Native Trees In Park

Native Trees Red Maple Acer rubrum This deciduous tree can grow to 80 feet and is broadly columnar. The leaves are 4 inches long and almost as wide with three to five toothed lobes. They are dark green on top and blue-white beneath, turning red to yellow in the fall. This is a suitable tree for streets, lawns and parks.

Illustration 3: Acer rubrum 1 Illustration 1: Acer rubrum 1

Illustration 2: Acer rubrum leaf 2

Silver Maple Acer saccharinum This deciduous tree can grow to 100 feet and is broadly columnar. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches across and long, each has five lobes which are sharply toothed, light green above and blue-white beneath, usually turning yellow in the fall. This is a fast growing tree and has weak wood and large limbs tend to break in storms. For this reason it is better for parks and natural areas.

Illustration 5: Acer saccharinum leaf 1

Illustration 6: Acer saccharinum

Illustration 4: Acer saccharinum leaf 2

River Birch Betula nigra This deciduous tree can grow to be 70 feet tall and 50 feet wide. The leaves are 4 inches long and tapered at the base and pointed at the tip, deep blue green on top and gray-blue underneath. The bark is pink-gray, peeling, dark brown and ridged with age.

Illustration 7: Betula nigra

Illustration 8: Betula nigra 2

Sycamore Platanus occidentalis This deciduous tree can grow to be 100 feet. The leaves are 3 or 5 lobed , 4” to 9” wide. The fruit is a multi-seeded 1 1/3” ball. The bark flakes in large pieces revealing white, green, gray, brown, and cream inner bark giving it a mottled appearance.

Illustration 10: Platanus occidentalis trunk

Illustration 11: Platanus occidentalis 1

Illustration 9: Platanus occidentalis 2

Illustration 13: Platanus occidentalis leaf Illustration 12: Platanus occidentalis 3

Illustration 14: Platanus occidentalis 4

Tulip Poplar Philodendron tulipifera This deciduous tree can grow to be 90 feet. The leaves are about 5” long and wide and are shaped like a tulip, bright green turning golden yellow in the fall. In the spring the flowers are also tulip-shaped and 2 1/2” long.

Illustration 15: Liriodendron tulpifera leaf

Illustration 16: Liriodendron tulipifera. Sally and Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Willow Oak Quercus phellos This oak can grow to 100 feet. The glossy dark green leaves are lance shaped and 4” long. The acorn is about ½” long with a shallow cap.

Illustration 19: Quercus phellos leaf and acorn Illustration 18: Quercus phellos 1

Illustration 17: Quercus phellos 2

Shrubs Spice Bush Lindera benzoin This deciduous shrub can grow to 10'. The leaves are 4”long and turn yellow in the fall. In the spring there are small yellow flowers along the stem. In the fall the fruit is 1/3” long, green turning yellow to red. All parts of this plant are fragrant when crushed.

Illustration 20: Lindera benzoin 1

Illustration 21: Lindera benzoin 2