The Native Trees of Sligo Creek Park
This list of the native trees found in Sligo Creek park is a basic list. We are in the midst of reformatting the list, revising the links, and recreating the custom list-making function. Check back!
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GYMNOSPERMAE-GYMNOSPERMS
Cupressaceae – Cypress Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Red Cedar | Juniperus virginiana | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,5,2,1P,1CP | sunny open areas and forest edge | Uncommon due to mowing and forest succession. T. |
Pinaceae – Pine Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Pitch Pine | Pinus rigida | rare | 7,5,1CP, | open canopy forest | Three sites in Park; a few more grow in Takoma Park. T. (A) |
Yellow/Shortleaf Pine | Pinus echinata | rare | 9,8,6, | open canopy forest with VA Pine | Three trees observed in Park. T. (A) |
Virginia Pine | Pinus virginiana | fairly common | 9,8,7,6,5,4,2,1P,1CP, | open canopy forest and forest edge | Regeneration limited due to mowing. T. |
Hemlock | Tsuga canadensis | very rare | 2, | steep dry slope with Chestnut Oak | Native to gorge. Planted elsewhere. T. |
ANGIOSPERMAE-MONOCOTS
Smilacaceae – Catbrier Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Glaucous Greenbrier | Smilax glauca | fairly common | all | moist or dry forest and forest edge | Easily overlooked. V. |
Common Greenbrier | Smilax rotundifolia | common | all | moist forest and wetland edges | Inpenetrable; good protection for wildlife from predators. V. |
ANGIOSPERMAE-DICOTS
Salicaceae – Willow Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Black Willow | Salix nigra | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,5,1P,1CP, | streamside; wetlands and swales | Upright branches,not pendulous. T. |
Big-tooth Aspen | Populus grandidentata | rare | 8, | upland forest edge | Our Eastern version of Quaking Aspen. T. |
Cottonwood | Populus deltoides | uncommon | 9,6,4,2,1CP, | floodplain | Most plentiful south of Riggs Rd; T. |
Juglandaceae – Walnut Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | fairly common | all | floodplain and moist slopes | Leaves & nut husk have strong odor. T. |
Bitternut Hickory | Carya cordiformis | rare | 1CP, | floodplain on deep alluvial soils | Prefers circumneutral soil pH;nut husks flexible. T. |
Mockernut Hickory | Carya tomentosa | fairly common | all | moist or dry oak forest on slopes | Fragrant foliage; thick rigid nut husk. T. (A) |
Pignut Hickory | Carya glabra | fairly common | all | moist or dry oak forest on slopes | Nut smaller & husk thinner than Mockernut. T. (A) |
Betulaceae – Birch Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Hazelnut | Corylus americana | uncommon | 8,7,6,4,2, | moist forest and floodplain | Easy to find in March with catkins. S. (A) |
Ironwood | Carpinus caroliniana | fairly common | all | moist forest and floodplain | also called Musclewood,Hornbeam, Blue Beech. T. |
River Birch | Betula nigra | fairly common | 9,7,6,5,4,3,1P,1CP, | floodplain and streambanks | Papery bark when young. T. |
Smooth Alder | Alnus serrulata | uncommon | 8,6,5,3, | streamside and wetlands | Goldfinches like seeds. S. |
Fagaceae – Beech Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
American Beech | Fagus grandifolia | fairly common | 9,8,6,5,4,3,2,1P,1CP, | moist forest on slopes | Look for beech-drops under trees. T. |
American Chestnut | Castanea dentata | rare | 8,7,5,3,1P, | acid oak forest on slopes | Trees sprout from old root systems. T. (A) |
Chinquapin | Castanea pumila | very rare | 8,1P | acid oak/Beech forest | Just a few plants observed. S. (A) |
White Oak | Quercus alba | common | all | moist or dry forest | Maryland State Tree. T. |
Post Oak | Quercus stellata | uncommon | 9,8,7,1P, | dry open canopy oak forest | Bark resembles white oak; leaves quite distinct. T. (A) |
Swamp White Oak | Quercus bicolor | very rare | 5, | Streambank | one very old tree.T.(A) Click here for photos. |
Chinquapin Oak | Quercus muhlenbergii | very rare | 8,7, | moist/dry open canopy oak forest | A few young trees observed. T. (A) |
Chestnut Oak | Quercus prinus | uncommon | 2,1P, | dry rocky slopes with heaths | Restricted to Sligo gorge. T. |
Red Oak | Quercus rubra | fairly common | all | moist slopes and stream banks | With beech and other oaks; buttressed trunk base. T. |
Black Oak | Quercus velutina | fairly common | all | dry forest on slopes | Resembles red oak; leaves leathery & glossy. T. |
Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | fairly common | 9,8,7,6,5,4,1P,1CP, | floodplain and wetlands | Small leaves and acorns; downswept lower limbs. T. |
Scarlet Oak | Quercus coccinea | fairly common | 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1P, | dry slopes with other oaks | Widespread but nowhere abundant. T. |
Spanish or Southern Red Oak | Quercus falcata | fairly common | all | dry slopes with other oaks | Distinctively shaped leaves. T. (A) |
Black-jack Oak | Quercus marilandica | very rare | 3,2,1P, | dry upland ridgetop | Found in watershed outside Park. T. |
Shingle Oak | Quercus imbricaria | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,5,4,3, | moist forest; slopes and floodplain | Leaves similar to willow oak but larger. T. |
Willow Oak | Quercus phellos | fairly common | 8,6,5,4,3,2,1P,1CP, | moist forest; slopes and floodplain | Native downstream of NH Ave. but naturalized upstream of NH in Piedmont. T. |
Ulmaceae – Elm Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
American Elm | Ulmus americana | common | all | floodplain | Seldom see large trees due to Dutch elm disease. T. |
Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | uncommon | 7,6,5, | floodplain and moist slopes | Birds disperse seeds; no large trees observed. T. (A) |
Moraceae – Mulberry Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Red Mulberry | Morus rubra | rare | 6,3 | Moist forest | Red fruit when ripe; Trees male or female. T. |
Ranunculaceae – Crowfoot Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Virgin’s-bower | Clematis virginiana | very rare | 9, | moist sunny thickets and edges | The non-native clematis C. paniculata is a pest in Sligo Park. V. (A) |
Magnoliaceae – Magnolia Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Umbrella Magnolia | Magnolia tripetala | rare | 8,3, | mature oak forest on slopes | Showy flowers; has largest leaves of any native woody. T. (A) |
Tulip Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | common | all | floodplain and moist slopes | Grows fast and tall and large trunked. T. |
Annonaceae – Custard-apple Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Pawpaw | Asimina triloba | uncommon to rare | 8,6,3,2,1CP, | moist rich slopes and floodplain | Banana-like fruit valued by wildlife. T. (A) |
Lauraceae – Laurel Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Sassafras | Sassafras albidum | common | all | open oak forest and forest edge | Three distinctive leaf shapes. T. |
Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | common | all | moist slopes and floodplain | Attractive red fruit for migrating birds. S. |
Saxifragaceae – Saxifrage Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Wild Hydrangea | Hydrangea arborescens | uncommon | 3,2,1P, | steep moist slopes | Restricted to Sligo gorge. S. |
Hamamelidaceae – Witch-Hazel Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Witch-Hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | uncommon to fairly common | 5,4,3,2,1P, | moist slopes & streambank | Our latest blooming woody plant; flowers in Oct./Nov. S. |
Sweet Gum | Liquidamber styraciflua | uncommon | 9,7,5,1CP, | moist bottomland | Native downstream of East-West Hwy. on Coastal Plain but naturalized upstream in Piedmont zone. T. |
Platanaceae – Plane-tree Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis | common | all | floodplain | Distinctive white bark on upper trunk and limbs. T. |
Rosaceae – Rose Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Downy Serviceberry | Amelanchier arborea | uncommon to fairly common | 9,8,7,6,4,3,2,1P, | dry slopes under oaks | Also planted on floodplain by Park’s Dept. & volunteers. Prefers slopes. T. |
Allegheny Serviceberry | Amelanchier laevis | very rare | 2, | dry slope under chestnut oaks | Larger flowers than A. arborea; new leaves not downy. T. (A) |
Variable Hawthorn | Crataegus macrosperma | very rare | 8,7,5, | dry slope under oaks | Forms thickets. Very long thorns. S. (A) |
Northern Dewberry | Rubus flagellaris | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,5,2,1P, | sunny to part shade, forest & edges | Trailing across ground; large blackberry fruits in July. S. (A) |
Swamp Dewberry | Rubus hispidus | very rare | 9,7 | wet bottomland | Trailing across ground; flexible bristles. S. (A) |
Black Raspberry | Rubus occidentalis | rare | 8,6,2, | forest edge and open fields | Glaucous canes; fruit ripens June; leaves white underside. S. |
Tall Blackberry | Rubus argutus (syn. R. pensilvanicus) | fairly common | all | forest edge & open areas | The common blackberry in our area. S. |
Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | common | all | almost anywhere except wetlands | Valuable fruit for birds and mammals. T. |
Fabaceae – Legume Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Redbud |
Cercis canadensis |
fairly common |
8,7,6,5,4,1P, |
forest edges and understory |
Perhaps not native to Sligo and has naturalized from yard & park plantings. T. |
Black Locust |
Robinia pseudo-acacia |
common |
all |
forest edges & open fields |
Sweet blossoms in May; thorny when young. T. |
Anacardiaceae – Sumac/Cashew Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP |
Habitat | Remarks |
Smooth Sumac | Rhus glabra | rare | 6,1P, | open field and forest edge | Red fruits; red fruited sumacs (Rhus sp.) are not poisonous. S. |
Shining (Winged) Sumac | Rhus copallina | rare | 9,6,1P, | open field and forest edge | Red fruits; leaf mid-rib winged; leaves shiny. S. (A) |
Staghorn Sumac | Rhus typhina | uncommon to rare | 8,6,5,1P, | open field and forest edge | Red fruits; new branches velvety like new deer horns. T. |
Poison Ivy | Rhus radicans | common | all | almost anywhere | White fruits; Skin poison; low shrub or high climbing vine. V. |
Aquifoliaceae – Holly Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found |
MAPHabitatRemarks
American HollyIlex opacafairly commonallforest understoryUsually shrubby. Rarely a tree in the wild. T/S.WinterberryIlex verticillatauncommon9,8,7,6,2,wetlands, floodplains, and moist slopes.Easily overlooked except when fruiting; red berries. S. (A).
Celastraceae – Staff-tree Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found |
MAPHabitatRemarks
Strawberry BushEuonymus americanusuncommon3,2,1P,moist slopes in shadeAttractive heart’s a burstin red & orange fruits; colonial. S. (A)
Aceraceae – Maple Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found |
MAPHabitatRemarks
Red MapleAcer rubrumcommonallalmost anywhere; very adaptable!Old hollow trunks and limbs provide den and nest sites. T.Silver MapleAcer saccharinumfairly commonallstreamside and floodplain forestSquirrels relish eating the flower buds in late winter. T.Box ElderAcer negundocommonallfloodplainA maple with compound leaves and green young twigs. T.
Vitaceae – Grape Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | common | all | almost anywhere | High climbing vine; showy deep red fall color; blue fruit. V. |
Fox Grape | Vitis labrusca | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,1P, | moist to wet floodplain thickets | Large sweet purple-black fruit; leaves white on underside & felty. V. |
Summer Grape | Vitis aestivalis | fairly common | 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1P, | moist or dry slopes in oak forest | High climber; blue fruit; Leaves glaucous. V. |
Winter Grape | Vitis vulpina | fairly common | 9,8,7,6,5,4,2,1P,1CP, | moist slopes and floodplain | High climber; small black fruit is sour; leaves green under. All of our grapes have shreddy bark. V. (A) |
Clusiaceae – St. John’s-Wort Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
St. Andrew’s Cross | Ascyrum hypericoides | uncommon to rare | 9,8,6,1P, | dry open or partly shaded uplands | Low semi-woody dwarf shrub S. (A) |
Nyssaceae – Sour Gum/Tupelo Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica | fairly common | all | understory in moist or dry forest | Attractive early fall color; birds relish dark blue fruits. T. |
Araliaceae – Ginseng Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Angelica-tree/Hercules’ Club | Aralia spinosa | uncommon | 8,7,6,2,1P, | open canopy forest and forest edge | Leaves, trunk and branches very thorny; colonial. T. (A) |
Cornaceae – Dogwood Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | common | all | forest understory & old fields | Declining due to dogwood anthracnose disease. T. |
Silky Dogwood | Cornus amomum | uncommon | 9,8,6,5,4,2,1P, | streamside, floodplain, and wetlands. | Red twigs in winter; sprawlingshrub. T or S. (A) |
Ericaceae – Heath Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Spotted Wintergreen | Chimaphila maculata | uncommon | 9,7,4,3,2,1P, | mature beech and/or oak forest | Semi-woody dwarf evergreen; fragrant flowers in summer. ESS. |
Pinxter Azalea | Rhododendron nudiflorum | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,4,3,2,1P, | oak forest; slopes and streambanks | Showy flowers in late April/early May; deciduous. S. |
Mountain Laurel | Kalmia latifolia | uncommon | 9,5,4,3,2,1P, | oak forest; slopes and streambanks | Showy flowers in mid-late May; evergreen. S. |
Black Huckleberry | Gaylussacia baccata | rare | 9,1P, | dry oak forest with blueberries | Colonial; amber resin dotted foliage; resembles blueberry. S. (A) |
Deerberry | Vaccinium stamineum | uncommon | 9,8,7,4,3,2,1P, | dry oak forest with blueberries | Fruit dangles beneath foliage; easily overlooked. S. (A) |
Early Low Blueberry | Vaccinium vacillans | fairly common | 9,8,7,4,3,2,1P, | dry oak forest | Green twigs distinguish it from Huckleberry & Deerberry. S. |
Black Highbush Blueberry | Vaccinium atrococcum | uncommon | 9,8,7,3,2,1P, | moist or dry oak forest | Up to 6′-8′ tall; black fruited. S. (A) |
Ebenaceae – Ebony Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Persimmon | Diospyros virginiana | fairly common | 9,8,7,6,5,2,1P,1CP, | forest edges, old fields, open areas | Very important wildlife foodplant; nice winter silhouette. T. |
Oleaceae – Olive Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
White Ash | Fraxinus americana | fairly common | all | moist slopes; well-drained floodplain | Easily confused with green ash. T. |
Green Ash | Fraxinus pensylvanica | fairly common | all | streamside; moist to wet floodplain | Prefers wetter soils than white ash. T. (A) |
Fringe-tree | Chionanthus virginicus | rare | 9,8,2,1P | mature open canopy oak forest | Attractive fragrant drooping white flowers in May; blue fruit. T. (A) |
Bignoniaceae – Bignonia Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Trumpet-vine | Campsis radicans | very rare | 1P, | edge of powerline right-of-way | showy orange trumpet-like flowers in summer. V. |
Rubiaceae – Madder Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Partridge-berry | Mitchella repens | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,2,1P, | moist forest under oaks or pines | Semi-woody evergreen ground-cover with red berries. ESS (A). |
Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | very rare | 9, | Swamp/wet meadow | Two plants observed. S. |
Caprifoliaceae – Honeysuckle Family
Common Name | Scientific Name | Occurrence | Sections Found MAP | Habitat | Remarks |
Trumpet Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens | very rare | 8,7, | moist hillside thickets | Our native honeysuckle. Showy flowers V. (A) |
Black Haw Viburnum | Viburnum prunifolium | fairly common | all | moist rich slopes and floodplain | Showy flowers in mid-late April; blue-black fruits in Aug. T. or S. |
Arrow-wood | Viburnum dentatum (includes V.recognitum) | fairly common | all | moist rich slopes and floodplain | Prefers wetter soils than black haw or mapleleaf Viburnum. S. |
Maple-leaved Viburnum | Viburnum acerifolium | fairly common | 9,8,7,5,4,3,2,1P, | moist to dry slopes under oaks | Prefers dryer soils than Black Haw or Arrowwood. Blooms May/June. S. |
Elderberry | Sambucus canadensis | uncommon | 9,8,7,6,5,2,1P,1CP, | wetland & open floodplain thickets | Showy flowers in June; purplish-black fruits in late Aug. S. |