf chinkapin or scrub oak) Grows as a multi-stemmed shrub only a few feet

tall or as a small tree Usually found in prairies and open areas of north Missouri

Leaves Similar to those of chinkapin oak but smaller and usually with more blunt lobes Leaf is green above

lighter-colored and hairy beneath

Bark Brownish-gray becoming rough or scaly on older wood

Acorns About frac12-inch in diameter with small warty scales on cup This is the shortest of Missouris oaks and it

can produce abundant acorns although only 3 to 10 feet tall

29

Pin Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryr_oakhtm

httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubspinoakhtml

(Quercus Palustris) - Under natural conditions a medium-size treemdash50- to 70-feet tallmdashmoist valleys along streams

ponds and swamps but also sometimes on dry locations The lower branches spread downward covering a large area

Pin oak grows faster than other oak species and has become a much planted ornamental Grows throughout most of

Missouri but absent from the Ozark Plateau and southwestern counties Many specimens provide good fall coloration

Palustris Latin marshy

Height - 65 ft

Spread - 65 ft

Leaves - alternate simple 3 - 7 long 5-7 bristle-tipped toothed lobes lobes deeply divided shiny dark green

Flowers - male flowers in yellow-green catkins female flowers inconspicuous

Fruit - acorn Rounded often striped with many dark lines with a thin saucer-shaped cup

Bark - thin smooth gray bark on young trees older bark shallowly fissured

Associated species - pecan bur oak river birch cottonwood sweetgum

Ideal site conditions - wet soil full sun

Value to man - landscaping wood products windbreaks

Value to wildlife - food cover dens

Growth Rate - fast

Range

30

Nuttall Oak httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsnuttalloakhtml

Quercus texana

Nuttall oak was not recognized as a separate species until 1927 It grows on the poorly drained clay flats and low

bottoms of the Bootheel Its leaves and bark are similar to pin oak a tree it is easily confused with Nuttall oak may be

distinguished from pin oak by its more elongated acorn

Identifying Characteristics

Height 95 ft

Spread 80 ft

Leaves alternate simple 4 - 8 long deeply divided into 5-7 narrow long-pointed lobes ending in a few bristle-tipped

teeth wide sinuses between lobes

Flowers male flowers in yellow-green catkins female flowers inconspicuous

Fruit acorn 34 - 1 l4 long oblong usually dark-striped 14 - l2 enclosed by a deep thick cup

Bark gray and smooth becoming dark and furrowed into flat scaly ridges

Associated species green ash sweetgum baldcypress bur oak silver maple

Ideal site conditions wet soil full sun

Value to man landscaping wood products windbreaks

Value to wildlife food cover dens

Growth Rate fast

Range

31

Willow Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryr_oakhtm

(Quercus phellos)

A medium-size oak to 75 feet tall growing on poorly drained soils and swampy woods Restricted to southeast

Missouri May do well when planted as ornamental throughout Missouri

Leaves Narrow lance-shaped willowlike much narrower than the similar shingle-oak leaves light green above

with a pointed tip

Bark Smooth and gray on young trees later becoming darker and breaking into thick rough ridges separated by

irregular fissures

Acorns Small only one-half-inch long pale brownish-yellow with striped nuts The bitter nuts are important food

for ducks

Phellos Greek means cork

32

Cherrybark Oak httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubscherrybarkoakhtml

Quercus pagoda

Cherrybark oak is found in the bottomland forests of southeast Missouri It prefers rich well-drained bottomland soils

It is among the largest of the southern oaks and its wood is rated superior to any of the other oaks in the South

Identifying Characteristics

Height 100 ft

Spread 90 ft

Leaves alternate simple variable in shape 5-11 irregular lobes with the top of the lobes at nearly right angles to the

midrib shiny dark green above pale and hairy below

Flowers male flowers in yellow-green catkins female flowers inconspicuous

Fruit acorn l2 in diameter l2 enclosed with a flat saucer-shaped cup

Bark nearly black broken into shallow fissures on older trees resembling the bark of black cherry

Associated species shellbark hickory sweetgum Shumard oak tulip tree white oak

Ideal site conditions wet soil full sun

Value to man landscaping wood products erosion

Value to wildlife food cover dens

Growth Rate fast

Range

33

Shumard Oak httpwwwmdcmogovforestIandEMOConservationTreesAndShrubsshumardoakhtml

Quercus shumardii

Shumard oak is one of the largest of the southern red oaks It extends northward into central and southern Missouri and

is found along drainages and river bottoms The wood is commercially valuable and it also makes a handsome shade

tree

Identifying Characteristics

Height 90 ft

Spread 90 ft

Leaves alternate simple 3 - 7 long deeply divided into 5-9 lobes with bristle-tipped teeth shiny dark green above

Flowers male flowers in yellow-green catkins female flowers inconspicuous

Fruit acorn 58 - 1 long l4 - 13 enclosed by a shallow cup

Bark gray and smooth becoming dark gray and slightly furrowed into ridges

Associated species northern red oak white oak hickory white ash flowering dogwood

Ideal site conditions moist soil partial sun

Value to man landscaping wood products windbreaks

Value to wildlife food cover dens

Growth Rate medium

Range

34

Chinkapin Oak httpmdcmogovforestIandEoak_hickoryw_oakhtm

Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) - (also known as chestnut oak Steyermark Q prinoides) Grows both

on dry rocky uplands and moist bottomlands throughout Missouri to 100 feet tall

Leaves Coarsely serrated (like saw teeth) along entire margin either narrow or wide oblong wider above the

middle ending in a pointed tooth (but no bristles)

Bark Ashy gray rough and flaky

Acorns Small to 34-inch long dark chestnut colored the cup usually with a short fringe covering one-third to

one-half of the nut

Chinkapin is the name of a shrubby chestnut which has leaves similar to this oak

Muehlenbergii (often misspelled) for the botanist Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muehlenberg 1753-1815

35