broadleaf evergreens

Question 1

larix laricina

Answer 1

tamarack, American larch

leaves: light bluish green needles, clustered in whorls from small shoots. deciduous. 12-30 needles per bundle. yellowish in fall

buds & stems: rounded glossy dark red & resinous. needle spurs line twigs in winter.

fruit & flowers: small cones, persistent, egg shaped, gren to purple to straw brown

bark: young bark: thin & smooth; mature bark scaly, thick grey to reddish brown
habit: 40-80’, 15-30’ spread. slender trunk, horizontal branches drooping branchlets
notes: hardy to zone 1

Question 2

Ilex glabra

Answer 2

inkberry

leaves: simple, alternate, 3/4-2”. glossy dark green, oblanceolate, serrations near tip. leaves point upwards

buds & stems: slender green & powdery stem. pubescent early, glabrous on older stems. retains green color

fruit & flowers: small white flowers, 3 or more borne together. fruit a dark blue-black drupe, ppersistent on male plant

bark:

habit: 6-8’ in height, up to 10’ spread. upright, many branched, erect & rounded. loses lower leaves w/ age
notes: dioecious, hardier than ilex crenata

Question 3

Ilex x meserveae

Answer 3

Meserve holly; blue holly

leaves: alternate, simple. leathery, spiny & thick. slightly impressed veins, blue-green leaves

buds & stems: reddish purple w/ ridges, like a pencil

fruit & flowers: red berries in clusters on females

bark:

habit: 6-8’ in height, often a low shrub
notes: dioecious

Question 4

Buxus microphylla

Answer 4

littleleaf box; boxwood

leaves: simple, opposite to subopposite, 1/3-1”. glossy green, obovate- lance obovate, entire margin. white stripe underneath, notch at leaf apex. yellow-green to brown in winter

buds & stems: small solitary buds. square stem, grooved between leaf pairs

fruit & flowers: fruit a 3 celled capsule, flowers apetalous clusters, not showy but fragrant

bark:

habit: shrub, compact round form, up to 4’. often a short hedged shrub
notes: Buxaceae, asian introduction

Question 5

Ilex crenata

Answer 5

Japanese holly; boxleaved holly

leaves: alternate, simple, small 1/2-1 1/4”. very fine serrations from base to tip. leaf is convex (cupped).

buds & stems: stems are green on current season’s growth, grey-green to grey-brown on mature stems

fruit & flowers: dioecious, small flowers greenish white, 3-7 flowers per cyme

bark:

habit: 5-10’, variable spread, dense & multibranched
notes: resembles boxwood but is alternately arranged

Question 6

Ilex opaca

Answer 6

American holly

leaves: alternate, simple, 1 1/2- 3 1/2” dark green & yellow below. spiked serrations, glossy dull green color

buds & stems:

fruit & flowers: fruit a dull red persistent drupe in clusters, flower is white on small cymes

bark: smooth with warty protrusions, olive green
habit: dense pyramidal in youth, a tree type holly. high branching conical to irregular in maturity. can grow up to 50’, usually 15-30’. needs shelter from wind & sun in winter

notes:

Question 7

Rhododendron maximum

Answer 7

rosebay rhododendron

leaves: 5-10” leaves whorled at end of stem. green ablove, cream/rust color on underside

buds & stems: largest bud, resembles an artichoke. pointed bracts form ‘crown’ at base

fruit & flowers: fruit a dehiscent capsule, brown & persistent. flower rose color to purple to white

bark:

habit: 4-15’
notes: blooms last in spring

Question 8

Rhododendron catawbiense

Answer 8

Catawba rhododendron

leaves: whorls at stem ends, alternate, simple. elliptic to oblong, 3-6”, rounded base

buds & stems: large bud, yellow-green, pointed & scaly

fruit & flowers: white-pink flowers, 2 1/2” across, borne on 5-6” raceme, May-June. same fruit as maximum

bark:

habit: leggy irregular branching habit, 6-10’, 5-8’ spread
notes: zone 4-8

Question 9

Rhododendron carolinianum (R. minus)

Answer 9

Carolina rhododendron

leaves: 2-3” leaves, alternate, simple. cluster at end of stems. acutish, broad cuneate. small speckles on underside of leaf, dark green & glabrous above. can take purplish tinge in cold weather

buds & stems: rounder flower bud, glabrous deep red-purple.

fruit & flowers: white to pale rose, borne in terminal 4-10 flower raceme

bark:

habit: 3-6’, small rounded shrub
notes: leaves curl in cold weather (thermotropism)

Question 10

Leucothoe fontanesiana

Answer 10

drooping leucothoe

leaves: alternate, simple, 2-5” lanceolate long accuminate, rounded base. rigid, fine serrations. leathery lustrous dark green above, lighter below. fine hairs along leaf margin

buds & stems: green stems on new growth, axillary reddish buds

fruit & flowers: white urn shaped flowers on pendulous racemes. fruit a small capsule

bark: reddish purple on mature stems
habit: droopin mass of branches, long stems, masses easily. “fountain” habit
notes: Ericaceae

Question 11

Rhododendron obtusum

Answer 11

Hiryu azalea

leaves: small leaves, alternate, simple, whorled at stem end, glossy green, light pubescence

buds & stems:

fruit & flowers: flowers reddish violet, funnel shaped, 1-3 per truss. profuse flowers in mid may

bark:

habit: short, spreading & dense, 4-6’

notes:

Question 12

Pieris japonica

Answer 12

Japanese pieris

leaves: alternate, simple, obovate-oblong, crenate-serrate. lustrous dark green above, light green below. bronze colored on new growth. finely serrated margin

buds & stems:

fruit & flowers: urn shaped white flowers in drooping clusters. fruit a 5-valved dehiscent capsule on drooping panicles

bark:

habit: upright shrub w/ stiff spreading branches, 4-6’, “haystack” shape. 8-12’ spread, larger than native pieris

notes:

Question 13

Kalmia latifolia

Answer 13

mountain laurel

leaves: alternate, sometimes opposite or whorled & clustered. simple, evergreen & glossy. entire margin. elliptic-lanceolate, cuneate base. acute to acuminate.

buds & stems: unique distinct flower buds. new stems chestnut colored & sticky

fruit & flowers: white-pink 4-6” flowers. fruit a small capsule, persistent through winter

bark: gnarly, grey brown striated to ridged & furrowed
habit: 7-15’ average, up to 30’. compact & dense, can form tight thickets. leggier in native habitat. knotty & picturesque with age

notes:

Question 14

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Answer 14

dawn redwood

leaves: deciduous conifer. opposite arrangement. flattened light green needles. fern like with fine texture. green to golden yellow in fall

buds & stems: small scaled buds in pairs. persistent stems reddish brown, has green deciduous stems

fruit & flowers: pendulous boxy solitary cones, green to dark brown

bark: soft reddish peeling bark, fissured on old growth. unique hollwed branch attachment
habit: 70-100’, pyramidal to conical. fluted character to trunk with prominent root flare. branches point upwards.

notes:

Question 15

Taxodium distichum

Answer 15

baldcypress

leaves: alternately arranged in spirals on branchlets. fine light green needles turn yellow-red to brown in fall

buds & stems: branches more separate than metasequoia

fruit & flowers: spherical cones purplish green - to brown, woody & opened

bark: peeling bark shreds in vertical strips, reddish brown & fibrous. root “knees” form above ground when growing near water
habit: 50-70’, slender & pyramidal, buttressed at base

notes:

Question 16

Pieris floribunda

Answer 16

fetterbush; mountain andromeda

leaves: alternate, simple. elliptic-ovate. lustrous green, slight serration

buds & stems: green downy stems

fruit & flowers: white flowers on upright panicles in april

bark:

habit: neat, low, roundish bush, can be used in borders & massings, native to the south but hardy to Zone 5
notes: vs japonica: panicles upright, blooms earlier