Focus on Natives

Arcotostaphylus uva-ursiAll around us are beautiful specimens of plants, both in the natural and in urban landscape. Many of the greatest treasures are plants that are growing naturally right outside your door. Here in Montana the autumn hills are spotted with the golden foliage of Larix occidentalis (Western Larch) and Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) among the towering Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir), the riparian strips are filled with redleafed Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon Serviceberry) and Cornus sericea (Red Osier Dogwood), while in the summer months you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Montana’s native orchid, Cypripedium montanum. These spectacular plants are a few of the many Native species that have value to both the natural and urban landscapes.

What exactly are native plants? Native or indigenous species are those that originate from a certain geographical location and have evolved to specifically grow there. In North America, native species were the plants present before the arrival of European settlers. Through natural selection, these species had become highly adapted to the specific regional environmental and climatic conditions.Since these plants are naturally suited for growth in specific regions around the continent, there are many benefits to planting natives that are not obtained by planting introduced or exotic species.

Cornus_sericeaOnce established, native plants require little to no supplementary applications of pesticides, fertilizers, and water. Native plants are able to survive without supplementing staples needed by introduced species because they have adapted to grow in the regional conditions. Native plants may have modified organs that aid in nutrient and water uptake and storage.

So how do you go about finding native plant species to plant? This may not be as easy as finding a conventional landscape plant, but there are many resources. One way to find good species to use in your landscape is to take notice of plant species that are naturally occurring around you. Next time you are out for a hike or a walk in the woods look at the type of plants that are growing in your area, especially an area that is similar to your landscape. Though many species may survive in the same vicinity, some may be secluded to certain areas.

Different aspects of mountains have different micro-environments. The north and east exposures are generally cooler and damper than the south and west exposures on mountains in the northern hemisphere. The same is also true with elevation, different species occur at different elevations. This is especially apparent with native species of the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains may seem like a relatively homogenous landscape feature in the middle of the country, but there are many different ecosystems and microclimates that are present throughout its vast expanse covering eleven U.S. states and Canadian provinces from New Mexico to Alaska.

The mountains are comprised of different zones with a corresponding variety of flora. The oldest and simplest method to distinguish separate floral zones is by elevation. For instance, the foothills of the Rocky Mountains are lower elevation shrublands bridging the prairies and the treed montane zones. This zone, though relatively similar in dominant species, has some variations from the southern U.S. foothills to those of the Canadian Rockies. Even within the elevation zones, there are different areas of exposure and moisture. A sample of native Rocky Mountain plants (see table front page) indicates the different flora of the different elevation zones, and how there are latitude differences among these zones as well.

Prunus virginianaAnother way to classify plant distributions is by geographic areas, primarily latitudinal. Starting from the Boreal region in northern Canada, continuing south to the Central region, the Southern Region, and the Madrean Region in the southern U.S. Both ways of classifying the Rocky Mountains will group plants together according to similar environmental characteristics.

Besides your own observations of the surrounding environment, another useful tool to find native plants is your local extension office and your states’ native plant society. Most states, if not all, have native plant societies. These organizations provide valuable information about local native plant species. They also provide many organized outings, educational and volunteer opportunities, and additional resources to learn more about local native plants and the value they provide.

Native plants are an ideal solution for new plantings or landscape renovations, but remember that the trees in place still play a valuable role in enriching our lives. Be observant and cautious about what you plant.

Small sample of native tree and shrub species of the Rocky Mountains
Foothills (2,250-5,500 ft.)* Mountain (5,500-9,000 ft.)* Subalpine (9,000-11,000 ft.)*
Southern US Southern US  
Pinus edulis
Pinus ponderosa
Quercus gambelii
Cercocarpus montanus
Pinus ponderosa		 Arctostaphylos uva-urs
Cercocarpus montanus
Juniperus communis
Pinus flexilis
Sambucus racemosa
Purshia tridentata		 Juniperus communis
Picea engelmannii
Pinus albicaulis
Pinus flexilis
Shepherdia canadensis
Northern US Northern US  
Acer grandidentatum
Amelanchier alnifolia
Cercocarpus sp.
Juniperus sp.
Prunus virginiana (shrubs)
Quercus sp. (driver slopes)		 Abies concolor
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Cornus sericea
Juniperus communis
 
*elevation ranges listed are generalities subject to change upon latitude
Natives by Region
Scientific Name Common Name Native Range Category Form Zone Wildlife Drought Wet Alkaline Sweating Salt
ARCOTOSTAPHYLUS UVA-URSI Kinnikinnick or Bearberry North America Broadleaf Shrub
2
x
x
CORNUS CANADENSIS Bunchberry North America broadeaf shrub
2
x
CORNUS SERICEA Red Osier Dogwood North America broadeaf shrub
2
x
x
x
x
x
LONICERA INVOLUCRATA Twinberry North America broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
POPULUS TREMULOIDES Quaking Aspen North America broadeaf tree
2
x
x
ROBINIA PSUEDOACCACIA Black Locust North America broadeaf tree
3
x
x
x
x
ROSA ACICULARIS Prickly Rose North America broadeaf shrub
2
x
x
SALIX ERIOCEPHALA Diamond Willow North America broadeaf large shrub small tree
3
x
x
x
SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS Snowberry North America broadeaf shrub
3
x
x
x
x
VIBURNUM TRILOBUM American Cranberry Bush North America broadeaf shrub
2
x
x
JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS Common Juniper North America conifer large shrub small tree
4
x
xx
x
x
x
LARIX LARICINA American Larch North America conifer tree
4
xx
PICEA GLAUCA White Spruce North America conifer tree
3
x
xx
x
PINUS BANKSIANA Jack Pine North America conifer tree
2
x
xx
ACER CIRCINATUM Vine Maple Pacific Northwest broadeaf large shrub small tree
5
x
ACER MACROPHYLLUM Bigleaf Maple Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
5
x
ALNUS RUBRA Red Alder Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
4
x
BETULA NEOALASKA Yukon White Birch Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
1
x
BETULA OCCIDENTALIS Water Birch Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
4
x
  
CORNUS NUTTALLII Pacific Dogwood Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
6
x
CRATAEGUS COLUMBIANA Columbia Hawthorn Pacific Northwest broadeaf large shrub small tree
3
x
x
x
x
FRAXINUS LATIFOLIA Oregon Ash Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
6
x
GAULTHERIA SHALLON Salal Pacific Pacific Northwest broadeaf shrub
5
MAHONIA AQUIFOLIUM Oregon Holly Grape Pacific Northwest broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
MAHONIA NERVOSA Cascades Mahonia Pacific Northwest broadeaf shrub
6
x
MALUS FUSCA Pacific or Oregon Crabapple Pacific Northwest broadeaf large shrub small tree
6
x
x
x
OEMIERIA CERASIFORMIS Indian Plum, Osoberry Pacific Northwest broadeaf large shrub small tree
6
x
x
x
PHYSOCARPUS CAPITATUS Pacific Ninebark Pacific Northwest broadeaf large shrub small tree
5
x
SAMBUCUS MELANOCARPA Blackbead Elderberry Pacific Northwest broadeaf tree
6
x
SYMPHORICARPOS OCCIDENTALIS Wolfberry, Western Snowberry Pacific Northwest broadeaf shrub
6
x
x
 
XEROPHYLLUM TENAX Bear Grass Pacific Pacific Northwest broadeaf shrub
5
x
x
ABIES GRANDIS Grand Fir Pacific Pacific Northwest connifer tree
4
x
x
ABIES MAGNIFICA ‘SHASTENS’ Shasta Red Fir Pacific Northwest connifer tree
6
x
x
ABIES PROCERA Noble Fir Pacific Northwest connifer tree
5
x
x
CALOCEDRUS DECURRENS Incense Cedar Pacific Northwest connifer tree
5
CHAMAECYPARIS LAWSONIANA Port Orford Cedar Pacific Northwest connifer tree
5
x
PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII West Coast Douglas Fir Pacific Northwest connifer tree
6
SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM Giant Sequoia Pacific Northwest connifer tree
6
THUJA PLICATA Western Red Cedar Pacific Northwest connifer tree
6
x
x
TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA Western Hemlock Pacific Northwest connifer tree
4
TSUGA MERTENSIANA Mountain Hemlock Pacific Northwest connifer tree
5
ACER GLABRUM Rocky Mountain Maple Pacific Northwest broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
ACER GRANDIDENTATUM Big Tooth Maple Rocky Mountains broadeaf tree
3
x
x
AMELANCHIER ALNIFOLIA Saskatoon Serviceberry Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
3
x
x
x
x
x
ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA WYOMINGENSIS Wyoming Big Sagebrush Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
x
CEANOTHUS SANGUINEUS Red Stem Ceanothus or Wild Lilac Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
5
x
x
CERCOPARPUS LEDIFOLIUS Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
3
x
x
x
CLEMATIS LIGUSTICIFOLIA Western Virgin’s Bower Rocky Mountains broadleaf vine
4
CRATAEGUS DOUGLASII M Douglas Hawthorn Rocky Mountains broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
x
x
MAHONIA REPENS Creeping Mahonia Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
PHILADELPHUS LEWISII Wild Mock Orange Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
PURSHIA TRIDENTATA Antelope Bitterbrush Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
x
RIBES AUREUM Golden Currant Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
2
x
ROSA NUTKANA Nootka Rose Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
x
ROSA WOODSII Woods Rose Rocky Mountains broadeaf shrub
3
x
x
SALIX SCOULERIANA Scouler Willow Rocky Mountains broadeaf large shrub small tree
5
x
x
SYMPHORICARPOS OREOPHILUS Mountain Snowberry Rocky Mountains broadleaf shrub
6
x
x
x
ABIES CONCOLOR White Fir Rocky Mountains connifer tree
4
x
x
ABIES LASIOCARPA Sub Alpine Fir Rocky Mountains connifer tree
3
x
x
ABIES LASIOCARPA ARIZONICA Corkbark Fir Rocky Mountains connifer tree
5
x
x
JUNIPERUS OSTEOSPERMA Utah Juniper Rocky Mountains connifer tree
5
x
xx
JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM Rocky Mountain Juniper Rocky Mountains connifer tree
4
x
xx
PICEA ENGELMANNII Engelman Spruce Rocky Mountains connifer tree
2
x
PICEA GLAUCA DENSATA Black Hills Spruce Rocky Mountains connifer tree
2
x
x
PICEA PUNGENS GLAUCA Colorado Blue Spruce Rocky Mountains connifer tree
2
x
x
x
PINUS ARISTATA Bristlecone Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
5
x
x
PINUS CONTORTA LATIFOLIA Rocky Mtn. Lodgepole Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
4
x
xx
PINUS EDULIS Pinyon Nut Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
5
x
x
PINUS FLEXILIS Limber Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
2
x
x
PINUS MONTICOLA Western White Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
5
x
PINUS PONDEROSA Western Yellow Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
4
x
xx
PINUS STROBIFORMIS Southwestern White Pine Rocky Mountains connifer tree
4
x
x
PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII GLAUCA Blue Douglas Fir Rocky Mountains connifer tree
4
x
CELTIS OCCIDENTALIS Common Hackberry Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf tree
2
x
x
x
xx
CRATAEGUS COCCINOIDES Kansas Hawthorn Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
5
x
x
x
x
ELEAGNUS COMUTATA Silverberry or Wolf Willow Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf tree
2
x
PRUNUS ANGUSTIFOLIA Chickasaw Plum Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
6
x
x
x
PRUNUS BESSEYI Sand Cherry, Hansen’s Bush Cherry Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
3
x
x
x
PRUNUS NIGRA ‘BOUNTY’ Bounty Plum Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
3
x
x
x
PRUNUS VIRGINIANA Chokecherry Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
2
x
x
x
x
RHUS TRILOBATA Skunk Bush Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf shrub
2
x
x
SALIX EXIGUA Coyote Willow Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
2
x
x
x
SALIX INTERIOR Sandbar Willow Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf shrub
2
x
x
x
SHEPHERDIA ARGENTEA Silver Buffaloberry Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf shrub
2
x
x
YUCCA GLAUCA Great Plains Yucca Great Plains/ Prairies broadleaf large shrub small tree
3
xx

Natives by Region
Scientific Name Common Name Native Range Category Form Zone Wildlife Drought Wet Alkaline Sweating Salt
ACER NEGUNDO Box Elder or Manitoba Maple Eastern Forests Broadleaf tree
2
x
x
xx
ACER RUBRUM Red Maple Eastern Forests Broadleaf tree
3
x
xx
ACER SACCHARINUM Silver Maple Eastern Forests Broadleaf tree
3
x
x
ACER SACCHARUM Sugar Maple Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
3
x
AECULUS HIPPOCASTANUM Horsechestnut Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
3
x
AESCULUS PAVIA Red Buckeye Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
AMELANCHIER ARBOREA Downy Serviceberry Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
AMELANCHIER CANADENSIS Shadblow Serviceberry Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
3
x
xx
AMELANCHIER LAEVIS Alleghany Serviceberry Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
AMELANCHIER LAMARKI Lamarck Serviceberry Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
AMELANCHIER X GRANDIFLORA Apple Serviceberry Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
ARONIA MELANOCARPA Black Chokeberry Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
3
x
BETULA ALLEGHANIENSIS Yellow Birch Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
3
x
x
BETULA LENTA Sweet Birch Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
3
x
BETULA NIGRA River Birch Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
BETULA PAPYRIFERA Paper Birch Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
2
x
x
BETULA POPULIFOLIA Gray Birch Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
CALYCANTHUS FLORIDUS Spicebush Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
5
CASTANEA DENTATA Classic American Chestnut Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
5
x
x
 
CELASTRUS SCANDENS American Bittersweet Eastern Forests broadeaf vine
4
x
CERCIS CANADENSIS Redbud Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
x
CORNUS AMOMUM Silky Dogwood Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
x
CORNUS FLORIDA Flowering Dogwood Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
CORNUS RACEMOSA Gray Dogwood Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
4
x
CORYLUS AMERICANA American Filbert Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
4
x
x
CORYLUS CORNUTA Beaked Hazelnut Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
CRATAEGUS ARNOLIDIANA Arnold Hawthorn Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
5
x
x
x
xx
CRATAEGUS CRUS-GALLI Cockspur Hawthorn Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
x
xx
CRATAEGUS PHAENOPYRUM Washington Hawthorn Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
4
x
x
x
xx
DIERVILLA LONICERA Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
3
 
DIOSPYROS VIRGINIANA American Persimmon Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
5
x
x
x
FRAXINUS AMERICANA White Ash Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
3
x
x
xx
FRAXINUS NIGRA Black Ash Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
2
x
x
FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA Green Ash Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
2
x
x
x
CGLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS 'INERMIS' Thornless Honey Locust Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
x
GYMNOCLADUS DIOICA Kentucky Coffee Tree Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
x
x
HALESIA TETRAPTERA Carolina Silverbell Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
5
HAMAMELIS VERNALIS Vernal Witch Hazel Eastern Forests broadeaf shrub
4
HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA Common Witch Hazel Eastern Forests broadeaf large shrub small tree
3
x
ILEX VERTICILLATA Witnerberry Holly Eastern Forests connifer shrub
3
x
x
JUGLANS CINEREA Butternut Eastern Forests connifer tree
3
x
JGLANS NIGRA Black Walnut Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
x
LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA Tulip Tree Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
x
MAMACLURA POMIFERA Osage Orange Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
4
x
xx
x
MAMALUS CORONARIA American Crabapple Eastern Forests broadeaf tree
5
x
x
xx
PARTHENOCISSUS QUINQUEFOLIA Virginia Creeperc Eastern Forests