Cherry tree. Photo by George Hodan at PublicDomainPictures.net
Birch tree. Photo by MirellaST at Pixabay.
Pine tree. Photo by David Stephens, Bugwood.org.
butterflies. Where available, I suggest planting native azaleas and native blueberries, even if it’s just because their fruit tastes good. Maple, Acer spp. Since the destruc- tion of chestnuts in the early- to mid- 1900s, the maple has expanded its role in the urban forest. There are midstory, understory and overstory trees that work well for each layer in the urban forest. The maple supports 285 species of moths and butterflies east of the Mississippi.
too close to them because their giant, syringe-like thorns will cause dam- age. That being said, these thorns help protect bird nests, as well as cat- erpillars and butterflies. Hazel alder, Alnus sp. This is a small tree native to the eastern U.S. It’s a hardy native that can grow in wet or dry conditions alike. It’s a good border tree that forms a multi- stem, shrub-like tree that is closely related to birch trees. They also share a lot of the same hosts, such as the banded tussock moth.
in the urban forest in the United States. The eastern white pine, for example, is a common choice in urban areas. It grows quickly, blocks wind and screens out neighbors – all while providing benefits to insects, wildlife and birds. Elm, Ulmus spp. Since the Dutch elm disease, many of these native elms are now gone. What we have le are elm trees that originated in Asia, like the Chinese elm and Siberian elm, which are popular in urban ar- eas. Resistant cultivars of American elms continue to become more avail- able, so they would be a good alterna- tive to the Siberian or Chinese elms. Hickory, Carya spp. These are great ornamental trees and have beautiful fall foliage. Hickories are excellent wildlife trees that produce more than 100 species of bird food in the form of moths and butterfly larvae. They also produce large nuts that sustain squir- rels and other mammals over the win- ter. A lot of people also harvest and eat these nuts. Hawthorn, Crataegus spp. There are a lot of plants in this genus and they hybridize regularly, so getting the exact species can be a nightmare. They make a great ornamental tree with beautiful flowers in the spring and berries in the fall. But don’t get
Pine, Pinus sp. There are many conifers
Elm tree. Photo by Joseph OBrien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Maple tree. Photo by David Wagner at PublicDomainPictures.net
28 | ArborTIMES Summer 2023
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