United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Virginia Go to Accessibility Information
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Trees and Shrubs for CREP Riparian Buffers

This is not an all inclusive list of trees that can be planted. However, the tree species selected for planting should be native to the area, provide for species diversity, provide wildlife food and habitat, benefit stream ecology and improve water quality. Timber production is not a goal of the CREP.

80% of the planting should be primary tree species consisting of 4 to5 hard mast producing species, with 3-4 secondary species composing the remaining 20% of the planted area.

Example
Tree planting in the piedmont may include: Primary species- 20 each of Willow oak, Southern red oak, Pin oak, & White oaks, with secondary species of 10 Sycamores, 7 persimmon, 10 green ash, 5 apple.

Primary Tree Species
Bald Cypress Swamp white oak Pin Oak
Atlantic White Cedar Northern White oak Water oak
Black gum (tupelo) Cherry bark oak Northern Red oak
Hemlock Southern Red oak Overcup Oak
Willow Oak Scarlett Oak Post oak
Chestnut oak Black oak Beech
Water Hickory Mockernut Hickory Shagbark Hickory
Bitternut Hickory Pignut Hickory

 

Secondary Tree Species
Butternut Black Walnut River Birch
Tulip poplar Sycamore Black locust
Persimmon Cottonwood Common apple
Green ash

 

Shrub Species

Alders Grey stemDogwood Viburnums
Buttonbush Red Oiser Dogwood Willows
Crabapple Silky Dogwood Winterberry
Service berry Chinquapin