Also known as Iowa, or Western, Crabapple, this large shrub or small tree grows up to about 35 feet tall with a short trunk up and a broad, spreading crown. Clusters of 2 to 6, white to light-pink flowers develop from the tips of twigs in late spring, followed by yellow green, apple-like berries. Crabapple can grow in thickets in full sun and well-drained loam soils, providing an excellent source of cover, nesting site, and food for birds.
Ohio Buckeye, also known as Texas Buckeye and Horse Chestnut, is a perennial, deciduous tree that typically grows 50 to 75 feet tall, with a broad, oval-rounded crown. Bright green leaves emerge in the spring, maturing to dark green in the summer and yellow in the fall. Its greenish-yellow flowers appear in clusters in mid-spring, followed by the buckeye fruit. This plant grows in full sun to shade and moist, rich, well-drained soils, and though Ohio Buckeye attracts wildlife with its flowers and nuts, note that all parts of this plant are quite poisonous to humans and livestock if ingested.
Also called Mayflower or Plymouth Mayflower, this perennial, evergreen plant grows only 4 to 6 inches tall, spreading to a become a creeping mat. It produces aromatic foliage, including its broad, leathery green leaves as well as its white or pink flowers which are later followed by whitish, raspberry-like fruit. Trailing-Arbutus grows best in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soils, preferring sites without too much leaf litter that can suffocate the plant.
Also known as Graythorn, this thorny, perennial shrub grows to 6 by 8 feet in size. It is a good cover plant that produces dense branches, small yellow flowers, and edible purplish berries. Attracting birds, mammals, and pollinating insects, this tree grows best in partial shade and dry soils.
This perennial plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall. It produces yellow, daisy-like flowers in late spring to early summer, and lance-shaped leaves that resemble the ears of a mule, hence its name. This plant grows in full sun and in moist to wet, well-drained, clay soil.
Frost Grape, or Fox Grape, is a perennial, deciduous, and woody climbing vine with simple leaves that fall during the winter. The vine grows yellowish-green flowers followed by dark grapes that ripen from September to October. This vine can stretch up to 60 feet long in full sun to light shade and moist soils, occasionally branching and aggressively climbing over shrubs and small trees.
Rusty Blackhaw, also known as Downy Viburnum and Nannyberry, is a shrub or tree with dark bark that separates into rectangular plates. Its glossy, dark green leaves turn various warm hues during the fall while its white flowers appear in March and April before ripening to dark blue fruits. This slow-growing perennial grows best in partial shade and dry soils.
Smooth Arrow-Wood is a multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 5 to 15 feet tall with long, straight branches. It produces small, white flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by dark blue to violet fruits that are eaten by various birds and mammals. This perennial prefers partial sun and moist, fertile soil.
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