Acer x freemanii Jeffersred Autumn Blaze maple SIZE

Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’ “Autumn Blaze® maple” SIZE: Medium tree HABIT: Oval - rounded, dense crown FOL: Rich green in summer; long-lasting orangered in fall; deeply lobed leaf similar to Acer saccharinum FL. & FR. : Red in Spring; a mix of male and female and hermaphroditic flowers; fruit = a reddish samara in early summer

CULTURE: Tolerates most soils; tolerates air pollution but not a great urban tree; does not like salt! PESTS: none serious USE: Specimen tree for lawn, street, or park MISC. : Selected in the 1960’s by nurseryman Glenn Jeffers in Fostoria, OH. Introduced in 1980. From seedlings collected from a cross of A. rubrum x A. saccharinum. A. x freemanii was first developed in 1933 at the U. S. National Arboretum by Oliver Freeman

Acer negundo “boxelder” SIZE: Medium tree HABIT: Rounded; typically ragged and irregular

FOLIAGE: Bright green; pinnately compound leaf!

BARK: Mature bark is grayish brown with some ridges and furrows. Twigs tend to be covered with a glucose bloom.

FLOWERS and FRUIT: Dioecious, yellow-green in Spring; male flowers in corymbs; female in racemes

Corymb • A flat-topped collection of flowers

Raceme • A collection of flowers on a stalk which typically open starting at the bottom and working their way upwards

CULTURE: Performs well in poor, wet or dry soils; p. H adaptable. Will survive where other trees will not!

PESTS: Anthracnose, leaf spot, and powdery mildew; boxelder bugs USE: Weedy, “trash” tree; use only where all other trees fail! MISC. : ‘Flamingo’ = pink shoots with green leaves and white margins. Plant a male selection to eliminate messy female samaras

Acer negundo ‘Kelly’s Gold’

Acer negundo ‘Variegatum’

Acer platanoides “Norway maple” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Rounded, symmetrical crown; dense

FOLIAGE: Dark green, changing to yellow; leaves persist on the tree late in the fall

BARK: Grayish black with some ridges at maturity.

FLOWERS and FRUIT: Perfect, yellow to greenish-yellow in corymbs in April before the leaves (somewhat showy); schizocarp = 4” long, o 140 angle

CULTURE: Soil adaptable; tolerates sand clay; p. H adaptable; tolerates air pollution (ozone and sulfur dioxide); tolerates some shade; will NOT tolerate 2, 4 D (a broadleaf herbicide); easily transplanted

PESTS: Leaf scorch; sun scald

USE: Lawn, street, or park tree; over-planted MISC. : Invasive! difficult to grow turf underneath; ‘Columnare’ = upright form; ‘Crimson King’ = red leaves; ‘Drummondii’ = white margin.

Acer platanoides ‘Columnare’

Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’

Acer platanoides ‘Drummondii’

Acer platanoides ‘Globosum’

Acer platanoides (Dwarf Forms)

Acer platanoides ‘Bailpride’

Acer rubrum “red maple” SIZE: Medium to Large HABIT: Pyramidal/elliptical when young Irregular to rounded crown when mature

FOL: Dark green above and grayish below; new leaves are reddish; yellow to red in fall

BARK: soft gray or gray brown with prominent “target facing”

FL. & FR. : Red flowers in dense clusters before leaves (showy) which are male, female or mixed; reddish schizocarp with o samaras at a 60 angle

CULTURE: Tolerates most soils; tolerates air pollution but not a great urban tree; does not tolerate salt well PESTS: chlorosis at high p. H due to manganese deficiency

USE: Specimen tree for lawn, street, or park MISC. : Often one of the first trees to color in fall; fall color is inconsistent and a cultivar must be used to assure a red color such as Red Sunset® (= A. rubrum ‘Franksred’) which is very cold-hardy & commonly used

Acer rubrum 'Columnare'

Acer saccharinum “silver maple” SIZE: Large HABIT: Oval to rounded crown, pendulous branchlets are upturned

FOL: Medium green above and gray-silver below; can be a nice butter-yellow in fall

BARK: similar to A. rubrum when young. At maturity becomes gray with ridges and furrowes.

FL. & FR. : Greenish-yellow (apetalous); open before leaves and before A. rubrum; flowers in dense clusters and are male, female, or mixed; largest schizocarp (4+”) o with samaras at 90 angle

CULTURE: Tolerates most soils; tolerates poor soil; prefers moist soil; very easy to grow PESTS: Many. . . anthracnose, leaf hopper, cottony maple scale; manganese chlorosis at high p. H

USE: Good for fast shade or rugged conditions; becomes a liability with age; roots will buckle sidewalks and clog drains MISC. : Trees break up in ice; weak-wooded

Acer saccharum “sugar maple” SIZE: Large HABIT: Rounded to upright oval; cultivar dependent

FOL: Medium green (lighter than A. platanoides); yellow and orange in fall (some reds), typically all colors on one tree!

BARK: Extremely variable. Young trees tend to develop smooth gray brown bark that becomes deeply furrowed with age. At maturity some trees have thick plates and ridges where as others will appear scaly.

FL. & FR. : Greenish-yellow; in corymbs before leaves (not showy); schizocarp shaped like a horseshoe

CULTURE: p. H tolerant; requires room for roots; tolerates shade; does NOT tolerate air pollution, soil compaction, or salt PESTS: Leaf scorch USE: Excellent shade tree; lawns, parks, golf courses (not as a street tree)

MISC. : Sap boiled in spring yields maple syrup; 40 gallons of sap = 1 gal. of syrup; ‘Newton Sentry’ = very tight, columnar habit; ‘Temple’s Upright’ = columnar habit

Acer saccharum 'Monumentalis'

Acer saccharum 'Newton sentry'

Kalopanax septemlobus “castor-aralia” SIZE: Large HABIT: Upright-oval when young becoming rounded-oval when mature

FOL: Coarse texture; dark green in summer, often falling green (yellow fall color is rare)

BARK: branches armed with stout prickles. Mature trunks are blackish and deeply furrowed.

FL. & FR. : perfect, white in mid-summer; clusters of small flowers in 1” umbels; somewhat showy; fruit = black, globose drupe in early fall

CULTURE: prefers deep, rich, moist soil; full sun PESTS: None USE: Excellent shade tree; lawns, parks, golf courses MISC. : Bees like the flowers and birds love the fruit. Rare in cultivation but a worthwhile plant for large spaces. “septemlobus” means “ 7 -lobed”. Looks like Ricinus communis (“caster bean”) Previously named K. pictus

Kalopanax septemlobus. var. maximowiczii

Betula “birch” • All birch are monoecious • All birch have staminate (male) and pistillate (female) catkins • Male catkins are formed in late summer and retained through the winter • Female catkins form in spring, are pollinated, and disperse their winged nutlets in late summer-early fall • Related to alders (Alnus)

Betula alleghaniensis “yellow birch” SIZE: Large HABIT: Pyramidal when young; rounded with age; in woods forms a central leader; largest native birch

FOL: Dull dark green; excellent medium yellow in fall

BARK: Peeling, light yellowish brown. Stems have the taste of wintergreen.

FL. & FR. : Male catkins pendulous, terminal in 4’s; 1” female catkin is solitary, elliptic and upright on spur shoots

CULTURE: Prefers cool, moist soils and cool summers; does NOT tolerate hot and dry conditions PESTS: None serious; resistant to Japanese beetles, leaf miner and bronze birch borer USE: Nice lawn tree or specimen MISC. : Important lumber tree in Canada for furniture, flooring, and doors; oil of wintergreen not as strong as B. lenta; peeling yellow-brown bark; native

Betula lenta “black birch” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Pyramidal and dense when young; rounded to upright oval when mature

FOL: Lustrous dark green; golden yellow in fall

BARK: Dark brown to black on young trees with prominent lenticels. The bark becomes more scaly at maturity.

FL. & FR. : Male catkins pendulous, terminal in 4’s; 3/4” female catkin is solitary, narrow and upright on spur shoot

CULTURE: Tolerates heavy soils PESTS: None serious; resistant to Japanese beetle, leaf miner, and bronze birch borer USE: Excellent tree for parks and naturalized areas MISC. : Best fall color among the birches; wintergreen oil can be distilled from the bark (high oil content); darkest bark of all birch; “lenta” means “pliable”; native

Betula nigra “river birch” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Pyramidal when young; rounded with age; often multiple trunks

FOL: Lustrous, medium green; faded yellow fall color (not very effective in the north), drops quickly

BARK: Peeling creamy salmon, orange brown to cinnamon brown in color. One of the most beautiful birches for winterest.

FL. & FR. : Male catkins terminal in 3’s; 1” pendulous female catkin

CULTURE: Does best in moist, acid, fertile soils (bottomlands); will tolerate dry conditions and some compact soil; iron chlorosis in high p. H; can tolerate warmer climates (Zone 8) PESTS: None USE: Specimen tree for large areas; widely used in the heat of the South MISC. : ‘Heritage’ is a superior cultivar for rapid growth, vigor, darker green foliage and better yellow fall color; incredible peeling reddish-tan bark; native

Betula papyrifera “paper birch” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Loosely pyramidal when young; irregular, upright oval when mature; single or multi-trunked

FOL: Dull dark green; very good yellow fall color

Bark: Mature plants have chalky white peeling bark that is easily separated into paper like layers.

FL. & FR. : Male catkin terminal in 2’s or 3’s; 1” pendulous, female catkin

CULTURE: Soil adaptable; prefers moist, acid, sandy or silty loams; does NOT tolerate air pollution PESTS: Leaf miner; resistant to bronze birch borer

USE: Best in large areas MISC. : Place in front of evergreens for winter bark interest; outstanding peeling, white bark; native

Betula pendula “European white birch” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Gracefully pyramidal when young; upright-oval when mature; remains pendulous and graceful

FOL: Glossy, dark green; poor yellow fall color

BARK: Mature bark is white and does not peel or exfoliate. Bark often has diamond shaped areas of black within.

FL. & FR. : Male catkin in 2’s, sometimes singly or in 3’s; 1” pendulous, female catkin

CULTURE: Prefers MWDS; tolerates wet or dry soils; p. H tolerant; “bleeds” readily so prune in summer or fall PESTS: Very susceptible to bronze birch borer(Agrilus anxius) and leaf miners; Japanese beetles are not a serious pest

USE: Specimen for lawn or large areas MISC. : Most common birch in N. America. ‘Dalecarlica’ is an elegant cultivar with deeply incised leaves; ‘Purpurea’ is a purple-leaved form; ‘Youngii’ is weeping form, often grafted.

Betula pendula ‘Dalecarlica’

Betula pendula ‘Youngii’

Betula pendula ‘Purpurea’

Betula populifolia “gray birch” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Narrow, open, conical crown; tips of branches are pendulous

FOL: Glossy, dark green; nice yellow fall color; one of the first birches to leaf-out

Bark: Chalky white, not as bright as paper birch. Bark does not peel and has distinct black markings below each branch.

FL. & FR. : Very long male catkins borne singly, rarely in 2’s; 1” pendulous, female catkin

CULTURE: Prefers poor, sterile rocky, gravelly or sandy sites; will tolerate heavy soils; tolerates wet or dry conditions; will not tolerate competition or basic soils PESTS: Leaf miner and Japanese beetles can be devastating; slightly resistant to bronze birch borer

USE: Good for naturalizing; good for difficult sites with poor soils MISC. : Short-lived tree (15 -20 years); dirty gray bark; native

Catalpa speciosa “northern catalpa” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Open with an irregular- oval crown

FOL: Medium to light green; a poor yellow-brown fall color (not effective)

BARK: Grayish brown at maturity with a ridged and thick look.

FL. & FR. : White tube-shaped corolla, 2” long and wide, purple spot in throat, in May-June in upright terminal panicles 4 -8” long; fruit = an 8 -20” long, 1/2” wide “pod-like” capsule that persists through winter

CULTURE: Tolerates most soils; tolerates wet, hot, dry or alkaline conditions; full sun to partial shade PESTS: Leaf spots, powdery mildew, aphids and sooty mold USE: Best for difficult areas (roadways); coarse texture difficult to use in the home landscape

MISC. : Wood is very rot resistant and used as railroad ties.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum “katsura tree” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Pyramidal when young; variable habit when mature

FOL: New foliage is reddish-purple; dark blue-green in summer; yellow-apricot in fall

BARK: Mature bark is brown and can be slightly shaggy.

FL. & FR. : Dioecious; flowers are minute; flowers before the leaves yet are not showy; fruit is a pod and not showy

CULTURE: Requires a moist, rich soil; p. H adaptable; difficult to transplant (best B & B in early spring) PESTS: None serious; scorch on foliage when dry

USE: Excellent in either a lawn or large area MISC. : A beautiful foliage tree; ‘Pendula’ is a weeping form (usually grafted); “Cercid” refers to “redbud” (Cercis) and “phyllum” refers to the “leaf”

Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendula’

Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Red Fox’

Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Ruby’

Fagus grandifolia “American beech” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Stout trunk; broad, low-spreading limbs; pyramidal habit

FOL: Medium green; golden yellow in fall; persist into winter (tan)

BARK: Appears thin and smooth. Has a clean bluish gray appearance.

FL. & FR. : Monoecious; not showy; nut in a prickly involucre (3/4”); nut is edible

CULTURE: MWDS; does NOT tolerate wet or compacted soils; shallow roots; tolerates shade; tolerates pruning PESTS: Beech scale; aphids; powdery mildew USE: Native tree; for large areas only; attracts wildlife

MISC. : Tolerates heat better than F. sylvatica; will root sucker; difficult to grow grass under; NO cultivar selections. Fagus is from the Greek, “phagein” (= “to eat”), referring to the edible nuts.

Fagus sylvatica “European beech” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Stout trunk; branching to the ground; pyramidal

FOL: Lustrous, dark green; golden-bronze in fall; persist into winter (tan)

BARK: Similar to F. grandifolia but generally darker. Very ornamental.

FL. & FR. : Monoecious; not showy; nut in a prickly involucre (1”); nut is edible

CULTURE: Tolerates adverse soil better than F. grandifolia but otherwise the same PESTS: Same as F. grandifolia USE: Specimens for large areas (parks, etc. ); attracts wildlife MISC. : The most variable of all ornamental shade trees. The best cultivars: ‘Asplenifolia’ = cut-leaf; ‘Fastigiata’ = upright; ‘Pendula’ = weeping; ‘Purpurea’ = dark purple leaf. Small growing cultivars are now available for residential use. The name, “sylvatica” come from the Latin, “silva” meaning “of the woods”

Fagus sylvatica var. purpurea

Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’

Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’

Fagus sylvatica ‘Ansorgei’

Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’

Fagus sylvatica ‘Quercifolia’

Fagus sylvatica ‘Tricolor’

Quercus “oaks” • All oaks are monoecious • All oaks have staminate (male) catkins and pistillate (female) axillary flowers • Nuts are acorns (edible) with a cup which is an involucre (collection of bracts) • Often have tap roots and are difficult to transplant • Often have dense wood & are slow-growing • 500 -600 species of oaks exist

“white” oaks vs. “red” oaks • White oaks have rounded leaves while red oaks have bristle-tipped foliage • The inside of the acorn is smooth in white oaks but is hairy in red oaks • White oak seeds take 1 year to mature while red oak seeds take 2 years • White oak seeds germinate immediately after they drop to the ground and therefore need to be planted or immediately refrigerated, while red oak seeds only germinate in spring

Quercus alba “white oak” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Pyramidal when young; broadrounded when mature

FOL: Opens gray-pink; blue-green in summer; red-purple in fall (can be nice!); leaves often persist into winter

BARK: Often broken into small blocks and scales. Light gray in color.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1” oblong with bumpy cup

CULTURE: Deep, MWDS; mycorrhizal association with roots; production and transplant difficult PESTS: Powdery mildew; leaf galls; etc. . .

USE: Large areas; naturalizing; attracts wildlife MISC. : Wood used in furniture, flooring, boats, and casks. No other North American oak has so many famous and historic specimens as this species. “alba” refers to the light color of the wood. Native

Quercus bicolor “swamp white oak” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Broad, open, rounded crown

FOL: Lustrous, dark green; yellow in fall; leaves often persist into winter when young

BARK: Grayish brown and often divided into distinct rectangular patterns.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1” oval in pairs, usually stalked

CULTURE: Difficult to transplant; not as tolerant of adverse conditions as Q. palustris and Q. rubra; tolerates higher p. H than Q. palustris; fast grower PESTS: None USE: Naturalizing, large areas, attracts wildlife MISC. : One of the last oaks to develop fall color… and it is often the best! Rare in commerce and often misidentified! Native

Quercus imbricaria “shingle oak” SIZE: Medium HABIT: Pyramidal in youth; broad-round at maturity

FOL: Unfolds reddish; lustrous dark green in summer; yellow-brown-russet in fall (not showy); leaves often persist into winter

BARK: Gray brown with low ridges and some furrows.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1/2”, rounded

CULTURE: Transplants easier than most oaks; tolerates urban conditions; tolerates dry sites; tolerates pruning PESTS: Few problems USE: Naturalizing large areas, attracts wildlife; can be used for hedges MISC. : Wood used for roofing and wall shingles! Gets its name from the Latin, “imbrex” meaning “tile”. Native

Quercus macrocarpa “bur oak” SIZE: Large HABIT: Pyramidal/oval when young; broad-spreading crown when mature

FOL: Lustrous dark green in summer; green-yellow-brown in fall (not showy)

BARK: Mature bark develops deep ridges. Usually dark gray and almost dirty looking.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1 - 1 1/2” with deep, frilled cup

CULTURE: Soil adaptable but transplant is difficult; prefers alkaline soils; tolerates city conditions PESTS: Few problems USE: Large areas, naturalizing, attract wildlife MISC. : The name is derived from the Greek, “macro” meaning “large” and “karpos” meaning “fruit”. Rather rare in commerce. Native

Quercus palustris “pin oak” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Pyramidal through maturity

FOL: Lustrous dark green in summer; russet in fall (variable); leaves may persist into winter

BARK: Grayish brown, develops shallow ridges with age. Distinctive pins on the branches.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1/2” rounded, in clusters

CULTURE: MWDS; easily transplanted; tolerates wet soils; tolerates air pollution and city conditions; does NOT tolerate high p. H (chlorosis!) PESTS: Leaf galls, iron chlorosis

USE: Shade tree, lawns, parks; attracts wildlife; naturalizing MISC. : Lower branches will die out and require pruning; very widely used; fast grower. “palustris” is from the Latin meaning “swamps or marshes”. Native

Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ “fastigiate English oak” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Columnar with wavy, ascending branches

FOL: Dull dark green in summer; NO fall color - leaves fall off green

BARK: Mature bark is deeply furrowed and grayish black.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1” elongate, stalked, rare on the cultivar

CULTURE: MWDS; p. H tolerant PESTS: Powdery mildew USE: Large areas; attract wildlife MISC. : The species is widely used in Europe but is rare in the U. S. Other cultivars available

Quercus rubra “red oak” SIZE: Medium to large HABIT: Upright elliptic when young; rounded when mature

FOL: Pinkish-red when unfolding; lustrous dark green in summer; russet to bright red in fall

BARK: Mature bark has distinct flat gray areas as well as ridges and furrows.

FL. & FR. : Acorn = 1” globose-elliptic

CULTURE: MWDS; transplants easily; tolerates air pollution; high p. H = chlorosis PESTS: None

USE: Excellent for lawns or large areas; ok as street tree; attracts wildlife; naturalizing MISC. : Fast grower. Extremely common in cultivation. Native