Identify Trees

By: John Degroot

January 9 2010

Identify Trees - Garden Clippings for Jan 9, 2010

                In the dead of winter it’s easy to spot the trees that have odd seed pods or fruit.

                 American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a tall growing tree that is seldom seen here in Ontario, but plentiful along the eastern states all the way from Connecticut to Florida.  Its star shaped leaves with 5 or 7 lobes are easy to recognize.  Expect to see more Sweet Gums in Ontario as global warming continues to take effect.  The seed pods are thorny star wars style balls nearly an inch in diameter.

                Northern Catalpa (catalpa species) is a common course textured tree with large white flowers that arrive in early spring.  The long green seed pods that appear in summer turn brown as the season progresses.  The tree is often called “bean tree” for its long bean like seeds that are hidden by the tree’s large leaves through summer.  Catalpa is not my favorite tree because it is weak wooded, and has an irregular shape.  ‘Mophead’ or Umbrella Catalpa is a cultivated form with a straight stem and a round head.  Northern Catalpa is often found along ditches and fence lines.

                 Gingko Biloba, one of my all time favorites, has distinctive fan shaped leaves that turn lovely yellow in fall.  The tree is well behaved with no insect or disease issues, and grows practically anywhere.  Only the male trees bear fruit which is yellow and looks like small grape clusters.

                Kentucky Coffee Tree (gymnocladus dioicus) is a native tree rarely found in Ontario.  The huge compound leaves are divided into smaller leaflets.  The fruit, when raw is poisonous and is said to have been roasted and been used as a substitute for coffee by early settlers.  Seed pods are short, broad, and resemble large peas in their pod.  This photo was taken in Sarnia’s Germain Park.

                Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a tree widely used for tight commercial applications.  Leaves are compound and leaflets are so tiny that raking is not required.  The tree is favoured by those who want a broad growing tree that gives filtered shade.  Brown twisted seed pods form in summer and persist through winter.  New cultivars such as Shademaster and Skyline rarely produce seed pods.  This photo was taken in downtown Sarnia on Front Street.

                London Plane Tree (Platanus acerifolia), also known as Sycamore, is a tree known for its distinctive mottled bark.  The tree forms a broad spreading shape, is fast growing, has large leaves, and will soon become a favorite for backyards.  Fruit is about an inch in diameter, has stiff hairs, is yellowish turning to brown, and hangs like clusters of cherries.