AFER 2020 Tree Fun Facts Set #3

Shagbark Hickory

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, was popularly nicknamed Old X because of the toughness of this tree. Used to smoke meats.

Japanese Knotweed

introduced as erosion control. Now escaped invasive -- a big problem invasive - in fact listed by the World Conservation Union as one the "worlds worst invasive". Bees love it.

Japanese Maple

Has over 1000 cultivars and is known for it's bright red fall color. Some can cost $1000 of dollars. You can eat their leaves.

American Holly

The "evergreen" leaves and red berries of this tree are still collected in the winter and used as seasonal decorations.

Honey Locust

A nitrogen fixer that has seed pods that must of have been eaten by a big extinct elephant like animal. Has crazy compound and double compound leaves.

Black Locust

First to colonize an abandoned field, will grow through runners and is hard to get rid of, has really big paired thorns.

Sweetgum

Creates a fall kaleidoscope of colors with its leaves. Also has fruit "monkey balls".

Musclewood / Blue Beach

Wood is so hard that axes bounce of it! There is a rumor in England you can listen to it's heartbeat.

Linden Arrowwood/Viburnum

Another invasive with red berries that can outcompete spice bush due its similar size. Has very fragrant white flowers in the spring. Millers Coat.

Beechdrops

This plant has no color because of the lack of chlorophyll. It is a parasite

Tupelo/ Black Gum

Good honey tree for bees - in fact there is a group of specialized Florida bee keepers that in a good year can make about $1,000,000 dollars.

Japanese Barberry

Flowers are sensitive to touch. Once touched whole flower closes exploding pollen shower on insect pollinator - pollen flogging and Spines are slightly poisonous. Planted originally as a living fence.

Red Oak

This is a tall, dominant long lived tree. The wood is so porous that even though it makes great furniture you can't make a barrel to hold root beer because it will leak. Most common species of its group.

Phragmites

In Europe this plant was grown for thatching and food for live stock. The native and invasive need a DNA test to tell them apart.

American Elm

This tree was the most popular tree to plant in the booming cities of the 19th century, so that by the 20th century many streets were lined with only this trees and were shaded in summer by a cathedral-like ceiling of their branches. When a disease (which actually originated in Asia) spread to the US in the 1950s, it was able to mow down tree after tree through their grafted root systems or with the help of a beetle.

Red Cedar

The fragrant wood of this tree is used is clothing closets and storage chests as it repels moths. The oil can be used in lawns to kill ticks. And you should Never Ever plant it by an orchard because of a disease it can help spread.

VA Creeper

vine attached to host with adhesive disks each capable of holding ten pounds - often confused with poison ivy which has 3 leaflets vs. the 5 of this vine AND turns bright red in the fall.

Norway Spruce

This very tall tree was once used for oars and paper pulp. Now it is mostly an ornamental tree used for windbreaks. It is not native but not invasive either.

White Pine

This tree "leaves" are high in vitamin C. It was also used to make ship's masts during boat building days. Played an important role in our early history.

Bradford/Callery Pear

Another invasive that flowers have a fish like smell and has the weakest limbs of any tree.

Multiflora rose

Another invasive brought over to be a living fence that has very fragrant flowers and is now banned in 14 states.

Crabapple

This plant originated in the mountainous regions of Central Asia, specifically in modern-day Kazakhstan. They became popular cultivars and spread throughout the continent via the Silk Road. Romans brought the species from Asia into Europe, where the species experienced rapid diversification into over 800 distinct species. These trees are magnets for the honey bee. The fruit of this tree is sour and must be cooked into a jam or chutney.

Chestnut Oak

The acorns are large and loved by wildlife for their sweet taste. They are also some of the largest acorns of all American oaks. They can grow to over an inch in length with a girth almost as big. They have mast years every 4-5 year instead of 2-3 like most other white oaks. In a mast year one mature oak can produce up to 300 pounds of acorns as opposed to the usual 10 pounds.

Service Berry

Its name means snowy-rose. Its name may refer to the Appalachian tradition of holding memorials for the dead that coincided with the blooming of this plant. Also called the Shadbush, juneberry, and saskatoon.

Japanese Stilt Grass

An invasive plant that can produce up to 1,000 seeds annually and the seeds are viable for multiple years. Deer don't like it allowing it to spread even more. It was originally brought over as packing material.

Hackberry

A tough native tree that is popular with winter birds for its berries. Looks similar to the Elm and is a useful tree as it provides dense shade and is drought tolerant.

Fringe Tree

Has both an American version and a Chinese version. Also called old man's beard and granddaddy greybeard for it's massive white floral display in the spring. A nice small tree that doesn't mind the shade.

Scots Pine

The national tree of Scotland that the Druids called one of the twins of the winter solstice. This tree was used to mark burial grounds and cross roads.

Bitternut Hickory

A member of the pecan family that may not have a great tasting nut BUT has a nut that is full of oil and can be harvested easily because of its thin shell.

Silver Maple

A popular tree as it is fast-growing and pretty with a two-toned leaf that has nice fall color. Can have problems with brittle branches and pests. Has a sweet sap that is not as full of sugar as one of its close relatives.

common elderberry

Berries from this plant make a delicious jam and syrup. The twigs can be used to make whistles and flutes. Was also referenced in Monty Python and Holy Grail