Description

This pack contains 3 tree seedlings, young trees that are between 6 and 12 inches tall. They have been grown in a container that is 2.5×2.5×5 inches, making them an easily manageable size for planting. Because of their small size your seedlings will take longer to become established in your garden, but they are a cost-effective alternative to larger, more expensive plants. We recommend using a tree shelter or similar barrier to protect your seedlings from deer and lawn equipment as they grow.

Your Keystone Tree Pack will contain one each of the following:

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Keystone Value: The Acer (Maple) genus supports over 250 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, providing food for a variety of birds and mammals.

Sugar Maple is a diverse tree with an iconic status. The Sugar Maple leaf is actually the national symbol of Canada, but it’s said that the United States technically has more of these trees than its northern neighbor. It is a mid sized tree and usually develops an attractive, rounded shape. The Sugar Maple’s most notable features are its brilliant yellow-orange fall color and its ability to produce the sweet maple syrup we know and love. It makes for an excellent specimen/shade tree, however it unfortunately doesn’t tolerate salt/road pollution well, so it should be kept away from the street if possible. Maples host over 250 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, making Sugar Maple a valuable keystone species. Hardiness zone: 3,4,5,6,7,8

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

Keystone Value: The Quercus (Oak) genus supports over 500 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, providing food for a variety of birds and mammals.

Willow Oak gets its name from its leaves, which are long, narrow, and willow-like instead of wide and lobed like other Oak trees. This mid sized tree is fine-textured and forms an attractive rounded/oval habit at maturity. The acorns provide food for a variety of native mammals and birds, and Oak trees host over 500 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars. Hardiness zone: 5,6,7,8,9

Sweet Birch (Betula lenta)

Keystone Value: The Betula (Birch) genus supports over 400 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, providing food for a variety of birds and mammals.

Sweet Birch is prized in the home landscape for its striking fall color: a brilliant golden yellow. It is a mid sized tree that usually forms a rounded shape when mature. The sap can be used to create Birch Beer as well as a syrup similar to molasses, and when the stems are bruised they produce a wintergreen odor. In fact, Sweet Birch was once overharvested close to extinction for its production of wintergreen oil. Sweet Birch is a great choice for areas with a large deer population as it is deer resistant. As a keystone plant, Birches pack an ecological punch as the host plant for over 400 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars. Hardiness zone: 3,4,5,6,7,8