HYBRID POPLAR  An extremely hard, vigorous tree known for it’s quick growth.  In addition to protecting soil from wind erosion, windbreaks protect livestock and humans from cold winds.  They increase wildlife habitat and aesthetics.  It has silvery-green leaves and will grow in a variety of soil types.

SIBERIAN CRABAPPLE  Siberian crabapple is a vigorous, winter and drought hardy tree. It is well adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions. The tree has a large spreading crown. White showy flowers are produced in early spring and the tree bears small, berrylike red or yellow fruit later in the season. Weed control is need surrounding this plant

The dense growth form of the Siberian Crabapple provides high quality cover for roosting, loafing and nesting birds. This species is important to many song and game birds and squirrels, as the fruit is usually maintained well into the winter. Rabbits and whitetail browse this species.

WASHINGTON HAWTHORN  (crataegus phaenopyrum) Washington Hawthorn is a multi-stemmed tree or shrub that has thorny branches and showy, white flowers. It prefers open sites on a broad range of soils, but is shade intolerant. It is drought resistant and often used in roadside plantings, screens and borders. It provides food and shelter for wildlife.  Its small glossy red fruits mature in fall and stay on tree into winter.  It grows to a height of 25 feet and a width of 18 feet.

SAND CHERRY   (Prunus pumila)  Sand Cherry prefers sandy soil and full sun.  It grows to a height of 3-5 ft. and a width of 6 ft. Sand Cherry is a native species of creeping shrub that is typical of coastal dunes. It serves as an important sand stabilizer and its fruit is good for wildlife. It is drought resistant, but its spreading root system is vulnerable to compaction, trampling, and soil erosion. Also called the "Beach Plum", the fruit of the Sand Cherry can be used to make jams and jellies.

HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY     (Viburnum trilobum)  Locally frequent throughout the state along streams, in open or lightly shaded swamps and wet grounds.  Moderately shade tolerant.  Produces handsome clusters of white flowers and scarlet fruits, which birds eat in late winter.  Berries can be picked to make homemade jellies.  The bush can reach a height of 10 feet and will spread somewhat.  Excellent wildlife plant. 

GRAY DOGWOOD  (Cornus Racemosa)  An upright shrub, often in large, dense, many-stemmed clones.  White flowers May-June, white fruit in July-September.  Common locally in the Lower Peninsula.  Can tolerate the widest range of fertile soil conditions in the dogwood family, from dry to wet mesic.  Moderately shade tolerant.  Easily transplanted.  A very effective ornamental plant.

RED OSIER DOGWOOD  (Cornus Stolonifera)  An upright shrub, with some branches arching and broad spreading (10’-12’ high) forming clones.  Winter buds small oblong.  White flowers June, whitish fruit in August-September.  Common throughout the state in open, wet places.  Shade-intolerant.  Easily transplanted.  Valuable as a landscape plant. Provision of dense cover is its main value to wildlife. Dogwood is a preferred browse species of deer and rabbits. The fruit provides summer food for robins, cedar waxwings and game birds

SILKY DOGWOOD  (Cornus amomum) A dense multi-stemmed, moderately shade tolerant woody plant.  A spreading shrub which attains a height of 10' to 12'.  Yellowish-white flowers bloom in mid-June.  Abundant clusters of blue fruit ripen in September.  Prefers moist soils but does well on a wide variety of soil types.  Most often planted for windbreaks and wildlife food/cover.

BUTTERFLY BUSH  Butterfly bushes can get 6'-12' tall and have a spread of 4'-15'. Blooms on butterfly bushes can be purple, pink, white, or red, and they usually have an orange "throat" in the center. Butterfly bush plants will bloom throughout the summer. Leaves are lance-shaped and grayish-green. Butterfly bush plants like full sun and a well-drained soil. Butterfly bushes are relatively drought-tolerant

TRUMPET VINE  Trumpet vine is a climber that produces orange to salmon flowers throughout most of the summer months. Provide trumpet vine with an arbor, trellis or fence and let it climb! While it doesn't have to be trained, trumpet vine does need to be pruned back -- for containment purposes   Birdwatchers take note: trumpet vines draw hummingbirds!  Prefers sunny locations.

NINEBARK  (Physocarpus opilofolius)  A native wetland edge species which prefers full sun to partial shade. This spreading shrub grows up to 8’ tall and up to 15’ across. The clusters of pinkish, to off-white flowers give way to a cluster of small nutlet containing seed heads by early autumn. The seeds are highly sought by songbirds and grouse. Prefers organic soil with high moisture availability. Planted along stream bans, the drooping branches provide high quality aquatic cover. Recommended for borders and screens. Transplants easily.

AMERICAN BITTERSWEET (Celastrus scandens)  This high climbing vine can grow up to 30 feet or more if it finds a suitable host.  Bittersweet is tolerant of a wide variety of upland soils and moderate shade.  Violet flowers appear in May-June and a scarlet berry erupts in August-October.

HONEYSUCKLE      A native specie that grows into a large shrub with pink to yellow-white flowers.  Produces very fragrant blossoms  in May-June with bright red berries in the summer which are edible.  Heights range from 8-12 feet.  Very hardy.

WILD GRAPE  A native specie that is a high climbing vine with small greenish flowers and purple to black fruit.  Grows best in moist to dry soils, light shade or at the edge of woods.  Produces edible fruit.

ELDERBERRY  (sambucus Canadensis)  Native species that produces yellowish-white flowers in early spring. It grows to reach heights of approximately 8 to 12 feet.  It produces large clusters of red/purple berry-like fruit.  This fruit will be eaten by birds, squirrels and other wildlife.  Recommended for wildlife plantings. 

NANNYBERRY  (Viburnum lentago)  This large shrub can be found growing along swamps and wetlands throughout the state.  It will also grow in upland sites with adequate moisture.  Reaching heights of 15' to 20', this shrub has white flower clusters in June followed by bluish-black berries ripening in fall.  The fruit will hang on the twigs through winter providing food for songbirds, game birds and other wildlife.  Recommended for wildlife plantings.

SERVICE BERRY    (amelanchier Canadensis)  Slow growing, moderately long lived.  Shade tolerant, grows best on forest edges and in the open. Grows on a variety of sites and soils ranging from rich, upland forest area to sandy pine plains. Intolerant of wet soils.  Serviceberry is a native species and produces white flowers in the spring, and round fruit ripening from June to August. The fruit is juicy and sweet and makes excellent jams and jellies. Many species of birds and mammals devour the fruit.