Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

f1f,

United States
Department of
Agriculture

Soil

Conservation
Service

Program
Aid 1154

Conservation Plants
for the Northeast

— I

Received by?
, Indexing Brana

Conservation Plants for the Northeast

By David G. Lorenz, Northeast regional plant materials
specialist; W. Curtis Sharp, national plant materials
specialist; and Joseph D. Ruffner, retired plant
materials specialist, Soil Conservation Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Revised February 1989

Plant

Hardiness Zones

Average Annual Minimum Temperature { F)

3

-40° to -30°
-30° to -20°

6

4

5

-20° to -10°

8

iii Introduction

1 Hardy plants to reclaim disturbed areas

12 Stabilizing plants for dunes and sandy areas

19 Effective plants for screens and wind barriers

25 Useful plants for wildlife food and cover

33 Erosion-controlling ground covers

40 Soil Conservation Service plant materials
centers

41 Plant use reference

This publication briefs users on conservation plants
that are suited to the different site conditions located
throughout the Northeast. The plants were chosen on
the basis of observation and testing by Soil
Conservation Service (SCS) plant scientists and the
experience of many users. Although conservation use
is the main criterion for selection, the photographs
reflect that many of the plants add beauty and value to
the surrounding landscape.

Each plant has been placed in a category according to
its main conservation use. Although the plant appears
in only one category, it may also be suited to other
conservation uses. The categories are explained in the
introduction to each section.

The description of each plant begins with the common
name and the scientific name.

Zones refers to areas of climatic adaptation, shown on
the map inside the front cover. Although the plant may
grow in zones other than the ones indicated, maximum
conservation effectiveness occurs within these zones.
Because the zones are keyed to a climate
classification for both Canada and the United States,
the l<ey begins with zone 3.

Use refers to the main conservation use to which the
plant is primarily suited. A plant may simply be used as
an ornamental without a specific conservation
purpose.

Growth rate indicates how long the plant must grow to
become effective for the given conservation use.

The minimum soil fertility at which a plant can be
expected to grow is stated in the text. Fertility is best
determined by soil tests. If a plant with low-fertility
requirements is selected, a soil test is less important.
All plants described here will grow in a medium- to
high-fertility soil or where fertility is maintained by
periodic applications of fertilizer.

The maximum soil acidity at which the plant can grow
effectively is also stated. Ratings are very acid (pH 3.5-
4.4), acid (pH 4.5-5.5), and slightly acid (pH 5.6-7.3).
Plants also grow well where the soil is less acid than
the maximum acidity indicated.

Soil texture — rated clayey, loamy, or sandy — indicates
the kind of soil in which the plant can grow effectively.
Information about soil texture is included in soil
surveys, which are available for your area from the
local office of the Soil Conservation Service.

The drought and shade tolerance of each plant is
rated poor, fair, good, or excellent as compared with
all other plants within the section. These ratings help
you determine the comparative advantages of the
plants within each section.

Drought tolerance indicates that the plant can grow
where low amounts of water are available and the soil
is dry most of the year. Shade tolerance indicates how
the plant grows in full shade. If the plant does not
tolerate full sun, that characteristic is noted.

A soil drainage class is given for each plant. This
means the plant tolerates the drainage conditions

somewhat poorly drained, moderately well drained,
and well drained. All the plants listed grow in well-
drained soil; a few require well-drained soil. Many of
the plants tolerate soils that are not well drained. The
minimum drainage class these plants tolerate is
explained. More information about soil drainage
classes is provided in soil surveys published by the
Soil Conservation Service.

Other important characteristics of growth relevant to
use and management of the plant are indicated where
appropriate.

A paragraph that briefly describes plant features and
indicates how to establish the plant follows the plant
description. Features given, such as height at maturity,
are average and may vary depending on existing
conditions.

For additional information about the use and
management of conservation plants, contact the local
office of the Soil Conservation Service.

Site conditions refers to particular soil and site
conditions under which the plant can grow.

indicated and grows well in better drained soils, but
does not grow well in more poorly drained soils. The
soil drainage classes used are: poorly drained.

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, are offered on a
nondiscriminatory basis, without regard to race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap.

iii

Hardy Plants to Reclaim Disturbed Areas

Land disturbed by earthmoving or flooding is highly
erodible because vegetation, and many times topsoil,
has been removed. Plants used to stabilize these areas
should be drought resistant, acid tolerant, and able to
grow on low-fertility soils. The plants described in this
section have one or more of these attributes and are
particularly suited to use on disturbed areas. However,
all can be grown where site conditions are more
favorable.

1

'Lancer' perennial pea

Lathyrus latifolius

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Erosion control on roadsides, steep areas near
homes and commercial sites, gravel pits, surface mine
spoil, eroding critical areas, and food and cover for
wildlife.

Growth rate: Slow to germinate and establish the first
year; produces complete cover by the end of the
second year.

Site conditions: Grows on steep, shallow, low-fertility,
loamy, clayey, and sandy soils; has excellent drought
tolerance and some shade tolerance; requires well-
drained soil.

'Lancer' perennial pea forms a 2- to 3-foot-tall, thick,
viny mat that gives excellent erosion control. It blooms
continuously for 6 to 8 weeks during the summer with
flowers ranging from white to deep purple. 'Lancer' can
be planted in the spring or late summer and early fall.
The seeds can either be drilled or broadcast but must
be covered with soil to insure germination. 'Lancer'
should not be planted alone because of its slow
emergence. It can be planted with grasses or another
legume.

'Lathco' flatpea

Lathyrus sylvestris

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Erosion control on roadbanks, logging roads,

dams, gravel pits, surface mine spoil, and Industrial

waste areas; cover for small mammals.

Growth rate: Slow to germinate and grow the first year;

produces complete cover in 2 to 3 years.

Site conditions: Grows in shallow, low-fertility, acid,

clayey, loamy, and sandy soils; excellent drought

tolerance; good shade tolerance; requires well-drained

soil; tolerates more acid and droughty sites than most

legumes. It is excellent for restricting the growth of

woody plants.

'Lathco' flatpea is a deep-rooted, long-lived viny
legume that grows to a height of 30 inches. It has long,
narrow leaflets and pink flowers and produces seed in
August. Flatpea seeds can be drilled or broadcast.
They are slow to germinate and should be planted
with tall fescue or other fast-growing grasses. Plant in
spring, late in summer, or early in fall.

Crownvetch

Coronilla varia

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7

Uses: Ground cover for steep roadbanks, surface mine
spoil, and industrial sites where low maintenance is
important.

Growth rate: Slow to start the first year; produces

complete cover in 2 to 3 years.

Site conditions: Grows in shallow, low-fertility, acid,

clayey, loamy, and sandy soils; excellent drought

tolerance; poor shade tolerance; requires well-drained

soil.

Crownvetch grows to a height of 3 feet. It blooms
profusely for about 6 weeks in May and June. Once
established, crownvetch grows aggressively and
provides excellent cover. Several varieties are
available. Establish early in spring or in fall by seeding
or by planting crowns or root divisions 12 to 18 inches
apart.

Birdsfoot trefoil

Lotus corniculatus

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6

Uses: Erosion control, soil improvement, and forage for
livestock and deer.

Growth rate: Produces complete cover in 2 years.
Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, slightly acid,
clayey, and loamy soils; fair drougfit tolerance; poor
shade tolerance; grows better on poorly drained soil
than most legumes but is not as drought- or heat-
tolerant as flatpea or crownvetch.

Birdsfoot trefoil is an herbaceous forage legume that
grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet. Bright-yellow flowers
bloom in May through July. Several varieties of
birdsfoot trefoil are available. Establish by seeding in
April, early in May, or early in fall.

'Tioga' deertongue

Panicum dichanthelium

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Excellent for revegetating acid mine spoil;
ground cover for erodible sandy areas, such as
roadbanks, ditchbanks, and gravel pits; seeds eaten by
many species of birds.

Growth rate: Produces complete cover In 2 years.
Site conditions: Grows In low-fertility, acid, loamy, and
sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance; poor shade
tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

'Tioga' deertongue is a native warm-season bunch
grass that grows to a height of 1 V2 to 3 feet. It has
broad, short leaves and a strong, fibrous root system.
Establish by seeding early In spring.

'Niagara' big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7

Uses: Long-lived erosion control plant for sand and
gravel pits, mine spoil, and roadsides; excellent forage
for livestock and cover for wildlife.
Growth rate: Slow to germinate and establish the first
year. Produces fair to good cover by the end of the
second year.

Site conditions: Grows well on hot, droughty sites.
Tolerates medium- to low-fertility, acid, sandy, loamy,
and clayey soils; has poor shade tolerance; and
prefers well-drained sites.

'Niagara' big bluestem is a perennial, warm-season
grass that has excellent drought resistance. It is being
used in critical area seedings where cool season
species cannot tolerate the high temperatures or
coarse soils. It grows from 5 to 7 feet tall and is very
leafy. Plant seed in the early spring, taking care to
compact the soil after seeding.

Tall fescue

Festuca arundinacea

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilizing grassed waterways, slopes, and

roadbanks; lawns for recreation areas; food for geese,

deer, and cottontail; cover for birds; forage for winter

grazing; the most versatile and widely used grass for

conservation in the Northeast.

Growth rate: Produces effective ground cover the first

year.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained
soil.

Tall fescue is a deep-rooted bunch grass that has
stems 3 to 4 feet high. Leaves are broad, coarse, and
flat. The variety 'KY-31' is most widely used in the
Northeast. Establish by drilling or broadcasting seed in
spring or early in fall.

Redtop

Agrostis alba

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Quick cover for grassed waterways, diversions,
and roadbanks.

Growth rate: Produces effective ground cover the first
year.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; poor
shade tolerance; tolerates poorly drained soil.

Redtop is a fast-starting, sod-forming grass that is
about 18 inches tall at maturity. The leaves are narrow
and the stems fine. Because it is fast starting and
tolerates cold temperatures and poorly drained soils,
redtop is widely used as a component in mixtures
planted on disturbed sites in the Northeast. Establish
by seeding in spring or early in fall.

Perennial ryegrass

Lolium perenne

Zones: Warm parts of 5; all of 6, 7, 8

Uses: Fast-growing, short-term stabilizing cover; soil

improvement; lawns and pasture (several varieties

have been developed for lawns).

Growth rate: Produces complete cover in a few

months.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey
and loamy soils; fair drought tolerance; poor shade
tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained soil.

Rapid growth rate is the primary conservation value of
perennial ryegrass. It grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet.
Many long, narrow leaves extend from the base of the
plant. Establish by drilling seed or by broadcasting
seed with mulch early in spring or fall.

Bermudagrass

Cynodon dactylon

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Turf on playfields; stabilizing disturbed areas
that are to be mowed or maintained by applying
fertilizer.

Growth rate: Can produce complete cover in one
growing season if planted and managed with that
objective.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance;
poor shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well
drained soil.

Bermudagrass is a fast-spreading, sod-forming grass
that produces more wear- resistant turf than any other
grass. It grows only in the warm part of the year and
turns brown in fall after the first frost. Bermudagrass
grows better on poor sites than most other turf
grasses. 'Tufcote' is the most winter-hardy variety for
use in the Northeast. Establish by planting sod or
plugs of grass on 12- to 18-inch centers in spring.

Sericea lespedeza

Lespedeza cuneata

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Erosion control; food and cover for quail, rabbits,
and other small animals.

Growth rate: Slow to start; most growth in summer;
produces complete cover in 2 years.
Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, loamy and
sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance; poor shade
tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

Sericea lespedeza has stems that grow to a height of 2
to 4 feet. A semiprostrate variety, 'Interstate,' branches
more profusely and grows 6 to 12 inches shorter than
common sericea. All varieties have widely branched
roots that penetrate the soil as deep as 3 feet. Unless
mowed, dead stems remain upright in winter. Seed
sericea lespedeza in midspring or late spring.

8

'Amot' bristly locust

Robinia fertilis

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Revegetating coal mine spoil, gravel pits, and
roadbanks; best available shrub for steep, sandy or
gravelly areas.

Growth rate: Matures in 3 to 5 years.
Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, loamy and
sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance; poor shade
tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

'Arnot' bristly locust grows to a height of 6 feet. It forms
a thicket by root suckers and has attractive rose-
colored flowers and bnstled seedpods. Roots fix
nitrogen, which helps It grow well on low-fertility soils.
Establish by planting nursery-grown seedlings 1 year
old. Follow standard tree-planting procedure.

Staghorn sumac/Smooth sumac

Rhus typhina/Rhus glabra

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Revegetating and landscaping disturbed urban

areas, roadbanks, gravel pits, and acid mine spoil; fruit

eaten by gamebirds and songbirds.

Growth rate: Mature in 4 to 6 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, loamy

soil; good drought tolerance; poor shade tolerance;

tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Sumacs are large shrubs that grow to a height of 10 or
more feet. They have palmlike leaves composed of 9
to 21 leaflets. Beautiful orange and red fall color
increases their landscaping value. Greenish flower
spikes produce clusters of red fruit. Establish by
planting nursery-grown seedlings 1 year old.

European black alder

AInus glutinosa

Zones: Warm parts of 4; all of 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Revegetating infertile mine spoil and similar

sites.

Growth rate: Seedlings planted 6 feet apart grow
together in 4 to 6 years.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, loamy and
sandy soils; good drought tolerance; poor shade
tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

European black alder can grow to a height of 50 feet
but does not grow that high when planted on mine
spoil. Roots fix nitrogen, which makes it grow well on
infertile soils. Dark-green leaves turn brown in fall. For
maximum cover, plant 1 -year-old nursery-grown
seedlings 6 feet apart early in spring. Stands may
decline In vigor after 20 years.

'Steiner group' black locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilization and reforestation on surtace-mined
land, and for posts and rail production in urban areas.
Growth rate: More rapid than seeded black locust.
Site conditions: Grows well on low-fertility, acid,
shallow soils, it does best on well-drained sites, is
drought resistant, but is not tolerant to shading.

'Steiner group' is composed of three clones of black
locust with improved form, vigor, growth rate, and bore
and rot resistance. Its pinnate form with straight stems
improves the potential for post and pole production on
surtace-mined land and other disturbed sites. Should
be planted in a mixture with hardwoods, not exceeding
V2 acre in a pure stand to reduce the potential of bore
infestation.

'Streamco' purpleosier willow

Salix purpurea

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Erosion control along streambanks; twigs and
buds eaten by grouse, rabbits, beaver, and muskraL
Growth rate: Provides effective erosion control in 2 to
4 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; poor drought tolerance; good
shade tolerance; tolerates poorly drained soil.

'Streamco' purpleosier willow can grow to a height of
10 to 18 feet but usually does not grow that high on
streambanks. It is a thicket-forming shrub with many
smooth, thin, tough branches. Establish by planting
rooted or unrooted cuttings. Unrooted cuttings should
be at least y4-inch in diameter and 12 to 18 inches
long. At least two-thirds of the cutting should be in the
ground when planted.

'Bankers' dwarf willow

Salix cotteti

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Erosion control along streambanks and low-
growing vegetation in poorly drained areas.
Growth rate: Produces solid stands in 2 to 3 years
when planted on 2-foot centers.
Site conditions: Grows well in a wide variety of soils. It
is best adapted to wet sites subject to periodic
flooding. Poor drought tolerance; moderate shade
tolerance.

'Bankers' has a mature height of about 6 feet. It
produces prostrate stems that root under moist
conditions. The rooted stems grow together to form
dense cover. The small stems bend under the flow of
high water, lessening the likelihood of catching debris.
Plant rooted or hardwood cuttings 12 to 18 inches
long in rows 1 8 to 30 inches apart and place them 2 to
3 feet above the normal waterline. If the shoreline is
bare, plant grasses or legumes after planting 'Bankers'
to help prevent erosion.

'Ruby' redosier dogwood

Cornus stolonifera

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Streambank erosion control, shrub borders,
wildlife, and landscaping.

Growth rate: Spreads by layering where stems contact
the ground. It is moderately fast growing, reaching a
height of 6 to 10 feet.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, slightly acid,
clayey, loamy, and sandy soils; has moderate shade
tolerance and poor drought tolerance.

'Ruby' has bright-red stems, dark-green leaves, and
creamy-white fruit. Its ability to spread by layering and
its tolerance of wet soils makes it an excellent choice
for streambank erosion control. It is also a useful
upland plant, providing food and cover for wildlife and
color for landscaping. When planting along
streambanks, plant at the water's edge, using rooted
cuttings or fresh hardwood cuttings that are at least 9
to 12 inches long and leaving up to 2 inches of the
stem above the ground.

stabilizing Plants

for Dunes and Sandy Areas

Dunes protect shore property from damage caused by
high waves and wind. This section features plants that
are used to stabilize or build dunes. These plants are
tolerant to salt spray and can be used to landscape
shore property. They are also suited to sandy inland
areas usually low in fertility.

American beachgrass

Ammophila breviligulata

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilizing and building frontal sand dunes;
stabilizing droughty sandy areas inland.
Growth rate: Plants 18 inches apart provide effective
cover in 1 year.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, slightly acid,
loamy, and sandy soil; excellent drought tolerance;
poor shade tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

American beachgrass grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet.
It spreads rapidly by underground stems to form
erosion-resistant cover but requires fertilizer for dense,
enduring growth. It traps windblown sand to build
dunes. Two varieties, 'Cape' and 'Hatteras,' are
commercially available. Establish by planting nursery-
grown culms or stems 12 to 18 inches apart.

'Avalon' saltmeadow cordgrass

Spartina patens

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilizing brackish and freshwater tidal
streambanks by absorbing wave action and collecting
sediment.

Growth rate: Becomes effective by the end of the first
year when planted in hills 18 to 36 inches apart. Plant
closer together in open areas, farther apart in
sheltered areas.

Site conditions: Adapted to brackish water on coastal
shorelines (sandy soils). Does well under normal
shoreline conditions and responds to fertilization. Poor
drought and shade tolerance.

'Avalon' saltmeadow cordgrass is used to stabilize
eroding shorelines along the Atlantic coast. It should
be planted from the mean high water level to the toe of
the slope. Plant nursery-grown material. Plantings
should be made between midspring and July 1 using
culms with top growth of 6 to 10 inches. Dig holes
deep enough to fully accept the root, and seal the hole
by pressing and compacting the soil around the roots.

'Atlantic' coastal panicgrass

Panicum amarum var. amarulum

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilization of coastal sand dunes, and
disturbed sites such as borrow areas, gravel pits,
highway fills, and wildlife food and cover.
Growth rate: Forms effective cover the first year.
Site conditions: Grows best on sandy and silt-loam
soils; tolerates droughty, infertile soil material; has
excellent drought resistance, poor shade tolerance,
and some acid tolerance. It makes satisfactory growth
on poorly to moderately drained soils.

The principal use for 'Atlantic' is for stabilizing
disturbed areas with light sandy soils. It can be direct
seeded on most sites, including sand dunes, and has
excellent drought resistance. Seedlings are also
transplanted. Its stiff stems resist lodging and its
abundant seed production makes it a desirable wildlife
plant.

'Sea Isle' Japanese sedge

Carex kobomugi

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilizing sand dune areas where light to
moderate foot traffic exists. Can be used in
combination with 'Cape' American beachgrass.
Growth rate: Slow to establish, gives good cover by
the end of the second or third growing season.
Site conditions: A salt-tolerant plant, it differs from
most related sedges by growing on dryer areas. Good
drought tolerance; poor shade tolerance; does not
tolerate tight, heavy soils.

'Sea Isle' grows 8 to 10 inches tall, and spreads
primarily by short rhizomes. A mature stand is quite
dense with almost complete ground cover. Plants stay
green well into the fall and can tolerate reasonable
amounts of foot traffic. Propagated vegetatively, the
plants exhibit slow vigor the first year; however, the
surviving plants show excellent persistence and
spread into permanent stands.

Bayberry

Myrica pensylvanica
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Versatile shrub for landscaping and revegetating
sand dunes and inland areas; berries provide food for
birds.

Growth rate: Produces fruit in 3 to 4 years; matures in
7 to 8 years.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance;
poor shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well
drained soil.

Bayberry Is a semievergreen shrub that grows to a
height of 6 to 8 feet. It has gray, scented berries that
are eaten by birds. Fruit appears only where both male
and female shrubs are planted In the same area. Roots
fix nitrogen, which helps bayberry grow in low-fertility
soil. Establish by planting bare-root or container-
grown seedlings 2 years old.

Beach plum

Prunus maritima

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Revegetating sand dunes; beautification; edible
fruit.

Growtli rate: Produces flowers and fruit in 3 to 4 years;
matures in 7 to 8 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, loamy,
and sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Beach plum is a deciduous shrub that grows to a
height of about 7 feet. It is native to coastal sand
dunes. White flowers appear in May and large edible
fruit in August or September. Beach plum can be
grown in areas other than coastal dunes. Establish by
planting bare-root or container-grown seedlings 1
year old.

Rugosa rose

Rosa rugosa

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7. 8

Uses: Shrub for stabilizing sand dunes and forming
borders for pathways through dunes; landscaping;
provides food and cover for songbirds and rabbits.
Growth rate: Produces fruit in 1 to 2 years; matures in
6 to 7 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, loamy
and sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Rugosa rose is a sprawling shrub that grows to a
height of 3 to 5 feet. It spreads by stout underground
stems. Surface stems have sharp spines. Dark-green
leaves turn bright orange in fall. White, pink, or purple
flowers blossom most of the summer, and red fruit
appears in fall. Establish by planting seedlings 1 to 2
years old.

'Emerald Sea' shore juniper

Juniperus conferta

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Shrub for landscaping and stabilizing sand
dunes, for cover on sandy roadbanks, and for border
plantings.

Growth rate: Plants 2 feet apart provide complete
cover in 2 to 3 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, slightly acid,
loamy and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

'Emerald Sea' shore juniper is a spreading shrub that
grows to a height of 1 foot. It spreads by lateral
branching to form a dense ground cover. On dunes,
foliage is pale green. Its large grey-green berries are
colorful, adding to the attractiveness of the plant.
Establish by planting container-grown rooted cuttings
1 to 2 years old. On dunes, it provides protection from
wind during the first year.

Japanese black pine

Pinus thunbergii

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Ornamental tree for borders, screens, and
windbreaks on sandy areas inland and along the
coast; the most useful evergreen tree for mid-Atlantic
coastal areas.

Growth rate: Grows 12 to 18 inches per year.
Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, loamy
and sandy soils; excellent drought tolerance; poor
shade tolerance; very good salt tolerance; tolerates
moderately well-drained soil.

Japanese black pine is an evergreen tree that grows to
a height of 30 to 50 feet. Its wide-spreading branches
have bright-green needles and cones 2 to 3 inches
long. Establish by planting bare-root or container-
grown plants 2 to 3 years old.

Seaoats

Uniola paniculata

Zones: 7, 8

Uses: Stabilizing frontal sand dunes along the mid- and
lower-Atlantic coast.

Growtli rate: Effective cover by the end of the second
growing season.

Site conditions: Adapted to coastal dunes, seaoats are
tolerant to salt spray, have good drought tolerance,
and poor shade tolerance.

This species has excellent sand-stabilizing ability due
to its bunch-type growth habit, long thick leaves, and
dense fibrous roots. Seaoats are established from
nursery-grown plants. When replanting, set the root as
deep as possible (at least 1 foot) and pack it tightly.
Selections are being evaluated that show tolerance to
colder climates.

Smooth cordgrass

Spartina alterniflora

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Stabilizing brackisii water and freshwater tidal
streambanks by absorbing wave action and collecting
sediment.

Growth rate: Becomes effective by the end of the first
year when planted in hills 18 to 36 inches apart. Plant
closer together in open areas, farther apart in
sheltered areas.

Site conditions: Adapted to brackish water on coastal
shorelines (sandy soils). Does well under normal
shoreline conditions and responds to fertilization. Poor
drought and shade tolerance.

Smooth cordgrass is the dominant, most productive
marsh plant in the regularly flooded intertidal zone
along the Atlantic coast. It is an excellent plant with
which to restore eroded shorelines. It helps to prevent
further erosion when planted between the mean low
water level and the mean high water level along the
shore. Plantings should be made between midspring
and July 1, using culms that have top growth 6 to 10
inches tall. Dig holes deep enough to fully accept the
root and seal the hole by pressing and compacting the
soil around the roots.

Effective Plants

for Screens and Wind Barriers

Many species of plants can be effectively used as
screens or wind barriers. Some plants have factors
that limit their use, such as openness and weak
branches. Others are prone to insect and disease
damage or have limited wildlife value. Generally,
plants selected for screens should have a tight upright
form; evergreens are preferable because they effectively
screen all year. When selecting plants for wind
barriers keep in mind that wind barriers protect an
area ten times the height of the barrier. Example: a 30-
foot-tall barrier will protect open ground up to a
distance of 300 feet. Some reliable plants for screens
and wind barriers are listed in this section.

Eastern redcedar

Juniperus virginiana

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Dense screen or hedge; food for songbirds:

nesting sites for robins and mockingbirds; roosting

cover for juncos and othier birds.

Growth rate: Grows 8 to 12 inches per year.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,

loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; good

shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained

soil.

Eastern redcedar is a native evergreen tree that grows
to a height of 25 to 30 feet. It is naturally upright and
requires very little trimming. Container-grown plants or
plants dug from native stands can be used. Plant
about 4 feet apart in a row.

Northern whitecedar

Thuja occidentalis

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Dense, attractive hedges.

Growth rate: Grows 12 to 18 inches per year.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,

loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; fair

shade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained

soil.

Northern whitecedar is a native evergreen tree that
grows 60 feet high and 25 feet wide. Although the tree
can be sheared, its natural form is ideal for screens.
Establish by planting 2-year-old seedlings or
container-grown plants about 6 feet apart.

20

'Imperial' Carolina poplar

Populus canadensis

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7

Uses: Windbreaks, shade, screens, pulpwood, and
timber.

Growth rate: Very fast growing, up to 6 to 8 feet per
year for the first few years, reaching 50 to 80 feet.
Site conditions: Medium-fertility, acid soils. Moderately
drought resistant, not shade tolerant, does well on
somewhat poorly drained lowlands, and tolerates
occasional flooding.

'Imperial' is a male hybrid and does not produce the
cottony seeds common to poplar trees. It tends to be
longer lived than most hybrids and gives quick wind
protection when planted on favorable sites. Do not
place near water or sewer lines when planting In yards
or urban areas. Place plants 10 to 12 feet apart when
used for screens and windbreaks.

Amur privet

Ligustrum amurense

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Trimmed hedges and field windbreaks; has
numerous fine twigs and can be trimmed to desired
width or height.

Growth rate: Grows 18 to 24 Inches per year.
Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; poor
shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Amur privet is a deciduous, upright plant that grows to
a height of 15 feet. Establish by planting 1 -year-old
bare-root plants or rooted cuttings 2 feet apart in a
row.

California privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium

Zones: 7, 8

Uses: Informal hedges and windbreaks.
Growth rate: Grows about 2 to 3 feet per year.
Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, loamy,
and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; fair shade
tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

California privet is semievergreen and grows to a
height of 12 to 18 feet. It can be sheared to control
height and produce fine branching. Vaneties that have
variegated leaves are available. Establish by planting
rooted cuttings 3 feet apart in a row.

'Rem-Red' amur honeysuckle

Lonicera maackii

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Borders, hedges, and screens; provides food for
many species of birds late in fall and through winter.
Growth rate: Produces fruit in 3 to 5 years; matures in
6 to 7 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; good
shade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained
soil.

'Rem-Red' amur honeysuckle is a large shrub that
grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet. It has dense foliage,
extensive branching, oval leaves, and white flowers.
Red berries mature late in fall and provide food for
birds in winter. Establish by planting seedlings 1 to 2
years old about 6 feet apart in a row.

Tatarian honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Hedges, borders, or clump plantings; summer
food for birds and year-round cover for birds and
small mammals.

Growth rate: Produces fruit in 3 to 4 years; matures in
7 to 8 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Tatarian honeysuckle is a shrub that grows erect to a
height of 6 to 9 feet. It has many stems, dense
branches, pink flowers in May and June, and red
berries in July. Establish by planting nursery-grown
seedlings 1 to 2 years old about 5 feet apart in a row.

Mountain laurel

Kalmia latifolia

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Borders, landscaping, and disturbed areas
where there are few selections for suitable plants.
Growth rate: Slow growing, reaching 12 to 20 feet.
Site conditions: Grows in gravel, sands, silts, clays,
and loams. Very shade and flood tolerant; tolerates
poorly drained and acid soil; is moderately drought
resistant.

Mountain laurel is an attractive broadleaf evergreen
shrub that can be used in wet, shady sites where
foliage is desirable all year.

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Uses: Screens, borders, and hedges.
Growth rate: Fast growing, reaching a height of over
15 feet. Makes an effective screen in 3 to 4 years when
planted 6 to 8 feet apart.

Site conditions: Requires well-drained, silty, clayey, or
loamy soils. Does not tolerate wet soils; will tolerate
moderate shade but needs full sun to bloom. It is
drought resistant and tolerates slightly acid conditions.

Lilacs make an excellent border or screen. They have
large fragrant flowers in midspring after leaves appear
and can be sheared to make a hardy hedge. They are
long lived and can tolerate urban conditions.

White pine

Pinus strobus

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Windbreaks, screens, landscaping, revegetation
of disturbed areas, wildlife.

Growth rate: Medium (12 to 24 inches/year). Becomes
effective in 4 to 6 years. Grows to a height of 75 to 100
feet.

Site conditions: Grows in moderately well drained,
acid, silts, loams, sands, and light clays. It has
moderate shade and drought tolerance but does not
tolerate flooding.

White pine is a long-lived evergreen used
commercially for wood products. It is an excellent
wildlife species used for food and cover by songbirds,
upland ground birds, small mammals, and deer.
Seedlings can be obtained from nursery-grown stock,
while larger trees are balled and burlapped.

Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis

Zones: 3. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Screens, windbreaks, landscaping, wildlife, and
disturbed areas.

Growth rate: Slow, 10 to 14 inches/year, grows to a
height of 75 to 100 feet.

Site conditions: Grows on sands, loams, and clays.
Tolerates moderately drained, acid soils; is not drought
or flood tolerant and has good shade tolerance.

Hemlocks are shallow-rooted, long-lived evergreens
that retain their dark-green color all year. They can be
used where a dense canopy is desired at all times.
Hemlocks have wildlife value for songbirds, upland
ground birds, rabbits, and deer.

24

Useful Plants for Wildlife Food and Cover

The plants featured in this section are multipurpose.
Selected for their value to provide food and cover for
wildlife, all have application in one or more of the
previous sections covered in this handbook.

26

'Indigo' silky dogwood/Graystem dogwood

Cornus amomum/Cornus racemosa

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8

Uses: Both provide food and cover for gamebirds,
songbirds, rabbits, raccoon, and other wildlife; silky
dogwood is used for stabilizing lower slopes of
streambanks.

Growth rate: Both produce fruit in 3 to 5 years; silky
dogwood provides effective streambank protection in
3 to 5 years.

Site conditions: Both grow in medium-fertility, acid,
clayey, loamy, and sandy soils; both have fair drought
tolerance and fair shade tolerance; graystem requires
well-drained soil; silky tolerates poorly drained soil.

Graystem and silky dogwoods are shrubs that grow to
a height of 8 to 12 feet. White flowers and blue or
white berries remain until late in summer or early in
fall. Establish by planting container-grown or bare-root
seedlings 1 to 2 years old. On streambanks, plant silky
dogwood seedlings or rooted or unrooted cuttings 2
feet apart.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for gamebirds and many species of
songbirds; ornamental landscaping.
Growth rate: Produces fruit in 5 to 6 years; matures in
12 to 14 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Flowering dogwood is a tree that grows to a height of
15 to 25 feet. It has large white or pink blossoms and
produces red fruit in September. Establish in spring by
planting container-grown plants.

American cranberrybush

Viburnum trilobum

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Winter food for grouse, songbirds, and squirrels;
hedges and borders.

Growth rate: Slow the first 2 years; produces fruit in 4
to 5 years; matures in 8 to 10 years.
Site conditions: Grows In medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; poor drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates poorly drained soil.

American cranberrybush, also called highbush
cranberry, is a deciduous shrub that grows to a height
of 6 to 7 feet. Leaves turn reddish brown in fall. Fruit
remains late Into winter. Establish by planting
seedlings 2 years old. Because of slow early growth,
care must be taken to be sure the plants are not
accidentally destroyed. Plant about 4 feet apart in a
row.

American liolly

Ilex opaca

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food and cover for many species of gamebirds
and songbirds.

Growtli rate: Produces fruit in 3 to 4 years; grows
about 1 foot per year.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; good
shade tolerance; tolerates poorly drained soil.

American holly is an evergreen tree that grows to a
height of 40 feet. For fruit production, both male and
female trees should be planted in the same area. The
female tree has red berries that remain into winter.
Establish by planting nursery-grown plants 2 to 3
years old early in spring or fall. Protect the plants from
strong winds the first year.

27

28

'Shelter' switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for songbirds, food and cover for upland
ground birds and small mammals, and revegetation of
gravel pits and mine spoil.

Growth rate: Requires 1 to 2 years to become totally
effective. Little or no management required after
establishment.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, sands,
clays, and loams. Has excellent heat and drought
tolerance, low shade tolerance, and does well on
moderately well drained soils.

Besides being a good plant for revegetation of surface
mine spoil, sand and gravel pits, and steep, sandy
roadside cuts, 'Shelter' is an excellent wildlife plant
that provides year-round cover and food during the fall
and winter. Its stiff stems resist lodging and will
recover to an upright position after winter snowstorms.

'VA-70' shrub lespedeza

Lespedeza thunbergii

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Wildlife food and cover, borders, hedges, and
revegetating steep banks along banks and channels.
Growth rate: Produces desired cover during the
second growing season.

Site conditions: Moderately well drained, acid, sandy,
loamy, and clayey soils. Good drought, poor shade
tolerance.

'VA-70' is an excellent source of food for wildlife,
including pheasant, bobwhite quail, rabbits, and deer. It
can be used alone as a shrub border or in
combination with other plants. 'VA-70' works
especially well when planted with switchgrass. Can be
established from seed or 1 -year-old seedlings.

'Natob' bicolor lespedeza

Lespedeza bicolor

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for quail, dove, and wild turkey and cover
for these and other birds and mammals.
Growth rate: Produces seed in 3 to 4 years; matures in
5 to 6 years.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

'Natob' bicolor lespedeza is an upright shrub that
grows to a height of 12 feet. Many purple flowers
bloom from July to September. Seeds provide food for
quail. Establish by direct seeding or by planting
seedlings early in spring. Plant in strips, borders, or
compact blocks to provide both food and cover.

'Roselow' sargent crabapple

Malus sargenti

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Uses: Wildlife food, windbreaks, screens, and
landscaping.

Growth rate: Produces fruit the third or fourth growing
season.

Site conditions: All soil types, well adapted to sandy
soils where rainfall is adequate. Tolerates dry, acid
soils; is intolerant to shade, and survives short periodic
flooding.

A rounded and densely branched shrub, 'Roselow' is
one of the smallest crabapples, obtaining a maximum
height of 8 feet. The dark-red fruit appears before leaf
drop and remains on the tree all winter until taken by
wildlife. It is planted from seedlings in the spring, once
it is determined the ground will remain frost free.

29

'Midwest' Manchurian crabapple

Malus baccata var. mandshurica

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Uses: Wildlife food and cover, windbreaks, screens,
and landscaping.

Growth rate: Moderately rapid growing tree, producing
fruit between the third and fifth growing season.
Site conditions: Grows in all well-drained soil types. Is
extremely cold hardy; intolerant to shade; tolerates
semi-droughty and slightly acid conditions.

'Midwest' is a dense rounded tree that reaches a
height of 20 to 22 feet. It produces abundant apples
that are to inch in diameter and that remain on
the tree all winter until taken by wildlife. A successful
crop is assured most years, as the tree leafs out before
blooming and protects the flowers from frost. The low-
spreading branches provide year-round cover for
wildlife. Plant from seedlings in early spring after it is
determined the ground will remain frost free.

Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for many species of songbirds, squirrels,
and deer.

Growth rate: Produces fruit in 4 to 5 years; matures in
7 to 8 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils: fair drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained
soil.

Elderberry is a spreading shrub that grows to a height
of 12 feet. It has bright-green compound leaves, white
flowers in June and July, and purple berries from
August to October. Establish early in spring by planting
bare-root or container-grown seedlings.

30

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for songbirds; ornamental screens.
Growth rate: Produces seed in 3 to 4 years; matures in
6 to 7 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; fair
shade tolerance; tolerates poorly drained soil.

Winterberry is an upright spreading shrub that grows
to a height of 10 feet. Red berries provide food for
birds throughout the winter. Establish early in spring or
late in fall by planting bare-root or container-grown
seedlings.

'Gobbler' sawtooth oak

Quercus acutissima

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for wild turkey, squirrel, game, and
songbirds. Can be used for shelterbelts and
landscaping.

Growth rate: Attains a height of 50 to 60 feet in 15
years, and may produce nuts in 7 or 8 years.
Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, slightly acid,
clayey, loamy, and sandy soils. Fair drought tolerance;
poor shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well
drained soil.

Trees grow to 70 feet and may produce upwards of
125 pounds of acorns per tree. 'Gobbler' acorns are
smaller than other strains and are more readily used
by small birds and animals. Plant in the spring using 1-
or 2-year-old seedlings.

31

32

American mountain-ash/
European mountain-ash

Sorbus americana/Sorbus aucuparia

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Food for grouse and many species of songbirds;

screens and ornamental plantings.

Growth rate: Produces fruit In 5 to 8 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,

loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance; poor

sfiade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained

soil.

fvtountain-ash is a tree that grows to a height of 35 to
50 feet. It has compound leaves, white flowers in fvlay
and June, and large clusters of orange berries in fall
and winter. Establish in spring by planting nursery-
grown seedlings or container-grown plants.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Wildlife food, screens, and borders.
Growth rate: Fast growing, long lived.
Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, rocky, slightly
acid, well-drained to moderately well drained, moist,
sandy, silty, and loamy soils. Resistant to drought and
heat; intolerant to shade and flooding.

Black cherry, also known as wild black cherry, is an
excellent food for wildlife. It is used by over 54 species
of birds, also bear, red fox, raccoon, deer, squirrel, and
rabbit.

Erosion-Controlling Ground Covers

Shrubs and vines can provide low-maintenance,
attractive erosion control on roadbanks and around
homes and commercial buildings. Many of the plants
become so dense that they can be used in place of the
traditional lawn where foot traffic does not occur. Used
where needed, and in combination with other plants,
the selections in this section can provide the desired
attractiveness and versatility required in almost any
situation.

Periwinkle

Vinca minor

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Lawn substitute and ground cover for large and
small areas.

Growth rate: Plants 1 foot apart produce complete
cover in 1 to 2 years.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; fair drought tolerance;
excellent shade tolerance; grows well in full sun;
tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Periwinkle, an evergreen that grows to a height of 6
inches, spreads by stolons that root at the nodes.
Purple flowers bloom in spring. Establish by planting
stem cuttings or divisions.

Pachysandra

pachysandra terminalis

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: In borders, under trees and shrubs, and as a
lawn substitute in nontraffic areas.
Growth rate: Plants 1 foot apart provide dense, weed-
resistant ground cover in 1 to 2 years.
Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; poor drought tolerance:
excellent shade tolerance; does not grow well in full
sun; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

Pachysandra is one of the most attractive evergreen
ground covers available. It has alternating leaves 4
inches long. Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous.
Plant rooted cuttings 1 foot apart for rapid growth of
dense cover. Clipping early in spring stimulates new
growth. Fertilize occasionally.

Lily-of-the-valley

Convallaha majalis

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Low-maintenance ground cover in partial or full
shade.

Growth rate: Plants 1 foot apart produce complete
cover in 2 to 3 years.

Site conditions: Grovi^s in lovi^-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance;
excellent shade tolerance; does not grow well in full
sun; tolerates somewhat poorly drained soil.

Lily-of-the-valley grows to a height of 8 inches. It has
attractive, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers and produces
orange berries in fall. Establish by planting root
divisions in spring and summer.

St. Johnswort (Aaronsbeard)

Hypericum calycinum

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Ground cover on sandy soil.

Growth rate: Plants 1 foot apart provide complete

cover in 1 to 2 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, loamy,
and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; good shade
tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

St. Johnswort (Aaronsbeard) Is a semievergreen that
grows to a height of 1 foot. Bright-yellow flowers
bloom from June to August. Establish by planting
divisions or nursery-grown plants. The plant spreads
by stolons and layering.

35

English ivy

Hedera helix

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Low-maintenance cover for large areas.
Growth rate: Plants 1 foot apart produce complete
cover in 2 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; good
shade tolerance; tolerates moderately well drained soil.

English ivy is an evergreen vine that has broad, flat
leaves and can be grown in full sun or full shade. It
trails and climbs, attaching to buildings and trees by
small holdfasts projected along its stems. Establish by
planting nursery-grown rooted cuttings. New spring
growth will quickly camouflage discoloration caused
by continuous exposure to sun in winter.

Japanese honeysuckle

Lunicera japonica

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Cover for large areas, such as roadbanks; fruit
eaten by bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and many
species of songbirds.

Growth rate: Plants 18 inches apart produce complete
cover in 2 years.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; good
shade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained
soil.

Japanese honeysuckle is an exotic, aggressive,
semievergreen vine. Stems root when in contact with
soil, and aggressive growth must be restricted to
prevent spread into areas where unwanted. Small
yellow and white flowers bloom in June. In fall, black
berries appear and the leaves turn brown. Establish by
planting nursery-grown plants.

36

Ground juniper

Juniperus spp.

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Dense, attractive, low- maintenance ground
cover for large and small areas.
Growth rate: Plants 2 to 3 feet apart provide complete
cover in 2 to 3 years.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey,
loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; poor
shade tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

Ground junipers are evergreen, have spinelike leaves,
and grow to a height of 8 to 24 inches. Several species
and varieties are suitable for ground cover. Establish
by planting container-grown plants 1 year old.

Red fescue

Festuca rubra

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6; cool, shady areas in 7 and 8
Uses: Fine-textured lawn mixtures; dense sod for
stabilizing roadbanks and north-facing slopes.
Growth rate: Produces complete cover of attractive,
uniform sod in 1 year.

Site conditions: Grows in medium-fertility, acid, clayey
and loamy soils; fair drought tolerance; good shade
tolerance; requires well-drained soil.

Red fescue has narrow, bright-green leaves. It
spreads by short underground stems to produce a
tight sod. Aboveground stems have a reddish tint and
grow to a height of 18 inches. Red fescue may turn
brown in hot, dry summer weather but recovers in fall.
Many varieties are available. Establish by seeding on a
firm seedbed in spring or early in fall.

38

Day lilly

Hemerocallis spp.

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Permanent cover for critical areas of urbanizing

land, such as soil borrow areas, earthen cuts and fills,

and development and recreational sites.

Growth rate: Complete ground cover in 2 years when

planted on 2-foot spacings.

Site conditions: Drought and heat resistant; shade

tolerant; thrives in low-fertility, moist, slightly acid,

sands, clays, and loams.

Propogate by dividing the stout fleshy roots in July or
August, and plant on 2-foot spacings. The plants
develop rapidly. Some plants will bloom the first year
from the divisions. The relatively disease-free plants
need little care. Should flower size become small and
plant vigor decrease, revitalize the planting by dividing
and thinning the clumps.

'Golden Jubilee' black-eyed susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Adds color when planted alone or mixed with
other erosion control plants for roadside plantings and
other disturbed areas.

Growth rate: Seeded in the late summer or early fall,
produces flowering plants the following year.
Site conditions: Adapted from well-drained to
somewhat poorly drained soils, except heavy clays or
very sandy soils. Tolerates acid conditions, is drought
resistant, and prefers full sun.

A reseeding biannual, 'Golden Jubilee' should be
planted in late summer or early fall. The small seed
germinates readily when placed on the ground and
raked or lightly mulched. The plants may grow to a
height of 3 feet. The showy flowers, with yellow-
orange rays and dark brown spherical centers, bloom
from June to September adding color to the
landscape.

Marginal shield fern

Dryopteris marginalis
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Western swordfern

Polystichum munitum

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Uses: Ground cover in wet, shady conditions.
Growth rate: Complete ground cover in 2 or 3 years.
Site conditions: Semisliady to full shade. Tolerate
poorly drained, medium-fertility, loamy or clayey soil.
Do best in soils high in organic matter.

Ferns may be the last resort for wet, shady places
where few plants can survive. Ferns make attractive
borders along marshy sites or do well in small areas
that are shady and stay moist and damp.

Lily-turf

Liriope spicata

Zones: 6, 7, 8

Uses: Evergreen borders along walks and around

trees; ground cover; tolerates droughty, low-fertility

soils better than most ornamental ground covers;

requires little maintenance once established.

Growth rate: Spreads slowly by rhizomes the first year;

produces complete cover in 2 years.

Site conditions: Grows in low-fertility, acid, clayey,

loamy, and sandy soils; good drought tolerance; good

shade tolerance; tolerates somewhat poorly drained

soil.

Lily-turf is a coarse, grasslike evergreen that grows to
a height of 6 to 12 inches. Several species are
available. To establish, divide clumps and plant
divisions 6 to 12 inches apart. May spread to adjacent
areas when planted in full sun.

39

Soil Conservation Service
Plant Materials Centers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service, operates 26 plant materials centers located
throughout the Nation tor the purpose of assembling,
evaluating, selecting, and releasing superior plants to
solve specific conservation problems.

These problems are usually quite diverse. Many are
directly related to protecting water quality. Plant
materials centers are helping to improve and maintain
water quality by developing plants to control runoff
and erosion from roadside cuts, agricultural lands,
urban construction, mine spoils, and streambanks.
Other problems being addressed at plant materials
centers are plants for wind barriers, screens, wildlife
food and cover, shoreline protection, livestock forage,
low-maintenance ground covers, and wetlands.

Some new challenges facing the centers are the
development of plant materials for landfills and soils
with heavy metal concentrations, vegetative filter strips
that dilute pollutants such as nitrates and pesticides,
and plants with low-fertility requirements to reclaim
sand and gravel pits while providing wildlife habitat
and erosion control.

Three plant materials centers directly serve the
Northeast States: Big Flats Plant Materials Center
located near Corning, New York; Cape May Plant
Materials Center located near Cape May Court House,
New Jersey; and Quicksand Plant Materials Center
located in Quicksand, Kentucky.

For information concerning plant materials and their
use in your area, contact your local Soil Conservation
Service or Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Plant Use Reference

# Primary Uses # Other Uses

Page

Common
Name

Cultivar

Scientific
Name

Disturbed
Areas

Stream-
bank

Wildlife
Habitat

Dunes &
Sands

Screens &
Wind ban-iers

Ground
Covers

Forage

13

American beachgrass

Cape

Ammophila breviligulata

•

27

American cranberrybush

Viburnum trilobum

27

American holly

Ilex opaca

32

American mountain-ash

Sorbus americana

O

22

Amur honeysuckle

Rem- Red

Lonicera maackii

•

Q

21

Amur privet

Ligustrum amurense

®

15

Bayberry

Myrica pensylvanica

®

15

Beach plum

Prunus maritima

•

•

7

Bermudagrass

Tufcote

Cynodon dactylon

•

29

Bicolor lespedeza

Natob

Lespedeza bicolor

•

0

Big bluestem

Niagara

Andropogon gerardii

w

w

4

Birdsfoot trefoil

Mackinaw

Lotus comiculatus

w

w

32

Black cherry

Prunus serotina

•

9

Black locust

Steiner Group

Robinia pseudoacacia

38

Black-eyed susan

Golden Jubilee

Rudbeckia hirta

•

•

8

Bristly locust

Arnot

Robinia fertilis

•

•

22

California privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium

•

21

Carolina poplar

Imperial

Populus canadensis
var. eugenei

•

on

Christmas fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

V

-f y1
|4

Coastal panicgrass

Atlantic

Panicum amarum
var. amarulum

®

•

3

Crownvetch

Chemung

Coronilla varia

•

•

•

38

Day lily

Hemerocallis spp.

•

4

Deertongue

Tioga

Panicum dichanthelium

•

®

10

Dwarf willow

Bankers

Salix cotteti

®

20

Eastern redcedar

Juniperus virginiana

•

•

30

Elderben^

Sambucus canadensis

•

36

English ivy

Hedera helix

©

9

European black alder

AInus glutinosa

32

European mountain-ash

Sorbus aucuparia

•

3

Flatpea

Lathco

Lathyrus sylvestris

•

•

26

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida

•

41

Plant Use Reference (Continued)

f Primary Uses Other Uses

nommnn
Name

r,i iltiuar

Scientific
Name

Disturbed
Areas

Stream-
bank

Wildlife
Habitat

Dunes &
Sands

Screens &
Wind ban-iers

Ground
Govers

Forage

26

Graystem dogwood

Gornus racemosa

•

•

37

Ground juniper

Juniperus spp.

•

24

1 1 CM M UL<r\

Tci ina panaHpncic
1 oUya LaMaUGllolo

w

w

•|7

lananPQP hlarU ninp

<JC3|JClMCoC UldV/FV pil IC

Piniic thiinhprnii
riiiuo LMUMUciyii

V

ou

lananpcp hnnp\/ciipHp

14

IqIp
oca loic

ParpY Unhnmiini
udi CA rvuuuiiiuyi

24

Lilac

^\/rinna \/i ilnaric
oyiiiiya vuiyaiio

w

35

I il\/-nf-thp-\/allp\/
Liiy ui 11 ic vdiicy

Pnn\/allaria maialic
uUIIValldlla Mlajallo

w

03

1 ilw-tiirf
Liiy lui 1

1 iriAnp cnirata
Lll lupc opiUdla

w

Miinphiiriiin rrahannlp
IVIdl lUI lUI Idll LldUa|JplC

IVIIUWCol

IvIdlUo UdLLala

var. mandshurica

•

•

39

Marginal shield fern

Dryopteris marginalis

23

Mountain laurel

Kalmia latifolia

•

>

20

Northern whitecedar

Thuja occidentalis

•

34

Pachysandra

Pachysandra terminalis

•

2

Perennial pea

Lancer

Lathyrus latifolius

•

6

Perennial ryegrass

Lolium perenne

•

•

•

34

Periwinkle

Vinca minor

•

10

Purpleosier willow

Streamco

Salix purpurea

•

37

Red fescue

Festuca rubra

•

11

Redosier dogwood

Ruby

Gornus stolonifera

•

•

•

6

Redtop

Agrostis alba

•

16

Rugosa rose

Rosa rugosa

•

13

Saltmeadow cordgrass

Avalon

Spartina patens

29

Sargent crabapple

Roselow

Malus sargenti

•

31

Sawtooth oak

Gobbler

Quercus acutissima

•

•

17

Seaoats

Uniola paniculata

•

7

Sericea lespedeza

Appalow

Lespedeza cuneata

•

16

Shore juniper

Emerald Sea

Juniperus conferta

•

28

Shrub lespedeza

VA-70

Lespedeza thunbergii

•

26

Silky dogwood

Indigo

Gornus amomum

18

Smooth cordgrass

Spartina alterniflora

•

8

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra

42

Plant Use Reference (Continued)

9 Primary Uses # Other Uses

PsriP
rdyc

P.nmmnn

wUI 1 II 1 lUI 1

Name

Ca iltivar

Qripntifir

Name

Disturbed
Areas

Stream-
bank

Wildlife
Habitat

Dunes &
Sands

Screens &
Wind bamers

Ground
Covers

Forage

8

Staghorn sumac

Rhus typhi na

•

35

St. Johnswort

Hypericum calycinum

•

28

Switchgrass

Shelter

Panicum virgatum

•

•

5

Tall fescue

KY-31

Festuca arundinacea

•

•

•

23

Tatarian honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica

•

•

39

Western swordfern

Polystichum munitum

24

White pine

Pinus strobus

•

•

31

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

•

43

I