Ottawa Conservation District
16731 Ferris Street
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616.846.8770 ext. 5 phone
616.842.2820 fax
Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
www.ottawacd.org
Map | Directions

Tree and Plant Descriptions

Check order form for current year species availability.
Click on the tree name to view additional details.

Native Trees

Trees native to Michigan

Common Name Growth Rate Soil Moisture Shade Tolerance Notes
White Spruce Slow Wet, Moist Shade Tolerates heat, drought, and highwater; salt sensitive
Jack Pine Fast Dry Sun Fire dependent
White Pine Moderately Fast Moist, Dry Part Shade Salt and juglone sensitive, preferred deer browse
Red Pine Fast Moist, Dry Sun Salt and juglone sensitive
White Cedar Very slow Wet, Moist Shade Preferred deer browse, juglone tolerant
Red Cedar Very slow Moist, Dry Sun Drought resistant, juglone tolerant, browsed by deer
Balsam Fir Slow Wet, Moist Shade Often browsed by deer
Eastern Hemlock Very Slow Moist Shade Preferred deer browse, salt sensitive
Fast
Wet, Moist Sun
Fire dependent, does not tolerate harsh conditions
Red Maple Relatively Fast Wet, Moist Shade Roots can cause structural damage, yellow to red fall color, salt sensitive, preferred deer browse
Silver Maple Fast Moist Sun Branches brittle, roots can cause structural damage
Sugar Maple Slow Moist Shade Shallow roots can cause structural damage, salt sensitive, juglone tolerant, preferred deer browse
Red Oak Relatively Fast Moist, Dry Sun Urban and salt tolerant, brick-red fall color, browsed by deer, acorns mature in 2nd fall, salt tolerant
White Oak Slow Moist, Dry Sun Somewhat shade tolerant, prefers well draining soils, acorns prefered by wildlife
Tulip Poplar Very Fast Wet, Moist Sun Sensitive to frost damage and salt, juglone tolerant
Black Walnut Fast Moist Sun Produces juglone which inhibits the growth of some other plants, sensitive to site conditions, salt tolerant
Black Cherry Fast Moist Sun Poisonous to livestock, salt tolerant, preferred deer browse
Highbush Cranberry Slow Wet, Moist Part Shade Red fruit, red-purple fall color, salt sensitive, preferred deer browse
Redoiser Dogwood Moderate Wet, Moist Part Shade White to blue fruit, purple-red fall color, preferred deer browse, salt sensitive
Silky Dogwood Moderate Wet, Moist Sun Blue fruit, salt sensitive, preferred deer browse
Gray Dogwood Moderate Wet, Moist, Dry Part Shade Reddish to purple fall color, white fruit on red stems, salt sensitive, preferred deer browse
Elderberry Slow (shade) Fast (sun) Wet, Moist Part Shade Purplish-black fruit, vegetative parts may cause poisoning, salt and juglone tolerant
Common Persimmon Moderate Moist Shade Edible fruits, dioecious, need 2+ trees for fruiting
Winterberry Moderate     Tolerates poorly drained soil, dioecious, red fruit, salt tolerant, preferred deer browse
Ninebark Moderate Moist Sun Adaptable to many types of conditions, salt sensitive
Northern Bayberry Moderate Moist Sun Dioecious, blue fruit, aromatic, salt tolerant
Juneberry
(aka Saskatoon Serviceberry)
Moderate Moist Sun Bluish-purple fruits ripen in summer, attracks wildlife
Eastern Redbud Slow Moist Part Shade Trees flower when 4-5 years old, short lived in urban areas, salt sensitive
Arrowwood Moderate Dry, Wet Sun, Part Shade Very durable, easy to grow in difficult sites.
Button Bush Moderate Wet, Moist Sun Tolerates high water and slow-moving, stagnant water
Hackberry Fast Dry, Very Dry Part Shade Tolerates various soil and site conditions. Drought tolerant. Salt sensitive
American Plum Slow Medium Full sun to part shade Tolerant of various soil conditions. Moderately drought and salt spray tolerant.
Bittersweet Rapid Moist Full sun to part shade Prefers full sun and most soil conditions. Plants can get aggressive in rich soil.
Nannyberry Moderately fast-growing Medium Full sun to part shade Often used as an ornamental for its attractive flowers.
Witch Hazel Slow Moist Part shade Commonly found as an understory shrub in northern hardwood forests.
Serviceberry
(aka Shadblow or Downy Serviceberry)
Slow Medium Full sun to part shade Prefers acidic, moist, well drained soils. Salt sensitive.
Blackgum Slow Moist Shade Tolerant Prefers moist, well‐drained loam to clay soil and will
tolerate shade

Native Shrub

Common Name Growth Rate Soil Moisture Shade Tolerance Notes
American Hazelnut Fast Moist Part Shade Prefers moist, well-drained loam to clay soil and partial shade

Non-Native Trees

 

Common Name Growth Rate Soil Moisture Shade Tolerance Notes
Blue Spruce Slow Moist Shade Salt tolerant
Norway Spruce Moderately Fast Moist Sun Susceptible to drought and late frost, salt sensitive
Fraser Fir Slow Moist Part Shade Often browsed by deer, heat intolerant
Rose of Sharon Moderate Moist Sun Adaptable to various soil conditions
Butterfly Bush Fast Moist Sun Unkepmt growth habit, may have invasive tendencies
Lavender Lilac Moderate Moist Part Shade Remove inflorensces after flowering ceases to promote better flowering, juglone tolerant
Concolor Fir Slow Moist Shade Often browsed by deer, site tolerant
Douglas Fir Moderately Fast Moist, Dry Part Shade Requires good drainage, drought tolerant
Hybrid Poplar Fast Moist Sun Yellow fall color, salt tolerant, dioecious
Roselow Sargent Crabapple Moderate Moist Sun Tolerates dry acid soils and periodic flooding, salt sensitive, juglone tolerant, preferred deer browse

Fruit Trees

Name
Average Picking Dates
Vanette Plum Mid to Late August
Jonagored® Apple Late September to Early October
Redstar® Peach Early to Mid August
Bartlett Pear Late August to Mid September

Daylilies

Name
'Elegant Candy' Daylily
'Omomuki' Daylily
'Ruby Sentinel' Daylily
'Spanish Glow' Daylily

Hostas

Name
Hosta (August Moon)
Hosta (Green Gold)
Hosta (Twilight)