neb tree book

8/8/2019 Neb Tree Book

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i

C onservation Trees for N ebraska

Trees benefit both people and anima ls. They shadeand shelter homes, reduce soil erosion, protect

crops and livestock, provide homes for wildlife,contr ol noise, provide us with food and lumber an dadd beauty to our landscape.

Nebraska has a proud history of planting trees onthe prairie. Arbor Day, an international holiday,was born h ere. Nebraska also was a nat ional leaderin planting trees during the Dust Bowl Era of the1930s.

That t ree planting tradition cont inues today. Eachyear, Nebraska’s Natur a l Resources Dis t r ic ts(NRDs) help landowners plant m ore th an a m illiontrees in the state.

N RD Tree Programs

Through NRD tree p lanting programs, landownershave access to low-cost t rees and shrubs for

windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat, andother conservation purposes.

Most NRDs offer bot h “h and plant” an d “mach ineplant” trees. Hand plant trees are lower priced andusually can be purchased in smaller quantities,but they must be planted by the purchaser. Forlarger projects, landowners can buy ma chine planttrees that are planted by the NRD. Many districtsa l so p rov ide he lp i n con t ro l l i ng weeds t ha tcompete with trees for water.

The Bessey Nursery near Halsey provides themajority of seedlings for NRD tree pr ograms. Thenursery is operated by the U.S. Forest Service.



Weed Barrier

Many NRDs offer weed barrier for tree plantings.The barrier can make tree planting projects nearly

maintenance-free by preventing grass and weedgrowth, and it also helps retain moisture for theseedlings. By eliminating th e need for mech anicalor chemical weed control, the barrier will saveyou money and help protect the environment.

The weed barrier m aterial is a black polypropylenefabric with t he appe arance of tightly woven bu rlap.Installation can be done either by the NRD or bylandowners themselves. The barrier is generallyavailable in 6-foot-wide rolls in 300- or 500- footlengths. Partial rolls may also be pur chased. Ch eck wi th your local NRD for current pr ic ing andavailability.

D rip Irrigat ion

Some NRDs sell drip irrigation systems for newlyplanted trees. The systems improve tree survival

r a t e by p rov id ing wa te r t o t he s eed l ings i nNebraska’s n otoriously hot, dry summers. Thesystems a l low for more eff ic ient water ing of seedlings by dripping the water where and whenplants need it. Ther e is little or no evaporation andvirtually no run off.

Drip irrigation systems are made up of hose ortubing, filters, pressure regulators, couplers, andemitters. A well-planned drip system can have atremendous impact on the young trees’ survivaland growth.

Drip irrigation systems are eligible for cost sharea s s i s t ance t h rough seve ra l s t a t e and f ede ra lprograms. Check with your NRD for availabilityand pricing.



v

Tree Species

Nebraska ’s NRDs offer a wide variet y of trees a ndshrubs that are wel l -sui ted for conservat ion

purposes. This booklet contains information oncommon trees an d shr ubs sold by NRDs. However,each NRD opera tes i t s own t ree program, soavailable species may d iffer from d istrict t o districtand from year to year. Check with your local NRDfor a list of the species they offer.

Accompany ing each spec i e sdescription is an information boxlike the one shown here. Thisshows the vegetative zones thetree is best suited for, the averageheight in feet of the tree at 20y e a r s a n d m a t u r i t y, a n d t h esugges t ed row spac ing fo rp l an t ing . A t t he back o f t hebook le t i s a t ab l e showingacceptable soil characteristicsfor each species.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone

Not Recommended for Zone

I II III IV

Nebraska Vege tative Zones

Average Height (ft.)20 Years:

6-8 Maturity:

6-8

Suggested Spacing (ft.)Within Rows:

6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

To O rder

To order seedlings, contact your local NRD (see

map and contact information on next page). Theirforestry st aff can help you with a plantin g plan an doffer suggestions on which species would be bestsuited for your needs. To ensure receiving thetrees you want, place your order early. Manydistricts begin selling trees in late fall for plant ingthe n ext spring. Seedlings are gener ally distribut edin late March/early April.

For contact information and m ore information onNRDs, visit the Nebraska Association of ResourcesDistricts website at www.nrdn et.org, or call (402)471-7670.



viii

Central Platte NRD215 N. Kaufman AvenueGrand Island, NE68803Phone: 308-385-6282www.cpnrd.org

Lewis & Clark NRD608 N. RobinsonPO Box 518Hartington, NE68739-0518

Phone: (402) 254-6758

Litt le Blue NRD100 East 6thPO Box 100Davenport, NE68335Phone: 402-364-2145www.littlebluenrd.org

Lower Big Blue NRD805 Dorsey StreetPO Box 826Beatrice, NE68310Phone: 402-228-3402www.lbbnrd.org

Lower Elk horn NRD601 E. Benjamin, Ste. 101PO Box 1204Norfolk, NE68702-1204Phone: 402-371-7313www.lenrd.org

Lower Loup NRD2620 Airport DrivePO Box 210Ord, NE68862-0210Phone: 308-728-3221

Lower Niobrara NRD410 Walnut StreetPO Box 350Butte, NE68722Phone: 402-775-2343

Lower Platte North NRD511 Commercial Park RoadPO Box 126Wahoo, NE68066-0126Phone: 402-443-4675www.lpnnrd.org

Lower Platte South NRD3125 Portia StreetPO Box 83581Lincoln , NE68501-3581Phone: 402-476-2729www.lpsnrd.org

Lower Republican NRD706 2nd StreetPO Box 618

Alma, NE68920Phone: 308-928-2182

Middle Niobrara NRD526 E. 1st StreetValentine, NE69201Phone: 402-376-3241

Middle Republican NRD220 Center AvenuePO Box 81Curtis, NE69025Phone: 308-367-4281www.mrnrd.org

Nemaha NRD125 JacksonTecumseh, NE68450Phone: 402-335-3325www.nemahanrd.org

North Platt e NRD1054 Rundell RoadPO Box 36Gering, NE69341Phone: 308-436-7111www.npnrd.org

Papio -Missouri River NRD8901 So. 154th StreetOmaha, NE68138Phone: 402-444-6222www.papionrd.org

South Platte NRD551 Parkland DrivePO Box 294Sidney, NE 69162-0294Phone: 308-254-2377www.spnrd.org

Tri-Basin NRD1308 Second St.Holdrege, NE68949Phone: 308-995-6688http://tbnrd.dnr.state.ne.us

Twin Platte NRD111 So. Dewey St., United NEBank CenterPO Box 1347

North Platte, NE69103-1347Phone: 308-535-8080www.tpnrd.org

Upper Big Blue NRD105 Lincoln Ave.York, NE68467Phone: 402-362-6601www.upperbigblue.org

Upper Elkhorn NRD301 No. Harrison St.O’Neill, NE68763Phone: 402-336-3867http://linux1.dnr.state.ne.us/ uenrd

Upper Loup NRDE. Highway 2, PO Box 212Thedford, NE69166Phone: 308-645-2250

Upper Niobrara White NRD430 E. 2nd StreetChadron, NE69337Phone: 308-432-6190http://linux1.dnr.state.ne.us/ unwnrd

Upper Republican NRD135 West 5thPO Box 1140Imperial, NE69033Phone: 308-882-5173www.urnrd.org



ix

A bout N ebraska’s N RD s

For more than 30 years, Nebraskans h ave benefitedfrom a stron g, locally-contr olled system of natural

resources management.

Nebraska’s NRDs, created in 1972 , are un ique inthe n ation. Because NRDs are based on watersh edbasins inst ead of artificial political boundar ies suchas county lines, they are equipped to deal with abroad ran ge of nat ural resources issues. The resulthas been a wide variety of innovative projects an dprograms, uniquely tailored for the areas theyserve.

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts(NARD) p rov ides admin i s t r a t i ve s e rv i ce s ,l eg i s l a t i ve r ep re sen t a t i on , and s t a t ewidec o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d c o o r d i n a t i o n t o t h e 2 3independent districts. For more information aboutNebraska ’s un ique NRD syste m, con tac t NARD at( 4 0 2 ) 4 7 1 - 7 6 7 0 o r v i s i t t h e i r w e b s i t e a twww.nrdnet.org.

x

C onifers ............................................................ 1Rocky M ountain Juniper .......................................3A ustri an Pine ....................................................... 4Jack Pine ............................................................... 4Ponderosa Pine ..................................................... 6Scotch Pine ........................................................... 7Eastern Redcedar .................................................. 8C olorado Blue Spruce.......................................... 9

D eciduous Trees .............................................. 11G reen Ash ........................................................... 13C ott onwood ........................................................14Siberian Elm ........................................................ 15H ackberry ............................................................ 16H oneylocust ........................................................ 17

Sil ver M aple ....................................................... 18Bur O ak ...............................................................19N orthern Red O ak ............................................. 20Swamp Whit e Oak .............................................21Russian O li ve......................................................22Black Walnut ....................................................... 23

Shrubs............................................................... 25 M anchurian A pricot ........................................... 27Silver Buffaloberry ............................................. 28C aragana............................................................ 29Black C herry .......................................................30C hokecherry ........................................................ 31

Sandcherry ........................................................... 32Peking C otoneaster ............................................ 33M idwest C rabapple ...........................................34G olden C urrant .................................................. 35Elderberry ............................................................ 36Wint erberry Euonymus ....................................... 37Washington H awthorn.......................................38A merican H azel .................................................. 39A mur H oneysuckle ............................................ 40C ommon Li lac .....................................................41A mur M aple ...................................................... 42A merican Plum ................................................... 43

Skunkbush Sumac .............................................. 44Soil Suitabil it y ................................................ 45

C ontents



3

Rocky M ountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum )

Rocky Mountain Juniper is native to northwestNebraska. It is similar in appearance to eastern

redcedar. It’s drou ght resistan t, pre fers slightlyalkaline soils, and retains a bluish-green colorthroughout winter. It is best used on th e north andwest outside rows in windbreaks.

Rocky Mountain juniper is subject to the sameinsect and disease problems as eastern redcedar.Rocky Mountain juniper is more susceptible thaneastern redcedar to Cercospora blight, which isv e r y c o m m o n i n e a s t e r n N e b r a s k a . R o c k yMountain juniper is not recommended for plantingin the eastern half of Nebraska.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



10-20 Maturity:

15-25


12-16 Between Rows:

12-24

4

A ustrian Pine (Pinus nigra )

Austrian Pine has pairs of needles 4 to 6 incheslong. The n eedles are genera lly stiff, with th e end s

b e i n g v e r y s h a r p t o t h e t o u c h . O r i g i n a l l yintroduced from Europe as an ornamental, it hasc o n s i d e r a b l e v a l u e i n w i n d b r e a k s a n d a sChristmas trees. Austrian pine is best used in eastor south inside rows of windbreaks.

Austrian pine is very susceptible to Sphaeropsis(Diplodia) blight and Dothistroma needle blightand moderately susceptible to Zimmerman pinemoths. Sphaeropsis blight and Zimmerman pinemoths can seriously deform or kill trees if notcontrolled. Dothistroma needle blight can causesubstantial defoliation in wet years or when treesare closely spaced if not con trolled. Pine tip moth sare occasionally a problem.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV

Nebraska Vegetative Zones


18-30 Maturity:

35-55


16-20 Between Rows:

12-24



5

Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana )

Jack Pine is native to Canada and th e Great LakeStates. Needles are in pairs 1 to 2 in ches long andare usually twisted. Cones are 1 to 1 1/2 incheslong and persistent for many years. It is droughtresistant and can be planted on a wide variety of sites, but is n ot recommen ded for limestone soils.It is best used on inside rows of windbreaks incentral and western Nebraska, or as outside rowsin eas ter n Nebraska . The jack pine’s genera lpyramidal form and persistent branch es makes ita good substitute for eastern redcedar.

Jack pine has no serious diseases, but pine tip

moths can be a problem.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



18-30 Maturity:

35-45


16-20 Between Rows:

12-24

6

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa )

P o n d e r o s a P i n e i s n a t i v e t o n o r t h w e s t a n dnorthcentral Nebraska. Needles are grouped inthrees, and sometimes pairs, 5 to 10 inches long.Cones are 3 to 6 inches long and each scale isa r m e d w i t h a s h a r p r e c u r v e d s p i n e . I t c a nwithstand prolonged drought and is the best pineto use on severe sites. It is best used in east an dsouth inside rows of windbreaks.

Z i m m e r m a n p i n e m o t h s a n d S p h a e r o p s i s(Diplodia) blight can be serious prob lems and cankill or deform trees if not con trolled. Pine tip m othscan s tun t g rowth by k i l l i ng b ranch t i p s and

Dothistroma needle blight can occasionally causedefoliation if not c ontr olled.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



18-30 Maturity:

35-55


16-20 Between Rows:

12-24



7

Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris )

Scotch Pine , a nat ive of Europe, is widely used asa Christmas tree. Older trees have orange-colored

bark in the crown.

T h i s s p e c i e s i s n o t a s d r o u g h t r e s i s t a n t a sponderosa pine, Austrian pine or jack pine. It isb e s t u s e d i n e a s t o r s o u t h i n s i d e r o w s i nwindbreaks. Sphaer opsis (Diplodia) blight, and th efoliage diseases brown spot and Naemacyclusneedle cast, can damage the tree severely if notcontrolled. It also is subject to pine tip moth andZimmerman pine moth injury.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone

Not Recommende d for Zone

I II III IV



18-30 Maturity:

35-45


16-20 Between Rows:

12-24

8

Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana )

Eastern Redcedar is native to Nebraska. It is highlyadapted to a wide range of s i tes and has the

highest survival rate of any conifer planted inNebraska. Its deep roots and small leaf surfacemake it very drought resistant. The foliage turnsa russet color in winter. It is the primary speciesin most windbreaks.

Two foliage diseases, Cercospora bl ight andPhom ops is b l i g h t , c a n c a u s e s u b s t a n t i a ldefoliation and kill redcedar if not controlled.Cercospora blight is common and widespread. Athird foliage disease, Kabatina blight, can kill

branch tips but is not a serious concern. Spidermites occasionally cause damage, and young treesmay require protection.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



12-25 Maturity:

25-35


12-16 Between Rows:

12-24



9

C olorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens )

Colorado Blue Spruce is native to the RockyMount ain region. The color r anges from da rk greento silvery blue green . Blue Spru ce will form a verydense windbreak when planted close together, butthey only have a medium growth rate. ColoradoBlue Spruce is best used as the inside row of farmstead windbreaks. Survival is best if theseedlings are protected from drying winds byplacing wooden shingles on the south and westsides.

Spider mites can be a problem. Rhizosphaeraneedle cast can be a problem un der persistent wet

conditions.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



18-26 Maturity:

30-45


16-20 Between Rows:

12-24



13

G reen A sh (Fraxinus pennsylvanica )

Green Ash is native throughout th e state, with bestgrowth in m oist bottomlands. Green ash has beenused as a windbreak tree throughout Nebraskabecause of its adaptability to soil and moistureconditions. This medium-sized tree has beaut ifulyellow foliage in the fall.

Lilac borers are often a problem on young trees.O the r pos s ib l e p rob l ems may be caused byoystershell scale, ash rust, leaf scorch and stemcanker.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



22-28 Maturity:

35-45


16-20 Between Rows:

16-24

14

C ottonwood (Populus delt oides )

Cotton wood is th e Nebraska stat e tree. It is nativeacross the state and usually is found adjacent torivers, streams, and around lakes. Cottonwood hasa fast growth rate an d provides most of the lumberprocessed in Nebraska today. It is planted inriparian areas for filter strips, and n ear streams toreduce sedimentation an d stabilize stream banks.It also can be used in multiple row windbreaks forheight and quick protection.

Native trees can become infested by leaf beetles,twig borers and stem canker, but these are r arelys e r i o u s p r o b l e m s . C o t t o n l e s s c l o n e s a r e

distributed.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV


Average Height (ft.)

20 Years:45-55 Maturity:65-85


16-22 Between Rows:

20-30



15

Siberian Elm (U lmus pumila )

Siberian Elm is sometimes called Chinese elm bymis take . I t i s adapted to a lmost a l l so i l and

moisture conditions in the state, but is usuallyshort -lived. Siberian elm is resistan t to Dutch elmdisease. The wood is brittle and breaks in wind,snow and ice storms. Siberian elm should beplanted only on severe sites where oth er speciesare likely to fail. Siberian elm can be invasive onpasture lands because of its prolific seeding.

Pest problems for the Siberian elm are elm leaf beetles and wetwood (slimeflux).

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



24-40 Maturity:

26-42


16-20 Between Rows:

20-30

16

H ackberry (C elt is occidentalis )

Hackberry i s a nat ive t ree found throughoutNebraska. It has a medium to long life span.

Hackberry leaves are elm shaped; the grayish bark has a war ty appearance . Once es tabl ished, amoderate rate of growth and tolerance to adverseweather can be expected. Hackberry can be usedin single row windbreaks to slow summer windsand increase the snow catch over fields duringthe winter.

Witches broom on branches and nipple-galls onlower leaf surfaces can be unsightly, but causelittle adverse effect.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



22-28 Maturity:

45-55


16-20 Between Rows:

16-24



17

H oneylocust (G ledit sia triacanthos )

Honeylocust is nat ive to eastern Nebraska. Thismedium-lived, relatively fast growing tree lendsi tse l f wel l to windbreak plant ings . The f ine-textured foliage of the honeylocust gives partialshade and turns a golden yel low in the fa l l .Honeylocust is used in multi-row windbreaks toincrease the effective height of the windbreak.The twisted flat seed pods are 6-10 inches long.Cattle often eat the seed pods because t hey havea sweet taste.

Mimosa webworm an d other insects present m inorproblems. Canker diseases may cause occasional

b ranch d i eback bu t a r e u sua l ly no t s e r iousproblems unless the t rees are in a weakenedcondition. The “th ornless” variety is distributed.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



24-32 Maturity:

35-45


16-20 Between Rows:

16-24

18

Silver M aple (A cer saccharinum )

Silver Maple is a fast growing, long-lived treenative to eastern Nebraska. The species is idealfor wet bottomland sites and can easily recoverfrom exten ded pe riods of flooding. It per forms wellon uplands , but does not to lera te a lkal ine orcalcareous soil or drought cond itions. Silver maplecan be u sed in riparian buffer plant ings. The woodof the silver maple is brittle and can break in wind,snow or ice storms.

Possible problems are multiple main stems, scaleinsects, greenstriped maple worms, and maplebladder-gall mites.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



30-34 Maturity:

40-50


16-22 Between Rows:

20-30



19

Bur O ak (Q uercus macrocarpa )

Bur Oak is nat ive to Nebraska. It grows on a widevariety of sites, but grows best on rich, moistbottomlands. Bur oak has a slow to moderategrowth rate and is fairly drought tolerant. It is anexcellent species to include in wildlife habitatplantings. It is less susceptible to oak wilt thannor the rn r ed oak and has no s e r ious i n sec tproblems.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



20-26 Maturity:

35-45


16-22 Between Rows:

16-24

20

N orthern Red Oak (Q uercus rubra )

North ern Red Oak is a medium - to large-sized treenat ive to eastern Nebraska. Red oak has a mediumgrowth rate and oval shaped crown with br onze-red autumn color. This long- l ived species i sexcellent for wildlife. It will provide food, shelter,and n esting for a wide variety of birds and an imals.Northern red oak is not r ecommended for plantingin the western half or extreme northern part of the state due to moisture an d soil limitations.

Oak wilt, a vascular disease, is poten tially a seriousproblem along the eastern edge of the state.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



20-26 Maturity:

40-50


16-22 Between Rows:

16-24



21

Swamp White O ak (Q uercus bicolor )

Swamp White Oak is native to the central andsouthern United States. It grows best on moist,bottomland forested soils. It is a large tree withspecimens over 60 feet tall. The tree is valuablefor wildlife habitat and for its wood. The wood isused in fine furn iture, flooring, and wine casks. Itis only recommended for southeastern Nebraska.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



16-26 Maturity:

30-45


16-22 Between Rows:

16-24

22

Russian O live (Elaeagnus angustifolia )

Russian Olive is a small tree tolerant of droughtand alkaline condition s. It is a medium-height treefor mu lti-row windbr eaks. The fruit of the Russianol ive pers is ts la te in to winter, making i t anexcellent food source for birds. Th e leaves are lightgreen on top an d a silver grey-green on th e bottom .

Stem cankers can be a major problem on thisspec i e s . Russ i an O l ive can be i nvas ive ,particularly in riparian areas.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



14-18 Maturity:

14-18


10-14 Between Rows:

12-18



23

Black W alnut (Juglans nigra )

Black Walnut is nat ive to Nebraska’s easter n an dnorth centr al fertile bottomlands. It is highly prizedfor its rich, chocolate-brown wood and nut meats.Straight, limb-free trees are very valuable in thetimber industry. Walnut trees have a mediumgrowth rate and a long life span. Walnut requiresa deep, s i l ty- loam soi l having good in ternaldrainage for maximum growth. Walnut seedlingshave been planted in the Sandhills for wildlifehabitat and as a local source of nut meats.

Walnut caterpillars can defoliate trees in mid- tolate summer, but this seldom does any permanent

damage. Walnut is highly susceptible to broadleaf herbicide damage.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



20-26 Maturity:

40-50


16-22 Between Rows:

16-24



27

M anchurian A pricot (Prunus mandshurica )

Manchurian Apricot is a small spreading tree 15to 20 feet tall. It has a beaut iful pinkish flower th atblooms in th e spring before th e leaves emerge. Thefruit pr ovides food for wildlife durin g the fall. It canbe used for one of the outer rows in multi-rowwindbreaks.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



12-16 Maturity:

12-16


8-12 Between Rows:

12-18

28

Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea )

Silver Buffaloberry is a native species of westernNebraska. This thorny, tree-like shrub is droughtto lerant and adaptable to a lkal ine soi ls . Thepersistent, fleshy berries provide food for birdsduring the winter. The tart berries also are usedin jellies.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



10-12 Maturity:

10-12


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16



29

C aragana (C aragana arborescens )

Caragana, also called Siberian peash rub, is a largesprea ding shru b. It provides dense cover for wildlifeand is ideal for the shrub row in a windbreak. InCanada, it is planted as single row windbreaks.Caragana is adaptable to conditions of extremecold and wind. It tolerates a wide range of soiltypes, including alkaline and saline soils.

Grasshoppers can be a problem, but very rarelykill an established plant.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



8-10 Maturity:

8-10


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

30

Black C herry (Prunus serotina )

Black Cherry also called rum cherry, is a nativespecies valuable for its rich , reddish-brown wood.It grows best on deep m oist, fertile soils in easternNebraska. The wood is used in fine furniture andthe cherries are used in jell ies and wine. Thecherr ies are excel lent b i rd food dur ing mid-summer. Black cherry does not grow naturally inpure st ands. It shou ld be planted eith er in wildlifehabitat for a bushy large tree or with oth er specieslike walnut in a forest plantation.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



18-20 Maturity:

35-40


16-22 Between Rows:

16-24



31

C hokecherry (Prunus virginiana )

Chokecherry is a medium-sized shrub th at formsa dense thicket from root suckers. It is used fort h e o u t e r r o w i n m u l t i - r o w w i n d b r e a k s .Chokecherry is good wildlife habitat, providingfood and cover for birds and small mammals.Showy white flowers bloom in April or May, andthe cherries ripen during July. The cherries canbe used for making jelly and wine.

Chokecherry should not be planted near otherstone-fruit species because of western x-diseaseand black knot . Tent ca terpi l lars are of ten aproblem in the spring but rarely kill the plant.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



6-12 Maturity:

6-12


6-10 Between Rows:

12-18

32

Sandcherry (Prunus besseyi )

Sandcherry i s a low growing shrub nat ive towestern Nebraska. It has showy white flowers inMay and produces small, sweet, purplish-black cherries in July. Sandcherry can tolerate hot, dryconditions, and prefers well-drained soils. It willsucke r to form small, four- to six-foot wide thick ets.The cherries are especially good for making jellyor jam.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



2-4 Maturity:

2-4


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16



33

Peking C otoneaster (C otoneaster acutifolia )

Pek ing Co toneas t e r i s a l ow-g rowing sh rubintroduced from Asia. It has dark, glossy greenfoliage th at tu rns or ange to red du ring the fall. Theberry-like fruit r ipens to a dar k red or black in earlyOctober an d persists late into the winter, providinga good winter food source for birds. This is a stur dyshrub for the outside row of windbreaks.

Fireblight of the t wigs and st ems can be a problem.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



5-8 Maturity:

5-8


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

34

M idwest C rabapple (M alus baccata var. M andshurica )

‘Midwest ’ Crabapple i s a medium-sized t reegrowing to 20 feet. It will have a rounded crownwhen open and will maintain its branches closeto the ground. It is extremely hardy and diseaseresistan t. The small apples are only 1/4 to 1/2 inchin diameter. The persistent fruit makes excellentwildlife food throughout the fall and winter. Thewhite blossoms are especially attr active during thesprin g. Craba pple is good for single row windbrea kswhere a shorter tree is needed, and between thecent ral and outside rows of multi-row windb reaks.Avoid planting close to redcedar or juniper toreduce th e poten tial for cedar-apple rust.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



12-16 Maturity:

12-16


8-12 Between Rows:

12-16



35

G olden C urrant (Ribes aureum )

Golden Cur ran t i s a w in t e r-ha rdy, d rough t -tolerant, small, native shrub. On the best sites, itwill grow to 5 to 7 feet tall. It has yellow flowersdur ing May. The edible fruit is yellowish to p urp lishblack when ripe. The fruit can be eaten directlyfrom th e bush or made into jelly. Golden currantis an excellent wildlife habitat species or can beused on the outside row of multi-row windbreaks.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



4-6 Maturity:

4-6


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

36

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis )

Elderberry is a sma ll, semi-wood species native toNebraska. It is prima rily used in wildlife plant ingsfor summer food. The dark purple berries areformed on umbrella-like heads and ripen duringmid- to late summer. The berries make excellent

jelly and syrups.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



4-6 Maturity:

4-6


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16



37

Winterberry Euonymus (Euonymus bungeanus )

Winte rberr y Euonymu s was intr oduced fromChina. It is an excellent species for the inside rowof f a rms tead w indbreaks o r anywhere f a l lcoloration is desirable. The leaves tur n pale yellowto redd ish brown, th e four-winged fruit is pink andthe seed a reddish-pink color. The shrub is usedby many son g birds for nesting habitat an d, to someextent, for food.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



8-14 Maturity:

8-14


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

38

Washington H awt horn (C rataegus phaenopyrum )

Washin gton Hawthorn is a mediu m-sized treegrowing to 25 to 30 feet on bet ter sites. It h as th inspikes 3 inches long on t he younger branches. Inthe spring, the rounded crown is filled with snow-white clusters of flowers. The resulting fruit isabout a 1/4 inch in diameter and turns a brightred in th e fall. The persiste nt fruit is great food forsongbirds in the fall and winter. Hawthorn can beused for wildlife habitat or between the centraland outside rows of multi-row windbreaks. Avoidplanting close to redcedar or juniper to reducethe potent ial for hawthorn ru st.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



12-16 Maturity:

12-16


8-12 Between Rows:

12-18



39

A merican H azel (C orylus americana )

American Hazel is native to eastern Nebraska.Best growth is obt ained on moist, fertile loam soilsand can grow to 15 feet, but 8 to 10 feet is morecommon. It is medium to fast growing, and startsproducing nuts wi th in 3 to 5 years . The nutsmature in late summer to early fall and are verytasty if you can collect them before the birds andanimals.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



6-8 Maturity:

6-8


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

40

A mur H oneysuckle (Lonicera maackii )

Amur Honeysuckle is a small- to medium-sizedshrub with spreading branches. The abundant andfragrant whit e to pink b lossoms appear in late Mayto early June. The blossoms are very attractive tohoney bees. Amur honeysuckle is a good speciesfor an outer row of a multi-row windbreak, andp rov ides summer food and nes t i ng a r ea fo rsongbirds.

Leaf blight can be a problem. Amur honeysuckleis less susceptible to honeysuckle aphid thanTatarian honeysuckle.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



5-8 Maturity:

5-8


6-10 Between Rows:

12-18



41

C ommon Lilac (Syringa vulgaris )

Common Lilac is a non-suckering, upright shrubt h a t i s b e s t l o c a t e d i n t h e o u t s i d e r o w o f windbreaks. Fragrant white to lavender flowersbloom during May. Lilac is rarely used in wildlifeplantings since it does not form thickets and theseeds have little food value.

P o w d e r y m i l d e w a n d o y s t e r s h e l l s c a l e a r ecommon problems.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



5-8 Maturity:

5-8


6-10 Between Rows:

12-18

42

A mur M aple (A cer ginnala )

Amur Maple is an introduced medium- to large-sized shrub from northern Asia. It is somewhatdrought tolerant but subject to chlorosis on heavyalkaline soils. The leaves turn scarlet to deep redduring the fall. It is best used for wildlife habitatand as the outside row on the leeward side of windbreaks.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



16-20 Maturity:

16-20


8-12 Between Rows:

12-18



43

A merican Plum (Prunus americana )

American Plum is native to Nebraska and is welladapted to a wide variety of soil and climaticconditions. It forms dense thickets ideal for theoutside r ows of windbreaks an d for wildlife h abitat.Birds use the thickets for nesting, feeding, andresting areas. The twigs are a preferred source of browse for deer and rabbits during the winter.White flowers bloom in May, with red to purpleplums ripening during September. The earliestripening fruit is usually the sweetest and makesthe best jelly.

Brown spot, plum pocket an d ten t caterpillars can

cause some problems.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



5-8 Maturity:

5-8


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16

44

Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus t rilobata )

Skunkbush Sumac is native to Nebraska. It cantolerate alkaline and drought conditions. Theclusters of berry-like fruit are covered with a soft,dense hair and turn a deep red in late summer.Skunkbush sumac is a good wi ld l i fe species ,providing food for birds throughout the winter. Itcan be used on the ins ide or outs ide rows of windbreaks.

Native to Zone

Non-Native to Zone


I II III IV



4-6 Maturity:

4-6


6-10 Between Rows:

12-16



Soil Suitabil ity G roups

G roup 1Soils in this group receive beneficial moisture from favorable landscapepositions, flooding, runoff from adjacent land, or have a seasonal high watertable during the spring.

High pH will have an effect on the selection of species on some soils in thisg roup . Compe t i t i on f rom grass and weeds i s t he p r inc ipa l conce rn in theestablishment and management of trees and shrubs.

G roup 2Soils in this group are excessively wet or ponded during the spring or overflowperiods.

The degree of wetness, pH, and drainage will have an effect on the selection of tree and shrub species in this group. Competition from grass and weeds is theprincipal concern in the establishment and management of t rees and shrubs.Spring planting may be delayed becau se of wet conditions. Soil blowing is a concernon some of the sandy soils.

G roup 3Soils in this group are very deep to deep, well-drained loamy and silty soilswith moderate to moderately slow permeability on uplands.

Competition from grass and weeds is the principal concern in the establishmentand management of trees and shrubs on these soils. Water erosion is a concernon the gently sloping to moderately steep areas (slopes 17 percent or less).

G roup 4Soils in this group are very deep, deep, and moderately deep, loamy and claysoils with slow or very slow permeability on uplands.

High clay content and drought tolerance have an effect on the selection of tree and shrub species for these soils. Competition from grass and weeds is theprincipal concern in the establishment and management of t rees and shrubs.Water erosion is a concern on the gently sloping to moderately steep areas.

G roup 5Soils in this group are loamy and sandy soils that have moderately rapidpermeability and moderate to high available water capacity.

Competition from grass and weeds and soil blowing are the principal concerns

in the establishment and management of trees and shrubs on these soils (slopesdominantly less than 6 percent but range up to 17 percent).

Soil characteristics are an importan t consideration whendeciding what type of tree or shrub to plant. There are nine

“Soil Suitability Groups” for conservation trees and shrubs.A list of th e acc eptab le Soil Groups for each species isincluded on th e reverse page.

45

G roup 6Soils in this group are well drained, loamy and silty soils that are moderatelydeep over sand gravel or bedrock.

They have low or moderate available water capacity.Drought tolerance willeffect the selection of tree and shrub species for use on these soils. Competitionf rom grass and weeds i s t he p r inc ipa l conce rn in the e s t ab l i shmen t andmanagement of trees and shrubs. Water erosion is a concern on gently sloping tomoderately steep areas.

G roup 7Soils in this group are very deep to deep, somewhat excessively drained toexcessively drained, sandy soils with low or very low available water capacity.

Soils in this group include coarse loamy soils on 9 to 17 percent slopes. Droughtconditions and soil blowing are the principal concerns in the establishment andmanagement of trees and shrubs on these soils. Specialized site preparation andspecialized planting methods are needed to establish the trees and shrubs. Onlyconiferous species are recommended for planting.

G roup 8Soils in this group are calcareous at or near the surface (excludes mollisolsand soils having sandy particle size control sections).

They do not receive beneficial moisture from run-in, flooding or seasonal highwater table. High calcium content and competition from grass and weeds are theprincipal concerns in the establishment and management of trees and shrubs on

these soils. Water erosion is a concern on gently sloping to moderately steepareas (slopes 17 percent or less).

G roup 9Soils in this group are affected by salinity and/or alkalinity.

Concentrations of salt will severely affect the establishment, vigor and growthof trees and shrubs on these soils.

Eastern Redcedar ........................ 13456789

Rocky M ount ain Juniper ........... 13456789Ponderosa Pine ............... ............. 13456789Scotch Pine ........................................ 13457A ustr ian Pine .................................. 134567Jack Pine ............... ................ .............. 13457C olorado Blue Spruce ........................ 1345H ackberry ........................................ 134568Siberian Elm .................................. 1345689H oneyl ocust .. ............... ................ ... 134568C ott onwood ............12349 (wet sit es only)Black Walnut ......................................... 134Sil ver M aple ........................................ 1234G reen A sh ............... ............... ...... 12345689Russian O li ve .............................. 12345689Bur O ak ............... ............... .............. 134568N ort hern Red O ak ...............................134Swamp W hit e Oak ............................. 1345

Soil Suitability G roups by Species

46

Black C herry ......................................... 134

C ommon L il ac............................... 1345689Peking C otoneaster .......................... 13456A mur H oneysuckle .......................... 13456C hokecherry ...................................... 13456A merican Plum ................................. 13456Skunkbush Sumac ........................ 1345689Sandcherr y ............................................. 156Silver Buffaloberry ....................... 1345689C aragana .............. ............... ........... 1345689Elderberr y ........................................... 12345A merican H azel ...................... ............ 1345W ashingt on H awt horn ...................... 1345M idw est C rapapple ........................... 1345A mur M apl e........................................ 1345G olden C urrant .............................. 134567W in terberry Euonymus ..................... 1345M anchuri an A pri cot ......................... 13456

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