Deer Orchard™ Starter Pack | Zone 4

An old reliable member of the red oak group that produces reliable mast, it also grows and matures rather fast compared with most other oaks. Tolerant of a variety of soil conditions as long as it doesn’t stay wet too long, it is a great choice for deer and turkey plots. Full sun to part-day sun suit it well, though brightest conditions will result in heavier acorn crops.

As its common name implies, it is the northernmost eastern oak in the United States. It is a medium to large round canopied tree that prefers well drained, acidic loamy sands. It is found natively in upland mesic forests and thrives in coves, ravines and gentle to moderate slopes.. It is a fast growing, deciduous oak that provides reddish brown to bright red fall color. It is a favorite nesting destination for many species of birds and small mammals and is a dependable source of cover and mast for many game mammals, including whitetail deer. Its acorns are 3/4" to 1" and have a large flat cap that covers a quarter of the nut. Because of its value as a source of quality lumber, its wildlife value is often under appreciated.

A wide-ranging tree that is adaptable to a diverse array of habitats, from the baking hot, dry limestone “Hill Country” of central Texas to moist floodplain margins in central Florida, while also enduring the cold winters in the northern extent of its range from Iowa to southern New England. Over time it will produce shoots from the roots, forming a colony of trunks that provide valuable cover for wildlife. The orange fruit which can range up to the size of a small plum, begin ripening in fall and are often retained on the tree after leaf drop well into December in southern latitudes. Note that this species has separate male and female plants, so to ensure fruit production multiple plants of our unsexed saplings should be sited near each other to increase the chances that both sexes will be present.

Honey locust is a medium sized, fast growing deciduous tree that has tremendous wildlife value. It performs extremely well in a large range of soil and site conditions, making it a favorite of the Wildtree team. It is cold hardy to Zone 3, but can tolerate extreme summer temperatures from east Texas to Florida. It requires full sun and grows well in most any soil condition. It is well known for its sharp thorns that provide excellent cover for wildlife and protection from predators. It flowers in the late spring and produces long spiraled seed pods in the late summer. The pods contain a honey like sweet pulp that is an absolute favorite of white-tailed deer, quail, squirrels, rabbits and raccoons. We highly recommend these along edges of wildlife sanctuaries.

Not only do deer love Chinese chestnuts, but you will find them tasty as well. They can be eaten roasted, boiled, or sautéed. A prickly 2–3½" seed husk encloses 1-4 nuts and will yield a ripened nut crop from mid to late September all the way through October.