American Plum - Prunus americana is best recognized by the combination of flaking scaly bark, sharply toothed leaf margins and red or yellow fruit. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is capable of reaching heights of around 25 feet. Generally it grows in an erect form with a single trunk, the young shoots are often thorn tipped.
Have you ever wondered about the trees around you? What are their names? What makes them each unique? What resources do they provide? How do they benefit our lives? Arundel Tree Service's Meet A Tree blog was created to help you "Meet A Tree", learn about how every tree is as unique and individual as you and I!
Friday, May 28, 2021
American Plum - Prunus americana
Monday, May 24, 2021
Oakleaf Holly - Ilex x conal
The Oakleaf Holly - Ilex x conal is most easily identified by its leaves that are similar in shape to an Oak tree. Recommened for USDA Hardiness Zones 6-8, it can reach heights of 15-20 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide. It prefers full sun and moist, well drained soil that is slightly acidic. The foliage is Emerald Green in color but fades to a lighter coppery green during the winter.
(Oakleaf Holly) Photo Credit: Amy Gilliss - Arundel Tree Service - www.ArundelTreeService.com
As with most other Hollies, The Oakleaf Holly can serve well as a yard hedge, formally or informal, as a singular focal point or to anchor a corner. The Oakleaf Holly is one that I have in my own backyard (7) of them to be exact. We planted ours around our deck to anchor the corners where the stairs meet the deck and then have one in a corner to hide our crawlspace access. Heavy pruning is not required on the Oakleaf Holly as it naturally maintains a somewhat pyramid form. More pruning will be required if you are attempting to train this variety to grow into hedge form or have a "perfect" shape (less natural appearance).
(Foliage) Photo Credit: Amy Gilliss - Arundel Tree Service - www.ArundelTreeService.com
Oakleaf Holly can be found at most larger Nurseries within Hardiness Zones 6-8. We found ours from a local nursery/grower near Dover, Delaware (balled and burlapped). I have yet to see any available at the smaller garden centers or large chain stores in my area.
Meet more trees by following our blog or visit our website to learn more www.ArundelTreeService.com
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Smoketree - Cotinus coggygria
The Smoketree - Cotinus coggygria - is a small deciduous tree and a native of the wooded hills above the Mediterranean. Named for it's blooms of wispy filaments in either pink or cream that look like poofs of smoke radiating from the trees branches. In some areas the tree is nicknamed the Mist Tree, Cloud Tree or even Jupiter's Beard. It is a relatively low maintenance shrub/small tree classified as an ornamental. With a max height of 10-15 ' tall and a spread of 12 ', the Smoketree grows at a medium rate of just 12-24 inches per year.
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Sweet Birch or Cherry Birch - Betula lenta
The Sweet Birch or Cherry Birch (Betula lenta) is most easily recognized by the combination of fine and sharply toothed leaf margins, winter green scent, scales on the conelike fruit and dark brown almost black bark. It is a deciduous tree that can reach heights up to 65 feet, but usually does not exceed 3.5 feet in diameter. The tree grows in an upright form with a generally single eract straight trunk and a rounded crown. The Sweet or Cherry Birch is native to the United States. It prefers rich, moist soil, cool forest areas, mountain slopes, Appalachian hardwood forests. It can be found naturally occuring from New York and Maine in the North to Northern Georgia, Alabama and Central Mississippi in the South. It is not often confused with the closely related Yellow Birch as the bark is significantly different in not only color but texture as well (Yellow Birch has a yellowish exfolliating bark).
Friday, May 14, 2021
Araucaria (Araucarias)
The Araucaria (Araucarias) is a genus of trees mostly native to the Southern Hemisphere and including only 19 species. Four of these species have become popular ornamental plantings here in the United States (mostly in warm Southern portions of the Eastern Seaboard, and along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains). The four species that are found here in the US are Monkey Puzzle - Araucaria araucana (Molina), Cook Pine - Araucaria columnaris, Norfolk Island Pine - Araucaria heterophylla and Bunya Pine - Araucaria bidwillii. The Araucaria is one of three genera that make up the larger Araucariaceae family.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Sparkleberry - Vaccinium arboreum
The The Sparkleberry - Vaccinium arboreum, is best recognized by the combination of reddish bark, bell shaped flowers and lustrous green leaves with a tiny point on the tip. It is an evergreen in most locations or late deciduous in colder climates. It grows in an upright fashion small bush or tree form. It is native to North America, dry sandy woodlands, thickets and clearings. It is widespread on the East Coast of North America, found from Ontario in the North and Florida in the South, West through Kansas and Eastern Texas.
Meet more trees and shrubs on our website www.ArundelTreeService.com or follow our blog www.MeetATree.com, is best recognized by the combination of reddish bark, bell shaped flowers and lustrous green leaves with a tiny point on the tip. It is an evergreen in most locations or late deciduous in colder climates. It grows in an upright fashion small bush or tree form. It is native to North America, dry sandy woodlands, thickets and clearings. It is widespread on the East Coast of North America, found from Ontario in the North and Florida in the South, West through Kansas and Eastern Texas.
Monday, May 10, 2021
Smoketree - Cotinus coggygria
The Smoketree - Cotinus coggygria - is a small deciduous tree and a native of the wooded hills above the Mediterranean. Named for it's blooms of wispy filaments in either pink or cream that look like poofs of smoke radiating from the trees branches. In some areas the tree is nicknamed the Mist Tree, Cloud Tree or even Jupiter's Beard. It is a relatively low maintenance shrub/small tree classified as an ornamental. With a max height of 10-15 ' tall and a spread of 12 ', the Smoketree grows at a medium rate of just 12-24 inches per year.
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Gray Birch - Betula
The Gray Birch - Betula populifolia Marshall, is most easily distinguished by it's triangular leaf with flattened base, elongated tip and doubly toothed margins. It is a deciduous tree that reached heights of about 40 feet. Generally growing in a multi trunk, curving or leaning fashion it makes for a beautiful focal point in both residential and commercial landscape settings.
Monday, May 3, 2021
Paw Paw (Asimina triloba)
The Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) is a small deciduous fruit bearing tree that is native to North America. They grow wild in much of the eastern and midwestern portions of the country, but not in the extreme North, West or South.