Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - May 09, 2013
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Trees
Title: Trees to replace ones lost in Westchester County, NY
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We lost a large number of trees in the forest adjacent to our home, and I plan to replant them. What species do you recommend to plant the area with natives and to keep it looking "natural."ANSWER:
Was it Hurricane Sandy that took down your trees? I suspect so. If that is so, then I recommend your replacing them with the species that were lost if you know or remember which those were. That would ensure that the trees would be growing in the correct habitat. If, however, the trees were lost due to disease, then we should pick some other species. I have prepared a list of native trees that are reported to grow in Westchester County, New York according to the USDA Plants Database and our New York Recommended list of plants native to the state and commercially available for landscaping. All the trees below appear on both lists. There are deciduous ones and evergreens, small to large, relatively fast-growing and slow-growing trees on the list. If you would like to look at the ones on the New York Recommended list to see if there are other trees you might prefer, use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to limit the list by choosing "Trees" from the GENERAL APPEARANCE slot. You can also choose other criteria that match your site. Not all the plants on the New York Recommended list have been reported from Westchester County, but you can determine if they have by scrolling to near the bottom of the species page to the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES area and choosing the link to the USDA. On the USDA Plants Database page click on New York on the distribution map to see the county distribution in the state.
Betula populifolia (Gray birch)
Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam)
Carya ovata (Shagbark hickory)
Cornus florida (Flowering dogwood)
Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
Fraxinus americana (White ash)
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar)
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree)
Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine)
Prunus serotina (Black cherry)
Quercus coccinea (Scarlet oak)
Tsuga canadensis (Eastern hemlock)
Below are photos from our Image Gallery of some of the trees listed above.
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Landscaping in Bertram TX
September 25, 2009 - I have a landscaping job in Bertram, Texas and am looking for all my options as far as full and partial shade somewhat hardy plants. I'm mainly looking for small plants and pretty flowers I can do wi...
view the full question and answer
Protecting base of Texas Madrone tree in Austin
May 08, 2011 - 3 years ago, I successfully transplanted a 1-gallon Texas Madrone on the north side of an Ashe Juniper. The Madrone is thriving but the juniper, which has been a great "nurse", is dying. I am lookin...
view the full question and answer
Tree for wet area in Central Illinois
July 30, 2010 - I live in Central Illinois. When it rains I get a lot of water in my backyard. What kind of tree would be best to plant in this wet area?
view the full question and answer
Garden instructions from Austin
June 12, 2013 - I'm a beginning gardener putting in some new landscaping in my front yard in north central Austin, TX. The yard faces almost due east, so it gets full sun until early afternoon, when the house's sha...
view the full question and answer
Transplanting crabapple tree from root sprouts
March 24, 2005 - I have a Crabapple tree that is sending up sapling shoots.
Can these be dug up and planted?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |