McFarland is home to an abundance of flora, and there are hundreds of species hiding in your own backyard. 

At first glance, many plants may seem alike, but each one is unique in how they contribute to the ecosystems they live in, and they are the most important part of an ecosystem, because they provide fauna with the nutrients and energy they need to flourish. 
 

TREES

Pin Oak

The pin oak is a tall tree, reaching heights of more than 60-70 feet and has a trunk diameter of over 3 feet.  Another name for this tree is Swamp Oak or Spanish Oak.  It is mostly found in the eastern United States and ranges not too far north or south.  It is one of the most commonly used oak trees in landscaping because it can be transplanted, it grows fast and it has pollution resistance.  Pin oaks are relatively short-lived with a lifespan of no more than 120 years.  The leaves are broad and lobed with 5-7 lobes on each leaf.  The lobes are sharp similar to red oak tree leaves.  The leaves turn generally red then bronze in the fall, but do not fall off until spring when the new leaves push out the old ones.  Like all oak trees, pin oaks produce acorn seeds.

Weeping Willow

Weeping Willows are part of the Willow family, and they are normally found in Europe, Asia and North America. Most willows can reach 35 to 50 feet in height, but, they can reach up to 70 feet in height. They develop a crown of the same size. Most Weeping Willows have a short life span of about 30 years. Weeping Willows have strong root systems that can also destroy nearby city sidewalks and roads. The bark itself can be used for a wide variety of medicines such as aspirin. Some other uses of the Weeping Willow are for making dyes that are used for tanning leather, making baskets, making furniture and making toys.

Basswood

Larger varieties can reach a height of 130 feet at maturity. It has a rounded crown and a trunk that may measure up to 3 feet in diameter. The bark is ridged and furrowed in an "S" shape, and the flower clusters have a delicious scent, reminiscent of honey. Basswood tree has heart-shaped leaves.

Shagbark Hickory

The Hickory tree is a valuable tree because of its hardwood and deep root system that helps protect it from strong winds. It is a member of the walnut family and produces nuts common for a variety of recipes. Hickory trees can grow to 100 feet in height and about 25 feet wide. It is a deciduous tree with colorful leaves in the fall. Hickory trees are native to many states in the United States. Hickory trees have a lot of benefits to humans such as material for smoking meats and building furniture.

Bur Oak

The Bur Oak is a large oak that can reach 120 feet tall and is a member of the Fagaceae family. It is native to North America in the eastern and central United States and central Canada. At the beginning of spring each year they start off with Pollen-bearing leaves, and by the end of spring there are yellow-green catkins growing too. By mid-summer their leaves are mostly green, and by fall most of them are brown and have fallen off. They have ridged twigs and a deeply furrowed bark. They are mostly found in Savannas and Prairies.

Black Walnut

Black walnut trees are part of the Walnut family, and grow mostly in riparian zones. They are found from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central Texas. These trees grow to about 50-100 feet tall. Black Walnut trees grow walnuts about the size of golf balls. They stain just about anything, and Native Americans used to use them to dye their clothes. A fun fact about Black Walnut trees is that their roots grow about 50 feet wide and can poison some other plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, apples trees and berry bushes.

Hackberry

Hackberry trees are a part of the Hemp family. It is native to North America, and found just about everywhere throughout. These trees can grow 30-50 feet in height and 40-60 feet wide. They develop leaves that are lancelot in shape along with drooping branches. Fruits from the Hackberry tree are little berries that birds and other small animals eat. Native Americans consumed the fruits of Hackberry trees as porridge and for flavorings. Modern uses of Hackberry trees include firewood, fence posts, and cheap furniture.

Black Cherry

Black Cherry trees are part of the family Rosaceae and can be found all over the United States. It grows best in forests with deep soils, however, the Black Cherry tree occurs in hedgerows and along the country road because birds spread the seeds. Black Cherry trees can grow to 60-80 feet in height and live to 200 years in age. The cherries on the back cherry trees are edible and are used for pies, jellies, jams and flavoring ice cream and sodas. But the catch is that the cherries must be pitted because the pits, in large amounts, can cause cyanide poisoning, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The wood is great for making high quality furniture and cabinets.

White Cedar

White cedars are evergreen coniferous trees, and are part of the Cupressaceae family. They can grow up to 49 feet in height, and their trunks can grow up to 3 feet in circumference. It is native to eastern Canada and much of the northern and eastern United States. They are also sometimes used as an ornamental tree. Cedar trees are very resistant to rotting. Some of the uses for White Cedar are for outdoor furniture, decks and fences.

Eastern Red Cedar

Did you that Red Cedar isn’t it’s only name? It is also known as, Eastern Red Cedar, Virginian Juniper, Eastern Juniper, Red Juniper, Pencil Cedar, and Aromatic Cedar. It is also part of the Cypress family. Red Cedar is found throughout eastern North America, from Maine, west to southern Ontario and South Dakota, south to northernmost Florida and southwest into the post oak savannah of east-central Texas. It provides an excellent habitat for birds, and mammals. Red Cedar grows to a height of about 35 feet and the branches spread to about 15 feet out. Native American tribes used Red Cedar leaves for tea that was used as medicine for curing coughs.

Eastern Hemlock

The Eastern Hemlock is part of the Pine family and can grow up to almost 200 feet tall. Eastern Hemlock is common in the northern and northeastern part of the United States. It needs moist but well drained soil and can take 300 years to fully grow and can live up to 800 years or more! The leaves of Eastern Hemlock are flat, and light green when they are still maturing, and they become more of a dark green when they get older. Some of the uses of this tree include using the fragrance of the leaves for perfume, as well as using the wood for roofing, flooring, panelling and furniture.

Boxelder

Box elder trees are very adaptable and can grow in many different soil types such as sand, clay, wet or dry soil.  Their height typically gets to 40 feet and they live to about 60 years of age.  Leaves are green, darker on the upper side. Boxelder is the only species of maple that has compound leaves (other species of maple have palmate leaves). Box elder produces small, yellow-green flowers. Male and female flowers develop on the separate trees (dioecious plant).  The female boxelder tree attracts boxelder bugs.

FLOWERS

Wood Violets

Wood violet or Viola papilionacea, became the state flower of Wisconsin on June 4, 1949. Wood Violet is also the state flower for Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The wood violet is a small commonly seen flower in meadows areas, along roadsides. The Wood violets are very popular in the eastern United States. The wood violet flowering plant emerges directly from the rhizomes and is one of the first plants to bloom in spring. The flowers can be violet, blue, yellow, white and cream.

BUSHES

Red Dogwood

Red Dogwood is a member of the Dogwood Family (Cornaceae Family). Red Dogwood grows on fertile, loamy soil in areas that provide enough moisture and shade. Red Dogwood can grow in the form of a bush or small tree and grows to about 6-12 feet in height and width and can live up to 25-30 years. It gets its name from the bright red branches it has. People have cultivated dogwood for ornamental purposes such as planting it in their yards or gardens. The wood has been used in the past for toothbrushes, spools, spindles, and golf club heads.

Elderberry

Elderberry is a wild plant that grows in old fields and meadows and can take the form of a large shrub or small tree.  Typically they are 5-12 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide.  They can live for up to 60 years. Elderberry trees have multi-stemmed branches and pinnate leaves. The leaves are green colored and have serrated edges. Elderberry plants produce fruits are edible and can be made into wine, jams, syrup, juices, teas and pies.  These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Each plant can produce up to 12 lbs of fruit each year.

Buckthorn

The European Buckthorn was introduced as an ornamental plant. Buckthorn is considered an invasive species and it has been spread by birds. The leaves are opposite and simple, with an elliptical shape. They are between 2-6 cm long and 2-5 cm at the greatest width. The leaves have fine, rounded teeth with veins starting closer to the base, and running parallel to the leaf margins. The twigs are slender and grey, terminating in scaly buds or spines and they have sharp thorns. The bark is thin and brown. Because it is an invasive species, many parks will remove it where it is found.

Honeysuckle Bush

Honeysuckle can grow in the form of shrub or vine and is considered an invasive species. Shrubs usually grow from 20 to 30 feet, while vines can climb from 30 to 80 feet in height. Honeysuckle produces small, oval leaves. They can be dark green or bluish green colored. Leaves are oppositely arranged on the branches. They have a strong, sweet aroma that is especially prominent during the night. Honeysuckle can bloom during the spring, summer or fall, depending on the species. Flowers are filled with nectar which attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, responsible for the pollination of this plant. Color of the flowers changes from white to yellow after successful pollination. Fruit of honeysuckle is a roundish or elongated berry. Fruit can be red, black or blue colored. Berries contain few seeds.

MARSH GRASSES

Cattail

Cattails are wetland plants, typically grow up to 9 feet tall. They have spongy, strap-like leaves and starchy, creeping stems. The leaves are alternate and mostly basal to a simple, jointless stem that eventually bears the flowers. The roots are rhizomes spread horizontally beneath the surface of muddy ground to start new upright growth, and the spread of cattails is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated marshland and eventually dry land. Cattail leaves are sometimes used for food for cows and chickens. They also have medicinal uses for the treatment of sores and burns on the skin.

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