Woody Plant Characteristics Table 1
Species |
Size/ Form |
Elevation Range |
Root Type |
Rooting Ability from Cuttings |
Availability in Field |
Use in Riparian Zone |
Acer negundo
Boxelder |
Medium Tree |
Low to Middle |
Moderately Spreading |
Poor |
Common |
4 |
Alnus rubra
Red alder |
Medium Tree |
Middle to High |
Shallow Spreading |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
3, 4 |
Alnus sinuata
Sitka alder |
Small to Medium Tree |
Middle to High |
Shallow Spreading |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
2, 3 |
Alnus incana spp. tenuifolia
Thinleaf alder |
Small to Medium Tree |
Middle to High |
Shallow Spreading |
Poor |
Common |
2, 3 |
Betula occidentalis
Water birch |
Large Shrub to Small Tree |
Middle to High |
Shallow to Deep Spreading |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
2, 3 |
Cornus sericea Redosier dogwood |
Medium Shrub |
Middle |
Shallow |
Moderate |
Fairly Common |
2, 3, 4 |
Crataegus douglasii
Black/Douglas hawthorn |
Small Tree |
Low to Middle |
Shallow to Deep Spreading |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
3, 4 |
Elaeagnus commutata
Silverberry |
Medium Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Shallow to Deep Spreading |
Very Good |
Very Common |
3, 4 |
Pentaphylloides floribunda
Shrubby cinquefoil |
Small Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Shallow to Deep Spreading |
Poor |
Very Common |
3, 4 |
Philadelphus lewisii
Mockorange |
Small to Medium Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Spreading Fibrous |
Poor |
Common |
3. 4 |
Populus angustifolia
Narrowleaf cottonwood |
Large Tree |
Middle |
Shallow |
Very Good |
Very Common |
4 |
Populus fremontii Fremont cottonwood |
Large Tree |
Low to Middle |
Shallow Fibrous |
Very Good |
Fairly Common |
4 |
Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen |
Medium Tree |
Middle to High |
Shallow |
Poor |
Very Common |
4 |
Populus trichocarpa Black cottonwood |
Large Tree |
Low to Middle |
Shallow Fibrous |
Very Good |
Very Common |
4 |
Prunus virginiana Chokecherry |
Medium to Large Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Rhizomatous |
Good from root cuttings |
Common |
4 |
Rhus trilobata Skunkbush sumac |
Medium to Large Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Deep Spreading Rhizomatous |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
4 |
Ribes aureum
Golden current |
Small to Medium Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Spreading |
Good (in greenhouse) |
Common |
3 |
Ribes cereum
Wax/Squaw current |
Small to Medium Shrub |
Middle to High |
Spreading |
Fair |
Common |
3, 4 |
Rosa woodsii
Wood's rose |
Small to Medium Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Shallow to Deep |
Good (in greenhouse) |
Very Common |
2, 3, 4 |
Sambucus coerulea
Blue elderberry |
Small Tree |
Middle |
Rhizomatous |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
4 |
Sambucus racemosa
Red elderberry |
Medium Shrub |
Middle to High |
Spreading |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
4 |
Shepherdia argentea
Silver buffaloberry |
Large Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Rhizomatous |
Poor |
Fairly Common |
4 |
Symphoricarpos albus
Common Snowberry |
Small Shrub |
Low to Middle |
Spreading |
Very Good |
Very Common |
3, 4 |
Woody Plant Characteristics Table 2
Species |
Commercial Availability |
Deposition Tolerance |
Flooding Tolerance |
Drought Tolerance |
Salinity Tolerance |
Wildlife Value/ Miscellaneous Notes |
Plant Indicator Status |
Acer negundo Boxelder |
Yes |
High |
High |
High |
Medium |
- |
FAC |
Alnus rubra
Red alder |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
Big game browse; upland bird food |
FAC |
Alnus sinuata
Sitka alder |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
Big game browse; upland bird food |
FACW |
Alnus incana spp. tenuifolia
Thinleaf alder |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
Big game browse; upland bird food |
FACW |
Betula occidentalis
Water birch |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
Big game browse |
FACW |
Cornus sericea Redosier dogwood |
Yes |
Low |
High |
Medium |
Low |
Big game browse; small mammal food; upland bird food |
FACW |
Crataegus douglasii
Black/Douglas hawthorn |
Yes |
Medium |
Low |
High |
Low |
Browse for many species, and cover |
FAC, U |
Elaeagnus commutata
Silverberry |
Yes |
High |
High |
Medium |
Medium |
Big game browse |
FAC |
Pentaphylloides floribunda
Shrubby cinquefoil |
Yes |
U |
U |
High |
U |
Big game browse |
FACW, FAC |
Philadelphus lewisii
Mockorange |
Yes |
U |
U |
U |
U |
Big game browse |
FACW, U |
Populus angustifolia
Narrowleaf cottonwood |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
Medium |
Big game browse |
FACW |
Populus fremontii Fremont cottonwood |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Big game browse |
FACW |
Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen |
Yes |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
Big game browse |
FAC, FACU |
Populus trichocarpa
Black cottonwood |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
U |
Big game browse |
FACW |
Prunus virginiana Chokecherry |
Yes |
Low |
Low |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
Birds and small mammals eat fruits |
FACU |
Rhus trilobata Skunkbush sumac |
Yes |
High |
Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Medium |
Birds and small mammals eat fruits; Can not tolerate long-term
flooding |
FACU, U |
Ribes aureum
Golden current |
Yes |
U |
U |
U |
U |
Birds and small mammals eat fruits |
FAC, FACW |
Ribes cereum
Wax/Squaw current |
Yes |
U |
U |
U |
U |
Birds and small mammals eat fruits |
FACU, U |
Rosa woodsii
Wood's rose |
Yes |
U |
Low |
Low to High |
Low |
Rosehips eaten by many species |
FACU |
Sambucus coerulea
Blue elderberry |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Fruits are important for birds |
FAC |
Sambucus racemosa
Red elderberry |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Big game browse; Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals |
FACU, FACU |
Shepherdia argentea
Silver buffaloberry |
Yes |
U |
U |
U |
Low |
Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals |
FACU |
Symphoricarpos albus
Common Snowberry |
Yes |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals |
FACU |
Source: Bentrup and Hoag, 1998.