2019 Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Book

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1 Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda Oldfield Pine Leaf Type: Evergreen Texas Native: Firewise: A large, fast-growing tree of forests and abandoned fields, reaching heights of 125 feet and a trunk to 4 feet in diameter, with a dense, rounded crown of dark, blue-green foliage. East Texas, ranging west to the "Lost Pine" region in the vicinity of Bastrop, Lee, and Fayette counties. Loblolly pine was most commonly found along banks of streams in virgin forests of Texas, but is now the dominant pine on all sites. The needles are borne in bundles of 3, mostly 5" to 10" long, and dull blue-green; in the spring, bright green clumps of needles grow at the end of branches and give the tree a luxuriant appearance. Male conelets are yellow-green to purple, about 2" long, appearing in spring at the tips of branchlets; female cones are 0.5" long and yellowish. A woody, stalkless cone, 3" to 5" long, oval, reddish-brown, armed with prickles on the tips of the scales, and requiring two years to mature. The winged seeds are shed during the fall and early winter after the cones open fully. Thick, dark red-brown to black, breaking into irregular, flaky plates and deep fissures. The resinous wood is coarse-grained and there is marked contrast between the bands of springwood and summerwood. The most commercially valuable southern pine, the wood has a wide range of uses including lumber, cooperage, pulp, boxes, crossties, posts, and fuel. Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) has shorter needles in bundles of 2; slash pine (P. elliottii) has longer, glossy needles in bundles of 2; longleaf pine (P. palustris) has needles 10" to 18" long. Interesting Facts: The name "loblolly" comes from a slang word used by English seamen for the lumpy gruel they were served at sea. The term came to be associated with the baygalls and wet areas in the low country of the Carolinas where the first settlers arrived in the 1600's. Page 1 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

2 Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis var. canadensis Judas-Tree 2019 Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Book Leaf Type: Deciduous Texas Native: Firewise: A small or medium-sized tree, usually less than 40 feet tall and a trunk to 12" in diameter, with arching branches that form a wide, flat-topped crown. Occurs in East Texas, west to Austin and Dallas, usually on well-drained soils alongin forests or at the edge of the woods or planted as a landscape specimen. Alternate, simple, heart-shaped, 3" to 5" long and wide, leaf edge smooth; upper surface dull, dark green, and lighter beneath, turning yellow in the fall. One of the first trees to bloom in early spring, the flowers appear before the leaves as conspicuous, pink to purplish, pea-shaped flowers in clusters along the twigs and small branches. A flattened, many-seeded pod, 2" to 4" long and 0.5" wide, tapering at the ends, reddish during the summer and brown when ripe, often hanging on the tree through the following winter. Reddish-brown, smooth when young, but developing a scaly texture and then long, narrow plates and shallow fissures on older trunks. Heavy, hard, not strong, rich dark-brown in color, and of little commercial importance; cultivated in the nursery trade as a landscape tree. Texas redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) occurs in Central Texas and Oklahoma and has glossy, leathery leaves. Interesting Facts: Sometimes called "Judas-tree" for its resemblance to a Mediterranean relative, Cercis siliquastrum, from which the disciple Judas Iscariot supposedly hanged himself after betraying Christ. Page 2 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

3 Cedar Elm Ulmus crassifolia Texas Elm Leaf Type: Deciduous Firewise: Yes A large tree to 75 feet tall with a tall straight trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter and stiff branches that form a narrow, oblong crown. The most common elm tree in Texas, distributed widely in East, South, and Central Texas. Most often found near streams, in solid stands on flatwoods near rivers, or on dry limestone hills. Also planted widely as a landscape tree. Alternate, simple, 1" to 2.5" long and 0.75" to 1" wide, oval to elliptical in shape, finely-toothed or sometimes double-toothed along the margin, and blunt at the tip. The upper surface is dark green, shiny, and rough, while the lower surface and petiole are pubescent. Twigs sometimes have thin, corky "wings" and the leaves can turn gold to orange-red in the fall. Appear in late summer or autumn as hairy, short-stalked clusters in the leaf axils. An oval "samara," 0.25" to 0.5" long, the seed centered in the middle of the wing, deeply notched at the tip and hairy all over, especially along the margin. Seeds are borne in the fall, which distinguishes this species from the other native elms. Light brown to gray, with flattened ridges that break into thin, loose, flaky scales. Reddish-brown, brittle, with a thick layer of light-colored sapwood. The wood is sometimes used to manufacture wheel hubs, furniture, and fencing. Commonly sold in the nursery trade as a landscape tree. Winged elm (Ulmus alata) has larger leaves and seeds that mature in spring; varieties of Chinese elm (U. parvifolia) have similar leaves, but the bark is distinctly orange and flaky. Page 3 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

4 Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Evergreen Magnolia Leaf Type: Evergreen Firewise: Yes A large forest or landscape tree, reaching heights of 90 feet or more and a trunk to 4 feet in diameter, with a dense, pyramidal or oval crown, the spreading branches often reaching the ground in open settings. Occurs on rich, moist, well-drained soils on streambanks or the borders of river swamps in southeast Texas. It has been widely cultivated as an ornamental tree outside its native range. Simple, alternate, 6" to 8" long and 2" to 3" wide, elliptical or oval in shape, thick, leathery, dark green and glossy above, rusty and pubescent beneath, with prominent midribs. They remain on the tree for about two years. Large, showy and fragrant, 6" to 8" across, cup shaped, with pure white petals surrounding a splash of bright purple in the center, borne in spring and summer. A rounded or oval aggregation of seeds, shaped like a cone, 3" to 4" long, containing many seeds. The fruits open in the fall and display the bright red seeds dangling on slender threads. Gray-brown, smooth at first and developing scales on larger branches and trunks. Moderately heavy, hard, and cream-colored; was used chiefly for furniture, Venetian blinds, and fuelwood, but is now highly valued as a landscape specimen. Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) has smaller, semi-evergreen leaves and flowers. Interesting Facts: Magnolias are an ancient genus, one of the oldest flowering plants, extending back approximately 130 million years. Page 4 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

5 Texas Persimmon Diospyros texana Chapote, Mexican Persimmon Leaf Type: Semi-evergreen Firewise: Yes A small tree to 40 feet, often low-forking or multitrunked, with an open, oval crown. Notable for its muscular or fluted trunk and branches. Rocky and dry sites in Central and South Texas, west to Brewster county. Requires well drained soils and has gained favor as a landscape tree from Austin to Houston. Simple, alternate, with almost no petiole, 1" to 2" long, obovate, thick and leathery, pubescent underneath; leaf edge without teeth, sometimes rolled under during droughts. Male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers inconspicuous; female flowers small, white, five-petaled, appearing in spring and attracting many insects. A sweet, round fruit, 1" across and slightly depressed at the tip, black when ripe. Favored by wildlife and edible by humans. Smooth, gray, and tight, developing olive or light brown patches that peel away to show the lighter bark beneath. Wood is heavy and very dark, with pale sapwood. Uses include tools and turning blocks; the fruit has been used to make a black dye. Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a medium to large tree with dark, blocky bark and large, edible fruits in the fall. Common crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) has smooth, muscular trunks and branches with peeling bark. Interesting Facts: Wood is suitable for making salt shakers because it absorbs moisture. Page 5 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

6 Red Maple Acer rubrum Swamp Maple, Trident Maple, Drummond Red Maple Leaf Type: Deciduous Firewise: Yes A medium sized, fast-growing tree that reaches 90 feet tall and a trunk to 2 feet in diameter, red maple has a somewhat narrow, rounded crown. Abundant in low, moist areas in the eastern part of the state. Leaf blades are 2" to 5" long, on a petiole 2" to 4" long, and have from 3 to 5 pointed saw-toothed lobes separated by sharp angular sinuses or openings. In autumn, the leaves turn a brilliant shade of red, or in some varieties, orange-yellow. The red flowers appear in dense clusters in early spring before the leaves, the buds turning a deep red sometimes before they open. A "key," or double samara, ripening in late spring or early summer, red to brownish-red. Each half measures between 0.5" to 1" long. Smooth and light gray on young tree trunks and branches; breaking into rough, scaly, dark gray bark on old limbs and trunks. Know commercially as soft maple, the wood is heavy, close-grained, rather weak, and of light brown color; it is used in the manufacture of furniture, for turnery, woodenware, and fuel. Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) has rounded sinuses between lobes. Drummond red maple (A. rubrum var. drummondii) has large, 5-lobed leaves with velvety pubescence underneath. Page 6 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

7 Overcup Oak Quercus lyrata Secondary Name: Leaf Type: Texas Native: Firewise: The overcup oak tree is a long-lived, very sturdy shade tree that will thrive in a wide range of soils. Long overlooked by growers, the tree is gaining popularity and has been made more readily available for home landscapes. Its size, shape, adaptability, and hardiness make it an excellent street tree. The overcup oak can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5 9. View Map Displays reddish or gray-brown bark, Features uniform branches and rounded shape Hardiness Zones Tree Type Mature Size;The overcup oak grows to a height of 45 70' and a spread of around 35 50' at maturity. Features alternating, simple dark green leaves that are 6 8" long and have 3 5 pairs of obtuse, acutish lobes. They turn a rich yellow-brown in the fall. Growth Speed Medium Growth Rate This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13 24" per year. Sun Preference Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Soil Preference The overcup oak grows in acidic, loamy, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. While it prefers welldrained conditions, it can withstand considerable flooding. Attributes This tree: Transplants easily.yields acorns that are round and ¾ 1" in diameter with a cap that covers the nut almost entirely. Develops uniform branching, with upswept lower branches minimizing the need for pruning. Adapts well to inhospitable soil conditions. Fruits: Grows in an oval to rounded shape with an open crown. Wildlife Value Overcup oak acorns are at the top of the food preference list for squirrels and smaller rodents as well as larger animals such as wild turkeys, hogs and white-tailed deer. Page 7 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service

8 Chickasaw Plum Prunus angustifolia Secondary Name: Leaf Type: Deciduous Firewise: This native plum is one of the first trees to flower in the spring in late January-February and has a stunning display of beautiful white flowers that look like spring snow against the brown of a late winter landscape. They are small trees and often grow in clusters along roadsides and in old fields across the South. They bear small tart red plums in early summer, which can be made into pies and preserves (with lots of sugar!). The fruit is favored by lots of birds and wildlife. They do well in xeriscape plantings. It can grow with little water, in dry areas; If you garden is dry, and isn t too moist this tree would be perfect for your garden. It is a pretty tree that would do great in any garden, as a border, on a lawn, or in a field. Flowers: It grows tiny white flowers. The small white flowers have orange or reddish anthers. It grows European Plums. The edible fruit which this tree produces can be yellow to red and may be anywhere from half an inch to an inch long. They are reminiscent of cherries in appearance and ripen in the summer. These plums are excellent for making preservatives, though they can be eaten straight from the tree despite tartness. Red-purple plums, good for wildlife It has bark that is almost a black color. The bark is scaly. This tree has small thorn-like side branches. The branches of this tree are also reddish. Hardiness Zone: 6-9 Height: 10-15' Spread: 5-10' Tree Form: Multi-trunk Blooms: Dense white blossoms in Jan-Mar Light requirements: Full sun to Partial Shade Soil type: Sandy soils ph Pruning: Corrective pruning may be necessary. Maintenance: Easy Page 8 - Keep Pearland Beautiful 2018 Arbor Tree Book with materials from the Texas A&M Forest Service