TOWN OF DUCK
VEGETATION PLANTING GUIDELINES
Canopy Requirements
Fifteen percent (15%) of residential sites or ten percent (10%) of commercial sites (area that is
minus the footprint of the principal dwelling or commercial buildings) must have vegetative
canopy cover either by preservation or by installation. If preservation is used, vegetation must
have a protective device around the drip-line of the tree which prohibits construction activity,
storage or parking in this area except as permitted by the tree and vegetation ordinance. These
preservation methods must be indicated and detailed on the vegetation management plan. If the
canopy cover is accomplished by installation, the following tree categories can be used.
A) Large trees listed below, installed at 6’-8’ in height, provide a 400 square foot canopy credit.
B) Small trees, listed below, installed at 6’-8’ in height, provide a 200 square foot canopy credit.
Undesirable trees cannot be counted to meet the canopy requirements. Palm trees and tropical
vegetation (other than the dwarf palmetto listed below) cannot be counted to meet the canopy
requirements. Applicants may request substitution of other types of vegetation subject to the
review procedures of the vegetation ordinance.
Vegetation in the form of small trees, bushes or shrubs may be substituted for large trees at a
conversion rate of two small canopy trees or ten mulched shrubs (18-24 inches minimum height
at planting or of a 3 gallon size) for one large canopy tree. Ornamental grasses may be
substituted for large trees at a conversion rate of twenty plants (18-24 inches minimum height at
planting or of a 3 gallon size) for one large canopy tree. Credit for smaller coastal grasses and
forbs, such as American Beach Grass, will be calculated at 100 sprigs or plants for every 100
square feet. Credit will not be provided for retention of existing vegetation in oceanfront areas
within the CAMA small structure setback.
The table below provides a list of the acceptable trees and other plant species that may used
when planting to meet the vegetative canopy requirements. The table is organized into
categories of large and small trees, shrubs and bushes, ornamental grasses, and other grasses and
forbs. Additionally, the table categorizes the plant species into the barrier island vegetative
zones (see diagram) for which they are best adapted. This information is provided for reference
purposes only. The Town of Duck makes no guarantee as to the heartiness or performance of
listed plants in these areas; there are many other factors that will affect their survival.
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Barrier Island Cross Section with Generalized Vegetative Zones
Excerpt from Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas – For Conservation and Beautification, UNC Sea Grant Program, February 1973
Pine and hardwood or
“forest” zone located on
the leeward side of the
island usually behind a
dune ridge which
provides protection from
salt and wind;
Middle “scrub” zone
usually starts behind the
protection of the frontal
dunes
“grass” or “pioneer” zone
closest to the ocean with
the most direct exposure
to salt and wind
Not listed in the above diagram is the salt marsh zone which is typically located along the sound
shoreline between the high and low tide line.
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TOWN OF DUCK VEGETATION PLANTING
GUIDELINES
Vegetative Zone
Plant List
Botanical Name
Large Trees (6-8’ AT PLANTING
Pioneer
Common Name
CANOPY COVER = 400 Square Feet)
Acer rubrum*
Betula nigra
Celtis (all species)
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Fraxinus pennsylvanica “Marxhall’s Seedless”
Ginkgo biloba
Gordonia lasianthus*
Juniperus virginia var. silicicola*
Liriodendron tulipifera
Magnolia grandiflora
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Nyssa sylvatica*
Pinus elliottii
Pinus taeda
Platanus acerifolia “bloodgood”
Platanus occidentalis
Quercus acutissima
Quercus alba
Quercus bicolor
Quercus coccinea
Quercus darlingtonia
Quercus falcata*
Quercus hemisphaerica*
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus prinus
Quercus nigra
Quercus phellos
Quercus robur
Quercus robur “Fastigiata”
Quercus velutina
Quercus virginiana
Red Maple (All cultivars)
River Birch
Hackberry
Katsura Tree
Green Ash
Green Ash “Marshall’s Seedless”
Ginkgo (male variety – Maidenhair)
Loblolly Bay
Southern Redcedar
Tulip Poplar
Southern Magnolia
Dawn Redwood
Black Gum
Slash Pine
Loblolly Pine
“Bloodgood” London Plane
American Sycamore
Sawtooth Oak
White Oak
Swamp White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Darlington Oak
Southern Red Oak
Laurel Oak
Bur Oak (favors moist soil)
Chestnut Oak
Water Oak
Willow Oak
English Oak
Pyramidal English Oak
Black Oak
Live Oak
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Scrub
Maritime
Forest
Salt
Marsh
TOWN OF DUCK VEGETATION PLANTING
GUIDELINES
Vegetative Zone
Plant List
Botanical Name
Taxodium distichum
Tilia cordata
Zelkova serrata
Zelkova serrata “Village Green”
Small Trees (6-8’ AT PLANTING
Pioneer
Common Name
Bald Cypress
Little Leaf Linden (all cultivars)
Japanese Zelkova
“Village Green Zelkova”
CANOPY COVER = 200 Square Feet)
Acer buergeranum
Acer campestre
Acer griseun
Amelanchier Canadensis*
Betula nigra (dwarf cultivar)
Carpinus betulus
Carpinus caroliniana*
Cercis canandensis
Chioanthus virginicus
Cornus florida*
Cornus kousa
Cornus mas
Cornus stricta*
Crataegus phaenopyrum
Diospyros virginiana*
Halesia Carolina
Ilex opaca
Koelreuteria paniculata
Lagerstroemia
Magnolia x soulangeana
Magnolia stellata
Magnolia virginiana*
Malus
Osmanthus americanus*
Ostrya virginiana
Oxydendrum arboretum
Persea borbonia*
Pinus nigra
Prunus carolinia*
Trident Maple
Hedge Maple
Paperbark Maple
Serviceberry
River Birch (dwarf)
European Hornbeam/Ironwood
American Hornbeam
Red Bud
White Fringe Tree
Flowering Dogwood
Kousa Dogwood
Cornelian Cherry
Swamp Dogwood
Washington Hawthorn
Persimmon
Carolina Silverbell
American Holly
Golden Rain Tree
Crape Myrtle (all except Dwarf and Semi-Dwarf)
Saucer Magnolia
Star Magnolia
Sweet Bay Magnolia
Flowering Crabapple (all species and cultivars)
Devilwood
American Hophornbean
Sourwood
Redbay
Austrian Pine
Carolina Laurel Cherry
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Scrub
Maritime
Forest
Salt
Marsh
TOWN OF DUCK VEGETATION PLANTING
GUIDELINES
Vegetative Zone
Plant List
Botanical Name
Prunus serrulata
Prunus subhirtella pendula
Prunus x yedoensis
Pyrus calleryana “Aristocrat”
Quercus acuta
Quercus robur “Fastigiata”
Sophora japonica
Stewartia monadelpha
Styrax japonicus
Vaccinium arboretum*
Shrubs
Amorpha fruticosa*
Aronia arbutifolia*
Baccharis halimifolia
Borrichia frutescens*
Callicarpa Americana*
Cephalanthus occidentalis*
Clethra alnifolia*
Elaeagnus pungens
Euonymus japonicus
Ilex glabra*
Ilex vomitoria*
Itea virginica*
Iva frutescens*
Leucothoe axillaris*
Lyonia lucida*
Myrica cerifera*
Myrica pensylvanica*
Nerium Oleander
Pittosporum Tobira
Raphiolepis umbellate
Rhododendron atlanticum*
Rhus copallina*
Ruscus asculeatus
Sabal minor*
Pioneer
Common Name
All Cultivars
Weeping Cherry
All Cultivars
Approved Callery Pear Cultivars
Japanese Evergreen Oak
Pyramidal English Oak
Pagoda Tree (all cultivars)
Tall Stewartia
Japanese Snowbell Tree
Sparkleberry
Indigo-bush
Red Chokeberry
Eastern Baccharis
Sea Ox-eye
Beautyberry
Buttonbush
Sweet Pepperbush
Thorny Elaeagnus
Evergreen Euonymus
Inkberry
Yaupon Holly
Virginia Willow (Sweetspire)
Marsh elder
Coastal Leucothoe
Fetterbush
Southern Waxmyrtle
Northern Bayberry
Oleander
Pittosporum
Indian Hawthorne
Dwarf Azalea
Shining Sumac
Butchersbroom
Dwarf Palmetto
5
Scrub
Maritime
Forest
Salt
Marsh
TOWN OF DUCK VEGETATION PLANTING
GUIDELINES
Vegetative Zone
Plant List
Botanical Name
Salix caroliniana*
Tamarix gallica
Vaccinium corymbosum*
Ornamental Grasses
Andropogon glomeratus
Andropogon ternaries
Cortaderia selloana
Miscanthus sinensis
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Panicum amarum
Panicum virgatum
Grasses and Forbs (100 sprigs = 100 square feet)
Ammophila breviligulata
Uniola paniculata
Panicum amarulum
Panicum amarum
Andropogon littoralis
Iva imbricata
Croton punctatus
Hydrocotyle bonariensis
Solidago sempervirens
Spartina Patens
Pioneer
Common Name
Swamp Willow
Saltcedar
Highbush Blueberry
Brushy Bluestem
Splitbeard Bluestem
Pampas Grass
Maiden Grass
Purple Muhly Grass
Sea Beach Panicum
Switchgrass
American Beach Grass
Seaoats
Panicgrass
Bitter Panicum
Seacoast Bluestem
Marsh-elder
Silverleaf croton
Largeleaf Pennywort
Seaside goldenrod
Marshhay cordgrass
*Native Plants to Dare County (existed since before the arrival of the colonists)
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Scrub
Maritime
Forest
Salt
Marsh
Botanical Name
Acer negundo
Acer saccarinum
Ailanthus altissima
Albizia julibrissin
Betula papyrifera
Catalpa bignonoides
Cedrus deodora
Ginkgo biloba
Laburnum anagyroides
Magnolia grandiflora*
Melia azedarach Seed
Morus species
Paulownia tomentosa
Pinus sylvestris
Pinus thunbergi
Populus alba
Populus deltoids
Populus nigra
Prunus seroina
Pyrus calleryana “Bradford”
Salix
Ulmus Americana
Ulmus pumila
UNDESIRABLE TREE SPECIES
Common Name
Box Elder
Silver Maple
Tree of Heaven
Mimosa
Paper Birch
Southern Catalpa
Deodora Cedar
Ginko (female plant)
Golden Chain Tree
Southern Magnolia
Chinaberry
Mulberries
Empress Tree
Scotch Pine
Japanese Black Pine
White or Silver Poplar
Eastern Cottonwood
Lombardy Poplar
Black Cherry
Bradford Pear
Willow
American Elm
Siberian Elm
Problem
Weak wood, short lived, insects
Weak wood, insects, shallow roots, prolific seeding
Offensive odor (male), poor landscape qualities
Mimosa Wilt Disease
Insects
Messy flowers
Heat stress decline
Offensive fruit odor
Environmental stress
Shallow roots, seed pods
Weak wood, suckers
Objectionable fruit
Seed pods
Environmental stress (heat, poor drainage, insects)
Insects
Weak wood, diseases
Weak wood, extensive root system, prolific seeding
Extensive root system, short lived, diseases
Objectionable fruit
Structural weakness
Weak wood, roots
Dutch Elm Disease
Short lived, insects
Reference List
1) Graetz, Karl E. Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas. Raleigh, North Carolina: Sea Grant Publication UNC-SG-73-06
2) Duncan, Wilbur H. and Marion B. Seaside Plants of the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution 1987.
3) http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
4) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
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