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Appendix A - Woody Plant Characteristics (General Riparian)

Table 1
  • Size/Form.
  • Elevation Range: Low 2000 to 4500; Middle 4500 to 7000; High 7000 to 10,000.
  • Root Type.
  • Rooting Ability from Cuttings.
  • Availability in the field: Refers to natural occurrences in the region. Ranking is from least to greatest.
  • Riparian Zones: 1 = Toe zone; 2 = Bank zone; 3 = Overbank zone; 4 = Transitional zone; 5 = Upland zone.
  • U = Unknown.
Table 2
  • Commercial Availability: Refers to availability of species in the nursery trade.
  • Deposition Tolerance: Regrowth following shallow coverage by soil.
  • Flooding Tolerance: High tolerates 10 to 30+ days; Medium tolerates 6 to 10 days; Low tolerates 1 to 5 days or less.
  • Drought Tolerance: Resistance to drought relative to native sites.
  • Salinity Tolerance: Resistance to salinity relative to native vegetation on similar sites.
  • Wildlife Value/Miscellaneous Notes.
  • Plant Indicator Status: Based on occurance in wetland: OBL = Obligate; FACW = Facultative Wet; FAC = Facultative; FACU = Facultative Upland; Upland = Upland.
  • U = Unknown.
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.

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Last Modified: 08/21/2008