Tree Information Flashcards
Fraxinus
Ash; opposite and compound leaves, fruit a single seeded samara; threatened by EAB
Betula
Birch - sweet, gray, paper / white, yellow - native to eastern US; threatened by Bronze Birch Borer; 40-50’ T X 35-45’ W, oval, pyramidal; moderate growth rate
Prunus
Serrulata, flowering; showy many varieties, can get very tall dependent on species, serrated leaves, attracts pollinators - often short lived dues to susceptibility to pests and diseases
Cornus
kousa and florida; florida - flowers before foliage, berries in the fall beautiful peeling bark at maturity 25-35’ tall
Ulmus
Elm, vase shaped, can grow 60-80’ and eventually pendulous and rounded in habit - often wider than high. highly susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease
Ginkgo
very hardy, pest resistant, often used as a street tree or a tree in tough areas, can grow 50-80’ at maturity, broad pyramidal, female ginkgo’s are extremely messy
Nyssa
sylvatica (black tupelo), medium sized, 40-70’ tall but generally less than 30’ in cultivation, medium to wet soil preference, slow growing
Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweetgum; gum oozes from wounds, full sun to part shade; highly resistant to environmental factors; can grow 60-100’ tall, shallow root system should always be planted in the spring due to the longer root recovery time, can be susceptible to webworms / caterpillars / borers
Crataegus
hawthorn, 20-30’ tall and wide, full sun, flowering but dependent on species can be foul smelling, thorny
Carya ovata
shagbark hickory, characteristic peeling bark, can grow 60-80’ tall, narrow oblong crown, bright yellow green pinnately compound leaves and hickory nuts
Ilex opaca
american holly, pyramidal evergreen, dark non glossy spine tipped leaves, moderately salt tolerant, highly resistant to deer, 40-60’ tall 10-20’ wide - susceptible to spider mites, ash whitely, soft scales and scorch
Aesculus
horsechestnut; easily identifiable leaves divided palmately into 5-7 leaflets, flowering in late spring and early summer, can reach 50’, oval to round in habit
Tilia
stately, spreading; lindens 60-80’ tall conical to rounding, broadly oval leaves, blooms yellow in spring
Robinia
black locust, can reach up to 80’, becomes thick and deeply furrowed, spines found at each leaf or leaf scar - leaves pinnately compound with 3-9 pairs of opposite leaflets plus a terminal leaflet, long white clusters of flowers from april to early june; aggressive spreaders can be considered invasive in some areas
Gleditsia
triacanthos, very durable somewhat overused in street tree plantings, typically var inermis is what is sold, 30-70’ tall narrow longer leaflets than robinia
Magnolia
small growing ornamental tree, susceptible to scale insects, generally less that 30’ spring bloomer, prefers consistent, regular moisture
Acer palmatum
Japanese Maple, growth habit varies dependent on cultivar, often dome shaped and less than 25’ tall
Acer platanoides
Norway Maple; 40-60’ in height, very tolerant, aggressive spreaders
Acer rubrum
Red Maple, narrow to compact crown, red flowers and leaf stalks as well as autumn foliage. 40-60’ tall, 3-5 lobed leaves
Acer saccharinum
Silver Maple, fast growing, weak limbed with narrow crotch angles, 50-70’ tall, messy
Acer Saccharum
Sugar maple; 60-75’ tall, rounded dense crown, susceptible to salt and heat damage
Sorbus
Mountainash, small - 15-20’ tall but can grow up to 30’. narrow crown, pinnately compound leaves, short lived generally susceptible to fire blight, mildew, borers, etc
Quercus velutina
black oak, can be used as a street tree, 50-60’ tall, alternate simple leaves with 5-7 bristle tipped lobes, deeply cut sinuses, shiny on top fuzzy on the bottom, angular yellowish fuzzy buds on twigs
Quercus montana
chestnut oak, 60-70’ tall, rounded, messy, leaves look similar to chestnut leaves, many lobed with shallow sinuses, tolerant of poor soils
Quercus palustris
pin oak; medium sized, faster growing red oak typically found in marshes or swamps, shallow rooted and easily transplanted. pyramidal crown when young that becomes more rounded and oval with age, branching pattern unique - lowermost branches angle sharply downward, middle branches horizontal and upper branches ascending - often used in urban environments, dark green leaves on both sized 5-7 sharply pointed lobes with deep U shaped sinuses
Quercus rubra
red oak, medium sized moderate to fast growing, rounding to broad spreading crown that branches low to the ground. 50-75’ wide, green leaves on top that are gray-white underneath, 7-11 pointed lobes that are sharp at the tips, once established become very tolerant
Quercus coccinea
scarlet oak, also called black oak, rounded open habit 50-80’ tall, vibrant scarlet foliage in the fall, prefers more dry soils - difficult to transplant due to large tap root, often confused with pin oak lobes on scarlet oak are C shaped
Quercus alba
white oak, white oaks have rounded lobes, 50-80’ tall can be 100’ wide, drought tolerant, broad to round form at maturity
Juglans nigra
eastern black walnut, valuable forest tree, intolerant of shade, 50-90’ height with an upright spreading, open form. very deep taproot making transplanting difficult, often loses its lower branches - contains juglone which inhibits the growth of some plants
Juglans cinerea
butternut, small to medium sized, 40-60’ tall and equally wide, short trunk often forked with stout branches. dark green, pinnately-compound leaves with 11-19 leaflets, does not tolerate shade or competition
Zelkova
closely related to Elms but resistant to DED, tolerates urban conditions and is often used as a street tree, 50-80’ tall, can tolerate shade, vase shaped with fast to moderate growth, highly susceptible to ice damage
Thuja
arborvitae, tons of cultivars, dense, columnar-shaped often used for screening; leaves are flat, scaly and arranged in fan like clusters. naturally can grow to be 50-60’ tall - susceptible to winter damage, deer browse and bagworm
Juniperus
in the cypress family, tons of species generally can get very large with needle and / or scale like leaves
Pseudotsuga
douglas fir, in the pine family - medium to extremely large in size, leaves are flat, soft, linear needles similar looking to firs but occur singly and completely encircle the branch
Abies balsamea
balsam fir, 50-70’ tall, best in full sun; aromatic, symmetrical, narrow pyramidal to conical - needles are unstalked with circular bases and are white banded underneath
Abies concolor
concolor fir, 40-70’ best in full sun with even moisture, dislikes heat and humidity, upper branches tend to grow upward and lower branches tend to recline, soft, flattened pale blue green needles with uniform coloration on both sides
Abies fraseri
fraser fir, silvery green foliage typically grown in the christmas tree industry, medium sized narrow pyramidal habit. needles are dense on the stem, flattened short turpentine scented needles, shiny dark green on the top with two silver bands beneath 30-50’ tall
Tsuga
hemlock, sun to part shade, not tolerant of drought, can hedge prune, drooping branches with tiny cones, 40-75’ tall, needles are in flat planes on the branches underside has two parallel white bands
Larix
larch, deciduous conifers, among the earliest trees to begin leaf out in the spring. clusters of needle like, green to blue green leaves, very adaptable, best to transplant when dormant, require full sun
Pinus nigra
austrian pine, densely branches and conical when young that becomes umbrella shaped with age, long dark green needles. tolerates poor soils and winds, excellent for windbreaks 40-60’ tall
Pinus thunbergii
Japanese black pine, striking irregular form, dark green needles, tolerant of salt, range of sizes dependent on the cultivar
Pinus strobus
eastern white pine, 50-80’ tall, tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, intolerant of air pollution, bluish green soft needles in cluster of five
Pinus mugo
mugo pine, bushy rounded conifer, varies based on cultivar, generally 20-25’ tall, generally tolerant of urban conditions, easy to transplant, medium to dark green needles in bunches of two
Pinus resinosa
red pine, susceptible to a number of disease and insect problems, grows 40’ plus and is shade and dry site tolerant
Pinus sylvestris
Scotch pine, fast growing medium sized conifer, 30-60’ tall with a conical to columnar habit that becomes open and irregular with age, distinguishing bark flaking, cinnamon colored, needles are short, twisted blue green and in bundles of two, tolerant of urban conditions and easily transplanted
Picea pungens
colorado blue spruce, can grow up to 75’ tall but is much smaller in the landscape, waxy green / gray needles which are arranged radially on the shoots and curve upwards
Picea abies
norway spruce, rapid growing often grown in the christmas tree industry, dislikes heat, wet feet and hot dry summers, needles are up to one inch long, green, four sided saber like and arranged on the branch in rows
Picea glauca
white spruce, large pyramidal evergreen with aromatic foliage and a uniform habit, 40-60’ tall, shade tolerant
