2025 Groves of Gratitude Contents

Frequently asked Questions:

• How do I know what plants are best for my area?

  • To see the site requirements and species descriptions for each plant, see the Groves Descriptions & Site Requirements section at the bottom of this page.

• What is the cost?

  • All single trees are $20.00 a tree.

  • For County residents- Each Grove is $60.00.

  • Deer guards will be sold separately for $5.00 each.

• What comes with my order?

  • Potted plants in 1-5 gallon containers; approximately 1-6 feet tall upon planting

  • Bagged mulch

  • Instructions for tree planting and care

• What are deer guards?

  • Deer guards protect trees and shrubs from deer browse and buck rub. Deer guards can be plastic mesh tubes that fit around the trunk, or wire mesh cages that encircle the entire plant. Deer guards are $5.00 for a single tree, and will also come with a wooden stake and zip ties, for attaching the deer guard to the ground. WSA recommends deer protection for each tree in high deer-pressure areas.

• When and where do I pick up my order?

  • Anne Arundel County pick ups will take place on Wednesday, November 12th and Thursday, November 13th from 4:00-6:30pm.

    • For County residents: Upon ordering, you will be asked to select from 2 different pick up locations: Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center OR Galesville Memorial Hall. Please be advised that your trees must be picked up from the location selected at time of ordering.

Groves for Anne Arundel County residents

Click photos to learn about grove or single tree’s description and site requirements.

Don’t need trees but want to
support this program?

Groves Descriptions & Site Requirements:

Groves for Anne Arundel County Residents

Suggested Donation: $60 ∙ Includes three potted Eastern red cedar, two potted Northern bayberry, and three bags of mulch.

Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)

Mature Height: 5-12'
Mature Spread: 5-10'
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Moisture Requirements: Prefers moist, tolerates dry once established
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Semi-evergreen, dark green turning grayish in winter before falling off. Flowers in April-May, small yellow-green catkins. Fruits in September-December, waxy gray-green berries.
Fun fact: This is a hardy, salt-tolerant shrub. The winter berries provide a great food source for many birds and small mammals, especially in the winter.

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Mature Height: 30-65'
Mature Spread: 8-25'
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Moisture Requirements: Dry to moist
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand 
Seasonality: Evergreen, non-showy blooms in March-April. Fruits in September-December, blue-green to bluish-purple berry-like cones.
Fun fact: This tough evergreen provides year-round shelter for birds and berries that feed wildlife in winter.

Suggested Donation: $60 ∙ Includes two potted White Oak, one potted Bur Oak, one potted Mockernut Hickory, and three bags of mulch.

White Oak (Quercus Alba)

Mature Height: 50’-100’ (up to 150’)
Mature Spread: 50’-80’
Sun Requirements: Full to part sun
Moisture Requirements: Dry to moist
Soil Type: Loam, sand
Seasonality: Deep red to purple-red leaves in fall. Flowers in March-May, yellow-green color. Fruits in September-October brown nut/nut-like.
Fun fact: This is one of the most beneficial trees you can plant for wildlife as it provides habitat for caterpillars, birds, deer, and small mammals. This is also Maryland's state tree.

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Mature Height: 50-80'
Mature Spread: 40-80'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Yellow to yellow-brown leaves in fall. Flowers in April-May, yellow-green color. Fruits in September-October, large brown acorn with fringed cap.
Fun fact: This oak grows some of the biggest acorns of any North American oak, providing great food for squirrels, deer, and turkeys. It is a hardy oak and can tolerate drought conditions.

Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)

Mature Height: 50-80'
Mature Spread: 20-30'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Golden yellow leaves in fall. Flowers in April-May, yellow-green catkins. Fruits in September-October, hard brown nut in thick husk.
Fun fact: This tree gets its name because its thick shells “mock” animals by hiding a small nut inside! The nuts feed squirrels, turkeys, and other wildlife.

Suggested Donation: $60 ∙ Includes two potted Allegheny Serviceberry, two potted Black Chokeberry, one potted American Plum, and three bags of mulch.

Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

Mature Height: 15-40’
Mature Spread: 15-20'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to full shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist to wet
Soil Type: Loam, sand
Seasonality: Red leaves in fall. Flowers in early spring (March-April), white and showy. Fruits in June-July, small, dark purple to black berries.
Fun fact: This tree feeds birds, bees, and even people who enjoy the sweet fruit. Once ripened, the fruits are edible and taste similar to blueberries.

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Mature Height: 4-6'
Mature Spread: 3-6'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist to wet
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Bright red to reddish-purple leaves in fall. Flowers in April-May, white and showy in clusters. Fruits in August-September, small black berries.
Fun fact: The dark fruits typically persist on the shrub throughout the fall and winter, providing a great food source for overwintering birds. For humans, it is recommended to cook the berries to remove their astringent taste and reveal the sweet and sour flavors.

American Plum (Prunus americana)

Mature Height: 15-25'
Mature Spread: 15-25'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Yellow to reddish-purple leaves in fall. Flowers in March-May, white and fragrant. Fruits in July-September, round red to yellowish-red drupe.
Fun fact: The showy white flowers mature into plums in mid-summer. The fruits can be eaten raw, but are also popularly used in jams, jellies, and preserves.

Suggested Donation: $60 ∙ Includes one potted Washington Hawthorn, two potted American Beautyberry, two potted Smooth Hydrangea ‘Haas halo,’ and three bags of mulch.

Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)

Mature Height: 25-30'
Mature Spread: 15'
Sun Requirements: Full to part sun
Moisture Requirements: Moist to wet
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Leaves turn orange to red or purple in fall. Flowers in May-June, white and clustered. Fruits in September-October, small red berries that often persist into winter.
Fun fact: A great source of nectar for many pollinators, attracting many butterflies and bees. The bright red berries that follow stay on the tree throughout the winter, acting as important food for overwintering birds.

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)

Mature Height: 3-6’
Mature Spread: 3-6’
Sun Requirements:  Full to part sun
Moisture Requirements: Dry to moist
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Leaves turn yellow-green to yellow in fall. Flowers in May-July, small pink to lavender clustered in leaf axils. Fruits in August-October, bright purple (occasionally white) berry-like drupes clustered around the stem.
Fun fact: Clusters of purple berries form on the stems in the fall that attract many bird species, particularly cardinals. It will tolerate light shade.

Smooth hydrangea 'Haas halo' (Hydrangea arborescens 'Haas' Halo')

Mature Height: 3-5'
Mature Spread: 4-6'
Sun Requirements: Full to part sun
Moisture Requirements: Moist to wet
Soil Type: Loam
Seasonality: Leaves remain green into fall, sometimes turning yellow before dropping. Flowers in June-September, large white blooms with showy florets. Fruits in September-October, small dry seed capsules.
Fun fact: This pollinator powerhouse has big, flat white flower clusters that attract bees and butterflies. It is also more drought-tolerant and tougher than many other hydrangeas.

Single Trees for Anne Arundel County REsidents

Suggested Donation: $20 ∙ Includes one potted American holly and one bag of mulch.

American holly (Ilex opaca)

Mature Height: 15-30'
Mature Spread: 15-20'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to full shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist
Soil Type: Clay, loam
Seasonality: Evergreen, glossy dark green with spiny edges. Flowers in May, small white. Fruits in September-December, bright red berries, usually persisting into winter.
Fun fact: The leaves are evergreen and waxy, making them resistant to deer and many types of leaf-eating insects.

Suggested Donation: $20 ∙ Includes one potted Atlantic white cedar and one bag of mulch.

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)

Mature Height: 40-70'
Mature Spread: 20-50'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Wet
Soil Type: Sand, loam
Seasonality: Evergreen, scale-like and bluish-green. Flowers in April-May, small and non-showy. Fruits in September-November, small woody cones that release seeds when mature.
Fun fact: This tree grows in swamps and wet forests and is great for wildlife habitat.

Suggested Donation: $20 ∙ Includes one potted Eastern Redbud and one bag of mulch.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Mature Height: 20’-35’
Mature Spread: 20’-35’
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Dry to moist
Soil Type: Loam, sand
Seasonality: Yellow leaves in fall. Flowers in March–April, bright pink to magenta, appearing before leaves. Fruits in August–October, flat brown pods.
Fun fact: One of a few trees whose flowers bloom before the leaves appear in the springtime. Its flowers are also edible and have a slightly sour, citrusy taste.

Suggested Donation: $20 ∙ Includes one potted Black Gum and one bag of mulch.

Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Mature Height: 30'-80'
Mature Spread: 30'-50'
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Dry, moist, or wet
Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand
Seasonality: Vibrant red to purple-red leaves in fall. Flowers in April-May, small and greenish-yellow. Fruits in September-November, dark blue to black berries.
Fun fact: This tree has some of the most stunning fall color with bright red to purple leaves. The small fruits feed birds like robins and woodpeckers, and its flowers are great for bees.

Suggested Donation: $20 ∙ Includes one potted White oak and one bag of mulch.

wHite Oak (Quercus Alba)

Mature Height: 50-100’ (up to 150’)
Mature Spread: 50-80’
Sun Requirements: Full to part shade
Moisture Requirements: Dry to moist
Soil Type: Loam, sand
Seasonality: Deep red to purple-red leaves in fall. Flowers in March-May, yellow-green color. Fruits in September-October, brown nut/nut-like acorns
Fun fact: This is one of the most beneficial trees you can plant for wildlife as it provides habitat for caterpillars, birds, deer, and small mammals. This is also Maryland's state tree.

To stay informed about this Program,
email replant@aawsa.org to be added to our
Groves of Gratitude email List.