common persimmon—Diospyros virginiana
Our native persimmon is recognizable by its thick dark bark
that appears as distinctive square blocks. Pale orange round 1-1 ½ " long
fruit may be found on the ground in October. They are extremely bitter until
after frost. Persimmons prefer full sun but will grow well in many places.
sugar maple--Acer saccharum, Norway maple—, A.
platanoides
These two trees are often confused. Here, on opposite sides
of the path, they may be compared. Sugar maples are native, have brilliant fall
color, and are the source of maple syrup, as well as useful hard wood (rock
maple). The Norway maple, native to Europe, is
considered an invasive plant in the northeast. Its fall color is yellow. When
the petiole or bud of the Norway maple is broken a milky sap may be seen. The
winged fruit (samaras) of the Norway maple are much larger than those of sugar
maple. Both have chartreuse flowers in early spring before the leaves are on
the trees. There are many red maples (A. rubrum) in the arboretum of
various sizes. This tree likes the moist soil found here. We have planted an
Amur maple (A. gianella) and a paperbark maple (A. griseum) as
specimen trees. The red-brown exfoliating bark and compound leaves of the
paperbark maple are distinguishing characteristics of this ornamental tree.
Japanese maples (A. palmatum) are exhibited for their finely dissected
leaves in various shades of green or red and their strong yellow or red fall
color. A silver maple (A. saccharinium) grows by Diamond Brook.
Chinese chestnut—Castanea mollissima
As American chestnuts succumbed to chestnut blight Chinese
chestnut have replaced them as landscape trees, appreciated for their many
flowers on 4-5" catkins although some people object to their odor. The
nut, not considered as sweet as that of our native chestnut, is contained in a
prickly shell (burr). This is a messy tree between flower and fruit drop, but
spectacular in flower in June.
American holly—Ilex opaca
There are many specimens of this native holly in the
arboretum, most of them “planted” by birds. Female plants may bear abundant
dull red berries from October through much of the winter. This holly is
classified as a broad-leaved evergreen. Other hollies grown in the arboretum
are the deciduous native winterberry (I. verticillata), and Japanese
holly (I. crenata) an evergreen
species with black fruit that has “escaped” into our woodlands.
weeping willow—Salix alba
Originally from Europe and Asia, the weeping willow has
become naturalized in North America. These
trees grow well in moist places. They are one of our first trees to show green
in the spring and one of the last to drop its leaves in the fall. They grow
rapidly and are susceptible to ice and windstorms. They are considered “dirty”
trees as leaves, twigs, and branches fall throughout the summer. Our largest
specimen is known as “The Duchess. Pussy willows (S. discolor) grow on
the west side of the pond.
dawn redwood—Metasequoia glyptrostroboides
A dawn redwood, planted in 1948, marks the center of the
arboretum. The soft needles of this deciduous conifer turn orange-brown before
they fall. The bark is reddish brown and the trunk of this mature tree has
flaring buttresses. Our tree came from an Arnold Arboretum expedition to China to
collect seeds. It was known only from the fossil record until 1941.
Japanese umbrella pine—Sciadopitys verticillata
Despite its name this conifer is not a true pine. The
“umbrella” part its common name refers to the whorled arrangement of its
needles. These slow growing trees make excellent specimen trees when properly
sited. It will grow well in full sun.
pecan—Carya illinoinensis
Native to the southern US this specimen is thriving in this
site, its northern limit. It bears only a little fruit each year, unlike the
pecans grown as horticultural crops in the southeast and southwest. The pecan
is a member of the hickory family. There is a bitternut hickory near the Bradford pear. A black walnut (Juglans nigra)
grows along Diamond Brook.
dove tree—Davidia involucrata
In May large white flowers may be found on the ground
beneath the dove tree. Botanically they are two bracts surrounding the true
small flower. The name dove tree comes from a fancied appearance of the bracts
to dove tails. Ideally this handsome flowering tree would be exhibited as a
specimen. Ours has grown tall and the flowers are difficult to see. Dove trees
are native to China.
red oak--Quercus rubra
The red oak is the official tree of the State of New Jersey. We have
several specimens of this magnificent oak. Acorns are characteristic of oaks.
We have white oaks (Q. alba) and chestnut oaks (Q. prinus) in the
white oak group with rounded lobes on the leaves. Members of the black oak
group (red oak and pin oak—Q. palustris) have pointed lobes. All of
these are native to New Jersey.
Red oaks may be identified by “trails” of dark bark on the upper branches. The
lower branches of pin oaks are pendulous (downward); the middle branches are
horizontal, while the upper branches are upright.
American elm—Ulmus americana
Dutch elm disease did not kill all of the elms in our area.
They are native to New Jersey
and may be seen along streams, streets, in yards, and in the arboretum by the
pond and as a 9-11 memorial near the sidewalk north of the entry road. Elms
bear small red flowers in March. Fall leaf color is a deep yellow.
Carolina
hemlock—Tsuga caroliniana
There is a large Carolina
hemlock in the center of the arboretum and a small Canadian (eastern) hemlock (T.
Canadensis) on the edge of the lawn near the arboretum sign. These sister
species have been attacked in recent years by the hemlock woolly adelgids and
many specimens in parks, forests, and yards have died. There is no replacement
for this tree as a hedge, for no other needled evergreen grows so well in the
shade or can withstand so much clipping and pruning.
American beech—Fagus grandifolia
The woods of the arboretum are a small remnant of the
beech-oak-hickory forest that once covered northern New Jersey. We have many specimens of
American beech, a tree that keeps many of its (now golden brown) leaves
throughout much of the winter, especially on young trees. The American beech is
characterized by its suckering habit. In the north front lawn are two European
beech trees (Fagus sylvatica). Its bark is smooth and gray like that of
the American beech, but becomes less smooth in old specimens. The European
beech does not sucker.
Atlas cedar—Cedrus atlantica
These needled evergreens should be used as specimen trees
but are too often found planted too close to buildings. The blue form (blue
Atlas cedar—C. a. glauca) has been most popular. The horizontally
spreading branches of the mature tree make it attractive. Cedars may be
identified by the position of their cones: upright on the upper side of
branches.
arborvitae—Thuja occidentalis
This native evergreen is used as a specimen or accent,
foundation plant, or planted as a hedge or screen. It requires sun, as do most
conifers. There are many cultivars and selection should be made depending on
the purpose of the planting. Arborvitae is a favorite food of deer. Color
change to a cast of yellow, purple or brown is normal in the winter, with a
return to green in the spring. Winter burn due to rapid temperature change,
direct sun, wind, or lack of rain in the fall kills foliage that can be pruned
off in the spring.
Amur corktree—Phellodendron amurense
This specimen shows the beautiful and unusual
ridged-and-furrowed bark on the trunk of an old tree. In an open space it would
have an open rounded crown with a few large horizontal branches.
sweetgum—Liquidamber styraciflua
Native sweetgums grow well in the moist soil of the
arboretum. We also have planted a specimen. It is easy to identify a sweetgum
by its glossy deep green star-shaped leaves with 5 to 7 lobes and fine teeth
and by its fruit, a spiky gumball that is difficult to rake up. Stems often
have corky wings. Fall color is outstanding: yellows, oranges, purples, and
reds.
tuliptree—Liriodendron tulipifera
There are both young and mature specimens of the native
tuliptree in the arboretum. It is one of our tallest native trees, over 150',
and in woodlands has no side branches for about 80% of its height. When grown
in the open, large side branches may touch the ground. Leaf shape is distinctive.
Leaves become golden yellow in the fall. The large flowers (2" wide,
2" high) greenish-yellow on the outside, orange on the inside, is somewhat
tulip-like. They are often not noticed on tall trees until fallen flowers are
seen on the ground in June.
Persian ironwood—Parrotia persica
The tree was selected for our collection because of its
small crimson flowers that appear in March before the leaves. Secondly, the
older trunks and branches have exfoliated bark in shades of gray, green, white
and brown. Fall leaf color is brilliant yellow, orange, or scarlet. The
lustrous green leaves of summer and resistance to pests and disease make this a
good choice as a small four-season tree.
river birch—Betula nigra
Our cluster of three river birch has been growing rapidly as
this native plant grows best is moist streamside locations. This species is the
most resistant of the birches to disease and insect problems. The exfoliating
bark leaves the attractive inner bark in various shades of brown. When the trees
become old the trunk will be brown. Fall leaf color is yellow.
redbud—Cercis canadensis
We have two large redbuds, both beautiful in April when
their branches are covered with rosy pink flowers. This native tree has green
heart-shaped leaves in summer that turn yellow in the fall. In October the dark
brown 2 to 3" long seedpods may be the outstanding feature of the tree.
katsuratree—Cercidiphyllum japonicum
We seldom notice the very small red flowers of the katsura
in early April, but grow this tree for the somewhat heart-shaped dark
blue-green leaves in summer and yellow fall leaf color.
fringetree—Chionanthus virginicus
We have three fringetrees. Two of them are covered with 6 to
8" long panicles of white flowers in May. The third tree, planted in the woods,
does not get enough light to flower. This tree is native to southern New Jersey. We recently
planted a Chinese fringetree (C. retusus).
pitch pine—Pinus rigida
Pitch pines were planted throughout the arboretum but are
succumbing to borers. With bundles of three needles pitch pines are abundant in
the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and Long Island
where fire damaged trees produce sprouts. White pines (P. strobus) have
bundles of five needles. A specimen of this native pine is on the side of
Diamond Brook as is a Japanese black pine (P. thunbergii) that has
needles in bundles of two.
English yew—Taxus baccata
Several English yews are found in the arboretum, both
deliberately planted and “escaped.” When the deer find our yews the lower
branches will be bare. English yews that grow unpruned are the same species
used as foundation plants that are subject to severe pruning. They are a
favorite tree for topiary work.
Japanese snowbell—(Styrax japonicus)
We have two specimens of Japanese snowbell that are covered
with 3/4" wide white flowers on long stalks in May. The leaves do not
cover the flowers. In late summer gray-green fruits are seen. The plant near
the tool shed grows extraordinarily well considering that it is in shade.
Japanese stewartia—Stewartia pseudocamellia
Yes, stewartia is the common name for this tree that is
covered with 2 to 2 1/2" cup-shaped white flowers in July. We are waiting
for maturity to see its exfoliating bark. Fall leaf color is yellow, red, to
dark red. Stewartias are in the tea family along with our franklinia (Franklinia
alatamaha) on the other side of the pond. The franklinia was found in Georgia and is
now extinct in the wild. The white cup-shaped flowers bloom in September with
some in August and October. The leaves in fall are orange and red.
sourwood—Oxydendrum arboreum
Native south of New
Jersey, the oxydendrum bears 4 to 10" long
panicles of white flowers in the summer that may cover the tree. After the
flowers fade, the yellowish flower stalks with developing fruit make it appear
to bloom until fall. The shiny dark green leaves turn yellow, red, or purple in
the fall. It makes an excellent specimen tree.
yellowwood—Cladrastis kentukea
Native south of New
Jersey the yellowwood growns well here and may reach
50' in height with an equal spread. The bark is smooth and gray. Bright green
leaves turn yellow in the fall. The tree’s name comes from the color of the
heartwood. Drooping panicles of white flowers cover the tree in early June.
magnolias—Magnolia species
Surrounding the recirculating fountain is magnolia circle
with Loebner magnolia (M. x loebneri), sweetbay magnolia (M.
virginiana), the magnolia hybrid ‘Elizabeth,’
southern magnolia (M. grandiflora) and a star magnolia (M. stellata).
On the front lawn of the arboretum look for a saucer magnolia (M. soulangia).
dogwood—Cornus species
Kousa allee, a double row of C. kousa, extending from
the bridge past the gazebo to the recirculating fountain is our outstanding
dogwood feature. There are other Kousa dogwoods in the arboretum along with the
native flowering dogwood (C. florida), silky dogwood (C. amomum)
at the west end of the north front lawn, and red osier dogwood (C. serica),
red twig dogwood (C. stolonifera), and Tatarian dogwood (C. alba)
all pond side.
spicebush—Lindera benzoin
In early spring the understory of the arboretum glows with
the small yellow flowers of our many spicebushes. These native shrubs find
ideal growing conditions in the moist soil of the arboretum. In the fall female
plants bear bright scarlet fruit. The name spicebush comes from the odor of the
leaves when broken. The light green leaves turn golden yellow in the fall.
ginkgo—Ginkgo biloba
Like the metasequoia, the ginkgo was known from fossils
before it was known to modern botanists. It too is native to China. The
fan-shaped leaves turn yellow in the fall and drop from the tree quickly.
Ginkgos are often used as street trees.
sassafras—Sassafras albidium
Sassafras is one of the best native trees for fall color in
shades of yellow, orange, scarlet and purple. Sassafras may be distinguished by
its bark of deep red-brown flat corky ridges. The leaves in three different
shapes (entire, three-lobed and mitten) are different from those of any other
tree.
red buckeye—Aesculus pavia
Red buckeye is in the same family as horsechestnut. it has
palmately compound leaves, large buds, large leaf scars, and red flowers. it is
native to the southeastern US.