In our region it is best to get your trees and shrubs in the ground during the first three months of the year, allowing the roots a head start to establish before warmer temperatures kick off the growing season. Flood protection, shade, improved air and water quality, and ecosystem connectivity are just some of the ways trees improve our quality of life. Many of these services tend to be enhanced when the tree species in question is indigenous, having co-evolved with other species in our region for millions of years. Residents should take care to preserve the mature trees they have, and to establish new native trees where possible.
The Rosaceae (rose) family contains plenty of compelling plants besides roses. Many of our favorite fruits belong to this lineage, including apples, pears, peaches, and cherries. The native trees in this family tend to reach modest mature heights but put on fantastic shows when in flower or fruit. In the spring, the following species will literally buzz with pollinators. All can make great replacements for your old Bradford pear.
Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) are growing in popularity, with A. canadensis being the most widely available. The blueberry-sized pomes, essentially little apples, appear in summer and are delicious when ripe. The leaves of these small, thin trees turn vibrant golden in autumn.
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) also blooms in spring, attracting multitudes of bees and butterflies. It is common as a natural component of pine woods in our area. The flowers are white with raspberry-red anthers, and the leaves can be identified by small tufts of reddish hair on the central vein. Even young seedlings will flower. Clusters of glossy crimson fruits are visible from early to late autumn. Though too sour to eat raw, they are loved by birds.
The southern crabapple (Malus aungustifolia) seedlings this year. This wild apple is a wildlife magnet. Fragrant white to pink flowers and small sour apples will be produced in abundance after 6-7 years. This tree can be fussy, so make sure to promote soil health to prevent disease if you choose this species. They prefer moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soil.
Wild cherries and plums (Prunus spp.) vary greatly in mature size depending on the species, but most are on the smaller side. They are critical to the life cycles of many butterflies and moths, both as sources of nectar and as caterpillar hosts. The popular Carolina laurel-cherry or cherry-laurel (P. caroliniana) is a good beginner’s choice on account of being hard to kill. It can form hedges by suckering and easily survives heavy pruning. The evergreen foliage is fragrant when crushed.
Finally, hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) are full of untapped potential. Flowers and fruit are similar to the chokeberries discussed above, but hawthorns are usually slow-growing trees with thorny twigs and more dissected leaves. Their scraggly forms never fail to bewitch fans of fantasy novels. Hawthorn species are notoriously difficult to tell apart, and the number of native North American species may number in the hundreds. They tend to decline when early successional habitats disappear.
For healthy plants, let your site conditions dictate which plants you grow. Also remember never to put any plant material in your mouth unless you are positive it is safe. You can learn more about these plants at the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, www.plants.ces.ncsu.edu. The Plant Clinic is open weekdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive in Wilmington to offer free research-based horticulture advice.
Miles Buddy serves as program assistant for the Consumer Horticulture program and can be reached at 910-798-7660 or mmbuddy@ncsu.edu.
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