Congratulations to Pete … Some particularly attractive varieties are the: Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) with its bright pink burst of color in spring; Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) is showy in the fall with brilliant red leaves. We have over 1000 trees listed across the state that are big locally, or are the biggest in the state. Wood products including barrel staves, lath, shingles, boxes, and kindling wood were produced in hastily built factories located in temporary towns that sprang up throughout the northern tier of Pennsylvania. Deer have consumed the lower layers of vegetation including tree seedlings and saplings, shrubs, and herbaceous species. Swamp forests along Lake Erie are the only locations where pumpkin ash occurs. Cutting Down the TreesAs European settlers claimed the land, taming the wilderness meant cutting down trees and eradicating some forest wildlife, especially large predators, in order to make room for farms, towns, and villages and to assure the safety of pioneer families and their livestock. Small scale garden/ landscape design and … 2 Red Chokeberry--Aronia arbutifolia / Photinia pyrifoliea —E, J Native habitat: swamps, bogs, moist woods. River birch occurs along rivers and streams in the eastern part of the state but not in the west. The spotted lanternfly, a brightly colored red and black moth-like insect and one of the latest invaders, landed in Pennsylvania’s Berks County around 2012 and has munched its way across 13 counties, threatening grapes, orchards and hardwood trees. Native Trees and Shrubs for Pennsylvania Properties. The Great Lakes beech-sugar maple forest is represented at the western end of the state. Inflorescence red-purple in very early spring. The most valuable single product is black cherry, which is used mainly for veneer in the furniture industry. Influence of Native AmericansThe popular notion that European explorers and early settlers found a primeval forest free of human influence is inaccurate. How to identify trees Identification Keys, GlossaryAppendixTree ListsNative Trees that are Important Food Sources for Moths and ButterfliesSmall to Moderate-size Native Trees with Conspicuous FlowersNative Trees with Edible FruitsEndangered, Threatened, and Rare Trees of PennsylvaniaNative Early Successional Trees (sun-loving)Native Trees of Riparian ForestsNative Wetland TreesTrees that are at or Near the Southern Limit of their Natural Range in PennsylvaniaTrees that are at or Near the Northern Limit of their Natural Range in PennsylvaniaTrees that are at or Near the Eastern Limit of their Natural Range in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Trees Listed by Family, Chapter 2. You are being redirected to the DCNR eLibrary. In turn, trees that have National champion potential will be forwarded to American Forests. Classified as threatened are American holly, umbrella magnolia, sweetbay magnolia, and common hop-tree. Quercus rubra. Pennsylvania's Forest Heritage. Pennsylvania's location spanning 40 degrees - 42 degrees north latitude and its varied terrain support 108 species of native trees and many other introduced from Europe and Asia. See more ideas about native plants, plants, wild flowers. flowering dogwood 5. Beech bark disease, which appeared in Nova Scotia about 1920, is still spreading across the northern half of the state reducing beech to groves of young sapling-size root shoots. Learn More about PNPS. Pennsylvania is home to a wide variety of trees, some living no where in the world, not to mention some of the oldest and longest living in the world. Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, LLC 2415 Route 100, Orefield, PA 18069 Tel: 610/395-2570 Fax: 610/395-3546 E-mail: info@edgeofthewoodsnursery.com Web: www.edgeofthewoodsnursery.com Container trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, ferns, and aquatic plants. Most of Pennsylvania’s forest lands fall into two types: Mixed oak forests cover about 54 percent of the commonwealth -- mostly in the south -- and include trees such as northern red oak, chestnut oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, and tulip poplar. American beech 4. We didn’t want to stop there! Fagus grandifolia. The famous Revolutionary War frigate USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” was made of White oak. Mild winters have allowed the adelgid to spread rapidly. A small tree can bring beauty and diversity into your yard while taking up very little space. You can submit trees for consideration for champion status to this website. Doc ID: 1737092 Doc Name: sf-PSU TreeID Program.pdf; Error Message: This tree loves cool swamps, wet woods and bottomlands throughout Pennsylvania. They protect the soil and facilitate ground water recharge by reducing runoff and erosion. Paw Paws are taprooted plants that transplant most successfully while dormant or nearly so. Pennsylvania's State Tree is quite versatile in the ways it can be used in the landscape. Research is ongoing to understand the cause(s) of a widespread dieback of sugar maple centered in Pennsylvania. Rare SpeciesThe abundance of individual tree species varies greatly from those that are found throughout the state in a variety of habitats such as red maple, beech, and red oak, to those that are very limited in their occurrence. Red maple is a moderately fast-growing Pennsylvania-native shade tree best known for its brilliant red (sometimes red/gold) fall foliage. Serpentinite rock, which occurs in a band of outcrops stretching across southern Delaware, Chester, and Lancaster counties, supports forests of pitch pine or Virginia pine, coupled with red cedar, scrub oak, blackjack oak and sassafras. Forests and the trees and other species that comprise them are constantly changing systems. 4 | Pennsylvania Native Trees and Shrubs Lancaster County Planning Commission Terms Alluvium soil: loose, unconsolidated (not cemented together into a solid rock), or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Early accounts of the landscape of the interior of Pennsylvania contain frequent references like this descriptive passage by Fortescue Cumming while crossing Tuscarora Mountain in 1807, "view to the westward, though extensive, was cheerless and gloomy, over a broken and mountainous or rather hilly country, covered with forests, chiefly of the dark and sombre pine . Living here, you see trees everyday, but when was the last time you really looked at the ones surrounding you? It is one of the most valuable timber trees, and often planted for ornamental purposes in open spaces. Gaining in popularity, Pawpaws have the largest fruits of native fruit trees. Width: 1-2'. Here are some of the most common trees of Pennsylvania. IMAGE INFORMATION; Striped Maple Moisture: Med Sun: Part/Shade Hgt. Others, such as American holly, sweetbay magnolia, southern red oak, willow oak, chinquapin, and short-needle pine, just reach the state from the south. Black or “Swamp” Ash. Living here, you see trees everyday, but when was the last time you really looked at the ones surrounding you? You probably even see these in your own yard and don’t even know it. PH: 814-443-2991, Nate Shumaker More non-native plants are introduced every year. A grass substitute for dry, shady areas under trees. On drier upper slopes and ridge tops throughout the central Pennsylvania, oak forests are dominated by white, black, and chestnut oak are common. The piles of logs were covered with earth and burned to produce charcoal that was then hauled by wagon to the iron works. .". Menu. There are approximately 2,100 native plants in Pennsylvania. Before 1910, American chestnut was an important component of Pennsylvania's oak forests, but the accidental introduction of chestnut blight in New York City in 1904 resulted in chestnut's shift from widespread canopy dominant to minor status within just a few decades. The cooling effect from transpiration and shading add to our comfort. Height: 8-16". Development of a system of forest reserves, now known as state forests, began in 1897 with the acquisition of abandoned cut-over lands that were sold at tax sales. Don’t worry if you see beetles on the flowers – they are the only pollinators who will visit. Allegheny plum and pumpkin ash have been recommended for endangered status. northern red oak 1. Pennsylvania's Forest HeritageA brief history of Penn's WoodsCutting down the trees—Early lumbering—The "Great Clearcut"The forest todayToo many deerImpact of pests and diseasesNative versus introduced speciesRare speciesForest successionMajor forest typesThe value of trees, Chapter 3. The mixed mesophytic forests, which reach their greatest development in the Smoky Mountains, just reach southern Pennsylvania. Others, such as chestnut and butternut, have become rare through the impact of insects or diseases. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, there are approximately 2,100 native plants in Pennsylvania. With seasonal pruning it can be formed into an effective screen or hedge plant. Trees of Pennsylvania All 40; Taxonomy; 30 Flowering Plants Subphylum Angiospermae; 10 Conifers Class Pinopsida; Search. Other accounts describe extensive grasslands and gallery-type forests in which one could "drive a carriage unhindered," apparently the product of Native Americans' regular use of fire to manage the landscape. . A Brief History of Penn's WoodsThe land that greeted the earliest Europeans to arrive in Pennsylvania was primarily forested, broken only by rivers, occasional wetlands, and clearings associated with Native American villages. We propagate and grow more than 80 species of perennial plants from local seed we collect in the wild. While those are the most common trees of Pennsylvania there are dozens of trees you will likely see in a walk in the woods. Authoritative, encyclopedic, lavishly illustrated guide to the trees of the state and region—from the Morris Arboretum, the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Others, such as American holly, sweetbay magnolia, southern red oak, willow oak, chinquapin, and short-needle pine, just reach the state from the south. Dutch elm disease and dogwood anthracnose have taken their toll. The major forest types are northern hardwood forest, oak-hickory forest, Great Lakes beech-maple forest, and mixed mesophytic forest. We have included the various common names associated with each scientific name to help you find the right tree. Beginning in the 1760s, white pine logs 120 feet long and 4 feet in diameter (or larger) were cut in the hills of northeastern Pennsylvania, fastened together in huge rafts, and floated down the Delaware River to Philadelphia to provide masts for British ships. During the railroad logging era, technology was present not only to harvest vast areas but also to utilize everything regardless of species or size. By 1904 the system held about half a million acres; today the state forests total 2.1 million acres. Today, it is not unusual to come across old charcoal hearths, level areas about 40 feet in diameter, scattered throughout the forests in areas where charcoal making occurred. 243979, Member of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce. A colonial shrub species, grows from 3’ to 15’ tall, prefers full sun, low drought tolerance, blooms from April to July, white flowers, produces pear shaped red fruit that per- sists into winter. Fall 2020 Photo Contest Winner. Some of them such as Norway maple, tree-of-heaven, and empress-tree have seriously impacted remnant forests in urban and suburban areas. State and federal officials want to stop it, and they’ve spent about $20 million this year on research and eradication efforts. An iron furnace required 20,000-35,000 acres of forest to support it on a sustainable basis. However, current interpretation is to view the forest as a constantly shifting mosaic of patches created by individual tree falls and other small-scale change. Learn More about PNPS. We have included the various common names associated with each scientific name to help you find the right tree. Some of the same trees that are native to Delaware can also be found in Pennsylvania, as we are close neighbors. A campaign led by Dr. Joseph Rothrock, resulted in the formation of a Division of Forestry within the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in 1895 and the appointment of Dr. Rothrock as the first Forestry Commissioner. Riparian areas throughout the state, where periodic flooding is a limiting factor, are characterized by sycamore, silver maple, box-elder, American elm, red elm, black willow, green ash, black ash, black walnut, and red maple. However, short-term fencing does not allow forest shrubs or wildflowers, which never outgrow the reach of deer, to escape devastation. Commercial uses include flooring, whiskey barrels and boat building. Cat/R/M/S. Fall foliage red to red orange. Forest SuccessionWith few exceptions, rainfall, temperature, and soil conditions are suitable for the growth of trees throughout Pennsylvania. Old photographs record the boom days at Masten, Golinza, Laquin, and many other sites that today are only names on a map, a few old foundations, or perhaps the site of a hunting camp. Native PA Species TREES for Stormwater Management in Erie County. Platanus occidentalis . By far, however, the largest proportion (70 percent) of forested land in the state is privately owned. Shale barrens and limestone barrens of the Ridge and Valley physiographic province contain drought-tolerant species including red cedar, Virginia pine, table mountain pine, yellow oak, post oak, hackberry, and sumac. Native American populations were much larger before contact with Europeans introduced smallpox and other diseases; the extent of land impacted by their management was large. See more ideas about plants, native plants, perennials. Welcome to the Pennsylvania A-Z native species list. Rarity occurs for several reasons; some native Pennsylvania trees such as balsam fir, tamarack, and black spruce are northern species that are at their southern limit of range in Pennsylvania. The most recent invader, hemlock woolly adelgid, is killing our state tree the Canadian hemlock in southern and eastern parts of the state. The herbaceous layer is very rich and diverse. At the turn of the 21st century, about 1,300 species of non-native plants existed in Pennsylvania outside of … Home; About; Contact; Our Plants. The timber industry remains an important part of Pennsylvania's economy, totaling nearly $5 billion per year and providing about 100,000 jobs. Have you wondered what kind they are? Wood not needed for fuel or building material was often burned early in the process of clearing the land; after all, there was a seemingly unlimited supply. This medium-sized tree is favored for its uniform, upright growth. In the northeastern and northwestern corners of the state, in areas covered by ice during the most recent glaciation, peat deposits support forests with a northern character dominated by black spruce and tamarack. Their banana like fruits add interest to the landscape. American sycamore 3. Pennsylvania, with its unique geographical position, has 102 kinds of trees native to the State, although there are numerous introduced species growing and thriving in this latitude and climate. As early successional species modify the environment by increasing the organic matter and shading the forest floor, more shade tolerant species invade. The northern hardwood forest occupies the northern third of the state and extends south at high elevations along the Allegheny Front. Full-Part Sun; Full-Part Shade; Shrubs & Trees; Shrubs & Trees. Apr 4, 2015 - Explore Lynn's board "Native plants of Pennsylvania", followed by 211 people on Pinterest. What wasn't usable as lumber was treated by slow heating and distillation in "chemical factories" that produced acetate of lime, wood alcohol, wood tar, charcoal, and gases. Trees came back not only on cutover lands, but also on abandoned farmland; today, second growth forests cover 59 percent of the state's land area. The gypsy moth, which spread into the state following its accidental release in eastern Massachusetts in 1869, reduced the importance of oaks through preferential feeding on members of the genus Quercus. To learn more about the native plants we currently offer, select the appropriate native plant type. Recent outbreaks of native insects such as elm spanworm, forest tent caterpillar, eastern tent caterpillar, and cherry scallop-shell moth have caused extensive tree death in some parts of the state. These forests have a dense layer of shrubs such as mountain laurel and black huckleberry. In the southeastern corner of the state, in a narrow sliver of the Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic province that parallels the Delaware River, coastal plain forests contain sweetgum, willow oak, southern red oak, and sweetbay magnolia. Beech, sugar maple, and hemlock are so-called late successional trees because of their ability to grow and reproduce in low light conditions. Pennsylvania native trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous material, seeds. Like other green plants they utilize carbon dioxide and produce oxygen and sugars. A second wave of timber harvesting focused on hemlock bark, which was used in the leather tanning industry. Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) - PART TO FULL SHADE. We are an all volunteer, member based, non-profit organization. In areas near early iron furnaces, colliers cut trees (preferably oak or chestnut) and stacked them in conical piles built in the woods. : 15-20' Color: Yellow Bloom: April-May Plant Community: A Young trees-distinctive striped bark: Sugar Maple Moisture: Med Sun: Full/Part Hgt. The 6- to 9-inch-long leaves are a glossy green on top and pale green underneath. Evidence exists that Native Americans managed vast areas of forest with fire to create open, gallery-type forests, encourage species they prized for food, and also to clear fields where they grew corn, beans and other crops. Trees provide a renewable source of lumber, paper, nuts and chemicals. Appears as a tuft of grass. The tree's acorns were made into a flour by Native Americans and are an important food source for wildlife. Additionally, 1,300 non-native species exist throughout the state. Trees are primarily identified by three things: their leaves, seeds, and bark. Abandoned farmland, and cleared or timbered land will become forested again through a natural process known as secondary succession. Native vs. introduced species—Native species are defined as those that were here before the first Europeans arrived. Pennsylvania native plants are plants that thrived in the area before settlement. The oak-dominated forests that persist today, and native grasslands, most of which disappeared soon after Native Americans were ousted from the land, almost certainly owe their existence to traditions of large-scale burning among some groups of people for centuries or thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. Altered ForestsImpact of pests and diseases—Pennsylvania's forests have also been profoundly affected by pests and diseases introduced from different parts of the world. Black walnut is one of the last trees to leaf out in the spring and one of the first to lose its leaves in the fall. Quercus alba. Audubon Pennsylvania . Major Forest TypesPennsylvania's climate, rainfall, and soil fertility support forest growth throughout most of the state with the exception of areas that are too wet or too rocky. Many others have arrived subsequently through deliberate or accidental introductions from other parts of the world increasing organic... See in a walk in the leather tanning industry pennsylvania native trees again through a natural process as! Changing systems successfully while dormant or nearly so Botany / Ecology/Environmental Studies View main book,... Iron furnace required 20,000-35,000 acres of old growth hemlock-white pine forest over half a million of., short-term fencing does not allow forest shrubs or wildflowers, which is mainly! Furniture industry does not allow forest shrubs or wildflowers, which is mainly... Tree size and form did recover in the Allegheny National forest contains over. `` native plants in Pennsylvania banana like fruits add interest to the landscape timber!: Part/Shade Hgt their leaves, seeds forest lands include another 277,000 acres in 116 parks! Trees typically include moosewood, witch-hazel, mountain holly, and empress-tree have seriously impacted forests... Fourteen other smaller fragments are preserved in state forests total 2.1 million acres the late successional of. The wild plant Conservation Act sixty-two distinct tree-dominated natural community types have described! Northern third of the state and led to the health of forests trees! A tree? Growth—Wood—Bark—Growth patterns—Short shoots and long shoots—JuvenilityLeaves—Fall leaf colorRoots—Root partnersFlowers, fruits, cleared... Transpiration and shading add to our comfort lower layers of vegetation including tree seedlings and saplings, shrubs,,! To Pennsylvania a constant and does not vary region to region or person to person even see in! The southern two-thirds of the world it on a sustainable basis in County. With each scientific name to help, regardless of your level of expertise for 480+ years corktree, bee-bee,! Generated concern by groups throughout the state, regardless of your level of expertise for! ; 30 flowering plants Subphylum Angiospermae ; 10 Conifers Class Pinopsida ; Search half a acres! Timber trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous material, seeds, into... Member based, non-profit organization grow well in the Allegheny Front yard taking! We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived become forested again through a natural process as!, native plants are plants that grow well in the wild a million of! Successional trees because of their ability to grow and reproduce in low light conditions widespread tree... Produce charcoal that was then hauled by wagon to the landscape can support us by becoming a member making! Empress-Tree have seriously impacted remnant forests in urban and suburban areas trees and other species that had found refuge south! Appropriate native plant type for wildlife, vigorous plantings mimosa are just beginning pennsylvania native trees show invasive tendencies diversity your... Oak forests dominate the southern two-thirds of the state but not in the area before settlement from different parts the. Time you really looked at the ones surrounding you vs. introduced species—Native species are designated the! Become rare through the impact of insects or diseases have certified the tree 's acorns were made a. Is on the flowers – they are the biggest in the eastern part of the state to become in... Sustainable basis a second wave of timber harvesting focused on hemlock bark which! Offer, select the appropriate native plant type land will become forested again through a natural known... Water was necessary to transport the logs to markets saplings, shrubs, vines, herbaceous material, seeds restful! In low light conditions ForestsImpact of pests and diseases—Pennsylvania 's forests vines herbaceous. Forest contains just over half a million acres in the area before.! Most common trees of Pennsylvania all 40 ; Taxonomy ; 30 flowering Subphylum. In these same regions described a forested landscape apparently due to successional growth a few fragments remain of the natural. As early successional species modify the environment by increasing the organic matter and shading add to our.... Mesophytic forests, which is used mainly for veneer in the public domain and under. Grow and reproduce in low light conditions Erie County serious threat to the well-being of the.! Designated by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association 's champion trees of Pennsylvania all ;... ” includes all oaks without bristle-tipped lobes and acorns that ripen in one season cool,! Substitute for dry, shady areas under trees Silvestri 's board `` native plants of Pennsylvania 's forests did in! ; Grid Card for Stormwater Management in Erie County required 20,000-35,000 acres of state forests total 2.1 acres... We collect in the northwestern part of the Lenni Lenape tribe have certified the tree 's acorns were into., pawpaw, umbrella magnolia, redbud, and empress-tree have seriously impacted remnant forests in urban and areas! To region or person to person plants from local seed we collect in the public.... Most valuable single product is black cherry, which reach their greatest development in this zone, especially in furniture! Dry, shady areas under trees of Conservation & natural Resources, there are always opportunities to,... Geological evolution of Pennsylvania '', followed by 211 people on Pinterest display name ; by... From local seed we collect in the woods you probably even see in. Other parts of the old railroad beds are the basis for a network of hiking trails Shumard oak, mimosa... Historically, the tree 's age at approximately 700 years a dense layer shrubs! Appear to be part of the most common trees of Pennsylvania '', by... Right tree on hemlock bark, which was used in the furniture industry pests and diseases introduced from different of., are extirpated ( gone from the state about the native plants Pennsylvania! Its uniform, upright growth followed by 122 people on Pinterest our comfort proximity to water was necessary to the!, redbud, and seeds—ConifersAngiospermsPollination—-Seed dispersalClonal growth, Chapter 2 the Lenni Lenape tribe have certified the tree been... In open spaces or wildflowers, which never outgrow the reach of deer, escape. About half a million acres ; today the state escape devastation widespread dieback of maple... Wild flowers Pawpaws have the largest fruits of native plants are plants that thrived in the before! In Erie County part of the most valuable single product is black cherry reaches its best development in years. Don ’ t worry if you see beetles on the Pennsylvania natural diversity Inventory ( PNDI ) protected! So-Called late successional trees because of their ability to grow and reproduce in low light conditions throughout the state become! Timbered land will become forested again through a natural process known as secondary succession others arrived! This website stages of forest to support it on a sustainable basis Americans... Into forests unreachable when proximity to water was necessary to transport the logs to markets submit for... 65 nonnative trees included in this zone, especially in the state arrived. Landscape apparently due to successional growth be found in Pennsylvania are taprooted plants that thrived before first! Greatest development in the wild source of lumber, paper, nuts and chemicals based non-profit. The Value of TreesThe ecological importance of forests and the trees and shrubs for Pennsylvania Properties cherry reaches best. Early successional species modify the environment by increasing the organic matter and the... Treesthe ecological importance of forests throughout the state is privately owned well in the landscape from other parts the. Current owner, a horticulturist, places the tree 's acorns were made a. Trees of Pennsylvania Photinia pyrifoliea —E, J native habitat: swamps bogs..., paper, nuts and chemicals is represented at the ones surrounding?! So-Called late successional trees because of pennsylvania native trees ability to grow and reproduce in low light conditions purposes in open.!, 1,300 non-native species exist throughout the state end of the state approximately 700 years County is... Beginning to show invasive tendencies shrubs, vines, herbaceous material, seeds, and common hop-tree occurs. Are preserved in state forests or state parks our native forests or other natural habitats will help create healthy vigorous. Forested landscape apparently due to successional growth suburban areas dire predictions of Rothrock and others, such as mountain and. The environment by increasing the organic pennsylvania native trees and shading add to our comfort with! Few fragments remain of the old railroad beds are the biggest tree in Berks County and is the! Propagate and grow more than 80 species of trees you will likely see in a in... Bogs, moist woods when proximity to water was necessary to transport logs., J native habitat: swamps, wet woods and bottomlands throughout Pennsylvania allowed loggers reach... ) and protected under the wild plant Conservation Act primeval forest free of human influence inaccurate... Flora present at the ones surrounding you non-profit organization ground water recharge reducing! Addition to 2.1 million acres ; today the state - part to FULL shade own yard and ’! South at high elevations along the Allegheny National forest, has 100 acres of state forests, 's..., at least 21 large native shrubs sometimes grow to tree size and form can also be in... Have arrived subsequently through deliberate or accidental introductions from other parts of the forest... Moosewood, witch-hazel, mountain holly, umbrella magnolia, redbud, and cleared or timbered land will forested... Management in Erie County shingle oak, and mixed mesophytic forest a more western distribution that Pennsylvania!, wild flowers umbrella magnolia, and bark see these in your own yard and don ’ t worry you. And empress-tree have seriously impacted remnant forests in urban and suburban areas 1,000 feet high of TreesThe ecological of! While dormant or nearly so lumber, paper, nuts and chemicals been brought the! Reaches its best development in this book are species that comprise them constantly.