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Home My Public Portal AboutCCC Approved Plants CAPE COD COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PO Box 367 Barnstable, MA 02630 508 375-6690 (www.capecodextension.org) Trees & Shrubs for Coastal Environments: Plants for this section were selected based on their ability to successfully grow in coarse soils and windy environments, and for salt spray tolerance. Plants marked with will tolerate direct coastal exposure. Soil Moisture Sun IND = Indicator status Symbols W = wet SU = sun OBL = Obligate ! = Possible pests M = moist PS = part shade FACW = Facultative wetlands # = stoloniferous D = dry SH= shade FAC = Facultative OC = On Center FACU = Facultative uplands c = caliper Shrubs, low Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt Tol. Opt. size Spacing Arctostaphylos uva-ursi bearberry X X 12” x 4’ Yes 4” pot 12” OC #Comptonia peregrina sweet fern FACU X X X X 2’ x 3’ Yes 1-2 G 30”–36”OC Gaylussacia spp. huckleberry X X X X 1.5’ x 3’ sod 3’ OC Hypericum densiflorum dense St. John's wort FAC X X X X 4’ x 4’ Yes 1 G 3’ OC Kalmia angustifolia sheep laurel X X X X 2’ x 2’ 2 G 3’ OC !Juniperus horizontalis creeping juniper X X X 12” x 4’ Yes 1-3 G 3’–5’ OC Prunus maritima beach plum X X X X 1-8’ x 5’ Yes 5 G. 5’ OC Rosa carolina pasture rose X X X X 3’ x 3’ 1 G 4’ OC Viburnum acerifolium maple-leaved arrowwood X X X X 6’ x 4’ 2’-3’ 5’-6’ OC Shrubs, medium Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt Tol. Opt. size Spacing Aronia arbutifolia red chokeberry FACW X X X X 6’ x 5’ 1’-2’ 4 -6’ OC Baccharis halimifolia groundsel tree FACW X X X 6’ x 6’ Yes 1 G 4’ OC Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush OBL X X X 6’ x 6’ 2’-4’ 5’-8’ OC Clethra alnifolia sweet pepperbush, FAC+ X X X X X 6’ x 6’ 1 G 4’ OC Cornus amomum silky dogwood FACW X X X 6’ x 6’ 2’-3’ 4’-6’ OC Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel FAC- X X X X 15’ x 5’ 2’-4’ 5’ OC Ilex glabra inkberry FACW+ X X X 6’ x 6’ Yes 5 G 4’-5’ OC Ilex verticillata winterberry FACW+ X X X X X 10’ x10’ Yes 2’-4’ 4’-6’ OC ! Juniperus communis pasture juniper X X 5’ x 8’ Yes 1 G 4’-5’ OC Lindera benzoin spicebush FACW- X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 4’-5’ OC Myrica gale sweet gale OBL X X X 4’ x 4’ 2 G 4’-5’ OC Myrica pensylvanica northern bayberry FAC X X X X 9’ x 9’ Yes 3 G 4’ OC Rhododendron viscosum swamp azalea OBL X X X 5’ x 5’ 3’-4’ 4’-5’ OC # Rhus aromatica fragrant sumac X X X X 6’ x 10’ 2 G 4’ OC # Rhus glabra smooth sumac X X X 10’ x 0’ Yes 2’-4’ 4’ OC Rosa palustris swamp rose OBL X X X X 7’ x ? 1 G 4’ OC Sambucus canadensis common elderberry FACW- X X X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 4’ OC Vaccinium corymbosum highbush blueberry FACW- X X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 6’ – 8’OC Viburnum cassinoides Witherod viburnum X X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 6’ OC Viburnum dentatum arrowwood FACW- X X X X 8’ x 8’ Yes 2 G 6’ OC Viburnum nudum Smooth witherod X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 6’ OC Viburnum trilobum Am. Cranberry viburnum FACW X X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 6’ OC Shrubs, tall Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt Tol. Opt. size Spacing Alnus serrulata smooth alder OBL X X X 15’ x15’ 2’-3’ 8’ OC ! Kalmia latifolia mountain laurel FACU X X X X X 10’ x10’ 2 G 6’ OC #Rhus copallina shining sumac X X X 20’ x20’ 2 G 5’ OC #Rhus typhina staghorn sumac X X 25’ x25’ Yes 2 G 6’ OC Trees, small (understory) Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D Su PS Sh H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Amelanchier canadensis shadbush FAC X X X X 15’ x 5’ Yes 4’-6’ 8’-12’OC ! Cornus florida flowering dogwood X X X X X 20’ x20’ 1½”-2” c 12’-15’OC Crataegus crus-galli cockspur hawthorn X X X X 20’ x 0’ 1½”-2” c 12’-15’OC ! Ilex opaca American holly X X X 30’ x 5’ 4’-5’ 12’-15’OC !Juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar FACU X X X 35’ x 5’ Yes 4’-6’ 8’-10’ OC Magnolia virginiana sweetbay magnolia FACW+ X X X X X 20’ x20’ 3’-4’ 15’-20’OC Ostrya virginiana ironwood FACU- X X X X 25’ x20’ 1½” -2” c 20’ OC Sassafras albidum sassafras FACU- X X X X 25’x25’’ 1½”-2” c 20’ OC Trees, tall (canopy) Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D Su PS Sh H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Acer rubrum red maple FAC X X X X X 40’ x30’ 2”-3” c 20’ OC Betula nigra river birch FACW X X X X 40’ x35’ 2” c 20’ OC Celtis occidentalis hackberry FACU X X X X 30’ x35’ Yes 2” c 20’ OC Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar OBL X X X 50’ x20’ 5’-8’ 20’ OC Fagus grandifolia American beech FACU X X X 60’ x60’ 2”-3” c 30’ OC Fraxinus americana white ash X X X 50’ x40’ 2”-3” c 25’-30’OC Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash FACW X X X 50’ x30’ 2”-3” c 25’-30’OC Liriodendron tulipifera tulip poplar X X X 70’ x50’ 2”-3” c 35’-40’OC Nyssa sylvatica tupelo FACW- X X X X X 50’ x30’ 2”-3” c 15’-20’OC ! Picea glauca white spruce X X X 40’ x20’ Yes 5’-6’ 20’-25’OC Picea mariana black spruce FACW- X X X 40’ x20’ 5’-6’ 20’-25’OC ! Pinus strobus white pine FACU X X X 80’ x40’ 4’-8’ 20’-25’OC ! Quercus alba white oak X X 60’ x40’ 2½”-3”c 20’ OC ! Quercus bicolor swamp white oak FACW+ X X X X 60’ x50’ 2½”-3” c 25’ OC ! Quercus coccinea scarlet oak X X 50’ x40’ 2½”-3” c 20’ OC !Quercus prinus chestnut oak X X X 60’ x60’ 2½”-3” c 25’ OC ! Quercus rubra northern red oak FACU- X X X X 60’ x60’ 2½”-3” c 25’ OC !Quercus velutina black oak X X X 60’ x50’ Yes 2½”-3” c 25’ OC Salix nigra black willow FACW+ X X X X 35’ x20’ 8’-10’ 20’ OC ! Tilia americana American basswood FACU X X 60’ x40’ 2”-3” c 20’ OC Fresh Water Resource Buffer Zone Trees & Shrubs Lakes, Ponds, & BVW Soil Moisture Sun IND = Indicator status Symbols W = wet SU = sun OBL = Obligate ! = possible pests M = moist PS = part shade FACW = Facultative wetlands # stoloniferous D = dry SH= shade FAC = Facultative OC = On Center FACU = Facultative uplands c – caliper Shrubs, low Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Arctostaphylos uva-ursi bearberry X X 12” x 4’ Yes 4” pot 12” OC Aronia melanocarpa black chokeberry FAC X X X X 6’ x 6’ Yes 1 -2 G 4’-6’ OC # Comptonia peregrina sweet fern X X X X 3' x 4’ Yes 1 -2 G 30”-36” OC Gaylussacia spp. huckleberry FACU X X X X 1.5’ x 3’ sod 3’ OC Shrubs, medium Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Aronia arbutifolia red chokeberry FACW X X X X 6’ x 5’ 1’ -2’ 4’ -6’ OC Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush OBL X X X 6’ x 6’ 2’ -4’ 5’ -8’ OC Cornus amomum silky dogwood FACW X X X 6’ x 6’ 2’ -3’ 4’-6’ OC Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel FAC- X X X X 15’ x15’ 2’ -4’ 5’ OC Ilex verticillata winterberry holly FACW+ X X X X X 10’ x10’ Yes 2’ -4’ 4’ -6’ OC Juniperus communis pasture juniper X X 5’ x 8’ Yes 1 G 4’ -5’ OC Lindera benzoin spicebush FACW- X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 4’ -5’ OC Rhododendron maximum rose bay rhododendron X X X 15' x 15’ 2’ - 4’ 10’ OC Rhododendron periclymenoides pink azalea, pinxterbloom FAC X X X 6’ x 6’ 1’ -2’ 6’ OC Rhododendron viscosum swamp azalea OBL X X X 6’ x 6’ 3’ -4’ 4’ -5’ OC # Rhus aromatica fragrant sumac X X X 6' x 6’ 2 G 4’ OC # Rhus glabra sweet or smooth sumac X X X 10’ x10’ Yes 2’ -4’ 4’ OC Rosa palustris swamp rose OBL X X X X 7' x ? 1 G 4’ OC Sambucus canadensis common elderberry FACW- X X X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 4’ OC Vaccinium corymbosum highbush blueberry FACW- X X X X 6’ x 6’ 2 G 6’ -8’ OC Hypericum densiflorum dense St. John's wort X X X 4’ x 4’ 1 G 3’ OC !Juniperus horizontalis creeping juniper X X X 12” x 4’ Yes 1 -3 G 3’ -5’ OC Rosa carolina pasture rose X X X X 3’ x 3’ 1 G 4’ OC #Rubus odoratus purple flowering raspberry X X X 5’ x ?' 1 G 3’ -4’ OC Spiraea alba narrow-leaved meadowsweet FAC+ X X X 5' X 3’ 1 G 2’-3’ OC Spiraea latifolia broad-leaved meadowsweet FAC+ X X X 5' X 3’ 1 G 2’ -3’ OC Vaccinium angustifolium late lowbush blueberry X X X X 2-3' X 2’ 1 G 3’ OC Viburnum acerifolium maple-leaved arrowwood X X X X 6’ X 4’ 2’-3’ 6’ OC Viburnum cassinoides witherod X X X 5’ x 5’ 2 G 6’ OC Viburnum dentatum) arrowwood FAC X X X X 8’ x 8’ Yes 2 G 6’ OC Viburnum nudum smooth witherod X X X 6’ X 6’ 2 G 6’ OC Viburnum trilobum Am. cranberrybush viburnum FACW X X X 8’ X 8’ 2 G 6’ OC Shrubs, tall Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Alnus serrulata smooth alder OBL X X X 15’ x15’ 2’-3’ 8’ OC Corylus americana American hazelnut or filbert X X X 10’ x 8’ 3’-4’ 8’ OC ! Kalmia latifolia mountain laurel FACU X X X X X 10' x 10’ 2 G 6’ OC # Rhus copallina shining or winged sumac X X X 20’ x 20’ Yes 2 G 5’ OC # Rhus typhina staghorn sumac X X 25’ x 25’ Yes 2 G 6’ OC Salix discolor pussy willow FACW X X X X 15’ x 15’ 5’-6’ 10’ OC Trees, small (understory) Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D SU PS SH H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Amelanchier arborea downy serviceberry X X X 20’ x 15’ 6’ -8’ 15’ OC Amelanchier canadensis serviceberry, shadbush FAC X X X X 20’ x 12’ Yes 6’ -8’ 12’ OC Amelanchier laevis smooth serviceberry X X X X 25’ x 18’ 6’ – 8’ 15’ OC Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam X X X 35 x 30’ 3” c 15’ OC Cornus alternifolia alternate-leaf dogwood X X X X 15’ x 20’ 8’ 15’ OC ! Cornus florida flowering dogwood X X X X X 20’ x 20’ 1½” -2” c 12’ -15’ OC Crataegus crus-galli cockspur hawthorn X X X X 20’ x 20’ Ilex opaca American holly X X X 30’ x 25’ 4’ -5’ 12’-15’ OC !Juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar FACU X X X 25’ x 25’ Yes 4’ -6’ 8’-10 OC Ostrya virginiana ironwood FACU- X X X X 25’ x 20’ 1½”– 2” c 20’ OC Trees, tall (canopy) Scientific Name Common Name IND W M D Su PS Sh H x W Salt tol. Opt. size Spacing Acer rubrum red maple FAC X X X X 40’ x 30’ 2”-3” c 20’ OC Betula nigra river birch FACW X X X X 40’ x 35’ 2” c 20’ OC Celtis occidentalis hackberry FACU X X X X 30’ x 35’ Yes 2” c 20’ OC Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar OBL X X X X 50’ x 20’ 5’ -8’ 20’ OC Fagus grandifolia American beech X X X 60’ x 60’ 2”-3” c 30’ OC Fraxinus americana white ash X X X 50’ x 40’ 2”-3” c 25’-30’ OC Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash FACW X X X X 50’ x 30’ 2”-3” c 25’-30’ OC Liriodendron tulipifera tulip tree X X X 70’ x 50’ 2”-3” c 35’-40’ OC Nyssa sylvatica black gum, sourgum FACW- X X X X X 50’ x 30’ 2’-3’ c 15’-20’ OC !Picea glauca white spruce X X X 40’ x 20’ Yes 5’-6’ 20’-25’ OC !Picea mariana black spruce FACW- X X X 40’ x 20’ 5’-6’ 20’-25’ OC ! Pinus strobus white pine X X X 80’ x 40’ 4’-8’ 20-25’ OC !Platanus occidentalis American sycamore X X X X 75’ x 75’ 3” c 25’-30’ OC !Quercus alba white oak X X 60’ x 40’ 2½” – 3” c 20’ )C !Quercus bicolor swamp white oak FACW+X X X 60’ x 50’ 2½”- 3” c 25’ OC !Quercus coccinea scarlet oak X X 50’ x 40’ 2½”- 3” c 20’ OC !Quercus rubra northern red oak FACU- X X X X 60’ x 60’ 2½”- 3” c 25’ OC !Quercus stellata post oak X X 60’ x60’ 2½”- 3” c 25’ OC !Quercus velutina black oak X X X 60’ x 60’ Yes 2½”-3”c 25’ OC Salix nigra black willow FACW+X X X X 35’ x 20’ 8’-10’ 20’ OC Tilia americana American basswood FACU X X 60’ x 40’ 2”-3” c 20’ OC Sassafras albidum sassafras FACU- X X X 25’ x 25’ 1½”– 2” c 20’ OC