Recommended Planting List

LARGE DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Greater Than 40 Feet

MEDIUM DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Between 25-40 Feet

SMALL DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Less Than 30 Feet

LARGE DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Greater Than 40 Feet

LARGE DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Greater Than 40 Feet
Common Name	Latin Name	Native to MI	Light Requirement	Moisture Requirement	Salt tolerant	Mature Height	Mature Width	Growth Rate
Show additional content for this row Red Maple	Accer Rubrum	Yes	Fill Sun or partial Sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	40-60'	35-45'	Fast
Flower Type: Small red-petaled clusters Fruit Type: Paired, winged seeds Fall Leaf Color: Yellow- Red Additional Notes: Red maple is one of the first trees to flower in the spring, thus it acts as an early nectar source for pollinators.
Show additional content for this row Sugar Maple	Acer saccharum	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	60-75'	40-50'	Moderate
Flower type: Small pale yellow clusters Fruit type: Paired, winged seeds Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Red Additional Notes: The extra sweet sap of the sugar maple is the most common choice for boiling down into maple syrup.
Show additional content for this row Freeman Maple	Acer x freemanii	Yes	Full sun	Dry, moderate or wet soil	No	40-60'	20-40'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous clusters Fruit type: Paired, winged seeds Fall leaf Color: Orange - Red Additional Notes: This hybrid of silver maple and red maple unites the rapid growth rate of silver maple and the stronger branch attachment of the red maple.
Show additional content for this row Yellow Buckeye	Aesculus flava	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	60-80'	25-35'	Moderate
Flower Type: Upright yellow clusters Fruit Type: Shiny brown nuts in a smooth husk Fall Leaf Color: Orange Additional Notes: Showy yellow flowers and impressive fall color make this species a popular landscape choice.
Show additional content for this row Horsechestnut	Aesculus hippocastanum	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Yes	50-75'	40-65'	Moderate
Flower type: White or red upright clusters Fruit type: Seed in a prickly husk Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: A horsechestnut tree described multiple times in Anne Frank's diary was dubbed "The Anne Frank Tree." The tree fell in a 2010 storm, but 11 of the tree's saplings were recovered and have been planted around the world.
Show additional content for this row Yellow Birch	Betula alleghaniensis	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	60-75'	60-75'	Moderate
Flower type: Green - yellow catkins Fruit type: Cone-like clusters Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: The bark of yellow birch trees peels away just like the more commonly-known paper birch, but yellow birch bark is a silver - bronze color instead of bright white.
Show additional content for this row Paper Birch	Betula papyrifera	Yes	Full sun	Moderate soil	Yes	50-70'	20-45'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous catkins Fruit type: Cone-like clusters Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: The distinct white bark of birch trees provide ornamental interest but was also used by Indigenous people to create lightweight canoes, baskets, and many other crafts. The bark becomes white on trees after 7-10 years
Show additional content for this row Bitternut Hickory	Carya cordiformis	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-70'	40-50'	Slow
Flower type: Small green catkins Fruit type: Large, pear-shaped nuts Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Brown Additional Notes: Hickory wood is commonly used to make furniture and smoke meats.
Show additional content for this row Pignut Hickory	Carya glabra	Yes	Full sun, partial sun or shade	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-60'	25-35'	Slow
Flower type: Small green catkins Large Fruit type: pear-shaped nuts Fall leaf Color: Gold Additional Notes: Hickory nuts are calorie dense and high in fat, so they're a vital resource for wildlife bulking up to survive the winter. Also, its fall color is very bright gold.
Show additional content for this row Shagbark Hickory	Carya ovata	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	60-80'	30-50'	Slow
Flower type: Small green catkins Large Fruit type: rounded nuts Fall leaf Color: Golden brown Additional Notes: The loose, shaggy bark of this tree makes for an interesting appearance and excellent bat roosting habitat.
Show additional content for this row Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	Yes	Full sun	Moderate or wet soil	Yes	40-60'	40-50'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous clusters Small Fruit type: fleshy drupes Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Hackberry trees are the only host plant for the hackberry emperor butterfly, meaning the caterpillars can only feed on hackberry leaves.
Show additional content for this row Persimmon	Diospyros virginiana	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	35-60'	20-35'	Slow
Flower type: Large, orange berry Fruit type: Small, white and fragrant Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Red Additional Notes: Female trees produce edible fruits in late fall, which taste honey-like. However, both male and female persimmon trees need to be planted close together to ensure pollination.
Show additional content for this row Ginkgo (Male)	Ginkgo biloba	No	Full sun	Moderate or wet soil	Yes	50-80'	30-40'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Male ginkgo trees don't produce smelly fruit Fall leaf Color: Gold Additional Notes: The ginkgo's fan-shaped leaves are unique today because of its status as a "living fossil." It's remained relatively unchanged for approximately 270 million years and is likely the only extant tree species from that period.
Show additional content for this row Thornless Honeylocust	Gleditsia triacanthos inermis	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	30-70'	30-70'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous spikes Fruit type: Large brown pods Fall leaf Color: Gold Additional Notes: Thornless varieties of honeylocust exist because the natural straight species grows sharp thorns about an inch long, which were likely used as a defense against browsing herbivores.
Show additional content for this row Kentucky Coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus	Yes	Full sun	Dry, moderate or wet soil	Yes	60-75'	40-50'	Slow
Flower type: Long white clusters Fruit type: Large leathery pods Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Only female trees produce fruit, but the fruits can be roasted, ground, and used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute, hence the common name of this species.
Show additional content for this row Black Walnut	Juglans nigra	Yes	Full sun	Moderate soil	Moderate	50-75'	30-50'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous clusters Fruit type: Large nut in green husk Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Black walnut wood is renowned for its strength and resistance to rot and was oftentimes used to make gunstocks in the Civil War, WWI, and WWII. Now, walnut wood is more often used for cabinetry and luxury furniture.
Show additional content for this row Tamarack	Larix laricina	Yes	Full sun	Wet soil	Yes	40-80'	30-50'	Fast
Flower type: Small, upright cones Fruit type: Inconspicuous Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Tamaracks can survive extreme cold (down to around -85 degrees Fahrenheit) and are one of the most common species at the Arctic Tree Line. The tree drops its needles in the fall.
Show additional content for this row Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua	No	Full sun	Moderate or wet soil	Yes	60-75'	40-75'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous spikes Round Fruit type: spiky capsules Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Red - Purple Additional Notes: The unique star-shaped leaves of sweetgum trees produce dazzling fall color displays that vary from yellow, to orange, to red, to purple.
Show additional content for this row Dawn Redwood	Metasequoia glyptostroboides	No	Full sun	Dry, moderate or wet soil	Yes	70-100'	20-30'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Cones on stalks Fall leaf Color: Orange -Brown Additional Notes: Dawn redwoods were long thought to be extinct, until a grove of wild dawn redwoods were found growing in a remote valley in China. They shouldn't be planted in tight spaces or near sidewalks as their roots may cause damage.
Show additional content for this row Tuliptree	Liriodendron tulipifera	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	No	70-90'	35-50'	Fast
Flower type: Large, yellow and tulip-like Fruit type: Cluster of winged seeds Fall leaf Color: Gold Additional Notes: A single tuliptree flower can produce a tablespoon of nectar, making this tree a popular choice for pollinators.
Show additional content for this row Blackgum	Nyssa sylvatica	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate or wet soil	Moderate	30-50'	20-30'	Slow
Flower type: Long white clusters Fruit type: Small, purple drupes Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: Blackgum is highly valued as an ornamental tree for its brilliant fall color.
Show additional content for this row American Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	Moderate	75-100'	50-70'	Fast
Flower type: Dense clusters on stalks Fruit type: Dense ball of seeds Fall leaf Color: Brown Additional Notes: The outer bark of sycamore trees naturally sloughs off to reveal the lighter bark below, which creates visually interesting trunk patterns.
Show additional content for this row London Planetree	Platanus x acerifolia	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	70-100'	65-80'	Fast
Flower type: Green or red clusters on long stalks Fruit type: Seeds hang in pairs on long stalks Fall leaf Color: Yellow - brown Additional Notes: This is a hybrid resulting from a cross between the native American sycamore and non-native Asian planetree, which is more resistant to anthracnose
Show additional content for this row Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	Yes	Full sun	Moderate soil	Yes	50-60'	20-30'	Fast
Flower type: Small white clusters Fruit type: Small, purple cherries Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Orange Additional Notes: Black cherry is prized in the woodworking trade because of its strength, hardness, and rich reddish-brown hue. It will not tolerate shade.
Show additional content for this row White Oak	Quercus alba	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-80'	80-100'	Slow
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: A 200-year-old white oak in Ohio dubbed the "Shawshank Tree" was made famous and became a tourist attraction when it appeared at the end of the movie "The Shawshank Redemption."
Show additional content for this row Swamp White Oak	Quercus bicolor	Yes	Full sun	Moderate or wet soil	Moderate	50-60'	50-60'	Moderate
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Gold - Orange Additional Notes: Swamp white oak is far more tolerant of low-lying and wet sites, plus sites with heavy soil, than white oaks.
Show additional content for this row Scarlet Oak	Quercus coccinea	No	Full sun	Moderate soil	No	40-75'	40-75'	Moderate
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: Brilliant red fall color sets scarlet oak apart from many other oaks.
Show additional content for this row Shingle Oak	Quercus imbricaria	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	50-60'	50-60'	Slow
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Brown Additional Notes: The leaves of shingle oaks are distinctly unlobed, unlike other oak trees.
Show additional content for this row Bur Oak	Quercus macrocarpa	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Moderate	70-80'	70-80'	Slow
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Large, fringed acorns Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Brown Additional Notes: Bur oaks have the largest acorns of any oak species, which are eaten by black bears, turkeys, grouse, and other wildlife.
Show additional content for this row Chinkapin Oak	Quercus muehlenbergii	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-80'	50-70'	Slow
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Orange Additional Notes: Chinkapin oaks grow best in alkaline soils, making them a good substitute for pin oaks if the soil pH is high.
Show additional content for this row Pin Oak	Quercus palustris	Yes	Full sun	Wet soil	No	60-70'	40-50'	Fast
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Red - Brown Additional Notes: Pin oaks are intolerant of alkaline soils, which reduces the tree's ability to take in iron, a micro nutrient necessary for growth. This causes chlorosis, which yellows leaves and weakens the tree.
Show additional content for this row Red Oak	Quercus rubra	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	Moderate	60-75'	60-75'	Moderate
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: Produces high value lumber commonly used for furniture, flooring, interior trim, and more.
Show additional content for this row Shumard Oak	Quercus shumardii	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	Yes	40-60'	40-60'	Moderate
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: Shumard oak makes for a resilient urban tree because it tolerates pollution and compacted soils well.
Show additional content for this row Black Oak	Quercus velutina	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry soil	No	50-60'	40-70'	Moderate
Flower type: Green catkins Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Leaves of the black oak tree growing in full sun tend to have deeper lobes, whereas "shade leaves" lower in the canopy are generally larger with shallower lobe sinuses.
Show additional content for this row Common Baldcypress	Taxodium distichum	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	50-70'	20-30'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small acorns Fall leaf Color: Orange - Brown Additional Notes: Common baldcypress is a deciduous conifer, meaning it sheds its leaves each year unlike most other cone-bearing species. It also boasts beautiful fall color.
Show additional content for this row American Basswood	Tilia americana	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	60-80'	30-60'	Moderate
Flower type: Fragrant yellow clusters Fruit type: Small nuts Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Basswood is frequently used in the making of guitars and other musical instruments.
Show additional content for this row Littleleaf Linden	Tilia cordata	No	Full sun	Moderate soil	No	60-70'	30-40'	Moderate
Flower type: Fragrant yellow clusters Fruit type: Small nuts Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Linden flowers are fragrant and are commonly made into teas. They are also a good source of nectar for pollinators.
Show additional content for this row Silver Linden	Tilia tomentosa	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Yes	50-70'	25-40'	Moderate
Flower type: Fragrant yellow clusters Fruit type: Small, egg-shaped nuts Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Silvery undersides of leaves appear to shimmer from afar in the wind.
Show additional content for this row American Elm (Disease resistant cultivars)	Ulmus americana	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	60-80'	40-70'	40-70'
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small, oval samara Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Several cultivars of American elm are planted for their resistance to Dutch Elm Disease, which is a disease that swept through Michigan in the 1950s, killing nearly all of the state's American elms.

MEDIUM DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Between 25-40 Feet

Common Name	Latin Name	Native to MI	Light Requirement	Moisture Requirement	Salt tolerant	Mature Height	Mature Width	Growth Rate
Show additional content for this row Red Horsechestnut	Aesculus x carnea	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	No	30-40'	30-40'	Moderate
Flower type: White or red upright clusters Fruit type: Seed in a prickly husk Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: The tree is a cross between horse chestnut and red buckeye with large flower clusters that vary from pink to red.
Show additional content for this row Ohio Buckeye	Aesculus glabra	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	20-40'	20-40'	Moderate
Flower type: Large yellow upright clusters Fruit type: Seed in a prickly husk Fall leaf Color: Yellow - orange Additional Notes: Prosthetic limbs were often made from buckeye tree wood before the advent of synthetic materials.
Show additional content for this row River Birch	Betula nigra	No	Full sun	Moderate or wet soil	Moderate	30-40'	20-30'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous catkins Fruit type: Cone-like clusters Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: River birch is much more resistant to the native bronze birch borer insect, which can weaken or kill other birch species.
Show additional content for this row Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate soil	No	20-40'	15-25'	Slow
Flower type: Large blooms with white or pink petals Fruit type: Bright red and berry-like Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The United States sent 40 flowering dogwood trees to Japan in 1915 as part of an international flower exchange that brought several of Japan's cherry blossom trees to Washington D.C.
Show additional content for this row Magnolia	Magnolia spp.	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	Varies by cultivar	Varies by cultivar	Moderate
Flower type: Large blooms vary by cultivar Fruit type: Pink aggregate structure releases seeds Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: A mild winter season may cause the large, fragrant flowers of the magnolia to bloom well ahead of spring when other plants are still dormant. If followed by a cold snap, the flowers may die off early.
Show additional content for this row Ironwood	Ostrya virginiana	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	25-40'	15-40'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous catkins Fruit type: Hops-like clusters Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: This tree is highly resistant to many pests and diseases and also boasts ornamentally significant fruit, which resembles hops.

SMALL DECIDUOUS TREES - Mature Height Less Than 30 Feet

Common Name	Latin Name	Native to MI	Light Requirement	Moisture Requirement	Salt tolerant	Mature Height	Mature Width	Growth Rate
Show additional content for this row Paperbark Maple	Acer griseum	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	Yes	20-30'	10-30'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous catkins Fruit type: Paired, winged seeds Fall leaf Color: Bronze Additional Notes: The distinct peeling bark of the paperbark maple sets this tree apart from other maple species and adds year-round interest.
Show additional content for this row Serviceberry	Amelanchier spp.	Yes	Partial sun or shade	Moderate soil	No	10-20'	15-25'	Moderate
Flower type: White clusters Fruit type: Red and berry-like Fall leaf Color: Orange - Red Additional Notes: Showy flower blooms in the spring become persistent, flavorful fruit that are highly favorable to birds and can be enjoyed by humans too.
Show additional content for this row Pawpaw	Asimina triloba	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	15-20'	15-20'	Slow
Flower type: Large dark purple blooms Fruit type: Large green edible fruit Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: The pawpaw produces the largest edible fruit native to the United States. It can be eaten raw and tastes somewhat similar to banana or mango.
Show additional content for this row American Hornbeam	Carpinus caroliniana	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate or wet soil	No	20-30'	20-30'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous catkins Fruit type: Yellow clusters contain nuts Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Orange Additional Notes: This species is also known as "musclewood" because of the unique, sinewy contours of the tree's trunk
Show additional content for this row Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis	Yes	Partial sun or shade	Moderate soil	No	20-30'	25-35'	Moderate
Flower type: Small pink clusters Fruit type: Small brown pods Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Bright pink flowers bloom all along the branches of redbud trees before leaves emerge. Redbud trees seven years and older will bloom.
Show additional content for this row Pagoda Dogwood	Cornus alternifolia	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	15-25'	20-30'	Moderate
Flower type: Small white flattopped clusters Fruit type: Clusters of dark blue berry-like fruits Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: Dogwood is both the state tree and state flower of Virginia, and has been celebrated by the state annually since the 1950s with a "Dogwood Festival," featuring parades, carnivals, and more.
Show additional content for this row Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn	Crataegus crusgalli inermis	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	20-30'	20-35'	Moderate
Flower type: Small white clusters with strong odor Fruit type: Large, red and berry-like Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: Cockspur hawthorn fruits are "persistent," meaning they're held on the tree through the winter and act as a food source for wildlife when other resources are scant.
Show additional content for this row Common Witchhazel	Hamamelis virginiana	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate soil	Yes	15-25'	15-20'	Moderate
Flower type: Showy and fragrant yellow flowers Fruit type: Capsules containing small black seeds Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Witch-hazel extract was used by Indigenous populations to treat inflammation and has been adopted for modern medicinal uses as well. They're typically found in oak-hickory forests.
Show additional content for this row Flowering Crabapple	Malus spp.	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	15-25'	15-25'	Moderate
Flower type: Fragrant pink or white clusters Fruit type: Large, green and applelike Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Red Additional Notes: Crabapple often serves as the rootstock on which more commonly eaten apple trees are grafted. There are many, many cultivars of crabapple available offering a variety of fruit and flower options, and more.
Show additional content for this row Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	10-20'	10-20'	Moderate
Flower type: Fragrant, long white clusters Fruit type: Small, black-red drupe Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Orange Additional Notes: The fruits, which have a somewhat bitter and sour taste, were an important food for many Indigenous populations in the U.S. However, the stone of the fruit is toxic.
Show additional content for this row Sassafras	Sassafras albidum	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	20-30'	25-40'	Moderate
Flower type: Yellow clusters Fruit type: Blue and berry-like Fall leaf Color: Yellow- Red Additional Notes: Sassafras leaves are highly variable. Leaves on the same tree may be oval shaped, mitten shaped, or have two or three lobes--all growing concurrently. This tree is also a host to the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
Show additional content for this row Japanese Tree Lilac	Syringa reticulata	No	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	20-30'	15-25'	Moderate
Flower type: Large and upright white clusters Fruit type: Small brown capsules Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: This species is resistant to many pests and diseases, stands up well to urban conditions, and produces large, showy flowers to boot, though the flowers have an unpleasant smell.

Evergreen Trees

Common Name	Latin Name	Native to Mi	Light Requirement	Moisture Requirement	Salt Tolerant	Mature Height	Mature Width	Growth Rate
Show additional content for this row Balsam Fir	Abies balsamea	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate or wet soil	No	50-70'	20-35'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Purple - brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: The needles of this tree contain vitamin C and were once eaten for medicinal and therapeutic purposes by Indigenous people.
Show additional content for this row Concolor Fir	Abies concolor	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	No	30-50'	15-20'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Upright purple - brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: Popular as live Christmas trees because of their soft needles and ability to retain their needles well even after being cut.
Show additional content for this row Chinese Juniper	Juniperus chinenis	No	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-60'	15-20'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Gray, berry-like cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: This species is a popular choice for bonsai.
Show additional content for this row Eastern Redcedar	Juniperus virginiana	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	40-50'	10-20'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Long, purple - brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: Eastern redcedars were planted as windbreaks across the plains of the U.S. following the Dust Bowl Drought of the 1930s. They should not be planted near hawthorns, however, as they are co-hosts to cedar apple rust disease.
Show additional content for this row Norway Spruce	Picea abies	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Moderate	40-60'	25-30'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Gray, berry-like cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: In 2013, the Norway spruce became the first gymnosperm to have its genome sequenced. It contains approximately 20 billion base pairs and is six times the size of the human genome.
Show additional content for this row White Spruce	Picea glauca	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	40-60'	10-20'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small, green - brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: When these trees have been adequately "hardened off" in preparation for the inter, they are extremely cold-tolerant and can survive temperatures down to -70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Show additional content for this row Black Hills White Spruce	Picea glauca 'Densata'	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	20-40'	10-20'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small, green - brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: This is a variety of white spruce which grows in a more dense, compact form.
Show additional content for this row Serbian Spruce	Picea omorika	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-60'	20-25'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small, purple - brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: The serbian spruce does well growing in clay soils, but does not tolerate road salt.
Show additional content for this row Eastern White Pine	Pinus strobus	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	50-80'	20-40'	Fast
Flower type: Whorled yellow clusters Fruit type: Long, slender cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: Eastern white pine is the state tree of Michigan, thanks in large part to its role in the state's prolific lumber industry--especially in the late 19th century.
Show additional content for this row Douglas-fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Yes	40-80'	10-20'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Cones with 3-pointed bracts protruding between scales Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: Douglas-fir is the most abundant tree by volume in U.S. forests.
Show additional content for this row Eastern Arborvitae	Thuja occidentalis	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	40-50'	10-15'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Light brown, oval seed cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: The largest known eastern arborvitae stands 112 feet tall in Leelanau County, Michigan. There are many cultivars available with different sizes and shapes. Deer love to eat it, however.
Show additional content for this row Green Giant Arborvitae	Thuja plicata	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	50-70'	15-25'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Very small brown cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: This cultivar of giant arborvitae is commonly planted as a hedge because it is very deer-resistant and grows in a dense form.
Show additional content for this row Eastern Hemlock	Tsuga canadensis	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate soil	No	40-70'	25-35'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small hanging cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: This species is threatened by the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid, which is a sap-sucking insect from Asia capable of killing the trees.

Shrubs

Common Name	Latin Name	Native to Mi	Light Requirement	Moisture Requirement	Salt Tolerant	Mature Height	Mature Width	Growth Rate
Show additional content for this row Black Chokeberry	Aronia melanocarpa	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	Yes	3-6'	3-6'	Slow
Flower type: White clusters Fruit type: Glossy black; berry-like Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The fruit of black chokeberry is edible, though it's generally best enjoyed as part of a jam or syrup. The fresh fruit is somewhat tart. The shrub is also known for its showy fall color.
Show additional content for this row New Jersey Tea	Ceanothus americanus	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	3-4'	3-5'	Slow
Flower type: Cloud-like, white clusters Fruit type: Triangular capsule Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Its name originated during the American Revolution, when this shrub's leaves were dried and steeped as a substitute to imported tea. This shrub is also an excellent source of nectar for butterflies.
Show additional content for this row Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	5-12'	4-8'	Moderate
Flower type: White ball-like clusters on long stems Fruit type: Red ball-like fruit Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Unique pin cushion-like flowers, about the size of a gumball, provide visual interest and support pollinators.
Show additional content for this row Silky Dogwood	Cornus amomum	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate or wet soil	No	6-12'	6-12'	Moderate
Flower type: White clusters Fruit type: Blue berry-like fruit Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: Native dogwood species like C. amomum serve as larval host plants for more than 100 different species of butterfly and moth.
Show additional content for this row Gray Dogwood	Cornus racemosa	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	10-15'	10-15'	Slow
Flower type: Flat, white clusters Fruit type: Blue berry-like fruit on bright red stalks Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: This species occasionally hybridizes with silky dogwood (Cornus amomum). Gray dogwood is also a good source of food and cover for birds.
Show additional content for this row Red Osier Dogwood	Cornus sericea (aka C. stolonifera)	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	6-9'	6-7'	Fast
Flower type: Flat, white clusters Fruit type: Blue berry-like fruit on bright red stalks Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: This shrub's bright red bark creates sharp contrast against the rest of the winter landscape.
Show additional content for this row American Hazelnut	Corylus americana	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	10-16'	8-12'	Fast
Flower type: Male flowers showy and yellow; female flowers inconspicuous Fruit type: Edible hazelnuts enclosed in frilly husks Fall leaf Color: Salmon Additional Notes: Both wildlife and humans highly value the tasty and nutritious hazelnuts. The shrub is also known for its good fall color.
Show additional content for this row Beautybush	Deutzia gracilis	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	No	2-5'	2-5'	Moderate
Flower type: Small and fragrant white clusters Fruit type: Small dried capsules Fall leaf Color: Brown Additional Notes: This shrub produces beautiful, fragrant flowers, doesn't require much maintenance once established, and grows well in clay soil.
Show additional content for this row Bush Honeysuckle	Diervilla lonicera	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	2-3'	2-4'	Fast
Flower type: Yellow and tubular Fruit type: Small brown capsule Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: This native shrub is not to be confused with similarly named but unrelated invasive honeysuckle species, which pose a threat to native ecology. This shrub will spread via suckers.
Show additional content for this row Hydrangea	Hydrangea sp.	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	No	3-15'	3-10'	Fast
Flower type: Large rounded clusters, but color varies Fruit type: Dry capsules, which may persist in clusters through winter Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The characteristics of hydrangea are highly variable depending on the species and/or cultivar planted. They're typically planted for their large, showy blooms.
Show additional content for this row Common Winterberry	Ilex verticillata	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	Yes	6-	6-12'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Bright red berry-like fruit Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Green Additional Notes: Also known as Michigan holly, the common winterberry is one of just two holly species native to Michigan. A ratio of about one male plant for every 10 female plants is needed for the shrub to fruit.
Show additional content for this row Common Juniper	Juniperis communis	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	5-15'	8-12'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small purple berry-like cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: The oil extracted from fleshy common juniper cones can be used as a flavoring to make gin.
Show additional content for this row Trailing Juniper	Juniperus horizontalis	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	1-2'	5-8'	Slow
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small blue-tinged berrylike cones Fall leaf Color: Evergreen Additional Notes: Trailing juniper makes for an excellent low shrub choice and is commonly planted on slopes or trailing over ledges. It's also a good choice near concrete, as it tolerates de-icing salt well.
Show additional content for this row Bayberry	Myrica pensylvanica	No	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	Yes	5-10'	5-10'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Small, blue-gray waxy fruit Fall leaf Color: Semievergreen Additional Notes: Bayberry is considered "semi-evergreen," as it may retain some leaves in mild winters while still putting out a new flush of leaves in the spring. This shrub is pleasantly fragrant, too.
Show additional content for this row Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	6-12'	6-12'	Moderate
Flower type: Large yellow clusters Fruit type: Bright red drupe clusters Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: Spicebush derives its name from its fragrant leaves and stems, which carry a strong smell of allspice when crushed or scraped. Both male and female plants need to be planted near each other for the shrub to fruit.
Show additional content for this row Common Ninebark	Physocarpus opulifolius	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	Yes	5-8'	4-6'	Moderate
Flower type: White clusters with purple stamens Fruit type: Drooping clusters of capsules Fall leaf Color: Yellow - Orange Additional Notes: Several varieties of ninebark exist, which offer different forms, foliage color, and more. However, the straight species found in nature provides the greatest benefits to local wildlife.
Show additional content for this row Shrubby Cinquefoil	Potentilla fruticosa	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	2-4'	3-5'	Moderate
Flower type: Large yellow, individual blooms Fruit type: Small brown capsules Fall leaf Color: Green - Brown Additional Notes: Showy flowers remain in bloom all through spring and summer. There are cultivars with yellow, white or pink flowers.
Show additional content for this row Fragrant Sumac	Rhus aromatica	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	2-6'	6-10'	Moderate
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Fuzzy red clusters Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: Fragrant sumac is so named because its leaves and stems give off a lemony scent when crushed. The "Gro-Low" cultivar only gets to about 30 inches tall and spreads out.
Show additional content for this row Shining Sumac	Rhus copallina	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	7-15'	10-20'	Fast
Flower type: Inconspicuous Fruit type: Large and upright fuzzy red clusters Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The somewhat sour fruit can be made into a tart drink similar to lemonade. Shining sumac also has bright red fall color.
Show additional content for this row Staghorn Sumac	Rhus typhina	Yes	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	15-25'	20-30'	Fast
Flower type: Large green-yellow clusters Fruit type: Large and upright fuzzy red clusters Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The name staghorn sumac was coined because of the habit and fuzzy surface of the branches, which resemble deer antlers. The shrub has bright red fall color and its fruit acts as a good source of food for birds.
Show additional content for this row Pussy Willow	Salix discolor	Yes	Full sun	Moderate or wet soil	No	6-15'	4-12'	Fast
Flower type: Gray, fuzzy catkins Fruit type: Clusters of small brown capsules Fall leaf Color: Green - Yellow Additional Notes: The fuzzy flowers of pussy willow emerge early in the spring, before the leaves. The unique bare shoot covered in fuzzy flowers is a common addition in early spring decorative bouquets.
Show additional content for this row Common Elderberry	Sambucus canadensis	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Yes	5-12'	5-12'	Fast
Flower type: Very large, flat-topped white clusters; fragrant Fruit type: Purple berry-like clusters Fall leaf Color: Green - Yellow Additional Notes: Large, fragrant blooms and their resultant fruit can be used to make jellies, jams, or wine.
Show additional content for this row Red-berried Elderberry	Sambucus racemosa	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Moderate to wet soil	Yes	8-12'	8-15'	Fast
Flower type: Large pyramidal shaped white clusters; fragrant Fruit type: Bright red berry-like clusters of fruit Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The leaves have an unpleasant odor when crushed. This tree blooms much earlier in the year than common elderberry, and has pyramidal-shaped clusters of white flowers, further distinguishing it from common elderberry.
Show additional content for this row American Bladdernut	Staphylea trifolia	Yes	Full sun, partial sun, or shade	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	10-15'	10-20'	Moderate
Flower type: White bell-shaped flowers in clusters Fruit type: Papery capsules Fall leaf Color: Green - Brown Additional Notes: The three-chambered, inflated fruit of this shrub may float down bodies of water to aid in dispersal of the plant, which naturally grows around streambanks.
Show additional content for this row Miss Kim Lilac	Syringa pubescens 'Miss Kim'	No	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Yes	4-9'	5-7'	Moderate
Flower type: Large and fragrant upright purple clusters Fruit type: Small warty capsules Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: The 'Miss Kim' cultivar blooms later in the year and tends to be more compact than many other lilacs.
Show additional content for this row Common Lilac	Syringa vulgaris	No	Full sun	Dry or moderate soil	Yes	12-16'	8-12'	Moderate
Flower type: Large and fragrant upright purple clusters Fruit type: Small flattened capsules Fall leaf Color: Yellow Additional Notes: During Victorian times, the fragrant flowers of lilac shrubs symbolized the reminder of an old love. It was common for widows to wear lilac flowers for this reason.
Show additional content for this row Arrowwood Viburnum	Viburnum dentatum	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Moderate soil	Yes	6-10'	6-10'	Fast
Flower type: White flat-topped clusters Fruit type: Dark blue berry-like fruits Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: The strong stems of arrowwood viburnum were used by Indigenous populations to craft arrows, hence the shrub's name.
Show additional content for this row Nannyberry	Viburnum lentago	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry, moderate, or wet soil	No	14-16'	6-12'	Moderate
Flower type: White flat-topped clusters Fruit type: Berry-like fruits start orange and mature to blue Fall leaf Color: Red Additional Notes: Another common name for this shrub is sweet viburnum, as its fruits are edible and significantly sweeter than those of other viburnums. It also sports bright red fall color.
Show additional content for this row Blackhaw Viburnum	Viburnum prunifolium	Yes	Full sun or partial sun	Dry or moderate soil	No	12-15'	6-12'	Slow
Flower type: White flat-topped clusters Fruit type: Dark blue berry-like fruits Fall leaf Color: Red - Purple Additional Notes: Blackhaw viburnum contains salicin, which is a chemical relative of aspirin. Because of this, it was used medicinally by Indigenous populations, oftentimes to help women recover from childbirth.