Tree ID list 1 (Descriptions)

Betula Nigra

Size: 40-70’ tall; 40-60’ spread

Habit: Pyramidal to oval-headed in youth, rounded at maturity

Foliage: Sharp point with the base being wedge shaped

Bark: Cinnamon brown exfoliating bark

Use: Nice specimen tree for large expanse areas

Carpinus Caroliniana

Size/Habit: Small tree; 20-30’; often multistemmed

Foliage: Sharply double serrate leaf margin; Good orange FC

Bark: “Muscular”, gray; longitudinal ridges

Culture: Soil tolerant; PS or shade

Use: Best in naturalized situation; specimen tree

Cercis Canadensis

Size: 20-30’ in height by 25-35’ spread

Foliage: Alternate, heart-shaped, leathery leaves; Yellow FC is variable. Showy pink flowers in April

Culture: Soil tolerant; FS or PS

Use: Specimen, in groupings; especially nice in a woodland/naturalized situation

Cotinus coggygria

Size: 10-15’ height and spread

Habit: Upright, spreading, open, usually wider than tall; multi-stemmed

Foliage: Bluish-green, may turn a good red-purple in fall

Culture: Pedicels give smoky effect, FS, drought tolerant; any soil type

Use: Shrub border, in masses or groupings; not for a single specimen but sometimes used for a focal point

Ginkgo Biloba

Size: Tall tree (50-80’), usually with good leader

Foliage: Alternate, simple leaves; fan-shaped, dichotomously veined; good yellow FC

Culture: Urban tolerant and pest free, but herbicide sensitive

Use: Great city tree, specimen — native to Eastern China, known for its medicinal aspects of helping with memory loss, depression, headaches, etc.

Juglans Nigra

Size:50-75’ tall, very open growth habit

Foliage: Compound leaves; lanceolate; pungent leaf fragrance; no FC

Culture: Soil tolerant; May inhibit nearby plants (alleopathic)

Use: Nice shade tree, valuable wood

Koelreunteria paniculata

Size: 30-40’ pyramidal tree with dense habit

Foliage: Compound leaves; leaflets are lobed

Fruit: Papery capsule 2’ in diameter; green to yellow to finally brown

Culture: FS; any soil type; drought resistant

Use: great specimen tree for yellow flowers in summer

Liquidambar Styraciflua

Size:Tall tree, 60-65’; spread is 2/3’s the height. Pyramidal tree when young; rounded at maturity

Foliage: Star-shaped leaves have excellent FC - messy fruit

Culture: Likes deep, moist, acidic soil

Use: Not a good urban tree because of the mess

Maclura pomifera

Size: 20-40’ with comparable spread; short trunk with low, rounded crown

Foliage: lustrous bright to dark green; lighter and pubescent on veins beneath. dioecious and inconspicuous bloom.

Fruit: Large (4-6”), yellow-green ball; becoming lethal in October

Culture: Tough and durable non-native tree

Use: Not suited for residential; good for hedge rows on large properties

Magnolia Virginiana

Size: Open, multi-stemmed growth habit

Foliage: Long, narrow leaves; darker green/light green/light green above and silvery below

Fruit: aggregate follicles developing red seeds

Culture: Tolerant of wet soil and shade; not dry; soil should be acidic

Use: Small patio or specimen tree

Magnolia x soulangiana

Size:Small tree with open habit

Foliage: Leaf with short point at tip; dark green above, pubescent below

Bloom: Pink to purple cup-shaped flowers in April; fragrant. Pubescent, silky to the touch

Culture: FS; WD soil; sensitive to compaction

Use: Specimen planting

Malus

Size: Small trees (to 25’), variety of forms

Foliage: Simple leaves; varying shapes

Fruit: Red, yellow, green fruit

Culture: FS, WD soil

Use: Specimen; spring flower interest — susceptible to fireblight

Ostrya Virginiana

Size:Common understory tree averaging 25 to 40’ in height

Foliage: dark green above, pubescent beneath FC: yellow (so-so)

Bark: Interesting exfoliating

Culture: Any soil; grows in dry, gravelly, rocky soil in nature

Use: Specimen (should be used more often -D)

Pyrus Calleryana

Size: Medium sized tree; rounded form

Foliage: Glossy leaves; red to maroon FC

Fruit: Small non-edible fruit; now listed as invasive in some states. Bloom is white flower clusters in early spring

Culture: FS, Soil tolerant

Use: Specimen or mass along driveway or street

Taxodium distichum

Size: 50-70’ by 20-30’ wide. Tall, pyramidal; strong vertical leader; buttressed trunk; shredding bark

Foliage: Feathery foliage; alternate; russet brown FC

Culture: Grows in dry or wet conditions; must be acidic; requires FS

Use: A great tree for accent of texture in the landscape; specimen tree; “knees” will form in shallow water OR compacted soils