Common Live Stake Species for Residential Stream Repair

All of these live stake species are:

• Native to Pennsylvania
• Tolerant of full sun to partial shade, and medium to wet soils
• Deciduous (lose leaves in the fall)
• Fibrous rooted to help with erosion once established
• Hedge-like in appearance, with trimming and pruning
• Ideal species for smaller or residential plantings

Botanical Name	Common Name	Size (Height and Spread)	Description (Blooms, Fruit, Stems)	Notes	Photos
Cornus amomum and Cornus sericea	Silky dogwood  and red-osier dogwood	Height: 6–12 feet Spread: 6–12 feet	Blooms: showy, yellowish-white cymes 2.5 inches across, May–June Fruit: showy, blue (silky) or white (red-osier) clusters in fall Stems: burgundy to bright red, provide winter interest	Attracts birds; tolerates deer; will tolerate close to full shade; may spread to form thickets; twigs and undersides of leaves have fine, “silky" hairs
Physocarpus opulifolius	Ninebark	Height: 5–8 feet Spread: 4–6 feet	Blooms: yellowish white, flowering May–June Fruit: drooping clusters of reddish fruit Stems: peel like cinnamon, provide winter interest	Attracts pollinators; grows well in rocky soil; may be cut down to the ground in winter to rejuvenate shrub
Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush	Height: 5–12 feet Spread: 4–8 feet	Blooms: showy, white, fragrant balls flowering June–July Fruit: showy, round ball Stems: gnarly arching growth, provide winter interest	Attracts birds and butterflies; can tolerate deep shade; requires minimal to no pruning
Sambucus canadensis	Elderberry	Height: 5–12 feet Spread: 5–12 feet	Blooms: showy white, fragrant clusters flowering June–July Fruit: showy, edible black drupes Stems: bumpy lenticels	Fruits attract many wildlife visitors; flowers attract pollinators; berries are used in jams and wines
Salix discolor	Pussy willow	Height: 6–15 feet Spread: 4–12 feet	Blooms: silky, gray catkins in March–April Fruit: split open when dry Stems: thin and smooth, yellowish new growth	Host plant to 18 different butterflies and moths; known for use in floral arrangements

Photos

Adaptation

The information in this fact sheet was adapted with permission from North Carolina State Cooperative Extension's “Live Stake Descriptions" fact sheet.