Species Descriptions
Select one of the following to go to detailed species descriptions:
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
We have done our best to describe appropriate site conditions for each species with a few concise terms. But keep in mind that no list of terms can fully describe all possible conditions. If you would like more information about a particular species’ needs, please contact us.
Exposure: how much sun or shade a transplant tolerates—not an established, mature plant. Providing mulch and irrigation during plant establishment can push species’ tolerance to the sunny and dry end of the spectrum. Providing a shadier planting site minimizes soil moisture needs (for shade-tolerant species only).
Soil moisture: what level of soil moisture a transplant prefers. Continuum from wet to droughty described by:
Even with the correct soil type, irrigation is critical in most cases, especially for conditions such as: spring installations, compacted soil, little organic matter, high sun exposure, and species that suffer badly from transplant shock.
Transplanting success: typical survival rate for a plant properly handled, sited, and installed at a restoration site.
Growth rate: how fast a plant typically grows after outplanting. Transplants from larger container sizes (5 gallon or more) usually take longer to establish and achieve the stated growth rate.
Form: describes top growth as tree, shrub, vine, herbaceous perennial, or emergent (sedges, rushes, etc. that grow out of standing water), evergreen or deciduous, and gives typical maximum height at maturity. Root system description indicates erosion control potential, ability to spread by runners or rhizomes, and where and how far the established root system will reach for water and nutrients.