Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 6 – 9

Height: 20 – 30 with a maximum of 40

Spread: 2/3 height

Habit: Distinctly upright, slightly spreading with large, coarse, thick stems

Light: Full sun

Soil: Any well-drained soil is suitable

Flowers: yellow, clustered into groupings 12 – 24 high, 8 – 18 wide

Fruit: 3-valved, pink to rose capsules; 1 – 2 long

Landscape use: Excellent as a small lawn tree, patio shade tree, or street tree; good specimen tree where space is limited

History: Native range is China; introduced in 1888

Pests\Problems: None particularly serious although coral-spot fungus, leaf spot, canker, wilt and root rot can occur

Significant Features: Beautiful, late-blooming, yellow flowers

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 5 – 9

Height: 20 – 30 with a maximum of 40

Spread: equal to or greater than height

Habit: Semi-round top with horizontal branching; dense to fairly open; single or multi-trunked

Light: Best in partial shade

Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil preferable

Flowers: true flowers are inconspicuous surrounded by white to pink floral bracts 1 1/2 – 2 long

Fruit: 1/3 long, glossy red drupe; 3 or more in a cluster

Landscape use: Excellent for specimen planting near a patio or corners of houses; also good around other large buildings, in parks, or groupings

History: Native range is Massachusetts to Florida, west to Ontario, Texas, and Mexico; cultivated in 1731

Pests\Problems: Pests: dogwood borer; Problems: anthracnose

Significant Features: Interesting horizontal branch structure; four-season character; develops thinner and more graceful habit in part shade rather than full sun

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 2 – 9

Height: 40 – 50

Spread: 8 – 20; Size is extremely variable

Habit: In youth: densely pyramidal; At maturity: variable in wild from almost columnar to broadly pyramidal; slightly pendulous in old age

Light: Best in full sun, tolerates shade only in extreme youth

Soil: Deep, moist, well-drained loam preferable; tolerant of adverse soil conditions, poor gravelly soils, acidic and basic soils

Flowers: greenish-yellow cones

Fruit: globular or ovoid, 1/5 long cones

Landscape use: Excellent specimen and mass if used with care in color combinations; useful for windbreaks, hedges and topiary work

History: Native range is east and central North America, east of Rocky Mountains; introduced before 1664

Pests\Problems: Pests: bagworms; Problems: cider apple rust

Significant Features: Principle value of species is the rich smelling wood which is used for chests, closets, etc.

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 7 – 9

Height: 30 – 75

Spread: 10 – 30

Habit: Pyramidal with slightly pendulous branches

Light: Best in partial shade

Soil: Moist, acidic, well-drained soil preferable

Flowers: inconspicuous

Fruit: ovoid grouped cones, 1 1/2 diameter

Landscape use: May be used as a specimen and mass planting tree in warm areas

History: Natural range is central and southern China; introduced in 1804

Pests\Problems: None serious

Significant Features: Appearance is somewhat exotic

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 5 – 9

Height: 50 – 60 with a maximum of 100

Spread: 20 – 30

Habit: Pyramidal or conical with a stout trunk and erect wide-spreading branches

Light: Best in full sun

Soil: Rich, deep, lightly permeable, acidic, moist soil preferable

Flowers: anthers in inconspicuous axillary clusters

Fruit: 1/2 – 1 , dark brown terminal cones

Landscape use: Graceful and stately specimen tree; useful for avenues

History: Native range is China and Japan; introduced in 1861

Pests\Problems: Problems: leaf blight, leaf spot, branch dieback

Significant Features: Fast growth rate; shedding, cedar-like bark

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 5 – 8

Height: 20 – 30

Spread: Equal to height

Habit: In youth: vase-shaped; At maturity: rounded appearance with distinct horizontal branching pattern

Light: Best in sun or partial shade

Soil: Well-drained moderately fertile soil preferable

Flowers: inconspicuous, surrounded by large pointed, white bracts 1 1/2 to 2 long

Fruit: pinkish-red, raspberry-like fruit, 1/2 – 1 diameter

Landscape use: Useful as specimen tree or accent in background; excellent border or hedge for large areas, attractive against large evergreens

History: Native range is Massachusetts to Florida, west to Ontario, Texas, and Mexico; cultivated in 1731

Pests\Problems: None serious

Significant Features: Interesting horizontal branch structure; blooms after leaves appear; develops exfoliating bark characteristics with age

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 3 – 9

Height: 50 – 70 with maximum of 100 – 120

Spread: 40 – 60

Habit: Upright oval shape with a short trunk and wide-spreading crown; slow growth rate

Light: Best in full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic soil preferable, does not withstand wet or compacted soil

Flowers: inconspicuous, in April to early May

Fruit: edible three-winged nut with prickly shell

Landscape use: Beautiful native tree restricted to large area use; excellent for background and framing, well-suited for parks, golf courses, and other public areas where strong, long-lived trees are needed

History: Native range is New Brunswick to Ontario, south to Florida and Texas; introduced 1800

Pests\Problems: Pests: bark aphid, wood borer, beech scale Problems: powdery mildew, leaf spots, bleeding cankers (none very serious)

Significant Features: Provides winter interest with light brown leaves persisting until new growth in spring; edible fruit, shallow root system

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 5 – 8

Height: 40 – 45

Spread: 20 – 25

Habit: Pyramidal to broad pyramidal in outline

Light: Full Sun

Soil: Very adaptable to different soils

Flowers: white; 3/8 – 3/4 across; borne in clusters; spring flowering period

Fruit: small, round, 1/2 across; not ornamental

Landscape use: Good lawn tree; good color impact in spring; has been used for mass plantings

History: Selected in 1969 by William T. Straw, Carlisle Nursery, Independence, KY

Pests\Problems: susceptible to fireblight

Significant Features: Tolerates dryness; white spring flowers; fast growth rate

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 7 – 8

Height: possibly 20

Spread: 10

Habit: Large, dense, shrub-like form lacking central leader

Light: Best in sun or partial shade

Soil: Rich, porous, acidic and well-drained soil

Flowers: creamy white, wonderfully fragrant, 3 – 4 in diameter; flowers continually throughout summer;

Fruit: cone-like with exposed red seeds

Landscape use: Makes a good medium sized screen or hedge plant, one of the best for smaller properties

History: Introduced by Monrovia Nurseries; selected by Warren Steed Nursery, Candor, NC

Pests\Problems: Essentially problem-free

Significant Features: Small, lustrous, dark green leaves with bronzy-brown undersides and small, fragrant flowers; long flowering period

Tree Details

Hardiness zone: 6 – 9

Height: 25 – 30

Spread:

Habit: Loosely pyramidal

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

Flowers: cream to white

Fruit: large, fluorescent red berries

Landscape use: Good for barriers or as a specimen holly; not recommended for small spaces

History: Represents one of a group of interspecific hybrids; selected clones known as Foster #1 – 5 made by E.E. Foster of Bessemer, AL

Pests\Problems: Pests: scale; Problems: requires more nitrogen than other hollies due to heavy fruiting; leaf spot, canker, dieback

Significant Features: Heavy production of red berries; light green foliage which may yellow during berry production