Five Lesser-Known Trees to Consider for the Home Landscape
Selecting the right tree can add beauty, seasonal interest and wildlife value to a home landscape. Several uncommon species worth considering include ginkgo, American yellowwood, black gum, Osage orange and sourwood.
Ginkgo is one of the oldest living tree species, dating back roughly 200 million years. Its distinctive fan-shaped leaves turn brilliant golden yellow in fall. Ginkgo is also exceptionally durable, with few serious pest or disease problems. Established trees tolerate urban conditions, pollution and periods of drought, making them reliable landscape and street trees. They are slow-growing but long-lived and generally develop a single trunk when planted as young trees.
American yellowwood is a southeastern native that produces fragrant white flowers in spring and attracts pollinators. It typically grows 30 to 50 feet tall and also develops attractive fall color. Young trees benefit from structural pruning because they can develop multiple competing branches and weak forks. Training the tree to one strong central trunk while it is young can help improve attractiveness and reduce future branch breakage.
Black gum, or black tupelo, is another native tree that deserves more attention in residential landscapes. Its outstanding fall color can include red, orange, yellow and purple, sometimes all on the same branch. Black gum also provides wildlife benefits. Its flowers attract pollinators, while its bluish-black fruits provide food for birds and small mammals. The tree has strong, durable wood and grows relatively quickly, reaching about 30 to 40 feet.
Osage orange is known for its extremely hard wood, thorns and large, unusual fruits often called horse apples. Historically, it was planted as a living fence because its dense growth and thorns created an effective barrier for livestock. In a home landscape, its thorns and messy fruit require careful consideration when choosing a planting location. With early training, it can be developed with a single trunk and generally reaches about 30 feet.
Sourwood is a southeastern native. It has a layered growth habit, summer flowers and exceptional fall color. Its foliage can turn a deep red to almost purple in autumn. The flowers are also valued for the distinctive honey produced from them in the Appalachian region. Sourwood can grow in sun or shade. Although trees grown in full sun may develop better fall color, they also require more summer watering when young. Landscape specimens will often remain around 25 to 30 feet tall.
These often-overlooked trees offer a variety of benefits, from colorful foliage and flowers to wildlife habitat and durability. When choosing one for a home landscape, consider mature size, growth habit, maintenance needs and any special characteristics—such as thorns or messy fruit—to ensure the tree is planted in an appropriate location.
Related Videos:
Seven Great Landscape Trees
Low Maintenance Landscape Plants
Eleven Common Landscape Mistakes
Related Resources:
Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree
A Shade Tree with Benefits
Black Gum: Nyssa biflora
Osage-orange
Oxydendrum arboreum
Ginkgo is one of the oldest living tree species, dating back roughly 200 million years. Its distinctive fan-shaped leaves turn brilliant golden yellow in fall. Ginkgo is also exceptionally durable, with few serious pest or disease problems. Established trees tolerate urban conditions, pollution and periods of drought, making them reliable landscape and street trees. They are slow-growing but long-lived and generally develop a single trunk when planted as young trees.
American yellowwood is a southeastern native that produces fragrant white flowers in spring and attracts pollinators. It typically grows 30 to 50 feet tall and also develops attractive fall color. Young trees benefit from structural pruning because they can develop multiple competing branches and weak forks. Training the tree to one strong central trunk while it is young can help improve attractiveness and reduce future branch breakage.
Black gum, or black tupelo, is another native tree that deserves more attention in residential landscapes. Its outstanding fall color can include red, orange, yellow and purple, sometimes all on the same branch. Black gum also provides wildlife benefits. Its flowers attract pollinators, while its bluish-black fruits provide food for birds and small mammals. The tree has strong, durable wood and grows relatively quickly, reaching about 30 to 40 feet.
Osage orange is known for its extremely hard wood, thorns and large, unusual fruits often called horse apples. Historically, it was planted as a living fence because its dense growth and thorns created an effective barrier for livestock. In a home landscape, its thorns and messy fruit require careful consideration when choosing a planting location. With early training, it can be developed with a single trunk and generally reaches about 30 feet.
Sourwood is a southeastern native. It has a layered growth habit, summer flowers and exceptional fall color. Its foliage can turn a deep red to almost purple in autumn. The flowers are also valued for the distinctive honey produced from them in the Appalachian region. Sourwood can grow in sun or shade. Although trees grown in full sun may develop better fall color, they also require more summer watering when young. Landscape specimens will often remain around 25 to 30 feet tall.
These often-overlooked trees offer a variety of benefits, from colorful foliage and flowers to wildlife habitat and durability. When choosing one for a home landscape, consider mature size, growth habit, maintenance needs and any special characteristics—such as thorns or messy fruit—to ensure the tree is planted in an appropriate location.
Related Videos:
Seven Great Landscape Trees
Low Maintenance Landscape Plants
Eleven Common Landscape Mistakes
Related Resources:
Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree
A Shade Tree with Benefits
Black Gum: Nyssa biflora
Osage-orange
Oxydendrum arboreum