TreeUtah, Planting Trees Growing Communities



These are some of the native trees that we are planting along the Jordan River to help restore riparian habitat.

Below is the image of South Jordan Restoration Site thick with Golden Currant bushes planted by TreeUtah in 1998.

Click on the thumbnail images for full-size pictures. Photos are used with permission.

Fremont Cottonwood: Populus fremontii

Native tree. A fast growing species that can obtain a height of 70 feet with a crown width of up to 75 feet. This species often grows massive trunks of over 4 feet in diameter. A common tree along our desert valley streams. It is not drought tolerant and requires a constant source of water. Provides dense cover and nesting sites for birdlife, and browse for wildlife.


Peach-leaf Willow: Salix amygdaloides

Native tree. A fast growing tree that grows 30-40 feet tall. Crown 10 to 20 feet. Trunk sometimes 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Branches straight and ascending. It is common along lower elevation streams. It is not drought tolerant and requires a constant source of water. Provides dense cover and nesting sites for birdlife, and browse for wildlife.

Boxelder: Acer negundo

Native tree. A medium size tree reaching about 40 feet in height and 3 feet in trunk diameter. Growth is rapid in youth, the long , smooth annual shoots extending 2 or more feet in a year; but at maturity growth slows. It is the only compound-leafed maple. It usually has 3 leaflets per leaf. We are only now, beginning to appreciate what an important species this is for our native songbirds.


River Hawthorn: Crataegus douglasii

A small native tree that grows 10-18 feet tall. It occurs along stream banks and valley bottoms. Its stems are armed with stout thorns. Has dense white flowers in the spring. Very important food source for birds.


Coyote Willow: Salix exigua

A multi stemmed willow that is more of a shrub than a tree, the stems usually growing 5-7 feet high. Also called Sandbar willow. This will reproduce by suckering and thus is excellent for watershed protection and stabilization. Leaves are long and narrow. Occurs along streambanks and irrigation canals throughout the Great Basin.


Golden Currant: Ribes aureum

A multi-stemmed shrub which grows to 10 feet, usually 3 to 5 feet. Stems smooth with reddish- brown bark, lacking spines. Leaves, 3-lobed, alternate, slightly hairy. Flowers yellow, tube shaped, form black or yellow berries. Spreads both vegetatively and from seed. Has brilliant red to orange fall colors. Requires 15 to 20 inches of moisture.


Wood Rose: Rosa woodsii

Perennial, native shrub. 2 to 5 feet tall. Stems thorny. Leaves oval in shape, saw-toothed around the margins. Flowers pink 5 petaled, in clusters, forming round red fruit(rose hip). Reproduction by seed. Requires 16-20 inches of moisture.


Chokecherry: Prunus virginiana

Native perennial shrub or tree, 6 to 25 feet tall. The trunks are covered with dark red, shiny bark and are circled with raised lenticular ridges. Leaves are glossy deep green above and lighter below, the edges are finely saw-toothed. Leaves alternate and deciduous. Flowers are white in long dense clusters. Fruit is dark purple, round and tart. reproduction by seed. Chokecherries are frequently attacked by a fungus, Plowrightia stansburiana, which causes the so-called black knot disease. Afflicted stems develop crusty, black knot-like cankers that cause the death of each stem above the canker. Requires 15 to 18 inches of moisture.


Oak-leaf sumac: Rhus trilobata

Perennial, native shrub, grows 2 to 7 feet tall. Flowers in crowded catkin-like clusters, yellowish color, appearing before leaves, forming flattened orange berries. Leaves have 3 rounded lobes, leaves and stems have pungent scent. Stems woody multi-branched. Reproduction by seed. Requires 16 to 20 inches of moisture.


Silver Buffaloberry: Sheperdia argentea

Perennial, native shrub, grows 6 to 12 feet tall. Cold, drought and alkaline tolerant. Its leaves resemble those of Russian Olive. It is able to fix nitrogen into the soil via nodules of bacteria.