Mark Johns
Certified
Wildlife Biologist
NC Wildlife
Resources Commission
Division of
Wildlife Management
Nongame and
Endangered Wildlife Program
Native plants are an underused resource for the home landscape. We in the Southeast are fortunate to have a wide diversity of native plants to choose from that are perfect for backyard use and beyond. This guide is designed to be used as a tool by biologists and other natural resource managers to make recommendations to landowners, and also by landowners to make decisions to improve their property for wildlife. Though primarily designed for improving habitat in backyards for wildlife, these species suggestions have application for use by landowners with larger-sized properties. This guide will also be useful for landscapers, nursery owners, landscape architects and consultants to aid in selecting natives for planting and deciding which species to leave when areas are developed or altered. The information presented in this guide can be used to help identify which existing beneficial natives for wildlife to add to the existing plants in backyards of all sizes and woodlots. Each backyard or property is different, and this will mean options chosen for each will be different.
Native plants evolved
naturally in a particular region, and were growing there before humans
introduced plants (exotics or non-natives) from other areas. Natives are adapted to certain soil,
moisture, pest and weather conditions.
Our natives in North Carolina and other parts of the southeast have
evolved to local habitat conditions over thousands of years, and are perfect
for “low maintenance” gardening and landscaping in backyards.
1-
meet
the food and cover needs of many species of wildlife while promoting
biodiversity
2-
resistant
to natural pests and diseases which decreases need for certain pesticides
3-
save
energy once established and require less attention from landowners
4-
usually
not invasive like many exotic plants tend to be if their competition is
controlled
5-
improve
water quality when used as vegetative buffers along streams, ponds and wetlands
6-
provide
a variety of colors, heights, shapes and textures in landscapes and backyards
7-
exist
as a historical and cultural link to the past and a bridge to the future
8-
value
as sources of food and medicine and many other domestic purposes
How to get started? Good question. The good news is that many conventional nurseries are adding natives to their inventory every year. Specialty and mail order nurseries have been established that have 50% or more of their stock as natives. Due to the increasing availability of nursery grown plants, it’s not a good idea to collect from the wild unless it’s from a site to be cleared for development and you have permission. A list of nurseries that stock natives follows at the end of this document, and you can consult with local parks, nature preserves, garden clubs, botanical gardens, arboretums, and university extension departments for other sources for buying native plants. Remember the first and most important thing is to take stock of what you already have in your yard or on your property, then plan what you want to add or change based on your wildlife viewing or management objectives. Let’s repeat: make a basic plan of resources you have and those you want to add. Don’t forget to prepare a budget!
When planting begins, try
and plant a native species in native soil (especially woody plants) and use
organic matter only as a ‘top mulch.’
Plant carefully selected specimens that are matched to the environment
you are placing them in regarding soils, moisture and light availability. Once a woody plant is in the hole, backfill
with the soil you dug out and water as needed to remove air pockets from the
soil around the root ball. Usually
after two summers your woody plants should be able to survive without extra
watering from you. Planting trees and
shrubs in fall is usually a good idea because the roots will continue to
develop throughout the winter, and plants are less likely to be stressed by
summer dryness than spring planted woody species.
Visit your local library and
check out books on gardening with natives, as well as regional field guides
that can help determine if certain plants thrive in your region. Consult nurseries, arboretums and botanical
gardens if unsure for direction on planting once you have selected the
specimens you want to try. Be careful
not to be discouraged to plant natives at this point. Stick with your selections and just ask for advice on planting
methods. Be patient and realize this
process in your backyard or on your property takes time and is not done in one
or two growing seasons. Suggestions of
books and web sites for more information are provided at the end of the plant
list.
For each species there is a common name, scientific name, type information (deciduous or evergreen), light requirements (full sun, part sun, shade), soil moisture requirements (see key below) and general comments. The range referred at end of comment section is for North Carolina. At the end of the plant list, there are lists of books and web sites for further information on native plants, as well as suggestions on where to buy native plants.
Scientific names : Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas by Radford, Ahles and Bell, 1968. Nomenclature updates: Classification of the Natural Communities of NC, Schafale and Weakley, 1990.
General Information: Forest Plants of the Southeast, Miller and Miller, 1999.
Poisonous Plant Information: Plants that Poison by Schmutz and Hamilton, 1979.
Key to soil moisture requirements: hydric (wet, plants may be under water at times)
mesic (moist, adequate soil moisture year-round)
sub-xeric (moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry)
xeric (dry and drought resistant, little moisture, well-drained)
Species are listed by Genus in alphabetical order, but also have common name in caps (maple, birch, oak, holly, etc.) for easy search by common name if you are unfamiliar with scientific names.
Southern
Sugar Maple
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a species of low woods, and also more well drained sites if soil pH is more
toward neutral. Fruits are food for
birds and small mammals in summer and fall.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers drill holes to get to the sap. Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Box
Elder
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
This
is a species of low woods and stream banks, and is a common species of levee
forests. Compound leaves. Fruits are food for birds and small mammals
in summer and fall. Good selection for
moist soil sites. Avoid planting near
houses as it can have insect pest problems.
Best used as a species for streambank restoration work. Most common in Piedmont.
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Grows
rapidly on all sites and soil types.
Avoid planting Maples close to structures and septic drain fields due to
aggressive root system. Soft wood and
the various fungi that attack this species often mean cavities and hollows in
main trunk on older trees for wildlife to use.
Fruits are food for birds and small mammals (like southern flying
squirrels and mice) in spring. Deer and
rabbits will browse the young twigs. I have found the caterpillars of the
Polyphemus Moth feeding on the leaves of this plant. Nice spring color from flowers/fruits and great fall leaf color. Statewide and very common.
Sugar
Maple
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
Fruits
are food for birds and small mammals in summer and fall. Great fall color. This is a species of the mountains in NC, but is planted
throughout the state as an ornamental.
BUCKEYE
Yellow
Buckeye
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
All
species of buckeyes are considered poisonous (young foliage and seeds) to
humans and livestock. Gray squirrels
and feral hogs do eat seeds. All
species of buckeyes flower in the spring and are important nectar sources for
the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Buckeyes
leaf-out early in the spring and drop leaves early in the fall. This species can grow to be a large tree. Note:
Keep in mind that all buckeyes contain aesculin. Children have been poisoned by eating the seeds. Plant parts have been used to “stun” fish in
ponds. Good fall color. Mountains.
Red
Buckeye
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
This
species is a shrub or small tree, and is best for mostly shady, moist
sites. This is a great species to plant
for hummingbirds with it scarlet flower petals. Chiefly lower Coastal Plain,
but also extends into the central Piedmont.
Painted
Buckeye
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
Mainly
a shrub from 3 to 10 feet tall that does well in shady, moist
environments. Flowers provide food for
early migrating hummingbirds, as well as breeding hummingbirds in spring.
Primarily a Piedmont species.
ALDER
Alder
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Hydric
to Mesic
This
shrub rarely grows over 15 feet, and is a species of moist areas to consider
for use in stream restoration sites and around ponds to provide thicket-like
cover for birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Some nesting opportunities for birds. Harvester butterfly larvae
are often found on alders feeding on woolly aphids. Male catkins are eaten by
birds in springtime. Statewide.
SERVICEBERRY
Serviceberry,
Shadbush
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
tree provides important fruits for many birds and mammals in summer during May
and June. I have found the caterpillars of Red-spotted Purple butterflies on
this plant. The white flowers are attractive in springtime before the leaves
appear. Does well along woodland borders, where fruit production is often
higher than in forests. This is primarily a species of the Piedmont and
Mountains.
Deciduous
Full
sun to part shade
Hydric
to xeric
This
species is often shrub-like, and grows in bogs and pocosins, as well as sandy
upland woods. It flowers in early
springtime and provides soft mast for a variety of wildlife, including
songbirds, squirrels and foxes. Deer and rabbits reported to browse twigs.
Nectar source for early season solitary bees.
Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Mesic
to xeric
This
tree grows up to 6000 feet in mountains of North Carolina, and may bloom as
early as late February at lower elevations.
Fruits ripen by June at lower elevations and around August at higher
elevations. Many birds relish the
fruits, including thrushes, vireos, tanagers and ruffed grouse. Mammals like
raccoons, opossums, deer mice, squirrels, black bears and gray fox climb
eagerly for the fruits, while others (like deer and red fox) clean up whatever
falls to the ground. Mountains only.
PEPPERVINE
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Hydric
to mesic
This
is a high-climbing vine in the grape family that is common in moist areas of
the Coastal Plain. Mammals and
songbirds eat fruits, mainly during summer. Another species in the south (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) in a
nonnative, rather invasive species with multi-colored fruits. I have seen it
commonly in the Piedmont of our state. Coastal Plain.
PAWPAW
Pawpaw
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
Pawpaw
is an interesting plant with large leaves that exude an asphalt-like odor if
crushed. Flowers appear in spring before the leaves, and the banana-like fruits
ripen in late summer and early fall.
Fruits are quite good (resemble small bananas) and are eaten by wild
turkey, bear, deer, foxes, opossums, raccoons, gray squirrels and many species
of fall migrating birds. Larvae of the
Zebra Swallowtail butterfly and Pawpaw Sphinx Moth feed on the foliage. Flies are the primary pollinators. Statewide.
DEVIL’S
WALKING STICK
Devil’s
walking stick, Hercules club
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Hydric
to xeric
Great
wildlife plant with short, sharp spines covering the stems of younger
individuals, so placement away from homes along the edges of yards is best.
This plant has rapid growth, and also reproduces from root shoots and may
multiply into dense clumps. Grows in a variety of habitats and soil types, but
flowers best in direct sun. The fleshy
fruits and seeds are consumed by many birds in late summer, fall and winter
including: Northern cardinal, Northern mockingbird, brown thrasher, American
robin, wood thrush, orchard oriole, Eastern bluebird, Eastern towhee and many
others. Many mammals also eat the fruits including: red and gray foxes,
chipmunks, skunks, raccoons, opossums and white-footed mice. Many butterflies, bees and wasps are
attracted to the flowers in summer.
Deer are reported to utilize the foliage as browse. Statewide.
DUTCHMAN’S
PIPE
Dutchman’s
Pipe
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
This
woody vine occurs infrequently in rich woods, coves and along streambanks in
the mountains, but is very common in the Great Smokies. The large leaves and unique flowers make it
an interesting choice for backyards. This is a primary food plant for Pipevine
Swallowtail butterfly larvae. The orange eggs of this swallowtail are usually
found on the stem or underside of the leaf of the plant, often in clusters of
5-20. Mountains.
SUPPLEJACK,
RATTANVINE
Supplejack,
Rattanvine
Deciduous
(usually)
Full
sun to shade
Hydric
to mesic
This
woody vine of the coastal plain (mainly) in North Carolina that provides fruits
(high in calcium) eaten by various songbirds, gamebirds and mammals in late
summer through winter. Coastal Plain.
BIRCH
Yellow
Birch
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a tree that naturally occurs in cool, high mountain slopes generally at
elevations of at least 3000 feet, but also along streams at lower
elevations. Bark peels off into long,
horizontal strips that are used by small mammals (including the endangered
Northern flying squirrel in NC) and birds as nest/den construction
material. Deer browse on twigs, and
ruffed grouse, plus other birds and small mammals, feed on buds and flowers.
This (and Sweet Birch) is a foodplant for the rare Green Comma butterfly.
Mountains only.
Sweet
Birch
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
Also
called Black Birch, or Cherry Birch.
Usually occurs at lower elevations than Yellow Birch and can be found on
quite xeric sites. Due to wintergreen
odor is considered one of the best fireplace woods. Small mammals and birds eat fruits and flowers. Mountains only.
River
Birch
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Hydric
to sub-xeric
This
is a species of lowlands, but is commonly planted as an ornamental. It is an excellent species to use for
erosion control on moist sites, but don’t plant close to your house. Bark peels off young trees in thin, papery
layers and is used by birds and small mammals in nest construction and den
insulation. It is unique among birches
in that the fruits do not mature until the spring following flowering. Squirrels and small mammals (and some birds)
eat the flowers and fruits. I have
found Mourning Cloak caterpillars feeding on this plant, and larvae of the
Polyphemus Moth. This is the only birch that occurs in the southeast at low
altitudes. Statewide, but most common
in Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
CROSSVINE
Crossvine
Semi-evergreen
Full
sun to shade
Hydric
to sub-xeric
This
high-climbing woody vine has attractive dull red or orange tubular flowers that
are typically yellow or red inside.
This plant is often common in bottomland forests. It is a food source (nectar) for
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in April and May. Deer and beavers will eat the
foliage. In the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina, leaves often last
into winter, turning a purplish color.
Mainly Piedmont and Coastal Plain, with a few mountain records.
BEAUTYBERRY
Beautyberry
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
A
bushy shrub to about 6-9 feet typical of moist, well-drained sites. Seems to
respond well to fire. The bright purplish fruits are eaten by many songbirds
from early fall through winter, and use seems to increase in late fall and
early winter. I have seen Northern mockingbirds vigorously guard these bushes
well into winter. Deer are reported to browse the foliage and eat the fruits,
plus raccoon, opossum, foxes and gray squirrels all eat the fruits. Wild turkey
and quail eat the fruits. Coastal Plain
and Piedmont, rare in Mountains.
SWEETSHRUB
Sweetshrub,
Carolina Allspice
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Hydric
to sub-xeric
This
is an aromatic shrub (both the flowers and foliage) that reaches about 6 feet,
and often spread by rootsprouting. Deer are reported to browse the foliage.
Beetles are often attracted to the odd smelling flowers, and are likely the
main pollinators. Mountains and
Piedmont.
TRUMPET
CREEPER, TRUMPET VINE
Trumpet
Creeper, Trumpet Vine
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Mesic
to xeric
This
woody vine competes well on a variety of sites, but seems to especially thrive
in full sun. The flowers vary in color
greatly, but are some shade of orange or red, blooming in summer after
crossvine has finished. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the primary pollinators
of this plant. Deer and rabbits will eat the foliage. Milk from cows feeding on
this plant can cause dermatitis in infants, and some people develop skin rashes
from handling this plant. This plant can spread rapidly and may need to be
watched closely. Statewide.
AMERICAN
HORNBEAM, IRONWOOD
American
hornbeam, ironwood, musclewood
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
Typically
a species of low or rich woods with heavy, tough wood. The fruits are utilized for food by many
small mammals, especially gray squirrels.
Gamebirds like wild turkey, ruffed grouse and mourning doves eat the
fruits, as well as many songbirds. Deer
will browse the twigs. Statewide.
HICKORY
Mockernut
Hickory
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Sub-xeric
to xeric
A
common hickory of upland sites.
Wildlife readily eats the seeds despite the protection of a rather thick
husk on the nuts. Hickory nuts are high
in fats compared to other nuts, and important to many mammals for putting on
fat layers for winter. They are
important for gray squirrels for successful reproduction (more hickory nuts
consumed often mean bigger litters) since females feeding on the fruits will be
in better condition in spring. Hickory
species are the foodplant of the Hickory Hairstreak butterfly, and I have found
the larvae of the Luna Moth feeding on the foliage. Hickories are an important
food plant for the Royal Walnut Moth.
Statewide.
Water
Hickory
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Hydric
to mesic
This
is the hickory of the region that is found on the wettest soils. The flattened nut is also 4-winged, with a
thin husk and bitter seed. This species
can tolerate inundation quite well.
Wood ducks, wild turkey, deer and black bear will eat the nuts. A good species to plant on sites that
commonly flood. Coastal Plain.
Bitternut
Hickory
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
Best
growth is on rich soils, floodplains and mesic slopes. Fall color is yellow as with the rest of the
southern hickories, and they change color in fall early compared to other
trees. Seeds (inside a thin husk) are
rather bitter, and most animals usually don’t eat them, though I have seen gray
squirrels gathering nuts and rabbits have been documented eating them. This may change during years when nut
production from other hickory species is low in a given region. This is a good hickory for lowland
sites. Statewide.
Pignut
Hickory
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Sub-xeric
to xeric
Most
often found on drier sites. Feral hogs
and small mammals eat the seeds. Deer
and black bear eat the fruits. Fruits
have a thin, easy-to-crack husk compared to Mockernut Hickory. Good hickory for upland sites. Statewide.
Shagbark
hickory
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a tree of rich woods or lowlands.
Nuts are covered with a thick husk, but the meat of the nut is sweet
compared to other hickories and highly valued by squirrels and other wildlife,
as well as many people! Some bats roost
under the bark strips that separate into plates and curl outward from the tree
trunk. Scattered sites throughout the
state, but most common in the Piedmont.
CHINQUAPIN
Chinquapin
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Xeric
to sub-xeric
This
species is a large shrub or small tree, that unlike the American Chestnut is
highly resistant to the blight, which destroyed the great stands of American
Chestnut. The nuts are food for
squirrels, deer, bear, turkey and some other birds like woodpeckers and blue
Jays. Statewide.
NEW
JERSEY TEA
New
Jersey Tea
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Xeric
to mesic
A
small bushy shrub usually no more than 3 feet tall. Burning seems to increase seed germination. Does quite well in
hot, dry areas. Deer will browse the
plant and some gamebirds and songbirds will eat the seeds. I have seen many
butterflies and beetles nectaring on this plant, and it is the primary
foodplant for the Mottled Duskywing skipper. Rabbits will browse the stems and
leaves. This species in the same plant
family as (Berchemia),
rattanvine. Statewide.
SUGARBERRY/HACKBERRY
Sugarberry
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
Most
typical on alluvial woodlands and well-drained floodplain sites. The fruits (drupes) are eaten by a variety
of songbirds and gamebirds (Wild Turkey) in summer and fall, as well as small
mammals like gray squirrels and southern flying squirrels. This is a primary
foodplant of the American Snout butterfly, and also used by the Question Mark,
Hackberry Emperor and Tawny Emperor butterflies as a hostplant. Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
Georgia
Hackberry
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Xeric
to sub-xeric
This
Celtis is more typical of drier sites
than Sugarberry, and is usually a smaller tree. Fruits eaten by many songbirds, gamebirds and small mammals in
late summer. A hostplant of both Hackberry Emperor and Tawny Emperor butterflies.
Mainly Piedmont, but occasional in Coastal Plain.
BUTTONBUSH
Buttonbush
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Hydric
to mesic
This
shrub (or small tree) can form dense colonies by rootsprouting along the edges
of streams, ponds or marshes. Leaves
are opposite in arrangement or in whorls of 3 or 4. Waterfowl feed on the seeds, and this plant can provide cover (or
nest sites) along the margins, or interior, of wet areas for birds and small
mammals. Some songbirds will eat the seeds, and butterflies, bees and other
insects’ nectar on the flowers. Hostplant for the Io Moth and Royal Walnut
Moth. Statewide, but infrequent in the mountains.
REDBUD
Redbud
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
This
is mainly an understory tree of hardwood forests, so it is a good choice for
shady areas. The flowers emerge prior
to the leaves in springtime and are quite attractive. Some butterflies and bumblebees are attracted to the
flowers. Mainly Piedmont, infrequent in
mountains.
ATLANTIC
WHITE CEDAR
Atlantic
White Cedar
Evergreen
Full
sun to part sun
Hydric
to mesic
Typical
of moist sites but often used in landscape work on well-drained sites. The tree is very aromatic. Small female cones eaten by birds and small
mammals. High value as cover for
nesting and roosting birds. Good to use
as escape/resting cover. Primary foodplant of the Hessel’s Hairstreak
butterfly. Coastal Plain.
FRINGETREE
Fringetree
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
This
is an attractive large shrub or small tree with showy white flowers in early
spring. Good for planting along wood edges to accent the flowers. Small mammals and songbirds will eat the
blue fruits during summer. I have seen deer eat the foliage, and livestock will
strip this species if they can reach it.
Caterpillars of the both the Rustic and Laurel Sphinx Moths feed on this
plant. Another common name is ‘horse sugar.’
Statewide.
SWEET
PEPPERBUSH
Coastal
Sweet Pepperbush
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a large shrub that can reach 15 feet in height, with a rather bushy
appearance. Responds well to fire, and colonizes readily by root-sprouting.
Flowers (they are quite fragrant) are a favorite of many nectaring insects
(especially bees), and I have also seen hummingbirds attracted to them.
Reported to be preferred forage of deer in the Coastal Plain. Coastal Plain and
Piedmont.
Mountain
Sweet Pepperbush
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Mesic
to xeric
A
slightly taller shrub than C. alnifolia, and occurring in the mountains of our
state. A species for well-drained sites.
Mountains.
DOGWOOD
Pagoda
Dogwood
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
shrub or small tree provides soft mast for a variety of birds and small mammals
in late summer and early fall. Mainly a mountain species, with some in the
central Piedmont.
Silky
Dogwood
Deciduous
Part
sun to shade
Hydric
to mesic
This
spreading shrub is typical of wet sites, and can be used to stabilize moist
slopes and banks. A wide variety of
birds and small mammals eat the blue fruits during late summer and early fall.
Basically statewide.
Flowering
Dogwood
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
A
small tree that grows well in a variety of soil moisture conditions. Older trees may produce up to 20 pounds of
fruits (drupes) per year, and this tree provides food for dozens of species of
resident and migratory birds during fall and early winter. Twigs and leaves
eaten by deer, rabbits and beavers.
Hostplant for Spring Azure butterfly, which lays eggs in flowers. The caterpillars are guarded by ants, which
feed on sweet fluids that the caterpillars excrete. Best used as a border plant
or under a canopy of taller trees. Fall leaf color can be spectacular. Statewide.
In the mountains of North
Carolina, a non-native, fungus caused disease called dogwood anthracnose is
killing some trees.
Hazelnut
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a mid-sized, multi-stemmed shrub of the understory of open woodlands. The fruits are eaten by gray squirrels,
other small mammals and large birds like blue jays and Northern flickers. Wild
turkey will also eat the nuts, which are high in fats. The dense thickets formed by rootsprouting
in this species provides excellent cover for gamebirds like woodcock and
grouse, as well as small mammals like cottontail rabbits. Mainly Piedmont and Mountains.
Beaked
Hazelnut
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Sub-xeric
to xeric
Often
typical of more well-drained sites then C.
americana, and most common in the mountains of our state. Gamebirds like grouse and turkey eat the
male flowers (catkins) which are high in protein, as well as squirrels,
chipmunks and songbirds. Mountains and
Piedmont.
Crataegus spp.
Hawthorn
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to xeric
These
are deciduous shrubs or trees in a rather confusing genus taxonomically
speaking, which occur in naturally in a variety of soils types and light
situations. Most species are armed with
spines on some branches. Leaf shape varies tremendously, even within the same
species. Birds and mammals disperse the
seeds. Fruits are eaten by songbirds,
gamebirds and various mammals, but often persist into winter. Deer will browse this plant. Statewide.
LEATERWOOD,
TI-TI
Ti-ti
Semi-evergreen
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
This
is a shrub or small tree that can form dense thickets along stream or pond
margins, and is a fair erosion control in those situations. Deer will browse it, and it can be decent
escape cover for large and small mammals, and songbirds. Butterflies and bees are attracted to the
flowers during summer. Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
CLIMBING
HYDRANGEA
Climbing
Hydrangea
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a high-climbing vine of moist sites (can be quite wet) in North Carolina. I
have seen many butterflies nectaring on the flowers in summer. Coastal Plain
and southwestern mountains.
BUSH
HONEYSUCKLE
Bush
Honeysuckle
Deciduous
Full
sun to shade
Mesic
to sub-xeric
This
is a medium sized shrub of the southwestern mountains of our state. I have seen hummingbirds attracted to the
flowers in summer. Mountains.
Persimmon
Deciduous
Full
sun to part sun
Mesic
to xeric
This
is a valuable species for wildlife, but note that female and male flowers occur
on separate trees, thus only female trees produce fruits. Besides people, lots of wildlife seek out
the fruits for food including: both gray and red fox, opossum, raccoon, skunk,
deer, black bear, turkey and many other birds.
Hostplant for many moth species, including the Luna Moth. This tree frequently
sucker-sprouts from the roots, and thickets of smaller trees can surround
larger ones, so place it away from lawns and structures (along forest edges
where it can get lots of sun) to avoid problems. Trees on poor soil sites seldom get big and often have shrubby
form. Statewide.
TRAILING
ARBUTUS
Trailing
Arbutus
Evergreen
Part
sun to shade