Wildlife Pack West

SAWTOOTH OAK (Quercus acutissima) - (10 seedlings) Sawtooth oak is a native of Asia, growing naturally in Japan, Korea and China. In its natural range, it is a fairly large tree, reaching heights of 50 to 60 feet and diameters of 2 to 4 feet. It is a broad-crowned species with a short stock trunk that breaks up into branches close to the ground. It has been planted as an ornamental in the northeastern United States for many years. In the Southeast, sawtooth oak is planted most commonly as a wildlife food. It is in the white oak group, with a large, sweet acorn. Studies of existing plantations in this country suggest that acorn production begins as early as the tree’s sixth year, and that by age 10, acorn production is regular and moderate to heavy. The acorns are highly desirable for squirrels and deer.

FLOWERING DOGWOOD (Cornus florida) - (10 seedlings) Most people know this familiar species of small tree simply as dogwood, but it has also been called flowering dogwood, boxwood and cornel. It is found throughout the eastern United States from southeastern Maine across the New England states and New York to Michigan; southwestward to east Texas, and across the Gulf States to central Florida; it is found all across North Carolina. It grows on a variety of soils from deep and moist along streams to light textured and well drained in the uplands. Dogwood grows well on flats and lower of middle slopes, but not very well on upper slopes and ridges. This species is one of America’s most popular for ornamental and landscape planting. Its wood is very hard and smooth textured. Once commonly used for textile manufacturing its use is limited now to specialty products. It is extremely valuable for wildlife because the seed, fruit, flowers, twigs, bark and leaves are used as food by various animals. At least 36 species of birds, including ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail and wild turkey are known to eat the fruit. Chipmunks, foxes, squirrels, skunks, rabbits, deer, beaver, black bear plus other mammals, also eat the fruit. Foliage and twigs are browsed heavily by deer and rabbits.

BLACK WALNUT (Juglans nigra) - (10 seedlings) Black walnut is a valuable forest tree that grows among other species on right bottomlands and moist fertile hillsides throughout North Carolina and across most of the eastern United States. It grows best on deep, well-drained soils, and thrives in well-drained bottomlands and mountain coves. It has a moderate growth rate. Environmental forestry plantings are recommended only on well-drained soils with a minimum of 2 to 3 feet surface-layer depth. Full sunlight is required. Black walnut normally reaches 50 to 90 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. It matures in about 150 years, but may live as long as 250 years. It produces a chemical, juglone, which is toxic to certain plant species. Often, vegetation growing under black walnut trees is different than that found under surrounding species. Black walnut wood, especially the heartwood with its rich chocolate-brown color, is one of the most valuable native woods. Its more important uses include fine furniture, cabinetwork and gunstocks. Its nuts are also prized for distinctive flavor; nutshells are used as an abrasive in certain manufacturing processes. The nuts also are a favorite food of squirrels.

BLACKGUM (Nyssa sylvatica) - (10 seedlings) Blackgum is also called black tupelo, pepperidge, sour gum, tupelo, tupelo-gum and gum tree. It is found from southwestern Maine west to New York, extreme southern Ontario, central Michigan, Illinois and central Missouri; and south to eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas and southern Florida. Optimum development occurs on lower slopes and terraces in the southeastern United States on well drained, light textured soils. However, it has adapted to a wide variety of sites. It will survive, but with a slow growth rate, on dry upland locations. This species usually grows in mixed stands with hardwood and/or conifer species, but rarely in pure stands. This tree is of commercial value for both lumber production and paper pulp manufacturing. Its fruit is a source of food for many small animals and birds. This tree is usually one of the first to change leaf color in the fall, retaining a brilliant color until its leaves drop.

COMMON PERSIMMON (Diospyros virginiana) - (10 seedlings) The common persimmon, also called simmon, possumwood and Florida persimmon, is found from lower New York westward to southeast Iowa and southward to the Texas Gulf coast. It grows throughout North Carolina. Persimmon is a slow growing tree of moderate size (25 to 50 feet tall with a diameter of about one-foot). The crown is generally broad and rounded. This species is dioecious; male and female flowers are produced on separate trees. The male tree, of course, never produces fruit. This hardwood tree produces a deep taproot. Common persimmon grows on a wide range of sites – including dry, sterile, sandy woodlands, rocky ridges and moist rich river bottoms. It is rarely found in pure stands but it does grow among many kinds of conifers and hardwoods. Common persimmon wood is heavy, hard, strong, and very close grained. These characteristics make it highly desirable for turnery, plane stocks, shoe lasts, shuttles and golf club heads. It is sometimes planted for its edible fruit and is valued as an ornamental.

HICKORY (Carya spp.) - (10 seedlings) Hickory wood is heavy, hard and strong; it is considered very important. It is used for handles, tools and other specialty products. Hickory is an important source of food for many wildlife species. Squirrels eat the nuts, sometimes before ripening. Wild turkey and several kinds of songbirds eat the nuts and flowers. Black bears, foxes, rabbits and raccoons eat the nuts and bark and other small mammals eat the nuts and leaves. Deer occasionally feed on the nuts, twigs and leaves.

WILLOW OAK (Quercus phellos) - (10 seedlings) Willow oak, sometimes called peach oak, pin oak or swamp chestnut oak, grows on a variety of moist alluvial soils. It is commonly found along watercourses. It grows naturally in coastal plain bottomlands from New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to Georgia and northern Florida; west to Texas; and north in the Mississippi River Valley to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. This medium to large tree with willow-like foliage is known for its rapid growth and long life. Its wood is valuable for pulp and lumber, and may be used for fuel or charcoal. This species is also widely planted as an ornamental. Because it produces an acorn crop almost every year, willow oak is a very important species for wildlife food production. It is a major food for game animals such as ducks, deer, squirrels and turkey. It also provides food for blue jays and woodpeckers, grackles, flickers and mice. Flying squirrels utilize the tree itself.

CHINESE CHESTNUT (Castanea mollissima) - (10 seedlings) The Chinese chestnut is native to China and Korea but has been widely planted throughout the eastern United States, mostly for nut production following the destruction of the native chestnut by the blight. It grows on a wide range of soil types, conditions and elevation. Chinese chestnut is highly resistant to the chestnut blight; the nuts are valuable for human consumption and a valuable wildlife food. This species has limited value as a timber tree, but is used for ornamental trees in lawns and parks. Chestnut fruits are perishable and must be harvested promptly when ripe.

BLACK CHERRY (Prunus Serotina) - (10 seedlings) Black cherry is the largest of the native cherries of the United States and the only one of commercial value. This tree grows from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota; south to central Florida and central Texas; wet to Arizona and below the boarder through Mexico and Guatemala. This species grows under a wide range of climates and soil conditions; from dry semi-desert to the moist sub-tropical climates of Florida and the moist cool climates of the northern United States. It is most productive in a cool, moist temperate climate with adequate and well-distributed precipitation. The general pattern of growth on fertile, moist soils is rapid for the first 45 to 50 years, gradually tapering off during succeeding decades. It is a commercially valuable tree for lumber used in fine furniture manufacturing. Fruit is produced on open grown trees at an early age; around 10 years. The tree continues to produce an abundant fruit crop each year until it is very old. The fruit is eaten by animals; especially songbirds. Humans use the fruit in jellies and wines. Black cherry bark is known for its medicinal properties as well – it is used often in cough medicines, tonics and sedatives.

CRAB APPLE (Malus spp.) - (10 seedlings) Crab apple includes 25-30 species of deciduous trees or shrubs native to the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. It is important as a fruit bearer and ornamental, having value for wildlife food and shelterbelt planting. There are a number of native apple species having little or no importance as timber producers. It is the state flower of Arkansas and Michigan.