Fact Sheet 727
RIPARIAN BUFFER MANAGEMENT
UNDERSTORY PLANTS FOR
RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERS
The following tables list understory trees
and shrubs appropriate for riparian forest
buffers. Understory trees and shrubs are tolerant to shade and are an important structural
component of any forest. Some shrubs, such
as rhododendron and some blueberries are
also adapted to the low-light conditions of
the forest understory, but more are adapted
to the buffer’s edge. The edge might be next
to the water or next to an upland area. Most
of the shrubs listed prefer moist growing conditions and are good choices for areas that filter water flow. Shrubs that prefer drier sites
include witch hazel, grey dogwood, and rosebay rhododendron.
Including understory trees and shrubs in a
riparian forest buffer planting increases the
structural diversity of the buffer by providing
layers of vegetation. This increases biodiversity and enhances both the water quality and
wildlife habitat attractiveness of the buffer.
REFERENCES
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
1997. Chesapeake Bay Riparian Handbook.
Other Fact Sheets in the Riparian Buffer Series:
FS 724
FS 725
FS 726
FS 728
FS 729
FS 733
An Introduction to the Riparian Forest Buffer
Buffer Design, Establishment, and Maintenance
Trees for Riparian Forest Buffers
Grasses for Riparian Buffers and Wildlife Habitat Improvement
Soil Bioengineering or Streambank Restoration for Riparian Forest Buffers
Riparian Buffer Systems
Riparian Buffer Management: Trees for Riparian Forest Buffers
by
Robert L. Tjaden
Regional Extension Specialist
Natural Resources
Wye Research and Education Center
Glenda M. Weber
Faculty Extension Assistant
Natural Resource Management
Wye Research and Education Center
P97/V98
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland, College
Park, and local governments. Thomas A. Fretz, Director of Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland.
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Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be
directed to the Director of Personnel/Human Relations, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742.
2
Low
High
Medium
High
Low
High
CP, P
CP, P, M
P, M
CP, P
CP
P, M
CP, P
P, M
P, M
CP
CP, P, M
CP, P, M
P, M
Common ninebark
Elderberry
Grey dogwood
Highbush blueberry
Inkberry
Maple-leaf
viburnum
Pinxterbloom
azalea
Possumhaw
Pussy willow
Red chokeberry
Red osier dogwood
Rosebay
rhododendron
Silky dogwood
Wildlife Value = food source for wildlife
Light Preference: ❍ = full sunlight
◗ = partial shade
●= shade
Medium
V. high
V. high
V. high
High
High
P, M
CP, P, M
Blackhaw
Buttonbush
Medium
High
MediumHigh
High
CP
Bayberry
Medium
CP, P, M
Wildlife
Value
V. high
High
Medium
Low
Arrowwood
viburnum
Coastal plain (CP)
Piedmont (P)
Mountains (M)
Region
Riparian Understory Shrubs
High
High
High
High
Low
High
High
Low
High
High
Medium
High
High
Low
Medium
❍/◗
❍/◗
❍
❍/◗
❍/◗
❍/◗
❍/◗
◗/●
◗/●
❍/◗
❍
❍/◗
❍/◗
◗/●
❍/◗
Slow
Fast
Slow
Fast
Fast
Slow
Medium
Fast
Fast
Medium
Slow
Slow
MediumSlow
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Growth
Rate
V. fast
Fast
Medium
Slow
Evergreen
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Low = does not tolerate flooding/high water
Shallow
Shallow
(good bank
stabilizer)
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Rooting
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Evergreen
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous/
Evergreen
Deciduous
Deciduous/
Evergreen
High = tolerates flooding/high water
High
❍
Flood Tolerance:
Medium
Flood
Tolerance
High
Medium
Low
❍/◗
Light
Preference
❍◗●
3
M
CP, P, M
CP, P
CP, P
CP, P, M
P, M
CP, P
P, M
Speckled alder
Spicebush
Swamp azalea
Swamp leucothoe
Sweet pepperbush
Virginia sweetspire
Winterberry
Witch-hazel
Wildlife Value = food source for wildlife
Light Preference: ❍ = full sunlight
◗ = partial shade
●= shade
P, M
Smooth alder
Coastal plain (CP)
Piedmont (P)
Mountains (M)
Region
Riparian Understory Shrubs (continued)
Low
High
Medium
V. high
Low
Low
High
Low
Medium
Wildlife
Value
V. high
High
Medium
Low
High
Medium
High
Medium
High
High
High
Low
❍
●/◗
❍/◗
◗/●
❍/◗
❍/◗
❍/◗
❍/◗
Medium
MediumFast
Fast
Fast
Medium
Slow
Medium
MediumSlow
Slow
Growth
Rate
V. fast
Fast
Medium
Slow
Shallow
Shallow
(seasonally
flooded areas)
Deep lateral
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Shallow
Shallow
Deep lateral
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Rooting
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous
Evergreen
Deciduous
Deciduous/
Evergreen
Low = does not tolerate flooding/high water
High = tolerates flooding/high water
High
❍/◗
Flood Tolerance:
Flood
Tolerance
High
Medium
Low
Light
Preference
❍◗●
4
CP, P, M
CP, P, M
CP, P, M
P
CP, P
P, M
CP, P, M
P, M
CP, P
Hophornbeam
Pawpaw
Persimmon
Redbud
Sassafras
Shad-bush
Sweet bay
magnolia
Wildlife Value = food source for wildlife
Light Preference: ❍ = full sunlight
◗ = partial shade
●= shade
V. highHigh
Medium
High
High
V. lowLow
Medium
V. high
Medium
High
P, M
American
hornbeam
Boxelder
Flowering
Dogwood
Hawthorn
P, M
MediumHigh
Medium
CP, P
Wildlife
Value
V. high
High
Medium
Low
High
American holly
Coastal plain (CP)
Piedmont (P)
Mountains (M)
Region
Riparian Understory Trees
Medium
Slow
Slow
Fast
Slow
<30’
<50’
<50’
<50’
30-40’
30-40’
<30’
<30’
Medium
Slow
Slow
30-40’
30-40’
>50’
30-40’
Height
(feet)
>75’
50-75’
<50’
Slow
Slow
V. fast
Slow
Growth
Rate
V. fast
Fast
Medium
Slow
Deep lateral
Deep taproot
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Deep lateral
Shallow
Shallow
Shallow
Deep lateral
Deep lateral
Taproot
Rooting
Low = does not tolerate flooding/high water
High = tolerates flooding/high water
Medium
◗
Flood Tolerance:
Medium
High
Low
High
❍
◗
❍
◗/●
❍/◗/●
◗/●
❍/◗/●
❍
Low
LowMedium
Low
LowMedium
MediumLow
MediumLow
High
◗
◗/●
❍
Flood
Tolerance
High
Medium
Low
Light
Preference
❍◗●