Trees

This unique program allows for the acquisition of new and unusual trees to enhance horticultural diversity at Applewood. Some of the significant trees include a yellowwood, roundleaf beech, cutleaf beech, red oak, epaulette tree, Magnolia kobus, lacebark pine, katsura trees, black gum, Carolina silverbell, bald cypress, tulip tree, three silver lindens and two Japanese pagoda trees.

A wonderful winter tree ~
the River Birch‘Heritage’
Betula nigra ‘Heritage’
This deciduous tree grows quite quickly and can reach 40’ to 70’. It transplants well and prefers to be planted in moist soils in full sun though it will grow on drier sites. The river birch is cold hardy to at least –40 F. It is native to the Eastern and central United States and is found growing along steam banks and in swampy bottomlands in the wild. This birch is resistant to most insects and diseases, including the bronze birch borer that destroys European white birches. The glossy dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Its exfoliating bark is striking against the white snow of winter. Papery plates of cinnamon-colored bark curl back to expose salmon-white to salmon-brown inner bark. Plant it where you can enjoy this colorful feature from your window during the cold, snowy days of winter. You can see Applewood’s river birches in the Demonstration Garden. Three multi-trunked trees create a shady grove near the chicken coop. See Virginia Dept. of Forestry for more photos and details. 

A delicate spring beauty ~
the White Fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus
This small tree or large shrub reaches 12’ to 20’ tall and is often as wide. Though slow growing, it is well worth the wait! Still an unusual tree in the landscape, it deserves to be more widely planted and can be found at some nurseries and in mail-order catalogs. Preferring full sun and moist, fertile soil, it is best transplanted in the spring. This native to the United States is hardy from zone 3 to zone 9. It has smooth gray bark and no serious insects or diseases. The fragrant flowers appear in late May as the leaves are emerging. These fringe-like loose clusters of white flowers are a sight to behold and perfume the air! Large dark green leaves, from 3” to 8” long, turn yellow in the fall. When cross-pollinated, female plants produce blue-black fleshy fruits that ripen in September. They are often hidden by the leaves or eaten quickly by birds. The white fringetree is tolerant of air pollution but not drought. A young white fringetree is planted in the northeast corner of Applewood’s perennial garden. It is underplanted with hostas and spring flowering anemones.

An excellent summer-flowering tree ~
the American Yellowwood
Cladrastis lutea
This native tree has it all - beautiful smooth gray bark, fragrant summer flowers, bright green leaves and golden yellow fall color! With a medium growth rate, yellowwoods can reach 30’ to 50’ in height with a spread of 40’ to 55’. They grow best in well-drained soils in full sun. They do not like “wet feet”. This tree gets its name from the color of its heartwood and is virtually pest-free. Hardy from zone 4 to 8, it should only be pruned in the summer as it bleeds profusely if pruned in the winter or spring. Its medium size makes it an excellent shade tree for smaller yards. Few trees bloom in the summer but the American Yellowwood produces sweetly scented, pendulous creamy white flowers in June. Reminiscent of wisteria flowers, these blossoms are often more abundant every other year. Truly under-planted, it is well worth the effort to find and plant this wonderful tree. The American Yellowwood at Applewood is planted inside the main gate on the orchard lawn directly across from the gatehouse driveway. Enjoy its beauty in any season!

Flowers in the fall! ~
Common Witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Imagine a tree that flowers in November! What an unexpected treat of fragrant yellow petals when other plants are preparing for winter. Common Witchhazel grows to be a large shrub or small tree up to 15’ to 20’ with a similar spread. Native to the United States, it is hardy from zone 3 to 9. It is often multi-trunked with smooth gray bark and medium green leaves. The leaves provide excellent yellow fall color, as well. This plant prefers moist soil in full sun or shade. It does not like extremely dry conditions and is not bothered by insects and diseases. Consider planting it in natural settings under larger trees or where it has the space to grow as wide as it wants. There is a great Common Witchhazel at the east end of Applewood’s main garage. It is in a shady shrub border where its fall flowers are easily noticed.