trees

Oak Trees

Are you looking for a majestic shade tree for your landscape? Look no further! There is an oak tree for just about any environment, as long as you have the space for a large and beautiful tree. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen will introduce the mighty oak and offer an overview of how to grow these fabulous trees. Oak trees belong to the genus Quercus and are members of the Beech (Fagaceae) family. There are more than 500 species of oak trees globally. Approximately 90 of these species are native to North America. Oak trees come in a variety of sizes. Some can grow up to 80 feet tall and equally as wide, while the smallest species may grow no more than 10 feet tall. Most are deciduous in temperate climates, but some species in warmer climates are evergreen. Regardless of their appearance and where they grow, these trees are an important part of the natural ecosystem. They provide abundant shade, excellent habitat for wildlife, and are useful trees for lumber. Oaks are easy to grow and make excellent landscaping trees. And if you ever thought that an oak tree was “just a tree,” it’s time to reconsider. They are critical keystone species, and with so many species to choose from, you are sure to find one that’s ideal for your specific site and can grow well in your climate and soil type. If you are planting an oak in your yard, you aren’t just planting a tree. You are growing something beautiful and useful to you and to the wildlife inhabiting your neighborhood. Now, let’s dig into the basics of how to plant, grow, and care for these trees. Oak trees inhabit many different forest ecosystems. They are an important component of many hardwood forests and mixed hardwood forests. Some oaks thrive in warm climates, while others live in cooler northern and mountaintop climates. Oaks have also been well used in urban settings, such as parks, along roadways, and as landscaping trees. These long-lived trees are known to live for over 1,000 years! Oaks have long been incorporated into home and industrial purposes. They are commonly used for lumber, furniture, flooring, and many other useful and decorative items. Native Americans used the acorns as a food source, and some people today prepare and eat acorns. Take note that the acorns have a high tannin content, so they must be properly soaked before they can be eaten. Oak trees have been classified into two major categories – red oaks and white oaks. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two classes. The red oaks have leaves with pointed ends and pointed lobes. Common examples of red types include pin oaks, black oaks, and scarlet oaks. The white oaks have rounded edges and rounded lobes. Common examples of white types include white oaks, bur oaks, and post oaks. Oak trees are extremely diverse and come in many shapes and sizes. Some are short and shrubby, while others grow to be extremely large and majestic. And, of course, there is every size in between. Oak trees have single, simple, alternate leaves. There is a wide variety of leaf shapes, from simple, thin ovals to deeply lobed or toothed varieties. In the fall, many oaks display beautiful fall foliage in shades of yellow and orange or red and bronze, while others simply turn from green to brown without any notable color. Most oak trees are deciduous, but some are evergreen. Many species keep their leaves well into the fall, even after other deciduous trees have lost their leaves. A few are broadleaf evergreens in more southern climates and retain their green leaves through the winter. Oak tree bark is typically brownish-gray and furrowed. Oak trees bloom in the spring and have separate male and female flowers. The male flowers develop as elongated catkins, while the female flowers are tiny and quite inconspicuous, developing at the tips of budding twigs. Both male and female flowers appear at the same time and are wind-pollinated. Fertilized female flowers give way to the distinctive capped acorn, which contains the seed. Growing an oak tree from seed is easy and reliable. Acorns can be gathered from any mature tree and are free and convenient.

Eucalyptus

The silvery-leafed eucalyptus is one of the most-loved foliage choices for florist arrangements. Bouquets often skip the blooms and just go for eucalyptus as a bold, wonderful-smelling statement. While most of us don’t have the space for full-sized eucalyptus trees, you can still grow this beautiful plant. Let's explore the mighty world of eucalyptus and how to get one in your home or landscape. Travel just a little bit of Australia, and you will see just how many varieties of the iconic Eucalyptus trees there are. They have names that show off their features, like the ghost gum with its pure white bark, the squiggly gum, with patterns covering the bark like a child passed by with a crayon, or the rainbow gum, with its stripy bark in all the colors of the Australian landscape. These giant trees are also the main habitat for Australian wildlife and the only diet of the koala. The leaves of eucalyptus are extremely toxic to most animals, but koalas can eat up to 2 pounds when they are not sleeping for 18 hours a day. Funnily, they are picky eaters, choosing only 50 types of the 800 eucalyptus varieties available to them. Because of bushfires and human intervention, koalas are losing their habitat rapidly. Eucalyptus in Australia even has its own national day. March 23rd is National Eucalyptus Day, to raise awareness of the importance of these trees in Australian culture. In the US, eucalyptus varieties are prized for floral arranging, offering crisp scents and beautiful gray-blue shades that offer a perfect foil for colorful flowers. This article will give you an outline of how to grow eucalyptus at home, with some fascinating characteristics and features along the way. The more than 800 varieties of Eucalyptus belong to the Myrtle family. These can vary in size from small shrubs of a few feet. Medium trees can grow to 33 feet in height, and giant trees may reach more than 300 feet. The majority of the varieties of eucalypt in Australia grow in massive native forests, with others cultivated for gardens and as indoor plants. A few others grow in Malaysia and the Philippines. In many other countries, it is an introduced species – particularly the blue gum tree Eucalyptus globulus – for its ability to grow fast and produce excellent wood as a timber crop. One of the downfalls of using gum trees as a crop is the staggering amount of water they need each day. One tree can use up to 200 gallons of water a day. They also produce compounds called allelopathic chemicals, much like black walnut trees, that leach into the soil and inhibit the growth of any other plants nearby. You will often see monocultures of eucalypts because of this factor. It’s not surprising, then, that many countries have declared them alien invasive plants. The bark of eucalyptus trees varies greatly between varieties. Some are smooth, Some rough, some mottled, some stripy in many variations of color. The bark peels back each season to reveal what’s underneath. These look like the squiggles of a moth making its way up the trunk, turning to a lighter green, bright yellow, or orange tinge that transforms its look. This peeling bark is one of the characteristics of the species. Some bark will peel back in long strands, giving it an iconic look. The leaves are the main source of essential oil and emit the famous fragrance when you crush them. The leaves of younger trees are round with no stalks. They mostly range from blue-green to blue-grey to silver in color. Before planting any eucalyptus tree in the garden, consider the following: Some varieties have been declared invasive in states like California and Hawaii, with other states doing investigations into the species. In other parts of the world, they are also a problem plant and, in some countries, they have been banned. Their allelopathic tendencies may be harmful to plants in the vicinity of the tree, which may leave some bare, unproductive patches in your garden. Most varieties grow big, so you will need enough space for them to grow. Finally, certain varieties use up a lot of water and nutrients from the soil. If you are willing to look past all that, let’s look at how to grow them outdoors. Alternatively, skip to the part where you can grow them in containers indoors.

Corkscrew (Curly) Willow

Are you curious about the twisty, gnarled branches of the corkscrew willow? You can easily grow one in your own backyard, especially as part of a rain garden or at the edge of a pond or other wetland area. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen will discuss the proper care and maintenance of these beautiful and fascinating plants. Corkscrew willow, also known as curly willow (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’), is a member of the willow family (Salicaceae) and is native to Asia. It is available as a landscaping tree and is most appreciated for its fast growth rate and interesting twisting branch patterns. As its name implies, this willow has branches that twist and turn as they grow. Unlike the familiar weeping willow, a large tree with long, gracefully downward-curved branches that sway in the breeze, the corkscrew willow is a smaller tree with an upright form and irregularly shaped, gnarled branches. In the fall, when these trees have lost their leaves for the season, they add wonderful winter interest to any landscape! You can use it as an unusual landscaping tree or grow it along an edge or wetland border. These trees are easy to grow but do have some limitations and won’t be the best option for every landscaping project. If you’re looking for a moisture-loving, small tree that is uniquely different, however, the corkscrew willow would make a great choice. Now, let’s dig into some more details about the corkscrew willow, how you can use it in your landscape, and how best to help your tree thrive! The parent species, Salix matsudana, is native to China, Japan, and Korea, where it commonly grows in moist habitats near ponds and streams. The cultivar ‘Tortuosa’ was developed and introduced as a landscaping plant. Similar cultivars have the same growing conditions but different colored branches and somewhat variable growth habits. These trees have value for landscaping and wildlife habitat, and the attractive twisted branches can even be used for dried flower arrangements and craft projects. These are fast-growing, deciduous trees. They can grow between 20 and 40 feet tall and between 15 and 25 feet wide. The trunk and main branches have a generally upright form with a rounded crown. The most unique characteristic is the branches and stems, which give rise to its other common name, curly willow. Younger trees may appear more smooth and straight, while older trees tend to develop a gnarled or twisted trunk. The main branches and stems do not grow straight but rather in an uneven, twisted, wavy pattern. The smaller branches and stems, while also twisted and curled, grow closely together to create a dense, rounded crown, and the summer foliage somewhat conceals the curly branches. The leaves are alternate and three to six inches long. The narrow, simple, lancelike leaves come to a long, tapered point. Like the branches and stems, the leaves also tend to be slightly curled or wavy rather than purely flat and straight in profile. The bare trees in the winter months are quite interesting to look at with their masses of wavy, upright branches. These trees provide exceptional winter appeal with their unusual branch forms, and for this reason, no two trees will be alike. The bark is light gray, and younger stems may vary from light gray to a slightly orange hue. In the spring, these trees bloom with branches full of long yellowish catkins that hang straight down in small clusters at the end of young branch tips. The foliage turns from bright green to a showy yellow in fall, emphasizing the year-round beauty of this tree. The easiest way to acquire a new corkscrew willow will be to purchase one. But if you already have one, the easiest way to propagate it is by taking a hardwood cutting. While you can grow a willow tree from seed, hybrids and cultivars won’t grow true to the parent tree.

trees

Oak Trees

Eucalyptus

Corkscrew (Curly) Willow

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