Manchurian Apricot (Prunus mandshurica) is a small spreading tree 15 to 20 feet tall. It has a beautiful pinkish flower that blooms in the spring before the leaves emerge. The fruit provides food for wildlife during the fall. It can be used for one of the outer rows in multi-row windbreaks.

Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) is a native species of western Nebraska. This thorny, tree-like shrub is drought tolerant and adaptable to alkaline soils. The persistent, fleshy berries provide food for birds during the winter. The tart berries also are used in jellies.

Caragana (Caragana arborescens), also called Siberian peashrub, is a large spreading shrub. It provides dense cover for wildlife and is ideal for the shrub row in a windbreak. In Canada, it is planted as single row windbreaks. Caragana is adaptable to conditions of extreme cold and wind. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, including alkaline and saline soils.

Grasshoppers can be a problem, but very rarely kill an established plant.

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) also called rum cherry, is a native species valuable for its rich, reddish-brown wood. It grows best on deep moist, fertile soils in eastern Nebraska. The wood is used in fine furniture and the cherries are used in jellies and wine. The cherries are excellent bird food during mid-summer. Black cherry does not grow in pure stands as black walnut. It should be planted either in wildlife habitat for a bushy large tree or with other species like walnut in a forest plantation.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a medium-sized shrub that forms a dense thicket from root suckers. It is used for the outer row in multi-row windbreaks. Chokecherry is good wildlife habitat, providing food and cover for birds and small mammals. Showy white flowers bloom in April or May, and the cherries ripen during July. The cherries can be used for making jelly and wine.

Chokecherry should not be planted near other stone-fruit species because of western x-disease and black knot. Tent caterpillars are often a problem in the spring but rarely kill the plant.

Sandcherry (Prunus besseyi) is a low growing shrub native to western Nebraska. It has showy white flowers in May and produces small, sweet, purplish-black cherries in July. Sandcherry can tolerate hot, dry conditions, and prefers well-drained soils. It will sucker to form small, four- to six-foot wide thickets. The cherries are especially good for making jelly or jam.

Peking Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster acutifolia) is a low-growing shrub introduced from Asia. It has dark, glossy green foliage that turns orange to red during the fall. The berry-like fruit ripens to a dark red or black in early October and persists late into the winter, providing a good winter food source for birds. This is a sturdy shrub for the outside row of windbreaks.

Fireblight of the twigs and stems can be a problem.

'Midwest' Crabapple (Malus baccata var. Mandshurica) is a medium-sized tree growing to 20 feet. It will have a rounded crown when open and will maintain its branches close to the ground. It is extremely hardy and disease resistant. The small apples are only 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. The persistent fruit makes excellent wildlife food throughout the fall and winter. The white blossoms are especially attractive during the spring. Crabapple is good for single row windbreaks where a shorter tree is needed, and between the central and outside rows of multi-row windbreaks. Avoid planting close to redcedar or juniper to reduce the potential for cedar-apple rust.

Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) is a winter-hardy, drought-tolerant, small, native shrub. On the best sites, it will grow to 5 to 7 feet tall. It has yellow flowers during May. The edible fruit is yellowish to purplish black when ripe. The fruit can be eaten directly from the bush or made into jelly. Golden currant is an excellent wildlife habitat species or can be used on the outside row of multi-row windbreaks.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a small, semi-wood species native to Nebraska. It is primarily used in wildlife plantings for summer food. The dark purple berries are formed on umbrella-like heads and ripen during mid- to late summer. The berries make excellent jelly and syrups.

Winterberry Euonymus (Euonymus bungeanus) was introduced from China. It is an excellent species for the inside row of farmstead windbreaks or anywhere fall coloration is desirable. The leaves turn pale yellow to reddish brown, the four-winged fruit is pink and the seed a reddish-pink color. The shrub is used by many song birds for nesting habitat, and to some extent, for food.

Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) is a medium-sized tree growing to 25 to 30 feet on better sites. It has thin spikes 3 inches long on the younger branches. In the spring, the rounded crown is filled with snow-white clusters of flowers. The resulting fruit is about a 1/4 inch in diameter and turns a bright red in the fall. The persistent fruit is great food for songbirds in the fall and winter. Hawthorn can be used for wildlife habitat or between the central and outside rows of multi-row windbreaks. Avoid planting close to redcedar or juniper to reduce the potential for hawthorn rust.

American Hazel (Corylus americana) is native to eastern Nebraska. Best growth is obtained on moist, fertile loam soils and can grow to 15 feet, but 8 to 10 feet is more common. It is medium to fast growing, and starts producing nuts within 3 to 5 years. The nuts mature in late summer to early fall and are very tasty if you can collect them before the birds and animals.

Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is a small- to medium-sized shrub with spreading branches. The abundant and fragrant white to pink blossoms appear in late May to early June. The blossoms are very attractive to honey bees. Amur honeysuckle is a good species for an outer row of a multi-row windbreak, and provides summer food and nesting area for songbirds.

Leaf blight can be a problem. Amur honeysuckle is less susceptible to honeysuckle aphid than Tartarian honeysuckle.

Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a non-suckering, upright shrub that is best located in the outside row of windbreaks. Fragrant white to lavender flowers bloom during May. Lilac is rarely used in wildlife plantings since it does not form thickets and the seeds have little food value.

Powdery mildew and oystershell scale are common problems.

Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) is an introduced medium- to large-sized shrub from northern Asia. It is somewhat drought tolerant but subject to chlorosis on heavy alkaline soils. The leaves turn scarlet to deep red during the fall. It is best used for wildlife habitat and as the outside row on the leeward side of windbreaks.

American Plum (Prunus americana) is native to Nebraska and is well adapted to a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions. It forms dense thickets ideal for the outside rows of windbreaks and for wildlife habitat. Birds use the thickets for nesting, feeding, and resting areas. The twigs are a preferred source of browse for deer and rabbits during the winter. White flowers bloom in May, with red to purple plums ripening during September. The earliest ripening fruit is usually the sweetest and makes the best jelly.

Brown spot, plum pocket and tent caterpillars can cause some problems.

Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata) is native to Nebraska. It can tolerate alkaline and drought conditions. The clusters of berry-like fruit are covered with a soft, dense hair and turn a deep red in late summer. Skunkbush sumac is a good wildlife species, providing food for birds throughout the winter. It can be used on the inside or outside rows of windbreaks.