Module 1 - Week 7

Botanical Name: Actinidia arguta
Common Name: hardy kiwi vine
Family: Actinidiaceae
Distribution/Origin: China
Leaf: simple, alternate, serrated margins, smooth texture, oblong/ovate, dark green, red petioles
Bud: fruiting spurs have buds closely spaced out, one leaf per node
Flower: separate male and female flowers, fragrant, white-cream colored, singlets to triplets in axels
Fruit/Seed: small grape sized fruits, hairless, multiple seeds, small, black-brown in color
Stem/Bark: thick vertical water shoots, brown-grey in color, thin and smooth, heavily lenticiled
Size: 12-20’ height, 3-5’ spread
Habit: twining, climbing, spreading, lateral branching
Form: massing, mounding, round
Soil Conditions: adaptable as long as low salt content, well drained
Moisture: consistent moisture, doesn’t handle drought well 
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: can handle later frosts in fall
Landscape Use: food garden, trellis, walls, pergola
Notes: kiwi is named after the fuzzy brown kiwi- that is New Zealands nation bird

Botanical Name: Actinidia deliciosa
Common Name: kiwi
Family: Actinidiaceae
Distribution/Origin: China
Leaf: round, fuzzy petioles, heavily lenticiled stems, oval-circular, cordate at base, young leaves with red hairs, mature leaves smooth with downy light veins on underside, serrate margins
Bud: alternate
Flower: separate male and female plants, borne singly or in 3’s in leaf axils,
Fruit/Seed: fuzzy rough texture, berry, green insides with multiple small black seeds
Stem/Bark: reproductive shoots are short, vegetative shoots vigorous and long, grey, exfoliating
Size: 5-7m height, 1.5-2m spread
Habit: rapid growth, spreading, massing, climbing shrub
Form: mounding, rounded
Soil Conditions: moderate well drained soil
Moisture:
Sun: full sun
Exposure: needs 250 days frost free
Landscape Use: food garden, trellis, pergola, wall, fence
Notes: grows at natural altitudes of 600-2000m

Botanical Name: Crataegus monogyna
Common Name: common hawthorn
Family: Roseaceae
Distribution/Origin:
Leaf: deeply divided, obovate, dark green surface with pale underside
Bud:
Flower: simple, corymb, moderately fragrant, red stamens, white petals
Fruit/Seed: swollen receptacle that is a pome, small, red, contains single seed
Stem/Bark: thorny, dull brown with orange cracks
Size: 20-25’ height, 20-25’ spread
Habit: suckers when cut to base, bushy
Form: globose, round, dense, twiggy
Soil Conditions: adaptable, well draining
Moisture: consistent moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: hedgerow, windbreak
Notes: amulets were carved out of hawthorn in an attempt to ward off evil spirits or demons, they were worn or hung above a door

Botanical Name: Crataegus phaenopyrum
Common Name: Washington hawthorn
Family: Roseaceae
Distribution/Origin: south eastern United States
Leaf: alternate, broadly ovate, 3 major lobes, doubly serrated margins, diamond shape
Bud: fuzzy, alternate
Flower: white, clusters of corymbs
Fruit/Seed: pendulous clusters, bright red to orange, pome, high in vitamin C
Stem/Bark: exfoliating, thorny, twiggy in appearance
Size: 20-30’ height, 20-30’ spread
Habit: upright, oval in youth, spreading, rounded with age, densely branching
Form: mounding, round, ovoid if not pruned
Soil Conditions: tolerant of poor soils, compacted, drought, well draining
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: extremely tolerant to most unfavourable conditions
Landscape Use: streets, yards, can be pruned to hedge
Notes: seeds are poisonous if ingested

Botanical Name: Cydonia oblonga
Common Name: quince
Family: Roseaceae
Distribution/Origin: south west Asia
Leaf: pubescent, broadly ovate, alternate
Bud: alternate
Flower: solitary
Fruit/Seed: pome, resembles pear, deep grooves on base, leathery texture
Stem/Bark: ribbed vertically, buttressed
Size: 16-26’ height, 13-20’ spread
Habit: suckering when young, will form to thicket with age
Form: dense, shrubby
Soil Conditions: damp, rich soils
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: partial shade to deep shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: hedge, open space, woodland garden
Notes: Turkey produces ¼ of the worlds Quince

Botanical Name: Diospyros kaki
Common Name: persimmon
Family: Ebenaceae
Distribution/Origin: China
Leaf: large basal bracts, leathery ovate leaves, near black stems
Bud: alternate, terminal buds
Flower: females creamy yellow single blossoms, male pink tinge grown in 3’s
Fruit/Seed: smooth, shiny, thin, orange in color, up to 8 seeds
Stem/Bark: deeply plated bark
Size: 39’ height,  23’ spread
Habit: erect, crooked growth
Form: round, open top canopy
Soil Conditions: well draining
Moisture: enjoys heat, dry soil, prefers moist
Sun: full sun, tolerates some shade but yield will be lower
Exposure: shelter from house/deck/trees, frost tender
Landscape Use: ornamental landscape tree, pruned to hedge, edible food crop
Notes: dios is greek for ‘divine’, while pyros translates to “wheat or grain”, thus “divine fruit”

Botanical Name: Ficus carica
Common Name: common fig
Family: Moraceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe, western Asia, North Africa
Leaf: deep sinuses, palmately lobed, indumented underside, rough surfaces
Bud: alternate, buds rounded, terminal bud pointed
Flower: inflorescence contained inside fruit, synconium
Fruit/Seed: swollen stem
Stem/Bark: thin, smooth, grey
Size: 10-20’ height, 10-20’ spread
Habit: grows vegetatively, can become arborescent, upright
Form: rounded
Soil Conditions: well drained, organically rich
Moisture: dry
Sun: full sun
Exposure: sheltered locations
Landscape Use: food garden, beds
Notes: tiny wasps burrow into the fruit, pollinating the inner flowers unknowingly, where they lay their eggs.

Botanical Name: Malus floribunda
Common Name: crabapple
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: Japan
Leaf: simple, serrate margins, elliptic to oval
Bud: crimson in color, alternate
Flower: pink to white flowers, fragrant, simple, clusters
Fruit/Seed: round, fleshy, yellow to red
Stem/Bark: ridged and plated, exfoliating
Size: 15-25’ height, 15-25’ spread
Habit: arching, multi trunked
Form: round headed, dense canopy, irregular
Soil Conditions: well drained, clay sand loam, well adapted to variety of soils
Moisture: moderate drought tolerance, prefers even moisture
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: deck, patio, backyard scape, lawn tree
Notes: Not overly tasty to consume but the fruit can be made into jellys and cider

Botanical Name: Malus x domestica
Common Name: apple tree
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: central Asia
Leaf: simple, serrated margin
Bud: alternate
Flower: cyme, white to pink, perfect
Fruit/Seed: pome, hard skin, accessory tissue, fleshy
Stem/Bark: young bark has prominent lenticels, with age it becomes scaly with thin flaking plates
Size: 6-15’ height, 6-10’ spread
Habit: dense twiggy crown, low spreading
Form: upright, round, dome shaped
Soil Conditions: loam, clay, sand, well drained
Moisture: moist
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: food garden, ornamental interest, focal point
Notes: Johnny Appleseed was a real person who grew apples by grafting during the early days of the United States and sold them to settlers, who were encouraged to plant fruiting trees to cultivate the land

Botanical Name: Mespilus germanica
Common Name: European medlar
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe, south western Asia
Leaf: elliptic, densely hairy undersides
Bud: alternate, scaled, terminal buds with down present
Flower: white, broadly ovate, hermaphrodite
Fruit/Seed: pome, wide spreading sepals, central pit
Stem/Bark: deep vertical cracks, rectangular plates
Size: up to 20’ height, up to 25’ spread
Habit: spiny twisted branching
Form: rounded
Soil Conditions: well drained, adaptable to variety of soils, thrives in deep fertile areas
Moisture: more on the dry side
Sun: semi shade, full sun
Exposure: can tolerate strong winds
Landscape Use: dappled shade, sunny locations, ornamental
Notes: Genus name comes from Greek, “mesos” (half) and “pilos” (ball)

Botanical Name: Morus alba
Common Name: white mulberry
Family: Moraceae
Distribution/Origin: China
Leaf: alternate, simple, toothed, varying lobes, slight pubescent on veins and vein axils
Bud: alternate
Flower: male and female flowers on separate plants, male catkins, female in short spikes
Fruit/Seed: multiple seeded berries, color range of black-pink-white, a single tree is estimated to produce 20 million seeds
Stem/Bark: young bark is bright orange, old bark is grey with narrow irregular fissures, splits easily
Size: 30-50’ height, 30-40’ spread
Habit: upright
Form: oval
Soil Conditions: will grow in most soils except wet areas, well draining
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun
Exposure: urban and salt tolerant
Landscape Use: accent plant, attracts birds, specimen plant
Notes: introduced to the US during colonial times for the purpose of establishing the silkworm industry

Botanical Name: Prunus armeniaca
Common Name: apricot  
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: Asia
Leaf: oval, toothed margins, pointed apex
Bud: alternate
Flower: pairs or solitary, shortly stalked, white tinged with pink
Fruit/Seed: drupe, surface can be either glabrous or velvety with short hairs, firm flesh, yellow to orange, single seed enclosed in a hard shell
Stem/Bark: greyish brown, full of cracks
Size: 26-39’ height, up to 19’ spread
Habit: spreading canopy
Form: rounded
Soil Conditions: well drained, average
Moisture: medium
Sun: full sun
Exposure: sheltered locations
Landscape Use: fruit crop, ornamental
Notes: the Italian liqueur Amaretto is flavoured with the kernels of apricots

Botanical Name: Prunus domestica
Common Name: plum
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: western Europe
Leaf: oval to oblong, serrated or wavy margins
Bud: alternate
Flower: clusters, 5 petals, white
Fruit/Seed: round to oval drupe, hard stony flattened pit
Stem/Bark: thin, smooth, lenticels present
Size: 8-10’ height, 8-10’ spread
Habit: upright
Form: rounding out with age
Soil Conditions: well drained, loam clay
Moisture: evenly moist
Sun: full sun
Exposure: sheltered
Landscape Use: food garden, ornamental interest
Notes: one of the first fruits domesticated by humans

Botanical Name: Prunus persica
Common Name: peach
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: China
Leaf: simple, lanceolate, serrated margins, often curve along midrib
Bud: blunt, grey and fuzzy, alternate
Flower: pink to lavender, simple, solitary but often close together
Fruit/Seed: fuzzy drupe, ribbed inside pit encloses seed, yellow to red
Stem/Bark: lenticels, splits and becomes irregular scaly
Size: up to 19’ height, up to 19’ spread
Habit: spreading crown
Form: spreading, open
Soil Conditions: well drained, fertile
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: fruit garden, ornamental interest
Notes: leaves, twigs and stems are highly poisonous if ingested

Botanical Name: Pyrus communis
Common Name: pear
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe, Asia
Leaf: simple, ovate, serrated margin, shiny on top, dull undersides
Bud: terminal buds conical to dome shaped, sometimes lightly hairy,
Flower: corymbose, contains 5-7 flowers, white
Fruit/Seed: pyriform,
Stem/Bark: greyish brown, shallow furrows, flat topped scaly ridges
Size: up to 40’ height
Habit: narrow branching angles
Form: oval, conical
Soil Conditions: light to medium soils, well drained, can tolerate heavy
Moisture: even moisture, can tolerate drought
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: sunny edge, dappled shade, fruit garden
Notes: has been selected and improved since prehistoric times, first cultivated in Europe in 1000 BC

Botanical Name: Pyrus pyrifolia
Common Name: apple pear
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: east Asia
Leaf: simple, soft, glabrous, ovate with serrate margins
Bud: alternate
Flower: 5 petals, simple, grows in clusters, white, fragrant
Fruit/Seed: pome, gritty inner texture, hard flesh on outside until ripe
Stem/Bark: smooth, grey in youth, tan to brown in maturity with light fissuring
Size: 30-40’ height, 30-40’ spread
Habit: upright
Form: pyramidal, widely
Soil Conditions: light to medium soils, good drainage
Moisture: moist, can tolerate drought
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: ornamental gardening, food garden
Notes: in cooking, ground up apple pears are used as a vinegar or soy sauced based sauces as a sweetener instead of sugar

Botanical Name: Ribes nigrum
Common Name: black current
Family: Grossulariaceae
Distribution/Origin: North America
Leaf: broad, simple, palmate lobes, serrated margins
Bud: alternate, overlapping scales
Flower: racemes, 10-20 flowers, hairy calyx with yellow glands,
Fruit/Seed: dark black berries, glossy skin, containing several seeds, fleshy
Stem/Bark: smooth, thin, lenticels present
Size: up to 5’ height, up to 5’ spread
Habit: dense, open, spreading, twiggy
Form: round
Soil Conditions: fertile, well drained
Moisture: intolerant of drought, even moisture
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: hedgerow, small garden space, summer interest
Notes: during WWI most fruits rich in vitamin C became hard to obtain in the UK. As a result people were encouraged to grow black currants as they could withstand the climate and proved a valuable source.

Botanical Name: Ribes uva-crispa
Common Name: gooseberry
Family: Grossulariaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe
Leaf: rounded, deeply crenated margins, simple, palmate venation
Bud: alternate, narrowly tapering, sharply pointed
Flower: campanulate, perfect, clustered
Fruit/Seed: round, smooth, true berry, tart skins
Stem/Bark: yellow to brown in color, spiny stipules, prickles on some shoots, thin, smooth
Size: up to 4’ height, 3’ spread
Habit: straggling, bushy, thickly set branches with sharp spines, arching
Form: round, goblet shaped
Soil Conditions: well drained, sandy chalk loam
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: sheltered
Landscape Use: food garden, small garden space,
Notes: gooseberry was 19^th century slang for “pubic hair” coming from the saying “babies are born under the gooseberry bush”

      Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus
Common Name: raspberry
Family: Rosaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe, northern Asia
Leaf: pinnately compound, prickly surfaces, tomentose surfaces
Bud: overlapping scales, alternate
Flower: short racemes, 5 white petals
Fruit/Seed: aggregate of drupelets, central core, red
Stem/Bark: thin and smooth, small prickles, exfoliating
Size: up to 6’ height by 5’ spread
Habit: arching, irregular, spreading, twiggy, upright
Form: rounded
Soil Conditions: well drained, sandy loams
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: semi shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: food garden, against houses or fence, low screen
Notes: name comes from Latin, “rubus” which means red and “ida” which is the name of the mountain in Phrygia where it grew abundantly.

Botanical Name: Vaccinium corymbosum
Common Name: blueberries
Family: Ericaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern North America
Leaf: waxy, slightly serrated, simple, elliptic to ovate
Bud: alternate
Flower: long, bell to urn shaped, white to light pink, raceme
Fruit/Seed: true berry, blue to black
Stem/Bark: exfoliating, peeling
Size: 6-12’ height, 6-10’ spread
Habit: clumping
Form: vase, shrubby
Soil Conditions: well drained, rich, lime free
Moisture: dry to medium
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: shelter from strong winds
Landscape Use: beds, borders, waterside
Notes: important food source for the Native people of North America for centuries, being wildly foraged. Cultivated varieties only started occurring in the 1800’s, making it one of the most recently domesticated food crops.

Module 1 - Week 6

Botanical Name: Aesculus hippocastanum
Common Name: horse chestnut
Family: Sapindaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe
Leaf: palmately compound, doubly serrate margins, obovate with acuminate tips
Bud: big sticky buds, opposite
Flower: erect white panicle, red center, perfect
Fruit/Seed: green capsule, spiny and nut like, splits along carpel lines to reveal seed
Stem/Bark: distinctive leaf scars in horseshoe shape, plated, grey-brown
Size: 22-30m height, 15-25m spread
Habit: multistemmed, ascending, pendulous curled up tips
Form: globose, domed crown
Soil Conditions: well drained, adaptable, can grow in nutritionally poor soils, prefers deep and loamy
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: can handle strong winds, pollution
Landscape Use: street tree, large areas
Notes: the roasted seed is often used as a coffee substitute 

 

Botanical Name: Catalpa bignonioides
Common Name: cigar tree
Family: Bignoniaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern United States
Leaf: rounded tips, broad, cordate base
Bud: opposite
Flower: panicles, trumpet shaped,
Fruit/Seed: long thin bean pod, flat light brown seeds with papery wings
Stem/Bark: brown to grey bark, plated, ridged
Size: 49-59’ height, 20-40’ spread
Habit: bushy
Form: irregular broad rounded crown
Soil Conditions: moist fertile loams, well drained
Moisture: medium to wet
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: sheltered
Landscape Use: shade tree, rain garden
Notes: the leaves emit a strange aroma when bruised 

 

 

Botanical Name: Catalpa speciosa
Common Name: northern catalpa
Family: Bignoniaceae
Distribution/Origin: Midwestern United States
Leaf: opposite, whorled, heart shaped, pointed apex, softly hairy undersides
Bud: terminal bud absent, lateral buds are small, covered with red brown scales
Flower: panicles, trumpet shaped, yellow stripes and purple spots inside
Fruit/Seed: long thin legume like pod
Stem/Bark: light lenticiles, separated into irregular shallow fissures and scaly ridges
Size: 40-70’ height, 20-40’ spread
Habit: multistemmed, spreading irregular branching habit
Form: upright
Soil Conditions: well drained, fertile
Moisture: evenly moist
Sun: full sun
Exposure: sheltered, leaves may shred if in strong winds
Landscape Use: large shade tree, flowering tree
Notes: the wood has one of the lowest shrinkage/expansion rates of any US woods 

 

Botanical Name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Common Name: Catsura
Family: Cercidiphylaceae
Distribution/Origin:
Leaf: simple opposite, broad ovate in shape, cordate base, crenate margins
Bud: sub opposite, sub alternate (variable) looks like claws, hold tight to stem, twin terminal shaped like beak/lobster claw
Flower: green and not showy
Fruit/Seed: small pods with winged seeds
Stem/Bark: fissured, exfoliates in strips, lightly lenticiled
Size: 40-50’ height, 20-30’ spread
Habit: ascending branches, twiggy, spreading
Form: dense crown, pyramidal
Soil Conditions: rich well drained soils, pH adaptable
Moisture: consistent moisture
Sun: sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: parks, large lawns, golf courses, street tree
Notes: extremely deliciously fragrant foliage! 

 

 

Botanical Name: Cryptomeria japonica
Common Name: Japanese cedar
Family: Taxodiaceae
Distribution/Origin: Japan
Leaf: evergreen, spirally arranged, awl shaped needles, persist 4-5 years, glossy
Bud:  opposite, small, not scaly
Flower: male and female flowers
Fruit/Seed: terminal, globe shaped, dark brown in color
Stem/Bark: reddish brown, shreds in long strips
Size: over 30’ height, 15-30’ spread
Habit: central leader,
Form: conical, columnar, pyramidal
Soil Conditions: deep, slightly acidic
Moisture: water consistently, medium moisture 
Sun: part sun to full sun
Exposure: protect from high winds
Landscape Use: screening, focal point,
Notes: Japans national tree 

Botanical Name: Fagus sylvatica
Common Name: European beech
Family: Fagaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe
Leaf: alternate, pubescent and deeply pinnate veins, undulate margins
Bud: lance shaped, slender, flower buds are thicker
Flower: small catkins
Fruit/Seed: beech nuts, small, triangular, 2 nuts per capsule
Stem/Bark: resembling elephant legs, branch scars resemble eyes
Size: 82-115’ height, up to 26’ spread
Habit: ascending, long branches, multi stemmed, de-current
Form: wide, pyramidal
Soil Conditions: lean dry soils, well drained
Moisture: minimal moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: sheltered from high winds, shallow root system
Landscape Use: hedging, screening
Notes: the eyes on the trunk were considered the “evil eye” in Bulgaria 

 

      Botanical Name: Ginkgo biloba
Common Name: maidenhair tree
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Distribution/Origin: China
Leaf: fan shaped, unique, stubby spur shoots
Bud: large, stubby spurs, orange-brown in color
Flower: pendulous yellow catkins (male), pendulous yellow-green peduncles (female)
Fruit/Seed: unpleasantly scented drupe containing single seed (smells like cheese!)
Stem/Bark: lightly fissured, grey, lignotubers on trunk (branches when stressed on crown)
Size: 50-80’ height, 30-40’ spread
Habit: erratic branching, angular crown, upright
Form: oval/vertical, pyramidal/widely
Soil Conditions: well draining, moist, sandy, tolerant of variety of soils 
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun
Exposure: resistant to wind and snow damage
Landscape Use: street tree, specimen tree, parks
Notes: a true living fossil! 

 

 

Botanical Name: Juglans nigra
Common Name: black walnut
Family: Juglandaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern North America
Leaf: alternate, odd pinnate, oblong in shape
Bud: greyish and fuzzy, lacking scales
Flower: male drooping catkins, female are terminal clusters
Fruit/Seed: semifleshy husk and brown corrugated nut
Stem/Bark: grey-black, deeply furrowed, pithy twigs with air spaces
Size: 75-100’ height, 75-100’ spread
Habit: absence of lower branching,
Form: oval to rounded
Soil Conditions: moist, organically rich, well draining
Moisture: medium
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: shade tree, woodland gardens
Notes: hard black walnut shell is used in abrasive cleaners and water filtration. Native Americans used to throw the seed husks into the water to poison fish and make them easier to catch. 

 

 

Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Common Name: sweet gum tree
Family: Altingiaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern North America, central Mexico
Leaf: sharply pointed palmate lobes, serrate margins
Bud: alternate, scaling
Flower: unisexual, covered in rusty hairs, terminal racemes
Fruit/Seed: compound fruit, composed of numerous capsules, containing 1-2 small seeds
Stem/Bark: attaches with plates, deeply scaled and fissured, layers of cork, lenticils present
Size: up to 75’ height, 50’ spread
Habit: bushy, symmetrical canopy
Form: broadly conical
Soil Conditions: widely adapted, well draining
Moisture: medium
Sun: partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: flower borders and beds
Notes: the trees gum resin, for which it is named exudes from bark in the tree when wounded. 

 

 

Botanical Name: Liriodendron tulipifera
Common Name: tulip tree
Family: Magnoliaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern North America
Leaf: alternate, simple, entire margins lobed, truncuate apex
Bud: dark red winter bud, flower bud enclosed in bracts
Flower: perfect, solitary, terminal, cup shaped
Fruit/Seed: narrow light brown cone, formed by samara like carpels
Stem/Bark: brown bark, furrowed, branchlets are smooth, aromatic and bitter
Size: 80-100’ height,  30-50’ spread
Habit: pyramidal in youth, irregular, spreading with age
Form: upright, strong central leader
Soil Conditions: deep, rich, well draining, acidic
Moisture: evenly moist
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: large lots, focal point, shade tree
Notes: there is a tree in the New York metro area called the “Queens Giant”, which is 350-450 years old, making it the oldest living tree in that area.

Botanical Name: Paulownia tomentosa
Common Name: empress tree
Family: Paulowniaceae
Distribution/Origin: central and western China
Leaf: opposite, cordate base, heart shaped
Bud: brown buds, may freeze and drop off if too cold
Flower: very fragrant, panicles with tubular purple corollas
Fruit/Seed: dry egg shaped capsule, containing numerous tiny seeds
Stem/Bark: thin, greyish brown, shallowly fissured, numerous lenticils
Size: 8-12m height, wider than 8m
Habit: spreading, branched
Form: rounded crown, heavy clumsy branches
Soil Conditions: moist humus rich, fertile, well drained
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: tolerant of pollution
Landscape Use: focal point, garden tree, large areas
Notes: can survive because the roots can regenerate new very fast growing stems. 

 

Botanical Name: Quercus robur
Common Name: English oak
Family: Fagaceae
Distribution/Origin: most of Europe
Leaf: lobed, shortly stalked, alternate, simple
Bud: terminal clusters, scaled
Flower: separate male and female catkins
Fruit/Seed: dry, oval
Stem/Bark: deeply fissured greyish brown
Size: 50-60’ height, 10-20’ spread
Habit: spreading, branched
Form: open, rounded crown
Soil Conditions: well drained, deep, fertile, lime tolerant
Moisture: moist
Sun: full sun
Exposure: sheltered or exposed
Landscape Use: shade tree, residential streets, large meridians, accent
Notes: Latin for “oak” and “strength, hard timber”

Botanical Name: Robinia psedoacacia ‘Purple Robe’
Common Name: purple robe
Family: Leguminosae  /Fabaceae
Distribution/Origin: North America
Leaf: elliptic, oblong, odd pinnate compound, slender hairy petioles
Bud: alternate, when forming covered by base of petiole, minute, naked in 3’s and 4’s
Flower: pendant raceme, violet in color
Fruit/Seed: dry pod, black to red
Stem/Bark: lenticiles on new branches, thick deeply furrowed bark
Size: 30-50’ height, 20-35’ spread
Habit: irregular, upright, suckering
Form: oval, airy
Soil Conditions: well drained, prefers organically rich, can tolerate wide variety of soils
Moisture: consistent moisture
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: drought tolerant, can be used in xeriscaping
Landscape Use: street tree, landscaping, naturalized setting
Notes: has nitrogen fixing bacteria on roots and is able to grow in poor soils

Botanical Name: Robinia pseudoacacia
Common Name: black locust
Family: Fabaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern United States
Leaf: parallel, compound, odd pinnate, slender hairy petioles
Bud: alternate, thorns present at base
Flower: perfect, loose drooping racemes, cream-white
Fruit/Seed: two valved legume, seeds dark orange
Stem/Bark: grey, brown tinged with red, deeply furrowed, thorns
Size: 40-70’ height, 25-35’ spread  
Habit: upright
Form: oval, vertical
Soil Conditions: well drained, adapted to wide variety
Moisture: even moisture, drought tolerant
Sun: full sun
Exposure: sheltered from high winds
Landscape Use: ornamental, large lots, shade tree
Notes: pioneers used it to fashion nails for ships and houses

      Botanical Name: Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’
Common Name: Frisia
Family: Fabaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe, garden origin
Leaf: compound, odd pinnate, elliptic and oblong
Bud: alternate, thorns at base
Flower: raceme, showy, white, pendulous
Fruit/Seed: brown black legume
Stem/Bark: dark grey, deeply fissured, red spines on new growth, lenticils present
Size: over 30’ height, over 30’ spread
Habit: twiggy, upright
Form: columnar, oval, vertical
Soil Conditions: rock, dry, gravelly, well drained
Moisture: dry to medium
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: brittle branches, needs shelter from high winds
Landscape Use: shade tree, summer interest, background
Notes: black locust is highly valued as firewood for wood-burning stoves; it burns slowly, with little visible flame or smoke

Botanical Name: Tilia Americana
Common Name: American linden
Family: Tiliaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern North America
Leaf: simple, ovate to cordate, unequal base, serrated margin, red hairs on veins
Bud: winter buds stout, ovate-acute, smooth and deep red with 2 bud scales visible, alternate
Flower: drooping cymose clusters, fragrant, perfect
Fruit/Seed: small nutlets with wings
Stem/Bark: vertical plates, doesn’t splinter easily
Size: 50-70’ height, 30-45’ spread
Habit: spreading, arching, irregular
Form: ovate, rounded crown
Soil Conditions: fertile, well drained loams
Moisture: average medium
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure: intolerant of pollution, not a good street tree
Landscape Use: lawn space, shade tree
Notes: linden trees rot easily and have many cavities that serve as nesting places for birds

Botanical Name: Tilia cordata
Common Name: little leaf linden
Family: Tiliaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe
Leaf: cordate, simple, serrate margins, pinnate venation
Bud: alternate, red with scales, no terminal bud present
Flower: loose drooping clusters, light yellow creamy color, fragrant, leaf like bracts
Fruit/Seed: dry nut like drupe, downy at first and then becoming smooth with maturity
Stem/Bark: smooth when young, firm with ridges and horizontal fissures
Size: 60-70’ height, 35-50’ spread  
Habit: dense compact branching, upright and spreading
Form: oval to pyramidal
Soil Conditions: well drained, acidic, clay, loam, sand
Moisture: medium moisture, slight drought tolerance
Sun: sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: street tree, shade tree, screen
Notes: a lightweight wood frequently used in medieval carvings, common in Windsor castle

Botanical Name: Tilia tomentosa
Common Name: silver linden
Family: Tiliaceae
Distribution/Origin: south eastern Europe, western Asia
Leaf: simple, double serrate, cordate, pinnate venation, underside densely tomentose
Bud: alternate, downy, loose scales
Flower: pale yellow, cymes, fragrant
Fruit/Seed: dry, oval, drupe, slightly ribbed
Stem/Bark: grey-brown, deeply furrowed with age
Size: 50-70’ height, 40-60’ spread
Habit: multiple trunks, dense
Form: oval canopy, tight upright oval shape
Soil Conditions: well drained, adapted to wide variety of soils
Moisture: moderate
Sun: full sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: shade tree, specimen, large space
Notes: often used by Germanic tribes for constructing shields 

Botanical Name: Ulmus americana
Common Name: American elm
Family: Ulmaceae
Distribution/Origin: eastern North America
Leaf: doubly serrate, oblique base, elliptic to oval
Bud: alternate, ovate, reddish brown with darker edged scales
Flower: drooping clusters
Fruit/Seed: flat samara, circular papery wing surrounding single seed
Stem/Bark: dark ashy grey, flat topped ridges separated by fissures,
Size: 65-100’ height,
Habit: limbs strongly arching, ending in graceful drooping branchlets
Form: umbrella like canopy, vase shaped
Soil Conditions: well draining, fertile
Moisture: consistent moisture
Sun: sun to partial shade
Exposure:
Landscape Use: shade tree, street tree if monitored
Notes: because the dried wood is relatively odourless, it was used to make crates and barrels for cheeses, fruits and vegetables

Botanical Name: Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’
Common Name: wych elm
Family: Ulmaceae
Distribution/Origin: Europe
Leaf: obovate, double serrate, rough upper side, grow in bunches
Bud: alternate, brown, covered in small stiff hairs
Flower: compact groupings, green, single petal
Fruit/Seed: small winged nutlet,
Stem/Bark: silver grey, smooth in youth, darker grey with black grooves in maturity          
Size: 4-7m height, 4-7m spread
Habit: weeping, broad spreading, irregular branching, dense
Form: broad, dome shaped crown, wide, low canopy
Soil Conditions: well draining, sandy, alkaline
Moisture: even moisture
Sun: full sun
Exposure:
Landscape Use: focal point in parks, larger landscapes, garden interest
Notes: in 1840 was discovered as a contorted elm in Scotland by the Earl of Camperdowns head forester. He brought it back to the gardens of the Camperdown house, to where it remains to this day. Every Camperdown elm in the world is descended as cuttings taken from the original tree and grafted.