With long, pendulous branches, persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a unique choice for the landscape. Although the dark green, ovate leaves complement the grayish, blocky, alligator-skin bark through the growing season, this tree really shines in fall when it bears bright orange leaves and small, apricot-colored fruits. Similar to the non-native persimmon fruits sold in the…
American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a medium-sized tree native to the southeastern United States, reaching 30-50 feet tall when mature. Indicative of its name, the wood is yellow and encased by smooth grey to light brown bark. It has panicles of white, showy, and fragrant flowers that bloom in the spring. In the fall, it…
Despite the common name, this rapidly growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub grows 6-10 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. Florida anise tree (Illicium floridanum) is native to the southeastern United States and northern Mexico and can be found in moist, wooded areas. One of its most attractive characteristics are the maroon-purple, star-like blooms. The flower is…
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…
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