We all need Trees
Planting trees is an investment in the future. We value trees for the many benefits they contribute to both our human and wild community. Whether a mature forest or an intentional planting of select species, trees provide shade, beauty, improved air quality, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation amongst many other benefits.
Our ‘Trees and Shrubs for Wildlife‘ program provides local landowners with native species that enhance and create wildlife habitat.
Creating natural areas around your home where wildlife can find food and shelter is simple and rewarding. Planting native species of trees and shrubs brings many benefits to the animals that share our outdoor spaces with us and strengthens our connection to nature. They can provide a diversity of food during each season of the year, shelter and nesting sites for birds, and attract wildlife that we can observe and enjoy.
Plant Trees and Shrubs for Wildlife
You can help meet the needs of wildlife all year long. Here’s how:
SustainFloyd is offering an assortment of native trees and shrubs for fall planting. These species are easy to grow and adapted to our local climate. The trees are well established 3-4 foot saplings.
We are offering these trees to the community. You may request up to 3 trees using the form below. If you are able to help us cover the cost of this project, a donation of $10 per tree is suggested.
Included with your tree will be a recycled plastic tree guard, wood chip mulch and detailed planting instructions. We are taking requests for trees on a first come first serve basis.
The pickup for your order will take place Saturday, Dec 16 at the Floyd Farmers Market from 10am-noon.
Detailed descriptions of the trees are below. Choose from:
- Chokeberry
- American Hazelnut
- Washington Hawthorn
- Black Elderberry
- Mountain Ash
- American Plum
How to order your trees
Step 1: Submit the Request form using the button below.
Step 2: Make your donation using the button below or visit our Support page.
Step 3: Pick up your trees on December 16th, 2023 at the Floyd Farmers Market between 10 am and 12:00 pm.
Thank you for planting more trees!
A Program Inspired By a Pilgrim
The Adopt a Service Tree Program grew out of an experience at a pilgrimage site in France. Read more…
More Trees Please!
An active local program is being run by More Trees Please! Floyd, Virginia’s Forest Initiative. Their mission is to draw down carbon emissions via reforestation and avoid deforestation, while increasing healthy habitat for wildlife and humans. MTP! directs landowners toward federal and state cost-share programs, organizes site visits with professional foresters, and organizes volunteer tree planting parties. More Trees Please! is a grassroots, volunteer run nonprofit. View their website.
Tree requests are now closed. Thank you for your interest.
About the Trees
Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Qualities: This deciduous shrub is very ornamental due to its flowery blossoms and pendulous fruits that provide a highly nutritious food source for many birds. Berries are black and are considered a ‘superfood’ for humans too.
Form/Habit: Grows 8 ft high and 3-4 ft across and naturalizes readily. Lovely foliage from spring emergence through summer and fall. Foliage turns rich red and orange in autumn.
Soil/Climate: Full sun or light shade. Commonly grows in wet areas but can tolerate well-drained soil.
Notes: Plant several for an attractive edible hedge for juice, jam and syrup production, or intermingle with perennials in a wildflower garden. It was once a common and abundant foraging plant for Native Americans, who used the berries, leaves, and twigs in a variety of ways as medicine and for curing meat.
American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
Qualities : This shrub provides sweet, tasty nuts after 3-5 years to jays, woodpeckers and other wildlife as well as people.
Form/Habit : Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that will naturalize into a hedge or thicket. Grows to a height of 8-12 feet with a crown spread of 10 to 15 feet. Showy catkins in spring, green serrated foliage in summer and mixed colors in the autumn.
Soil/Climate : Grows well in a range of soil pH and types, but does best in well-drained loam. Full sun or light shade.
Comments : For best pollination and nut production plant at least two within 30 feet of each other. Collect the nuts when the husks begin to turn brown.
Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Qualities: One of the showiest and most desirable species. Nectar draws bees and the red berries that form in September and October persist throughout the winter and are eaten by songbirds.
Form/Habit: Mature height of 20-30 ft high with a 25 ft spread at maturity in ideal conditions. Produces clusters of white flowers in late spring and early summer. Leaves turn orange to scarlet in autumn.
Soil/Climate: Prefers full sun and will not tolerate full shade. Likes well drained, moist soils.
Comments: easy to grow and it’s dense foliage can be pruned to create a border or hedge when planted 3-5 feet apart.
Black Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis)
Qualities: Beautiful delicate flower umbels, nutritious berries and showy foliage make this species very desirable. Elderberry is found mostly throughout the eastern and mid-western United States. The berries, produced on two year old branches, ripen in late July through September and are dispersed by birds and mammals when eaten. The fruit is eaten by raccoons, squirrels, mice, and as many as 45 species of birds.
Form/Habit: grows 5-12 feet high with a 5-12′ spread in ideal conditions. Periodic pruning is recommended.
Soil/Climate: Prefers moist, fertile soils.
Comments: White, fragrant flowers which can be washed, shaken dry, stripped from stems and beaten into batters for pancakes, waffles and muffins. An easy way to improve the flavor of mature elderberries is to dry them in the sun or oven. Mix elderberries with apples to make an outstanding jelly.
Mountain Ash (Sorbus Americana)
Qualities: Small, white flower clusters are followed by coral-red berries. Fruit is a favorite food of many bird species as well as numerous small mammals and stays on the tree all winter.
Form/Habit: Small ornamental tress usually 15-20 feet but can reach up to 30 ft in ideal conditions. Grayish, yellow-brown smooth bark. Long, compound leaves with sharp toothed edges that turn orange-red in the fall.
Soil/Climate: Grows in dry rocky areas, to moist rich woods. Prefers full sun. Zones 3-7.
American Plum (Prunus americana)
Qualities: Showy, fragrant white flowers emerge in spring before the foliage. Red fruits are used for both ornamental and culinary purposes as well as providing a food source for many birds and other wildlife.
Form/Habit: Mature height of 20-30 ft. Can also be grown as a large shrub. Fall foliage ranges from electric red to pale yellow.
Soil/Climate: Likes moist soils, but has little tolerance for shade or drought.
Comments: The shallow root system and thicket forming habit is good for erosion control. The fruit is sour and sweet and can be made into jellies, jam and wine.
