Species Information

American plum is native to Nebraska and
is well adapted to a wide variety of soil and
climatic conditions. It forms dense thickets
ideal for the outside rows of windbreaks
and for wildlife habitat

Buffaloberry is a native species of western Nebraska. This thorny, thicket forming, tree-like shrub is drought tolerant and adaptable to alkaline soils.

Caragana, also called Siberian peashrub,
is a large upright shrub. It provides dense
cover for wildlife and is ideal for the
shrub row in a windbreak.

A member of the Rose family, black
chokeberry is a deciduous shrub which
can grow to a height of 3 to 6 feet tall.
Berries (also known as Aronia berries)
can be canned whole or the juice extracted
for jelly making, as well as healthful fruit
drinks. Plants are browsed by white-tailed
deer and rabbits.

Cotoneaster is a low to medium growing shrub introduced from Asia. It has dark, glossy green foliage that turns orange to red during the fall. The berry like fruit ripens to a dark red or black in early October and persists late into the winter, providing a good winter food source for birds. This is a sturdy shrub for
the outside row of windbreaks.

Elderberry is a medium-large, semi-wood species native to Nebraska. It is primarily used in wildlife plantings for summer food. The dark purple berries are formed on umbrella-like heads and ripen during mid- to late summer. The berries make excellent jelly and syrups.

Golden currant is a winter-hardy, drought tolerant, small, native shrub. On the best sites, it will grow to 5 to 7 feet tall. It has very fragrant yellow flowers during May. The edible fruit is yellowish to purplish black when ripe. The fruit can be eaten directly from the bush or made into jelly. Golden currant is an excellent wildlife habitat species or can be used on the outside row of multirow windbreak

American hazelnut is native to eastern
Nebraska. Best growth is obtained on
moist, fertile loam soils and can grow to
15 feet, but 8 to 10 feet is more common.
It is medium to fast growing, and starts
producing nuts within three to five years.

Common lilac is a suckering, upright medium-tall shrub that is best located in the outside row of windbreaks. Fragrant white to lavender flowers bloom during May. Lilac is rarely used in wildlife plantings since it does not form thickets and the seeds have little food value.

An open, spreading, multi-stemmed, medium to large shrub for farmstead and field windbreaks, and riparian plantings. Horizontal branches at the base. Fruit and twigs are used by several species of wildlife, such as robins, cedar waxwings, rabbits, and deer. Provides dense cover for a large number of wildlife species.

Sandcherry is a low-growing shrub native to western Nebraska. It has showy white flowers in May and produces small, sweet, purplish-black cherries in July. Sandcherry can tolerate hot, dry conditions, and prefers well-drained soils. The cherries are especially good for making jelly or jam

Skunkbush sumac is native to Nebraska. It can tolerate alkaline and extreme drought conditions. The clusters of berry-like fruit are covered with a soft, dense hair and turn a deep red in late summer, and the shrub has a good fall color. Skunkbush sumac is a good wildlife species, providing food for birds throughout the winter. It can be used on the inside or outside rows of windbreaks. Good fall color.

The Wild Rose or Woods’ Rose (Rosawoodsii) is a superb small native rose that has rose-pink flowers in early June. The bright red hips persist throughout winter, and are eaten by insects, birds, small mammals and large mammals. Requires very little fertilization, pest, disease control and pruning, Offers beautiful foliage, flowers and hips. Drought tolerant, needs little sun and can survive on steep, rocky slopes with little topsoil. Good for naturalized plantings and erosion control. Excellent choice for difficult sites.

American Elm is native to most of Nebraska
and is a fast growning, long-lived tree as long as it is not affected by Dutch-Elm disease. Before the introduction of Dutch-Elm disease the tree was considered an important street tree. Selections of Dutch-Elm tolerant trees are becoming more readily available.

Black walnut is native to Nebraska’s eastern and north central fertile bottomlands. It is highly prized for its rich, chocolate-brown wood and nut meats. Straight, limb-free trees are very valuable in the timber industry. Walnut trees have a medium growth rate and a long life span. Walnut requires a deep, silty-loam soil having good internal drainage for maximum growth. Walnut seedlings have been planted in the Sandhills for wildlife habitat and as a local source of nut meats.

Bur oak is native to Nebraska. It grows on a wide variety of sites but grows best on rich, moist bottomlands. Bur oak has a slow to moderate growth rate and is fairly drought tolerant. It is an excellent species to include in wildlife habitat plantings. It is less susceptible to oak wilt than northern red oak and has no serious insect problems. Oaks may have to be protected from deer when young.

Northern catalpa trees are very fast growing trees with large heart-shaped leaves. Also known as Hardy Catalpa, Western Catalpa, Cigar Tree, and Catawba-Tree. The height at 20 years is about 20 feet. Catalpas prefer moist, deep, well drained soil but adapts to dry or wet soils. The while flowers are on 4-8 inch long panicles in late June. Fruit is a long pod. Very tolerant of tough conditions

Cottonwood is the Nebraska state tree. It is native across the state and usually is found adjacent to rivers, streams, and around lakes. Cottonwood has a fast growth rate and provides most of the lumber processed in Nebraska today. It is planted in riparian areas for filter strips, and near streams to reduce sedimentation and stabilize stream banks. It also can be used in multiple row windbreaks for height and quick protection.

Hackberry is a native tree found through out Nebraska. It has a medium to long life span. Hackberry leaves are elm shaped; the grayish bark has a warty appearance. Once established, a moderate rate of growth and tolerance to adverse weather can be expected. Hackberry can be used in single-row windbreaks to slow summer winds and increase the snow catch over fields during the winter.

Honeylocust is native to eastern Nebraska. This medium-lived, relatively fast growing tree lends itself well to windbreak plantings. The fine-textured foliage of the honeylocust gives partial shade and turns a golden yellow in the fall. Honeylocust is used in multirow windbreaks to increase the effective height of the windbreak. The twisted flat seed pods are 6-10 inches long. Cattle often eat the seed pods because they have a sweet taste.

Austrian pine has pairs of needles 4 to 6 inches long. The needles are generally stiff, with the ends being very sharp to the touch. Originally introduced from Europe as an ornamental, it has considerable value in windbreaks and as Christmas trees. Austrian pine is best used in east or south inside rows of windbreaks.

Colorado blue spruce is native to the Rocky Mountain region. The color ranges from dark green to silvery blue green. Blue spruce will form a very dense windbreak when planted close together, but they only have a medium growth rate. Colorado blue spruce is best used as the inside row of farmstead windbreaks. Survival is best if the seedlings are protected from drying winds by placing wooden shingles on the south and west sides. The tree cannot withstand long-term drought.

Ponderosa pine is native to northwest and north central Nebraska. Needles are grouped in threes, and sometimes pairs, 5 to 10 inches long. Cones are 3 to 6 inches long and each scale is armed with a sharp recurved spine. It can withstand prolonged drought and is the best pine to use on severe sites. It is best used in east and south inside rows of windbreaks.

Eastern redcedar is native to Nebraska. It is highly adapted to a wide range of sites and has the highest survival rate of any conifer planted in Nebraska. Its deep roots and small leaf surface make it very drought resistant. The foliage turns a russet color in winter. It is the primary species in most windbreaks. Redcedar is a prolific seeder and requires management.

Rocky Mountain juniper is native to northwest Nebraska. It is similar in appearance to eastern redcedar with a more compact pyramidal shape. It’s drought resistant, prefers slightly alkaline soils, and retains a bluish-green color throughout winter. It is best used on the north and west outside rows in windbreaks.

Jack pine is native to Canada and the Great Lake States. Needles are in pairs 1 to 2 inches long and are usually twisted. Cones are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long and persistent for many years. It is drought resistant and can be planted on a wide variety of sites, but is not recommended for limestone soils. It is best used on inside rows of windbreaks in central and western Nebraska, or as outside rows in eastern Nebraska. The jack pine’s general pyramidal form and persistent branches makes it a good substitute for eastern redcedar.

Black Hills spruce is named for the area of South Dakota from which it originates and is a variety of the white spruce. It is a very dense, symmetrical, slow grower with green needles and is used for landscape, windbreak and Christmas tree purposes.