Catskill streams buffer initiative

The DCSWCD CSBI program helps landowners by planting Catskill native trees and shrubs in order to improve their streamside habitat and protect their stream and water quality.
For more info about the program contact Program Coordinator Catherine Skalda at 607-865-5223 or catherine-skalda@dcswcd.org.

Native Plants

Want to know more about our Catskill native plants? Scroll down to see many of the plants that we use in our Riparian Forest Buffer plantings. We are constantly adding new plants to this list so check back often!
Most of these plants are available either during our annual tree and shrub sale or at local native plant nurseries.

Red Maple

Acer rubrum
Red Maple

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is native to Central and Eastern US and Canada, and is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees in its territory. A fast growing, medium tree, red maple tolerates a wide range of soil and moisture conditions. Reaching up to 100 feet in height, it can grow in spots of full sun to full shade.

Red flowers in early spring, red leafstalks in summer, brilliant red foliage in fall, and red buds in winter give this common tree its name. A valuable wildlife species, red maple is often browsed by large and small mammals and is especially important to deer in late fall and early winter. It is  an important in the spring for many insects, especially bees looking for an early pollen source.  Equally as important, it supports nearly 300 species of caterpillars which are a critical source of food for many bird species.

Red Maples are also commonly referred to as Soft Maple, Water Maple, or Swamp Maple.  A striking tree year-round with high wildlife value, red maple is an excellent tree to add to your landscape.

Photo of red maple flowers CC Mark / inaturalist.org.

Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple

The well-known sugar maple, Acer saccharum, is a large hardwood tree native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States. Human populations have used this tree’s sap to produce maple syrup for centuries, along with using its wood for lumber and firewood. Sugar maples are also important for wildlife, particularly white-tailed deer, moose, snowshoe hare, porcupine, and squirrels who browse the leaves and bark along with the seeds, buds, and twigs. The lush deciduous canopy, trunk, and branches provide homes for cavity nesters, songbirds, and woodpeckers.

Preferring relatively moist, well-drained soils, sugar maples are found across Delaware County, turning the hillsides into brilliant autumn shows of reds, yellows and oranges. Critical to the hardwood forest ecosystem, sugar maples provide an abundance of ecological benefits. These shallow, yet fibrous and wide rooted trees hold soil and nutrients in place which reduces runoff into nearby waterways. Fallen leaves also provide an important nutrient source for forests, while leaved branches shade the soil providing a cooling effect and carbon sink.

When deciding which maple to plant in your landscape, consider choosing a native maple such as the sugar maple. Nonnative and invasive maples can outcompete native maples threatening the survival of native maples and the wildlife that depends on them.

Sugar Maple
Serviceberry

Amelanchier sp.
Serviceberry

The month of May ushers in the blooms of Amelanchier, a native tree also known as serviceberry, juneberry, and shadbush. Delaware County is home to three species: Amelanchier arborea, Amelanchier laevis, and Amelanchier canadensis, all of which are important for pollinators and wildlife. Their mid-spring flowers are important sources of pollen, while their purple June berries provide food for wildlife including songbirds and small mammals. The shrub-like tree offers good nesting sites for American robins, and it is a host plant for coral hairstreak butterfly.

Along with its many wildlife benefits, Amelanchier is an excellent landscape plant. It is one of the earliest flowering native trees and has a lovely orange fall color. This mid-sized tree can reach a height of 15-25 feet and prefers upland sites in full to partial sun with acidic soil. Hardy from zones 4 to 8, Amelanchier is well suited to the eastern U.S. and Canada.

Asclepias syriaca
Common Milkweed

There are several types of milkweed (Asclepiadaceae family) native to Delaware County.  The most commonly seen are common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata). Common milkweed is…most common! It’s pink to light purple flower clusters bloom in July and August atop tubular stems that can reach a height of five feet. And the scent is absolutely divine!

Common milkweed is a GREAT plant for insects, attracting over 450 species that feed on all parts of the plant.  These include numerous native pollinators such as flies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, and butterflies. Milkweed is best known for attracting monarch butterflies which consume the nectar and are the exclusive host plant for monarch caterpillars.  Milkweed is also a host to the milkweed tussock moth caterpillars which is one of the few insects which can also eat the leaves of the plant.  Another insect that is commonly seen on milkweeds is the bright orange and black Milkweed bug (there is both a large and small species of these bugs).  They feed on the sap and seeds of the plants, but don’t worry, the bugs do little to damage the milkweed plants. 

A strikingly beautiful plant, common milkweed is an excellent addition to gardens and landscapes. Spreading through both seeds and rhizomes, colonies can become established rather quickly in full sun areas. The flower clusters transition to pods containing 50-100 seeds per pod, which eventually split to release the brown seeds attached to downy white fluff furthering their dispersal through wind.

River Birch

Betula nigra
River Birch

River Birch (Betula nigra) is wonderful native tree that you can find in the Midwest and Eastern United States.  It requires full sun thrives in moist, acidic soils, often found along stream banks and in swampy bottomlands that are periodically flooded. This tree is a fantastic choice for riparian buffers throughout its range, especially when paired with companion species.

River Birch provides food and habitat to numerous wildlife species year-round. Its young twigs, buds and foliage are browsed by white-tailed deer and moose, and its seeds, buds, and catkins are eaten by grouse, turkeys and birds. The inner bark is sometimes eaten by porcupines, while yellow bellied sapsuckers enjoy its sap.

The fast-growing and long-lived River Birch has a distinctive cream and cinnamon-brown colored exfoliating bark, reaching heights of up to 70 feet. A tree with plenty of striking features and wildlife benefits, River Birch makes an excellent landscape plant for locations in which other species may  struggle.

Image of yellow leaves John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org.

Images of bark and green leaves CC Katja Schulz / Flickr.

Betula papyrifera
White Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera, commonly known as White Paper Birch, Paper Birch, or Canoe Birch, is a striking tree native to the northern United States and Canada. Preferring moderately moist, acidic sites and a range of light from sun to shade, the species thrives in hardiness zones 2 to 6.

One of the more easily identifiable trees, White Paper Birch’s name is indicative of its white bark that appears to shed papery bark pieces. The white bark is complemented by brilliant yellow fall foliage making the medium-sized tree an all-around great choice for ornamental plantings.

White Paper Birch has high wildlife value. Its seeds, buds, and catkins are eaten by birds and small mammals and its inner bark is eaten by porcupines. The tree is also a sap source for yellow bellied sapsuckers and larval and/or nectar source for the gorgeous Luna moth and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Paper Birch provides browse material and cover for deer and, for our northern neighbors, moose.

📸 of leaves: aarongunnar – bplant.org

Berries, flowers, and red stems of Red Osier Dogwood.

Cornus sericea
Red Osier Dogwood

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a shrub native to the Catskill region and is adapted to moist riparian and upland sites, growing well along both streams and ponds. The plant’s beautiful red stems are complemented by its green leaves and unique white berries that ripen in the fall. These features make it a striking landscape plant and a favorite amongst ornamental gardeners.

Red Osier Dogwood has a high wildlife value, with its seeds, fruits, flowers, twigs, bark, and leaves all used as food by various species. Many native pollinators are attracted to the delicate spring flowers. The fruits are eaten by at least 36 species of birds, and many mammals, small and large. The bush also provides a good nesting site for birds.

Erythronium americanum
Trout Lily

Spring ephemeral season brightens up the forest floor with native blooms such as the small, herbaceous Trout Lily, Erythronium americanum. Emerging before the deciduous leaves of nearby trees, the Trout Lily takes advantage of the sunlight to produce delicate yellow blooms centered amongst speckled green leaves. The short-lived blooms fade quickly once the forest canopy begins to fill and shade the forest floor and the plant’s rhizomes and bulbs go dormant for another year until spring calls again.

Found throughout rich slopes, cliff bases, riparian forests, and bottomlands across New England, Trout Lily prefers moist, humus rich soils and tolerates some acidity. The Native Adrena miner bees pollinate many woodland and garden plants, including Trout Lily. Coinciding with trout season here in Delaware County, the plant’s mottled leaves are reminiscent of the trout’s skin, a feature which may also help camouflage the plant from browsing mammals such as deer.

Trout Lily should not be moved once established; however, corms and seeds may be purchased from your favorite local native plant nursery.

Eutrochium maculatum
Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed

In August, look for Eutrochium maculatum’s purple clustered blooms rising 4-7 feet high from moist, fertile, humus-rich soils. Also known as Joe-Pye-Weed or Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed, the native perennial blooms mid-summer through early fall on tall stems with serrated, lance-shaped green leaves. Deer-resistant, Joe-Pye-Weed’s fragrant blooms do attract pollinators including Eastern tiger swallowtail and black swallowtail butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. These insects attract insectivorous birds, while in the fall, the clustered blooms produce seeds which provide food for the American Goldfinch and other birds and small mammals.

While preferring full sun, Joe-Pye-Weed’s preference for wet spaces makes it a great addition to areas that many landscaping plants do not tolerate, including rain gardens. The plant’s fibrous and rhizomatous roots aid in reducing soil erosion and help the plant spread into colonies that can be divided and replanted.

Hamamelis virginiana
Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a unique, small, shrub or tree that is native to the Midwest and Eastern United States. Reaching only about 15 feet tall, witch hazel prefers part to full shade in moist woods, thickets, and bottomland sites – look along the edges of woods and in the understory for its delicate flowers. These fragrant, bright yellow, ribbon-like flowers bloom in fall, displaying strap-like, crumpled petals that persist after golden-yellow fall foliage drops. The flowers provide an important source of seasonal nectar for the Owlet moth and other pollinators.

Witch hazel’s velvety fruits from last year’s flowers appear alongside this year’s blooms and are a food source for birds, including wild turkeys, and small mammals. The plants are also browsed by deer and beaver. Witch hazel makes a striking addition to shady home gardens, especially while most other plants wind down in the fall.

Flowers, leaves, and form of witch hazel.
Winterberry

Ilex verticillata
Winterberry

Our region is home to a native deciduous holly, Ilex verticillata. Winterberry thrives at the edge of water bodies and throughout riparian areas, which are abundant in Delaware County, and prefers partial sun to full shade – an ideal plant for those growing areas that other plants may find difficult. And, even in the depths of January, the shrub’s bright red berries hang on throughout the month providing a vital food source for small mammals and OVER 48 SPECIES OF BIRDS! Though winterberry fruit is a food source for some wildlife, it contains saponins and can be poisonous to pets and people if eaten in quantity.

The native winterberry is an ideal landscaping plant that is both aesthetically pleasing and beneficial to wildlife. If you’re looking to add some color to your winter garden, native winterberry makes a great choice over similar invasive species, such as Japanese barberry or exotic honeysuckles.

Larix laricina
American Larch

Larix laricina, commonly known as American larch, Eastern larch, tamarack, or hackmatack, is the only New England conifer to drop its needles in the autumn and grow new ones in the spring. In fall, the needles turn golden-yellow and then shed, leaving the tree bare until spring when new, green needles begin to sprout. This hardy tree ranges far north into the tundra regions of Canada, usually found in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands, preferring boreal forests and wet, poorly drained bogs and woodlands.

One of the fastest growing conifers, American larch thrives in full sun and temperate to sub-arctic climates, reaching up to 80 feet in height. Valuable to wildlife, American larch seeds, seedlings, and bark provide food for a variety of bird and mammal species while its physical structure provides nesting habitat. The tree’s growing niche, seed germination niche, and deciduous nature make it a particularly unique native species.

Native Americans of northern New England and Canada used the roots of tamarack for stitching together birch-bark canoes, as the terpenes in tamarack wood make it very durable when wet. Other uses include rough lumber, railroad ties, and poles and pulp products.

American Larch
Tulip Tree

Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip Tree

When June arrives, you may get a glimpse of the native Tulip Tree, (also called tulip poplar, or yellow poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera, in bloom. The showy, yellow flowers with orange bands produce abundant nectar and pollen and attract hummingbirds which are returning from their winter migration sites, as well as numerous pollinators, including both native bees and honeybees, which can be hidden amongst the lobed leaves. The flowers develop into cone-like green or brown fruits that contain numerous winged seeds later in the season attracting small mammals and birds. Young trees may also provide food for rabbits which eat the buds and inner bark.

One of the largest native trees in North America, its range stretches across the central and eastern United States, up into southern Ontario. Preferring moist, well-drained soil, full sun, and slightly acidic soil, trees can reach heights of 200 feet with a trunk diameter of 8 to 10 feet. A great focal point for landscapes, the trees are grand and have showy yellow leaves in fall.

Pinus strobus
Eastern White Pine

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)’s range stretches across the Eastern U.S. into Canada, preferring full to partial sun in riparian and upland sites. White pine trees can be seen in a wide variety of habitats from dry rocky forests to edges of wetland. This species provides an important winter habitat for non-migrating birds, including the Barred Owl, woodpeckers (especially the impressive Pileated woodpecker), tufted titmouse, chickadees, goldfinch, and others. The tree’s seeds are eaten by many birds and small mammals, while black bear mothers and cubs utilize large trees for climbing and safety – be sure to look up!

In early winter, you may see yellow needles dropping to the ground, adding to the mulch, and creating new soil as they decompose. This is a natural process for the trees which shed some of their older needles to save energy for new spring growth. This also reduces the load on the tree during heavy spring snows.  White pine can be identified by the number of long (3 to 5 inch) soft clusters of needles. White pine has five needles in a bundle, whereas other pine species have them in bundles of three. The cones, which are often used for decoration, hang from branches and can be from 5 to nearly 10 inches long.

Cone, branch, and needles of white pine.
Black Cherry

Prunus serotina
Black Cherry

The first month of summer does not disappoint with the native plants coming out in full force across the Catskills. This June look for Prunus serotina, aka Black Cherry / Rum Cherry / Mountain Black Cherry blooming in full to partial sun. The wildlife value of Black Cherry is high for pollinators, birds, and mammals. Its flower nectar attracts bees, butterflies and birds and the fruit is eaten by many species including birds, red fox, black bear, raccoon, opossum, squirrels, and rabbits.

Black Cherry towers over many species, reaching heights upwards of 80 feet across zones 3 to 9. Preferring moist or dry open woods and old fields, the species can be found in thickets, woodlands, canyons, floodplains, and lower riparian slopes across Central and Eastern US and Canada.

If you have space for a large, long-lived tree, Prunus serotina is a valuable native addition for landscapes and woodlots.

Quercus bicolor
Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor, or swamp white oak, is native to central/eastern North America and can be found in swamps, riparian forests, floodplains, and forest edges. Trees can reach 60-80’ tall and live 300-350 years, beginning acorn production when 20-30 years old.

The swamp white oak has high wildlife value. Numerous insects, including various species of leafhoppers, aphids, beetles, and moths feed on the trees, while the trees are also host to early life stages of these insects as well as butterfly caterpillars. Birds, including songbirds, woodpeckers, ducks, turkey, and other game birds, consume the trees’ acorns and the insects that the trees attract. Mammals such as black bears, raccoon, deer, mice, and squirrels also consume the trees’ acorns.

While an important food source, the large, long-lived trees also provide habitat amongst its limbs, leaves, and bark for insects, birds, and mammals as well as lichen. Fallen trees continue to support organisms such as insects and fungi as both a food source and habitat.

These trees make interesting additions to the landscape and can also help to reduce erosion with their shallow, wide-spread root systems. Their branches also help to shade rivers, streams, and other bodies of water which can be beneficial for various aquatic species. Preferring full sun and wet conditions, swamp white oaks can be planted where many other species of trees would not survive.

Images: Robert H. Mohlenbrock., Steve Hurst, J.F. Clark: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Swamp White Oak

Quercus rubra
Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra’s, Northern Red Oak, native territory spreads from the mid-west through the northern and eastern U.S., zones 4 to 8, dominating forests by both size and abundance. One of the most shade-tolerant oaks, it thrives in mesic upland forests, ravines and north and east slopes preferring acidic soils.

Blooming in spring, the northern red oak is a nectar source and larval host for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly. Blooms give way to acorns that provide a major food source for birds and small and large mammals – including squirrels! Its fall color can be crimson, golden-orange, or russet, creating striking shows of color across its habitat range. As the northernmost eastern oak, “the great timber tree” is the most important lumber species of red oak, used for flooring, furniture, millwork, railroad crossties, mine timbers, fence posts, piling, pulpwood, and more.

Salicaceae Family
Willow

April is a great month to get out into your local landscape as spring blooms start to emerge and pollinators become more active. An early and important nectar source are native willow species which include Salix discolor, or pussy willow, which has one of the most recognizable blooms of the willow species. The furry catkins, or flowers, cover the pussy willow shrub or small tree which also provides valuable habitat and food for songbirds, waterfowl, insects, and small mammals in addition to the early pollinators. The native perennial flourishes on the edges of rivers and lakes and in shrublands, thickets, swamps, ditches, and edges of wetlands with moist soil conditions.

In New York State, there are more than 15 native willow species, ranging in size from low shrubs to 90+ foot trees. Found frequently on the edges of wetlands and streams, willows’ expansive root systems reduce erosion as they hold large amounts of soil in place and intercept and filter sediments during flood events. The medium to large tree species also help to shade waterways during the summer with their broad, irregular canopies which also help to regulate water temperatures.

Sambucus nigra
Elderberry

Occurring throughout the US and Canada, elderberry, Sambucus nigra, (aka Common elderberry, Black elderberry, American elder) is a native plant that is an important habitat and food source for wildlife. Its dark berries that ripen in early fall are preceded by lovely white clusters of summer blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Elderberry flowers are an excellent source of nectar for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Its berries are also an important food source that are eaten by many birds and small mammals.

A moderately sized bush, elderberry grows 3-12 feet making it a good option for privacy borders along a pond, stream, or drainage trough as well as creating riparian buffers and adding diversity to the landscape. It grows best in full to part sun in moist upland sites, on the water’s edge bordering streams and adjacent bottomlands since it requires consistently moist soil.

Spiraea alba
White Meadowsweet

White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) is a wildflower native to the upper midwestern region through the northeastern region of the U.S. The three- to four-foot-tall shrub prefers wetlands including swamps, marshes, shorelines, and ravines, however, can occasionally be found in non-wetlands. Blooming in mid-summer, small, delicate, white to pale pink flower clusters perch atop unbranched stems attracting pollinators, particularly native butterflies and bees. In the spring, it is a larval host to the Spring Azure butterfly.

White Meadowsweet makes a lovely addition to cottage and rain gardens and along wet property areas such as stream or pond banks. Spiraea alba is a great replacement for the many non-native spirea species and is available at local nurseries.

Aster blooms

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
New England Aster

The end of summer is marked by the native Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, or the New England Aster, with its bunched, daisy-like purple or pink flowers dotting roadsides, woodland edges as well as floodplains and meadows. This species is good at supporting a variety of wildlife, especially pollinators. The flowers provide an important source of nectar for Monarchs as they head south, as well as bees and other butterflies. Plants are larval hosts for the Pearl Crescent and Gorgone Checkerspot butterflies, and the Wavy-Lined Emerald moth.  As attractive as these showy flowers are to pollinators, this is one of those plants that is not preferred by deer due to its slightly fuzzy foliage, so would be a great choice as a native plant in your garden.

Growing three to six feet high, the New England Aster is commonly used for roadside plantings, restorations, wetland planting, and rain gardens, with a preference for full to partial sun and moist sites.

Tilia americana
American Basswood

American Basswood, Tilia americana, has a native range stretching from the Midwest, around the Great Lakes, and up into the northeastern U.S., and even down to Florida. The American Basswood is a fast-growing tree that can reach heights of 140 feet and live for over 200 years. This striking, full-canopied tree is a popular urban shade tree, also known as American Linden, and can tolerate a wide range of moisture conditions and can be found in rich uplands as well as in floodplains.

American Basswood has high wildlife value for a variety of species. It is a host plant to over 160 species of butterflies and moths, including the beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.  Its fragrant, yellow-white flowers in late spring/early summer attract many other species of insects including bees, flies, and moths. Its abundant nectar is also used by bees to make basswood honey. The flowers are followed by flower bracts, or winged fruits containing seeds, that are consumed by insects, small mammals including rodents, and songbirds. The tree’s bark and saplings are also a food source for rabbits and voles, while its leaves provide a food source for various caterpillars and deer.

While a hardwood species, American Basswood is valued for hand carving, and its inner bark can be used for making rope and weaving. It is also an important lumber tree. When looking for a large, native, wildlife friendly tree, consider planting American Basswood in your landscape.

American Basswood
Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis
Eastern Hemlock

Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is an evergreen tree native to the Northeastern and Central US and Canada that thrives in challenging terrain across plant hardiness zones 2 to 7. This species oftentimes grows on hummocks in swamps where it sometimes forms dense pure stands. Eastern Hemlock also can be found in ravines and on north and east facing lower slopes, as well as rocky outcrops and bluffs. Most commonly, it grows in mixed stands with fellow native species such as white pine, northern red oak, sugar maple, American beech, yellow birch, and white ash.

Eastern Hemlock can reach heights of over 100 feet, preferring acidic soils and partial sun to full shade. Its evergreen boughs provide important shelter and cover for white-tailed deer and other wildlife such as turkey, roughed grouse, and others. The tree blooms in mid-spring with male catkins and female cone flowers which develop into small cones.

In recent years, hemlock populations have been heavily impacted by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an invasive pest that is very difficult to contain and treat. As the infestation progresses, tree health declines and mortality usually occurs within four to 10 years. Read more.

Viburnum trilobum
American Cranberry

Viburnum trilobum, American Cranberrybush or Highbush Cranberry, is a native flowering shrub that can be found throughout the north temperate region between British Columbia all the way to Newfoundland, south to Washington state and east to northern Virgina. While not a true cranberry, the American Cranberry, produces fruits that both taste and look like cranberries. Its leaves are three-lobed, and look maple-like, hence the name “trilobum”.

This large shrub can grow 8 to 15 feet tall by 8 to 10 feet wide, preferring well-drained, moist, rich, and loamy soils, however, tolerates occasional flooding, road salt, and wet sites. Its dense foliage, stems, and fruit make it an excellent plant for attracting birds and small mammals, and the small clusters of white flowers preceding the fruits attract many pollinators.

American cranberry makes a beautiful landscape plant as it changes with the seasons and can be either grown individually or trained into a hedge or screen with multiple plantings.

Berries, flowers and foliage of American cranberry.