Light: Part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Size: Small tree or shrub, growing between 5-12 feet tall

Attributes: Elderberries have white flowers and are found on well-drained but wet soil

Tree Benefits: Commercially prepared blue or purple berries have folk medicinal value and used as a dye. Uncooked or red berries contain a toxic substance and should not be consumed.

Light: Part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Size: A medium-sized tree that grows up to 50 feet tall

Attributes: Occurs along river bottoms often growing in the understory

Tree Benefits: Like the honey mesquite in West Texas, red mulberry is one of the harbingers of spring in East Texas. It is said that the appearance of its leaves means that all danger of frost has passed. Red mulberry was used by several Native American tribes to treat a variety of ailments.

Light: Part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Size: Small tree or shrub up to 12 feet

Attributes: Buttonbushes have white or pink flowers and are suited to very wet soils or standing water

Tree benefits: Buttonbush flowers attract pollinators, turning into small brown nutlets that feed ducks or other water birds.