New

Maps

Niagara River Greenway

Niagara River Region

NY National Heritage Area

Niagara Gorge Waterfalls

Ancient Cedars

NYS EcoRegions Level 3

Hardiness Zone

NYS Great Lakes Basin

Bird Conservation Areas

Pollinator E. Broadleaf

NYS Hardiness Zones

Site

Programs

Resources

Reference

Books

Film

Schools

Parks and Open Space

Natural Heritage Program

How2 Projects

Plants

Regional Plants

Forest

Flora

Reference sheets

NYS Plant List

Invasives

Wildlife

Wildlife Species List

Birds

Butterflies

Pollinators

Insects

Frogs

FAQ

Advocacy

Contact

Contact Us

About Us

Citizen Science

Links

PlantLists

Projects

Vacant Lot 1 Habitat

Vacant Lot 2 Habitat

NF Hampton Inn Habitat

Ecological Restoration

Media/Press

Home

Michelle Vanstrom, Master Naturalist

Niagara's Native Species

Niagara Flora
Trees and Shrubs

Please check back often. Like nature, this page continues to change and grow.
Acer nigrum
Acer nigrum
Acer nigrum (Black Maple)
Size: large canopy, 75-100 ft; Twig: glossy, yellow-brown; Foliage: Emerge- early May - light green, summer - yellow green, autumn - golden yellow, orange to red, Drop - late September or early October; Flower: small clusters late April - early May before or with leaves,  Fruit: paired samaras - late summer; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, upland ground birds, large and small mammals; Habitat: very shade tolerant.

Species Associate: American Linden, Sugar Maple, American Beech, American Hophornbeam, White Ash, American Hornbeam, Cucumber Magnolia, Tuliptree, Yellow Buckeye, White Oak, Northern Red Oak, 
Similar: Sugar and Norway Maple, American Linden

Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Size: large canopy, 75 - 100 ft; Twig: smooth becoming flaky, green red becoming bright red in winter; Foliage: Emerge-  mid-late April - red green, summer - light green, autumn - usually crimson, Drop - late September; Flower: small clusters, late March, early April - early May before leaves,  Fruit: paired samaras, late April - mid June with new leaves; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, water birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers; Habitat: shade tolerant.

Species Associate: (north) Gray Birch, Paper Birch, Black Spruce, Balsam Fir, Quaking Aspen, Black Ash
Similar: Silver Maple

Acer rubrum
Acer rubrum flowers
Acer spicatum - Mountain Maple
Acer spicatum
Acer spicatum (Mountain Maple)
Size: small understory, 20-35 ft.; Twig: bright red or greenish; Foliage: Emerge early May - light green, summer - bright green to yellow green, autumn - orange to bright red, Drop - early October; Flower: late May - early June after leaves, yellow green to yellow clusters; Fruit: mid July through mid September, paired, bright red or yellow; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers; Habitat: shade tolerant.

Species Associate: Red, Striped and Sugar Maple, Paper Birch, Yellow Birch, Eastern White Pine, American Linden, Common Witch-hazel, Shadblow Serviceberry, Mountain Laurel. 
Similar: Striped Maple, Cranberrybush Viburnum

Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch)
Size: small canopy, 50-75 ft.; Twig: smooth, shiny, red-brown to maroon, speckled white; Foliage: Emerge- Late April - bright green, summer - medium green, autumn - clear lemon yellow, Drop - mid- October; Flower: pencil like catkins, late April - early May after leaves,  Fruit: August through early October; Wildlife Value: very high - songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, hoofed browsers; Habitat: very shade intolerant.

Species Associate: Balsam Fir, Black Spruce, Quaking Aspen,Yellow and Sweet Birch, Red Pine, Eastern White Pine, Pin Cherry, Eastern Arborvitae, Red Maple, Mountain Maple, American Hornbeam.
Similar: Quaking Aspen

Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Amelanchier canadensis
Amelanchier canadensis
Amelanchier canadensis (Shadblow Serviceberry)
Size: large understory, 35-50 ft.; Twig: gray with silvery gray exfoliating scales; Foliage: Emerge- Early May -silvery gray, summer - blue green, autumn - orange to dull red, Drop - mid- October; Flower: white, mid-April, before leaf emergence  Fruit: berry - red to maroon purple, mid-June through mid July; Wildlife Value: high - songbirds, upland ground birds, small mammals, Habitat: very shade tolerant.

Species Associate: Sugar and Black Maple, American Linden, White Ash, American Hophornbeam, Northern Red Oak, Pagoda Dogwood, Leatherwood, American Hornbeam, Common Witch-hazel.
Similar: American Hornbeam, Common Chokecherry, Allegany Serviceberry

 
  vanshel400@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 2827 Niagara Falls, N.Y 14302 / 716-913-5324

Website powered by Network Solutions®