Plants in the Landscape: Mixed Woods & Plains Species

Includes practice for identifying species that may be found in mixed woods and plains habitats.

Identify this species:

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Found in wetlands, riparian areas, forest edges, upland mixed woods, ridges

Supports moths (Acronicta retardata, Dryocampa rubicunda), leaf miners, specialist bees

Early pollinator

Tree; 15-25 m tall

Identify this species:

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Found in floodplains, riparian forests, wetlands

Host of the rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), aphids, and gall-formers

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Identify this species:

Smooth Serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis

Found in forest edges, uplands, rocky slopes

Supports hairstreak butterflies; birds eat fruits

Shrub/small tree; 3-9 m tall

Identify this species:

Bitternut Hickory

Carta cordiformis

Found in floodplain and upland forests

Hosts luna moth (Actias luna) caterpillars; hickory bark beetles

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Identify this species:

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

Found in upland forests, ridges, slopes

Supports regal moth (Citheronia regalis) larvae; gall insects; squirrels love nuts

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Identify this species:

Alternate-Leaf Dogwood (AKA Pagoda Dogwood)

Cornus alternifolia

Found in moist woods, forest edges, ravines

Supports spring azure butterflies, dogwood sawflies; birds love berries

Shrub/small tree; 4-8 m tall

Identify this species:

Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Found in wetlands, riparian areas, forest edges

Supports dogwood borer moth; birds feed on berries

Shrub; 1.5-4 m tall

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Cockspur Hawthorn

Crataegus crus-galli

Found in forest edges, thickets, old fields

Host for hawthorn lace bug, cedar-hawthorn rust fungus; important late winter/early spring food source (softened persistent fruit) for migratory birds and other wildlife

Small tree/shrub; 6-10 m tall

Identify this species:

Northern Bush Honeysuckle

Diervilla lonicera

Found in dry rocky slopes, forest edges, sandy uplands

Nectar source for bumblebees; supports clearwing moths

Low-growing shrub; 0.6-1.2 m tall

Identify this species:

Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Found in floodplains, riparian forests, moist lowlands

Hosts tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus); emerald ash borer (EAB)

Second most common ash

Tree; 15-25 m tall

Identify this species:

Ironwood (AKA Hop Hornbeam)

Ostrya virginiana

Found in upland hardwood forests, rocky slopes

Supports polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) larvae

Tree; 10-15 m tall

Identify this species:

Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Found in upland hardwood forests, ridges, sandy loams

Supports over 500 Lepidoptera species (caterpillars, gall wasps)

Tree; 20-30 m tall

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Staghorn Sumac

Rhus typhina

Found in old fields, forest edges, disturbed sites

Supports sumac flea beetles; birds eat fruit clusters

Shrub/Small Tree; 3-8 m tall

Identify this species:

Wild Red Raspberry

Rubus idaeus subsp. strigosus

Found in forest openings, old fields, roadsides, disturbed areas

Host for numerous Lepidoptera including raspberry moths; flowers attract bees; fruits support birds, mammals, people

Shrub; 1-2 m tall

Identify this species:

American Basswood

Tilia americana

Found in moist upland woods, rich soils, forest edges

Supports mourning cloak butterfly and specialist bees

Tree; 18-25 m tall

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American Elm

Ulmus americana

Found in floodplains, riparian zones, moist bottomlands

Hosts elm leaf beetle, tiger swallowtail, leaf miners

Prone to Dutch Elm Disease (DED)

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Identify this species:

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

Found in moist woods, forest edges, streambanks, lowlands

Larval host for spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon)

Shrub/Small Tree; 3-6 m tall

Identify this species:

Boxelder Maple (AKA Manitoba Maple)

Acer negundo

Found in riparian zones, floodplains, disturbed areas; common weed tree

Hosts boxelder bugs (Boisea trivitta), leaf miners, aphids, Lepidoptera larvae

Tree; 10-20 m tall

Can have both trilobate and pinnately compound leaves

Start as male and become female as they age

Identify this species:

Black Maple

Acer nigrum

Found in upland mesic forests, slopes, ridges

Hosts rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), gall mites, leaf miners, aphids

Tree; 20-35 m tall

Tends to hybridize with Sugar Maples

Identify this species:

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Found in upland mesic forests, slopes, ridges; climax species

Hosts rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), gall mites, leaf miners, aphids

Tree; 20-35 m

Identify this species:

Yellow Birch

Betula alleghaniensis

Found in moist upland slopes, mesic hardwood forests

Hosts birch leafminer (Fenusa pusilla), luna moth caterpillars

Tree; 20-25 m tall

Mid-succession species; often found in hemlock forests; requires optimal soil conditions to thrive

Identify this species:

American Hazlenut

Corylus americana

Found in forest edges, upland thickets

Hosts specialist moths (Catocala spp.), gall-forming aphids

Shrub; 2-5 m tall

Has fuzzy leaves and edible nuts

Identify this species:

American Beech

Fagus grandifolia

Found in rich upland forests, slopes, ravines; often grows with sugar maple

Hosts beech blight aphid, beech leafminer, Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta) and other Lepidoptera

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Prone to Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) when young and Beech Bark Disease (BBD) when old

Slow-growing, long-lived climax species

Identify this species:

White Ash

Fraxinus americana

Found in moist uplands, floodplains, valleys

Hosts ash sawfly larvae, emerald ash borer, various moths

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Prone to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) like all ash species

Most common ash tree in Ontario

Identify this species:

Butternut (AKA White Walnut)

Juglans cinerea

Found in moist slopes, streambanks, mixed forests

Hosts banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), walnut caterpillars, husk fly; edible nut

Tree; 12-20 m tall

Endangered due to Butternut Canker

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Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius

Found in streambanks, thickets

Host for raspberry leafroller, white spring, unicorn caterpillar, and bluish spring (among many others)

Shrub; 1-3 m tall

Many cultivars exist, popular due to pretty late spring/early summer flowers and leaf colour variations

Identify this species:

Eastern Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Found in riparian zones, floodplains, disturbed soils

Hosts cottonwood leaf beetle, Lepidoptera larvae, cicadas

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Named after fluff on seeds

Fast-growing; pioneer species —> first to grow in succession with shrubs

Leaf is flat on bottom; similar to aspen since in same genus (Populus)

Identify this species:

American Plum

Prunus americana

Found in forest edges, fencerows, uplands

Hosts eastern tent caterpillar, plum curculio; many Lepidiopteran species supported by Prunus

Prunus can be identified by two tiny dots on the petiole, which are glands called extrafloral nectaries

Shrub/Small Tree; 4-10 m tall

Identify this species:

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Found in upland forests, forest edges, old fields

Hosts eastern tent caterpillar and tiger swallowtail caterpillars. Prunus support many Lepidopteran species.

Prunus can be identified by two tiny dots on the petiole, which are glands called extrafloral nectaries

Tree; 15-25 m tall

Leaf is most proportionally long and thin of Prunus species from this week

Bark looks like corn flakes; gas exchange is what causes bark appearance

Identify this species:

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Found in riparian areas, forest edges, uplands; understory species

Hosts tent caterpillars and tiger swallowtails caterpillars

Shrub/Small Tree; 3-8 m tall

Commonly affected by Black Knot fungus

Identify this species:

White Oak

Quercus alba

Found in dry upland ridges, well-drained slopes

Supports over 500 Lepidoptera species, hairstreaks, duskywings, cynipid gall wasps

Tree; 20-30 m tall

Slow-growing, long-lived; climax species

Identify this species:

Northern Pin Oak

Quercus ellipsoidalis

Found in dry upland sandy soils, ridges, well-drained acidic sites, fire-adapted oak savannas; likes flat and dry environments

Hosts more than 400 Lepidoptera species (e.g. Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus, Catocala moths); cynipid wasps (gall-formers: Andricus spp.)

Tree; 15-20 m tall

Takes two years for acorns to be viable

Identify this species:

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Found in prairie-forest transition, uplands, savannas

Hosts numerous Lepidoptera, gall wasps, leaf miners

Tree; 20-25 m tall

Pretty tough; becoming more common as urban tree

Identify this speceis:

Smooth Rose

Rosa blanda

Found in prairie edges, uplands, forest margins

Hosts rose sawfly, specialist bees (Andrena spp.), leaf miners

Shrub; 1-2 m tall

Good barrier plant; edible rose hips; rose hips are edible