Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape: Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid

By Lois Berg Stack, Extension ornamental horticulture specialist

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Maine’s Native Landscape

Maine’s landscape is famous for its variety. Within the state one can find ocean beaches, lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests. Maine is locally influenced by both coastal and inland weather patterns. This creates relatively mild areas, and areas that are almost arctic within the state’s 300 mile length and 200 mile width. Maine rises from sea level to over 5,000 feet in elevation at the top of Mount Katahdin. This wide range of elevation results in a diversity of habitats including flat sandy plains, rolling hills, rounded summits and craggy mountains with shear cliffs. Maine’s forests vary from spruce and fir near the coast, to hardwoods in the western and northern hills. More than 100 types of habitats have been identified with about 1,500 native plant species spread across the state’s varied landscape.

What Are Native Versus Non-native Plant Species, and Why Should I Care?

Native plants are those species that either arrived in Maine without human intervention, perhaps thousands of years ago, or originated here. Non-native species were brought intentionally for horticultural or other uses, or came accidentally in ships’ ballasts, crop seed or in soil. Some non-native plants continue to escape from cultivation and become naturalized in wetlands, lakes, woods, fields or roadsides.

Natural predators and diseases are left behind when non-native plants are introduced here. Therefore, their spread is uncontrolled and such non-native species as purple loosestrife, Japanese barberry and Asian honeysuckle can become serious pests.

One long-term effect of invasive non-native species is to degrade habitat for native plants and animals. These plants choke out native vegetation, diminish the availability of food plants for wildlife, and alter the behavior of native animals such as pollinators, plant-eating insects and fruit-eating birds. Unchecked, invasion by non-natives could drive some species to extinction. This is why non-native plants are a major concern to people who want to protect native species and natural areas.

Plants to Avoid and Why

Most familiar nursery plants are not invasive and are appropriate for planting. However, a few popular species, including purple loosestrife and Japanese barberry, are highly invasive. A single purple loosestrife plant can produce three million seeds in a single season! Even the tiniest root fragments can grow into new plants. Japanese barberry is invading Maine’s forests and wetlands because birds disperse its seeds over long distances. Both species are very difficult to eradicated once they become established.

Non-native Plants Considered Most Invasive in Maine Include:

• purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
• Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
• Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
• Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
• smooth and common buckthorn (Frangula alnus and Rhamnus cathartica)
• non-native honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.)
• garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
• multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
• small-flowered tickle-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. parviflora)
• common reed (Phragmites australis)

What Can You Do to Help?

• You can promote native plants by refusing to purchase or transplant purple loosestrife and other invasive plants.
• Grow plants that do not “jump the fence” or escape from the garden.
• Try growing some native species as ornamentals and as food for birds and pollinators.
• Eliminate invasive non-natives from your yard and garden. Remove the plant, including roots, from the soil.
• Urge your garden center managers to expand their selection of propagated native plants.

Looking for Native Plants at Your Garden Center

Native plants are well adapted to Maine’s climate and are therefore hardy. Most plants in the Native Plant Recommendations are available at local garden centers, where the staff can usually help customers with plant selection. Ask if their native plants are nursery-propagated. Collecting plants, cuttings, seeds, or sods from the wild can devastate natural populations. If the nursery cannot guarantee that its native plants are nursery-propagated, purchase your plants elsewhere.

For more information about Maine native plants, see Bulletin #2502, “Native Plants: A Maine Source List.”

The Maine Invasive Plants fact sheet series describes invasive exotic plants that present threats to native Maine terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Key to Light and Moisture Abbreviations

Light:

F=full sunlight
P=partial shade
S=shade

Moisture:

H=hydric; wet, periodically or often inundated by water
M=mesic; moist, adequate soil moisture retention all year
S=sub-xeric; moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry
X=xeric; dry and drought resistant, little moisture retention, excessively drained

Native Plant Recommendations

Trees | Shrubs | Vines and Ground Covers | Perennials: Flowering Plants | Perennials: Ferns

Trees
NAME
Common	Scientific			Height	Comments
Balsam fir	Abies balsamea	F,P	M	75′	Open growth in hot, dry locations; evergreen
Red maple, Swamp maple	Acer rubrum	F,P	M	60′	Excellent fall color; tolerates wet spring soils
Sugar maple, Rock maple	Acer saccharum	F,P	M	75′	Excellent orange-red fall color; beautiful large shade tree
Mountain maple	Acer spicatum	F,P	M	30′	Useful in naturalizing
Yellow birch	Betula alleghaniensis	F,P	M	100′	Does best in cool soils and cool summers; beautiful bark; long lived
Paper birch	Betula papyrifera	F	M	70′	Beautiful white bark year-round; tolerates poor, dry soils
Gray birch	Betula populifolia	F	M	40′	Does well in poor soils; good for naturalizing
American hornbeam, Blue-beech	Carpinus caroliniana spp. virginiana	F	M	30′	Good for naturalizing; tolerates periodic flooding
Pagoda dogwood	Cornus alternifolia	F,P	M	M 25′	Moist soil is important; white flowers in early June
Cockspur thorn	Crataegus crus-galli	F	M	30′	Glossy green leaves; 2″ thorns; persistent dark red fruits
White ash	Fraxinus americana	F	M	80′	Handsome large tree; good fall leaf color; tolerates alkaline soil
Green ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	F,P	M	60′	Faster-growing than white ash; tolerates salty, dry and alkaline soil
Larch, Hackmatack, Tamarack	Larix laricina	F	H,M	80”	Good in well-drained and moist-to-wet naturalized sites
Black gum	Nyssa sylvatica	F,P	M	50′	Excellent yellow-orange fall leaf color
American hophornbeam	Ostrya virginiana	F,P	M,S	40′	Slow to establish after transplanting; good medium-sized tree
White spruce, Cat spruce	Picea glauca	F,P	M	60′	Good specimen or windbreak; evergreen
Black spruce	Picea mariana	F,P	M	40′	Tolerates wet sites; evergreen
Jack pine	Pinus banksiana	F	S,X	50′	Useful for windbreaks or mass plantings in sandy soil; evergreen
Red pine, Norway pine	Pinus resinosa	F	S,X	80′	Good windbreak; tolerates dry soils well; evergreen
White pine	Pinus strobus	F	M,S	80′	Handsome specimen; not tolerant of salt; evergreen
Bigtooth aspen	Populus grandidentata	F	M,S	70′	Fast growing, short lived; good yellow fall leaf color
Quaking aspen, Trembling aspen	Populus tremuloides	F	M	50′	Fast growing, short lived; good yellow fall leaf color
Pin cherry, fire cherry, bird cherry	Prunus pensylvanica	F	M	35′	Adaptable; fast growing; tolerates poor soil
Black cherry	Prunus serotina	F	M	60′	Interesting black bark; white flowers in spring; wildlife food source
White oak	Quercus alba	F	M	80′	Large tree; transplant when young
Northern red oak	Quercus rubra	F	M	75′	Transplants readily; good fall red leaf color
Black willow	Salix nigra	F	H,M	35′	Tolerates wet soils; twigs can cause lawn litter
American mountainash	Sorbus americana	F	M	30′	Fruits good in wildlife landscape
Northern white-cedar, Arborvitae	Thuja occidentalis	F,P	M	60′	Useful hedge or specimen plant; tolerates alkaline soil
Basswood, American linden	Tilia americana	F,P	M	80′	Large tree; tolerates alkaline soil; good for urban landscape
Eastern hemlock	Tsuga canadensis	F,P,S	M	70′	Graceful evergreen; does not tolerate drought or windy sites
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Shrubs
NAME
Common	Scientific			Height	Comments
Downy serviceberry	Amelanchier arborea	F,P	M	25′	Useful in edible and wildlife landscapes; excellent orange fall color
Eastern serviceberry	Amelanchier canadensis	F,P	M	20′	Useful in edible and wildlife landscapes; yellow-gold fall color
Smooth serviceberry, Allegheny serviceberry	Amelanchier laevis	F,P	M	25′	Useful in edible and wildlife landscapes; spring leaves are bronze
Bog rosemary	Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla	F,P	H	1′	Leathery evergreen leaves; requires very moist acid soil
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	F	H	6′	Good for wetland plantings
Sweetfern	Comptonia peregrina	F,P	S,X	3′	Aromatic foliage; interesting texture; good in dry sandy soil
Gray dogwood	Cornus racemosa	F,P,S	M	15′	Suckering; white fall fruits eaten by many birds
Redosier dogwood	Cornus sericea	F	H,M	6’	Red stems attractive in winter; suckering; tolerates wet soil
American hazelnut	Corylus americana	F,P	M	15′	Good for naturalizing; fruit eaten by wildlife; tolerates alkaline soil
Bush-honeysuckle	Diervilla lonicera	S,P	M	5′	Suckering plant, very hardy, adaptable
Leatherwood	Dirca palustris	S	M	4′	Yellow fall color; thrives in moist, shady sites
Common witchhazel	Hamamelis virginiana	F,P	M	15′	Avoid droughty sites; yellow flowers in October; yellow fall leaf color
Winterberry, Black-alder	Ilex verticillata	F,P	H,M	10′	Bright red fruits persist into midwinter; excellent wetland plant
Common juniper	Juniperus communis var. depressa	F	M,S,X	3′	Tolerates drought, wind, sterile or alkaline soils; evergreen
Sheep, Laurel, Lambkill	Kalmia angustifolia	F,P	M,S	3′	Adaptable to many soils; best in very acid soil; good for naturalizing
Sweetgale	Myrica gale	F	S,X	4′	Bushy plant; dark green foliage; aromatic foliage
Northern bayberry	Myrica pensylvanica	F,P	S,X	6′	Good for massing; useful in poor soil sites; aromatic foliage
Bush cinquefoil	Pentaphylloides floribunda (Potentilla fruticosa)	F	M,S,X	4′	Good summer-flowering shrub; tolerates alkaline soil
Black chokeberry	Photinia (Aronia) melanocarpa	F,P	H,M,S	6’	Suckers; wine-red fall color; good wildlife plant in wet or dry soils
Beach plum	Prunus maritima	F	M,S	6′	Good for edible landscape; salt-tolerant
Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	F	M	30′	Suckering shrub; white flowers in spring; wildlife food source
Rhodora	Rhododendron canadense	F,P	H,M	3′	Magenta flowers in spring; best in very acid soil
Labrador tea	Rhododendron (Ledum) groenlandicum	F,P	H,M	3′	Transplants well; good for moist-to-wet naturalized sites
Staghorn sumac	Rhus hirta (R. typhina)	P	M,S.X	25′	Spreads by suckers; good mass plant for dry slopes
Meadow rose	Rosa blanda	F	M	5′	Suckers; single light pink flowers; red hips in fall and winter
Pasture rose	Rosa carolina	F	M	5′	Pink single flowers in midsummer; small red hips persist into winter
Virginia rose	Rosa virginiana	F	M,S	5′	Suckers; good in dry and seaside sites; good barrier/hedge
Pussy willow	Salix discolor	S	H,M	15′	Fuzzy flowers in early spring; good for naturalizing
American elder	Sambucus canadensis	F	M	12′	Useful in edible landscape; tolerates alkaline soil
Scarlet elder	Sambucus racemosa spp. pubens (S. pubens)	F	M	20′	Flowers in mid to late July; handsome red fruit in midsummer
Canadian yew	Taxus canadensis	P,S	M	6′	Hardiest yew; good for naturalized shady landscape; evergreen
Highbush blueberry	Vaccinium corymbosum	F	M	8′	Good for edible or wildlife landscapes; best in very acid soil
Mapleleaf viburnum	Viburnum acerifolium	P,S	M,S	6′	Suckering; good for mass plantings in shady sites
Hobblebush	Viburnum lantanoides (V. alnifolium)	P,S	M	8′	Open shrub; good for naturalized landscape
Arrowwood viburnum	Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum	F,P	M	15′	Durable; good for hedges; tolerates alkaline soil
Nannyberry	Viburnum lentago	F,P	M,S	15′	Good for wildlife and naturalized landscapes
Witherod, Wild-raisin	Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides	S,P	M	10′	Excellent fall foliage and fruit color
Highbush cranberry	V. opulus var. americanum (V. o. var. trilobum)	F,P	M	12′	Excellent for screening; good for wildlife landscapes
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Vines and Ground Covers
NAME
Common	Scientific			Height	Comments
Running serviceberry	Amelanchier stolonifera	F,P	M	2’	Stoloniferous groundcover; forms thickets
Bearberry	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	F,P	S,X	6”	Best in poor, sandy, very acid soils; salt-tolerant; groundcover
American bittersweet	Celastrus scandens	F,P	M,S	–	Climbing vine; separate male and female plants; tolerates alkaline soil
Virgin’s bower	Clematis virginiana	F	M	–	Climbing vine; white flowers in late summer; best in alkaline soil
Bunchberry	Cornus canadensis	P,S	M	6″	Spreading groundcover; white flowers in spring; red fruit in fall
Checkerberry, Wintergreen	Gaultheria procumbens	P,S	M	6″	Evergreen groundcover; leaves fragrant when crushed; reddish in fall
Creeping juniper	Juniperus horizontalis	F	M,S,X	1′	Adaptable; tolerates hot, dry sites and alkaline soil; evergreen
Partridgeberry	Mitchella repens	S	M	2″	Delicate plant; red fruits persist into winter
Woodbine, Virginia creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	F,P,S	M,S,X	–	Vigorous vine; tough; maroon fall color; tolerates alkaline soil
Lowbush blueberry	Vaccinium angustifolium	F	M	2′	Slow; good for edible or wildlife landscapes; requires acid soil
Cranberry	Vaccinium macrocarpon	F	H,M	6″	Slow; good for edible or wildlife landscapes; requires acid soil
Fox grape	Vitis labrusca	F	M	–	Handsome foliage; good vine for arbors and fences
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Perennials: Flowering Plants
NAME
Common	Scientific			Height	Comments
White baneberry; Red baneberry	Actaea pachypoda, A. rubra	P,S	M	24″	Attractive, but poisonous fruits
Columbine	Aquilegia canadensis	F,P,S	M,S	12″	Early spring flowers
Spikenard	Aralia racemosa	P,S	M,S	36″	Good for back of border
Silverweed	Argentina anserina	F	S,X	6″	Yellow flowers, silvery leaves
Jack-in-the-pulpit	Arisaema triphyllum	P,S	H,M	12″	Flower green and brown; bright red fruits
Milkweed	Asclepias syriaca	F	S,X	36″	Attracts butterflies
Marsh marigold	Caltha palustris	F,P	H,M	12″	Showy yellow flowers in early spring
Harebell	Campanula rotundifolia	F,P	M,S,X	12″	Delicate blue-purple flowers
Blue cohosh	Caulophyllum thalictroides	P,S	M,S	36″	Blue fruits; back of border
White turtlehead	Chelone glabra	P,S	H,M	24″	Interesting white flowers in midsummer
Bluebead-lily	Clintonia borealis	P,S	M,S	12″	Pale yellow ball-shaped flowers; fruits poisonous
Trout-lily, Dog’s-tooth-violet	Erythronium americanum	P,S	M	6″	Flowers early spring
Joe-pye weed	Eupatorium maculatum	F	H,M	48″	Purple flowers in fall; attracts butterflies; good for drying
Boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum	F	H,M	24″	Green flowers; good for drying
Blue flag	Iris versicolor	F,P	H,M	24″	Elegant form; blue-purple flowers; easy to grow
Indian cucumber-root	Medeola virginiana	P,S	M	12″	Interesting magenta floral bracts
Obedient plant	Physostegia virginiana	F,P,S	M,S,X	24″	Flowers pink, leaves dark green; good cut flower
Solomon’s seal	Polygonatum pubescens	P,S	M	18″	Arching stems; white flowers in early spring; tall groundcover for shade
Bloodroot	Sanguinaria canadensis	P,S	M	12″	Showy white flowers in early spring
New England aster	Symphyotrichum (Aster) novae-angliae	F,P	M,S,X	24″	Fall flowering; deep purple
New York aster	Symphyotrichum (Aster) novi-belgii	F,P	M,S,X	24″	Fall flowering; purple
Foam flower	Tiarella cordifolia	P	M	6″	Delicate white flowers in early spring
Wild-oats	Uvularia sessilifolia	P,S	M	6″	Creamy, bell-shaped flowers in early spring
Violet	Viola species	P	M	2-6″	Various species and colors; most self-sow to form groundcovers
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Perennials: Ferns
NAME
Common	Scientific			Height	Comments
Maidenhair fern	Adiantum pedatum	P,S	M	18″	Graceful black stem; nearly circular fronds; tolerates alkaline soil
Lady fern	Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum	P,S	H,M	18″	Lacey fronds; reddish in spring
Hay-scented fern	Dennstaedtia punctilobula	F,P	S,X	12″	Fragrant lacey fronds; tolerates hot, dry sites; spreading
Spinulose wood fern	Dryopteris carthusiana	P,S	M,S	24″	Lacey fronds; reddish in spring
Marginal wood fern	Dryopteris marginalis	F,P	S,X	24″	Easy to grow; fronds blue-green; tolerates rocky sites
Ostrich fern	Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica	P,S	M	36″	Edible fiddleheads; beautiful green fronds; plume-like fertile fronds
Sensitive fern	Onoclea sensibilis	F,P	H,M	12″	Easy to grow; spreads; persistent bead-like fertile fronds in winter
Cinnamon fern	Osmunda cinnamomea	P,S	H,M	36″	Easy to grow; attractive cinnamon-colored fertile frond in spring
Interrupted fern	Osmunda claytoniana	F,P,S	H,M,S,X	36″	Easy to grow; spreads well; luxuriant spring growth
Royal fern	Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis	F,P,S	H,M,S	36″	Vase-shaped; interesting fertile fronds; sterile fronds finely dissected
Long beech fern	Phegopteris connectilis	P,S	M	6″	Smaller size fern, low growing; spreads well
Christmas fern	Polystichum acrostichoides	P,S	M	12″	Leathery, evergreen fronds
The botanical names in this plant list are consistent with those found in: Haines, A. and T.F. Vining. 1998. Flora of Maine: a Manual for Identification of Native and Naturalized Vascular Plants of Maine. Bar Harbor, ME: V.F. Thomas Co.

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This publication was made possible by:
Friends of Acadia
Garden Club Federation of Maine
Josselyn Botanical Society
Maine Natural Areas Program
Maine Department of Conservation
Maine Department of Agriculture
Maine Landscape and Nursery Association
Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
National Park Service
Plant Conservation Alliance
The Nature Conservancy
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
University of Maine Horticulture Club
U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

© 2003
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