Native Trees to Plant
SELECTING TREES TO PLANT IN THE SPRING:
Common considerations for West Newbury residents are: (1) planting native trees to enhance wildlife habitat; and (2) selecting fast-growing trees. Both considerations are important as we seek to enhance forest health and wildlife habitat, promote resilience to climate change, and enhance carbon sequestration. Cornell University Botanic Gardens has a list of native trees and shrubs that should be suitable for our planting zone (5B-6A). When choosing what tree to plant and where to plant it, remember also to consider the need for full versus partial sunlight, wet versus dry soils, and the ultimate height and width of the mature tree.
NATIVE TREES SUITABLE FOR OUR PLANTING ZONE:
MAPLES: Red maple (Acer rubrum), Sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), Mountain maple (Acer spicatum). [also Silver maple, Acer saccharinum]
BIRCHES: Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Black or sweet birch (Betula lenta)
HICKORIES: Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
OAKS: White oak (Quercus alba), Chestnut oak (Quercus montana), Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Red oak (Quercus rubra), Black oak (Quercus velutina)
CONIFERS: Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), White pine (Pinus strobus)
OTHER TREES: Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Black walnut (Juglans nigra), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), Black tupelo, Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Basswood or linden (Tilia americana), Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).
NATIVE UNDERSTORY TREES AND SHRUBS
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), Yellow honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), Maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago), Fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis), Swamp rose (Rosa palustris), Pasture rose (Rosa carolina), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana).
FAST GROWING TREES
NATIVE SPECIES: Silver Maple, Black Willow, Quaking Aspen, Red Maple (many cultivars), Eastern Arborvitae, River Birch, Pin Oak, Red Oak, Tulip Poplar, American Basswood (Linden), Sweetgum.
NON-NATIVE SPECIES: Hybrid Poplar, Weeping Willow, Dawn Redwood (?), Leyland Cypress.