Landscape
And
Nursery
Dialog

Mary Ann Rose
Commercial Landscape
& Nursery Specialist
The Ohio State University
October, 1998

Preserving Ohio's natural heritage with native trees
Keywords: landscape, plant selection
W hile driving through Ohio's rural landscape of corn and soy fields, it's hard to imagine that this land was once a vast forest from one end to the other, broken occasionally by a clearing or remnant prairie. Journals of the early pioneers described how hard it was to dispel feelings of apprehension while traveling through the forest; that endless, dark, and eerie otherworld. But how I wish for a moment I could experience that mysterious twilight world!

Planting an oak in our backyard will not bring back the primeval forest; nonetheless, a positive aspect of what I'll call the native plant movement is fostering an appreciation of our natural heritage. This should be a strong selling point for native plants, - not the old saw that they are all easier to grow and pest free. While many native shrubs and prairie plants may fit into the tough-plant/easy-to-grow category, this isn't a given with native trees. In fact, many of them are a challenge to grow and even harder to transplant. Hence, some native trees are hard to find in the trade.

As a general rule, native trees will make the best growth on deep, fertile, moist, but well- drained soils that are rich in organic matter. This describes the natural woodland environment, but not most landscapes. Man has done more than simply take a chainsaw to the forest trees. The natural cycle of decay that returns organic matter to the soil has been disrupted. The once deep, rich forest soils have been eroded by agriculture, or have been removed outright in advance of urban development. After development, there may be little more than compacted, high pH subsoil left to the landscape. After planting, trees are confronted with highly competitive turfgrass.

The bottom line is that appropriate siting of native trees is just as important as for exotics. Native trees vary in their tolerance of urban conditions, wet, dry, or compacted soils, high or low pH, sun or shade. The following tables are offered as a guide to some of these characteristics. Table I lists trees which will grow in slightly acidic to neutral soils. Table II lists trees which have a requirement for acid soil; when these trees are grown in alkaline soil, chlorosis may develop. Drought resistance that is noted for some species applies only to established trees; they may be quite susceptible to drought if newly-planted. Where 'urban-tolerant' is indicated, this suggests some tolerance of heat, pollution, low-organic matter soil, and compaction. For more information on natives, including shrubs and herbaceous plants, Bulletin 865 The Native Plants of Ohio is available from any Ohio State University Extension Office.

Table I. Native trees adaptable to slightly acid - alkaline soils (pH above 6.5)

Flowering trees Common name Comments

Amelanchior arborea Downy serviceberry Fairly tolerant of urban conditions. Prefers slightly acid soil.

Cercis canadensis Eastern redbud Relatively short-lived understory tree.

Crataegus phaenopyrum Washington hawthorne Urban tolerant, but prone to pests & disease

Crataegus crus-galli Cockspur hawthorne Urban tolerant, but prone to pests & disease
Malus coronaria Crabapple Use disease resistant Malus cultivars rather than this species. Malus spp. tolerate urban, droughty sites.

Shade trees Common name Comments

Acer x freemani Freeman maple A natural cross of A. saccharum and A. saccharinum that is more tolerant of urban conditions that A. saccharum.

A. nigrum Black maple Closely related to A. saccharum, but reportedly more urban-tolerant.

A. negundo Boxelder Tolerates urban, wet, or droughty sites. Weedy, less desirable maple.

A. saccharinum Silver maple Tolerates urban, wet sites. Weak wood.

A. saccharum Sugar maple Urban intolerant. Shade tolerant. Mulching and keeping turf away will help reduce stress.
Aesculus glabra Ohio buckeye Urban intolerant. Pest, disease, leaf scorch susceptible.

Aesculus flava Yellow buckeye Fewer pests than A. glabra.

Asimina triloba Common pawpaw Shade tolerant but needs moist, deep soil. Hard to transplant.

Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam Tolerates shade and wet soils.

Carya ovata Shagbark hickory Tolerates clay soil. Hard to translant.

Celtis occidentalis Common hackberry Drought and urban-tolerant.

Cladastris kentukea Yellowwood Needs full sun & well-drained soil.

Diospyros virginiana Persimmon Tolerates dry, urban, full-sun or pt. shade conditions. Hard to transplant.

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash Tolerates dry urban conditions but overused.

Fraxinus quadrangulata Blue ash Tolerates dry, urban conditions.

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis Thornless honeylocust Tolerates dry, urban, highly alkaline soils but overused. Pest problems may be severe.

Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffeetree Tolerates dry, urban, highly alkaline soils.

Juglans nigra Black Walnut Prefers rich deep soils. Hard to transplant.

Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum Prefers slightly acid soil. Needs plenty of room. Somewhat hard to transplant, drought sensitive.

Liriodendron tulipifera Tuliptree See notes for Liquidambar styraciflua

Magnolia acuminata Cucumbertree magnolia Tolerates part shade and clay soils. Intolerant of moisture extremes. Prefers slightly acid soil.

Magnolia tripetala Umbrella magnolia Huge leaves on a small tree. See M. acum.

Ostrya virginiana American hophornbeam Understory tree, part shade or sun. Urban tolerant. Prefers slightly acid, moist soil. Salt intolerant.

Quercus bicolor Swamp white oak Tolerates dry and wet sites. Tolerance of slightly acid or neutral pH soils probably depends on seed source.

Quercus imbricaria Shingle oak Prefers slightly acid soils. Drought, urban tolerant.

Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak Drought, urban, alkaline soil tolerant. Hard to transplant.

Q. muehlenbergii Chinkapin oak Drought, alkaline soil tolerant. Hard to transplant.

Q. shumardii Shumard red oak Drought, urban tolerant. Tolerance of slightly acid or neutral pH soils probably depends on seed source.

Rhus typhina Staghorn sumac Tolerates dry soils.

Tilia americana Basswood Tolerates dry soil, part shade or full sun.

Evergreens Common name Comments
Juniperus virginiana Eastern redcedar Drought, urban tolerant. Needs sun and good drainage.

Thuja occidentalis Eastern arborvitae Tolerates urban, alkaline soils. Needs moist soil.

Table II. Native trees that do best in acid soils (pH 6.5 or below)

Flowering trees Common name Comments

Chionanthus virginicus Fringetree Tolerant of wet, urban conditions. Needs sun. Relatively hard to transplant.

Cornus florida Flowering dogwood Understory tree that is intolerant of urban conditions. Needs, cool, moist site.

Halesia caroliniana Carolina silverbell Shade tolerant. See notes for C. florida.

Shade trees Common name Comments

Acer rubrum Red maple Tolerates wet sites. Among the maples, this species intermediate in urban-tolerance.

Betula lenta Sweet birch Prefers rich, moist soil but somewhat tolerant of dry heavy soil.

Betula nigra River birch Tolerates urban, wet, and seasonally dry conditions. Drops leaves in drought. Borer resistant.

Betula papyrifera Paperbark birch Urban intolerant. Needs cool, moist site. Better resistance to bronze birch borer than European or Asian white-barked birches.

Fagus grandifolia American beech Intolerant of construction or wet, compacted soils. Needs lots of room.

Nyssa sylvatica Blackgum Tolerates dry sites. Hard to transplant.

Oxydendron arboreum Sourwood/Sorreltree Urban intolerant. Sun or part shade.

Quercus palustris Pin oak Tolerates urban, wet, clay soils.

Q. rubra Red oak Tolerates urban, dry conditions.

Sassafras albidum Sassafras Difficult to transplant.

Evergreens Common name Comments

Larix laricina Eastern larch Urban intolerant. Prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil.

Pinus strobus White pine Drought tolerant ö but prefers cool, moist site. Intolerant of standing water and saltspray.

Tsuga canadensis Canada hemlock Intolerant of urban, wet sites. Prefers cool, moist, well drained soils and part shade.

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Flowering trees	Common name	Comments
Amelanchior arborea	Downy serviceberry	Fairly tolerant of urban conditions. Prefers slightly acid soil.
Cercis canadensis	Eastern redbud	Relatively short-lived understory tree.
Crataegus phaenopyrum	Washington hawthorne	Urban tolerant, but prone to pests & disease
Crataegus crus-galli	Cockspur hawthorne	Urban tolerant, but prone to pests & disease
Malus coronaria	Crabapple	Use disease resistant Malus cultivars rather than this species. Malus spp. tolerate urban, droughty sites.
Shade trees	Common name	Comments
Acer x freemani	Freeman maple	A natural cross of A. saccharum and A. saccharinum that is more tolerant of urban conditions that A. saccharum.
A. nigrum	Black maple	Closely related to A. saccharum, but reportedly more urban-tolerant.
A. negundo	Boxelder	Tolerates urban, wet, or droughty sites. Weedy, less desirable maple.
A. saccharinum	Silver maple	Tolerates urban, wet sites. Weak wood.
A. saccharum	Sugar maple	Urban intolerant. Shade tolerant. Mulching and keeping turf away will help reduce stress.
Aesculus glabra	Ohio buckeye	Urban intolerant. Pest, disease, leaf scorch susceptible.
Aesculus flava	Yellow buckeye	Fewer pests than A. glabra.
Asimina triloba	Common pawpaw	Shade tolerant but needs moist, deep soil. Hard to transplant.
Carpinus caroliniana	American hornbeam	Tolerates shade and wet soils.
Carya ovata	Shagbark hickory	Tolerates clay soil. Hard to translant.
Celtis occidentalis	Common hackberry	Drought and urban-tolerant.
Cladastris kentukea	Yellowwood	Needs full sun & well-drained soil.
Diospyros virginiana	Persimmon	Tolerates dry, urban, full-sun or pt. shade conditions. Hard to transplant.
Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green ash	Tolerates dry urban conditions but overused.
Fraxinus quadrangulata	Blue ash	Tolerates dry, urban conditions.
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis	Thornless honeylocust	Tolerates dry, urban, highly alkaline soils but overused. Pest problems may be severe.
Gymnocladus dioicus	Kentucky coffeetree	Tolerates dry, urban, highly alkaline soils.
Juglans nigra	Black Walnut	Prefers rich deep soils. Hard to transplant.
Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweetgum	Prefers slightly acid soil. Needs plenty of room. Somewhat hard to transplant, drought sensitive.
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tuliptree	See notes for Liquidambar styraciflua
Magnolia acuminata	Cucumbertree magnolia	Tolerates part shade and clay soils. Intolerant of moisture extremes. Prefers slightly acid soil.
Magnolia tripetala	Umbrella magnolia	Huge leaves on a small tree. See M. acum.
Ostrya virginiana	American hophornbeam	Understory tree, part shade or sun. Urban tolerant. Prefers slightly acid, moist soil. Salt intolerant.
Quercus bicolor	Swamp white oak	Tolerates dry and wet sites. Tolerance of slightly acid or neutral pH soils probably depends on seed source.
Quercus imbricaria	Shingle oak Prefers slightly acid soils.	Drought, urban tolerant.
Quercus macrocarpa	Bur oak	Drought, urban, alkaline soil tolerant. Hard to transplant.
Q. muehlenbergii	Chinkapin oak	Drought, alkaline soil tolerant. Hard to transplant.
Q. shumardii	Shumard red oak	Drought, urban tolerant. Tolerance of slightly acid or neutral pH soils probably depends on seed source.
Rhus typhina	Staghorn sumac	Tolerates dry soils.
Tilia americana	Basswood	Tolerates dry soil, part shade or full sun.
Evergreens	Common name	Comments
Juniperus virginiana	Eastern redcedar	Drought, urban tolerant. Needs sun and good drainage.
Thuja occidentalis	Eastern arborvitae	Tolerates urban, alkaline soils. Needs moist soil.

Flowering trees	Common name	Comments
Chionanthus virginicus	Fringetree	Tolerant of wet, urban conditions. Needs sun. Relatively hard to transplant.
Cornus florida	Flowering dogwood	Understory tree that is intolerant of urban conditions. Needs, cool, moist site.
Halesia caroliniana	Carolina silverbell	Shade tolerant. See notes for C. florida.
Shade trees	Common name	Comments
Acer rubrum	Red maple	Tolerates wet sites. Among the maples, this species intermediate in urban-tolerance.
Betula lenta	Sweet birch	Prefers rich, moist soil but somewhat tolerant of dry heavy soil.
Betula nigra	River birch	Tolerates urban, wet, and seasonally dry conditions. Drops leaves in drought. Borer resistant.
Betula papyrifera	Paperbark birch	Urban intolerant. Needs cool, moist site. Better resistance to bronze birch borer than European or Asian white-barked birches.
Fagus grandifolia	American beech	Intolerant of construction or wet, compacted soils. Needs lots of room.
Nyssa sylvatica	Blackgum	Tolerates dry sites. Hard to transplant.
Oxydendron arboreum	Sourwood/Sorreltree	Urban intolerant. Sun or part shade.
Quercus palustris	Pin oak	Tolerates urban, wet, clay soils.
Q. rubra	Red oak	Tolerates urban, dry conditions.
Sassafras albidum	Sassafras	Difficult to transplant.
Evergreens	Common name	Comments
Larix laricina	Eastern larch	Urban intolerant. Prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil.
Pinus strobus	White pine	Drought tolerant ö but prefers cool, moist site. Intolerant of standing water and saltspray.
Tsuga canadensis	Canada hemlock	Intolerant of urban, wet sites. Prefers cool, moist, well drained soils and part shade.