Growing Native Trees
Below you will find a list of native flowering, shade and evergreen trees from our plant database. If you click on any of the photos, you will see a Virtual Plant Tag that may contain plant descriptions, usage suggestions and a link to where you can buy that plant for your landscaping. The concept of a tree can be difficult to define since different people might consider the same plant a broadleaf evergreen, needled evergreen, conifer, bush or shrub.
Uses for these native trees vary by variety, and may thrive in full sun, partial sun, partial shade or even full shade and flourish in wet soil, average moisture or dry conditions. Specific details are on the individual plant pages.
With the popularity of organic gardening increasing and the focus on sustainability gaining ground, renewed interest in native trees is the natural next step. With so many wonderful trees to consider, the list is being divided into less well-known varieties that deserve consideration and the more well-known that may not be used as much because they seem so common. But if drought tolerance, heat and cold tolerance, natural resistance to disease and insects and less chemical use are important, familiar and less-flashy may be the way to go. Visit the native evergreen page for more details on conifers.
Recommended unknown native trees include: American Beech or Fagus grandifolia, American Elm or Ulmus americana with notable selections, American Hophornbeam or Ostrya virginiana, American Hornbeam or Carpinus caroliniana, American Yellowwood, Virgilia or Cladrastis kentuckea, Black Gum also known as Black Tupelo, Pepperidge, Sour Gum or Nyssa sylvatica, Bur Oak or Quercus macrocarpa, Carolina Silverbell or Halesia tetraptera, Chestnut Oak or Q. prinus and Chinkapin Oak or Q. muehlenbergii, Common Sassafras or S. albidum, Common Witchhazel or Hamamelis virginiana, Cucumbertree Magnolia (M. acuminata) and lovely cultivars, Pagoda Dogwood or Cornus alternifolia, several Serviceberries (Amelanchier), Sourwood, Sorrel Tree, Lily of the Valley Tree or Oxydendrum arboreum, Sweetbay Magnolia (M. virginiana), White Fringetree (C.virginicus).
Familiar native trees worth another look are: American Arborvitae or Thuja occidentalis including numerous cultivars, American Holly or Ilex Opaca, American Sweetgum or Liquidambar styraciflua and cultivars, Bull Bay or Evergreen Magnolia (M. grandiflora) and improved selections, Eastern Redbud or Cercis canadensis, Flowering Dogwood (C.florida) with wonderful cultivars, Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Red Oak (Q. rubra), River Birch (Betula nigra), Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), Tulip Tree (L. tulipifera).
