Belleville City Zoning Code
§ 23-7.18
Native Indigenous Planting.
[Ord. No. 3134; Ord. No. 3216; amended 11-5-2018 by Ord. No. 3511; 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 3598; 4-12-2022 by Ord. No. 3644]
The following planting are indigenous to the region. Site landscape improvements are required to maximize the use of native species on site by retaining existing vegetation to the extent possible and planting new native saplings. At least 20% of every lot shall be landscaped with plants that are native and non-invasive to the environment. New landscaping site improvements utilizing these species will qualify for sustainability credit.
a.
Native trees.
1.
Red maple (Acer rubrum) - best for sunny sites, very adaptable to light and moisture, bright red to orange fall colors.
2.
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) - best for sunny sites, graceful shape, high wildlife value.
3.
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) - best for sunny sites, also adaptable to dry sites, can be tapped with a spile for home-made syrup.
4.
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) - best for shady sites, prefer acidic soil, produce red berries.
5.
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) - best in part sun, tolerate full sun with age, beautiful lavender flowers in spring.
6.
Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) - fast-growing shade trees with brilliant fall coloration.
7.
Also Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) or Black Choke Cherry (Aronis melanocarpia) are acceptable.
8.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is acceptable "evergreen".
b.
Native shrubs.
1.
Winterberry or inkberry (Ilex verticillata) - best for sunny moist sites, grow red berries.
2.
Witch alder (Fothergilla major and Fothergilla gardenii) - grow in sun to shade with brilliant fall coloration and large white flowers in early spring.
3.
Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin)- grow in shade to sun, foliage release a pleasant scent when rubbed or crushed, host plants for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, can be trained into small trees.
4.
Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) - very adaptable species can grow in sun, shade, and most soil types, white spring flowers turn into clusters of blueberries in fall.
5.
Red twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera (syn.) Cornus sericea) - large shrubs with bright red stems in the winter, grow well in wet soils in full sun, produce small white berries for birds in summer.
6.
American pussy willow (Salix discolor)- large shrubs to small trees with soft fuzzy flowers in late winter, grow well in sun, tolerate wet soil.
7.
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) - small shrubs with small white flowers in mid-June, host Spring Azure butterflies, leaves were used in colonial times as decaffeinated tea substitute.
8.
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) - dense adaptable shrubs, outstanding fall coloration.
9.
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) - white-flowered hydrangeas for shady locations.
10.
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) - broadleaf evergreens for shady areas, bloom mid-spring.
c.
Native perennials.
1.
Bee balm (Monarda didyma) - best for sunny moist sites, aromatic nectar source, spread well to naturalize areas.
2.
White blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) - good groundcover for shady locations, bloom in spring.
3.
Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) - best for sunny sites, tolerate drought once established, nectar for butterflies and seeds for goldfinches.
4.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) - best for sunny dry sites, long-blooming perennials.
5.
Marsh blazing star (Liatris spicata) - most moisture-tolerant of the Liatris family, large purple or white spiky flowers in summer, tolerate drought when established.
6.
Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) - best in sun, grow like a small bush, large flower heads.
7.
Blue flag iris (Iris versacolor) - grow well in damp soil and full sun, light blue flowers in late spring.
8.
Mountain mint (Pycanthemum muticum) - a good naturalizer for pollinators, leaves smell strongly of mint if rubbed or crushed.
9.
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) - small plants with intense orange flowers in early summer, host plants for Monarch butterflies, tolerate drought once established, best in full sun.
10.
Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) - best in sun to part shade, tall spikes of white flowers in late spring.
11.
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) - grow well in sun, peculiar flowers hold their position obediently if moved, attract a small harmless beetle which birds eat.