Tree Trail Project 19-24

Tree Descriptions 19-24 (Eagle Scout Project by George Atkinson)

19) Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia X soulangiana)
This cousin of the Southern Magnolia grows to 30 to 40 feet tall. The Magnolia is known for its pink (or occasionally purple) flower petals, and is a very beautiful evergreen shrub/small tree. It is commonly found in the deep south of the USA, and was first cultivated in the early 1800s in France.

20) Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
The Empress Tree is a deciduous tree, and is also called the Foxglove Tree, in addition to several other common names. The Empress Tree grows 40 to 50 feet tall, and is commonly used for its wood because of its fast growth rate. It is found throughout the southern and mid-western United States, though it is native to China. Asian countries (primarily the Japanese) use the timber for rice pots, bowls, spoons, furniture, coffins, air crates, and shoe soles.

21) Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The Eastern Redbud is a deciduous t ree that can grow 20 to 30 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide. It is a very beautiful tree with many small pink, magenta, and purple flowers, and is related to the pea family. It has small, light green, broadly-heart shaped leaves that extend in an alternating zig-zag pattern. It is generally found between New Jersey, down south to Florida, and out west to Texas and Missouri. The Redbud’s branches are commonly used in basketry and in remedies for the common cold or flu (don’t try this at home!).

22) Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Also called the bull bay tree, the Southern Magnolia is an evergreen that grows from 60 to 80 feet tall. The Magnolia grows in the United States, from North Carolina to Florida, and even as west as eastern Texas. A Southern Magnolia is easy to identify, because it has creamy white fragrant flowers and fuzzy soft cones with red berries. Broad shiny dark green leaves coat this relatively tall tree. This amazing tree has a use in garden decoration because its thick roots have the ability to prevent other plants from growing nearby.

23) The Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)
The purple smoke tree, also known as the royal purple smoke bush, smoke bush, and the smoke tree, is a deciduous shrub that usually grows 10-15 feet tall but can grow upwards of 20 feet, depending on the surrounding conditions. It has beautiful purplish-pinkish plumes and is often found in the southeastern United States. It has green leaves and can turn orange, yellow, or purplish-red in fall. It is a popular garden specimen across the US.

24) White Pine (Pinus strobus)
The White Pine is an evergreen that usually grows between 50-80 feet tall but can grow as high as 150 feet under the right conditions. The White Pine has soft blue-green clustered needles (that grow in groups of 5) and shows no change in colour throughout the year. It is found in the wild along the east coast and in the south. The White Pine is used in crates, boxes, interior, construction, carving, and boat building. This tree is widely grown because it is commonly used as a Christmas tree.

Tree Descriptions 25 - 30