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

Dogwood. Photo by: USDA NRCS Montana on flickr.com

Ninebark. Photo by karen_hine on flickr.com

Buttonbush. Photo by Tim Abbey, Penn State

Pussy willow. Photo by Alan Levine on flickr.com

Adaptation

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