Today, we’re sharing another round of trees from a list of “Great Trees for Landscapes” developed by our staff. In the second installment of this four-part series, we’re keeping the momentum going with some of the steadiest performers of the bunch: the red maple, American sweetgum, bald cypress and scarlet oak. These reliable standbys are not only handsome, they provide food and shelter for a host of native organisms, which makes them great choices for the home landscape.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Mature Size: 40 – 60′ high and 2/3 as wide
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9
Light Requirements: Full Sun
If you’ve ever seen the magnificent fall color on the ‘October Glory’ red maple that stands guard in the Education Center plaza, then there’s little doubt as to why this tree was given the species name “rubrum.” But keep looking and you’ll find hints of red no matter the time of year: tiny red flowers that cover the tree before its leaves emerge in the spring, red fruits that follow and even red twigs! This lovely maple makes for a great shade tree, especially in a lawn setting where its shallow root system has room to spread out.
While you probably don’t want to plant it right next to your driveway, this species is relatively fast-growing and — especially in the case of named selections — offers multi-season ornamental value. The tree’s expansive native range from Texas to Quebec is a testament to its adaptability to a wide variety of growing conditions, and as an added bonus it provides food and shelter for a variety of organisms, including insects. This is an especially important consideration when thinking of how to feed and sustain your backyard bird population naturally.
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Mature Size: Up to 75′ high, generally not as wide
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9
Light Requirements: Full Sun
The American sweetgum is perhaps best known for the distinctive, spiky “gum balls” that fall from its branches in the winter. If you’re inventive, you might find a use for them; I chuckle each time I remember the year my grandmother collected a basketful of these dried fruiting clusters from her yard, painted them gold and displayed them on her hearth as holiday décor. But barring somewhat dubious home decorating applications, these “gum balls” aren’t terribly useful to humans and can even be a nuisance if planted in high-traffic areas. That said, I think they have given this native tree an undeserved bad rap.
The American sweetgum is a strong grower with glossy star-shaped leaves that, in a good year, take on lovely shades ranging from bright yellow to deep purple in the fall — often on the same tree! Although it prefers acidic soils, it is adaptable to a variety of growing conditions and makes for a great shade tree. Many birds and small mammals eat the seeds produced by the dreaded “gum balls,” including Carolina chickadees and goldfinches.
If you really can’t abide the seed capsules, there is a lovely variety called ‘Rotundiloba’ that is sterile. Interestingly, its leaves are rounded at the tips, rather than pointed. (See the header image for this post.) Other unique forms exist, including the striking columnar selection ‘Slender Silhouette,’ a pair of which provides a formal, vertical accent in the Arboretum’s gardens. This variety also has the added bonus of producing fewer fruits than the species while still providing food for the birds.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Mature Size: 70′ high and 30′ wide
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 11
Light Requirements: Full Sun
When you think of the bald cypress, it likely conjures up images of this tree’s wide, flared trunk and distinctive, knobby “knees” rising from the waters of the bayou, but you might not know that it is also native to coastal regions up the Eastern Seaboard as far north as New Jersey! While it will happily grow in wet areas — and this is generally necessary if you want to encourage “knees” — your backyard doesn’t have to be a swamp in order for you to grow this handsome tree; we grow it right here in the mountains of North Carolina with great success. It likes hot, humid summers, but in cultivation, it will grow in regions that get far colder than its native range.
Although it’s a conifer, the bald cypress is notably deciduous, which has earned it the moniker “bald.” In the fall, its feathery leaves transform from a vibrant yellow-green to a bronzy cinnamon color before they are finally shed. With its unique textures and colors, the bald cypress stands out against other trees and is a welcome addition to landscapes that can accommodate its large stature.
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
Mature Size: Up to 75′ high and 50′ wide
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Light Requirements: Full Sun
A native of Appalachia, the scarlet oak is a stately, stalwart tree that is well-deserving of its place at the “Great Trees” table. Similar to the red maple, its common name comes from the color of its fall foliage, which is a stunning scarlet hue. It is native to upland areas and, as such, does best in acidic sites that are well-draining — even on the dry side — but as long as you can provide it with these conditions, it will flourish. It has a relatively fast growth rate, and in time will grow quite large.
With a rounded, open habit, it makes for a wonderful shade tree that will be appreciated by deer, squirrels, blue jays, turkeys and more for its acorns, of which it tends to produce a bumper crop every five-to-seven years. Like all of our native oaks, it is also of particular value to the larval stages of a host of native moths and butterflies, which are vital for the health of ecosystems.
If you want to see beautiful, mature specimens of the scarlet oak—or any of the trees featured in this post—you can find them all growing at The North Carolina Arboretum! Or to see containerized specimens of all 15 “Great Trees” gathered in one spot, be sure to check out our “Great Trees for Landscapes” popup exhibit, which is located along the Grand Garden Promenade. We think there’s a spot for more of these trees in home landscapes, and we hope you’ll check back for the follow-ups to this post where we’ll be highlighting even more of these “Great Trees.”