Common name Scientific name Zone Habit Exposure Height Comments
AlderAlnus spp.4-7DSun to partial shade40 to 60'Prefers moist to damp soil but tolerates dry sites; attractive male catkins
Ash, WhiteFraxinus americana 4-9DSun60 to 80'Tolerates adverse conditions; yellow to purple fall color; reseeds
Ash, GreenFraxinus pennsylvanica 3-9DSun50 to 60'Transplants well; grows in a variety of locations and soils; yellow fall color; many cultivars
Bald cypressTaxodium distichum 4-10DSun50 to 70'Range of soil types - wet to dry; easy fall clean up
Beech, AmericanFagus grandifolia 4-9DSun to partial shade50 to 70'Small edible nuts; some leaves retained into winter; dislike damp, compacted soil
Birch, RiverBetula nigra 6-8DSun to partial shade25 to 40'Multi-trunk is desired; native tree; graceful branching; cultivar: Heritage, Duraheat
Black gumNyssa sylvatica 4-9DSun to partial shade30 to 50'Greenish yellow flowers; bluish black fruit in fall
Black hawViburnum prunifolium 3-9DSun to shade12 to 15'White flowers in early summer; fruit turns from rose to black; does well in dry soil
BoxelderAcer negundo 3-9DSun to partial shade30 to 50'Considered a weedy tree; attracts boxelder bugs
Buckthorn, CommonRhamnus cathartica 3-7DSun18 to 25'Native; glossy black fruit in fall
Buckthorn, CarolinaRhamnus carolinianus 5-9DSun15 to 30'Native; fruit changes from red to black
Carolina cherry laurelPrunus caroliana 7-10ESun to partial shade20 to 20'Small, fragrant, white flowers in spring; small black berries in fall
Cedar, Eastern redJuniperous virgniana 3-9ESun30 to 40'Native evergreen; good for screening; blue berries on female trees
Cherry, PinPrunus pensylvanica 3-7DSun25 to 40'Native; White flowers in spring; light red fruit with large stone in summer
Cherry, BlackPrunus serotina 3-9DSun50 to 60'White flowers in spring; black fruit in summer; good fall foliage
Cherry, ChokePrunus virginiana 2-6DSun20 to 30'White flowers in spring; red fruit turns black
ChokeberryAronia arbutifolia 4-8DSun to partial shade6 to 8'White flowers in spring; red fruit that lasts into winter
CrabappleMalus spp.5-9DSun15 to 25'Very showy for short period in spring; some cultivars have ornamental fruit; plant only disease-resistant cultivars
CucumbertreeMagnolia acuminata var. subcordata4-8DSun to partial shade50 to 80'3 to 5" slightly fragrant greenish yellow flowers in spring; small knobby fruit resembles a cucumber; pinkish red seeds
DevilwoodOsmanthus americanus 6-9ESun to partial shade15 to 25'Creamy white flowers in early spring; fragrant; dark blue fruit in fall
Dogwood, PagodaCornus alternifolia 3-7DSun to partial shade15 to 25'Clusters of greenish white flowers in late summer; purplish black berries on red stems
Dogwood, FloweringCornus florida 6-8DPartial shade15 to 30'White flowers in spring; red fruit in fall; maroon to red fall foliage
Dogwood, SilkyCornus amomum 4-8DSun to partial shade6 to 10'Yellowish white flowers in early summer; blue fruit with white blotches
Elm, LacebarkUlmus parvifolia 4-9DSun40 to 50'Bark sheds leaving irregular spots of orange, gray, green, brown; tough durable tree
Fringetree, ChineseChionanthus retusus 6-8DSun to partial shade15 to 25'White, fragrant flowers in panicles at ends of shoots; .5" dark blue fruit on female trees
FringetreeChionanathus virginicus 3-9DSun to partial shade12 to 20'Panicles of creamy white fragrant flowers suspended from branches in May; male flowers are more showy; dark blue fruit in fall
Gordonia; Loblolly bayGordonia lasianthus 8-9ESun to partial shade30 to 60'Hosts insects for birds; 2 to 3" waxy white fragrant
flowers in summer
HackberryCeltis spp.3-9DSun60 to 80'Native; bark tends to be warty; orange to blue-black fruit
HawthornCrataegus spp.4-8DSun20 to 25'White flowers in spring; red fruit summer to fall
Hemlock, EasternTsuga canadensis 3-7ESun to partial shade30 to 80'
HickoryCarya spp.4-9DSun to partial shade50 to 90'Nuts; good fall color
Holly, DahoonIlex cassine 7-9ESun to partial shade20 to 30'Small red to yellow fruit in clusters
Holly, YauponIlex vomitoria 7-8ESun to shade10 to 20'Use for background or naturalizing; 'Pendula' weeping form
Holly, AmericanIlex opaca 5-9ESun to partial shade15 to 45'Must have both sexes for berry production; native
Hop hornbean; IronwoodOstrya virginiana 3-9DSun to partial shade25 to 40'Male catkins in spring; small nutlet
IronwoodCarpinus carolina 3-9DSun to partial shade20 to 30'Native; smooth fluted bark
Magnolia, SweetbayMagnolia virginiana 6-8E to semi-ESun to shade10 to 60'Leaves have silvery underside; creamy white flowers May September; will grow in wet sites; often multi-trunk
Magnolia, FraserMagnolia fraseri 6-9DSun to partial shade30 to 40'8 to 10" creamy white to pale yellow flowers in late spring; red seeds
Magnolia, SouthernMagnolia grandiflora 7-9ESun to partial shade40 to 80'Native; 8 to 12" fragrant, creamy white flowers in summer;
bright red seeds in fall
MapleAcer spp.3-9DSun25 to 70'
MimosaAlbizia julibrissin 6-9DSun20 to 30'Short-lived; good summer color; attracts hummingbirds; 'Charlotte' and 'Tryon' are disease resistant
Mountain ashSorbus americana 2-6DSun 10 to 30'White flowers; bright red to orange red berries in fall that last into the winter
MulberryMorus spp.4-8DSun to partial shade25 to 50'Small fleshy fruit; drought tolerant
Palm, CabbageSabel palmetto 8ESun to shade20 to 30'Not hardy in piedmont or mountains
PawpawAsimina triloba 5-8DSun to partial shade20 to 30'Native; marron flowers in spring; yellowish green fruit
PecanCarya illinoesis 5-9DSun to partial shade70 to 100'Brittle branches; casts light shade; difficulty to transplant;
Persimmon, CommonDiospyros virginiana 4-9DSun to partial shade30 to 60'Yellow to orange fruit; orange to mauve fall foliage; native
PinePinus spp.4-7ESun25 to 100'Seeds inside pine cones
Plum, AmericanPrunus americana 5-9DSun12 to 20'White flowers in spring; red fruit; native
Popular, TulipLiriodendron tulipifera 5-8DSun60 to 150'Branches are brittle; yellow fall color
PossomhawIlex decidua 5-8DSun to partial shade20 to 30'Small white flowers in spring; bright red-orange berries on female plants that persists into the winter
RedbayPersa borbonia 8-9ESun to partial shade20 to 30'Native; nonshowy flowers; range of soil types
RedbudCercis canadensis 4-9DSun to partial shade20 to 30'Reddish purple buds; rosy pink pea-like flowers in clusters early spring before leaves emerge; 2 to 3" brown seed pods in
clusters
SassafrasSassafras albium 4-9DSun to partial shade30 to 60'Yellow flowers in spring; yellow, orange, pink to scarlet fall foliage
ServiceberryAmelanchier spp.4-9DSun to partial shade10 to 20'Blooms just before dogwoods; white flowers; good fall color
SourwoodOxydendron arboretum 6-9DSun to shade 20 to 30'Excellent native tree; white flowers in summer; red fall color
SparkleberryVaccinium arboreum 6-9DSun to partial shade6 to 10'Fragrant white flowers in spring; gritty nonjuicy berries last into winter
Swamp bay; RedbayPersea borbonia 8-9ESun to partial shade20 to 30'Native; nonshowy flowers; range of soil types
Sweet gumLiquidambar styraciflura 6-9DSun to partial shade60 to 100'Insignificant flowers; spiny fruit
SycamorePlatanus occidentalis 4-9DSun to partial shade70 to 100'Globose fruit on 3 to 6" peduncle
WinterberryIlex verticillata 3-9DSun to partial shade6 to 15'Small white flowers in early summer; small, bright red berries in dense clusters on female plants; persists into winter
WitchhazelHamamelis virginiana 4-9DSun to partial shade15 to 30'1" fragrant, creamy to bright yellow flowers in fall
YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea 4-8DSun30 to 45'White, fragrant, pendulous, panicles in early summer;
inconsistent flowering from year to year; brown seed pods

Prepared by: Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturist

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Images © by Erv Evans