Trees at the FWG

Black Ash

Fraxinus nigra
Frêne noir
àgimàk

Family: Olive (Oleaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada and US
Location at the FWG: north Old Woodlot
Height: Up to 20 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: leaves are food for many type of moths and swallowtail butterflies

Notes: Critically endangered due to Emerald Ash Borers. Young trees are usually not attacked. Leaflets (5 to 9) are sessile (i.e., directly attached to the rachis without a petiolule). Buds look like chocolate chips.

Green Ash / Red Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Frêne rouge / Frêne rouge de Pennsylvanie
àgimàk

Family: Olive (Oleaceae)
Native to: Central and eastern Canada and central, eastern, and southern US
Location at the FWG: north Old Woodlot
Height: 12 to 25 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: leaves are food for many type of moths and swallowtail butterflies

Notes: Critically endangered due to Emerald Ash Borers. Leaflets (5 to 11) have short petiolules and serrated edges. D-shaped leaf scars.

White Ash / American Ash

Fraxinus americana
Frêne blanc / Frêne d’Amérique / Franc Frêne
àgimàk

Family: Olive (Oleaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada and southern US
Location at the FWG: north Old Woodlot
Height: Up to 30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: leaves are food for many type of moths and swallowtail butterflies

Notes: Critically endangered due to Emerald Ash Borers. Leaflets (mostly 7) have short petiolules and smooth edges. C-shaped leaf scars.

Japanese Tree Lilac

Syringa reticulata
Lilas du Japon

Family: Olive (Oleaceae)
Native to: East Asia
Location at the FWG: Butterfly Meadow
Height: Up to 12 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Well-drained, moist, clay, loamy, sandy
pH: Neutral, acidic

Natural habitat: gardens

Wildlife use: leaves are food for many type of moths and swallowtail butterflies

Notes: Flowers plentiful and white

Paper Birch / Canoe Birch / (North American) White Birch

Betula papyrifera
Bouleau à papier
wìgwàs

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Native to: northern North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: to 40 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use:

Notes: Famous for canoe making, bark excellent as fire starter. Leaves are ovate to narrow-ovate, 5–10 cm long, sharply pointed and wedge-shaped at the base, coarsely toothed, smooth above and hairy on the veins beneath.

Yellow Birch / Golden Birch

Betula alleghaniensis
Bouleau jaune
wìnisik

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Native to: northern North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 18 to 24 m
Light requirements: Moderately shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use:

Notes:Largest North American species of birch. Bark is yellowish and peals off horizontally. Its flowers are “catkins” — slim green and brown cylinders .

Silver Birch / Weeping Birch / European White Birch*

Betula pendula
Bouleau verruqueux / bouleau blanc 
wabashònia

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Native to: Europe and Asia
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot, Butterfly Meadow
Height: 15 to 25 m
Light requirements: Moderately shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Dry, acid soil
pH: Acid

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use:

Notes: Bark is white with black marks. Its flowers are “catkins” — slim yellow cylinders.

(American) Hophornbeam / Ironwood

Ostrya virginiana
Ostryer de Virginie
mànan

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 8–12 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: “One of the very few woody plants avoided by herbivores” Kock (2008). Host plant for several moths.

Notes:

American Hornbeam / Blue-beech / Musclewood

Carpinus caroliniana
Charme de Caroline
mànan

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Old Woods
Height: 10 to 15 m
Light requirements: Shade loving
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moderate soil fertility and moisture
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera, for example the Io moth (Automeris io).

Notes: Wood is heavy and hard, and is used for tool handles, longbows, walking sticks, walking canes, and golf clubs.

Speckled Alder / Grey Alder

Alnus incana rugosa
L’aulne blanc
adòpì

Family: Birch (Betulaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada
Location at the FWG: Ravine
Height: 8 to 20 m
Light requirements: Sun to half shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Sandy-loam to loam
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: Browsed by deer and moose, and the seeds are eaten by birds.

Notes: Its wood and bark are used in smoking meat, particularly fish and duck. Leaves are ovoid and up to 10 cm long and up to 8 cm broad. The underside of the leaf is grey felted. Blossoms are yellow.

Eastern White Cedar / Northern White-cedar

Thuja occidentalis
Cèdre blanc du Canada ou Thuya du Canada
kijik

Family: Cypress (Cupressaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; north of Old Woodlot; Evergreen Woods
Height: Up to 15 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat: Swampy areas and other places where soil is shallow, especially over flat limestone

Wildlife use: Good cover for wildlife and nesting sites for birds. Buds and seeds eaten by Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin. Seeds also eaten by red and grey squirrels.

Notes: Small tree. Easy to grow. Slow to moderate growth rate. Common hedge tree; can be sheared to maintain shape and size. Easily transplanted from containers; generally quite adaptable and tolerant once established. Dense fibrous root system good for stabilizing banks, especially along streams and rivers.

Eastern Redcedar / Red Cedar / Red Juniper

Juniperus virginiana
Genévrier de Virginie
mishwàwàk

Family: Cypress (Cupressaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; north of Old Woodlot; Evergreen Woods
Height: 5–20 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral; creates acidic soil

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Berries are eaten by some birds such as waxwings and robins.

Notes:

American Elm / Water Elm / White Elm

Ulmus americana
Orme d’Amérique / Orme amérique
anib

Family: Elm (Ulmaceae)
Native to: Eastern North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot; Evergreen Woods
Height: 30 m or taller
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements:
Soil:
pH:

Natural habitat: Occurs naturally in an assortment of habitats, most notably rich bottomlands, floodplains, stream banks, and swampy ground, although it also often thrives on hillsides, uplands and other well-drained soils

Wildlife use: The leaves of the American elm serve as food for the larvae of various lepidopterans (butterflies & moths).

Notes: Most died because of Dutch Elm disease but new trees have started to grow. Leaves are serrated, oval, asymmetric at the base, and are rough surfaced like sandpaper. When mature, trunks are often divided into two.

Rock Elm

Ulmus thomasii
Orme liège

Family: Elm (Ulmaceae)
Native to: Eastern North America
Location at the FWG: was in Old Woodlot
Height: 15 to 30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: moist
Soil: loamy
pH:

Natural habitat: Varied habitats from rock outcrops to open fields. Its preferred habitat is moist but well-drained sandy loam, loam, or silt loam soil.

Wildlife use:

Notes: Most died because of Dutch Elm disease but new trees have started to grow. Hardest, heaviest, strongest, and toughest among the elms.

Balsam Fir

Abies balsamea
Sapin baumier
shingob

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: eastern North America
Location at the FWG: Evergreen Woods, Old Woodlot
Height: 14 to 20 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral
Cones: 4–8 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Seeds are food for Pine Squirrels, chickadees, crossbills, larvae of Io moth, and Eastern Spruce Budworm

Notes:

Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis
Pruche du Canada / Pruche de l’Est
kàgàgimij

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: to 30 m
Light requirements: Partial to full shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: intolerance for very wet or very dry soil
pH: slightly acidic to neutral
Cones: 1.5 to 2.5 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: As the tree ages the needles align in one plane

American Larch / Tamarack

Larix laricina
Mélèze laricin / mélèze d’Amérique
mashìgwàtig

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 10 to 20 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil:  Tolerate a wide range of soil conditions but grow most commonly in swamps, bogs, or muskeg in wet to moist organic soils such as sphagnum peat and woody peat.
pH: Neutral
Cones: 1 to 2 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Seeds are food for Pine Squirrels, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Veerys, Common Yellow throats, and Nashville Warblers.

Notes: A conifer that is deciduous, losing its needles in winter.

European Larch*

Larix decidua

 Mélèze d’Europe / Mélèze commun

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 20 to 40 m
Light requirements: Shade intolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil:  Moist, well drained, deep soil
pH: Neutral
Cones: 3 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: Conifer that is deciduous, losing its needles in winter. Identified by its cones that are larger than the Tamarack and which have more than 30 finely hairy scales.

(Eastern) White Pine

Picea strobus
Pin blanc / pin du Lord
shingwak

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: eastern North America
Location at the FWG: Evergreen Woods, Old Woodlot
Height: to 70 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral
Cones: 8–16 cm

Natural habitat: climax canopy tree in boreal forests

Wildlife use: Seeds are food for Pine Squirrels, predated by Spruce Beetles and Spruce Budworm

Notes: 5 needles per fascicle

Red Pine

Picea resinosa
Pin rouge
pakwanogemag

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: Great Lakes region of North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot near lock station
Height:  20 to 35 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Well drained
pH: Neutral
Cones: 4–6 cm

Natural habitat: climax canopy tree in boreal forests.

Wildlife use: Seeds are food for Pine Squirrels.

Notes: Bark has reddish colour in troughs. Needles in fascicles of 2, 12–18 cm.

Scots Pine*

Pinus sylvestris
Pin sylvestre

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: northern Europe and Asia
Location at the FWG: western border Old Woodlot
Height: to 35 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: 
pH:
Cones: 3–7.5 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: bark is an orange-red, 2 needles per fascicle

Ponderosa Pine*

Pinus ponderosa
Pin ponderosa

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: west coast of North America
Location at the FWG: one only near northern border Old Woodlot, near Lock Station
Height: to 70 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: 
pH:
Cones: 6.5–7.5 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: Three needles per fascicle.

Mugo Pine / Mountain Pine*

Pinus mogo

Pin mugo / Pin mugho / Pin couché / Pin de montagnes

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: Eurasia
Location at the FWG: only one in grove on western border of Old Field
Height: to 20 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: 
pH:
Cones: 2.5–5.5 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: Two needles per fascicle.

White Spruce

Picea glauca
Épinette blanche
gaawaandag

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: boreal North America
Location at the FWG: EW
Height: 15 to 30 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral
Cones: 3 to 7 cm

Natural habitat: climax canopy tree in boreal forests

Wildlife use: Seeds are food for Pine Squirrels, predated by Spruce Beetles and Spruce Budworm

Notes:

Black Spruce

Picea mariana
Épinette noire / épicéa noir / sapinette noire
sesgàndag

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: boreal North America
Location at the FWG: EW, near red barn
Height: 5 to 15 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, peaty soil
pH: Acidic
Cones: 1.5–4 cm

Natural habitat: climax canopy tree in boreal forests

Wildlife use: Seeds are food for Red Squirrels

Notes: Black spruce is the provincial tree of Newfoundland and Labrador

Norway Spruce*

Picea abies
Épicéa commun

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: northern and central Europe
Location at the FWG: near Butterfly Meadow
Height: 35–55 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, does not do well on dry or deficient soils
pH: Tolerates acidic soil
Cones: 9–17 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: main Christmas tree in several cities around the world

Blue Spruce / Colorado Spruce / Green Spruce*

Picea pungens
Épicéa bleu /  épinette bleue / épicéa bleu du Colorado

Family: Pinaceae (pine family)
Native to: Rocky Mountains of the United States
Location at the FWG: BYG
Height: 10–15 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil:
pH:
Cones: 9–10 cm

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use:

Notes: State tree of Colorado

(Common) Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis
Micocoulier occidental

Family: Hackberries, Hops, & Cannabis (Cannabaceae)
Native to: Southern Ontario, central and eastern USA
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot and Evergreen Woods
Height: to 15 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: rich and moist
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: Needed by Hackberry Emperor butterflies.

Notes: 

Black Locust*

Robinia pseudoacacia
Robinier faux-acacia

Family: Legume (Fabaceae)
Native to: southeastern United States
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; east side of Old Woodlot
Height: Up to 12–30 m
Light requirements: Full sun. Does not grow in shade.
Moisture requirements: Dry
Soil:
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Seeds suitable for small mammals forage

Notes: Produces long dark brown pods

(American) Tulip Tree

Liriodendron tulifera
Cerisier à grappes

Family: Magnolias (Magnoliaceae)
Native to: Eastern North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Flower colour: White
Blooming time: Spring
Height: to 50 m
Light requirements: Sun
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Riverbanks, roadside, edges of woods and swamps. Common in the Ottawa region.

Wildlife use:

Notes:

Kobus Magnolia*

Magnolia kobus
Magnolia de Kobé

Family: Magnolia (Magnoliaceae)
Native to: Eastern Asia
Location at the FWG: Western side Butterfly meadow
Flower colour: White
Blooming time: Spring
Height: to 15 m
Light requirements: Sun
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Seeds grouped together in a yellow to pod.

Wildlife use:

Notes:

Basswood / American Linden

Tilia americana
Tilleul d’Amérique
wìgobimij

Family: Mallows (Malvaceae)
Native to: Eastern North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Flower colour: White
Blooming time: Spring
Height: to 35 m
Light requirements: Full sun to full shade
Moisture requirements: Prefers moist soils
Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soils
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Riverbanks, roadside, edges of woods and swamps. Common in the Ottawa region.

Wildlife use: Bees nectar from flowers that bloom early, seeds have a light coloured leaf bract attached.

Notes:

Little-leaf Linden / Small-leaved Linden*

Tilia cordata
Tilleul à petites feuilles
wìgobimij

Family: Mallows (Malvaceae)
Native to: Europe
Location at the FWG:
Flower colour: White
Blooming time: Early spring
Height: 20 to 40 m
Light requirements: Sun to shade
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: moist, well drained soil
pH: 5.0 to 8.0

Natural habitat: Seeds attached to single leaf bracts

Wildlife use:

Notes:

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum
Érable argenté / Érable de Virginie
wabishòniya a-ininàtig

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Eastern and central North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 15–25 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral; non-acidic soils

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes: Produces sweet sap. Native Americans used the sap of wild trees to make sugar, as medicine, and in bread.

Red Maple / Swamp Maple / Soft Maple / Water Maple

Acer rubrum
Érable rouge / Érable de Virginie

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Eastern and central North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 18–27 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Wide rage including swams and dry soils
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: River sides

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes: As the name suggests the leaves turn red in autumn

Sugar Maple / Rock Maple

Acer saccharum
Érable à sucre / érable franc
sizibàkwado-ininàtig

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada and north eastern USA
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 25–35 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral; non-acidic soils

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes: Produces sweet sap, wood has many applications including flooring, baseball bats, furniture, etc.

Black Maple

Acer nigrum
Érable noir

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Central and eastern Canada and midwestern USA
Location at the FWG: north Old Woodlot
Height: 21–34 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes: Produces sweet sap. Closely related to the Sugar Maple.

Striped Maple

Acer pensylvanicum
Érable de Pennsylvanie / Érable jaspé

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada and USA
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 6–10 m
Light requirements: Sun to shade-tolerant
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes: Young bark is striped with green and white, and when a little older, brown.

Amur Maple*

Acer ginnala
Érable de l’Amour

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: northeastern Asia
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 3–6 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: normal
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes: Keys are red unlike other native maples. Leaves turn red in fall.

Manitoba Maple / Boxelder Maple

Acer negundo
Érable negundo / érable négondo

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Central North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot, Amphibian Pond, road entrance
Height: 10–25 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements:
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels

Notes:

Norway Maple*

Acer platanoides
Érable plain/ érable de Norvège

Family: Maple (Sapindaceae)
Native to: Central North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 20–30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements:
Soil: Any type of soil except sand
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Open woods

Wildlife use: Maple keys are eaten by mice and squirrels. Often confused wit Sugar Maple. Differentiate by clear sap in the petiole (leaf stem); Norway Maple petioles have white sap. The tips of the points on Norway Maple leaves reduce to a fine “hair”, while the tips of the points on sugar maple leaves are rounded.

Notes:

(Wild or Mountain) Black Cherry

Prunus serotina
Cerisier tardif

Family: Rose (Rosaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Butterfly Meadow, Old Woodlot, Backyard Garden
Height: 22 m at maturity
Light requirements: Sun to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Grows well on a variety of soils. Common in the Ottawa region.

Wildlife use: Many species of birds are attracted to the fruit. Larval food source for Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis), Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops), and Lucia Azure (Celastrina lucia).

Notes: Medium-sized tree; fast-growing when young. Trunk sinuous; branches arching with drooping tips; root system shallow, wide-spreading. High salt tolerance but low pollution tolerance.

White flowers; attractive, shiny dark green leaves; dark reddish black cherries are stringent but edible. Drought tolerant. Excellent as individual planting for home landscaping, parks, schools, natural areas. Good addition to windbreaks.

Amur Cork Tree*

Phellodendron amurense
Arbre au liège de l’Amour

Family: Citruses (Rutaceae)
Native to: Eastern Asia
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot, Ravine
Height: 25 m at maturity
Light requirements: Sun to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil:
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Grows well on a variety of soils.

Wildlife use: Invasive. Used in Chinese herbal medicines.

(Northern) Red Oak

Quercus rubra
Chêne rouge d’Amérique

Family: Oak (Fagaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada and US
Location at the FWG: north Old Woodlot
Height: Up to 28 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: acorns are eaten by squirrels

Notes:

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa
Chêne à gros fruits

Family: Oak (Fagaceae)
Native to: central Canada and US
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: Up to 30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: acorns are eaten by squirrels

Notes:

White Oak

Quercus alba
Chêne blanc / Chêne blanc d’Amérique

Family: Oak (Fagaceae)
Native to: eastern Canada and US
Location at the FWG: Old Woodlot
Height: 24 to 30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Moist, loamy soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: acorns are eaten by squirrels

Notes:

English Oak / Common Oak / European Oak*

Quercus robor
Chêne pédonculé

Family: Oak (Fagaceae)
Native to: Europe
Location at the FWG: near parking lot
Height: to 20 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Average moisture
Soil: Tolerasnt, prefers fertile and well-watered soils
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: acorns are eaten by squirrels

Notes: Acorns are 2–2.5 cm. Can have very large trunk circumference. Long lived.

American Beech

Fagus grandifolia
Hêtre à grandes feuilles, Hêtre américain

Family: Oak (Fagaceae)
Native to: Eastern North America
Location at the FWG: Old Woods
Height: 20 to 35 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Average moisture
Soil: favours a well watered, but also well drained soil but is intolerant of urban pollution, salt, and soil compaction
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Forests

Wildlife use: Beech nuts are eaten by squirrels and rabbits.

Notes: Beech nuts were one of the primary foods of the now-extinct Passenger Pigeon.

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra
Noyer d’Amérique ou Noyer noir

Family: Walnut (Juglandaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: throughout garden
Height: to 30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Well drained
Soil: Rich soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Food for squirrels

Notes: Tall spreading tree. Produces a natural phytotoxin called juglone in its roots, leaves, fruit, hulls, and bark, a substance that inhibits the growth of other plants. Leaves are opposite but last single leaf often missing unlike Butternut. Nuts are spherical.

Butternut/ White Walnut

Juglans cinerea
Noyer cendré

Family: Walnut (Juglandaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: throughout garden
Height: to 20 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Well drained
Soil: Rich soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Food for squirrels

Notes: Produces a natural phytotoxin called juglone in its roots, leaves, fruit, hulls, and bark, a substance that inhibits the growth of other plants. Leaves are opposite but has a last single leaf often missing in the Black Walnut. Nuts ovoid instead of spherical. Endangered by Butternut Canker.

Bitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformis
Caryer cordiforme

Family: Walnut (Juglandaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: north of Butterfly Meadow
Height: to 35 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Rich soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Food for squirrels

Notes: Compound leaf with 7 to 11 leaflets.

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata
Caryer ovale / Carya blanc / Noyer blanc / Noyer tendre

Family: Walnut (Juglandaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: north of Butterfly Meadow
Height: 20 to 30 m
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Moisture requirements: Well drained
Soil: Rich soil
pH: Neutral; tolerates acidic and alkaline soils

Natural habitat:

Wildlife use: Food for squirrels

Notes:

Black Willow

Salix nigra
Saule noir

Family: Willows (Salicaceae)
Native to: Southern Ontario and Eastern USA
Location at the FWG: Ravine
Height: 10 to 30 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: rich and moist
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: Bark of the tree contains salicylic acid, a chemical compound similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).

Notes: Trees may be single or multitrunked but as the smooth dark brown bark matures it becomes deeply furrowed with scaly, flat-topped ridges. Black Willow has long, narrow, pointed leaves with two small leaf-like “stipules” at the base of the leaf. Leaves turn lemon yellow in the fall. Useful for planting along waterways and for controlling erosion on steep banks.

White Willow

Salix alba
Saule blanc

Family: Willows (Salicaceae)
Native to: Europe and western and central Asia
Location at the FWG: Old Woods
Height: 10 to 30 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: rich and moist
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: Bark of the tree contains salicylic acid, a chemical compound similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).

Notes: Dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees

Trembling Aspen / Quaking Aspen / Aspen Poplar

Populus tremuloides
Peuplier faux-tremble

Family: Willows (Salicaceae)
Native to: Across Canada and northern USA
Location at the FWG: Evergreen Woods
Height: to 25 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: rich and moist
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use:

Notes: Fast growing, leaves move easily in a breeze. Forms clonal colonies.

Large-tooth Aspen / American Aspen / Bigtooth Aspen

Populus grandidentata
Peuplier à grandes dents

Family: Willows (Salicaceae)
Native to: Eastern Canada and northern USA
Location at the FWG: Evergreen Woods and Old Woods
Height:  18 to 24 m
Light requirements: Shade tolerant
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: adapts to a variety of soils but  most prefers loamy sands
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use:

Notes: Fast growing, leaves move easily in a breeze.

Eastern Cottonwood / Necklace Poplar

Populus deltoides deltoides
Peuplier deltoïde

Family: Willows (Salicaceae)
Native to: South-eastern Canada and eastern USA
Location at the FWG: Ravine
Height:  20 to 60 m
Light requirements: Full sun
Moisture requirements: Needs to be near water
Soil: bare soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: The leaves serve as food for caterpillars of various Lepidoptera.

Notes: Fast growing, leaves move easily in a breeze.

Balsam Poplar / Hackmatack

Populus balsamifera
Peuplier baumier

Family: Willows (Salicaceae)
Native to: Canada, Alaska, eastern USA
Location at the FWG: near parking lot
Height:  to 25 m
Light requirements: Full sun
Moisture requirements: Prefers moist soils
Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soil
pH: Neutral

Natural habitat: Mixed or deciduous woods

Wildlife use: Bees sometimes harvest the resin from balsam poplar and use it to disinfect their hives. Leaves of the tree serve as food for caterpillars of various Lepidoptera.

Notes: Fast growing, leaves move easily in a breeze.