A unique and easy-to-grow edible landscaping plant, the mulberry is prized for its tasty fruits as well as its exquisite ornamental appeal. Originally native to China, this plant was valued for its role in silk production: silkworms will only eat the leaves of mulberry trees, making them crucial for the product's creation. Ultimately, the trees were sold around the world and are used today in different countries that produce silk.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a small understory tree native to North America. In spring or early summer clusters of purple-pink flowers appear on bare branches and sometimes on the trunk. The characteristic seed pod reveals that Eastern redbud belongs to the legume family, which makes it a cousin to peas, and locust trees.

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a medium-sized, deciduous forest tree native to the Americas, but also naturalized in parts of Europe. It features inflorescence with small white blooms that become clusters of dark cherries, edible when pitted. Mature trees have gray-to-black, distinctly crackled bark. The glossy leaves are poisonous to livestock. It is a highly reproductive pioneer species with invasive potential.

Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a medium-sized deciduous tree, native to North America. It looks similar to elms and some other hackberry trees at first glance, but you can distinguish it by looking at the bark - if it is verrucous and has corky texture, then it is probably common hackberry.

Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is one of the most common deciduous trees in the United States and southeast Canada. It is a 15 to 25 m tall, fast-growing, sun-loving tree. Its leaves have deeper angular notches between the five lobes than many other maple species. Silver maple is often found along waterways and wetlands, earning it an alternative name 'Water maple'.

Hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous shrub with trumpet-shaped pink, lavender, or white flowers. Although it was first collected by Western botanists from Syrian gardens, “rose of sharon” is native to south-central and southeastern China. Because of its hardiness and prolific blooming, it is cultivated all around the world. It is the national flower of South Korea, mentioned in its national anthem.

Box elder (Acer negundo) is a type of maple tree native to North America, but which is now found throughout the world. It is a hardy, medium-to-large tree that grows quickly and has a relatively short lifespan of up to 60 years. Older trees are prone to storm damage. Box elder wood is relatively flimsy because the tree grows so fast.

American elm (Ulmus americana) is a deciduous hermaphroditic tree which can be found in a variety of habitats - swamps, low-laying lands, areas surrounding rivers, hillsides, and highlands. It was a very dominant tree species in North America before Dutch elm disease was introduced during the first half of the 20th century, which caused massive die-offs.

Black walnut is a large riparian zone tree native to North America. It is cultivated for nutritious walnuts and high-quality dark timber. Black walnut produces juglone, a compound that inhibits the growth of other plants in the black walnut tree’s proximity, so it may be undesirable near lawns and gardens. It is susceptible to a Thousand Cankers Disease.

The red maple is a common North American tree with distinctive red leaves and flower buds. Its sap can be made into maple syrup and the wood is good for furniture. Though non-toxic to humans, the leaves are very toxic to horses. According to the U.S. Forest Service, red maple is the most common tree in eastern North America.

The bradford pear is native to China but is considered invasive in the U.S. and Australia. Although it does not self-pollinate, it can become invasive by hybridizing with other plants to create fertile fruits that may seed in natural areas. The bradford pear creates large populations of fruits that are spread by birds and animals, readily rooting in disturbed areas. It also forms thick colonies that may compete with other native species for natural resources. Alternative plants include the Trident Maple and the Serviceberry. The bradford pear can be controlled by manually pulling young plants, and a range of herbicides such as oil-based herbicides, foliar herbicides, and both basal bark and stump treatments. It is important to remove seed sources as the weed can reinvade areas where it has been previously removed.

The tulip poplar is not a poplar at all but is a member of the magnolia family. It gets its name from the tulip-shaped flowers that are green and yellow. It is the tallest Eastern hardwood and was prized by Native Americans as a favorite tree to use to make dugout canoes.

Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern parts of North America. Its edible fruits are high in vitamin C and readily eaten by wildlife. Seeds of common Persimmon can be roasted and used as an alternative to coffee; leaves can be dried and used as a tea.

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a small North American tree renowned for its wide canopy and plentiful spring blooms. Individual white or pink “flower” is actually a flower head that contains four oval bracts and a cluster of tiny yellow true flowers. Because of its decorative canopy, prolific spring blooming, and attractive red autumn leaves and berries, it is the most popular native tree in US gardens.

Osage orange is generally used in dye making and pesticide manufacturing. It is also planted as a windbreaker or as a hedge plant and can provide adequate shade in gardens. The fruits produce latex secretions, and they're not typically eaten by foraging animals. The warty fruits are green at first, but they become orange-yellow afterward.

Albizia julibrissin, colloquially known as persian silk tree, is a deciduous plant with characteristic pink, fuzzy inflorescences. Persian silk tree is mainly cultivated for decorative purposes. Its flowers have a mild, sweet smell and are often visited by butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

When you think of a american sycamore, size may be the first thing to come to mind. This deciduous tree can reach heights of 23 to 30 m tall and has leaves that resemble those of a maple tree. The trunk of the american sycamore is larger than that of any other native tree, with mature trees having recorded diameters up to 4.5 m.

Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is a small- to medium-sized deciduous tree. Its sweet fruits are edible and look like blackberries. They can be eaten raw or boiled and are used in cake or pastry fillings. They can also be fermented to make alcoholic mulberry wine. Records of interactions with red mulberry plants by English settlers date back to the first days of colonization in what is now Virginia.

Common sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a deciduous tree commonly found on woodland edges, fields, along roadsides, and fence rows. This plant has a long history of use in Native American traditions, most commonly for culinary purposes. Common sassafras root was also a key flavoring for homemade root beers in the past, though the use is largely discontinued due to concerns that the safrole contained within is carcinogenic.

Common lilac is a shrub native to the Balkan Peninsula that blooms with a fragrant blossom. It grows on rocky terrain and has a suckering habit. The blossoms are used to flavor honey, sugars, food, and other delights and farmed for its fragrant flowers in the spring.