Forest-Inspired Landscaping: A Closer Look at Nebraska’s Forests 

In our last blog, we introduced the concept of forest-inspired landscaping using Nebraska’s unique forest ecosystems. We highlighted how layered plant structures create beauty, biodiversity, and ecological resilience. In this post, we look closer at Nebraska’s native forest communities and the key plant species that define them. Nebraska is home to several distinct forest communities, most of which are found along rivers and waterways. These ecosystems support native biodiversity and play a vital role in soil stabilization, wildlife habitat, and overall landscape resilience. When it comes to naturalized landscaping, understanding your region’s forest communities can help guide planting decisions that align with your site’s conditions and ecological heritage.

Forest Types in Nebraska: Upland vs. Wetland

Nebraska’s forest ecosystems are broadly categorized into two major types:

• Upland Forest Communities: Found in drier, well-drained soils and shaped by elevation, slope, and regional climate.
• Wetland Forest Communities: Occur in low-lying areas with higher moisture availability, often along rivers and floodplains.

Each community features a unique combination of canopy trees, understory shrubs, and ground-layer plants that bring the beauty and function of forest-inspired landscaping to your yard

Eastern Riparian Forest: Nebraska’s True Wetland Forest

The Eastern Riparian Forest is the only forest community in Nebraska classified as a true Wetland Forest. These forests thrive along major waterways and provide flood mitigation, wildlife habitat, and rich plant diversity.

• Canopy Species: Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
• Subcanopy Trees: Silver Maple, Hackberry, Green Ash, American Elm
• Shrub Layer: Roughleaf Dogwood, Missouri Gooseberry, Coralberry
• Herbaceous Layer: Sedges, False Solomon’s Seal, Bedstraw, Violets

These layered plant communities add seasonal texture and color while supporting pollinators and native wildlife—key benefits of forest-inspired landscaping.

Upland Forest Communities of Nebraska

In contrast to wetland forests, Nebraska’s upland forests thrive in drier, well-drained soils and are shaped by elevation, topography, and regional climate. Some of the most common Upland Forest Communities include:

• Bur Oak-Basswood-Ironwood Forest. Found on bluff slopes and river valleys along the Missouri River, this upland forest features an open canopy and layered understory. This community supports moderate to high plant diversity and serves as an excellent model for forest-inspired landscaping in residential areas with elevation changes.
  • Canopy Trees: Bur Oak, American Linden, Hackberry, Green Ash
  • Woody Layer: Ironwood, Missouri Gooseberry, Chokecherry
  • Herbaceous Layer: Sedges, Bedstraw, Dutchman’s Breeches, Aniseroot, Canada Violet
• Ponderosa Pine Forest. This forest type is found in the northwestern part of the state and showcases Nebraska’s drier pine woodlands. Its drought tolerance makes it suitable for residential windbreaks and conservation plantings in western Nebraska.
  • Canopy: Ponderosa Pine
  • Shrubs: Saskatoon Serviceberry, Chokecherry, Wolfberry
  • Ground Layer: Sedge and Wildrye species, False Solomon’s Seal, Smooth Blue Aster
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• Paper Birch Springbranch Canyon Forest. This unique forest community is found along the Niobrara River near Valentine, Nebraska, and is ideal for shady, moisture-retentive sites.
  • Canopy: Paper Birch, Green Ash, American Linden
  • Subcanopy: Ironwood, Eastern Red Cedar, Chokecherry, Wolfberry
  • Herbaceous Layer: Multiple Sedge species, Solomon’s Seal, Smooth Blue Aster

Create a Forest-Inspired Landscape with Nebraska’s Native Plant Communities

You can recreate resilient, regionally appropriate plantings for your forest-inspired landscape by understanding the dominant species and plant layers of Nebraska’s forest communities. Whether you’re working with moist lowlands, shady slopes, or dry ridges, there’s a native forest community to match! Many of the trees and shrubs highlighted in this post—like Bur Oak, Chokecherry, Coralberry, and Ironwood—will be available at Spring Affair, the Midwest’s largest native plant sale, happening April 25–27 at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln!

🌱Stay tuned for our next post in the series: Forest-Inspired Landscaping: Big and Small Space Solutions—where we share how to incorporate these plant communities into your yard.