By Megan Hart, Park Biologist

Towering oaks, American beech and maples are typically what comes to mind when we think about woody species that make up local forests. These trees are breathtaking and draw your attention as they rise into the overstory. However, a forest consists of multiple layers of plant life, and one important component is the understory. Understory shrubs and trees are an integral piece of a forest habitat. They create a biodiverse landscape, provide habitat and food for wildlife, reduce soil erosion and help with nutrient cycling. Let’s take a quick look at a few species you can find in Lake Metroparks and potentially use around your own home.

The first understory tree is the Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis). This beautiful native tree has purplish-pink flowers that bloom in spring prior to their heart-shaped leaves emerging later in the season. These trees almost glow in the landscape when most of their surroundings are still in the grays of early spring. Eastern redbuds provide important food for a variety of early spring pollinators and nutritious seeds later in the year for other wildlife. Even though Eastern redbuds are understory trees, they can handle partial to full sun and can grow to be 20 to 30 feet tall. Redbuds are often used in landscaping and can be a great addition to your home garden. You can check out Eastern redbuds at Indian Point Park and Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

Eastern redbud

Another great understory and forest edge tree is the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Flowering dogwoods are known for their showy white “flowers.” These flowering structures are actually clusters of several small flowers surrounded by four white petal-like bracts, which are a type of specialized leaf. In addition to providing food for pollinators, flowering dogwoods are host trees for spring azure butterflies and several species of moths. These trees prefer partial sun (but can tolerate full sunlight) and well-drained soils. At maturity, flowering dogwoods can grow ten to 30 feet tall. Flowering dogwoods can be seen at Veterans Park, Indian Point Park and Girdled Road Reservation.

Flowering dogwood

The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is probably one of the most beloved understory trees. The large, drooping leaves of this shade-loving tree seem to fit in more with a tropical rainforest than here in Northeast Ohio. The flowers are reddish purple, are produced in early spring and smell yeasty or rotten, which attracts beetles and flies to pollinate them. For most people, the fruit is the star of the show; it has the texture of custard and tastes somewhere between banana and cantaloupe. Pawpaws are North America’s largest native fruit. If you find a patch of non-fruiting pawpaws, chances are that all trees within the same patch are clones, which cannot pollinate with each other because they are too closely related. Pawpaws are also host plants of the rare zebra swallowtail butterfly. You can find pawpaws growing in shaded areas and moist, rich soils, usually near creeks. Despite their shade tendencies in the wild, pawpaws can be planted in partial to full sun after they are around two years old when they are less sunlight sensitive. Pawpaw trees can be easily seen at Gully Brook Park and Hemlock Ridge Park but grow in many other park properties.

Pawpaw

The spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is probably the most common native understory shrub species in the area. The name comes from the spicy citrus aroma emitted when their leaves are crushed. Spicebush is the host plant of spicebush swallowtails, promethea moths and several other species of moths and butterflies. Their nutritious berries are food for a variety of wildlife from white-tailed deer to songbirds. Spicebush prefers shade and rich, moist soils but can tolerate a wide range of light and soil conditions. Spicebush can reach around six to 12 feet tall. Spicebush can be found at Indian Point Park, Hell Hollow Wilderness Area and Hidden Valley Park.

Spicebush

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a favorite of pollinators in Northeast Ohio. These shrubs have round, white blooms that draw in butterflies, flies, bees and many other species of invertebrates. This shrub frequents wetlands, floodplains and other areas of moist soil. Buttonbush is often found in areas that get partial sun but can also be found in areas of full sun and full shade. If you have a wet area in your yard, this shrub could be a perfect candidate for that spot. Buttonbush can be found at Girdled Road Reservation, Penitentiary Glen Reservation and Gully Brook Park.

Buttonbush

Our final shrub is the often-overlooked mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). The name comes from their very maple-like leaves, which can cause them to be mistaken for young maple trees. Identification becomes easier when the shrub has its tiny white flowers in the late spring/early summer and ripe blue-black berries that appear in late summer. Mapleleaf viburnum fruits attract many species of mammals and birds while the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators. Mapleleaf viburnums prefer shade but can tolerate other light and soil conditions, including drier soils. Mapleleaf viburnum can be found at Chapin Forest Reservation, Jordan Creek Park and Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

Mapleleaf viburnum

All of the trees and shrubs mentioned here can be candidates for your home plantings. They all have high wildlife value and can bring pops of color to your home. These are just a few of the understory tree and shrub species you can find within Lake Metroparks and Northeast Ohio. I recommend picking up a field guide and taking time on your next hike to learn about some of the other plants that make up our forests.