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
Ground Cover

Conifers

Red Pine -Link to Pinus resinosa  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 -Link to Pinus strobus  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 - Link to Pinus banksiana  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 - Link to Picea glauca  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 - Link to Picea pungens  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 - Link to Picea abies  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 - hybrid -
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 - Link to Pseudotsuga menziesii  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 - Link to Abies fraseri  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.

Balsam Fir - Link to Abies balsamea  pictures and plant profile

Prefers full sun and cool, moist , well drained soils

Native to Michigan.  A popular Christmas tree because of long-persistent needles that are not shed readily. Aromatic needles are dark green above, pale green underneath.  A slow growing tree, which does well in a variety of sites.

Eastern Hemlock - Link to Tsuga canadensis  pictures and plant profile

Shade tolerant, moist to wet  soils

Native to Michigan.  The graceful, short needled, slow growing, long lived native tree reaches 70–100’.  Deer enjoy browsing this soft-needled Michigan treasure.  Used to provide winter and nesting cover for wildlife.

Northern White Cedar (American Arborvitae) - Link to Thuja occidentalis  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 - Link to Juniperus virginiana  pictures and plant profile
Sun to partial shade, range of soils, and is drought and heat tolerant
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 - Link to Metasequoia  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 
Native to Manistee County. A fast growing, unique tree. A deciduous conifer, its needles turning a brilliant yellow before falling late each autumn.