| Scientific Name | Common Name | Natural Habitat in Illinois1 | Regions of State Where Native 2 | Height of Mature Plants3 | Flower Sex and Pollinators4 | Fruit Type5 | Wildlife Attracted6 | Special Notes7 | Establishment & Problems7 | Adaptability & Growth7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aesculus pavia | red buckeye | rich riverbottom woodlands | S | 10′ to much higher | perfect; hummingbirds, probably also some bees, other insects | capsule, 1 1/2-3 1/2″ in diameter, with 1-2 large brown seeds | low value; seeds poisonous to humans | spectacular red flowers; forms clumps | difficult to transplant, B & B in spring; some leaf splotch and mildew, rarely serious | best in moist, well-drained soil; intolerant of soil compaction; slow to medium growth rate |
| Alnus serrulata | smooth, common, or hazel alder | rocky streams | c, S | 10’+ | monoecious; wind | tiny winged nutlets produced within woody cone-like structures, 3/8-5/8″ long | songbirds, small mammals; intermediate value | yellow-brown catkins in early spring; suckers to form colonies; nitrogen fixing | transplants easily, BR or B & B; few problems | does well in poor, dry, compacted soil; fast growing |
| Amelanchier humilis | low shadbush | rocky, sandy soil | N, C | 6′ | perfect; insects, probably similar to A. arborea (tree list) | fleshy pomes, pink turning purple black, 1/4″ in diameter |
songbirds, small & game mammals; high value in early summer
| beautiful flowers and form; suckers to form colonies | transplants easily, B & B; several rusts, fire blight, minor insect pests | not suited to very dry, compacted soil; medium growth rate |
| Amelanchier laevis | shadbush | wooded slopes; borders of dry to moist woods | N, C | 6′ | perfect; insects, probably similar to A. arborea (tree list) | fleshy, pink turning black pomes, 3/8″ in diameter | songbirds, small & game mammals; high value in early summer | beautiful flowers and form; leaves bronze-colored as they unfold | transplants easily B & B; several rusts, fire blight, minor insect pests | not suited to very dry, compacted soil; medium to fast growing |
| Amorpha canescens | lead plant | prairies; rocky wooded bluffs | N, C, S | 3′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (10), short-tongued bees (15), other Hymenoptera (16) Diptera (4) | small hairy pods, 3/8″ long | songbirds, upland gamebirds, small mammals; intermediate value | nitrogen fixing; small purple flowers with yellow anthers | transplants easily, spreads easily by seed; few problems | does extremely well on poor, dry soils; pH adaptable; medium growth rate |
| Amorpha fruticosa | false indigo, indigobush | streambanks; moist soil | N, C, S | 6-12′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (3), short-tongued bees (6) | small pods, 1/3-1/2″ long, with resinous dots | marshbirds, shorebirds, small mammals; intermediate value | nitrogen fixing; small purple flowers with orange anthers | transplants easily; spreads easily by seed; a rust can defoliate plants, other minor problems | does well on poor, dry soils; pH adaptable; medium growth rate |
| Aronia melanocarpa | black chokeberry | bogs; moist woods; dry sandstone ledges | N, C, S | 3-5′ | perfect; insects, especially bees | fleshy purplish black pomes, 3/8″ in diameter | songbirds, upland game birds, small mammals; high value in early fall | white flowers; early fall fruit; red fall color; suckers profusely | transplants easily; several rusts, fire blight, minor insect pests, rarely serious | very adaptable to both wet and dry soils; slow growing |
| Ceanothus americanus | New Jersey tea | prairies; rocky wooded bluffs | N, C, S | 3-4′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (6), short-tongued bees (18), other Hymenoptera (35), Diptera (42), Lepidoptera (2), Coleoptera (14), Hemiptera (4) | black, 3-lobed, +/- dry drupes, 1/5″ wide, splitting into 3 nutlets | small mammals, upland game birds, songbirds; intermediate value | prolific white flowers; compact rounded shrub; fixes nitrogen; attracts many insects | somewhat difficult to transplant; minor problems, such as leaf spot and powdery mildew | extremely adaptable; does well in dry soil; slow to medium growth rate |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | common buttonbush | wet ground; margins of swamps, ponds, and marshes; backwaters of rivers | N, C, S | 3-6’+ | perfect; long-tongued bees (25), short-tongued bees (6), other Hymenoptera (4), Diptera (10), Lepidoptera (29) | round cluster of small capsules, 1″ in diameter | marshbirds, shorebirds; low value | round clusters of white flowers; attracts bees and butterflies | transplants easily, BR or B & B; no serious problems | best suited to wet areas; medium growth rate |
| Cornus drummondii | rough-leaved dogwood | rocky woods; prairies; bluffs; low wet ground; sandy or clay soils | N, C, S | 10’+ | perfect; insects, probably similar to C. obliqua | white drupes, 1/4″ in diameter | upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals; high value | white flowers; white drupes; can invade adjacent areas | transplants easily, BR or B & B; scale insects, borers, cankers, leaf blights, root rot, none usually serious | adaptable from dry to wet areas; fast growing |
| Cornus obliqua | silky or pale dogwood | swamps; low woods; edges of streams and ponds; wet prairies | N, C, S | 10’+ | perfect; long-tongued bees (9), short-tongued bees (23), other Hymenoptera (15), Diptera (31), Lepidoptera (16), Coleoptera (2) | blue drupes, 1/4″ in diameter | upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals; high value | showy white flowers attract many insects | see C. drummondiiabove | wet to moist soils, but adaptable to dry conditions; medium to fast growing |
| Cornus racemosa | gray dogwood | prairies; rocky outcrops; dry to moist woods; margins of lakes and streams; roadsides | N, C, S | 10-15′ | perfect; insects, probably similar to C. obliqua | white drupes, 1/4″ in diameter, on red pedicels | upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals; high value | showy white flowers attract many insects; suckers to form colonies; can invade adjacent areas | see C. drummondiiabove | very adaptable to dry or moist conditions; fast growing |
| Cornus stolonifera
(C. sericea)
| red-osier dogwood | marshes; fens; margins of streams; sandy soil | N, C, S | 10’+ | perfect; insects, probably similar to C. obliqua | white drupes, 1/4″ in diameter | upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals; high value | showy white flowers attract many insects; ornamental red stems in winter; many underground stolons help hold soil on banks | see C. drummondiiabove; sometimes slow to reestablish | best in moist soils, but very adaptable; fast growing |
| Corylus americana | American hazel, hazelnut, or filbert | thickets; dry woods; unburned prairies; old fields; sandy, gravelly or rocky soils | N, C, S | 8-10’+ | monoecious; wind | small nuts, 1/2″ in diameter, enclosed by green bracts | small mammals, upland game birds; high value | yellow-brown catkins in early spring on bare branches; suckers from roots | transplants well B & B; several minor insect pests and diseases, rarely cause problems | pH adaptable; adaptable to moist to dry soils; may be sensitive to salt; medium to fast growing |
| Diervilla lonicera | bush or dwarf bush honeysuckle | sandy or rocky woods; thickets; cliffs | N, C | 3′ | perfect; insects, mostly Lepidoptera | capsules, 1/2″ long | little value | forms thickets, holds soil on banks; funnel-shaped yellow flowers; reddish fall color | transplants easily, BR or B & B; generally pest free | adaptable to dry, compacted soils; tolerates high pH soils and windy conditions; fast growing |
| Hamamelis virginiana | see “Trees” table | |||||||||
| Hydrangea arborescens | wild or smooth hydrangea | woods; moist shaded ravines | C, S | 3-5′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (1), short-tongued bees (8), other Hymenoptera (1), Diptera (14), Lepidoptera (2), Coleoptera (5) | capsules 1/8″ long, in umbrella-like clusters | little value | large white flower clusters attract many insects; suckers and spreads | transplants easily; dies back to ground after severe winters; several potential insect, bacteria, fungal problems, rarely serious | very adaptable but best in moist soil if grown in full sun; not very drought tolerant; fast growing |
| Hypericum prolificum | shrubby St. John’s-wort | rocky stream banks; lake margins; rocky thickets; sandy areas; pastures | N, C, S | 1-3’+ | perfect; insects, mostly bees | capsules, 3/8-5/8″ long | songbirds, upland gamebirds, small mammals; little value | bright yellow flowers attract bees | easily transplanted from containers; generally pest free, occasional leaf spot or powdery mildew | grows well in calcarious, heavy, dry soils; tolerates drought; slow growing |
| Ilex verticillata | common winterberry, black alder | swamps; along streams; wooded slopes and bluffs | N, C, S | 6-10’+ | dioecious; insects, especially bees | fleshy, bright red drupes, 1/4″ in diameter; male plants needed for fruit production | upland gamebirds, songbirds; high value in winter | a deciduous holly; showy red fruit | transplant B & B or container; chlorosis in high pH soils; no serious problems | best for moist to wet, acid soils; slow growing |
| Lindera benzoin | spicebush | rich, moist woodlands; along streams | N, C, S | 6-12′ | dioecious; insects | fleshy, bright red drupes, 3/8″ long, oval | songbirds, upland game birds; high value | flowers early in spring; excellent yellow fall color; showy red fruits | difficult to transplant, slow to reestablish; few diseases or pests | best in moist soils, tolerates dry conditions; pH adaptable; slow growing |
| Physocarpus opulifolius | common or eastern ninebark | rocky slopes and banks; moist swales; gravel bars; limestone cliffs | N, C, S | 5-10′ | perfect; various insects, especially Diptera | follicles, 1/4″ long in clusters of 3-5, with hard, shiny, tan seeds | upland game birds, small mammals; intermediate value | white flowers in spring attract insects; exfoliating bark | transplants easily, BR or B & B; few diseases or pests | extremely adaptable to different light, pH, and moisture conditions; fast growing |
| Potentilla fruticosa | shrubby or bush cinquefoil | interdunal ponds; fens; gravel prairies; limestone cliffs | N, C, s | 2-4′ | perfect; various insects, especially Hymenoptera and Diptera | tiny achenes in a dry hard head | songbirds, small mammals; low value | bright yellow flowers; widely sold, but usually not of Illinois genotype | transplants easily; generally pest free | likes alkaline conditions; adaptable to wet or dry soils; good in compacted soil; slow growing |
| Prunus americana | wild or American plum | thickets; woodlands; fence rows; roadsides | N, C, S | 20’+ | perfect; long-tongued bees (14), short-tongued bees (26), other Hymenoptera (3), Diptera (23), Lepidoptera (7), Coleoptera (3) | fleshy red to yellow drupes, 1-1 1/4″ in diameter | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game mammals; high value | white flowers; suckers prolifically to form colonies; one of several native plums to consider planting | transplants easily, BR or B & B; many potential problems, rarely serious | tolerant of poor soils; thrives with neglect; medium to fast growing |
| Prunus virginiana | see “Trees” table | |||||||||
| Ptelea trifoliata | see “Trees” table | |||||||||
| Rhus aromatica | fragrant sumac | woods; bluffs; dunes; hill prairies | N, C, S | 2-6’+ | polygamous; bees, other Hymenoptera | +/- fleshy drupes, bright red, 1/4″ in diameter, covered with short hairs | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game & small mammals; high value in winter | red fruits; glossy foliage; red, orange or purple fall color; suckers prolifically | transplants easily, BR or B & B; no serious problems | very adaptable to poor, dry soils; slow to medium growth rate |
| Rhus copallina | shining or winged sumac | dry hills; fields | N, C, S | 10-30′ | polygamous, often dioecious; long-tongued bees (8), short-tongued bees (15), other Hymenoptera (29), Diptera (22) | fleshy drupes, bright red, 1/4″ in diameter, covered with short hairs, produced in large upright clusters | more preferred than R. glabrabelow, eaten when available | glossy green summer foliage; red fall color; showy fruits persist through winter | transplants easily, BR or B & B; no serious problems | very adaptable to dry soils and poor conditions; fast growing |
| Rhus glabra | smooth sumac | woods; fields; roadsides; hill prairies; sandy soil | N, C, S | 10’+ | polygamous; long-tongued bees (1), short-tongued bees (10), other Hymenoptera (3), Diptera (4) | +/- fleshy drupes, 1/4″ in diameter, bright red, covered with short-sticky hairs, produced in large upright clusters | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game & small mammals; high value in winter as emergency food | red fall color; showy fruits persist through winter; suckers to form open colonies | transplants easily, BR or B & B; no serious probems | very adaptable to dry soils; tough; fast growing |
| Rhus typhina | staghorn sumac | woods; gravel ridges | N, C, S | 10’+ | polygamous, often dioecious; bees, other Hymenoptera | +/- fleshy drupes, bright red, 1/4″ in diameter, densely long-hairy, produced in large upright clusters | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game & small mammals; high value in winter | red fall color; showy fruits persist through winter; spreads through suckering | transplants easily, BR or B & B; fungus cankers and twig dieback, borers | very adaptable to dry soils; tough; tolerates pollution; pH adaptable; fast growing |
| Salix humilis | prairie willow | prairies; open woods; rocky slopes | N, C, S | 4-12′ | dioecious; long-tongued bees (2), short-tongued bees (12), Diptera (12), Coleoptera (1) | capsules, 1/4-3/8″ long, releasing many plumed seeds | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game mammals; high value in early spring | early flowers attract native bees; one of several native willows to consider planting | transplants easily, BR; many bacterial, fungal diseases, insect pests | adaptable to wet or dry soils; medium growth rate |
| Sambucus canadensis | common or American elder or elderberry | open woods; thickets; along streams; roadsides | N, C, S | 5-12′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (2), short-tongued bees (6), Diptera (190), Coleoptera (5) | fleshy purple-black berries, 1/4″ in diameter | upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals; high value | cream-white flowers; black fruits; suckers profusely to form thickets | transplants easily BR or B & B; borers, cankers, leaf spots, powdery mildew, generally not serious | best in moist soil, but adaptable to dry soil; fast growing |
| Spiraea alba | narrow-leaved meadowsweet | wet prairies; open habitats with wet soil | N, C, S | 3-6′ | perfect; various insects, especially Diptera and Hymenoptera | follicles, 1/8″ long, in clusters of 5, with many tiny seeds | upland game birds; low value | white flowers; suckers to form colonies | transplants easily; fire blight, many potential problems, generally not serious | best in moist soil, but adaptable to dry soil; pH adaptable; fast growing |
| Spiraea tomentosa | hardhack, steeplebush | bogs; moist thickets; wet sandy swales | N, C | 3-6′ | perfect; various insects, especially Diptera and Hymenoptera | follicles, 1/8″ long, with many tiny seeds | songbirds, upland game birds; waterfowl; low value | pink to rose-purple flowers; suckers | transplants easily; fire blight, many potential problems, generally not serious | best suited to moist, acid soils; fast growing |
| Staphylea trifolia | American bladdernut | moist woods; wooded bluffs; along streams; thickets | N, C, S | 10-15′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (94), short-tongued bees (9), other Hymenoptera (1), Diptera (4), Lepidoptera (4), Coleoptera (2), Hemiptera (1) | inflated papery pods, 1-1 1/2″ long, with several hard seeds | low value | attractive shrub; showy fruits; suckers | transplants easily; twig blight and leaf spot, rarely serious | best in moist, well-drained soil; pH adaptable; medium to fast growing |
| Symphoricarpos occidentalis | wolfberry, western snowberry | dry open ground; sandy soil; prairies; old fields | N, C | 3-4′ | perfect; insects, probably similar to S. orbiculatus | fleshy drupes, 1/2″ in diameter, dull white becoming blackish, persistent | upland gamebirds, songbirds; small mammals; high value | pinkish flowers; suckers vigorously to form colonies | transplants easily; anthracnose, leaf spot | does well in dry soil; pH adaptable; fast growing |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus | coralberry; buckbrush, Indian current | woods; pastures; hill prairies; rocky bluffs; old field | N, C, S | 2-5′ | perfect; long-tongued bees (10), short-tongued bees (27), other Hymenoptera (43), Diptera (37), Lepidoptera (1), Coleoptera (1) | +/- fleshy drupes, 1/4″ in diameter, purple-red, persistent | upland gamebirds, songbirds, high value in winter | pinkish flowers; suckers, forming thickets | transplants easily; anthracnose, leaf spot | does well in dry soil; pH adaptable; fast growing |
| Taxus canadensis | Canada yew | rocky outcrops; wooded hillsides | N | 6’+ | dioecious; wind | fleshy, translucent red berry-like cones, 3/8″ in diameter, with one hard seed | songbirds, upland game birds; moderate value | one of only a few native evergreens; forms an attractive broad mound | difficult to transplant, B & B; no serious problems | needs shade, moist soil; intolerant of heat & drought; slow growing |
| Viburnum acerifolium | maple-leaved arrowwood | moist woods; rocky woods; wooded slopes | N, C | 4-6′ | perfect; probably many Hymenoptera and Diptera | fleshy blue-black drupes, 1/3″ in diameter | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game & small mammals; high value | cream-white flowers; suckers to form large colonies; fall color ranges from rose to red and purple | transplants easily, B & B or container; seldom bothered by pests | best in moist shady places but adaptable to full sun; pH adaptable; slow to medium growth rate |
| Viburnum lentago | see “Trees” table | |||||||||
| Viburnum rafinesquianum | downy arrowwood | wooded slopes; rocky woods and bluffs; rocky stream beds | N, C, s | 3-6′ | perfect; probably many Hymenoptera and Diptera | fleshy blue-black drupes, 3/8″ in diameter, oval | upland gamebirds, songbirds, game & small mammals; high value | white flowers; suckers to form thickets | transplants easily, B & B or container; seldom bothered by pests | very adaptable from moist to dry soils and shade to full sun; medium growth rate |
| Zanthoxylum americanum | prickly-ash | open, rocky woods; limestone cliffs; thickets | N, C, S | 10-25′ | dioecious; short-tongued bees (24), long-tongued bees (12), other Hymenoptera (3), Diptera (18), Coleoptera (1), Lepidoptera (1) | reddish, aromatic capsule, 3/16″ long, with one large black seed | songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals; high value | suckers prolifically; many prickles on stems | transplants easily, B & B or BR; trouble free | does well in poor, dry soils; stems very prickly, use with caution where people are present; fast growing |
- Information on natural habitat based primarily on: Fernald (1950); Mohlenbrock (1986); Tehon (1942).
- Information on region based primarily on: Mohlenbrock & Ladd (1978); Mohlenbrock (1986); “n” = north of Interstate 80; “c” = central, between Interstate 80 and Interstate 64; “s” = south of Interstate 64; a capital letter indicates that the species is native to that region while a lower case letter indicates that the species can be cultivated in the region although it is not native there.
- Information on height based primarily on: Dirr (1990); Hightshoe (1988); Morrisey & Giles (1990).
- Information on pollination mostly from Robertson (1929). Perfect flowers = flowers have both male & female parts; monoecious = separate male and female flowers on the same plant; dioecious = separate male and female flowers on different plants; polygamous = a mix of perfect and/or male and female flowers on the same plant. The numbers in parentheses refer to the number of species reported visiting this species by Robertson (1929)
- Information on fruit primarily based on: Dirr (1990); Elias (1989); Fernald (1950); Little (1980); Rehder (1940); +/- means “more or less.”
- Information on wildlife primarily based on: DeGraaf & Witman (1979); Ehrlich et al. (1988); Elias (1989); Gill & Healy (1974); Hightshoe (1988); Martin et al. (1951).
- Information on Special, Establishment, and Adaptability & Growth Rate based primarily on: Dirr (1990); Flint (1983); Hightshoe (1988); Morrisey & Giles (1990); Walker & Giles (1985). B & B = balled & burlapped; BR = bare root. NOTE: The information on disease and insect pests can be viewed two different ways. In traditional landscape approaches, such problems are considered deleterious and attempts are made to use species with few diseases and pests and to control them with pesticides. However, in the context of Corridors for Tomorrow, native pathogenic organisms are part of the original biodiversity of Illinois, and hence their continued presence in the state is encouraged.