Tree Information
Refer to Michigan State University Extension Service's bulletin on "Deer Resistant" Plants for Homeowners
Plant Descriptions for
Conifers
Deciduous Hardwood/Wildlife
Deciduous Fruit Trees
Deciduous Shrubs and Vines
Gound Cover
Deciduous Hardwood / Wildlife
Native White (Paper) Birch - Link to Betula papyrifera pictures and plant profile
Full sun, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. Medium sized tree with brilliant white bark. Does well on a wide variety of soil conditions, including moderate to wet. Fast growing, and short lived.
Northern Red Oak - Link to Quercus rubra pictures and plant profile
Full sun, drought tolerant
Native to Manistee County. Beautiful oak of rapid growth with stout, spreading branches forming a broad round topped head with large leaves turning dark red in the fall. Often planted as a shade or street tree.
White Oak - Link to Quercus alba White Oak pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, well-drained soils
Native to Michigan. This large, majestic, slow to medium growing, long-lived, with wide spreading branches produces delectable acorns for wildlife.
Poplar-Rooted Cuttings Populus androscoggin - hybrid -
Sun to partial shade in most soil types
“Popple” is the affectionate name for this fast growing (6’ plus in one season!), short lived (50-60 years) non-native hybrid. Excellent for windbreaks. Mix with evergreen species for year round protection.
Black Walnut - Link to Juglans nigra pictures and plant profile
Full sun, loamy soils
This heavily branched tree does not tolerate soils that are dry, acidic or excessively wet. Commonly grows to 70 to 80 feet. Nuts eaten by squirrels. Valuable timber tree.
Black Cherry - Link to Prunus serotina pictures and plant profile
Full sun, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. It is the largest of the cherries, typically growing to 50 to 80 feet tall with a narrow-columnar to rounded crown. This deciduous tree is noted for its profuse spring blooms. The fragrant white flowers in slender pendulous clusters appear in the spring. The flowers are followed by drooping clusters of small red cherries that ripen to black in late summer.
Golden Raintree - Link to Koelreuteria paniculata pictures and plant profile
Full sun, grows in soils that are well drained
Introduced in the United States. The Golden Raintree is medium to fast growing reaching a height of 30' to 40' and a crown width of 35'. The leaflets close up at night or when under heavy cloud cover, allowing rain to pass easily through the crown. The tree grows pods which contain a sweet edible pulp that supplies food for animals.
Black Locust - Link to Robinia pseudoacaclai pictures and plant profile
Full sun, range of soils
Native to Michigan. Fast growing to 80 feet at maturity with a short life span. Fragrant white pea-like flowers in June. Excellent for fence post and firewood.
Sugar Maple - Link to Acer saccharum pictures and plant profile
Full sun to partial shade, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. Gorgeous red, early spring flowers. Rapid growing, moderately long lived tree which can reach 90 feet at maturity. Leaves turn bright red in the fall.
Red Maple - Link to Acer rubrum pictures and plant profile
Full sun to partial shade, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. Gorgeous red, early spring flowers. Rapid growing, moderately long lived tree which can reach 90 feet at maturity. Leaves turn bright red in fall.
American Mountain Ash - Link to Sorbus americana pictures and plant profile
Full sun, fertile moist soils
Native to Michigan. One of the most beautiful flowering trees which reachs 12 to 20 feet at maturity and is considered a moderately fast growing tree. American Mountain Ash with showy white flowers and bright orange fruit. Birds love them.
Black Tupelo (Blackgum) - Link to Nyssa sylvatica pictures and plant profile
Full sun to semi-shade, in a variety of soils
Native to Michigan. Has a moderate growth rate and will reach 40-80' at maturity with a moderate life span. The inconspicuous flowers are followed by black fruits and in the fall has spectacular red, burgundy, and orange colors.
Hybrid Willow Salix - hybrid -
Full sun, variety of soils
Native to Manistee. Has a rapid growth rate and will exceed 70 foot in height being considered a hardy erect tree with red bark. This is not a weeping willow. Very good application for this tree is a windbreak or visual hedge due to its fast growth rate which can reach 20 foot tall with a spread of 15 feet within 3 years.
White Flowering Dogwood - Link to Cornus florida pictures and plant profile
Full shade, variety of soils
Native to Michigan. In the spring this moderately growing tree will have stunning white blossoms and at maturity will reach 40 feet in height. In the late summer the brilliant red fruit appears, soon followed by the scarlet autumn colors of the tree’s foliage.
American Chestnut - Link to Castanea dentate pictures and plant profile
Full sun, range soils
The Chestnut is fast growing with white flowers and large, edible nuts. A minimum of 2 trees are needed for pollination if the harvesting of nuts is desired.
