Country: USA
State/District: MD
County: Montgomery
Date (D-M-Y): 1 - 7 - 2007

Photographer: E. M. Barrows

Identifier: E. M. Barrows
Collector: not applicable
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
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Keywords: A Glen Echo Heights
Additional Information:

Suggestions for planting trees on urban lots in Glen Echo Heights, Maryland and nearby areas.
I list both native and nonnative species of trees.
E. M. Barrows (1 July 2007, updated 14 December 2008)

I. Plant lots of native species when possible.

A. Use specimens grown from local seeds and cuttings when possible. Such trees are likely to survive well in Glen Echo Heights because they will have the appropriate genetics.   Unfortunately many street trees are clones specimens that vary very little genetically among cloned individuals.   Genetically diverse trees can be more resistant to tree diseases and pests.

B. Consider the size of a tree sapling as it matures. For example, many local tree species grow to 60 feet or taller.   Eastern White Pines can grow to 210 feet; Tuliptrees, 198; Eastern Hemlocks, 180; etc.

C. Native species are often more useful to beneficial native animals than alien tree species.

II. Plant smaller kinds of trees near homes and larger kinds away from homes to reduce damage to your home should a storm take down a tall tree.

A. In the downdraft of June 1989, large trees fell on several homes in Glen Echo Heights, MD, causing considerable damage.

B. Plant smaller kinds of trees under power lines.

C. Smaller trees (a few of which grow as tall as about 38 feet) include the following.   Native trees help to make a rich environment for wildlife.   Depending on the species, they provide seeds and nuts for birds, squirrels, and other large animals and pollen and nectar for pollinators.

Key

E = not native to Eastern U.S.
MC = on the Montgomery County trees list (December 2008).
N = native to Eastern U.S.
P = good for pollinators (in view of our worldwide pollinator crisis).

Acer campestre, Hedge Maple (up to 35 feet wide x 35 feet tall), E, MC.
Acer ginnata, Amur Maple (up to 25 feet wide x 20 feet tall), E, MC.
Acer griseum, Paperbark Maple (up to 25 feet wide x 30 feet tall), E, MC.
Amelanchier laevis, Allegheny Serviceberry (up to 20 feet wide x 40 feet tall), MC, N.
Carpinus caroliniana, American Hornbeam (up to 30 feet wide x 40 feet tall), MC, N.
Cercis canadensis L., Eastern Redbud (up to 30 feet wide x 31 feet tall, magenta through white flowers), MC, N, P.
Cercis canadensis ‘Texas White,’ Eastern Redbud (up to 30 feet wide x 30 feet tall, white flowers), MC, N, P.
Cephalanthus occidentalis, Buttonbush (up to 15 feet tall) (wonderful spherical, white flowerheads), N, P.
Chionanthus virginicus = Fringe-tree, Old-man’s-beard (up to 20 feet wide x 30 feet tall, fragrant white flowers), N, P.
Chionanthus virginicus = Fringe-tree, Old-man’s-beard, tree form (up to 20 feet wide x 20 feet tall, very fragrant white flowers), MC, N, P.
Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood (up to 30 feet wide x 38 feet tall, lots of white- or pink-bracted flowers), MC, N, P.
Cornus florida ‘rubra,’ Pink Flowering Dogwood (up to 30 feet wide x 30 feet tall, lots of white- or pink-bracted flowers), MC, N, P.
Cornus kousa, Kousa Dogwood (up to 20 feet wide x 20 feet tall), E, MC, P.
Corylus americana, American Hazelnut (up to 16 feet tall, edible nuts), N.
Crataegus crusgalli ‘inermis,’ Cockspur Hawthorn, thornless form (up to 35 feet wide x 30 feet tall), MC, N, P.
Crataegus viridis, Green Hawthorn (up to 35 feet wide x 35 feet tall), MC, N, P.
Euonymus atropurpureus, Eastern Wahoo = Burningbush (to to 25 feet tall, showy red fall leaves), N, P. (Euonymus alatus is an aggressive alien species that we should not plant.)
Hamamelis virginiana, Common Witch-hazel (up to 22 feet tall), N, P.
Kalmia latifolia, Mountain-laurel = Ivy-laurel, Calicobush (rarely as tall at 32 feet, showy pink flowers, green leaves in winter), N, P.
Koelruteria paniculata Goldenraintree (up to 40 feet wide x 40 feet tall, yellow flowers), E, MC, P.
Lindera benzoin, Spicebush (up to 20 feet tall, yellow flowers), N, P.
Malus cultivar, Crabapple (up to 25 feet wide x 20 feet tall), E?, MC, P.
Ostrya virginiana, Ironwood (up to 30 feet wide x 40 feet tall), MC, N.
Parriotia persica, Persian Ironwood = Persian Parrotia (up to 30 feet wide x 40 feet tall), E, MC.
Prunus alleghaniensis, Alleghany Plum = Sloe (up to 16 feet tall, white flowers), N, P.
Prunus americana, American Wild Plum (up to 25 feet tall, white flowers), N, P.
Prunus ‘Okame,’ Okame Cherry (up to 20 feet wide x 25 feet tall, pink flowers, very early flowering), E, MC.
Ptelea trifoliata, Hop Tree = Wafer-ash (up to 26 feet tall), N, P.
Quercus myrsinifolia, Chinese Evergreen Oak (up to 35 feet wide x 35 feet tall), E, MC.
Rhododendron maximum, Big Laurel = Rosebay Rhododendron (up to 16 feet tall, pink through white flowers, green leaves in winter), N, P.
Rhus copallina, Dwarf Sumac = Shining Sumac (up to 20 feet tall), N, P.
Rhus glabra, Smooth Sumac (up to 20 feet tall, clonal), N,, P.
Rhus typhina, Staghorn Sumac (up to 31 feet tall, clonal), N, P.
Staphylea trifolia, American Bladdernut (up to 16 feet tall), N, P.
Styrax japonicus, Japanese Snowbell (up to 25 feet wide x 30 feet tall), E, MC, P.
Syringa reticulata, Japanese Lilac (up to 20 feet wide x 25 feet tall), E, MC, P.
Viburnum prunifolium, Black Haw (up to 25 feet tall) (white flowers), N, P.

D. Larger trees include

Acer negundo, Ashleaf Maple = Boxelder, N.
Acer rubrum, Red Maple, N, P.
Acer saccharinum, Silver Maple, N, P.
Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple, N.
Amelanchier arborea, Common Serviceberry = Downy Serviceberry (lots of white flowers), N, P.
Asimina triloba, Pawpaw (edible fruit), N, P.
Betula lenta, Black Birch = Cherry Birch, Sweet Birch, N.
Betula nigra, River Birch (up to 40 feet wide x 50 feet tall), E, MC.
Carpinus betulus, European Hornbeam (up to 40 feet wide x 60 feet tall), E, MC.
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata,’ European Hornbeam, upright form (up to 20 feet wide x 40 feet tall), E, MC.
Carpinus caroliniana, American Hornbeam = Hop Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Musclewood, Muscletree, N.
Carya cordiformis, Bitternut, Bitternut Hickory, N.
Carya glabra, False Shagbark = Pignut, Pignut Hickory, Sweet Pignut (edible fruit), N.
Carya ovata, Shagbark Hickory, N.
Carya tomentosa, Mockernut = Mockernut Hickory, N.
Catalpa speciosa, Northern Catalpa, N, P.
Cladastris lutea, Yellowwood (up to 50 feet wide x 50 feet tall), MC, N, P.
Celtis occidentalis, Hackberry (up to 50 feet wide x 50 feet tall), MC, N, P.
Diospyros virginiana, Common Persimmon, N, P.
Fagus grandifolia, American Beech (up to 75 feet wide x 90 feet tall), MC, N.
Fagus syvatica, European Beech (up to 60 feet wide x 75 feet tall), MC, N.
Fraxinus americana, White Ash, N.
Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Red Ash = Green Ash (moist soil), N.
Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgo (up to 80 feet wide x 80 feet tall), E, MC. Montgomery County offers fruitless male trees.
Gleditsia triacanthos, Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos, Honeylocust, thornless cultivar (up to 50 feet wide x 70 feet tall), MC, N, P.
Gymnocladus dioica, Kentucky Coffeetree (up to 50 feet wide x 75 feet tall), MC, N, P. Montgomery County offers seedless male trees.
Halesia carolina, Carolina Silverbell (white flowers), N, P.
Juglans cinerea, Butternut = White Walnut (edible fruit), N. This species is now rare in the WDC Area.
Juglans nigra, Black Walnut (edible fruit), N.
Juniperus virginiana, Eastern Redcedar (green in winter), N.
Ilex opaca, American Holly (green in winter), N, P.
Lagerstroemia cultivars, Crape Myrtles (up to 40 feet, many less than 20 feet tall), E, P.
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum, N.
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba,’(up to 50 feet wide x 75 feet tall), Sweetgum, fruitless cultivar, MC, N.
Liriodendron tulipifera, Tuliptree = Tulip-poplar (yellow and orange flowers), N, P.
Magnolia virginiana, Bay Magnolia = Swamp-bay, Swamp Magnolia, Sweet-bay (fragrant, white flowers), N, P.
Morus rubra, Red Mulberry, N.   (Note the weedy White Mulberry, Morus alba, is not native to the US.).
Nyssa sylvatica, Blackgum = Sourgum (up to 45 feet wide x 70 feet tall), MC, N
Ostrya virginiana, Ironwood, N.
Oxydendron arboreum, Sourwood = Lily-of-the-valley-tree, Sorrel-tree (white flowers), N, P.
Pinus strobus, Eastern White Pine (green in winter), N.
Pinus virginiana, Virginia Pine (green in winter), N.
Platanus occidentalis, Eastern Sycamore, N.
Platanus xoccidentalis, London Planetree (up to 65 feet wide x 80 feet tall), E, MC.
Populus deltoides, Cottonwood, N.
Prunus serotina, Wild Black Cherry (white flowers), N, P.
Quercus alba, White Oak (up to 80 feet wide x 80 feet tall), MC, N. The State Tree of Mayland.
Quercus bicolor, Swamp White Oak (up to 80 feet wide x 80 feet tall), MC, N.
Quercus imbricaria, Shingle Oak, N.
Quercus falcata, Southern Red Oak, N.
Quercus lyrata, Overcup Oak (up to 55 feet wide x 55 feet tall), MC, N.
Quercus marilandica, Blackjack Oak, N.
Quercus macrocarpa, Blackjack Oak (up to 80 feet wide x 85 feet tall), N.
Quercus montana, Chestnut Oak, N.
Quercus palustris, Pin Oak (for moister places), N.
Quercus phellos, Willow Oak (up to 60 feet wide x 75 feet tall), MC, N.
Quercus robur, English Oak (up to 80 feet wide x 85 feet tall), E, MC.
Quercus rubra, Northern Red Oak (up to 60 feet wide x 80 feet tall), MC, N.
Quercus velutina, Black Oak, N.
Robinia pseudoacacia, Black Locust (fragrant, edible, white flowers), N, P.
Sassafras albidum, Sassafras, N, P.
Sophora japonica, Japanese Pagoda-tree (up to 40 feet wide x 70 feet tall), E, MC, P.
Taxodium distichum, Bald-cypress (up to 35 feet wide x 70 feet tall), MC, N.
Tilia americana, American Basswood, N, P.
Tilia tomentosa, Silver Linden (up to 60 feet wide x 60 feet tall), MC, N.
Tsuga canadensis, Eastern Hemlock (green leaves in winter), N.
Ulmus americana, American Elm (varieties resistant to Dutch Elm Disease), N.
Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge,’ American Elm (a variety resistant to Dutch Elm Disease) (up to 50 feet wide x 80 feet tall), MC, N.
Ulmus parvifolia, Lacebark Elm (up to 45 feet wide x 50 feet tall), E, MC.
Ulmus rubra, Slippery Elm = Red Elm, N.
Zelkova serrata ‘Village Green,’ (up to 60 feet wide x 60 feet tall), E, MC.

III. Plant a large diversity of trees within a neighborhood.

A. This helps wildlife.

B. This can reduce tree disease because there is not an overabundance of any one tree species.

IV. Plant trees in an ecological patch if possible. Such a patch is an area of trees, native shrubs, and native herbaceous plants.

V. It’s okay to mix a few nonnative tree species with natives, especially if one does not plant invasive trees such as Callery Pear, Princess-tree, and Tree-of-heaven. Garrett Park, Maryland, is an arboretum with many of native and alien tree species (http://www.garrettpark.org/GPArboretum/page6.html). Many Maryland native-plant nurseries are at http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/Nursery.htm.