Attractive and Rugged
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Isn't this America's bread basket?
Yes and yes. The prairies cover a vast region of the United States and Canada. The landscape varies as much as the people that live and farm there.
From the Great Plains To the Bad Lands. To mighty rivers, scrub and foothills all make up the Prairie region. What remains the same are the trees. (To the right is a stand of Aspen.)
Large and small, trees are pretty much the same as those of the northeast and southeast regions of America.
Oak, maple, hackberry, dogwood, cottonwood, cedar and others make up the majority of the trees of the prairie.
Trees of the prairie can be woodland areas or the lone survivor watching over an open field.
Either way you look at it, Native trees are the way to go.
Ornamental trees from Europe and Asia are taking over our yards and landscapes.
This isn't for you.
Many prairie birds depend on these trees as flyways and protection. Some birds nest in these trees and native trees offer up the food they need.
Some insects are dependant on certain species of trees.
Plant native trees for backyard birding and other wildlife.
Native trees of the prairie are drought resistant and more tolerant to the extreme weather changes.
Tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) are native to the eastern third of the United States and portions of Canada.
This includes the eastern part of the prairie states.
These giants are known for their tulip shaped flowers, but the seed pods are a source of food for wildlife.
Give these trees plenty of room to grow as the can reach heights of 150 feet.
Large trees of the prairie include Cottonwood (Populus freemontii).
Cottonwood trees can grow to 80 feet.
The seeds are cursed by pool owners. Air-conditioning units need to be cleaned regularly when cottonwood seeds are in the air.
The cottonwood is a valuable source for food and nesting materials for many bird species.
They grow best in moist soil conditions. Often found near lakes and streams.
Trees of the prairie also include:
Mockernut (Carya tomentosa) and Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis).
Both nut trees can grow to 100 feet and provide nuts food for birds, squirrels, deer and other wildlife.
The thick foliage offers protection and nesting sights.
A Mockernut tree is pictured to your right.
Medium sized trees of the prairie would include Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum).
Sassafras are well known for their colorful fall foliage and grow typically to 30 to 40 feet.
These trees make wonderful groves and thickets in nature, making them perfect spots for game birds to nest.
They produce seeds as another source of food in the wild.
As kids, we would boil the roots and make a tasty sassafras tea (I miss those days).
Trees of the prairie also include conifers.
If at all possible, include at least one conifer or evergreen tree in your native landscape.
Common juniper (Juniperus communis), the most widespread tree in the world, covers most of the northern hemisphere.
Common junipers grow to 20 feet. They offer great protection and the bitter berries often are the last to be eaten by birds.
By the time winter really settles in, berry eating birds converge on junipers and strip them of their blue fruits.
I've seen hundreds of cedar waxwings make a meal of juniper berries.
Common junipers tolerate intense cold making them ideal for the harsh winters.
A cousin of the juniper is the Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Red cedars are the most distributed conifer through central and eastern United States.
Red cedar is tolerant of dry conditions, grows well in mountainous terrain as well as the prairies.
A narrow conical shaped tree that grows to 100 feet and offers blue berries as a source of food.
These trees of the prairie make a wonderful windbreak and protection for wildlife.
You may look for cultivars that may not grow as tall.
There are some spruce trees of the prairie.
Mostly in the northern regions
Black spruce (Picea mariana) and White spruce (Picea glauca) are the most common spruces.
Stretching from South Dakota, throughout most of Canada and the New England states. Both species of spruce are rugged.
Narrow conical shaped trees both grow to 70 feet and have pine cones about 2 inches long. Pine nuts are a staple for birds in the winter months.
Often when The large forests of spruce and pine will have a bad year producing cones. These are the
winters we often see irruptions of Common red polls and Pine siskins.
Some smaller trees of the prairie are Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).
Dogwoods are well known for the flowers in spring, but are a valuable food for bluebirds and other fruit eaters late in the year.
Eastern redbud (Cercus canadensis) is another small tree of the prairie and most of the eastern half of the United States.
Redbuds are filled with small pinkish colored flowers in early spring that attract hummingbirds to your yard.
You will notice seed pods later on.
These trees are members of the Legume or bean family. A fast growing tree, it can be pruned to fit your needs in the garden.
Both dogwood and redbud are great understory trees (you will see this in nature).
There isn't anything unique about trees of the prairie.
Well, maybe that they are low maintenance trees. Hardy and rugged, much like the people and wildlife that call it home.
So you have your trees of the prairie, now get those feeders up
Look for other native trees that attract birds and wildlife.
Don't be left holding the bag
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