IVative Treesand Shrubs

A cottection of pubticationsfrom the Macphail WoodsEcological Forestry Proiect

An introduction to Native Trees and ShrubsEven before the first seeds were planted in the MacphailWoods nursery in the fallof 1991, we were thinking ofways to help people restore forests. The Acadian forest,which features such a varie$ of high-valued and long-lived species, was becoming increasingly rare. lt seem-ed a broad range of people had to become involved ifthis restoration was to succeed - students planting atschools, landowners reforesting their property andhomeowners planting their local areas. ln 1994, weprinted a small run of "Native Trees and Shrubs".Building on that success, we published "More NativeTrees and Shrubs" and "Tree Sheets" - all aimed atmaking forest restoration easy.

This publication is a compilation of the previous threebooklets, with some changes and additions. lt is not thecomplete work on native trees and shrubs that wil! bedone someday, but it should give people the tools toactively participate in making significant environmentalimprovements.

Many people and funding agencies have been involvedin the production of the Macphail Woods publications.This collection was financially supported by the provin-cial Department of Technology and Environment's Wild-life Habitat lmprovement Program, the EnvironmentalCoalition of Prince Edward lsland and the Sir AndrewMacphail Foundation. Past funders for the publicationshave included Environment Canada, the provincial Fishand Wildlife division, Human Resources Canada, theNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation, MountainEquipment Co-op and the Samuel and Saidye BronfmanFamily Foundation. As always, this publication owes adebt of thanks to the late Geoff Hogan for his inspirationand support.Writing, editing and research: Gary Schneider, RuthRichman, Liz Dacombe, Kevin Maclean, Susan Shawand Susan MacDonald.lllustrations: Katherine PooleDesign and production: Gary Schneider

Biodiversity - why worry about it?Why plant shrubs?Red-osier dogwoodAlternate-leaf dogwoodSpeckled alderServieeberryWillowMountain ashCommon elderRed-benied elderHighbush cranberryWild raisinHaMhornBeaked hazelnutChoke cherryStaghorn sumacWild roseHobblebushWitch hazellronwoodRed oakWhite ash

Table of contentspage 1page2page 3page 3page 4page 5page 5page 6page 7page 8page Ipage 9

page 10page 10page 1 1page 12page 12page 13page 14page 15page 15page 16

Black ashButternutSugar mapleRed spruce JEastern hemlockEastern white cedarEastern white pineHow to plant trees and shrubsAttracting wildlife to your backyardPlanting designs for sunny areasPlanting designs for shaded areasPlanting windbreaks and hedgerowsPlanting a white spruce hedgeSchoolground naturalizationPlanning a productive acre

Partial list of native trees and shrubsCommunity nurseriesPlant propagationGlossary of terms and referencesResources and sources of plant material

Areas to be planted and appropriate species page 35

page 16page 17page 18page 18page 19page 19page 20page 21page 23page 25page 26page27page 29page 30page 32

page 36page 37page 42page 44page 44

Helping out at MacphailWoods inside back cover

Biodiversity -why worry about it?"lf the land mechanism as a whole is good, then everypart is good whether we understand it or not. lf thebiota, in the course of eons, has built something we likebut do not understand, then who but a foolwould dis-card seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog andwheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."

Aldo Leopold, "A Sand County Almanac"

Over the past few years, much has been written on pre.serving biological diversity (or biodiversity) around theworld. Biodiversity is the variety of life and all its pro-cesses and includes the living organisms, their geneticdifferences and the communities in which they occur.

Protection of the world's remaining rainforests, with theirincredible variety of plants and animals, is the key toconserving global biodiversity. At the same time, it isalso important to protect the diversi$ of all our naturalecosystems, whether that be wetlands, forests orshorelines. But why bother protecting biodiversity? Andcan we become "intelligent tinkerers," protecting andrestoring biodiversity at home?

The first question is the most complex. Even highly-regarded ecologists and biodiversity experts admit theydo not know exactly how ecosystems function. Let'stake a small stretch of the Orwell River that runs through

the Sir Andrew Macphail homestead. As a forest type,it is primarily large, older hemlock, white pine, yellowbirch and balsam fir. Yet the diversity that makes upthis ecosystem is very rich and interacts in ways that wedo not understand. lt includes other trees, soil bacteria,earthworms, flowers, fems, shrubs, insects, fish, streaminvertebrates, resident and migratory birds, rodents andother small mammals, amphibians, moulds and fungi,and of course, humans. There are hundreds, if notthousands of different species interacting along thestream, and we know very little about how they worktogether.That they are connected, though, is very clear. A chip-munk stores acoms from a red oak tree underground forthe winter. A coyote catches the chipmunk in the openand has it for lunch one day, and the acorns are free togerminate into seedlings, which one day may grow intolarge trees that produce more acorns. Or take the cater-pillar feeding on the leaves of speckled alders along thestream. lt soon becomes a snaek for a yellow-rumpedwarbler, which in turn might be eaten by a sharp-shinned hawk. These are all components of the "web"that makes up an ecosystem.What happens to one species if we remove another?Species have Eultiple roles to play within a given eco-system - a tree stores carbon, provides nesting sites andfood for a variety of animals, and will provide a source ofnutrients for a future forest. A chanterelle mushroomhelps the trees around it absorb nutrients from the soiland is a source of food for red squirrels and humans.Scientists do not know what species are most important.Taking away one component of an ecosystem can havedisastrous effects on the health of that community. Weshould protect biodiversity since we do not know whatparts of the ecosystem might turn out to be important.

Another reason to protect biodiversity at home is theexample it sets for others. lt is criticalto global environ-mental health that countries with vast tracts of undis-turbed rainforest do not continue or accelerate presentharvesting rates. Forests provide humans with a widevariety of products, from foods to medicines to chemi-cals. At the same time, we know that few forest plantshave been tested for what they might someday offer tohumans. Western yew growing in British Columbia for-ests is the source of taxol, one of the most potent anti-

Native lrees & ShrubsMacphailWoods I

cancer substances ever found and tests for medicinalproperties are being done on our local Canada yew.There are undoubtably many . more plants that havesimilar benefits to offer, if only we take the time to look,lf wealthy countries can not conserve biodiversity, howcan the world's poorer countries ever be expected to?The tree and shrub species in most forests add a smallbut important part to the diversity of that community. Themixture of species and ages provides homes and food fora variety of wildlife. lt also protects the forest from large-scale destruction by insects and diseases, and makesexcellent use of available sunlight, soil and waterresources. Protecting biodiversity in forests safeguardsthose ecosystems and helps maintain healthy wildlifepopulations.

Much concem about the worldwide loss of biodiversityoriginally focussed on endangered species. Today, itgoes beyond that, to include protection of ecosystemsand restoration of degraded areas. Edward O. \Mlsonadvises us to "go beyond mere salvage to begin therestoration of natural environments, in order to enlargewild populations and stanch the hemonhaging of bio-logicalwealth. There can be no purpose more enspiritingthan to begin the age of restoration, reweaving thewondrous diversi$ of life that still sunounds us."

It is important to remember that biodiversi$ does notmean varie$ at any cost. Zoos contain an incrediblediversity of wildlife, yet they do not represent biodiversity.The goal is to have healthy, fully-populated communitiesor ecosystems with the wide variety of inhabitants thatwould naturally occur in that area. Obviously this doesnot mean that ecosystems will remain static. Theychange by themselves over time, and human activitiesand interventions can bring both positive and negativechanges. Protecting or restoring biodiversity means look-ing to work with nature, using native species wheneverpossible.The following pages are meant to be a guide, rather thana blueprint, for using native trees and shrubs to restorebiodiversity, protect watersheds, enhance habitat forwildlife and add beauty to our homes. For a variety ofreasons, it is impossible to be exactly sure what plantsare or are not natives. The debate is not critical. Plantsmigrate, their seeds spread by wind, water and animals(including people). There are plants native to NewBrunswick and Nova Scotia that are not considerednative in this province. Would they have naturallymigrated here, spread by wind or animals? And since80% of Prince Edward lsland was cleared for farming bythe late 1800's, many small populations of trees andshrubs could have been wiped out without anyone beingaware of the loss.

The Plants of Prince Edward lsland (updated in 1985with new records) is the best source of information andwe try to stay within their findings of native and introducedspecies. No effort is made to list allthe native trees and

shrubs, especially since some shrubs such as willow hy-bridize freely, but we have listed the large majority of thespecies found on Prince Edward lsland.

Native plants are usually very reliable - they have adaptedto the climatic conditions of the area and serve a varietyof functions within the ecosystem. Most are provenperformers - hardy, fitting into a wide variety of habitats,valuable to wildlife, useful for stabilizing streambanksand/or controlling soil erosion. A good starting point torestoring biodiversity is to carefully match the plant to thesite. lt makes little sense to plant a sun-loving tree in theshade or a shrub that will not tolerate salt spray along theshore. Use common sense and caution when planningand planting, and you won't go too far wrong.

Why plant shrubs?One question often heard is "why plant shrubs instead oftrees?" At Macphail Woods, we use a combination oftlees and shrubs in all our plantings. ln addition to thediversity of plant species, we gain a variety of feeding andresting areas, food sources and nesting habitat.

The line between trees and shrubs is not a clear one.Distinctions are obvious between a large pine tree and asmall, bushy alder. But other species fall somewhere inthe middle, or have characteristics of both trees andshrubs. As a general definition, shrubs are low, woodyplants that at maturity are under 25 feet (7.6 m) in height.They usually have several stems, but this is morecommon in some species than others. The definition isnot important - the key is how interesting and usefulshrubs can be. More and more people working in theareas of forest restoration, wildlife enhancement andwatershed protection are realizing the values of shrubs.This is part of an increasing recognition that we need toview ecosystems as more than a few species of trees,ducks and mammals.

The following seventeen shrubs selected are nativespecies, but more important they are proven performers -hardy, fitting into a wide variety of habitats, valuable towildlife, useful for stabilizing streambanks and/or con-trolling soil erosion. These will give you a great start to-wards enhancing the environment.

Native lrees & ShrubsMacphailWoods 2

Red-osier dogwood(Cornus stolonifera)

Ilescrifiion: this low spreading shrub, seldomreaching more than 4 feet (1.2 m) in height, iseasily identified by its red bark. lt has smallflat clusters of white flowers, producing whitebenies. Leaves are typical of dogwoods, withdistinct veins running towards the tip, whilebuds are small and opposite.

Growing conditions: found on wet sites andtolerant of flooding, it is common in roadsideditches, damp areas of fields and onstreambanks, although it can grow well ondrier sites. This dogwood spreads by sucker-ing and layering, forming dense thickets. ltgrows best in full sun, but will grow slowly, andwith less fruit production, in shade.

Propagation: one of the easiest shrubs togrow from either summer or winter cuttings.For larger transplants, make cuttings in thesummerand plant to a nursery bed when rootsare established. Using this technique, ourplants averaged 14 inches (35 cm) at the endof the second summer, with thri tallest 24 inch-es (60 cm). Some were everi producing seed.

Smaller rooted cuttings are useful in stream plantings,enabling you to put in large numbers of plants with liftlesoil disturbance.

Cuttings can also be taken in the spring and stuck right inthe ground where you would like the flants to grow,although you need moist, protected conditions and canexpect less success. Seeds usually take one year togerminate, depending on the hardness of the seed coat,but they are easily collected in large numbers andworthwhile growing. Keep an eye on a particularlyhealthy roadside patch during the summer and collectberries,when ripe (late July to the end of August). Crushfruit in a strainer and clean seed. Seeds should be driedif you plan to store them for more than a day or two.Soak seed for 12 hours before planting. This dogwoodtransplants very well, especially from roadside ditches-Tops should be cut back to just above ground level.

Wildlife uses: berries are a prefefred food of ruffedgrouse, northem flicker, downy woodpecker, easternkingbird, common crow, American robin, Swainson'sthrush, evening grosbeak, cedar waxwing and purplefinch. They are well-utilised by dozens of other speciesof songbirds, particularly during fall migration. Thebranches and foliage form dense summer cover, offeringprotection and nesting sites for species such as theAmerican goldfinch. Flowers are an important source ofpollen for honey bees. Red squinel, chipmunk andraccoon include red-osier dogwood in their diets, whilesnowshoe hare and beaver browse the twigs in winter.

Areas of usage:-one of the most useful native shrubs forlandscaping purposes, red-osier dogwood is attractivethroughout the year. Creamy white flowers, deep greenfoliage and red twigs (which make a striking contrast a-gainst a winter snovufall) make it an excellent choice forborder or clump plantings. This shrub is also well-suitedfor streamside plantings, especially since it is tolerant offlooding. lt makes fairly rapid growth on sunny, moistsites and the spreading roots bind soil to control erosion.Thick foliage provides summer shade to maintain coolwater temperatures for fish, while the cover and berriesoffer additional benefits for birds. Red-osier dogwood isa good low shrubthat will help fill inthe bottom partsof windbreaks ifconditions are nottoo dry. Clumps ofthese shrubs, soeasy to grow ortransplant, willaddbeauty, food andcover to plantingsand increase thenumber of wildlifespecies that makeuse of your wind-break.

Alternate-leaf dogwood{Cornus alternifolia)Description: our tallest native dogwood can look like a 6foot (1.8 m) shrub or a2A foot (6.1 m) small tree. lt isone of the most undenated shrubs, whether native ornon-native. The bright green bark is streaked with white,except on the newer wood, where it is dark purple.Clusters of creamy white flowers turn into dark purpleberries. lts branches tend to be long and horizontal.Leaves are typical of dogwoods, with distinct veinsrunning towards the tip. Buds are small and altemate.

Growing conditions: often found at the edges of wood-lands and as an understory plant in a variety of foresttypes. lt tolerates both sun and shade and will grow onalmost any fertile, moist, well-drained site.

Propagation: this is one species we grow exclusivelyfrom seed. Collection is easiest along the edges ofwoods where the fruit crops are usually heaviest, fromlate July through September. Break the fruit by squeez-ing between your fingers and plant as soon as possible.Most will not germinate until the second spring, butshould grow over 1 foot (30 cm) in that season.Collecting fruit before fully ripe (when still pink) and plant-ing soon after may allow germination in the first spring.This shrub can be grown from cuttings, but our success

Native Irees & Shru0sMacphailWoods 3

rate has been very low and not worth the effort. Fewwooded areas have an excess of young plants that havegrown from seed. Most young plants are suckersgrowing from the roots of larger specimens and are diffi-cult to dig up successfully without damaging the parentplants. We do not recommend transplanting this species.

Wildlife uses:benies are a pre-fened food of ruf-fed grouse, nor-thern flicker,downy woodpeck-er, eastern king-bird, gray catbird,American robin,wood thrush, her-mit thrush, Swainson's thrush,g ra y-ch e e kedthrush, red-eyedvireo, cedarwaxwing, evening grosbeak, purple finch andpine grosbeak. Chipmunk and other small mammalsmake use of the fruit, while buds are eaten by ruffedgrouse and ring-necked pheasant. Altemateleaf dog-wood provides cover and nesting sites to many speciesof birds.

Areas of usage: since this is one of our shrubs that ismost tolerant of shade, it can be used extensively inwoodland plantings. Plant one or two seedlings whereverthere is enough light for them to get establighed, or insmall patch cuts witn other specieJ of trees {nd shrubs.This will help diversify a forest, both in species andheight, while providing an additional source of food. Asa landscape plant, it is extremely versatile, growing in thesun by itself or in the shade of larger trees. lts physicalgrace adds a Japaneselike touch to any garden (it isoften called "pagoda" dogwood). The dark purple fruitmaturing on bright red stems adds to its attractiveness inthe late summer. Alternate-leaf dogwood will alsoincrease the variety of songbirds and small mammals that

Speckled alder(Alnus rugosa)

Description: one of our largest and most commonshrubs, growing to 25 feet (7.6 m), and forming denseclumps. Bark is brown to blackish-gray and speckled withmany white spots. Flowers are non-descript. Male andfemale flowers appear on separate catkins which form theprevious fall. The males are slender and cylindrical andhang in clusters of 3-5 from short leafless branches.Females are conelike, 114 inch to 3/8 inch (6-9 mm) long.Leaves are alternate, oval and toothed. They are darkgreen above, lighter below and have prominent veins.Buds are set away from twigs on 114 inch (6 mm) stalks.Another native alder (downy or mountain alder) haspointed buds tight to the stem. lt can be substituted inany plantings on drier sites

Growing conditions: alder is oneof the first species to invade aban-doned fields, especially those whichare poorly drained. lt is also quitecommon along stream banks androadside ditches. lt makes its bestgrcnrth in full sun, but is often found growing in the shadealong streams. Alder does not tolerate salt spray.

Propagation: this species is most easily propagated bytransplants, since they are common along most roadwaysand even some forest roads. Many farmers will allow youto transplant from their fields. Best results come fromnewly-invaded flelds, where you find transplants between1-2 feet (3060 cm) tall. Transplants of any size benefitfrom being cut off to just above ground level right aftertransplanting. We are growing some from seed at Mac-phail Woods - it is easy seed to collect, since the cropsare heavy and need little cleaning. Seeds cluster togeth-er in strobiles, almost like cones, and can be collectedfrom late September onwards. When dry, the strobilescan just be rubbed together between-your hands to re-lease the seeds. Sprinkle over a seed bed and coverwith a light layer of soil or sand, then mulch for the winter.They should germinate the next spring.

Wildlife uses: alder seeds are a favourite winter food ofcommon redpoll, pine siskin and American goldfinch andare eaten by dozens of other species. The shrubs arevaluable as cover and nesting sites for many birds andtheir quick growth makes them useful in naturalizationplantings. Earthworms, found in abundance in thenitrogen-rich soil under alders, are the preferred food ofthe American woodcock. Because of this, woodcockfeed, nest and rear their young almost exclusively on theground beneath alders. During late spring evenings, themale perfOrms an impressive court-ship dance in fieldsnext to alder patches. ln winter, ruffed grouse eat budsand snowshoe hare browse twigs. Beaver eat alder barkand use the stems for dam and lodge construction.

Native Irees & ShrubsMacphailWoods

Areas of usage: alders are generally regarded as anuisance, though this attitude is beginning to change.They are not one of our more attractive shrubs, but arevery useful in windbreaks, preventing erosion alongstream banks and building up depleted soils. Alders canannually add up to 140 pounds/acre (160k9/hectare) ofnitrogen to the soil by bacteria in noduleS on roots andleaf fall. They have great potential in small forestplantations, providing some shade and protection whileenriching soilfor more valuable trees. Along streams,alders prevent erosion and provide excellent overhang-ing shade for trout.

Serviceberry(Amelanchier spp.)

Description: there are many names (Saskatoon, lndianpear, shadbush) and varieties of this species. Hybridscan also form when two varieties interbreed. Height canvary from a 2 foot (60 cm) spreading shrub to a 25 foot(7.6 m) or more tree. Positive identification may bedifficult, but the species itself is easy to recognize. Barkis light gray streaked with darker vertical lines. Thesmooth young bark becomes more-flaked with age.Servicebeny is one of our first shrubs to flower, withstriking white flowers in May before the leaves haveeven fully developed. ln Juliand August, edible benbsturn dark purple and are sweet and juicy. Leaves areoval to round and usually toothed. Slender twigs bearlong, pointed buds.

Growing conditions: serviceberry can be foundgrowing in most conditions, except where extremely wetor the deepest shade. lt grows best in full sun and onmoist, well-drained soil but can be found along road-sides, invading abandoned fields, in existing windbreaksand in woodlands.

Propagation: while serviceberry can be grown fromcuttings, it is seldom worth the effort. Seeds are easily

collected and germination is usually quite good. Collectripe berries during July and August and place in a smallpail of dry, clean, sifted sand. Crush berries with yourhands while mixing with sand. Sift mixture through awindow screen, remove larger pieces of fruit. Plant thismixture of seeds and pulp into rows in the nursery, tryingto get about 3 seeds per inch (2.5 cm). lf you justplanted the berry, which has several seeds, the fruitwould probably ferment and heat up enough to damagethe seeds. Seeds should be planted as soon as poss-ible and will germinate the next spring. Germination isusually less than 50%, but groMh is rapid, averagingabout 1 foot (30 cm) per year.

Wildlife uses: one of the most important food sourcesfor birds, especially those fattening up for fall migration.Berries are a prefered food of northern flicker, blue jay,American crow, gray catbird, American robin, hermitthrush, Swainson's thrush, veery, Bohemian waxwing,cedar waxwing, American redstart, northern oriole andevening grosbeak (left) and eaten by over 30 otherspecies. Red squirrel, chipmunk, flying squirreland redfox are also fond of the fruit, while in winter the twigsand buds are browsed by snowshoe hare and red fox.Ruffed grouse also eat the buds in winter. Serviceber-ry's early flowering in spring makes it an important initialsource of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects.

Arcas of usage: since it has very attractive flowers andfoliage, serviceberry is well-suited for plantings aroundthe home. Thls will allow you to get a fair share of thehU benies before the localwildlife have a feast. Theymake excellent pies, wine, and preserves, so you mightwant to plant more than one. These plants fit in wellanywhere they can.get enough.sun to bear fruit,although larger specimens are even found bearing fruitin forests. They do well in windbreaks, roadsideplantings and along the banks of streams and ponds.They are resistant to air pollution and suitable for urbanplantings.

Willow(Salix spp,)

Description: the many native species of willow can bequite hard to distinguish from one another, especiallysince they can hybridize. Some are small shrubs, whileothers look more like single-stemmed trees, yet they areusually easily identified as a type of willow. Leaves aregenerally long, fine-toothed ovals, darker green abovethan below. Twigs are often highly coloured. lt is thebuds that usually identify willows. The buds are highly

Native lrees & ShrubsMacphailWoods 5

variable - some are fat and pointed whileothers are nanow and rounded, andcolours range from black to brilliant yellows and oranges. Yet the buds all sitflat to the stem, like a fingernail on afinger. Flowers of both sexes appear asfuzzy catkins (the most notable is theflower of the pussy willow).

Growing conditions: willows thrivevvherever there is an abundance ofwater - along streams and riverbanks,the edges of bogs and ponds, and inareas with a high water table. But theseshrubs are some of our most versatileand can be found in roadside ditches,abandoned fields and existing windbreaks. They achieve best growth in

deep, rich soil with full sun and adequate moisturc.Willows are hardy shrubs that tolerate salt spray,although they grow poorly in shaded conditions.

Propagation: this is a very easy plant to gror ftonrcuttings. Source material is available almost everyluhefe,especially along ditches where they are continuously ctrtdown. Both winter or summer cuttings work nell, with orwithout using commercial rooting hormone. For largertransplants, make cuttings in the summer and plant in anursery bed when roots are established. Plants easilygrow more than 't foot (30 cm) per year. Smaller rootedcuttings are useful in stream plantings, enabling you toput in large numbers of plants with little soil disturbance.Cuttings can also be takeq in the spring and stuck right inthe ground where you would like the plants to grow,although you need moist, protected conditions and canexpect less success. Along eroded streambanks, usecuttings up to 3 feet (90 cm) long if the soil is looseenough. Leave only a few buds showing. This allowsmore roots to form deeper in the soil and helps bind thestreambank together. Whenever taking cuttings, it iswise to select material from a variety of plants and areas,so that you are not relying on a narrow base of parentstock.

Wildlife uses: willow buds are second only to the budsof poplars as preferred food of ruffed grouse. Beaver,muskrat, red squinel, and snowshoe hare all includewillow in their diet. The leaves are rich in Vitamin C andzinc. Pussy willows are an important nesting site for Am-erican goldfinch, while other songbirds use them to alesser degree. The cover and protection thickets of wil-low provide are probably of equal importance to wildlife asits food value.

Areas of usage: one of the best plants for stabilizinglightly-shaded streambanks, or areas with fluctuatingwater levels such as bonow pits. Willows can attractbeaver if the habitat is suitable, which may or may not bedesirable. Nevertheless, they are excellent plants for wetsites. They are also useful in wild landscape gardens,since many have particularly attractive twigs and buds.Try to find varieties of particularly pleasing form andcolour. Willows are suitable as a low cover in windbreaksas long as the site is not too dry.

Mountain ash(Sorbus spp.)

Description: two species of mountain ash are native toPrince Edward lsland - American and showy. Both arequite common and can grow to the size of a small tree.Small white flowers are borne in flat-topped clusters inMay and early June. Clumps of berries turn orange inlate August and September, ofteq hanging on throughmost of the winter. Leaves are altemate and compound,with 11-17 leaflets. Leaflets of the American mountainash (shown here) are long and pointed, while those of theshowy are more rounded at the base. Buds are dark,sticky and can be slightly hairy. Bark is smooth andgrayish-brown.

Growing conditions: a common sight along fencelinesand windbreaks, mountain ash is also found along hill-sides, railway lines or forest clearings. lt prefers full sun-light and rich, deep soil, but will grow under a variety ofconditions. lt will not tolerate flooding, but can standsome salt spray.

Propagation: gather benies in late September andremove pulpy flesh by hand. Each berry contains up to10 tiny seeds. Plant in nursery beds and cover lightlywith soil. Seeds will germinate the second spring andgrow quite quickly. At Macphail Woods, our flrst.year'sgrowth averaged 16 inches (40 cm).

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Wildlife use: berries are a preferred foodsource of ruffed grouse, gray catbird, Americanrobin, eastern bluebird, European starling,cedar waxwing, common grackle, northemoriole, evening grosbeak and pine grosbeak.Crops are fairly regular and the ability to hangon throughout winter makes the benies excel-lent emergency food. Beaver eat the bark andsnowshoe hare browse on winter twigs. Yellow-bellied sapsucker drill larger specimens for thesweet sap.

Areas of usage: this is another shrub well-suited for use around the home, since it hasattractive foliage, flowers and fruit and is a foodsource for many bird species. The leaves arepoisonous, so this might be a consideration ifthere are young children present. The fruit canbe eaten by humans and is rich in iron andVitamin C. A few frosts improve the taste, butthe benies are most often used in jellies. Theseshrubs can be used in group plantings or as indi-vidual specimens. Mountain ash are suitablealong roadsides, in windbreaks, and especiallyaround ponds and open streambanks. Theyare

also useful when converting areas of old field whitespruce to a mixed forest. The shrubs provide shade andprotection for young trees, and attract wildlife to the area.Plant one ortwo in openings along with a mixture of othershrubs and trees.

(Sambucus canadensis)

Description: a small shrub, usually with many stemsarising from the base, that can grow up to 7.5 teet (2.75m) high. Flat clusters of creamy white flowers contrastwith lush, compound leaves containing 5 to 15 leaflets.The dark purple, almost black fruit, about 114 inch (6 mm)in diameter, ripens during late August and September.Elder leaves exude an unpleasant odour when crushed.The tips of twigs die back and branches often break off

overthe winter. Buds are opposite and large,although though not as big as those of red-benied elder and pointed rather than round.Bark is pale deep green, changing to lightbrown as the plant grows older.

Growing conditions: unlike the closely-related red-berried cousin, this elder likesmoist soil and can stand flooding condi-tions. lt is often found in damp areas alongroadsides, fencelines and streambanks.Common elder prefers full sunlight but isvery tolerant of shade.

Propagation: common elders can be grownfrom cuttings, both summer or winter. lf youwant just a few plants, cut the ends ofbranches with three sets of buds in late fall.Plant directly into a well-worked nursery bed,making sure the soil is loose. Bury two setsof buds and leave the top set exposed.Mulch well. For larger amounts of plants, it iseasier to grow common elder from seed.Collect ripe berries, crush them between yourfingers, and plant. Each berry contains 3-5seeds, so they can be planted 1-2 inches(2.+5 cm) apart. Most will not germinate untilthe second spring.

Wildlife uses: benies are a prefened foodof blue jay, northern mockingbird, graycatbird, American robin, wood thrush, Slainson's thrush, gray-cheeked thrush, veery,cedar waxrying, rose-breasted grosbeak and

whitethroated sparrow, and are eaten by dozens of otherspecies. The shrub provides good cover, and is used asa nesting site by alder flycatcher, yellow warbler andAmerican goldfinch. ln winter, snowshoe hare and othermammals browse the twigs and buds.

Areas of usage: this shrub is useful for planting in a widevariety of sites, as long as sufficient moisture is present.As a landscape plant around the home, it is well-suited tolarger clumps or hedges. lt fits in well with the earlier-flowering red-benied elder. The combination of lushgreen foliage, common eldefs white flowers and red-benied eldeds colourfulfruit is striking. The beniesof common elder are alsoused as a food source byhumans - as fresh fruit orfor elderberry wine, jams,jellies, pies. The twigs, barkand leaves are highly toxic.Common elder adds an im-portant source of food andcover and should be incor-porated into any plantingsnear wetlands, streambanksor ponds.

Native lrees & Shrubs

Common elder

MacphailWoods 7

Red-berried elder(Sambucus pubens)

Description: although easily confusedwith common elder, the red-beniedelder has much larger buds and stoutertwigs. lt tends to be somewhat tallerand stockier, growing up to 12 feet (3.7m) high. Small, creamy flowers giveway to cone-shaped clusters of smallscarlet benies in June and July. Fruitis thought to be poisonous. Bark islight brown and covered with whatappear to be warts. Buds are oppositeand the largest of all our native shrubs.

Grcwing conditions: this elder thriveson fairly dry sites and is very intolerantof flooding. lt is common along theedges of newly bulldozed forest roadsor the sunnier edges of woodlands.Red-benied elder tolerates someshade but achieves best growth andffr.rit production in full sun.

Propagation: very easy to grow tromseed and will usually show up in largenumbers in any nursery or garden ifseed sources are nearby, spread bybirds. Large numbers of sedd are pro-duced annually. Collect when seed is

scarlet in late July and August. Germination will oftentake place over two seasohs and percentages can below. Plant seeds 112 indt (13 mm) apart. Since theseeds are so easy to collect, try planting some at severaldifferent stages of ripeness, before they tum dark scarlet.This may speed up germination significantly and give youa higher success rate. Because it is quile common alongforest roads, larqe numbers of young plants can often betransplanted. This can be dfficult because of the deep,fibrous roots, but with some care and top pruning theysurvive quite well.

Wildlife use: benies are a prefened food of ruffedgrouse, American robin, Swainson's thrush, veery, cedarwarwing and rose-breasted grosbeak. Red-benied elderis also extensively used by many other birds for both foodand cover. Red squirrel, chipmunk, skunk, raccoon,snowshoe hare and red fox also eat the berries. Red-berried elder often grows near fox dens, providing coverand food. ln winter, ruffed grouse feed on the buds andsnowshoe hare browse the twigs.

Areas of usage: as described earlier, it makes anexcellent companion in plantings of common elder aroundthe home, Flocks of cedar waxring often arrive todevour the entire seed crop and it is worth planting red-benied elders just to attract these birds to your home.This plant is well-suited to windbreaks and forest edges.On drier sites, red-berried elder is a better choice thancommon elder. lt is sensitive to salt, so avoid planting italong shorelines and roadsides where salt spray occurs.

Highbush cranberry(Viburnum trilobum)

Description: this is one of our more confusing nativeshrubs, since it is not a true cranberry and has aEuropean cousin (Viburnum opulus) that is quite commonlocally. lt grows up to 15 feet (4.6 m) high, with clustersof white flowers in late June. Fruits are cranberry-sizeand bright red, often hanging on through the winter.Leaves are three-lobed and maple-like, but varyconsiderably even on the same shrub. Buds are oppositeand the tips of twigs die back during the winter. Bark issmooth and gray to light brown. The European variety isgenerally found around homesteads and parks andproduces bitter fruit often totally ignored by wildlife. Thenative variety is mofe at home along streams, swampsand low, open woods. lts berries are tastier and seem tobe eaten before the non-native variety.

Native Inees & Shru0sMacphaitWoods

Growing conditions: can be found indamp thickets and moist woods, but willgrow on drier siteq- lt does best on richsoils and full sunlight although it is quitetolerant of a variety of conditions.

Propagation: if you can find sources ofnative highbush cranberry, cuttings are theeasiest method of propagation. Summercuttings work especially well, with successrates usually over 90 per cent. Seed takestwo years to germinate but should givesatisfactory results. Make sure to eitherclean the fruit or crush the benies betweenyour fingers to break the skin before planting. Edch fruit contains one flat seed.

Wildlife use: native highbush cranberryfruits are much more desirable for wildlifethan those of the showier European variety.It is a prefened food only of ruffed grouseand cedar waorving, but fruit is also eatenby over 20 other species. More importanfly,trr:its hang on throughout the winter andserve as critical emergency food whenother sources are not available. Becausethe tips die over the winter, ptariG becomevery bushy as they get older. They providevaluable cover and are used as nestingsites by several species of birds.

Areas of usage: for landscape planting, itis hard to beat highbush cranberry. Whilenot the best of ,our shrubs for wildlife, it is avery attractive plant and the persistant ruby-red benies are a pleasing sight throughoutthe winter. Benies are edible (though not

choice) and were once commonly used with other fruitsin pies and jams. Around the home, plant highbush cran-berry singly, in clumps or as a hedge. These plants canalso be used as p'art of a windbreak, along streams orwhen planting the edges of ponds. Since they can growin sun or shade and in moist or dry conditions, you haveflexibility in planning where to use them. Unfortunately,they are sensitive to salt spray and should not be usedalong roadsides and shorelines.

Wild raisin(Vi b u rn u m cassirroides/

Description: also known as witherod, this commonwoodland shrub grows to 12 feet (3.7 m) tall and hasumbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers. ln earlySeptember, each cluster will have green, white, pink anddark purple fruit present, as ripening is independent. lfnot eaten by birds, fruits turn dark and shrivel like raisins.Leaves are opposite, thick and leathery, and vary even

on the same shrub. Some are heavily toothed whileothers have almost smooth edges. Light brown buds arevery distinctive, lance-shaped and 113-112 inches (8-13mm) long. Bark is grey or brown and covered with smallwhite spots.

Growing conditions: often present as an understoryplant in mixed forests, it is common in a wide variety ofhabitats. Wild raisin prefers moist, shady sites, but cangrow in almost any condition - in clearings, on the edgesof swamps and along roadsides. lt is one of our mostshade and flood tolerant shrubs,

Propagation: despite other information wehave read, production from seed is quiteeasy. Crops are usually heavy, making seedcollection a simple task. Mash ripe fruit ina strainer with water and clean seeds. Plantin the fall. Germination occurs late in the firstsummer and is usually less than 50%. Plantseeds about 112 inch (12 mm) apart. Theywill continue germinating throughout the firstgrowing season, even into November. A lightmulch during summer and fall protects the soilfrom drying out and allows for late ger-mination. Early seed collection may improvegermination rates.Cuttings are useful for certain purposes,such as along steep streambanks whereyou may not wish to dig much of a hole forroots. We have had more success with sum-mer cuttings than winter cuttings, but neithermethod has been as easy or productive asgrowing plants from seed.

Wildlife use: unlike some other shrubs,wild raisin consistently bears heavy crops offruit. Berries are not a prefened food, butare eaten by ruffed grouse, American robin,rose-breasted grosbeak, purple finch, cedarwaxwing and other birds. Snowshoe hare,chipmunk, red squinel, skunk and mice all eatthe fruit, which can hang on late into thewinter. Especially where it forms densethickets, wild raisin provides valuable coverfor many types of mammals and birds.

MacphailWoads I Native Irees & ShruDs

Areas of usage: this is another excellent ornamentalshrub, with lush foliage, white flowers and very attractive,multi-coloured clusters of fruit. The foliage can also bequite glossy and in fall the leaves turn rosy-orange. Dueto its shade tolerance, it is important as an understoryshrub in forest plantings. Within a forest, planting wildraisin will increase diversity of height, cover and foodsources. Wild raisin can also be planted along the banksof streams and ponds, windbreaks and roadsides. Sinceit is salt tolerant, it is suitable for coastal plantings.

Hawthorn(Crataegus spp,)

Description: another shrub with a wide varieg of spe-cies, generally from 6 feet (1.8 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) highand forming dense thickets. Keys to idenffication are theclusters of orange-red "haws" or fruits, and the long, hardthorns. Leaves are opposite, toothed and usually lobecl.Showy clusters of white flowers give way later in the yearto small appleJike fruits, which often remain on the shrublate into the year. Buds are small, brown and roundd,and thorns can be over 2 inches (5 cm) long. Bark is rcdto grey with lighter spots.

Growing conditions: commonly found on abandonedfields, forest edges and around older homesteads, it isadaptable to a wide range of conditions. Hawthomprefers rich, moist well-drained soil but will tolerate someflooding. lt growS best in full sun and makes poor growthin shade.

Propagation: this is one of the hardest natives to growfrom seed. Transplanting from the wild is the best route,again taking smaller plants. Remember to wear thickgloves, as the thorns really can tear up your hands. lfyou would like to try seeds, collect fruit from Septemberon and clean by hand. Each fruit contains 1-5 seeds,with extremely hard seedcoats. Germination usuallytakes place the second spring after planting, but may takelonger.

Wildlife use: hawthorn's value to wildlife is not as aprefened food, although it is well-utilized by ruffed grouse,American robin, cedar warwing, fox spanow and pinegrosbeak. More important are its emergency food valueand the protection it offers. Since the fruit hangs on quitelate into the winter, it is often available when other food is

not. The heavy thorns also provide the best protectionfor small birds fleeing hawks and other predators. This isalso why havvthorn is used as a nest site by so manyspecies. ln winter, snowshoe hare browse on twigs andbuds.

Areas of usage: this is an excellent plant to have aroundthe home in combination with some of the more importantfiuit bearers, such as serviceberry and the dogwoods andelderbenies. Allow it to form a dense clump (you probab-ly will have little choice, since it freely spreads from rootsuckers). The flowers and berries are quite attractive andits protective thorns are especially valuable near feeders.This is also a good choice for windbreaks, and unshadedstreambank and pondside plantings. lt should not beplanted near commercial apple orchards, since it can actas a reservoir for the apple maggot. lt can also spreadinto farmlands, causing flat tires on tractors and damageto cattle feet. Take this into consideration and avoidplanting in livestock areas or where spreading will causeproblems. Hawthoms are sensitive to salt and are poorcandidates for shore plantings or at the edge of saltedroads. Despite these concems, haMhorns should begreatly encouraged in appropriate areas.

Beaked hazelnut(Corylus cornuta)

Description: this small shrub grows up to 10 feet (3 m)under.good conditions. Male flowers appear in the formof small catkins in fall, pollinating tiny red female flowersin the spring. This is our only nut-bearing native shrub,producing large round nuts, covered with bright greenbristly husks that form a long "beak". The nuts may growsingly, but more often are found in clumps of 2-3. Leavesare altemate, toothed and bright green. Buds are smalland round, on slender twigs. The bark is light brown,often with a white striping.

Growing conditions: often found instory and along the edges of forests,fairly heavy shade, especially from

Native lrees & ShruDs

the forest under-hazelnut toleratestall, old trees. lt

MacphailWoods 10

grows best and produces more fruit in fullsun. Hazelnut prefers rich, well-drained soil,but can grow on the. edges of wet sites.

Propagation: transplanting small root suck-ers from larger plants can be done quitesuccessfully with a modeiate amount ofcare. Seed is the best route for more thana few plants, but it is not easy. Red squir-rels seem to come out of nowhere justbefore the nuts are ripe and strip the shrub.Collect nuts when husks are starting to turnbrown, although they usually don't last long.Find an area with lots of shrubs bearingnuts and race the squinels. Keep nuts in adry place for a few days and remove thehusks. Nuts are best planted in a bed thatcan be screened with wire mesh small

enough to keep out squinels. No matter what you do,germination will probably be low. Despite this, it is still avery worthwhile shrub to grow.

Wildlife use: as you would expect, the nuts are rich inprotein and fat and favorites of red squinel and chipmunk.They are also a preferred food source of ruffed grouse,ring-necked pheasant, hairy woodpecker and blue jay.The buds in winter and catkins in spring are a valuableprotein source for ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare andAmerican woodcock. Snowshoe hare heavily browseyoung shoots during the winter.

Areas of usage: this is another good choice for anunderstory shrub when rebuilding forests, or just to addto a wooded area lacking diversity. Like many shrubs,hazelnut plays an important role in nutrient cycling withina forest. lts leaves are rich in calcium and manganeseand help fertilize nearby trees and other plants. Thisattractive shrub is useful for plantings around the homewhere some shade and protection are available. Thenuts are tasty and in the past were much more commonlyeaten by humans. Since it does not tolerate much wind,hazelnut grows poorly in open windbreaks, but can beused along streambanks.

Ghoke cherry(Prunus virginiana)

Description: commonly a shrub 6-20 feet (1.86.1 m) tall,with gray bark marke? by small pale spots. Leaves aredark green and flnelytoothed. Although the shape isoval, choke cherry leaves are broader near the tip than atthe base, making them easy to recognize. Clusters of redcherries tum dark purple in late August and September.These fruits are very sour but are edible, and contain asingle seed. Twigs are stout and when the bark is scrap-ed, give off an unpleasant odour. Buds are altemate,pale brown and pointed.

Growing conditions: common along edges of wood-lands and in existing windbreaks, choke cherry prefersrich, moist well-drained soil and will not tolerate flooding.It will grow under light shading but best fruit productionoccurs in full sun.

Propagation: young seedlings are easy to transplantwhere they can be found in the wild. When growing fromseed, collect fruit when ripe in late-July through Sept-ember. lf the fruits are ripe, the seeds are very easy toclean and it is worthwhile taking this extra step. Justmash ripe fruit in a strainer with holes small enough tocatch the pits and rinse under water,

\tUildlife uses: fruits are a prefened food for ruffedgrouse, pileated woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker,eastem kingbird, common crow, gray catbird, Americanrobin, wood thrush, Swainson's thrush, gray-cheekedthrush, eastern bluebird, cedar waxwing, Europeanstarling, rose-breastedgrosbeak and eveninggrosbeak. Dozens of otherbird species utilize the fruitto a lesser degre-e, as domany small mammals. lnwinter and spring,'red fox,skunk, chipmunk andsnowshoe hare browsetwigs and buds. This shrubbears consistent, heavycrops of fruit.

Areas of usage: althoughone of the best foodsources for wildlife, regularlybearing heavy crops, chokecherry has some faults.The leaves are poisonous tohumans and cattle, so thisshould be taken into consideration if there are youngchildren around or caftle have access to the area. lt alsois a host of black knot fungus, showing up as blackgroMhs on branches, which make it less than ideal forlandscaping around the home.

Further, it is a host of another disease which will killcommercial cherry and peach trees nearby. Take thisinto consideration and avoid future difficulties withneighbours. So why plant choke cherries at all, especiallysince they can spread aggressively? Their quick growthand heavy crops of fruit make them excellent plants forwindbreaks if cattle are not farmed in the area. They canalso be used in forest plantings when converting areasfrom old fleld white spruce to a mixed forest, providingshade and protection for.other seedlings while attractingwildlife. Choke cherry is also resistant to salt and can beused along roadsides and shorelines. The closely-relatedpin cherry is also an exceptional wildlife plant but moreoften grows to a tree form and will be discussed in afuture publication on native trees.

Native Irees & ShrubsMacphailWoods 11

,a&* Growing conditions: sumac is

" ffi commonly found on abandoned

Staghorn sumac(Rhus typhina)

Description: one of the easiest shrubs to identiffthroughout the year, staghorn sumac has a spreading,open form growing up to 15 feet (4.6 m) tall. Tiny greenflowers in the spring are insignificant, but are laterreplaced by large cones of crimson benies that remainthroughout the winter. Leaves are altemate, compoundand tum a beautiful scarlet red in the fall. Buds are small,covered with brown hair and bome on fat funy twigs.Bark on older wood is smooth and grey to brown.

farmland, near old homesteads oralong fencerows. lt prefers full sunbut will grow under light shading.Sumac does best on well-drainedsites and will not tolerate flooding.Even in poor soil, it usually makesgood grorivth and requires little care.

Propagation: this is a very difficultshrub to grow from seed, but for-tunately it spreads prolifically fromroot suckers. Most people whohave these shrubs growing on theirlawn will let you have some youngplants. Dig up small shoots early inthe spring before the leaves haveformed. lt is best to move youngsumacto a nursery bef,. Waterwelland keep the bed mulched. After a

Wildlife use: benies are a prefened foodsource for ruffed grouse, ring-neckedpheasant, eastern phoebe, common crow,northem mockingbird, gray catbird, Americanrobin, wood thrush, hermit thrush, easternbluebird and European starling. lt is alsoused by over 30 other species, and sincethe fruit hangs on throughout the winter, isanother excellent emergency source of food.Honeybees are attracted to the flowers inspring.

Areas of usage: a good choice forlandscape plantings around the home,especially where spreading from root suck-ers will not be a problem. lts distinctiveshape, exotic foliage, furry twigs and conesof red berries make it one of the best or-namentals available. Sumac can be used inclumps for more natural plantings, or as asingle specimen with root suckers controlledby mowing. Shallow, widespreading rootsmake sumac a good choice for soilconservation along slopes, streams and pondsides if thesoil is well-drained. Staghorn sumac is an excellentaddition to a windbreak if the spreading root suckers willnot cause problems. Since it is resistant to salt, this isone of the best native shrubs for protection alongshorelines or highways.

Wild rosefRosa spp.)

Description: a common site .on abandoned land, wild rosesmme in a variety of colours,shapes and sizes. They generallyare low shrubs, trom 26 feet(.6-1.8 m) tall, with pink flowersfrom May untilAugust. FromJuly onwards, they produce scarlet"hips" or fruits that often hang onthroughout the winter. Leaves arealtemate and compound, made upof 5-7 small, toothed leaflets. Twigs have distinctive (andvery sharp) thoms. Bark is green on new grovuth andtums red-to-brown as the plant gets older.

Growing conditions: can be found most often on un-farmed pastureland, and in meadows, hedgerows andwindbreaks. Of the two main native species, Carolina orpasture rose (Rosa caroiina) grows on drier sites, whileVirginia rose (Rosa virginiana) tolerates wetter conditionsalong edges of marshes or swamps. Both grow best infull sun and will not tolerate much shading. Wild rosesuckers freely from roots and underground stems, form-ing dense colonies if allowed to run wild.

Native Irees & Shrubs

s'e" year or two, they can be trans-planted out to the final site. lf the suckers do havd leaveson them they can still be moved. Just keep them well-watered and mulched and cut them back to just aboveground level. Cuttings can be made in the late fallfromroots. lf you are trying sumac from seed, collect coneswhen crimson, separate individual benies and plantclosely, about 100 to 200/square foot (.09 sq. m). Theseed coat is very hard and may take many years beforeit breaks down enough for the seed to germinate.

MacphailWoods 12

Propagation: transplanting can be suc-cessful, but since you are usually diggingup runners with few roots, it is best to cutoff most top groMh above 2 inches (5cm). Cut just above a bud where possible.Plant where you can provide adequatewater, mulch thoroughly, and do not give uphope. Often they will initially turn brown andwither, but weeks later one or two newgreen shoots appear from the crown. Theyreally are tough, resiliant plants. Summercuttings also work well if you avoid the softtips, but success is usually less than 50%.Propagating from seed is the best way togrow large numbers of plants. Collect anytime after hips ripen, separate seeds fromfruit by hand and plant in a nursery bed.These seeds have hard seed coats andusually take two years to germinate.

YUildlife use: rose hips are a preferred foodof northern mockingbird, Swainson's thrushand cedar waxwing. They are also eatenby a dozen other species and used asemergency food during the winter. Rutred

grouse and ring-necked pheasant also eat the buds inwinter, while many birds use thickets of wild rose forcover and protection from predators. Many types ofsmall mammals are also known to browse fruit, leavesand twigs.Areas of usage: a very ornamental addition to semi-wildlandscape plantings around the home. Again, plant wildrose only where thickets can form. Leaves changecolour in the fall and the scarlet fruit contrasts nicelyagainst a snowy background. Rose hips are rich in Vit-amin C and can be added to jellies and teas. Wild rosesare also useful as a low shrub in windbreaks andhedgerow plantings, enhancing both the landscape andwildlife habitat. Since wild roses frequently hybridize, tryto plant roses from wet areas into wet areas and fromdry sites to dry sites. This is a good idea whether trans-planting or growing from seed or cuttings.

Hobblebush$liburnum alnifolium)

Description: one of our showiest plants throughout theyear, although these shrubs are so rare that fewlslanders have had the chance to see thenf Growing toa height of 6 ft. (2 m), hobblebush has opposite, velvetybuds. These develop into large, heart-shaped leavesthat take on a very attractive bronze colour in the fall.The flowers form large, flat clusters early in the springand are very white. The berries turn cranberry red inlate August and finally purple-black when fully ripe.These plants are a pleasure to see in any season,though so rare that most lslanders never see them.

Growing conditions: like so many of our rare plants,these favour shade and rich soil and are usually foundin mixed wood stands.Prcpagation: the plant gets its name because if the tipsbend down and touch the ground, roots can form andthe shrub can literally "hobble" you as you walk throughthe woods. The easiegt way to grow this shrub is fromseed. When ripe in niid-to-late September, the seedsare mashed by hand to break up the fruit and plantedevery 2 in. (5 cm) in rows 4 in. (10 cm) apart, at a depthof 114 in. (6 mm). Seeds generally take two years togerminate and should be lightly mulched and given lightshade. Any that germinate the first summer should betransplanted to a separate nursery bed under lightshade and mulched well.Wildlife uses: hobblebush produces heavy crops ofberries, which are used by ruffed grouse (below), pinegrosbeak, Swainson's thrush and other birds. Althoughit is not listed as a preferred food by most wildlifemanuals, for severalyears now the heavyseed crops have van-ished quite quickly,so they obviously area favourite food ofsome lsland birds.

Areas of usage: apremier landscapingplant if you have anyshade at all aroundyour home, especiallygiven its attractive-ness throughout the year. lt works best in a naturalizedsituation, perhaps in a wild area under larger trees. lt isalso important in woodland plantings, not only for itsbeauty but for its heavy seed crops for wildlife and thediversity it provides.

Native lrees & ShrubsMacphailWoods 13

Witch hazel(H amamelis vi rgi ni ana)

Description: another very attractive yet rare nativeshrub. lt grows to a height of 20 ft. (6 m) and is aslender, graceful shrub. The leaves are 2-6 in. (5-15cm) long, wavy and toothed, and turn yellow in the fall.ln September and October, as the leaves are falling, thebright yellow flowers bloom. The flowers look like thoseof the forcythia shrubs commonly planted around lslandhomes, yet appear at the opposite end of the growingseason. The seeds are shiny and black, encased withina capsule 1l2in. (1.2 cm) long. Buds are small, velvety-brown and alternate.Growing conditions: the best growth is made underlight shade in rich, well-drained soil, but it tolerates awide range of soil conditions. Witch hazel is a slowgrowing shrub but is quite hardy.

Propagation: collect the capsules as they turn fromgreen to light brown throughout September. Place thesein a paper bag or cardboard box in a warm place andallow to dry. The bag should be closed, since as thecapsules dry, they split in half and throw out the seedswith a loud "snap". Plant the seeds every 2 in. (5 on) inrows 4 in. (10 cm) apart, at a depth of 114 in. (6 mm).Seeds generally take two years to germinate and shouldbe iighfly mulched and given light shade. Any seedlingsthat germinate the first year should be carefullytransplanted to another bed with some shading. Witch

Wildlife uses: thevalue to wildlife isrelatively low, butred squirrel and ruf-fed grouse eat theseed and the plantprovides cover andprotection for otherspecies.Areas of usage:another excellentlandscape plant ifyou have someshade. The plant has a very attractive shape and fallleaf colour and the unique time of flowering alone makesit a worthy addition to any suitable yard. Again, it is im-portant in wood land plantings for its beauty and thediversity it provides.

Witch hazel is very important as a medicinal plant.Twigs and bark are used to produce oil of witch hazel,while the roots are used to produce a tincture known forits healing powers. Also, witch hazel is the shrub ofchoice for making the divining rods used in water-witching. This is one of the rarest native shrubs in theprovince, being found to,date only in Murray River anda few isolated plants in Valley.

Some of ourrarer native treesAs with the shrubs, we simply didn't have the resourcesto put together fact Sheets on every native tree species,though we hope to sometime in the future. The follow-ing six deciduous trees and three conifers are not com-mon on the lsland but can play an important role inrestoring this province's natural diversity. Most arehighly valued for their wood and are desirable for avariety of other reasons. Some of these trees are sorare that they should be encouraged on every suitablesite in the province just to start to bring back healthypopulations. Since so little of the original Acadian forestmix still oocurs, we should look both at restoring suitablesites and conserving the remaining healthy areas. Thismight mean protecting that one beautiful elm in thestand or not clearing land that is regenerating in red oak.

At Macphail Woods we are especially interested infinding any seed sources for black ash and ironwood.While we have a few sources for ironwood, black ashhas proved to be elusive, though it certainly grows here.lf we are to restore lsland forests, we need to find andmaintain the best seed sources of these and many otherspecies of both trees and shrubs. Please let us know ifyou find some of these rarer species.

Native Irees & Shrubs

hazel is not as forgiving of rough handlirig as some

MacphailWoods 14

lronwood(Ostryavirginiana)

Description: thismember of the birchfamily is one of ourrarest native trees.It is mainly found inscattered patchesaround Prince Coun-ty, although thereare smallamounts inother areas. Alsoknown as eastemhophombeam, it is arelatively shortlivedand small tree. ltgrows to be 40 t.(12.5 m) talland 12

in. (30 crn) in diameter, although it rarely reaches thissize. lt is a slender tree, with leaves like yellow birch,although ironwood leaves have teeth of two differentsizes. The bark of ironwood is light brown and scaly,shredding off in nanow, curling strips.Growing conditions: ironwood prefers rich, moist soiland grows best in the partial shade of other trees.

Propagation: in September, small, greenish seeds canbe collected from the trees. The seeds are enclosed ina papery sac, with many sacs being held together in acluster like true hops. When ready for harvest, theclusterc will start to turn brown and some will drop to theground. Pick seeds off the tree if possible. When youseparate the seed from the sac, you might want to usethin gloves, since the sacs have fibreglass-like hairc thatstick into your fingers. Plant seeds every 2 in. (5 cm) inrows 4 in. (10 cm) apart, at a depth of 1/8 in. (3 mm)and mulch for the winter. lf the bed is in full sun, someform of shading should be provided during the growingseason. Most seeds take two years to germinate butany that germinate the first summer should be trans-planted to another bed. This avoids the problem ofhaving older plants in the bed when seedlings aregerminating the second year. We have not had veryhigh rates of germination in this species so be sure toplant lots of seed.ttUildlife use: the buds and catkins of ironwood arevalued by ruffed grouse and red squirrel. The seeds areeaten by purple finch, rose-breasted grosbeak and otherbirds.

Areas of usage: this tree almost lives up to its name.Its wood is our hardest and heaviest and in the past wasused for tool handles, sled runners, mallets, ladderrungs and firewood. However, until ironwood is muchmore common in our woodlands, it should be a

protected species in almost allwoodlands - it is criticalthat we keep as many sources of seed as possible. lt isan excellent choice for underplantings or interplantingafter a mixed wood thinning, and will help providediversity of height in older forests. As well, it is a goodfor landscape plantings where there is shade.

Red oak(Quercus rubr{Description: our provincial tree and only native oak isnow quite rare and primarily found in scattered areasaround Charlottetown, Tracadie and Georgetown. Thelargest specimen on P.E.l., a 5 ft. (1.6 m) diameter giantin Charlottetown's Royalty Oaks, fell to the ground in1994. Red oak leaves are deeply cut with pointed lobes.Some oaks around churches and homes look like redoak but are actually scarlet or black oaks. lt can be hardto tell them apart (and they can hybridize) so if you arecollecting from these areas get a leaf sample andacorns and check them with a good field guide.

Growing conditions: red oak is a fast-growing tree andmakes good growth in almost allwell-drained soils. ltcan grow in fullsun or partialshade.Propagation: acorns should be collected off the treewhen some have already started to fall to the ground,usually mid-September to late-October. Seeds can bevisually inspected and those with holes discarded.Another method is to put them in large buckets of waterand keep only the ones that sink. lf you use raised bedswith wooden sides and can use hardware cloth toprotect the acorns from squirrels, fall planting workswell. Otherwise store in a stratification bed (see page40) and spring plant as soon as the ground is workable.Place acorns every 2 in. (5 cm) in rows 6 in. (15 cm)apart, at a depth of 1 in (2.5 cm). Oaks grow long taproots, so either plant seedlings out the second spring, ortransplant them to another bed after pruning the tap rootto 6 in. (15 cm). Red oak responds wellto pruning. lfthe seedling does not have a straight, single stem, it can

Native lrees & ShruDsMacphailWoods 15

be pruned back almost to the ground in the spring. Oneor more sprouts will come up and these can be prunedto give the desired structure.llUildlife uses: as you will no doubt experience if youplant any amount of red oak, snowshoe hare love tobrowse oak and red squirrel feast on the acorns. Aswell, blue jay, grackle, the woodpeckers, ruffed grouseand many other birds and small mammals favouracorns, making red oak one of our most importantwildlife trees.Areas of usage: given its status as provincial tree, itswide range of uses, quick growth and high value, redoak is at the top of our list for tree planting. lt can beused in reclaiming fields, especially if there is somealder present, and also works well in diversifying existingconifer plantations. At Macphail Woods we use it inalmost all of our forest plantings, except in wetconditions or under dense shade. The wood is hard andheavy and one of the most valuable that can be grownhere. lt is used for furniturq, flooring and interior finishwork. Red oak is also a premier tree for planting arouMhomes and can be used in windbreaks along with otherdeciduous and coniferous trees.

White ash(Fraxinus americana)

Description: another rare native tree that turns up insurprising places - not onlyjn West Prince, but inscattered patches in Kings and Queens counties as well.It is a tall, slender tree with gray or light brown bark,furrowed into diamond patterns. The leaves are com-pound, with small stems attaching leaflets to the mainstem. The leaflets tend to be slightly rounded. Buds areopposite, furry and dark brown.Growing conditions: this ash tolerates a wide varietyof conditions, from moist soil to dry sites, from partialshade to full sun. lt makes its best growth on rich, well-drained sites and light shading.Propagation: seed should be collected from the tree ifpossible. Crops are usually quite heavy and occasional-

ly hang on late into the year. ThroughSeptember and into October, collectseed and plant as soon as possible. lfthe seed is allowed to dry out, it maytake two years to germinate. Plantseeds every 2 in. (5 cm), in rows 6 in.(15 cm) apart, at a depth of 1/4 in. (6mm). White ash makes very fastgrowth, generally over 12" (30 cm) eachyear, so you can have very niceseedlings to plant out quite quickly.

Wildlafe uses: the seeds are an im-portant food source for red-winged blackbird, eveninggrosbeak, pin'e grosbeak, purple finch and other birds.Beaver often use young white ash for food.

Arcas of usage: along with red oak, yellow birch andwhite pine, it is a favourite tree for reforestation. lt canbe used to diversify existing plantations, underplantedafter thinnings and planted in small openings in areas ofold field white spruce. lt grows quickly and can be usedwhere raspbenies and other competition might pose aproblem. The wood is very valuable and used in makingcanoe paddles and tool handles, framing light vehiclesand for a wide variety of other purposes. lt is alsoexcellent as an ornamental and can be used as a com-ponent in windbreaks.

Black ash(Fraxinus nigra)

Description: black ash is a slender tree, though not astall as white ash. lt seldom reaches over 50 ft. (16 m) ora diameter of 12 in. (30 cm). lt has compound leaveswith pointed leaflets that turn yellow in the fall. Unlikewhite ash, it has no stem connecting the leaflet to themain stem. The bark is grey, with shaltow fissures andbecoming scaly as the tree ages. Buds are oppositeand dark brown to almost black. The seeds are ripe inSeptember and can hang on the tree until late fall. Thesam-ara (the actual seed plus the wing that it is attachedto) is oblong and has a much broader seed cavity thanthe white ash.

Native lrees & ShrubsMacphail Woods 16

Growing conditions: generally onlyfound along streambanks and the edges of swamps, although it was usedfor street plantings in some areas. lt grows well in openstands of eastern white cedar, red maple and otherswamp hardwoods. lt does not tolerate shade.Propagation: as with white ash, plant seeds every 2 in.(5 cm), in rows 6 in. (15 cm) apart, at a depth ot 1l4in.(6 mm). We have yet to find a good seed source forblack ash, so if anyone can help out please contact theMacphailWoods project at 651-2575hlildlife uses: as with white ash, the seeds are an im-portant food source for red-winged blackbird, eveninggrosbeak, pine grosbeak, purple finch and other birds.Beaver will use young black ash for food.Areas of usage: in the past, black ash was heavily usedby native people for basket making and it is still usedtoday for this purpose. lt is a good choice for stream-bank and wetland restoration if the site has full sun.

Butternut(Juglans cinerea) !n

Description: there is some debate as to whether thistree is native to Prince Edward lsland. There seems tobe evidence on both sides of the argument, but it is arather academic debate. Butternut is native to the SaintJohn River valley in New Brunswick and would haveeventually found its way here anyway. lt is a very exoticlooking tree, with large, compound leaves made up of11 to 17 leaflets. With light shading, trees become talland stately and make good growth. ln spring, buttemuttrees produce small, purple flowers. Nuts are smallerthan walnuts and more egg:shaped. The nut shell itselfis very rough.

Growing conditions: butternuts do well in moist, richsoiland with light shading. Several bufternut plantationswere established at MacphailWoods and Brudenell Parkin the early 1980's. Those in full sun are excessivelybranched and have not made good growth, while thosewith some shading have done exceptionally well.

Propagation: collection begins when seeds begin tofall, from September to mid-October. As with red oak,fall or spring planting works well. When fall planting,keep nuts in a container for a few weeks until the huskscan be rubbed off (this is a messy job, so wear gloves).For spring planting, store in a stratification bed. Plantnuts every 2 in. (5 cm), in rows 8 in. (20 cm) apart, at adepth of 2 in. (5 cm). Butternuts produce tap roots andshould be root pruned the same as oaks. Most seed willgerminate the first season, but if the winter was verymild, some may not germinate untilthe second or thirdgrowing season. These trees also respond well topruning, both in the nursery and especially in the field.It makes a world of difference to properly prune youngtrees, as they often suffer winter damage. lf you don'tprune them back to a single stem, you will get bushylpes with structural problems. A few minutes withpruning shears willgreatly increase the health and valueof these trees.

Wildlife uses:buftemuts are eat-en by red squirrel,chipmunk andbluejays. Smallerbirds and mam-mals often con-sume. butternuts on the ground that have split naturallyor have been partially eaten by larger species.

Areas of usage: excellent for diversi-fying young conifer plantations, thesetrees can also be planted in openingsin old field white spruce. Small patchcuts are ideal places for a few butter-nuts mixed with other species of treesand shrubs. Try to find conditionswhere they will be stretching for thesun, instead of making wide, branchygrowth. Light shade encourages tall,straight growth, which will produce ahigher-value tree. lf there is a heavygrass @ver, mulch all plantings to con-serve moisture and deter mice.Butternut is also a good choice forplantings around the home. The nutsare tasty, although smaller than wal-nuts and more difficult to crack. Select-ing the largest nuts for seed should pro-duce superior trees. The wood is at-tractive and easy to work. lt is oftenused for furniture making and decora-tive woodwork.

MacphailWoods 17 Native lrees & Shrubs

Wildlife uses: seeds of the sugar maple are eaten bygrosbeaks and other birds and small mammals. Thetrees are also extremely important as nesting sites for awide variety of birds and mammals, and the youngplants are often browsed by snowshoe hare.

Areas of usage: sugar maple is one of our best woodsfor furniture and instrument making, being the source ofbird's eye and flamed maple. lt is used for veneer, ply-wood and vehicle stock. Maple syrup and sugar aremade from the sap. ln forest plantings, it works well inthinnings and even in gaps in old field white spruce. ltis valuable as a landscape specimen throughout theyear, especially for its fall colours.

Description: a very tall, straight conifer once muchmore common than it is today. lt grows up to 70 tl. (22m) in height and 2 ft. (60 cm) in diameter. Red sprucecan hybridize with black spruce, so it is best to collectfrom areas with only large red spruce. As ageneralization, white spruce is found in old fields,treelines and along the shore, with branches straight outfrom the trunk. Black spruce is found in wetter areasand"the branches droop. Red spruce grows in richmixed wood stands and is not nearly as bell-shaped asblack spruce. Twigs of red spruce are reddish and hairyand the new growth flushes much later in the springthan its other two relatives.Growing conditions: red spruce grows best in mixedwood stands, often along the sides of streams in deep,rich soil. lt is found growing with hemlock, white pine,sugar maple and yellow birch in the climax of theAcadian forest. Light shading when the tree is youngkeeps it growing tall and straight and prevents the soilfrom drying out.

Propagation: given the height of most of the red sprucewe collect seed from, wait until the red squirrels haveknocked down a bunch of cones. This means that youmay have to visit the site every few days during October,but it is a lovely excuse to get out into the woods. Eachcone will contain many seeds, although some may notbe viable. Place the cones in a paper bag or cardboardbox with some ventilation, and keep in a warm place.As the @nes dry out and open, the seeds willdrop out.These can be fall planted or stored in a dry place untilspring. Plant seeds every inch (2.5 cm), in rows 4 in.(10 cm) apart, at a depth ot 114 in. (6 mm). Mulch the

Native lrees & Shrubs

Sugar maple(Acer saccharum)

Description: perhaps our most beautiful native tree, itreaches a height of 80 ft. (25 m) and can be 3 ft. (1 m)or more in diameter. Sugar maples usually grow tall andstraight in the forest, while when grown in the open theyare shorter and more heavily branched. The leaf closelyresembles the emblem on the Canadian flag, sharp-point-ed with rounded notches. Buds are opposite,reddish-brown and shap. Sugar maples produce a bril-liant anay of red, scarlet, orange and yellow fall colours.Growing conditions: best growth is made in rich, well-drained soil and with light shading. lt grows mainly inmixed stands with American beech, yellow birch,eastem white pine, red spruce and eastern hemlock andis a key component of our climax Acadian forest.Propagation: seed should be collected from the tree ifpossible, or from the ground if the tree cannot be climb-ed. Seed production is unpredictable there is littleavailable some years. Consider collecting extra duringa heavy seed year and storing the seeds in a dry placefor future planting. The winged parts of the samarashould be dry before picking and some should havealready started to'{all from the tree. ln each pairedsamara, only one seed is viable. Germination can bepoor, so plant more than you think you might need.Plant individualsamaras 1 in. (2.5 cm) apart, in rows 6in. (15 cm) apart, at a depth ot 114 in. (6 mm). Mulchthe area over the winter removing most of this in the latespring. Provide seedlings with light shade during thegrowing season. After planting out, check seedlingsregularly and prune when necessary to maintain astrong central leader. Young plants can be cut back tothe ground if they have poor form.

MacphailWoods 18

area over the winter removing most in the spring. Bedsshould have some shade and not be allowed to dry out.

tlUildlife uses: all spruce are'extremely valuable forwildlife, whether as a food source, nesting site orprotection. Red spruce seeds are the preferred food ofwhite-winged crossbill, red-winged crossbill and pine sis-kin, although many other birds and mammals also relyon them. Especially in hardwood stands which lackconifers, red spruce plays an important role in providingcover and protection for both predators and prey.

Areas of usage: red spruce is very valuable for lumberproduction and for log home building. lt should be acomponent of many forest plantings, especially after ahardwood thinning where conifers may be lacking. Redspruce does not do well under white spruce, since anattack of spruce budworm will devastate the seedlings,but if the opening is large enough they can be suc-cessful. They also make poor growth under deep shadeso make sure there are partial opeflings in the canopy.

for your forest, streamside or home plantings. Placingrotted wood in the hole when planting out will make surethe seedling does not dry out and provide nutrients forfuture growth. Seedlings should also be mulched well.

Wildlife uses:hemlock seed is apreferred food forAmerican gold-finch (left), borealchickadee, ruffedgrouse, pine sis-kin and the cross-bills. Many otherspecies of birdsand mammals eatthe seeds. Sincehemlock a treethat is long-livedand can grow very

large, it is used by raccoon for dens and is a commonflesting spot for a wide variety of birds. Hemlocks alsoofier great cover and protection for both small and largebirds and at Macphail Woods the largest hemlockcontains a hive of honeybees that has overwinteredsuccessfully for many years.

Areas of usage: an excellent species for underplanting,since it tolerates shade. We use it in almost allurcodland plantings, especially hardwood thinnings thathave few other conifers. We also use hemlock whenreplanting patch cuts made in stands of old field whitespruce. As with red spruce, they should not be plantedbeneath older white spruce as they tend to suffer moreinsect damage. This species is also well-suited tostreim-side plantings where there is some existingcover. Hemlock can also be used to great advantagearound the home. lt can be pruned quite heavily andused for hedging if the site is protected, or allowed togrow to its full stature to recreate some wild areas.Many older barns and homes on Prince Edward lslandrivere sided with hemlock boards, but the wood is not asvaluable as pine or spruce.

Eastern white cedar(Thuja occidentalis)

Description: this small tree can reach a height of 40 ft.(13 m), with a diameter of up to 1 ft. (30 cm). The trunkusually has a lot of taper and is often twisted^ Leavesare small and scale-like and stay on all year. The barkis thin and reddish brown, furrowing and peeling as itgets older.Growing conditions: cedar grows in swamps or wetsites, mainly in Prince County. lt can grow on dry areas,but usually does not make good growth. lt will not toler-ate much shade.

Native lrees & Shrubs

Eastern hemlock(Tsuga canadensis)

Description: although stillcommon in a few areas,hemlocks are quite rareacross the province. lt isone of our largest nativetrees, reaching a height ofover 70 ft. (22 m) and adiameter of 34 ft. (1-1.3 m).Its small, flat needlesresemble those of balsamfir, but hemlock needles areattached to the stem by asmall, string-like stalk. Theends of the branches andleader also droop, unlike thebalsam fir branches whichgrow straight out to the end.a very round profile, whenOlder hemlock trees

seen from a distance.have

Growing conditions: hemlock makes its best growth inrich, welldrained land, grqlving with yellow birch, sugarmaple, white pine and red spruce.Propagation: cones can be collected from the treewhen ripe in late September and treated the same asred spruce. An easier method is to find a4-10 year oldforest road that has been bulldozed through a standcontaining good hemlocks. You will usually find healthyseedlings growing on the roadway. These transplanteasily and can go into a shaded nursery bed, at six to 12inch (15-30 cm) spacings depending on the size of theseedlings. ln a few years you can use these transplants

MacphailWoods 19

Propagation: cedar cones can easily be collected fromthe trees, since some the branches ofien droop downwithin reach. Collect the cones in late September andOctober, before they turn brown and release the seeds.Treat the cones the same as for red spruce. Seedlingsshould be given partial shade and not be allowed to dryout. Cedar can also be grown from cuttings, taken inmid-summer or mid-winter and treated with rootinghormone. The rooted cuttings should be raised in anursery bed for a year or two and given light shadingand mulch.Wildlife uses: ahealthy cedarhedge is a thing ofbeauty, for hu-mans and otherforms of wildlife.Seeds are a pre-ferred food forpine siskin andare eaten by ev-ening and pinegrosbeak, Ameri-can redpoll, red-winged and white-winged crossbilland other species of birds and mammals. But it is asprotection and cover that cedar excels, since smallerbirds can find solace from both winter winds andpredators within the dense branches.Areas of usage: cedar can be used for streamside orwetland rehabilitation and in reforestation on wet sites.Some cedar were planted at Macphail Woods in awetter part of the old field white spruce area and aregrowing well. This is due to the dampness of the areaand the tallbr trees around it providing light shade.Cedar can also be used around homes if there isalready some protection. lt does not make a goodhedgerow or wind-break tree if there is no protection,since the leaves dry out from heavy winter winds. Thewood is our most rot resistant and is used for fenceposts, shingles and boats.

Eastern white pine(Pinus strobus)

Desription: this speqips produces some of the largesttrees in the provincc. White pine is the only native pinewith bundles of five needles (red pine and jack pineneedles come in bundles of two). The needles have ablueish tinge to them and feelquite soft. Though high-quality trees have become harder and harder to find,white pine can grow to 100 ft. (30m) tall and over 4 ft.(1.2m) in diameter. The tops of older specimens oftenbreak off, giving them a flat-topped appearance. Thismakes them easy to pick out from a distance.

Growing conditions: grows on a variety of sites butdoes best on a moist, sandy soil. lt can be found inmixed stands with red pine in the Murray River area andis quite common in hardwood mixes with easternhemlock. Older specimens can also be found alongproperty lines. Will tolerate a fair amount of shade.

Propagation: the easiest way to propagate White Pineis to collect cones after the squirrels have cut them offthe tree. Find large, healthy specimens that have aheavy seed crop and make regular trips to the site.Squirrels cut off the cones and accumulate largenumbers under the tree before taking out the seeds.Place cones in a paper bag (this is a very messy job,since the cones exude resin) and store in a warm, dryplace. The cones will open and the seed can be shakenout and stored in a cool, dry place. lf the seeds areready, plant in the fall, or you can wait until spring. Plantseeds every inch (2.5 cm), in rows 4 in. (10 cm) apart, ata depth of 114 in. (6 mm). Lightly mulch the plantedarea. Seed beds should be in a shaded area or you canplace a shade table above the bed. Like most conifers,uhite pine seedlings are slow to develop but don't letthat deter you from planting them.Wildlifie uses: many eagles nest in the tops of whitepine, attracted by their height and wide, flat tops. Robin,blue jay and many other birds are known to build nestsin thee trees and they make great homes for the cavity-nesting species such as black-capped and borealchickadee and red-breasted nuthatch. Seeds are fav-oured by pine siskin, junco, white-winged crossbill, red-winged crossbill, black-capped chickadee, borealchickadee and a host of other birds. Red squirrel, flyingsquinel and chipmunk depend on pine seeds for food.

_

Areas of usage: if you areworking on restoring nativeforests, white pine is especiallysuited for planting in patch cutsmade in stands of old fieldwhite spruce, or underplantingin mixed wood stands after athinning. White pine that growup stretching for the sun us-ually become tall, straight treesfree of lower branches. lt is avery attractive tree for plantingaround homes if you haveenough space. Also, it can bepruned very heavily and keptas a small, dense tree. Thewood is highly-valued andexcellent for all kinds ofwoodworking, homebuilding and shipbuilding projects.Although the overall-quality of white pine has beendegraded in the provin@, you can stillfind good sourcesof seed. lt is increasingly important that the remants ofAcadian forests containing quality white pine should notbe cut. With our help its past glory could be restored.

Native Irees & ShrubsMacphailWoods 20

Glossary of termsBiodiversity: the most common definition looks atthree levels of diversity - genetic diversity (variety withinspecies); species diversity; and ecosystem diversity.Put simply, what is the variety within a given species,what is the total variety of species, and how many typesof ecosystems are present over a given area.Cuttings: certain shrubs and trees can be grown fromvegetative cuttings, using a short length of stem takenduring the winter or summer months.Ecosystem: groups of plants, animals, microor-ganisms, soil, water, minerals, sunlight, water and airthat form a living, changing community. lt could be asmall ecosystem such as the area along a stream, or alarger ecosystem such as a bog.Native plants: plants that are assumed to be naturallyoccuning in an area, although some have migrated nat-urally and others that appear to be native may havebeen transported by aboriginal peoples.Riparian zone: the area adjacent to a,stream or river,including the waterway itself.Trees and shrubs: generally, mature trees are tallerand single-stemmed, while shrubs are shorter (under 25'or 7.6 m) and often have multiple stems.

ReferencesBlouin, Glen, llUeeds of the Woods: Some Small

Trees and Shrubs of New Brunswick. Natur-al Resources, N.B., Fredericton, 1984.

DeGraaf, Richard M. and G.M. Witman, Trees, Shrubsand Vines for Attracting Birds. University ofMassachusetts Press, Amherst, MA, 1979.

Erskine, D.S., P.M. Catling and R.B. Maclaren, ThePlants of Prince Edward lsland. Minister ofSupplies and Services Canada, Ottawa, 1985.

Gaudet, Frank, Native Trees and Woodland Shrubsof Prince Edward lsland. P.E.l. Departmentof Agriculture and Forestry, Charlottetown.

Gill, John D., & William M. Healy, Shrubs and Vinesfor Northeastern Wildlife. USDA Forest Ser-vice General Technical Report NE-9, UpperDarby, PA,1974.

Pilarski, Michael, ed., Restoration Forestry. KivakiPress, Durango, CO, 1994.

Schneider, Gary, Wildlife and Woodlands - \lUhatYou Gan Do, EnvironmentalCoalition of PrinceEdward lsland, 1991.

USDA, Forest Service, Seeds of the Woody tlants inthe United States, Agriculture Handbook No.450, U.S. Government Printing Office

USDA, Forest Service, Silvics of Forest Trees of theUnited States, Agriculture Handbook No. 271,U.S. Government Printing Office (newestedition in two volumes)

Wilson, Edward O., The Diversity of Life. The BelknapPress of Harvard University Press, Cambridge,MA, 1992.

ResourcesSoil tests: Soil and Feed Testing Laboratory, P.E.l.Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, P.O.Box 1600, Research Station, Charlottetown, C1A 7N3.Phone 368-5600.Tree and shrub pruning workshops: contact theMacphailWoods project (651-2575) for information ondates (usually in late spring).Ecological forestry-related workshops: throughoutthe year we offer workshops on forest restoration,starting community nurseries, collecting seeds, tree andshrub identification and more, both at Macphail and inother places. Please call651-2575 for information.lnformation on ecological forestry and other environ-mental topics: for information on a broad range ofissues or to get involved with bringing positiveenvironmental changes to the province. Call theEnvironmental Coalition of Prince Edward lsland: 566-4696 or stop in at our office at 126 Richmond St.,Charlottetown, PEI C1A 1H9.Lee Valley Tools:an expensive but highquality supplierof a variety of tools. Home of our favourite pruning sawsand shears. Call 1-800-267-8761 for a free catalogue.Vesey's Seeds: an lsland company with a good supplyof tools and other things you might need around anursery - dormant oil spray, rooting hormone, dolomiticlimestone and more. Visit their store in York or call 1-800-363-7333 for a free catalogue.

Sources of plant materialMacphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project SirAndrew Macphail Homestead, Orwell, P.E.l. The largestvariety of native trees and shrubs in the province. Writeor call Gary Schneider c/o ECO-PEI, 126 Richmond St.,Charlottetown, P.E.l., COA 1G0 (902) 651-2575, forprice list or hours of operation. Our price list and moreinfor-mation are also on our website:www3. pei.sympatico. calgaryschneiderJ. Frank Gaudet Tree Nurcery: Department of Agri-culture, Fisheries and Forestry, P.O. Box 2000, Char-lottetown, P.E.l., C1A 7N8, (902) 368471'l. Source formost conifer and some hardwood tree seedlings.Community nurseries: more and more watershedgroups, schools and other organizations across the aresetting up small nurseries of native plants and may haveextra stock available. Contact your local watershedgroup for more information.Private nurceries: there are many retail sales outletsacross the province. Most import their stock, but somedo grow limited amounts of native species.

Native lrees & ShrubsMacphailWoods tU

Helping out at Macphail WoodsMacphail Woods is a joint effort of the EnvironmentalCoalition of Prince Edward lsland and the Sir AndrewMacphail Foundation. Most of the homestead's 140acres (57 hectares) is wooded and includes a streamvalley full of large hemlock, white pine and yellow birch,a reminderof the originalAcadian forest. The remainingwoodlands include older mixed wood stands, aban-doned fields grown up predominantly in white spruce,thickets of balsam fir and young coniferous anddeciduous plantings. A dam on the larger of the twostreams creates a pond that attracts great blue herons,belted kingfishers, osprey and many species ofwaterfowl, as well as mink, muskrat and beaver.

The sale of native trees and shrubs from our nurseryhelps fund many of our other programs at MacphailWoods. Why not come out for a walk or a workshopand pick up some trees for your property? From mid-April to the end of October you can call us at the nursery(651-2575) for information, hours, or a catalogue.Visitors are welcome to tour the site on their own at anytime of the year. A map of the trails is available on-site,with descriptions of what you can expect to see alongthe way. To arrange for group or school tours ofMacphail Woods or the Nature Centre, call the aboven umber or e-mail : garyschneider@pei.sympatico. ca

The Macphail HomesteadThe Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation was incorporated

MacphailWoods com-bines protection of thenatural area along thestream with wildlifeenhancement, water-shed protecti6n, foreststewardship, environ-mental education andecological research.The project began inSeptember 1991wiEl awildlife garden andnative plant nursery. ltincludes three naturetrails and demonstra-tions of forest restora-tion, innovative wind-breaks and erosioncontrol. We offer reg-ular workshops on awide variety of natural history and silvicultural topics -birds, wildflowers, mushrooms, pruning, transplanting -as well as tours of the propefi and our work. The nurs-ery and wildlife garden attract special attention,showcasing a wide variety of native trees, shrubs andwildflowers. Our recent efforts have included plantingan arboretum beside the nursery and converting thebarn into the Macphail Woods Nature Centre. Thesetwo works in progress will greatly enhance our abilitiesto teach natural history conservation.Would you like to help with our efforts at MacphailWoods? Government and corporate funding, as wellasincome from sales of wood products and seedlings, helpsupport the project. But we rely heavily on donations ofboth time and money from the public. lf you like togarden, maintain trails, plant trees and shrubs, or leadtours, please contact the Environmental Coalition ofPrince Edward lsland, 126 Richmond St., Charlottetown,COA 1G0 (5664696). Financial contributions help uscontinue our research and educationalefforts. ECO-PEIis a registered charity and issues receipts for taxpurposes for alldonations. Please make donations pay-able to ECO-PEI - MacphailWoods.

in 1990 as a private,not-for-profit,registered charit-able organization. ltis governed by aBoard of Directorschosen from amongthe Foundation'smembers. Mem-bership is open toanyone supportingthe aims and object-ives of the MacphailFoundation.

The organizationleases the MacphailHomestead from theprovincial govern-ment under a com-

mitment to manage the property in ways that recognizethe life and interests of the brilliant scholar Sir AndrewMacphail (1864-1938). Born and raised on the site, SirAndrew became a successful writer, editor, scientist,social critic and professor at McGill University. Heregularly returned to the homestead, inviting friends andcolleagues to enjoy the Prince Edward lsland landscapein summer.

lnformally known as the "Friends of Macphail", theFoundation is dedicated to promoting education andinterpretation of the house and surrounding property asa living memorial to Sir AndreWs genius and diversity ofinterests. The homestead, 18 miles (25 km) east ofCharloftetown, has used funding from private and publicsources to establish a museum interpretive area. ltcaters to small conferences and workshops andprovides a secluded space for retreat and renewal. Thesite is also available for weddings and other activitiesand offers specialevents throughout the year. There isa tea room and small gift shop on site to serve dayvisitors during the summer months. For information,write to the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation, Orwell,P.E.l., Vernon P.O., COA 1E0, or call (902) 651-2789.

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