April 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, an ideal occasion for discussing the importance of planting trees and the reason for choosing native tree species. Join Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills to learn details on the characteristics and attributes of 20 native trees and suggestions on their uses in the home landscape. General information on planting, care, and helpful resources will be provided.
Speaker: Elaine Mills, Extension Master Gardener
Zoom session, April 15, 2022
Video of Presentation
Additional Resources
Celebrating Native Trees – General Information & Resources
Trees Discussed in Presentation
Taller Trees
- White Oak (Quercus alba)
- Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
- Dwarf Chinquapin Oak (Quercus prinoides)
- River Birch (Betula nigra)
- Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
- Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)
- Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
- American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
- Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
- Eastern Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
- American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Shorter Trees
- Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli)
- American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
- Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- Flowering Dogwood (Benthamidia florida – formerly Cornus florida)
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
- Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
- Pagoda Dogwood (Swida alternifolia – formerly Cornus alternifolia)
- Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Additional Native Trees
Photo © Elaine Mills
- American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
- American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
- Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
- Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Black Willow (Salix nigra)
- Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
- Pagoda Dogwood (Swida alternifolia – formerly Cornus alternifolia)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
- Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum)
- Sweet Birch (Betula lenta)
- Sweet Cherry (Betula lenta)
- Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria)
- Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Resources
Tree Species
- Video “Keystone Species of Native Plants” (Section on Woody Plants begins at 0:07:08)
- Video “Best Bets: Native Plants for Dry Conditions” (Section on Trees begins at 0:10:15)
- Video “Best Bets: Native Plants for Wet Conditions” (Section on Trees begins at 0:10:13)
Siting & Planting
- Video “Native Trees: Selecting, Planting, and Transplanting” (Siting begins at 0:43:43)
- Tree Placement on Home Grounds, University of Missouri Extension
- Tree Preservation and Replacement Guide, City of Falls Church
Tree Care
- Tree Stewards of Arlington/Alexandria (Tree care and ivy removal)
- International Society of Arboriculture (Tree care and list of arborists)
- Urban Forestry Management, City of Alexandria
Sources of Trees
- Tree Canopy Fund, EcoAction Arlington (Applications in April for fall planting)
- Small Trees Make Big Canopies Program (MGNV, Source of free trees)
- Plant NOVA Trees (Five-year local tree campaign)
Ecosystem Services of Trees
- “Celebrating Native Trees,” MGNV website, April 6, 2022
- “Climate-Conscious Gardening: Planting Trees”, MGNV website, October 20, 2021
Health Benefits of Trees
- Kuo, Ming. “How might contact with nature promote human health?” Frontiers in Psychology, August 25, 2015.
- Li, Qing. “Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function.” Environmental Heath and Preventive Medicine, March 23, 2009.
- Robbins, Jim. “Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health.” Yale Environment 360, January 9, 2020.
- Ulrich, R.S. “View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery.” Science, Issue 4647, pp. 420-421
- Wolf, Kathleen L. “Urban Trees and Human Heath.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, June 18, 2020.
2022 Addendum: Additional Details and Answers to Chat Questions – pdf
2024 Addendum: Additional Details and Answers to Chat Questions – pdf
By Elaine Mills, presenter of “Celebrating Native Trees”