fifty trees of alabama

7/27/2019 Fifty Trees of Alabama

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fifty treesfor AlabamaANR-1288


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AUTHORSDavid West

County Extension Coordinatorand Adjunct Assistant Professor

School of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn University

Ken TiltExtension Specialistand Professor

HorticultureAuburn University

Special thanks to Bernice Fischman for editingand Stan Roark and Geni Payne for data collection.

This project was funded in part by a grant fromUrban and Community Forestry.

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephonedirectory under your countys name to find the number.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and homeeconomics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, incooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama CooperativeExtension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offerseducational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to allpeople without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteranstatus, or disability. 500, New April 2006, ANR-1288 2006 by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.

www.aces.edu

fifty trees

for Alabama


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Trees in the urban landscape are very special to the people of

Alabama. They provide aesthetics, energy conservation, runoffcontrol, increased economic value to our homes and businesses,temperature moderation, playgrounds and memories for kids,wildlife habitats, and protection from winds. Which trees are

good selections for Alabamas cities, parks, and home landscapes?

You will never get total agreement on the top fifty trees forAlabama, but we tried. Stan Roark, who is a Regional ExtensionAgent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, did a

survey when he was a graduate student in the HorticultureDepartment at Auburn University. He attempted to put a valuerating on trees used in Alabama so when accidental damage wasdone to a tree, it would be possible to determine its value in thelandscape by using a formula developed by the InternationalArboriculture Society. He surveyed Master Gardeners, faculty and

green industry professionals to provide a ranking of trees used inAlabama landscapes. We used this information and our ownexperiences to develop ANR-1288, Fifty Trees for Alabama.

Whatever your needs, you will find many choices in this booklet.

Our fifty trees are presented by their botanical names. These arethe official names recognized around the world. We haveprovided two tables of contents one with botanical names listedalphabetically and one with alphabetized common names.Photographs show identification features for each tree. Typically,each entry shows the outline of the whole tree, a close-up of theleaves, and a picture of the fruit or bark. On the opposite page areshort facts to help you determine if the tree fits your needs in thelandscape. Some trees are better adapted to a particular region ofthe state; if this is the case, that information is provided under theheading Area of the State. We have also included at the end of thebook a list of Alabama Championship Trees. Information on othertrees and shrubs in Alabama is available on our Web site:http://www.ag.auburn.edu/landscape. Plant, share, and enjoytrees in Alabama!

David West and Ken Tilt

Fifty Trees for Alabama


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name size flowers fallcolor

bark fruit ever-green

American Holly M NS NS S S Y American Hornbeam M NS S S NS NAmur Maple M S S NS S NBald Cypress L NS S S NS NBlack Tupelo L NS S NS S NCarolina Silverbell M S S NS NS NChestnut Oak

L NS NS NS NS NChinese Dogwood S S S S S NChinese Elm L NS NS S NS NChinese Fringetree S S NS NS S NChinese Pistache M NS S S NS NChinkapin Oak L NS NS NS NS NCrape Myrtle M S S S NS N

Dawn Redwood L NS S S NS NEastern Hophornbeam M NS NS NS S NEastern Redbud M S NS NS NS NFlorida Anise S S NS NS NS Y Florida Maple M NS S NS S NFlowering Dogwood S S S NS S NFoster Holly M NS NS NS S Y Ginkgo L NS S NS NS NGoldenraintree M S S NS NS NJapanese Cryptomeria L NS NS NS NS Y Japanese Maple S NS S S S NJapanese Zelkova M NS S S NS N

KEY:For SIZE: S=small M=medium L=largeFor FLOWERS, FALL COLOR, BARK, and FRUIT:S=ornamentally significantNS= not ornamentally significant

Information at a Glance


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name size flowers fallcolor

bark fruit ever-green

Lilac Chastetree S S NS NS NS NLive Oak L NS NS NS NS Y Longleaf Pine L NS NS NS NS Y Lusterleaf Holly S NS NS S S Y Nuttall Oak L NS NS NS NS NOgeechee Tupelo M NS S NS S NOvercup Oak

L NS NS NS NS NPin Oak L NS NS NS NS NRed Maple L S S NS S NRiver Birch L NS NS S NS NSawtooth Oak L NS NS NS NS NScarlet Oak L NS S NS NS NShumard Oak L NS S NS NS N

Sourwood M S S NS NS NSouthern Bayberry S NS NS S S Y Southern Magnolia L S NS NS S Y Southern Red Oak L NS S NS NS NSwamp White Oak L NS NS NS NS NSweetbay L S NS S S Y White Fringetree S S S NS NS NWhite Oak L NS S NS NS NWillow Oak L NS NS NS NS NYaupon S NS NS S S Y Yellow Poplar L S S NS NS NYellowwood M S S NS NS N

KEY:For SIZE: S=small M=medium L=large

For FLOWERS, FALL COLOR, BARK, and FRUIT:S=ornamentally significantNS= not ornamentally significantFor EVERGREEN: Y= yes or N= no

Information at a Glance


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Acer barbatum.......................................................................1Acer ginnala ..........................................................................2

Acer palmatum......................................................................3Acer rubrum..........................................................................4Betula nigra ...........................................................................5Carpinus caroliniana ............................................................6Cercis canadensis ..................................................................7Chionanthus retusus.............................................................8Chionanthus virginicus ........................................................9Cladrastis kentukea.............................................................10Cornus florida .....................................................................11Cornus kousa.......................................................................12Cryptomeria japonica .........................................................13Ginkgo biloba ......................................................................14Halesia tetraptera ................................................................15Ilex latifolia..........................................................................16Ilex opaca.............................................................................17Ilex vomitoria ......................................................................18Ilex x attenuata Fosteri .....................................................19Illicium floridanum.............................................................20Koelreuteria paniculata ......................................................21Lagerstroemia indica ..........................................................22Liriodendron tulipifera.......................................................23

Magnolia grandiflora..........................................................24Magnolia virginiana ...........................................................25Metasequoia glyptostroboides............................................26Myrica cerifera....................................................................27Nyssa ogeche .......................................................................28Nyssa sylvatica.....................................................................29Ostrya virginiana ................................................................30Oxydendrum arboreum .....................................................31Pinus palustris .....................................................................32Pistacia chinensis.................................................................33Quercus acutissima.............................................................34

Quercus alba........................................................................35Quercus bicolor...................................................................36Quercus coccinea................................................................37Quercus falcata ...................................................................38Quercus lyrata.....................................................................39Quercus muhlenbergii........................................................40Quercus nuttallii .................................................................41Quercus palustris ................................................................42Quercus phellos...................................................................43Quercus prinus....................................................................44

Quercus shumardii .............................................................45Quercus virginiana .............................................................46Taxodium distichum...........................................................47Ulmus parvifolia..................................................................48Vitex agnus-castus..............................................................49Zelkova serrata....................................................................50

Table of Contents/Scientific


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American Holly ...................................................................17American Hornbeam (Ironwood)........................................6

Amur Maple...........................................................................2Bald Cypress ........................................................................47Black Tupelo (Black Gum) .................................................29Carolina Silverbell...............................................................15Chestnut Oak.......................................................................44Chinese Dogwood ...............................................................12Chinese Elm .........................................................................48Chinese Fringetree ................................................................8Chinese Pistache..................................................................33Chinkapin Oak ....................................................................40Crape Myrtle........................................................................22Dawn Redwood ...................................................................26Eastern Hophornbeam........................................................30Eastern Redbud......................................................................7Florida Anise........................................................................20Florida Maple.........................................................................1Flowering Dogwood............................................................11Foster Holly..........................................................................19Ginkgo..................................................................................14Goldenraintree ....................................................................21Japanese Cryptomeria.........................................................13

Japanese Maple...................................................................... 3Japanese Zelkova.................................................................50Lilac Chastetree ...................................................................49Live Oak ...............................................................................46Longleaf Pine .......................................................................32Lusterleaf Holly ...................................................................16Nuttall Oak ..........................................................................41Ogeechee Tupelo.................................................................28Overcup Oak .......................................................................39Pin Oak.................................................................................42Red Maple ..............................................................................4

River Birch .............................................................................5Sawtooth Oak ......................................................................34Scarlet Oak...........................................................................37Shumard Oak.......................................................................45Sourwood.............................................................................31Southern Bayberry (Waxmyrtle) .......................................27Southern Magnolia .............................................................24Southern Red Oak ...............................................................38Swamp White Oak ..............................................................36Sweetbay ..............................................................................25

White Fringetree (Grancy Graybeard)................................9White Oak............................................................................35Willow Oak..........................................................................43Yaupon.................................................................................18Yellow Poplar (Tulip Poplar)..............................................23Yellowwood .........................................................................10

Table of Contents/Common


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Acer barbatum


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Acer ginnala


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Scientific Name: Acer ginnala

Common Name: Amur Maple

Mature Height: 20 to 30 feet

Mature Width: 15 feet; round, densecrown

Seed/Fruit: Samara

Flowers: Not ornamentally significant

Leaves: Opposite; long middle lobe;inconsistent; yellow to red fall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray togray/brown

Area of State: Statewide (better in thenorth)

Comments: Well-drained soil; nicesmall, multistemmed tree; perhaps lendsitself to landscape or park situations due tomultistem habit.

Amur Maple 2


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Acer palmatum


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Scientific Name: Acer palmatum

Common Name: Japanese Maple


Mature Width: 10 to 25 feet; dense,domed crown

Seed/Fruit: Samara; sometimesornamentally significant depending oncultivar


Leaves: Opposite; 5 to 7 lobes

Bark, twigs/trunk: Typically gray,but can vary to green, coral or pine barktexture depending upon cultivar selection

Area of State: Statewide

Comments: Needs well-drained, fertilesoil, light and rich in humus; prefers sun buttolerates some shade; some selections exhibit

leaf scorch when planted in full sun; at least600 cultivars of this tree species.

Japanese Maple 3


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Acer rubrum


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Scientific Name: Acer rubrum

Common Name: Red Maple


Mature Width: 25 to 45 feet; dense,oval shaped crown

Seed/Fruit: Samara

Flowers: Can be ornamentallysignificant; often the first sign of spring

Leaves: Yellow to red depending uponseedling variation; cultivars have predictablefall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Light gray todark gray to furrowed


Comments: Likes cool, wet, or moistsoils; select cultivars for south Alabama.Mean growth per year: 0.6inch caliper and

1.9 inch height (as observed in the ShadeTree Research Project at the AuburnUniversity Piedmont Substation at Camp Hill,Alabama).

Red Maple 4


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Betula nigra


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Scientific Name: Betula nigra

Common Name: River Birch


Mature Width: 25 to 35 feet;irregular, spreading crown

Seed/Fruit: Small, conelike nutlet


Leaves: Christmas tree shaped; glossy;alternate

Bark, twigs/trunk: White to tanexfoliating with age


Comments: Tolerates wet soils butadaptable; often multistemmed; dropsnumerous small twigs, exfoliating bark ismajor feature. Mean growth per year:0.9inch caliper and 2.8 inch height (as

observed in the Shade Tree Research Projectat the Auburn University PiedmontSubstation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

River Birch 5


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Carpinus caroliniana


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Scientific Name: Carpinuscaroliniana

Common Name: American Hornbeam,Ironwood

Mature Height:30 to 50 feet

Mature Width: 30 to 40 feet; broad,rounded crown

Seed/Fruit: Nutlet


Leaves: Alternate; dark green andlustrous; variable yellow to red in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Muscularlooking trunk; gray, smooth to thin


Comments: Moist, rich soils; underutilized; shade tolerant; can serve as a hedge.

American Hornbeam 6


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Cercis canadensis


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Scientific Name: Cercis canadensis

Common Name: Eastern Redbud


Mature Width: 15 to 25 feet; roundedcrown

Seed/Fruit: Legume, pod

Flowers: Pink/purple in early spring

Leaves: Generally green, but cultivarsavailable

Bark, twigs/trunk: Brownish grayto black; twig zigzag


Comments: Moist soils but adaptable;frequently short lived, but often sproutsagain.

Eastern Redbud 7


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Chionanthus retusus


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Scientific Name: Chionanthus retusus

Common Name: Chinese Fringetree


Mature Width: 15 to 30 feet

Seed/Fruit: Blue, fleshy, egg shaped

Flowers: White in May and June

Leaves: Leathery, opposite

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brown


Comments: Many soil types; adaptable;

underutilized; spreading, multistemmedhabit.

Chinese Fringetree 8


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Chionanthus virginicus


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Scientific Name: Chionanthusvirginicus

Common Name: White Fringetree,Grancy Graybeard

Mature Height:30 feet

Mature Width: 12 to 20 feet; narrow,oblong crown

Seed/fruit: Dark blue; egg shaped

Flowers: White in May and June; maletrees more effective than female

Leaves: Lustrous green; yellow in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray; ridge andfurrow to corky


Comments: Showy masses of fragrantwhite flowers; moist soils; native;underutilized.

White Fringetree 9


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Cladrastis kentukea


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Scientific Name: Cladrastis kentukea

Common Name: Yellowwood


Mature Width: 40 feet

Seed/Fruit: Brown pod fruit

Flowers: White, fragrant panicles inMay and June; better in alternate years

Leaves: Alternate; pinnate; green insummer; yellow in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to smooth,similar to beech and holly

Area of State: Northern half of thestate

Comments: Native; adaptable; needstraining for central leader.

Yellowwood 10


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Cornus florida


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Scientific Name: Cornus florida

Common Name: Flowering Dogwood


Mature Width: 15 to 20 feet;spreading crown

Seed/Fruit: Glossy red drupe; can beornamentally effective

Flowers: Flowers greenish yellow,

surrounded by four white, showy bractsbefore leaves emerge

Leaves: Opposite; yellow to red fall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Light gray toblackish platelets

Area of State: Statewide (selectcultivars for north and south)

Comments: Moist, well-drained soils;more than 100 cultivars mainly selected for

bracts; select for powdery mildew resistance;best adapted to landscape and park settings;bracts vary in color and size depending uponcultivar or seedling variation.

Flowering Dogwood 11


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Cornus kousa


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Scientific Name: Cornus kousa

Common Name: Chinese Dogwood

Mature Height: 20 feet

Mature Width: 15 to 20 feet;spreading crown

Seed/Fruit: Red/pinkish drupe; largerthan Cornus florida; very ornamental

Flowers: Yellow green surrounded by

large white pointed bracts after leaves haveemerged

Leaves: Opposite; red, purple, or scarletfall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Grayish tan tobrown; mottled

Area of State: Statewide; better in thenorth

Comments: Moist and dry soils; not as

many cultivars as C. florida; suited tolandscape and park settings; bract colorvaries by cultivar.

Chinese Dogwood 12


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Cryptomeria japonica


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Scientific Name: Cryptomeriajaponica

Common Name: JapaneseCryptomeria

Mature Height:50 to 60 feet; up to165 feet

Mature Width: 25 to 30 feet;pyramidal crown

Seed/Fruit: Small cone


Leaves: Needlelike conifer

Bark, twigs/trunk: Reddish brown,fibrous


Comments: Light, deep, and fertile soil;selected varieties maintain green colorthrough winter; underutilized; good screen;

useful as specimen.

Japanese Cryptomeria 13


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Ginkgo biloba


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Scientific Name: Ginkgo biloba

Common Name: Ginkgo


Mature Width: 20 to 40 feet; pyramidshaped crown

Seed/Fruit: Fleshy, smelly drupe. Usemale selections to avoid fruit


Leaves: Fan-shaped green in summer,vivid yellow in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Light gray withridges; spongy in appearance


Comments: Most soils; a fossil tree;very adaptable; awkward when young butgrand at maturity; cultivars available anddesirable.

Ginkgo 14


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Halesia tetraptera


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Scientific Name: Halesia tetraptera

Common Name: Carolina Silverbell


Mature Width: 15 to 30 feet; irregular,open crown

Seed/Fruit: Brown winged drupe

Flowers: White, bell shaped, prolific,pendulous in April and May

Leaves: Green with yellow fall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brown toblack ridge to furrow

Area of State: Statewide (doing well inBrewton trial)

Comments: Moist soil; native;underutilized; numerous falling flowers cancover the ground underneath mature trees.

Carolina Silverbell 15


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Ilex latifolia


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Scientific Name: Ilex latifolia

Common Name: Lusterleaf Holly


Mature Width: Pyramidal crown

Seed/Fruit: Red berries on female trees


Leaves: Lustrous green year round, broad

leaves

Bark, twigs/trunk: Light gray withsmall splotches

Area of State: Statewide (better in thesouth)

Comments: Well-drained soils; largeclusters of berries; very coarse texture;leathery, lustrous leaves; good screen orspecimen.

Lusterleaf Holly 16


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Ilex opaca


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Scientific Name: Ilex opaca

Common Name: American Holly


Mature Width: 18 to 35 feet; narrow,rounded, dense crown

Seed/Fruit: Red on female trees


Leaves: Dull green to glossy green tospiny

Bark, twigs/trunk: Light gray,splotchy


Comments: Moist or well-drained soil;many cultivars; sometimes cross bred withother species for faster growing, less spinyselections.

American Holly 17


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Ilex vomitoria


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Scientific Name: Ilex vomitoria

Common Name: Yaupon

Mature Height: 12 to 40 feetdepending upon cultivar

Mature Width: 10 to 20 feet; roundedopen crown

Seed/Fruit: Scarlet berry on female trees


Leaves: Small, evergreen leaves,undulating margins

Bark, twigs/trunk: Trunk is brightgray and twigs are purplish


Comments: Shrub to small tree; native;many cultivars; male and female available tooffer dwarf, weeping, and upright selections.

Yaupon 18


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Ilex x attenuata Fosteri


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Scientific Name: Ilex x attenuataFosteri

Common Name: Foster Holly


Mature Width: 7 to 10 feet,pyramidal

Seed/Fruit: Red berries on females


Leaves: Rich, lustrous green year round

Bark, twigs/trunk: Darker graythan many other hollies


Comments: A cross between nativeDahoon and American hollies; manycultivars available. Fosteri and Savannahmost common.

Foster Holly 19


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Illicium floridanum


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Scientific Name: Illlicium floridanum

Common Name: Florida Anise


Mature Width: 6 to 10 feet; small,open crown

Seed/Fruit: Follicles

Flowers: Maroon to purple in April andMay

Leaves: Alternate; reddish purple petiole;fragrant when crushed; light green

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brownwith lenticels


Comments: Tolerates wet soils; shadetolerant; native; might work well in roaddrainage areas.

Florida Anise 20


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Koelreuteria paniculata


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Scientific Name: Koelreuteria

paniculata

Common Name: Goldenraintree


Mature Width:15 to 35 feet; roundedcrown

Seed/Fruit: Brown capsules containingblack seeds

Flowers: 12- to 16-inch yellow panicles

in June

Leaves: Alternate, pinnate, or bipinnatelycompound; green; yellow to orange in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brownwith ridge to furrow


Comments: Most soils; awkward whenyoung; pruning needed for good structure.Mean growth per year: 0.7inch caliper and 1.5inch height (as observed in the Shade TreeResearch Project at the Auburn UniversityPiedmont Substation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Goldenraintree 21


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Lagerstroemia indica


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Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia indica

Common Name: Crape Myrtle

mature height: 15 to 35 feet

Mature Width: 6 to 15 feet; dense,upright crown

Seed/Fruit: Capsules of small seeds

Flowers: White, red, pink, purpledepending on cultivar; mid summer to fall

Leaves: Opposite; green in summer;yellow to red in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Smooth, graywith cinnamon to green highlights;muscular


Comments: Full sun, average soil; manycultivars available to select from for form,size, flower color, and disease resistance.

Fauriei (hybrids) crosses make up most of theselections. Some cultivars can grow tomedium-sized trees more than 25 feet tall.

Crape Myrtle 22


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Liriodendron tulipifera


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Scientific Name: Liriondendrontulipifera

Common Name: Tulip Poplar; YellowPoplar


Mature Width: 20 to 40 feet; narrow

rounded crownSeed/Fruit: Winged, in conelikestructure; cone frequently hangs onthrough winter

Flowers: Yellow/orange/green; heldupright; often difficult to see on these tall,straight trees

Leaves: Tulip shaped; green in summer;yellow in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Trunk is lightgray; twigs are reddish; bud and leaf scars

prominent


Comments: Moist soil; plan plenty of space forthis large growing tree; aphid infestations and relatedhoneydew can be a problem for pedestrians, cars, andsurrounding plants. Flower is very attractive but not

obvious. Mean growth per year: 1 inch caliper and 3inch height (as observed in the Shade Tree ResearchProject at the Auburn University Piedmont Substation atCamp Hill, Alabama).

Yellow Poplar (Tuliptree) 23


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Magnolia grandiflora


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Scientific Name: Magnolia

grandiflora

Common Name: Southern Magnolia


Mature Width: 20 to 40 feet; conical

crown

Seed/Fruit: Red seed in prominent cone-like structure

Flowers: Large, white, fragrant fromMay to June, occasionally throughout the

summer depending upon cultivar selected

Leaves: Large glossy, evergreen leaves,sometimes with brown pubescence

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to brownwith prominent bud scars and leaf scars


Comments: Likes moist, neutral, or acidsoils; uniquely Southern tree; highly adaptable;many cultivars available to select from for sizeof tree, leaf, and flower characteristics. Meangrowth per year: 0.6 inch caliper and 2 inch

height (as observed in the Shade Tree ResearchProject at the Auburn University PiedmontSubstation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Southern Magnolia 24


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Magnolia virginiana


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Scientific Name: Magnolia virginiana

Common Name: Sweetbay


Mature Width: 10 to 20 feet; narrow,rounded crown

Seed/Fruit: Red seeds in conelikestructure

Flowers: Yellowish white and fragrant

Leaves: Light green, alternate: silveryback; fragrant when crushed

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray with budscars


Comments: Aromatic foliage; wet soils;uniquely Southern; silvery leaves can givethe illusion of distance; shade tolerant;adaptable but needs acidic soil situations.

Underutilized; can be a good container tree.

Sweetbay 25


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Metasequoia glyptostroboides


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Scientific Name: Metasequoiaglyptostroboides

Common Name: Dawn Redwood

Mature Height: 100 feet

Mature Width: 15 to 25 feet;pyramidal and regular

Seed/Fruit: Small cones; solitary onfemales


Leaves: Opposite; bright green insummer; brown to orange in the fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Reddish brown,fibrous


Comments: Most soils; hardy, anotherfossil tree; excellent specimen; goodconversation tree; a redwood for the eastern

United States. Give this tree plenty of room togrow.

Dawn Redwood 26


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Myrica cerifera


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Scientific Name: Myrica cerifera

Common Name: Southern Bayberry,Waxmyrtle



Seed/Fruit: Dark gray/blue berries inclusters

Flowers: White in spring; notornamentally significant

Leaves: Alternate; lustrous green withscattered light yellowish dots; fragrant whencrushed

Bark, twigs/trunk: Light gray

Area of State: Statewide (better in thesouth)

Comments: Moist, sandy soils; often

used as a shrub or hedge; adapts well as asmall, broad headed, multistemmed tree;native.

Southern Bayberry 27


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Nyssa ogeche


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Scientific Name: Nyssa ogeche

Common Name: Ogeechee Tupelo



Seed/Fruit: Red or reddish drupe


Leaves: Alternate; glossy green; reddishfall color sometimes effective

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to brownfissured


Comments: Wet soil; underutilizednative; performed well in Auburn Universitytests but difficult to find. Mean growth peryear: 0.9 inch caliper and 1.6 inch height (asobserved in the Shade Tree Research Project

at the Auburn University PiedmontSubstation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Ogeechee Tupelo 28


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Nyssa sylvatica


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Scientific Name: Nyssa sylvatica

Common Name: Black Tupelo (BlackGum)


Mature Width: 20 to 30 feet; dense,conical crown

Seed/Fruit: Blue to black drupe


Leaves: Alternate, glossy dark green; red,orange, and yellow in fall generally

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to darkgray to reddish; ridge and furrow


Comments: Moist soil; adaptable;native; excellent fall color with shades of red,orange, and yellow; underutilized;undulating branches.

Black Tupelo (Black Gum) 29


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Ostrya virginiana


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Scientific Name: Ostrya virginiana

Common Name: EasternHophornbeam



Seed/Fruit: A hoplike sack oftenmistaken for a flower


Leaves: Alternate green with pubescence;yellow in fall, usually not very effective

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to brown,scaly


Comments: Underutilized; fruits areunique; native; not for areas with standingwater where Hornbeam (Carpinus) should

be used.

Eastern Hophornbeam 30


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Oxydendrum arboreum


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Scientific Name: Oxydendrum

arboreum

Common Name: Sourwood


Mature Width:10 to 15 feet; roundedcrown

Seed/Fruit: Capsule

Flowers: White panicles in midsummerthat sometimes persist to late summer

Leaves: Alternate, lustrous green withsome red highlights; yellow to red andpurple in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Grayish brownto very dark; platelets at maturity


Comments: Well-drained soils; flowerswhen few other species are on display(Sourwood Honey); underutilized native;

great fall color; used in mine reclamationareas; may be used in containers.

Sourwood 31


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Pinus palustris


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Scientific Name: Pinus palustris

Common Name: Longleaf Pine


Mature Width: 30 to 40 feet; open,irregular crown

Seed/Fruit: Cones 8 to 10 inches


Leaves: Evergreen needles 8 to 14 incheslong in bundles of three

Bark, twigs/trunk: Brown toreddish brown furrowed


Comments: Well-drained soils; native;upright; long-lived pine; uniquely southern,and once a dominant species; Alabama StateTree. A longleaf pine preserve is located atthe Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife

Refuge near Anniston, Alabama.

Longleaf Pine 32


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Pistacia chinensis


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Scientific Name: Pistacia chinensis

Common Name: Chinese Pistache



Seed/Fruit: Robins egg blue or reddrupes in clusters


Leaves: Alternate pinnately compound;glossy green in summer; yellow, red toorange in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Orange lenticelson twigs; gray to dark gray with flakingscales exposing orangelike inner bark


Comments: Adaptable; awkward inyouth; excellent fall color rivaling SugarMaple in some instances; most consistent fallcolor in Auburn University trials; durabletree tolerates difficult situations whenestablished. Mean growth per year: 0.9inches caliper and 2.9 inches height (as

observed in the Shade Tree Research Projectat the Auburn University PiedmontSubstation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Chinese Pistache 33


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Quercus acutissima


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Scientific Name: Quercus acutissima

Common Name: Sawtooth Oak



Seed/Fruit: Prolific acorns mediumsized; frilly nut cap makes acorn look large


Leaves: Alternate lustrous green withmany bristle tips; brown in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brown toblack ridge and furrows


Comments: Most soils; often planted aswildlife species due to heavy acorn

production; fast grower; produced 6-foot talltrees from seeds in one growing season whentree shelters were used in an experiment inMobile; brown leaves hang on throughwinter especially on younger trees. Meangrowth per year: 1.3 inch caliper and 3.7inch height (as observed in the Shade Tree

Research Project at the Auburn UniversityPiedmont Substation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Sawtooth Oak 34


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Quercus alba


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Scientific Name: Quercus alba

Common Name: White Oak



Seed/Fruit: Medium-sized acorn


Leaves: Green to dark green with whiteunderside; fall variable from brown to red

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to blackridge and furrow and scaly


Comments: Possibly the longest livedlarge tree in eastern United States; attractivein all seasons. Mean growth per year: 0.7inch caliper and 1.9 inch height (as observedin the Shade Tree Research Project at the

Auburn University Piedmont Substation atCamp Hill, Alabama).

White Oak 35


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Quercus bicolor


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Scientific Name: Quercus bicolor

Common Name: Swamp White Oak


Mature Width: 50 to 60 feet; narrow,rounded, open crown



Leaves: Alternate, white pubescenceunderneath makes leaves feel soft; green insummer; yellowish fall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray and scalyto ridge and furrow


Comments: Tolerates wet soils; needsacidic soil; use the number of teeth orundulations on leaves to determine betweenChestnut Oaks. This species has 12 to 20

teeth, but the velvety feel of the underside ofleaves is a great way to distinguish this treefrom Chestnut to Chinkapin oaks.

Swamp White Oak 36


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Quercus coccinea


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Scientific Name: Quercus coccinea

Common Name: Scarlet Oak


Mature Width: 40 to 50 feet;rounded, open crown



Leaves: Alternate; green in summer;scarlet in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Dark and finelygrooved


Comments: Grows well on poor andsandy soils; often has excellent fall color;native. Mean growth per year: 0.6 inchcaliper and 1.7 inch height (as observed inthe Shade Tree Research Project at the


Scarlet Oak 37


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Quercus falcata


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Scientific Name: Quercus falcata

Common Name: Southern Red Oak


Mature Width: 60 to 70 feet;rounded, open crown

Seed/Fruit: Small acorn


Leaves: Glossy green with brownpubescence underneath; long central lobe;generally brown fall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brown todark brown ridge and furrow


Comments: Dry, sandy loam and clayloam soils; native; difficult to find in trade;take preservation actions duringdevelopment.

Southern Red Oak 38


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Quercus lyrata


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Scientific Name: Quercus lyrata

Common Name: Overcup Oak



Seed/Fruit: Medium acorn almostcompletely covered by nut cap


Leaves: Dark green and thick; yellow tobrown in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Scaly gray


Comments: Native; adaptable; a specialoak often overlooked and underutilized.Mean growth per year: 1.2 inch caliper and2.2 inch height (as observed in the ShadeTree Research Project at the Auburn

University Piedmont Substation at Camp Hill,Alabama).

Overcup Oak 39


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Quercus muehlenbergii


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Scientific Name: Quercusmuehlenbergii

Common Name: Chinkapin Oak



Seed/Fruit: Medium oval acorn


Leaves: 16 to 26 teeth; dark green; yellow,orange, or brown in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray and scaly


Comments: Grows on various soils;native; difficult to find in the trade; takepreservation action during development.

Chinkapin Oak 40


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Quercus nuttallii


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Scientific Name: Quercus nuttallii

Common Name: Nuttall Oak


Mature Width: 35 to 50 feet; opencrown



Leaves: Alternate, green in summer andyellowish in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Smooth andgray


Comments: Wet, poorly drained, claysoils; adaptable; transplants well; good treefor Blackbelt soils.

Nuttall Oak 41


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Quercus palustris


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Scientific Name: Quercus palustris

Common Name: Pin Oak


Mature Width: 40 to 50 feet; broadlyconical crown



Leaves: Green with deep sinuses; variablefall color yellow to bronze

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray to brownand smooth


Comments: Poorly drained, wet sites;overutilized as parking lot tree; excellent treefor right conditions; lower branches orienteddownward; not tolerant of high pH. Meangrowth per year: 1.0 inch caliper and 2.4

inch height (as observed in the Shade TreeResearch Project at the Auburn UniversityPiedmont Substation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Pin Oak 42


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Quercus phellos


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Scientific Name: Quercus phellos

Common Name: Willow Oak


Mature Width: 30 to 40 feet; conicalor rounded crown

Seed/Fruit: Small acorn, striated


Leaves: Dark green in summer; yellow tobrown in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Gray brown toridge and furrow


Comments: Moist soils; transplants well;somewhat adaptable; one of our most widelyused street trees. Mean growth per year: 1.0inch caliper and 2.7 inch height (as observedin the Shade Tree Research Project at the


Willow Oak 43


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Quercus prinus


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Scientific Name: Quercus prinus

Common Name: Chestnut Oak


Mature Width: 40 to 60 feet; open,irregular crown

Seed/Fruit: Medium acorn


Leaves: Alternate; green with 20 to 28teeth; yellow in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Brown to blackwith ridge to furrows


Comments: Sandy, gravelly, and rockydry soils or well-drained soils; scarce intrade; preserve during development. Meangrowth per year: 0.8 inch caliper and 2.7inch height (as observed in the Shade Tree


Chestnut Oak 44


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Quercus shumardii


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Scientific Name: Quercus shumardii

Common Name: Shumard Oak


Mature Width: 40 to 60 feet; broad,rounded, open crown

Seed/Fruit: Medium, oval acorn


Leaves: Dark green; red in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Dark ridge andfurrow


Comments: Moist, well-drained soils;adaptable; transplants well; often has acharacteristic leaf spot disease. Mean growthper year: 0.9 inch caliper and 2.9 inchheight (as observed in the Shade TreeResearch Project at the Auburn University

Piedmont Substation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Shumard Oak 45


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Quercus virginiana


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Scientific Name: Quercus virginiana

Common Name: Live Oak


Mature Width: 50 to 80 feet; verybroad, spreading, dense crown



Leaves: Thick evergreen leaves withcupped margins

Bark, twigs/trunk: Grayish to blackwith blocky appearance

Area of State: Southern two thirds

Comments: Grows well in a widevariety of soils but likes sandy soils; uniquely

Southern with its broad branching habit;frequently accompanied by Spanish moss;decay resistant; seems to grow more slowlyin central than southern Alabama; fastigiatecultivars available for urban plantings. Meangrowth per year: 0.8 inch caliper and 1.3inch height (as observed in the Shade Tree


Live Oak 46


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Taxodium distichum


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Scientific Name: Taxodium distichum

Common Name: Bald Cypress



Seed/Fruit: Small cone


Leaves: Summer/fall: light green;

yellowing to rusty bronze fall color

Bark, twigs/trunk: Scaly gray to red


Comments:Many soils; native; anothergreat Southern tree; adaptable; will form

knees on wet site; also consider Pond BaldCypress (Taxodium distichum nutans). Meangrowth per year: 0.8 inch caliper and 1.7inch height (as observed in the Shade TreeResearch Project at the Auburn University

Piedmont Substation at Camp Hill, Alabama).

Bald Cypress 47


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Ulmus parvifolia


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Scientific Name: Ulmus parvifolia

Common Name: Chinese Elm



Seed/Fruit: Samara


Leaves: Alternate; dark green; yellowishin the fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Mottled butattractive


Comments: Moist soils; rapid grower;splotchy, mottled exfoliating bark isattractive; consider some selective crownthinning when young as tree tends to get topheavy.

Chinese Elm 48


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Vitex agnus-castus


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Scientific Name: Vitex agnus-castus

Common Name: Lilac Chastetree



Seed/Fruit: Small drupe

Flowers: Lavender racemes in mid-summer

Leaves: Opposite, palmately compound;green in summer; yellowish in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Smooth gray toblocky


Comments: Full sun, adaptable; a soft,lavender, pink, or white flower for thelandscape; good alternative to crapemyrtle;good small tree for under utility lines; multi-stemmed.

Lilac Chastetree 49


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Zelkova serrata


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Scientific Name: Zelkova serrata

Common Name:Japanese Zelkova



Seed/Fruit: Small drupe


Leaves: Alternate; green summer; yellowto red in fall

Bark, twigs/trunk: Smooth cherry-like


Comments: Moist, well-drained soils;upright branching habit useful in downtownareas; promoted as replacement forAmerican elm but has not measured up.

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Common Scientific C H S CountyAmerican Holly Ilex opaca 125 76 48 ChambersAmericanHornbeam

Carpinuscaroliniana

49.8 86 42 Macon

Bald Cypress Taxodiumdistichum

324 131 47.8 Baldwin

Black Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica 128.5 112 47.25 ElmoreCarolina Silverbell Halesia carolina 54 56 42.1 LauderdaleChestnut Oak Quercus prinus 156 118 81.5 MarshallChinese Elm Ulmus parvifolia 139 96 84.3 PerryChinese Fringetree Chionanthus

retusus2.5 40 30 Mobile

Chinese Pistache Pistacia chinensis 133 54 71 TuscaloosaChinkapin Oak Quercus

muehlenbergii168 74 98 Madison

Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemiaindica

55 48 28 Baldwin

Dawn Redwood Metasequoiaglyptostroboides

110.8 70 42 Lee

Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis 92.4 30 36.75 Limestone

EasternHophornbeam

Ostrya virginiana 39.5 50 38.5 Coosa

Florida Anise Illicium floridanum 15 29 20 PerryFlorida Maple Acer barbatum 106 110 60 SumterFloweringDogwood

Cornus florida 96 41 46 Tuscaloosa

Foster Holly Ilex x. attenuataFosteri

59 39 24 Mobile

Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba 133.8 80 78 DeKalb

Goldenraintree Koelreuteriapaniculata 58 31 99.4 Jackson

JapaneseCryptomeria

Cryptomeriajaponica

62 72 29 Jackson

Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 60 24 29.9 TuscaloosaJapanese Zelkova Zelkova serrata 129 48 30 LeeLilac Chastetree Vitex agnus castus 26 17 19.5 BaldwinLive Oak Quercus virginiana 384 64 112 Mobile

C=Circumference at 4 feet (inches)H=Height (feet)S=Spread (feet)

Alabama Championship Trees


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Common Scientific C H S CountyLongleaf Pine Pinus palustris 122 113 55 Butler

Nuttall Oak Quercusnuttallii

147.6 90 44.25 Madison

Overcup Oak Quercus lyrata 205 126 88 MarengoPin Oak Quercus

palustris109 91 64.9 Colbert

Red Maple Acer rubrum 137 80 79 CalhounRiver Birch Betula nigra 158.4 111 95.7 LamarSawtooth Oak Quercus

acutissima87 66 64 Barbour

Shumard Oak Quercusshumardii

215 76 84.52 Bullock

Sourwood Oxydendrumarboreum

70.5 73 40.7 Coosa

SouthernMagnolia

Magnoliagrandiflora

198.8 90 80 Calhoun

Southern RedOak

Quercus falcata 287 107 133 Montgomery

Swamp WhiteOak

Quercus bicolor 178.8 96 73.5 Madison

Sweetbay Magnoliavirginiana

134 84 59 Pickens

Tulip Poplar Liriodendrontulipifera

248 151 73 Lawrence

White Oak Quercus alba 177.6 99 113 MontgomeryWillow Oak Quercus phellos 265 102 114.5 MarshallYaupon Ilex vomitoria 29.8 30 52.5 AutaugaYellowwood Cladrastis

kentukea46.8 58 23 Colbert

C=Circumference at 4 feet (inches)H=Height (feet)S=Spread (feet)From Champion Trees of Alabama, 2004.A Champion Tree is the largest of its particular species in

Alabama determined by a formula established by theAmerican Forestry Association.

Alabama Championship Trees


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Notes


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Notes


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David WestCounty Extension Coordinatorand

Adjunct Assistant ProfessorSchool of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Auburn University

Ken TiltExtension Specialistand ProfessorHorticulture

Auburn University

fifty trees of alabama

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