Bay Friendly Yard Tip #3 Tree Type Matters
Choose trees that are hosts to the largest number of native species. Here’s our fave 5!
“Not all trees are created equal,” says Frank Piccininni, Director of Habitat Restoration at Save The Great South Bay
#1 Red Oak (Quercas rubra)
- Hosts 500+ caterpillar species
- 75-100 ft. sheds leaves annually
- Fall colors of crimson, golden-orange, or russet
- Rapid-growing & popular shade and street tree
#2 Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Hosts 290+ caterpillar species
- Majestic shade tree
- Grows 40-60 ft.
- Brilliant red to yellow or greenish-yellow leaves
- Very tolerant of most soils
#3 Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
- Hosts 500+ caterpillar species
- Rounded crown of glossy foliage
- 75-150 ft., sheds leaves annually
- Bark brown with fine fissures and scaly ridges
- Twigs are smooth reddish-brown
#4 White Oak (Quercus alba)
- Hosts 500+ caterpillar species
- Rounded crown of glossy foliage
- 75-150 ft., sheds leaves annually
- Bark brown with fine fissures and scaly ridges
- Twigs are smooth reddish-brown
#5 Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
- Hosts 255+ caterpillar species
- 40-70 ft. evergreen
- Drooping branches with scaly, reddish-brown bark and stiff, yellow-green needles and cones
- Suitable for dry rocky soil
About Bay Friendly Yards
Bay Friendly Yards require no fertilizer or pesticides, no extra water. They are more beautiful, are less expensive to maintain, and they help restore habitat. They also help filter our groundwater before it reaches the bay and our water supply.