Keystone pocket forests offer a critical source food and shelter for pollinators, caterpillars of Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths, skippers, fritillaries), birds and other wildlife.
Research of entomologist, Dr. Doug Tallamy, and his team at the University of Delaware have identified 14% of native plants (the keystones) support 90% of butterfly and moth Lepidoptera species. Research of horticulturist Jarrod Fowler has shown that 15% to 60% of North American native bee species are pollen specialists who only eat pollen from 40% of native plants.
Canopy layer: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), White Oak (Quercus alba), Black Oak (Quercus velutina), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), White Pine (Pinus strobus), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), River Birch (Betula nigra), Sweet Birch (Betula lenta), Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), Pignut hickory, (Carya glabra), Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Paper birch (Betula papyrifera), River birch (Betula nigra), Sweet birch (Betula lenta), Basswood (Tilia americana)
Understory layer: Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum), Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana), American Hazelnut (Corylus americana), Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Speckled Alder (Alnus incana), Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), American Plum (Prunus americana), Canadian Plum (Prunus canadensis), Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria), American Hazel (Corylus americana)
Shrub layer: Snowberry (Symphiocarpus albus), Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea), Golden currant (Ribes aureum), Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolus), Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), Carolina Rose (Rosa Carolina), Smooth rose (Rosa blanda)
