Tree Information
Plant Descriptions for
Conifers
Deciduous Hardwood/Wildlife
Deciduous Fruit Trees
Deciduous Shrubs and Vines
Gound Cover
Conifers
Red Pine Pinus resinosa - Link to Red Pine pictures and plant profile
Full sun, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. Valuable for timber, reforestation, windbreaks, and wildlife habitat. Plantations are first thinned between 20 & 30 years. Does well on dry sandy sites.
White Pine Pinus strobus - Link to White Pine pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. The “Michigan State Tree” is suitable for under plantings in moderate shade. Fast growing, used for timber, Christmas trees and wildlife habitat. Do not plant in pure plantations because of insect infestation.
Jack Pine Pinus banksiana - Link to Jack Pine pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. Fast growing. The best for infertile, dry, and sandy sites. Jack pine will succeed even where red pine fails!!
White Spruce Picea glauca - Link to White Spruce pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils, and will tolerate moderately wet soils
Native to Manistee County. Moderate growth, excellent for wildlife cover, windbreaks, and visual screening. Tree has limited timber value due to excessive branching.
Blue Spruce Picea pungens - Link to Blue Spruce pictures and plant profile
Full to Partial sun, range of soils
Drought resistant once established. Beautiful ornamental and Christmas tree. Will turn bluish color after 4-5 years. Excellent for windbreaks, soil stabilization, and wildlife cover.
Norway Spruce Picea abies - Link to Norway Spruce pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils
Fast growing, graceful pendulous branches, large “cuckoo clock cones”. Used ornamentally and for windbreaks or wildlife habitat. Does well on a variety of sites.
Black Hills Spruce Picea - glauca densata -
Full to partial sun, range of soils
One of the most tolerant spruces as it withstands wind, heat, cold, and drought. Not a favorite on the deer menu. A favorite for windbreaks, privacy screens and accent plantings.
Douglas Fir– Shuswap Lake Pseudotsuga menziesii - Link to Douglas-fir pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils
Planted widely for Christmas trees because of its naturally full form and needle retention quality. Moderately fast-growing, long-lived tree that reaches 60-80’. Other uses include ornamental, hedges, and windbreaks.
Fraser Fir Abies fraseri - Link to Fraser Fir pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils
Needles dark green on top and light green underneath. Delightful fragrance and attractive purplish cones. Good ornamental and Christmas tree.
Northern White Cedar (American Arborvitae) Thuja occidentalis - Link to Northern White Cedar pictures and plant profile
Full to partial sun, range of soils
Native to Manistee County. A beautiful, straight, dense, dark-green symmetrical tree. Prefers wet areas but will also grow on upland areas. A small tree, good for windbreaks and privacy screenings. Must be protected from deer.
Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus viginiana - Link to Eastern Red Cedar pictures and plant profile
Sun to partial shade, range of soils, and is drought and heat toleerant
The fruit, or cone, is berrylike and dark blue and is eaten by some birds, making this an excellent choice for a wildlife planting. Being considered a small to medium sized conifer with deep root system makes it a primary species in most windbreaks.
Deciduous Conifers
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia - Link to Dawn Redwood pictures and plant profile
Full sun, range of soils
An ancient tree from the dinosaur era. A fast growing, unique tree, grows to 70’ to 100’ tall with a 25’ spread. A deciduous conifer, which is considered a shade tree that enjoys moist soil conditions and grows in loamy, sandy, or clay soils.
Tamarack (American Larch) - Link to Larix laricina pictures and plant profile
Full sun to partial shade, range of soils from
Native to Manistee County. A fast growing, unique tree. A deciduous conifer, its needles turning a brilliant yellow before falling late each autumn.
