The ginkgo is one of the oldest, most distinct trees in the world. It can tolerate a variety of urban conditions, including heat, pollution, salt, and confined spaces — which is why it is found along many city streets in the United States. Some complain of the mess and odor associated with the fruit of the female ginkgo, so be aware when planting along walkways or heavily traveled areas.
This tough, low-maintenance shrub offers subtle year-round beauty. White panicles of flowers brighten the landscape in June. White berries attract many birds in the late summer and early fall. And the reddish-pink fruit stems persist into the winter, adding a nice color contrast to the gray bark. Gray dogwoods are great for borders, groups, and masses. They can also be grown as small trees to be used for foundations, entranceways, borders or specimen planting.
The Green Giant Arborvitae is a large, vigorous, fast-growing evergreen. Its natural pyramidal to conical form boasts dense, rich green foliage that darkens or bronzes slightly in the winter. This is an exceptional landscape tree for use as a screen, hedge or single specimen. It is also resistant to wind once established and can withstand heavy ice or snow, making it a good choice for a natural windbreak.
The northern red oak has been called “one of the handsomest, cleanest, and stateliest trees in North America” by naturalist Joseph S. Illick, and it is widely considered a national treasure. It is valued for its versatility and hardiness in urban settings. This medium to large tree is also known for its brilliant fall color, great value to wildlife, and status as the state tree of New Jersey.
Norway Spruce is a familiar sight in much of the United States, but it’s native to Europe. Throughout the globe, this tree is loved as a landscape specimen tree. Its dense branching pattern and tolerance of soil variations has also made it a popular tree for windbreaks.
With its large, drooping leaves and unique purple flowers, the pawpaw tree is a North American native that will add a bit of the tropical look to your backyard. The cup-shaped flowers also give way to oblong edible fruit that is sweet, tasting like a mix of bananas, pineapples, and mangos.
This species is known as a tree for all uses. It serves as the nation’s most important commercial nut producer, displays ornamental beauty, and sports an amazing grain that makes it highly prized as wood for furniture and flooring. It is beloved as a shade tree throughout the South and prefers warm climates. Texans have such an affinity for the Pecan tree that they declared it their state tree.
This is the most common H. paniculata form. It can be grown either as a large shrub or small tree, and it is known for its large panicles of white flowers. In fact, with some good pruning, this shrub can produce flower clusters measuring up to 12-18" in length!
Persimmon trees are native to the southeastern United States. They produce round, orange fruit, around 1-2” in diameter, with a honey-like flavor. This variety also has distinct, blocky, dark grey bark, adding a touch of visual interest to your landscape.
The pin oak is the type of tree that stands out from its neighbors. Its distinctive branching pattern sets it apart from other oaks. Homeowners and city foresters like this tree for many reasons: dense shade, tolerance of many soil conditions, heat, soil compaction and air pollution, pleasing to the eye in all seasons, and easy to plant. This fast-growing oak is common in yards, along streets, and throughout parks.
Red maple is one of the best named of all trees, featuring something red in each of the seasons—buds in winter, flowers in spring, leafstalks in summer, and brilliant foliage in autumn. This pageant of color, along with the red maple's relatively fast growth and tolerance to a wide range of soils, makes it a widely planted favorite.
Known as the harbinger of spring, the American Redbud’s delicate blossoms and buds are one of the season’s most dramatic displays. But this tree’s beauty doesn’t end with its flowery show. Unique and irregular branching patterns combine with a trunk that commonly divides close to the ground to create a very handsome, spreading and often flat-topped crown.
As its name suggests, the river birch naturally grows along riverbanks. But as a landscape tree, it can be planted almost anywhere in the U.S. The species is valued for its relatively rapid growth, tolerance of wetness and some drought, unique curling bark, spreading limbs, and relative resistance to birch borer.
Aptly named, the scarlet oak is a parade of red throughout the seasons. In the early spring, new leaves unfurl with a red hue. The vibrant red fall display is truly magnificent. And those red leaves often hang on through the first snow, giving winter a touch of much-needed color. The inner bark of the scarlet oak is even red.
Silver is the right word to describe this maple. With even a light wind, the tree produces a lovely shimmery effect thanks to the silvery undersides of its leaves. The bark, too, is silver in color, particularly when the tree is young. Fast growth has become the name of the game in the world of landscaping, and the silver maple is a champ in this department.
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