Arboretum Checklist

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Sweetbay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

Magnolia virginiana 89° 40.209 35° 04.952 The Sweetbay Magnolia has creamy white flowers

with a lovely lemon scent. It is native to Tennessee, multi-stemmed and is widely planted in a variety of landscapes. Its leaves and twigs are aromatic and spicy and attracts birds and swallowtail butterflies.

Box-elder

Acer negundo

Acer negundo 89° 40.190 35°04.974 The Box-elder is in the Maple family. Although

it is poorly formed and short-lived, it is widely planted in Europe. The Box-elder is used in wind

breaks and in erosion control in many parts of the world. Seeds of the Box-elder are used by many species

of birds and mammals as food. Early settlers boiled the sap down and used it as a sugar source.

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Acer saccharinum 89° 40.123 35°05.000

Silver maple is a native tree that is found in moist

soils. Because of its brittle wood, it is highly susceptible to storm damage and is no longer planted in urban areas. On the positive side, its leaves add color by turning a bright shade of yellow in the fall. It is known to react unfavorably to certain air pollutants. With its fast growth rate often 3 to 7 feet per year, it is being researched as a potential biofuel source.

Arboretum Checklist

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White Oak

Quercus alba

Quercus alba 89° 40.253 35° 05.012

White Oak is one of the 300 species of oaks in

North America. Its acorns are a favorite of deer. Native Americans made flour from the acorns that helped sustain them throughout the winter. The finest native White Oak trees in Tennessee

are used to make barrels at the Jack Daniels Distillery located in the state.

Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum

Taxodium distichum 89° 40.160 35° 04.983

The Bald Cypress is a majestic native tree

growing up to 120 feet. Its feather-like needles are “deciduous” turning rust colored in the fall. It can be easily identified by its straight trunk, buttrus or root flare the base, and small cones that drop in autumn. Look for its “knees.” This cypress can often be surrounded by cone-like “knees” that protrude around its base. Its wood is rot resistant, used to make log cabins, boats and is often used as a landscape tree.

River Birch

Betula nigra

Betula nigra 89° 40.195 35° 04.950 River Birch can be seen growing along the river

banks of the Wolf River in West Tennessee. Although it can grow up to 80 feet in height, its graceful branches sway gently in the breeze. Its lovely exfoliating bark makes it a sought after specimen tree in the urban landscape. The River Birch can be grown as a single stem or multi-stem

while increasing property value is a real bonus!

Arboretum Checklist

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Pignut Hickory

Carya glabra

Carya glabra 89° 40.163 35° 05.059

The Pignut Hickory has smooth bark and nuts

with thick shells. Its leaves turn yellow in the fall. Its wood was made into tool handles and wagon wheels because it was able to sustain vibration. The nuts were consumed by pigs in the early settler days and its common name “pignut” quickly caught on.

Pecan

Carya illinoinensis

Carya illinoinensis 89° 40.161 35° 04.961 The Pecan tree is widely planted in the Collierville

area and throughout the southeast region. It can grow 70 to 100 feet in height with wide spreading branches that forms a stately canopy. It is said that Thomas Jefferson planted pecan seeds at Monticello and gave some to George Washington. Harvesting pecans is an enjoyable pastime of many families in the fall. They are a good source of antioxidants and zinc. Pecan pies are a local

favorite!

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

Carya ovata 89° 40.214 35° 04.983 The Shagbark Hickory can easily be seen with its

rough shaggy bark. It is known for its edible nuts. Its name is derived from the Native American “pawcohiccora” and used when making corn cakes. Early pioneers used the inner bark to make a yellow dye for weaving cloth. Andrew Jackson, our 7th president of the United States was called “Old Hickory” by militia because he was said to be “tough as an old hickory.”

Arboretum Checklist

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Slippery Elm

Ulmus rubra

Ulmus rubra 89° 40.192 35° 04.970 Slippery Elm is a native tree, growing to around

60 feet in height. Its leaves have a distinct rough sandpaper feel on the upper side. The inside bark has a slippery “mucilaginous” feel and has been used externally for soothing wounds and burns. It is interesting to note that many prescription drugs have their origins in plants. The Bible makes many references to the healing uses of trees, fruit, plants and herbs.

Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Cercis canadensis 89° 40.163 35° 04.946 The Redbud is a native understory tree that grows

to a height of 30 feet. It has lovely purple flowers in the spring and is noted by its large heart-shaped leaves. The Redbud makes an attractive specimen tree

with its lovely purple flowers. It is widely planted through-out Collierville. Look for the redbuds and robins for the first signs of spring!

Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos

Gleditsia triacanthos 89°40.254 35°05.003 Both the common Honey Locust and its thornless

varieties are planted for erosion control and wind breaks. The thornless varieties can be planted for shade and as an ornamental tree in the urban forest. The wood is dense, making it very heavy and durable. It is used for fence posts, lumber pallets, in crating and in general construction. The sapwood is yellow in contrast to the reddish-brown heartwood providing an attractive grain.

Arboretum Checklist

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Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Diospyros virginiana 89° 40.225 35° 04.993 The Persimmon tree is native to the Collierville

area. Persimmons are often planted because of its desirable fruit. When the fruit is dried, it can be added to baked goods or occassionally fermented with hops, cornmeal or wheat bran into a sort of beer. The wood of the Persimmon tree has been made

into shoe lasts and for golf club heads. Folklore has it that the seed can be used to tell of an early winter.

Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua 89° 40.155 35° 05.058 The Sweetgum is a native tree that is easily

identified by its star-shaped palmate leaves. Another way is by its “gumballs” that seem to be found in nearly every yard or swimming pool around. A non-fruiting variety may be found at your local nursery. The lumber from the Sweetgum can be made into

furniture, boxes, crates etc. The veneer is made into baskets and interior woodwork.

American Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Platanus occidentalis 89° 40.154 35° 04.977 The Sycamore tree has a wide distribution range.

It is fast growing, with a shallow root system. Its exfoliating bark is an interesting white, grey, green and brown, making it an attractive specimen tree. When planted in the urban setting, a root barrier can be installed when planting to help prevent uplifting of sidewalks. Products made from the Sycamore tree are

butcherblocks, furniture, flooring and particleboard.

Arboretum Checklist

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Water Oak

Quercus nigra

Quercus nigra 89° 40.222 35° 04.986 The Water Oak is a native tree growing up to 100

feet tall. Its well–rounded canopy can be easily recognized with three distinct leaf shapes, one being spatulate or rounded tip that tapers to the base. It is widely planted here, making a splendid shade tree that provides welcoming cooler shade on our hot summer days! Three strategically planted shade trees can provide oxygen, help reduce energy costs and save money too!

Willow Oak

Quercus phellos

Quercus phellos 89° 40.206 35° 04.975 The Willow Oak is native to Tennessee. Although

found in the forest, it is widely planted as a shade tree. Its leaves are narrow or pinnate and are often mistaken as a “pin oak.” The shade that the Willow Oak provides can help

cool temperatures in urban areas and help reduce the urban heat island effect.

Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica

Nyssa sylvatica 89° 40.196 35° 05.065 The Black Gum tree is known as an exceptional

landscape tree growing from 30 to 50 feet tall. Its round canopy makes a lovely shade tree with shiny, dark green summer foliage, turning a deep purple and red in the fall. Birds, squirrel, and other wildlife feast on the small, round black berries.

Arboretum Checklist

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Water Tupelo

Nyssa aquatica

Nyssa aquatica 89° 40.241 35° 05.005 Water Tupelo is a native tree that can be found

around the Johnson Park wetland areas. It has a wider buttress that helps to stabilize its corky root system in moist soils. Its mature height is about 100 feet. The name “Tupelo” is from the Creek Indian words meaning “swamp tree.” Its spongy roots are used in making fishing corks or floats. Tupelo Honey is made from its blossoms and is widely known by beekeepers throughout the south.

White Mulberry

Morus alba

Morus alba 89° 40.145 35° 05.039

The White Mulberry is an exotic tree from China.

It is an invasive specie that produces a white to pale pink fruit resembling a blackberry. In China, the White Mulberry is cultivated for its

leaves which are a primary source of food for silkworms. The tree was introduced in the southeast United States in an unsuccessful attempt at silk production.

White Ash

Fraxinus americana

Fraxinus americana 89° 40.183 35° 05.066 The White Ash tree is a native tree with a mature

growth of 50 feet. Its compound leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. It has a fast growth rate and its seeds are eaten by birds and other wildlife. The White Ash tree is known for its use in

baseball bats, hocky sticks, polo mallets, church pews and tool handles. Trees should be monitored for the Emerald Ash Borer that has spread into many states. In days gone by, a child’s swing was often seen suspended from a stout branch of the lovely ash tree.

Arboretum Checklist

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Winged Elm

Ulmus alata

Ulmus alata 89° 40.157 35° 05.061 The Winged Elm derives its name from the

distinctive broad corky wings that are present on some twigs. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the inner bark was made into rope for making covers of cotton.

Cherrybark Oak

Quercus pagoda

Quercus pagoda 89° 40.212 35° 04.979

The Cherrybark Oak is one of the fastest growing

species of red oaks. Its mature height is up to 130 feet tall, forming a massive canopy. Its acorns are a favorite of turkey, deer, squirrels and woodpeckers. The wood of the Cherrybark Oak is used in

flooring, furniture, finishing lumber and is relatively free of defects and knots. It is the highest valued lumber of the southern red oaks.

Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica

Lagerstroemia indica 89° 40.207 35° 04.949

The Crape Myrtle is native to China. It is an inter-

esting cultivar that flowers during the summer months. It is multi-stemmed with rust colored ex- foliating bark. The Crape Myrtle is drought tolerant and widely

planted in the south. It is a wonderful addition to the landscape adding color all summer long. It is important to note that the Crape Myrtle comes in a variety of sizes, colors and bark from dwarf to tree form. Selecting the proper variety for the planting site should prevent unsightly hatracking and a gnarly appearance.

Arboretum Checklist

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Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Fraxinus pennsylvanica 89° 40.180 35° 04.940 The Green Ash tree has been widely planted in

residential areas because of its good form, and it is adaptable to a wide range of sites. However, the recent invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer is causing a very serious problem for many species of ash. Forest Researchers are trapping for the EAB in many states in an effort to study and prevent further damage to the ash trees. The wood of the Green Ash tree is very hard and

strong and has high shock resistance. It is very bendable, making it a great wood for baseball bats and tool handles.

Swamp Chestnut Oak

Quercus michauxii

Quercus michauxii 89° 40.196 35° 05.064 The Swamp Chesnut Oak is quite common in

lowland areas in West Tennessee. Another name is the “Basket Oak” because baskets were woven from fibers and splints obtained by splitting the wood of the Swamp Chestnut Oak. The woven baskets were used to

carry cotton from the fields.

Black Willow

Salix nigra

Salix nigra 89° 40.192 35° 04.949 The Black Willow tree is found along riverbanks

and has one of the most extensive ranges across the country. It can be an invasive tree. The early pioneers used the charcoal from the willow for making gunpowder. Other uses include furniture, toys, cabinets, doors and barrels. The pain reliever aspirin has its origins in the willow. It is from the Salicaceae family and

contains salicylates. Pioneers were said to make a tea from its bark to reduce pain and inflammation.

Arboretum Checklist

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Sawtooth Oak

Quercus accutisima

Quercus accutisima 89° 40.189 35° 04.946 The Sawtooth Oak is not a native species to North

America. It has its origins in China, Japan and Korea. Research shows it was introduced in America in 1862. It has since been planted in the landscape and grows to 70 feet when mature. Its acorns are spiny with 150 acorns to a pound.

Scarlet Oak

Quercus coccinea

Quercus coccinea 89° 40.197 35° 05.065 The Scarlet Oak tree is a native species that

reaches a mature height of 90 feet. It is shade intolerant, with a fast growth rate. Its acorns attract chipmunks, squirrels, blue jays, red-headed woodpeckers and deer. The tree is noted for its brilliant red leaves in the fall, well deserving of its name, Scarlet Oak.

Overcup Oak

Quercus lyrata

Quercus lyrata 89° 40.138 35° 05.077 The Overcup Oak tree grows to a mature height of

80 feet, primarily found in lowland forested areas. It is native and is used to make lumber. Its acorns vary from 1 to 2 inches, producing its acorn crop annually. It is browsed by deer, squirrel, ducks and wild turkey.

Arboretum Checklist

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