Plant Selection at Ernest Road: Trees

American Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)

American Hop-Hornbeam, is a slender deciduous tree in the Betulaceae (birch) family. The common name is derived from the hardness of its wood and the hop-like fruit. It is found in dry, rocky forests and sloped areas scattered among the upland regions of Virginia. It is easy to grow and succeeds in most soils, although it thrives in any good loam. It does not demand much light and prefers a partial to deep shade. It tolerates drought and heavy clay soils making it low maintenance and appropriate for urban settings. The inner wood was used to treat toothache, sore muscles, and coughs by Native Americans.

American Hop-Hornbeam Overview

American Hop-Hornbeam Flower

American Hop-Hornbeam Leaves

American Hop-Hornbeam Bark

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Eastern redbud is a deciduous, ornamental tree in the Fabaceae or pea family. The genus name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis, which means weaver's shuttle, referring to the fact that the seed pod resembles the size and shape of a weaver's shuttle used to move thread back and forth on a loom. The plant holds great wildlife value as a larval host plant and the bean pod fruits provide food for songbirds. The bark can be used as an astringent in and the flowers can be eaten in salads or fried. Native Americans boiled the bark to make tea to treat whooping cough, and used roots and inner bark for fevers, congestion, and vomiting.

Eastern Redbud Overview

Eastern Redbud Flowers

Eastern Redbud Leaves

Eastern Redbud Bark

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering dogwood is a woody, deciduous, flowering understory tree in the Cornaceae (dogwood) family. The genus name comes from the Latin word for horn, cornu, most likely in reference to the tree’s hard, dense wood. Dogwood’s flowers are visited by butterflies and specialized bees, and its red fruits are a food source for songbirds and other wildlife from fall through winter. This plant was used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans, as well as for carvings, looms, and disinfectant. Wood is hard, heavy, close grained and strong. Often used for textile shuttles and spools as well as handles for tools.

Flowering Dogwood Overview

Flowering Dogwood Flowers

Flowering Dogwood Leaves

Flowering Dogwood Bark

Common Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Pawpaw is a deciduous, native, understory tree in the pawpaw family (Annonaceae). Its common name is probably a modification of the Spanish papaya. It is a flowering tree that attracts butterflies, pollinators, small mammals, and songbirds, which makes pawpaw a good addition to a butterfly, pollinator, or rain garden. Pawpaws have an edible fruit, when ripe becomes soft and custard-like with a sweet taste similar to bananas and is very nutritious. People harvest this fruit for various culinary purposes such as making bread or puree.

Common Pawpaw Overview

Common Pawpaw Fruit

Common Pawpaw Leaves

Common Pawpaw Bark

American Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Fringetree is a small, deciduous tree in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to the eastern U.S. Its genus name comes from the Greek chion meaning “snow” and anthos meaning “flower.” The species epithet is Latin for “of Virginia.” A clear yellow color appears to provide some brightness to the fall landscape, and the bark, with its scaly dark brown ridges and red furrows, brings winter interest. Fringetree is a nice specimen plant in lawns and also works well as a flowering tree in a native garden. Plant it in small groups along a woodland border or take advantage of the sweetly scented blooms in a children's or sensory garden.

American Fringetree Overview

American Fringetree Flowers

American Fringetree Leaves

American Fringetree Bark

Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana)

Ironwood is a deciduous tree in the Betulaceae (birch) family native to the eastern U.S.A. Use this adaptable tree in naturalized areas or along streams or ponds as well as in urban settings. This is a wildlife friendly tree perfect for a pollinator, children's, or native garden acting as a larval host plant, food source for mammals and birds, and a cover plant. The wood has been used for tool handles, mallet heads, levers and other small wooden objects. American pioneers used it for bowls and dishes, as it is not subject to cracking.

Ironwood Overview

Ironwood Flowers/Fruit

Ironwood Leaves

Ironwood Bark

Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

Downy serviceberry, is a deciduous tree in the Rosaceae (rose) family, native to eastern North America. The small tree produces a red to purple berry that matures in the late summer to fall. The berries have some resemblance to blueberries. It attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, as well as songbirds and small mammals. Because of its cultural versatility, downy serviceberry also fills a wide variety of garden uses in any location, from specimen to border, barrier, mass planting, or understory tree. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental for the showy clusters of flowers.