Carya species, hickory, native throughout the eastern, midwestern and southeastern United States, are seldom available in retail commerce. Primarily relegated to the deciduous forests, commingled with oak, beech, maple, tupelo and birch, few trees are more beautiful in autumn when aglow with the late developing, long persistent, rich yellow-gold foliage. Foliage shows significant frost/freeze tolerance in the range 24 to 28°F. I noticed hickories retaining fall color when adjacent species lost color or defoliated. From swamps (Carya aquatica) to mountaintops (Carya ovata) and sites between, a hickory resides. The nuts nourish all manner of wildlife and the pecan, Carya illinoinensis, is a major commercial tree, particularly in the southeast and southwest. There are ~18 Carya species and several hybrids. Eleven species occur in the U.S. with five of these extending into Canada. For a complete list of species worldwide, search germplasm research information network (www.ars-grin.gov) and plants of the world (powo.science.kew.org).

Leaves, flowers, and fruits

Hickories are tricky to correctly identify (ID), and hybrids make the process even more confusing. The following characteristics will lead the reader to the genus. After that, ID may become less clear/absolute. Leaves are alternate, compound pinnate with a central axis (rachis) and (3)5 to 19(21) leaflets, the terminal leaflet often the largest and obovate in outline; the lower leaflets oppositely arranged along the rachis. The leaf margins are serrate (toothed), surfaces pubescent or glabrous, and when bruised or crushed release a pungent odor.

Flowers are monoecious, meaning in separate structures on the same plant. Flowers open with the leaves, usually around mid-April in the Athens area (zone 8a). Male flowers appear in long cylindrical catkins from buds of the previous season’s growth. The apetalous female flowers occur on the emerging shoots of the season, either solitary or up to 10 in a cluster. The nuts that follow develop from a single ovary with two stigmas, the seeds appearing as two but joined at one end.  The top-shaped, rounded, to ellipsoidal (pecan) shaped nuts are covered with a husk that typically splits along four suture lines. Fruits mature in October-November and the dehisced nuts are often evident under the tree. The seeds are high in unsaturated oils and serve as an important food for wild animals and birds. Pecan, C. illinoinensis, is an important commercial nut tree with a value of over 399 million in 2020.

Bud, stem, bark and wood

Winter buds vary from species to species and are described within the species’ descriptions that follow. Bark is likewise variable and the shaggy bark of C. ovataand C. laciniosa, is instantly recognized. Carya glabra and C. tomentosa are smooth barked in youth, developing ridged and furrowed bark with maturity. Tree bark of Carya aquatica is smooth in youth, then slightly roughened/scaley in old age. The wood of hickories is used for furniture, flooring, cabinets, veneer, tool handles, and for smoking meats. How many hickory trees have suffered because of ham and bacon? Worth mentioning from an identification standpoint that the stems of Caryahave solid pith, while Juglans (walnuts) have chambered pith. Split the first-year stem through the center longitudinally and the differences become obvious. Both reside in the Juglandaceae family and can be confused.

Propagation of Carya is principally by seeds and grafting/budding. The latter a common method for cultivars of pecan. Squirrels may be the best seed dispersal agents, for seedlings, particularly pecans, appear weed like in the southeast. I collect nuts in October-November, place several in well drained, bark medium in 3-gallon containers, cover 1 to 2”, and protect from animals with a screen. Seedlings require a cold period and are left outside. Germination takes place the following spring. The individual seedlings are then transplanted during the next winter to 3-gallon containers, the tap root pruned to half or more its length. I know a nursery that roots cuttings of Carya aquatica by harvesting juvenile shoots that develop after transplanting trees from the field. The holes are not filled, and adventitious shoots develop from the severed roots that remain at the edges. This method could be applied to other Carya species.

Carya species are adapted to wet (Carya aquatica), sandy/dry rocky slopes and ridges (Carya tomentosa), and silt loam to clay (Carya glabra, Carya laciniosa, and Carya ovata). If they were easy to transplant, hickories would be available in greater numbers. Hickories are essential components of the North American deciduous forest ecosystem and, with oaks, maples, birches, tupelos, elms, walnuts, tuliptree, beech, and sweetgum, command and deserve to be planted and preserved.

I recommend purchasing small bare-root seedlings or containerized material. Several growers/retailers from whom I purchased hickories and other native trees include Superior Trees, Lee, FL (superiortrees.net), Mail Order Natives, Lee, FL (mailordernatives.com), Forrest Keeling Nursery, Elsberry, MO (fknursery.com). Hillis Nursery Company, Inc., McMinnville, TN, (hillisnursery.com) offers six Caryaspecies. Melanie Wells, Mount Vernon, provided additional online nurseries that supply Carya species (americanheritagetrees.org and whitehousenatives.com).

The best adapted and available Carya species for garden and native plantings include the following.

They are presented by bud and leaf characteristics. Carya aquatica, C. cordiformis, and C. illinoinensis have valvate terminal buds meaning the bud scales meet at their edges but do not overlap, the terminal larger than the lateral buds. The leaflets, the same size throughout.

Carya glabra, C. laciniosa, C. ovata, and C. tomentosa with bud scales overlapping. Leaflets fewer, the terminal leaflet larger than the laterals, often 2 to 3 times. Terminal buds larger than laterals.

Carya aquatica, water hickory, is a beautiful tree with finer textured foliage and branching habit than those that follow. There are typically 9 to 11, 2 to 3” long, equal sized leaflets. Leaves are rich green, turning soft to bright yellow in autumn. I noticed leaves still persisting on trees in Athens as late as mid-November. The nut is 1 to 1 ½” long, broadly ovoid, and four-winged along the seams. The kernel is bitter. The rich brown bark develops scaly plates, not as prominent as those of C. laciniosaand C. ovata. I noted a 70’ high tree at the Coker Arboretum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. National champion is 97’ by 62’. Common in swamps and along rivers from Virginia to Texas. This has been the easiest hickory to transplant balled-and-burlapped. Zone 6 to 9.

Carya cordiformis, bitternut or swamp hickory, has seldom crossed my path, although native to every state (except Maine) east of the Mississippi and nine contiguous states west of the mighty river.  I remember trees at Middlebury College, Vermont, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL, and in June 2022, Mount Vernon, VA. Initially, I was not positive about the identification of the Mount Vernon Carya, until Melanie Wells, horticulturist, sent a photo of the sulfur yellow buds. The branches were so high, I could not accurately count leaflet numbers (typically 7 to 9, ~equal size) or determine bud color. Melanie mentioned that the tree was previously identified as C. tomentosa. The light green, slightly falcate leaflets are 3 to 6” long, ¾ to 21/2” wide, turning rich golden yellow in fall. The suborbicular nut is 11/4” long, 4-winged or ridged, often only above the middle, the seed bitter. Typically, a slender tree with an irregular, cylindrical crown of stiff ascending branches, widest at the top. This habit description could be superimposed on the Mount Vernon specimen. Bark is gray-brown, smooth initially, developing low narrow interlacing ridges, occasionally with a few scales. I estimate 50 to 75’ high, slightly less in spread. National Champion is 106’ high and 100’ wide. Considered the fastest growing of the hickories. In the wild, most often found in low woods, less frequently in uplands, although the USDA profile describes it being found on rich, loamy or gravelly soils, low wet woods, borders of streams, and dry uplands.  Zone 4 to 9.

Carya illinoinensis, pecan- Although not native in Georgia, it is major cultivated nut crop with a value of 182.5 million in 2021. Seedling trees are like mushrooms and appear everywhere, producing reasonable quantities of edible nuts. The modern pecan industry relies on improved cultivars and thousands of acres were planted in the last 10 to 15 years. Leaflets vary from 11 to 17, each 4 to 7” long, 1 to 3” wide, the midvein slightly curved, resulting in the term falcate. About the easiest Carya to identify by foliage. Leaves are lustrous dark green, persisting late into November (Athens), occasionally with a wisp of yellow fall color. The thin-shelled, ellipsoidal, brown nuts, tapered at their ends, average 1 to 2” long and are held in a four-valved, winged, dehiscent husk. Nuts dehisce in November in the Athens area and can be readily gleaned. Plant in moist, well drained, deep soil, although stray seedlings take hold under myriad conditions.  The lateral buds resemble toasted almonds in shape and color. They are held at 45-degree angles to the stem. Bark is gray-brown, somewhat scaly on mature trunks. A large tree, 70’ and beyond, and certainly not for small properties. National champion is 97’ by 106’. In nature, the species inhabits low areas along water courses from Indiana to Texas. Zone 5 to 9.

Carya glabra, pignut hickory. I grew up with this species in southern Ohio where it was quite common. It has a tapering trunk and a regular, open, oval head of slender contorted branches. Finer texture than C. laciniosa, C. ovata, and C. tomentosa. Leaves are composed of 5 to 7 (typically 5), lustrous dark green leaflets. Each 3 to 61/2” long, 1 to 2” wide, the lower pair one-third the size of the terminal. Leaves turn beautiful golden yellow in fall. Nuts are subglobose, ¾ to 11/4” long, the seeds with a bitter taste. The bark is smooth, gray-brown on young trees, eventually developing rounded ridges, intersecting to form a diamond shaped pattern. Landscape size approximates 50 to 60’ high and 25 to 35’ wide although the National Champion is 149’ by 75’. Common in nature in drier habitats, upland soils, and rocky areas. Zone 4 to 9.

Carya ovata, shagbark hickory, is one of my favorite Noble Trees which should be planted in every park, golf course, open area from Canada to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. The bark, composed of gray-brown shaggy scaly plates, free at both ends, curving away from trunks, makes for easy identification. The deep green leaves, comprised of five, rarely seven, 4 to 6” long, ½ to 21/2” wide leaflets, turn saturated golden yellow to golden brown in fall. Nuts, nearly round, 1 to 11/2” diameter, shell angled, husk ¼ to 1/3” thick, freely splitting at maturity, no winged suture lines, enclose edible, sweet seeds. Shelled shagbark hickory nuts sell for $9.99 per ounce or $19.99 dollars for three ounces from hickorynutsdirect.com. Species develops a straight, cylindrical trunk, with an oblong crown of ascending and descending branches (like C. laciniosa). In the wild, is found in drier upland slopes and deep well drained soils in lowlands and valleys over most of eastern North America. I have observed magnificent trees in urban, suburban and natural areas. Have yet to be disappointed by performance. Estimate 60 to 80’ high. National Champion is 104’ by 99’. Zone 4 to 8 (9).

Carya laciniosa, shellbark hickory, differs from C. ovata in leaflet number, primarily 7, and the absence of tufts of pubescence (hairs) near the tips of serrations. Buds, bark, nuts (sweet seeds) are similar. Safe to state, I am never sure about positive identification between this and C. ovata until examining the leaves. Estimate 60 to 80’ in height; the National Champion 109’ by 112’. Found in bottomlands and floodplains, New York to Alabama to Missouri and Arkansas. Not as common as C. ovata. Zone 5 to 8.

Carya tomentosa, mockernut, white hickory, is a common species over most of eastern North America. The leaves and stems are covered with brown pubescence which persists and permits easy identification. The leaves are composed of 7 to 9 leaflets, the upper pair 5 to 9” long, 3 to 5” wide, the lower pair two-thirds that size. Leaves are dark yellow green, fragrant when bruised, and develop deep golden yellow to golden brown fall color.  Nuts are elliptical to rounded, 1 to 11/2” long, angled, with a ¼ to 1/3” husk splitting to the base. The seed is edible. Habit is narrow to broadly rounded. The bark develops interlacing ridges forming a diamond to netlike pattern. Common to dry habitats of uplands, including ridges and hillsides. To 3,000’ in the southern Appalachians. I estimate 50 to 60’ high under landscape conditions. Many trees in the Athens area supersede this size. The National Champion checks in at 140’ high and 85’ wide. Zone 4 to 9.

The other U.S. species are C. floridana, scrub hickory, C. myristiciformis, nutmeg hickory, C. pallida, pale or sand hickory, and C. texana, black hickory.

This mini treatise will hopefully inspire readers to become familiar with Carya, hickories. They are remarkable Noble trees that for too long have flown under the landscape radar. I believe the Chinese Proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is today”, applies to hickories. In my 78^th year, I planted a Carya aquatica grown from seed collected at the USDA Germplasm Repository in Beltsville, MD. The quote, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit”, rings true for my effort.

Cornus is a fascinating genus with species ranging from groundcover habits (Cornus canadensis) to large trees (Cornus controversa). I relate to students and garden visitors that if one dogwood is recognizable, then all can be. The leaves (primarily deciduous, several evergreen) are linear-ovate to ovate to broad ovate, margins entire (no teeth) with veins originating from the midvein and then turning toward the apex, almost paralleling the margin.  When the veins are and gingerly teased apart, rubbery strands are evident. Cornus alternifolia and C. controversahave alternately arranged leaves; all others opposite. Now the trick is to accurately identify the ~60 species.
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Bonnie and I spent a few days at Hilton Head during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. At our fourth-floor condominium, the view from the balcony/porch was part beach but primarily treetop green, the latter Quercus virginiana. The species is the dominant noble tree on the island and efforts to preserve it in the throes of relentless construction activities were remarkably successful. Homes, condominiums, and commercial properties literally mesh cheek to jowl yet are largely shrouded/screened from street view by the majestic oaks. Hilton Head Island has strict Tree Ordinance regulations to protect and preserve this and, what are termed, Specimen Trees. The specifics of the Tree Ordinance are available at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/development/natresources.crm.

I have visited every coastal southern state from Virginia to Texas, and throughout encountered majestic live oaks. Perhaps, the most impressive was the Angel Oak on St. John’s Island, South Carolina, the canopy covering 17,000 square feet, estimated 300 to 400-years-old. I stood there in awe, mesmerized by the architectural majesty and had my picture taken next to the tree (see photo in 2012). Perhaps, the most well-known Live Oak is the iconic specimen at the Augusta National Golf Club between hole 18 and 10. The finishing 18^th hole at the Master’s and the Tree are internationally known and beloved.

Let’s dive in and explore what makes the species so magical. More than any other feature, the rounded to broad-rounded, wide-spreading, arching sturdy branches, often draped with “Spanish moss”, render the tree unassailable by the forces of nature. I worked in Charleston after Hurricane Hugo and this and the native palm, Sabal palmetto, were the least affected. To be clear, there was damage on live oak, and large branches that were pruned, developed new shoots and covered the wounds of wind.

Live Oak is 40 to 80’ high at landscape maturity with a 60 to 100’ spread. The national champion, located in Live Oak (actually Savannah), Georgia, is 78’ high, 161’ in crown spread, with a trunk circumference of 440” (last measured in 2019). The location is easily referenced on Mapquest.  Obviously, it is not a wise choice for small properties. What I find so remarkable is the secondary spreading branches, as large as a “normal” tree trunk, are steel cable strong and flexible. At one time, the government held maritime forest of live oak in Florida to use for ship building. The wood is the heaviest of all oaks, a cubic foot weighing 75 pounds.

The massive trunks and branches are an ecosystem unto themselves. I remember the epiphytic bright green resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polpodioides, blanketing the tops of the branches of the Angel Oak. The ferns do not extract water or nutrients from the host plant. When dry, the fronds shrivel and turn gray-brown, only to “resurrect” themselves when moisture is available. The bark is brown-black, vertically and horizontally fissured, with the texture of alligator hide. Quite easy to identify a mature live oak from a distance by habit, low slung branches, and bark pattern.

The mature evergreen foliage is saturated lustrous dark green, persisting into spring, abscising as the new olive-green foliage unfurls. Leaves average 1 to 3” (5”) long, ½ to 1/1/2” wide, the leaf undersides grayish, the margins revolute (rolled under).  The juvenile foliage on seedlings has spiny margins and looks nothing like the mature foliage. I have grown numerous seedlings and the leaves resemble a spiny holly in appearance. The foliage displays a measure of salt tolerance.

The acorn is torpedo/bullet-shaped, ¾ to 1” long, brown/black, maturing in a single season as it is a member of the white oak group. Fruits ripen in fall and should be collected when turning brown.  I noticed significant weevil infestation manifested by tiny circular holes in the nut. Birds and animals eat the acorns. A partial list includes northern bobwhite, Florida scrub jay, mallard, sapsuckers, wild turkey, black bear, squirrels, and white tailed deer.

The species is native from Virginia to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Texas, into Mexico. Found in coastal sandy soils, to moist rich woods. Trees on Jekyll Island, Georgia, sculpted by the wind and salt spray, lower on the ocean side, taller behind, and appear to be leaning toward the beaches.

In part 2, I will discuss the hybrids, propagation, production, landscape uses, botanical varieties, and cultivars.

Michael A. Dirr

HMI requested a brief discussion on salt tolerance in woody plants. I started my career at the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1972 after graduation from the University of Massachusetts. While a student at UMass, I was introduced to Acer saccharum, sugar maple, decline, at least partially attributable to deicing salts. The conundrum has always been that people demand safe highways and healthy trees. There were many research papers on the subject, particularly from UMaine researchers. The decline, manifested in stagheaded sugar maples, was reported as early as 1917 in Massachusetts. The decline was not solely attributable to deicing salts but myriad interactive factors including drought, insects, diseases, and certainly salt. An updated review (2018) of Maple Decline: various factors is available at www.plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/mapledecline.pdf.
At Illinois, I visited with the highway personnel in the Chicago area. Many of the trees along the freeways were stag-headed/witches-broomed, particularly the side closest to the highway where aerial salts were deposited on the stems and resulted in dieback and miserably mis-shaped trees and shrubs. At the time I was constructing lists of trees/shrubs, good (not many) and bad (many) along the freeways, a rare grass surfaced in the ditches/swales where salt runoff accumulations reached 5%. For comparison, seawater is 3.5% salt, largely NaCl. Puccinellia distans, alkaligrass, was identified, and resulted in the commercial cultivar ‘Fults’. This development was carried out by Colorado State researchers. Point being salinity can change the ecology of an area.
Many Malus, crabapples, and Crataegus, hawthorns, were planted and none showed resistance. Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis, honeylocust, and Elaeagnus angustifolia, Russian-olive, were in good health. Why the disparate performance when all trees/shrubs were subjected to similar levels of deicing salts. The penultimate question, and I conducted many greenhouse experiments to understand the mode of action of salt. Salt damage occurs from aerial deposits, soil salinity, and combinations. Honeylocust was the initial test plant based on freeway performance and proved quite remarkable in its ability to avoid accumulating high concentrations of sodium or chloride. I speculated the salt tolerance to the inability of Na and Cl ions to penetrate the waxy stems and protected buds of dormant trees. I did not record a single honeylocust on the highways with the witches-brooming common on most trees. Soil applications to honeylocust resulted in severe injury. Shoot content of chloride was a reliable index to the degree of salt injury, because the greater the tissue Cl, the more rapid was the onset and the more severe the injury. See HortScience 9:53-54. Tolerance of honeylocust seedlings to soil-applied salts. 1974.
I screened many needle evergreens and the same Cl relationship was evident. Needles of Pinus strobus, white pine, and P. thunbergii, Japanese black pine, were treated with foliar-applied salts to runoff. White pine was severely injured with 4% needle Cl; Japanese with less injury and 2% needle Cl. Anatomical investigations showed Japanese black pine had thicker cuticle (waxy covering) and the subepidermal cells were heavily impregnated with thickenings, thus more resistant to aerial Cl penetration. On Cape Cod, P. thunbergii has naturalized at the Truro Highland Lighthouse area were exposed to full force of the Atlantic. Townsend and Kwolek (J. Arb. 12: 25-228. 1987) evaluated susceptibility of thirteen pine species to sodium chloride spray. Pinus thunbergii was most tolerant; P. strobus least. Overall, species with lowest Na and Cl levels were the most tolerant.
In all my research, the chloride ion always proved most lethal; sodium less so. Comparative studies with potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and sodium chloride (NaCl) definitively pointed to Cl as the toxic element.
Many salt tolerant tree and shrub lists are available on line. The Journal of Arboriculture research publications are available. My “Selections of trees for tolerance to salt”, J. Arb. 11:209-216 is a solid review of salinity and woody plant injury and includes a listing of salt tolerance (good, moderate and poor), for 134 genera and species.
Since moving to Georgia 42-years ago, the salt research ceased but when I visit the coast, the effects of salinity are evident on the native as well as the introduced ornamental woody plants. Live oak, Quercus virginiana, is considered salt tolerant. However, many specimens facing the ocean have been sculpted by salt spray. I believe that any woody plant is susceptible to damage depending on the concentration and length of exposure.

Cornus officinalis-Japanese Cornel Dogwood.
Michael A. Dirr

The Japanese cornel dogwood is a beautiful small tree, the yellow flowers borne on spur-like naked stems months ahead of the foliage, harbingers of Spring’s awakening. I suspect after the 2020 pandemic, people are looking for signs of hope in the New Year. Gardening provided that to a large segment of U.S. society in 2020 and signs point to robust plant sales in 2021. I have always grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and the like but those are spring-summer ephemeral pursuits. Woody plants offer year-round presence with foliage, flowers, fruits, bark, and architecture/branching patterns. Few trees have the floral persona of Cornus officinalis and, walking the garden on 1-12-21, the flower buds opening, exposing the mustard yellow petals, inspired me to pen this essay.

The species is restrained in habit, 15 to 25’ high and wide. The majority of specimens I cataloged were wider than tall. The Secrest Arboretum, Wooster, OH, reported a 46-year-old tree was 22’ high and 35’ wide. A specimen in a local Athens garden is 18’ by 22’. In many characteristics, the species is similar to Cornus mas, Corneliancherry dogwood, except flowers are 7 to 14 days earlier, the fruit matures later (September), the foliage may have brown tufts of pubescence in the lower vein axils, and the bark exfoliates in rich gray, brown and orange. The bright cherry red fruits are rather insipid and have not been domesticated for culinary purposes like those of C. mas. The winter silhouette is more refined than C. mas.
The foliage is lustrous dark green and may develop reasonable red -purple fall color. A selection (‘Morton’) from the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, colored pretty red in the Dirr garden. The foliage is insect and disease resistance, persisting into October-November in zone 8.

Flowers peek through ¼” long, rusty brown, pubescent, rugby ball-shaped buds in January-February, fully open in February-March and long persistent. Inflorescence is an ¾” wide umbel carrying 1/6” diameter, sulfur/mustard yellow flowers in supernumerary abundance. The tree, from a distance, glowing yellow when most trees and shrubs are in winter’s gray/brown garb. Fruit is a cherry red, oblong drupe, ½ to ¾” long, ripening in late summer. At the U.S. National Arboretum, fruits persisted into March as flowers were opening (photo). The fruits are called “zhu yu” or “zoa pi” in Chinese medicine and prescribed as an astringent tonic for impotence, lumbago, vertigo and night sweats.
Culturally, the species is adaptable to extremes of soil except wet. Container-grown material is readily transplanted and Bold Spring Nursery, Hawkinsville, GA, provides B-and-B of ’Kintoki’. Hawkinsville is 100 miles south of Atlanta and trees I observed on 11-9 were lustrous dark green with no sign of heat stress. The reader might surmise I am building a case for use, North and South. In my Manual, zone 5 to 8 was ascribed to the species. I believe it could be moved into lower zone 4. In the Chicago area, Roy Klehm, championed the species through Song Sparrow Nursery, and introduced at least four selections (see cultivars).
Propagation from cuttings has been hit or miss for the author. Germinated many seedlings which formed flower buds in the second year. The cultivars are either grafted or rooted from cuttings.
Native to Japan and Korea, covering almost the whole of Japan; two-thirds of Korea. In China, habitat is described as forests, forest margins and mountain slopes, from 1,300 to 7,000’ elevation. Considering the extensive geographic range, it is surprising more wild-collected material was not introduced in the U.S.
Cultivars: The following are listed in the literature with only ‘Kintoki’ widely available in the U. S.

‘Aurea’ from the Netherlands is described as having golden yellow leaves with shades of green mixed with the yellow. Have not seen and the description makes little sense.

‘Issai Minari’ flowers heavily as a young plant.
‘Kintoki’ produces abundant bright yellow flowers in early February in the Dirr garden. Reliable year-in, year-out. Upright in youth, more open at maturity. Bark is more exfoliating than everyday seedlings.
Klehm’s introductions include Cheer™ (‘KROY’), Joy™ (‘LROY’), Red Sentinel™ (‘KLMQQ’), and Rugged Charm™ (‘KLMII’). Rugged Charm™ has lustrous dark green foliage (no fall color) and has been a reliable performer in the Dirr garden. I also grow Red Sentinel™. All are listed as 15 to 25’ high. No longer offered as Song Sparrow is closed.
‘Lemon Zest’ (‘Morris Arboretum’) has superior flower size.
‘Morton’ is red fall coloring selection from the Arboretum. I was given a plant for testing and, indeed, fall color was pretty red in the Dirr garden. Do not know release date or fancy name. It was derived from open-pollinated seed.
‘Robins Pride’ produces extraordinary quantities of large yellow flowers. It is listed in the Royal Horticultural Society Plant Finder 2020.
From Tennessee comes ‘Sunsphere’ with earlier flowers. n action.

                 Parrotia persica-Persian Parrotia, Persian Ironwood

                                                                                Michael A. Dirr

What a great small tree! Roaming the Georgia campus in early March, I notice specks of bronzy green emerging from the dusty gray buds. Leaves will be fully formed by early to mid-April and persist until November-December when fall color signals time to rest. Leaves are tremendously frost resistant to around 20°F. This is also true for Fothergilla, Hamamelis, Disanthus, and other Hamamelidaceae taxa (witch-hazel family members).

The remarkable aspect of the early leafing campus trees is their survival, three in a triangular traffic island: hot, dry, compacted (as students walk between the trees). For over 40-years they have defied the laws of stress. Why not more widely utilized? From Boston to Chicago to Portland and south to Athens, successful plantings are known to the author and improved cultivars are coming online.

Every street, park, golf course, campus, and garden have niches for Parrotia. The new Dirr garden has five P. persica and the recent introduction, P. subaequalis, Chinese parrotia. Traveling and literature treasure hunts have unearthed more cultivars than I knew existed (see below). In February, I walked rows of seedling Parrotia persica at John Malone’s Summershade Nursery, Good Hope, GA. Variation in leaf retention, most with brown leaves, enough without, that this would be a quality selection trait, also tied to fall color. In a previous Dirr garden, the seedling Parrotias ranged from yellow to orange-red, but never consistent. A brilliant, listing toward red selection, would have market prominence akin to the best red maple cultivars like October Glory® and ‘Red Sunset’.

Parrotia persica is native to the Caspian forest of Northern Iran and Azerbaijan where 60’ tall trees are recorded. Too often in cultivation the species is low-branched and multi-stemmed. Single-trunked trees suffice as small street and lawn elements. I envision an allée along a garden path, the lowest branches five feet above the ground, the beautiful exfoliating gray, cream, green barked trunks a treasured accent.

Typically, height ranges from 20 to 40’, spread 15 to 30’, yet I observed many specimens wider than high. The tallest was ~60’ high at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris; wide-spreading specimens, often with multiple trunks, were noted at the Arnold Arboretum, Wisley and Kew Gardens (England),  Maymont (Richmond, VA), and Biltmore House and Gardens. The mature, large-trunked trees develop the exfoliating bark mentioned above. Branches show this character in the 4 to 8” diameter range.

Newly emerging leaves are reddish purplish or with a marginal purplish halo (margin), lustrous medium green to dark green in summer, with yellow, orange, red, solely or in permutations in fall. Leaves are broadly oval to obovate, 21/2 to 5” long, 1 to 21/2” wide, serrated above the middle, with an undulating leaf surface, the veins deeply impressed, the leaf base oblique. Foliage withstands all manner of abuse, but Japanese beetles relish the leaves.

Flowers and fruits do not overwhelm. The former, apetalous, either male or hermaphrodite (male and female parts) open on naked stems in February-March, composed of 5 to 15 crimson-maroon stamens, that provide a dollop of color. The woolly, brown, two-valved dehiscent capsule, ½” high, contains two, 3/8” brown seeds. Seeds are released (ejected) at maturity so must be collected before the capsule opens.  Tremendous fruit set occurred on ‘Jennifer Teats’ (upright form) growing next to a seedling at the University’s Horticulture Farm. I missed the collection mark, but this was the most abundant fruit set ever observed by the author. Are two different clones, in close proximity, necessary for cross pollination? On anther occasion, seeds were collected, germinated and seedlings developed into wider spreading trees than ‘Jennifer Teates’. Six of these seedling trees (now 15’ high) in the Dirr garden develop yellow to golden orange fall color without a trace of red.

Widely and wildly adaptable to sun, shade; acid, neutral, moist to drier (as previously mentioned) soils. British references point to its adaptability to chalk (limestone). Readily transplanted from containers or balled-and-burlapped and adaptable from zone 4 to 8, to 9 on West Coast.

With the above quality character traits, why is the species limitedly available? I can’t remember a Parrotia persica at any big box store although high-end garden centers occasionally stock the species. Propagates readily from cuttings and has been rooted numerous times in my shop. Ideally firm, May-June cuttings with 3,000 ppm IBA, light fertilizer after rooting and extended photoperiod to induce a growth flush and subsequent overwinter survival. Seeds require 3 month warm/3 month cold stratification to promote germination. Appears more like Fothergilla for germination requirements rather than simply sowing fresh seed of related taxa like ×Sycoparrotia semidecidua and Distylium species and up they come.

Quixotic assortment of cultivars including weeping, upright, and variegated selections. The list includes ‘Bella’ (leaves with dark red to purple tints; autumn color wine red), ‘Biltmore’ (100-year-old plant, wide-spreading habit, beautiful bark), ‘Burgundy’ (young growth flushed purple; superb deep burgundy autumn color, from Junker’s Nursery, UK), ‘Cobhay Upright’, Contemplation® (‘PPCM2’), ‘Felicie’ (superb autumn color), ‘Globosa’, Golden Belltower® (‘Chrishaven1’) (appears similar to ‘Vanessa’), ‘Henny’s Dwarf’ (in Dirr garden and now 15’ high; not dwarf), ‘Het Plantsoen’, ‘Horizontalis’, ‘Jennifer Teats’, ‘Jodrell Bank’ (upright habit), ‘Lamplighter’ (cream-green variegated, unstable), ‘Pendula’ (described below), ‘Persian Carpet’, Persian Spire® (‘JLColumnar’) (tight, narrow pyramidal habit with good orange-red fall color), ‘Purple Halo’, ‘Purple Moon’, ‘Purple Rim’, Ruby Vase® (‘Inge’), Streetwise® (‘PPS551’), ‘Summer Bronze’, and ‘Vanessa’ (consistent golden yellow fall color). Additionally, several unnamed forms are cloistered in gardens and nurseries.

‘Jennifer Teats’ and ‘Vanessa’ are upright forms with superior foliage compared to row-run seedlings. The latter developed rich golden yellow fall color in late November-early December in our garden. For areas where lateral room is restricted, both make great elements. In fact, logic says (to me) that they may be better choices than the ubiquitous Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’, upright European hornbeam.

The Kew weeping form is the best I know as it truly weeps. Hillier Manual, 2019, describes ‘Pendula’ as “slowly developing into a dome-shaped mound, 6 to 10’ high, becoming a richly colored pile in autumn”. Several semi-weepers to almost plagiotropic branch forms that neither weep nor inspire are known.

Originally chanced upon ‘Ruby Vase’ on the West Coast at Schmidt Nursery, Boring, OR, the new leaves ruby-red, yellow-orange fall color, habit upright vase-shaped, 28’ high by 16’ wide. I see this offered more than the others.

The purple-leaf types do not hold the color as the leaves mature, perhaps a tinge of purple on the margins, but I believe that a seedling from these could be the ONE with persistent purple foliage like one of the purple-leaf European beeches.

The tenor of this article should resonate with readers that any Persian parrotia or ironwood is a worthy garden/landscape element. Contemplation®, ‘Jennifer Teats’, Persian Spire®, ‘Vanessa’ and ‘Henny’s Dwarf’ are part of the Dirr garden and I hope to add others. In fact, assembling a collection of cultivars would make for an exciting treasure hunt and old-age activity. More exciting than shuffle-board!

The red buckeye is among the most beautiful eastern North American tree species, especially in flower, when the brilliant red panicles glow in the woodsy understory. The species occurs naturally in pinelands, pine-deciduous woods, wooded bluffs, stream banks and bottomlands throughout the range. The USDA Plants Database shows distribution in the wild from North Carolina to Florida west in an arc to West Virginia Kentucky, southern Illinois, southeast Missouri dipping into Texas. I observed numerous plants along coastal South Carolina and Mobile Bay, Alabama, growing in sandy soils. Based on the southern distribution, one could assume lack of hardiness, yet plants in gardens and arboreta survived -20°F and below. Spring Grove Arboretum, Cincinnati, OH, has many beautiful specimens that have experienced below -20°F through the years. The species is successful at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, which in the 2018-19 winter recorded -24°F. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen, MN, grows ‘Atrosanquinea’, a bright red-flowered cultivar.

The species is utilized as an understory plant in the Dirr garden, residing in the towering canopy of white oak, tupelo, and sweetgum. In this shade environment, trees are smaller and more open. Flowering is moderated a degree but still respectable. The habits of open-grown trees vary from oval-rounded to rounded, usually clothed with dense branches and large compound palmate leaves. Landscape size ranges from 15 to 25’ in height with similar spread. The National Champion (2019) was 48’ high and 37’ wide and resided in St. Louis, MO. I was asked many years past how I determined tree sizes in the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. I typically reduced champion sizes by 50%. Not a bad rule of thumb for landscape sizes.

The foliage is beautiful, especially the early emerging leaves in riotous colors of green, purple-green, purple, yellow, orange, red, bronze and other permutations (see photo). The effect is ephemeral for the foliage soon becomes shiny dark green. Fall color is yellow at best, assuming there are persistent leaves. The anthracnose/blotch often defoliates trees by late summer. Each leaf is composed of 5 to 7, doubly serrate leaflets, to 6” long.

Flowers, pure red in the best incarnation, open with the emerging foliage in late April (Athens). They remain effective for two weeks or longer, depending on temperatures. The individual tubular flowers, 11/2 to 2’” long, are borne in a 6 to 8” long panicles at the ends of the shoots. Flowers are pollinated by the ruby-throated hummingbirds. A tree in resplendent flower is the tonic of spring. Red buckeye hybridizes with A. flava, A. glabra, and A. sylvatica, the result a mixed bag of flower colors.

The fruit is a large, smooth-skinned dehiscent capsule with one/two shiny rich brown seeds. As soon as the capsule starts to split, they should be collected and the seeds removed. Plant immediately as seeds will quickly wither. I sow seeds in 3-gallon containers filled with pine bark, cover with one-inch of bark, protect from predators, and leave outside. The root radical emerges soon after planting; the shoot the following spring. The seedlings are divided in late fall, tap root pruned, and transplanted to 3-gallon containers. The seedlings often flower in the second or third year.

Certainly, an adaptable species and can be grown in acid or high pH, sandy to clay-based soils with moderate moisture. Does show drought stress and requires supplemental water. The worse-case scenario is the leaves abscise but the tree bounces back the next year. I wish the species were more available in garden center commerce.

Aesculus pavia and A. hippocastanum hybridized in cultivation, largely without the hand of the breeder, to produce A. ×carnea, the red horsechestnut, and the cultivars ‘Briotii with deeper red flowers, ‘Fort McNair’ with lighter pink flowers and greater leaf blotch resistance, and ‘O’Neil’s Red’ with close to red flowers. ‘Briotii’ is one of Bonnie’s favorite flowering trees, consistently flowering in the garden since planting in 2013.

I have always loved the buckeyes and horsechestnuts and perhaps this small essay with inspire others to engage with the genus.

Chionanthus retusus- Chinese fringetree

 Michael A. Dirr

In 2018, I was asked to assist with our county’s (Oconee, Georgia) tree planting project for a new four-lane, 3.5-mile highway. The county commissioner emphasized the concept of a tree-lined gateway to the county seat, Watkinsville. After many meetings, nursery visits and suggestions, we agreed upon 760 trees, comprising 51 different species and cultivars. The landscape architect sited the trees to minimize underwire issues, sight-line intrusion, and space allocations (medians). Locating diverse small tree species, 15 to 30’, was difficult and redbuds and dogwoods were overplanted, with more loses than I expected. One superlative addition was Chionanthus retusus, Chinese fringetree, the only regret, we did not use more. Chionanthus viriginicus, the native white fringetree, was presented in a previous HMI article/blog. It was included in the project and has prospered.

There are 60 Chionanthus species widely distributed in the tropics with only the above two species temperate zone cold hardy. Chionanthus retusus occurs in mixed forests, thickets, and along rivers in China, Korea, and possibly Japan. In cultivation, it forms a broad-rounded to spreading outline, often with long splaying shoots. I observed permutations in habit from vase-shaped to columnar (‘Tokyo Tower’). I estimate the species landscape size between 15 to 25’ high and wide. The bark on young trees is exfoliating/curling; with age and size, ridged and furrowed, the ridges flat and gray, the furrows, deep brown to black.

Foliage is 2 to 3” long, rounded in outline on ‘China Snow’; 6 to 8” long and narrow elliptic on ‘Arnold’s Pride’. Typically, deep green to glossy dark green in summer and tremendously heat and drought tolerant. Fall color, soft yellow to golden yellow, develops late (November-December), remaining effective for many weeks. The foliage is freeze resistant to at least 25°F.

The flowers are borne in 2 to 3” high, 2 to 4” wide panicles, mid to late May, Athens (zone 8). The flowers occur at the end of the new season’s shoots and shroud the canopy in a fleecy dome of snow; effective for several weeks depending on temperatures. The sexes are separate (for most part), thus fruits may or may not be present. The fruit is a dark blue, ½” long ovoid drupe, the outer covering fleshy, the inner a stone-like seed. Fruits ripen in September-October and persist longer than those of C. virginicus. Birds have stripped C. virginicus on campus while fruits of C. retusus persisted into late fall.

The species is well adapted to extremes of soil, except wet. Acid, alkaline, clay-based, and droughty (once established) are fair game. For maximum flower effect, site in full sun, yet plants in shade are effective. The species transplants readily and is available container-grown and balled and burlapped. Hardiness is open to question with zones 6 to 8 (9) suitable. I suggest -15°F will seriously injure plants, although a 30 to 35’ high specimen, grown from seed collected by E. H. Wilson, has been growing for over 100-years in Boston’s Arnold Arboretum.

The species has thrived in the highway setting and has generated questions about identity. It is an excellent under wire tree and with new cultivars available serves as an alternative to time-honored redbuds and dogwoods.

Cultivars:

‘Arnold’s Pride’ is mentioned above. Vase-shaped outline with longer/clearer trunk and suitable for street tree use.  Now in commerce and available from Pleasant Run Nursery, New Jersey.

‘China Snow’ is the thick-textured, glossy dark green leaf, profuse flowered selection developing a rounded outline with a low-branched trunk. Fits the 15 to 25’ high and wide size category. Named by don Shadow, Winchester, TN. Reasonably common in commerce.

‘Tokyo Tower’ is a more or less columnar form, slightly wider at the top, creating a narrow vase-shape silhouette. The 11-year-old plant in the Dirr garden is 24’ high and 8’ wide. Did not produce many flowers until the 6^th year and then primarily in the upper branches. A superb choice where lateral space is limited.

Other cultivars include ‘Ashford’, ‘Confucius, and Spirit® (‘CRN10’).

In previous tree profiles, I discussed Magnolia acuminata and M. × soulangeana and herein highlight an increasingly important landscape species, M. viginiana. It is becoming more common in contemporary landscapes because of new cultivars with smaller sizes, increased cold hardiness, and fully evergreen foliage into zone 6 landscapes. The impetus for this discussion resulted from the August 5, 2020 visit to Apalache Nursery, Turtletown, TN. The owner, Keith Kilpatrick and his son, Taylor, have been long-time friends and native tree aficionados. The nursery nestles in a beautiful, unspoiled Brigadoon-type valley with visitors only allowed every hundred years (It was the 100th year anniversary). Bonnie commented the setting was one of the most pristine places she had ever experienced (photo). Keith and son specialize in trees and shrubs grown from wild-collected local seed. Magnolia virginiana ‘Apalache’ is their cold hardy evergreen selection, leaves lustrous dark green, clothed with branches to the ground, 20 to 25’ high. The remarkable aspect of the cultivar is the consistency of habit and foliage when grown from seed (photo, ‘Apalache’). I have grown many seedlings of the species with nothing akin to the parent. In fact, a recent seedling population derived from Keltyk® yielded small- compact and loose-open habits; tiny leaves to semi- tropical foliage (photo).
Magnolia virginiana grows in moist to wet soils, often in swamps, from Massachusetts to Florida, west to Texas, and inland to Tennessee, Oklahoma and Arkansas. In Weeks Bay Wildlife National Estuarine Research Reserve, AL, trees with trunks as large as oaks grew in the swamp next to M. grandiflora and Q. michauxii.
Landscape size is in the 30 to 50’ height range; less in width. National Champion is 115’ high and 66’ wide and resides in Jefferson, FL. Trees are single to multiple trunked, gracefully pyramidal-oval in youth, broad-oval at maturity. The foliage, bright to shiny dark green, the undersides silver-white, provide refined and billowy auras, especially when buffeted by the wind. Leaves range from 3 to 8” long, one-third to one half this in width. The deciduous types may develop pretty yellow fall color. Young stems are light green and when bruised/scraped emit a sweet lemon fragrance. Bark on large trunks is smooth, gray, and similar to beech bark.
Flowers appear in April in zone 8; a tree at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, Boothbay, ME, is flowering in October. Flowers develop on old and new growth of the season for several months. Each glistening white, 2 to 3” (4”) diameter, exceedingly fragrant, composed of 9 to 12 tepals (petals and sepals similar in shape and size). The knobby 2” long and wide fruits turn dark red, the red seeds emerging from the follicles on a slender silver thread. Seeds can be collected at this stage, soaked in water, the pulp removed, placed in moist medium in plastic bags, and cold stratified for 2 to 3 months. Seeds often germinate during the cold period; the white root radicles evident. Remove and transplant to suitable germination media.
The species, although native to swamps, will tolerate drier soils, especially once established. I observed chlorosis on plants in the Midwest. A pH range of 5.5 to, shouldering on 7, is suitable. Trees are produced in containers and balled and burlapped. Growth is fast, especially young seedling trees, which easily reach 6’ and more in a season. As a single specimen it develops into a pretty tree. Useful as a patio or large container element. I noticed groupings and rows of trees for screening. On the Georgia campus it has been used to shadow and soften blank-walled buildings. During nursery visits, increased production is evident as the landscape architecture profession has embraced the species for multiple uses.
Most exciting is the number of cultivars introduced in the 21st century. I have grown/observed the following.
Emerald Tower® (‘JN8’) is upright, more compact, with glossy green foliage. 20’ by 8’. Ray Jackson introduction, Tennessee.
Green Mile™ (‘MVHH’) develops a graceful pyramidal habit with long narrow shiny dark green semi-evergreen to evergreen foliage. Size 35’ by 15’. Selected by Alex Neubauer, Hidden Hollow Nursery, TN.
‘Green Shadow’ was fully evergreen after exposure to -20°F. Named by Don Shadow, Winchester, TN. 30 to 40’ high to 20’ wide.
‘Henry Hicks’ is one of the earliest hardy evergreen selections. I have grown it in the Georgia garden and although evergreen, it has been a slow mover. Estimate 30 to 40’ high; 20 to 30’ wide.
Keltyk® ( ‘MVMTF’) has smaller foliage, more compact habit and is completely evergreen, 20 to 30’ high, less in spread. I love this selection. More refined in foliage and habit. Introduced by Moon Tree Farm, GA.
Moonglow® (‘Jim Wilson’) is a larger, loose-growing selection with dark green, semi-evergreen foliage. Matures at 35 to 40’ by 15 to 18’. Survived -28°F without injury. Beautiful plant and widely available in commerce.
‘Northern Belle’ sports darker green leaves then Moonglow® and survived -35°F. 25’ high by 8 to 10’ wide.
‘Santa Rosa’ has the largest evergreen leaves of any cultivar. Selected from a Florida seed source so best in zones (6)7 to 9. More wide spreading than others. 25’ by 20’.

 

Certainly, easy to become monochromatic about small maples when Acer palmatum and the numerous cultivars are readily available via garden centers and mail order sources. Why look further? Well, if you live in the zone 3 to 5 regions of the U.S., then Japanese maple culture is challenging, if not impossible. Enter, Acer pseudosieboldianum, Korean maple, native to Korea, northern China and the Russian Far East, easily adapted to zone 3, -30 to -40F. I observed trees, multi-stemmed in habit, on the University of Maine campus, Orono. The literature points to successful culture in North Dakota where the cultivar, ‘Northern Spotlight’, originated and was introduced. I asked my coauthor of THE TREE BOOK, Keith Warren, about the species scarcity in commerce, considering its hardiness. When he worked at J. Frank Schmidt Nursery, OR, Keith tried to develop a selection with uniform habit and non-splaying branches. To date, no success, and the work toward a better cultivar continues. Iseli Nursey, OR, recently introduced three hybrids between A. palmatum and A. pseudosieboldianum. They are listed in the cultivar section. Doubtfully will they be as cold hardy as the Korean species.

Little is known about performance in the heat and I had serious doubts until witnessing a 15’ high tree in the garden of Coach Vince Dooley, Athens, GA. The tree was in rich yellow-orange-red fall color in November (see photo) when I visited. I remember telling Coach I had doubts about performance in the zone 8 climate. I asked Dr. Dave Creech, Mast Arboretum, Nacogdoches, TX (zone 8/9) about experiences with the species. He mentioned it was tremendously successful. Here is a tree with north to south adaptability in any soil except wet.

Korean maple is often a multi-stemmed, bushy tree, 15 to 25’ high and wide. No doubt, it would need staking and pruning to develop a central leader. The medium green leaves, 3 to 4” diameter, are composed of 9 to 11 (13) lobes, with narrow sinuses cut half way to the base. A reliable foliage identification characteristic is the pubescence in the axils of the veins on the lower side of the leaf. Every tree I observed in the fall showed excellent fall color in various shades of yellow, orange, and red.

I collected seeds from Coach Dooley’s tree last November and, after 60 days cold moist stratification, ~12 healthy seedlings have germinated. Peering into the future, I was so excited, I purchased a pound of seed from Sheffield Seed, NY. The folly of my action is the number of seeds per pound, ~10,260. Have half in cold most stratification and am already thinking about space.

Cultivars: Recently read an article in Yankee Magazine that quoted Dennis Mareb, Windy Hill Nursery, Great Barrington, MA, extolling the virtues of ‘Ice Dragon’, a hybrid, for New Englanders who want to grow Acer palmatum, but cannot. Other hybrids include ‘Arctic Jade’, ‘Northern Glow’, and ‘Northwind’. All are in the 20’ by 20’ size category and offer orange-red fall color. ‘Northern Spotlight’ is a true A. pseudosieboldianum with proven hardiness in North Dakota to -40F.

I believe this rare maple will achieve commonality in the northern tier of States and Canada as new cultivars are developed. There are too many excellent traits to keep it in the shadows. Anyone wanting a few seeds, please email me at michirr@aol.com with an address and I will try to accommodate with a small packet. I am hoping to spread the wealth.

Certainly, easy to become monochromatic about small maples when Acer palmatum and the numerous cultivars are readily available via garden centers and mail order sources. Why look further? Well, if you live in the zone 3 to 5 regions of the U.S., then Japanese maple culture is challenging, if not impossible. Enter, Acer pseudosieboldianum, Korean maple, native to Korea, northern China and the Russian Far East, easily adapted to zone 3, -30 to -40F. I observed trees, multi-stemmed in habit, on the University of Maine campus, Orono. The literature points to successful culture in North Dakota where the cultivar, ‘Northern Spotlight’, originated and was introduced. I asked my coauthor of THE TREE BOOK, Keith Warren, about the species scarcity in commerce, considering its hardiness. When he worked at J. Frank Schmidt Nursery, OR, Keith tried to develop a selection with uniform habit and non-splaying branches. To date, no success, and the work toward a better cultivar continues. Iseli Nursey, OR, recently introduced three hybrids between A. palmatum and A. pseudosieboldianum. They are listed in the cultivar section. Doubtfully will they be as cold hardy as the Korean species.

Little is known about performance in the heat and I had serious doubts until witnessing a 15’ high tree in the garden of Coach Vince Dooley, Athens, GA. The tree was in rich yellow-orange-red fall color in November (see photo) when I visited. I remember telling Coach I had doubts about performance in the zone 8 climate. I asked Dr. Dave Creech, Mast Arboretum, Nacogdoches, TX (zone 8/9) about experiences with the species. He mentioned it was tremendously successful. Here is a tree with north to south adaptability in any soil except wet.

Korean maple is often a multi-stemmed, bushy tree, 15 to 25’ high and wide. No doubt, it would need staking and pruning to develop a central leader. The medium green leaves, 3 to 4” diameter, are composed of 9 to 11 (13) lobes, with narrow sinuses cut half way to the base. A reliable foliage identification characteristic is the pubescence in the axils of the veins on the lower side of the leaf. Every tree I observed in the fall showed excellent fall color in various shades of yellow, orange, and red.

I collected seeds from Coach Dooley’s tree last November and, after 60 days cold moist stratification, ~12 healthy seedlings have germinated. Peering into the future, I was so excited, I purchased a pound of seed from Sheffield Seed, NY. The folly of my action is the number of seeds per pound, ~10,260. Have half in cold most stratification and am already thinking about space.

Cultivars: Recently read an article in Yankee Magazine that quoted Dennis Mareb, Windy Hill Nursery, Great Barrington, MA, extolling the virtues of ‘Ice Dragon’, a hybrid, for New Englanders who want to grow Acer palmatum, but cannot. Other hybrids include ‘Arctic Jade’, ‘Northern Glow’, and ‘Northwind’. All are in the 20’ by 20’ size category and offer orange-red fall color. ‘Northern Spotlight’ is a true A. pseudosieboldianum with proven hardiness in North Dakota to -40F.

I believe this rare maple will achieve commonality in the northern tier of States and Canada as new cultivars are developed. There are too many excellent traits to keep it in the shadows. Anyone wanting a few seeds, please email me at michirr@aol.com with an address and I will try to accommodate with a small packet. I am hoping to spread the wealth.