Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a medium-sized, evergreen understory tree native to the southern coastal plain from the Gulf Coast across the top of Florida and up into South Carolina. Though not native to southeastern Pennsylvania, there are several cold-hardy selections that make it possible for us to enjoy this beautiful tree in our own…
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a small, slow-growing understory tree that generally grows to 25 feet tall. It is so named because of the hardness of the wood, which reminded settlers of a horn, and the Old English term “beam”, which means tree. Another name for this tree is “musclewood”, because the trunk and branches…
The alternate-leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is a small flowering tree that grows 25-30 feet tall. It is named for its alternate arrangement of leaves, which differs from other dogwoods, which all have opposite leaves. The tree may also be referred to as the pagoda dogwood. This name describes the horizontal branching pattern of the tree,…
Known primarily for its spectacular spring floral display, the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) shines as a small understory tree in the native landscape. Reaching up to 30 feet tall, this tree grows well in shade, but will flaunt even more white blossoms in full sun. Not only does this small tree provide interest in spring…
The American born botanist John Bartram discovered this unique understory tree in 1765 and named it in honor of Benjamin Franklin. The franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha) was seen only along the bank of the Altamaha River in Georgia and today no longer exists in the wild. As the sightings of the Franklinia became more and…