Trees and Shrubs for Coastal Environments and Freshwater Resource Buffer Zones

W = wet           

SU = sun            

OBL = Obligate                       

! = Possible pests

M = moist        

PS = part shade

FACW  = Facultative wetlands

# = stoloniferous

D = dry             

SH= shade          

FAC = Facultative                  

OC = On Center

FACU = Facultative uplands

c = caliper

✶Arctostaphylos uvaursi

bearberry

X

X

12” x 4’

Yes

4” pot

12” OC

✶ #Comptonia peregrina

sweet fern

FACU

X 

 X

X 

X 

2’ x 3’

Yes

1-2 G

30”–36”OC

Gaylussacia spp.

huckleberry

X 

X 

X 

X 

1.5’ x 3’

sod

3’ OC

Hypericum densiflorum

dense St. John's wort

FAC

X 

X 

X 

X 

4’ x 4’

Yes

1 G

3’ OC

Kalmia angustifolia

sheep laurel

X 

X 

X 

X 

2’ x 2’

2 G

3’ OC

!✶Juniperus horizontalis

creeping juniper

X

X

X

12” x 4’

Yes

1-3 G

3’–5’ OC

✶Prunus maritima

beach plum

X 

X 

X 

X 

1-8’ x 5’

Yes

5 G.

5’  OC

Rosa carolina

pasture rose

X 

X 

X 

X 

3’ x 3’

1 G

4’ OC

Viburnum acerifolium

maple-leaved arrowwood

X 

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 4’

2’-3’

5’-6’ OC

Aronia arbutifolia

red chokeberry

FACW

X 

X 

X 

X

6’ x 5’

1’-2’

4 -6’ OC

✶ Baccharis halimifolia

groundsel tree

FACW

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

Yes

1 G

4’ OC

Cephalanthus occidentalis

buttonbush

OBL

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2’-4’

5’-8’ OC

Clethra alnifolia

sweet pepperbush, 

FAC+

X 

X

X

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

1 G

4’ OC

Cornus amomum

silky dogwood

FACW

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2’-3’

4’-6’ OC

Hamamelis virginiana

witch hazel

FAC-

X 

X 

X 

X 

15’ x 5’

2’-4’

5’ OC

Ilex glabra

inkberry

FACW+

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

Yes

5 G

4’-5’ OC

Ilex verticillata

winterberry

FACW+

X 

X 

X

X 

X 

10’ x10’

Yes

2’-4’

4’-6’ OC

! Juniperus communis

pasture juniper

X

X

5’ x 8’

Yes

1 G

4’-5’ OC

Lindera benzoin

spicebush

FACW-

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

4’-5’ OC

Myrica gale

sweet gale

OBL

X

X

X

4’ x 4’ 

2 G

4’-5’ OC

✶ Myrica pensylvanica

northern bayberry

FAC

X 

X 

X 

X 

9’ x 9’

Yes

3 G

4’ OC

Rhododendron viscosum

swamp azalea

OBL

X 

X 

X 

5’ x 5’

3’-4’

4’-5’ OC

# Rhus aromatica

fragrant sumac

X

X

X

X

6’ x 10’

2 G

4’ OC

# Rhus glabra

smooth sumac

X 

X 

X 

10’ x 0’

Yes

2’-4’

4’ OC

Rosa palustris

swamp rose

OBL

X 

X 

X 

X 

7’ x ?

1 G

4’ OC

Sambucus canadensis

common elderberry

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

4’ OC

Vaccinium corymbosum

highbush blueberry

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

6’ – 8’OC 

Viburnum cassinoides

Witherod viburnum

X

X

X

X

6’ x 6’

2 G

6’ OC

Viburnum dentatum 

arrowwood

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

X 

8’ x 8’

Yes

2 G

6’ OC

Viburnum nudum

Smooth witherod

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

6’ OC

Viburnum trilobum

Am. Cranberry viburnum

FACW

X

X

X

X

6’ x 6’

2 G

6’ OC

Alnus serrulata

smooth alder

OBL

X 

X 

X 

15’ x15’

2’-3’

8’ OC

! Kalmia latifolia

mountain laurel

FACU

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

10’ x10’

2 G

6’ OC

# Rhus copallina

shining sumac

X 

X 

X 

20’ x20’

2 G

5’ OC

✶# Rhus typhina

staghorn sumac

X 

X 

25’ x25’

Yes

2 G

6’ OC

Amelanchier canadensis

shadbush

FAC

X 

X 

X 

X 

15’ x 5’

Yes

4’-6’

8’-12’OC

! Cornus florida

flowering dogwood

X 

X 

X

X 

X 

20’ x20’

1½”-2”  c

12’-15’OC

Crataegus crus-galli

cockspur hawthorn

X 

X 

X 

X 

20’ x 0’

1½”-2” c

12’-15’OC 

! Ilex opaca

American holly

X 

X 

X 

30’ x 5’

4’-5’

12’-15’OC

!✶ Juniperus virginiana

eastern red cedar

FACU

X 

X 

X 

35’ x 5’

Yes

4’-6’

8’-10’ OC

Magnolia virginiana

sweetbay magnolia

FACW+

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

20’ x20’

3’-4’

15’-20’OC

Ostrya virginiana

ironwood

FACU-

X 

X

X 

X 

25’ x20’

1½” 2” c

20’ OC

Sassafras albidum

sassafras

FACU-

X 

X

X 

X 

25’x25’’

1½”-2” c

20’ OC

Acer rubrum

red maple

FAC

X

X

X

X 

X 

40’ x30’

2”-3” c

20’ OC

Betula nigra

river birch

FACW

X

X

X 

X 

40’ x35’

2” c

20’  OC

Celtis occidentalis

hackberry

FACU

X

X

X 

X 

30’ x35’

Yes

2” c

20’ OC

Chamaecyparis thyoides 

Atlantic white cedar

OBL

X

X

X 

50’ x20’

5’-8’

20’ OC

Fagus grandifolia

American beech

FACU

X

X 

X 

60’ x60’

2”-3” c

30’ OC

Fraxinus americana

white ash

X

X 

X 

50’ x40’

2”-3” c

25’-30’OC

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

green ash

FACW

X

X 

X 

50’ x30’

2”-3” c

25’-30’OC

Liriodendron tulipifera

tulip poplar

X

X 

X 

70’ x50’

2”-3” c

35’-40’OC

Nyssa sylvatica

tupelo

FACW-

X

X

X

X 

X 

50’ x30’

2”-3” c

15’-20’OC

✶ ! Picea glauca

white spruce 

X

X

X

40’ x20’

Yes

5’-6’

20’-25’OC

Picea mariana

black spruce

FACW-

X

X

X

40’ x20’

5’-6’

20’-25’OC

! Pinus strobus

white pine

FACU

X

X

X 

80’ x40’

4’-8’

20’-25’OC

! Quercus alba

white oak

X

X 

60’ x40’

2½”3”c

20’ OC

! Quercus bicolor

swamp white oak

FACW+

X

X

X 

X 

60’ x50’

2½”-3” c

25’ OC

! Quercus coccinea

scarlet oak

X

X 

50’ x40’

2½”-3” c

20’ OC

!Quercus prinus 

chestnut oak

X

X 

X 

60’ x60’

2½”-3” c

25’ OC

! Quercus rubra

northern red oak

FACU-

X

X

X 

X 

60’ x60’

2½”-3” c

25’ OC

!✶ Quercus velutina

black oak

X

X

X 

60’ x50’

Yes

2½”-3” c

25’ OC

Salix nigra

black willow

FACW+

X

X

X 

X 

35’ x20’

8’-10’

20’ OC

! Tilia americana

American basswood

FACU

X

X 

60’ x40’

2”-3” c

20’ OC

W = wet

SU = sun

OBL = Obligate

! = Possible pests

M = moist

PS = part shade

FACW  = Facultative wetlands

# = stoloniferous

D = dry

SH= shade

FAC = Facultative

OC = On Center

FACU = Facultative uplands 

c = caliper

✶ Arctostaphylos uvaursi

bearberry

X

X

12” x 4’

Yes

4” pot

12” OC

Aronia melanocarpa

black chokeberry

FAC

X 

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

Yes

1 -2 G

4’-6’ OC

✶ # Comptonia peregrina

sweet fern

X 

X

X 

X 

3' x 4’

Yes

1 -2 G

30”-36” OC

Gaylussacia spp.

huckleberry

FACU

X 

X 

X 

X 

1.5’ x 3’

sod

3’ OC

Hypericum densiflorum

dense St. John's wort

X 

X 

X 

4’ x 4’

1 G

3’ OC

!✶ Juniperus horizontalis

 creeping juniper

X

X

X

12” x 4’ 

Yes

1 -3 G

3’ -5’ OC

Rosa carolina

pasture rose

X 

X 

X 

X 

3’ x 3’

1 G

4’ OC

#Rubus odoratus

purple flowering raspberry

X 

X 

X 

5’ x ?'

1 G

3’ -4’ OC

Spiraea alba

narrow-leaved meadowsweet

FAC+

X 

X 

X

5' X 3’

1 G 

2’-3’ OC

Spiraea latifolia

broad-leaved meadowsweet

FAC+

X 

X 

X

5' X 3’

1 G

2’ -3’ OC

Vaccinium angustifolium

late lowbush blueberry

X 

X 

X 

X 

2-3' X 2’

1 G

3’ OC

Viburnum acerifolium

maple-leaved arrowwood

X 

X 

X 

X

6’ X 4’

2’-3’

6’ OC

Aronia arbutifolia

red chokeberry

FACW

X 

X 

X 

X

6’ x 5’

1’ -2’

4’ -6’ OC

Cephalanthus occidentalis

buttonbush

OBL

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2’ -4’ 

5’ -8’ OC

Cornus amomum

silky dogwood

FACW

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2’ -3’

4’-6’ OC

Hamamelis virginiana

witch hazel

FAC-

X 

X 

X 

X 

15’ x15’

2’ -4’

5’ OC

Ilex verticillata

winterberry holly

FACW+

X 

X 

X

X 

X 

10’ x10’

Yes

2’ -4’ 

4’ -6’ OC

Juniperus communis

pasture juniper

X

X

5’ x  8’

Yes

1 G

4’ -5’ OC

Lindera benzoin

spicebush

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

4’ -5’ OC

Rhododendron maximum

rose bay rhododendron

X 

X 

X 

15' x 15’

2’ - 4’ 

10’ OC

Rhododendron periclymenoides

pink azalea, pinxterbloom

FAC

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

1’ -2’

6’ OC

Rhododendron viscosum

swamp azalea

OBL

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

3’ -4’ 

4’ -5’ OC

# Rhus aromatica

fragrant sumac

X 

X 

X 

6' x 6’

2 G

4’ OC

# Rhus glabra

sweet or smooth sumac

X 

X 

X 

10’ x10’

Yes

2’ -4’

4’ OC

Rosa palustris

swamp rose

OBL

X 

X 

X 

X 

7' x ?

1 G

4’ OC

Sambucus canadensis

common elderberry

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

4’ OC

Vaccinium corymbosum

highbush blueberry

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

X 

6’ x 6’

2 G

6’ -8’ OC

Viburnum cassinoides

witherod

X

X

X

5’ x 5’

2 G

6’ OC

Viburnum dentatum)

arrowwood

FAC

X 

X 

X 

X 

8’ x 8’

Yes

2 G

6’ OC

Viburnum nudum

smooth witherod

X 

X 

X 

6’ X 6’

2 G

6’ OC

Viburnum trilobum

Am. cranberrybush viburnum

FACW

X

X

X

8’ X 8’

2 G

6’ OC

Alnus serrulata

smooth alder

OBL

X 

X 

X 

15’ x15’

2’-3’

8’ OC

Corylus americana

American hazelnut or

filbert

X 

X

X 

10’ x 8’

3’-4’

8’ OC

! Kalmia latifolia

mountain laurel

FACU

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

10' x 10’

2 G

6’ OC

# Rhus copallina

shining or winged sumac

X 

X 

X 

20’ x 20’

Yes

2 G

5’ OC

# Rhus typhina

staghorn sumac

X 

X 

25’ x 25’

Yes

2 G

6’ OC

Amelanchier arborea

downy serviceberry

X 

X

X 

20’ x 15’

6’ -8’

15’ OC

Amelanchier canadensis

 serviceberry, shadbush

FAC

X 

X

X 

X 

20’ x 12’

Yes

6’ -8’

12’ OC

Amelanchier laevis

smooth serviceberry

X 

X 

X 

X 

25’ x  18’

6’ – 8’

15’ OC

Carpinus caroliniana

American hornbeam

X 

X 

X 

35 x 30’

3” c

15’ OC

Cornus alternifolia

alternate-leaf dogwood

X 

X 

X 

X 

15’ x 20’

8’

15’ OC

! Cornus florida

flowering dogwood

X 

X 

X

X 

X 

20’ x 20’

1½” -2” c

12’ -15’ OC

Crataegus crus-galli

cockspur hawthorn

X 

X 

X 

X 

20’ x 20’

Ilex opaca

American holly

X 

X 

X 

30’ x 25’

4’ -5’

12’-15’ OC

!✶ Juniperus virginiana

eastern red cedar

FACU

X 

X 

X 

25’ x 25’

Yes

4’ -6’

8’-10 OC

Ostrya virginiana

ironwood

FACU-

X 

X

X 

X 

25’ x 20’

1½”– 2” c

20’ OC

Sassafras albidum

sassafras

FACU-

X 

X 

X 

25’ x 25’

1½”– 2” c

20’ OC

Acer rubrum

red maple

FAC

X 

X 

X 

X 

40’ x 30’

2”-3” c

20’ OC

Betula nigra

river birch

FACW

X 

X 

X 

X 

40’ x 35’

2” c

20’ OC

Celtis occidentalis

hackberry

FACU

X 

X

X 

X 

30’ x 35’

Yes

2” c

20’ OC

Chamaecyparis thyoides

Atlantic white cedar

OBL

X

X

X

X

50’ x 20’

5’ -8’

20’ OC

Fagus grandifolia

American beech

X 

X 

X 

60’ x 60’

2”-3” c

30’ OC

Fraxinus americana

white ash

X 

X 

X 

50’ x 40’

2”-3” c

25’-30’ OC

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

green ash

FACW

X 

X 

X 

X 

50’ x 30’

2”-3” c

25’-30’ OC

Liriodendron tulipifera

tulip tree

X 

X 

X 

70’ x 50’

2”-3” c

35’-40’ OC

Nyssa sylvatica

black gum, sourgum

FACW-

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

50’ x 30’

2’-3’ c

15’-20’ OC

✶!Picea glauca

white spruce 

X

X

X

40’ x 20’

Yes

5’-6’

20’-25’ OC

!Picea mariana

black spruce

FACW-

X

X

X

40’ x 20’

5’-6’

20’-25’ OC

! Pinus strobus

white pine

X 

X 

X 

80’ x 40’

4’-8’

20-25’ OC

!Platanus occidentalis

American sycamore

X 

X 

X 

X 

75’ x 75’

3” c

25’-30’ OC

!Quercus alba

white oak

X 

X 

60’ x 40’

2½” –

3” c

20’ )C

!Quercus bicolor

swamp white oak

FACW+

X 

X 

X 

60’ x 50’

2½”-

3” c

25’ OC

!Quercus coccinea

scarlet oak

X 

X 

50’ x 40’

2½”- 

3”  c

20’ OC

!Quercus rubra

northern red oak

FACU-

X 

X 

X 

X 

60’ x 60’

2½”- 

3” c

25’ OC

!Quercus stellata

post oak

X 

X 

60’ x60’

2½”-

3” c

25’ OC

!✶Quercus velutina

black oak

X 

X 

X 

60’ x 60’

Yes

2½”-3”c

25’ OC

Salix nigra

black willow

FACW+

X 

X 

X 

X 

35’ x 20’

8’-10’

20’ OC

Tilia americana

American basswood

FACU

X 

X 

60’ x 40’

2”-3” c

20’ OC