Common name	Scientific name	Zone	Habit	Exposure	Height	Comments
Alder	Alnus spp.	4-7	D	Sun to partial shade	40 to 60'	Prefers moist to damp soil but tolerates dry sites; attractive male catkins
Ash, White	Fraxinus americana	4-9	D	Sun	60 to 80'	Tolerates adverse conditions; yellow to purple fall color; reseeds
Ash, Green	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	3-9	D	Sun	50 to 60'	Transplants well; grows in a variety of locations and soils; yellow fall color; many cultivars
Bald cypress	Taxodium distichum	4-10	D	Sun	50 to 70'	Range of soil types - wet to dry; easy fall clean up
Beech, American	Fagus grandifolia	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	50 to 70'	Small edible nuts; some leaves retained into winter; dislike damp, compacted soil
Birch, River	Betula nigra	6-8	D	Sun to partial shade	25 to 40'	Multi-trunk is desired; native tree; graceful branching; cultivar: Heritage, Duraheat
Black gum	Nyssa sylvatica	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 50'	Greenish yellow flowers; bluish black fruit in fall
Black haw	Viburnum prunifolium	3-9	D	Sun to shade	12 to 15'	White flowers in early summer; fruit turns from rose to black; does well in dry soil
Boxelder	Acer negundo	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 50'	Considered a weedy tree; attracts boxelder bugs
Buckthorn, Common	Rhamnus cathartica	3-7	D	Sun	18 to 25'	Native; glossy black fruit in fall
Buckthorn, Carolina	Rhamnus caroliniana	5-9	D	Sun	15 to 30'	Native; fruit changes from red to black
Carolina cherry laurel	Prunus caroliniana	7-10	E	Sun to partial shade	20 to 20'	Small, fragrant, white flowers in spring; small black berries in fall
Cedar, Eastern red	Juniperous virgniana	3-9	E	Sun	30 to 40'	Native evergreen; good for screening; blue berries on female trees
Cherry, Pin	Prunus pensylvanica	3-7	D	Sun	25 to 40'	Native; White flowers in spring; light red fruit with large stone in summer
Cherry, Black	Prunus serotina	3-9	D	Sun	50 to 60'	White flowers in spring; black fruit in summer; good fall foliage
Cherry, Choke	Prunus virginiana	2-6	D	Sun	20 to 30'	White flowers in spring; red fruit turns black
Chokeberry	Aronia arbutifolia	4-8	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 8'	White flowers in spring; red fruit that lasts into winter
Crabapple	Malus spp.	5-9	D	Sun	15 to 25'	Very showy for short period in spring; some cultivars have ornamental fruit; plant only disease-resistant cultivars
Cucumbertree	Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata	4-8	D	Sun to partial shade	50 to 80'	3 to 5" slightly fragrant greenish yellow flowers in spring; small knobby fruit resembles a cucumber; pinkish red seeds
Devilwood	Osmanthus americanus	6-9	E	Sun to partial shade	15 to 25'	Creamy white flowers in early spring; fragrant; dark blue fruit in fall
Dogwood, Pagoda	Cornus alternifolia	3-7	D	Sun to partial shade	15 to 25'	Clusters of greenish white flowers in late summer; purplish black berries on red stems
Dogwood, Flowering	Cornus florida	6-8	D	Partial shade	15 to 30'	White flowers in spring; red fruit in fall; maroon to red fall foliage
Dogwood, Silky	Cornus amomum	4-8	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 10'	Yellowish white flowers in early summer; blue fruit with white blotches
Elm, Lacebark	Ulmus parvifolia	4-9	D	Sun	40 to 50'	Bark sheds leaving irregular spots of orange, gray, green, brown; tough durable tree
Fringetree, Chinese	Chionanthus retusus	6-8	D	Sun to partial shade	15 to 25'	White, fragrant flowers in panicles at ends of shoots; .5" dark blue fruit on female trees
Fringetree	Chionanathus virginicus	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	12 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 bay	Gordonia lasianthus	8-9	E	Sun to partial shade	30 to 60'	Hosts insects for birds; 2 to 3" waxy white fragrant flowers in summer
Hackberry	Celtis spp.	3-9	D	Sun	60 to 80'	Native; bark tends to be warty; orange to blue-black fruit
Hawthorn	Crataegus spp.	4-8	D	Sun	20 to 25'	White flowers in spring; red fruit summer to fall
Hemlock, Eastern	Tsuga canadensis	3-7	E	Sun to partial shade	30 to 80'
Hickory	Carya spp.	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	50 to 90'	Nuts; good fall color
Holly, Dahoon	Ilex cassine	7-9	E	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Small red to yellow fruit in clusters
Holly, Yaupon	Ilex vomitoria	7-8	E	Sun to shade	10 to 20'	Use for background or naturalizing; 'Pendula' weeping form
Holly, American	Ilex opaca	5-9	E	Sun to partial shade	15 to 45'	Must have both sexes for berry production; native
Hop hornbean; Ironwood	Ostrya virginiana	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	25 to 40'	Male catkins in spring; small nutlet
Ironwood	Carpinus carolina	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Native; smooth fluted bark
Magnolia, Sweetbay	Magnolia virginiana	6-8	E to semi-E	Sun to shade	10 to 60'	Leaves have silvery underside; creamy white flowers May September; will grow in wet sites; often multi-trunk
Magnolia, Fraser	Magnolia fraseri	6-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 40'	8 to 10" creamy white to pale yellow flowers in late spring; red seeds
Magnolia, Southern	Magnolia grandiflora	7-9	E	Sun to partial shade	40 to 80'	Native; 8 to 12" fragrant, creamy white flowers in summer; bright red seeds in fall
Maple	Acer spp.	3-9	D	Sun	25 to 70'
Mimosa	Albizia julibrissin	6-9	D	Sun	20 to 30'	Short-lived; good summer color; attracts hummingbirds; 'Charlotte' and 'Tryon' are disease resistant
Mountain ash	Sorbus americana	2-6	D	Sun	10 to 30'	White flowers; bright red to orange red berries in fall that last into the winter
Mulberry	Morus spp.	4-8	D	Sun to partial shade	25 to 50'	Small fleshy fruit; drought tolerant
Palm, Cabbage	Sabal palmetto	8	E	Sun to shade	20 to 30'	Not hardy in piedmont or mountains
Pawpaw	Asimina triloba	5-8	D	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Native; marron flowers in spring; yellowish green fruit
Pecan	Carya illinoensis	5-9	D	Sun to partial shade	70 to 100'	Brittle branches; casts light shade; difficulty to transplant;
Persimmon, Common	Diospyros virginiana	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 60'	Yellow to orange fruit; orange to mauve fall foliage; native
Pine	Pinus spp.	4-7	E	Sun	25 to 100'	Seeds inside pine cones
Plum, American	Prunus americana	5-9	D	Sun	12 to 20'	White flowers in spring; red fruit; native
Poplar, Tulip	Liriodendron tulipifera	5-8	D	Sun	60 to 150'	Branches are brittle; yellow fall color
Possomhaw	Ilex decidua	5-8	D	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Small white flowers in spring; bright red-orange berries on female plants that persists into the winter
Redbud	Cercis canadensis	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	20 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
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	30 to 60'	Yellow flowers in spring; yellow, orange, pink to scarlet fall foliage
Serviceberry	Amelanchier spp.	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	10 to 20'	Blooms just before dogwoods; white flowers; good fall color
Sourwood	Oxydendron arboreum	6-9	D	Sun to shade	20 to 30'	Excellent native tree; white flowers in summer; red fall color
Sparkleberry	Vaccinium arboreum	6-9	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 10'	Fragrant white flowers in spring; gritty nonjuicy berries last into winter
Swamp bay; Redbay	Persea borbonia	8-9	E	Sun to partial shade	20 to 30'	Native; nonshowy flowers; range of soil types
Sweet gum	Liquidambar styraciflura	6-9	D	Sun to partial shade	60 to 100'	Insignificant flowers; spiny fruit
Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	70 to 100'	Globose fruit on 3 to 6" peduncle
Winterberry	Ilex verticillata	3-9	D	Sun to partial shade	6 to 15'	Small white flowers in early summer; small, bright red berries in dense clusters on female plants; persists into winter
Witchhazel	Hamamelis virginiana	4-9	D	Sun to partial shade	15 to 30'	1" fragrant, creamy to bright yellow flowers in fall
Yellowwood	Cladrastis lutea = Cladrastis kentukea	4-8	D	Sun	30 to 45'	White, fragrant, pendulous, panicles in early summer; inconsistent flowering from year to year; brown seed pods

Prepared by: Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturist

© 2002-2003 NC State University
Images © by Erv Evans