Replacement Trees
Replacement trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. If your preferred replacement tree is not available at the time of distribution, you will be provided with a healthy alternative. Specific tree species cannot be reserved ahead of the event.
- American beautyberry ( Callicarpa americana) - Available in Clinton
A large, native shrub known for its striking, iridescent pink to purple fruit that clings to its long, arching, woody branches. American Beautyberry typically grows to a height and spread of 3-5 feet, though it can reach a maximum height of 9 feet. Tiny, whiteish-pink flowers form in dense clusters at leaf bases around stems. Smooth bark appears reddish brown on younger stems later fading to a light brown color. Elliptically shaped leaves, popularly browsed by white-tailed deer, fade to a light green to yellow fall color. Seeds and berry clusters are important foods for many species of birds, particularly the Northern Bobwhite.
- American snowbell ( Styrax americanus) - Available in Hampton, Marion and Clinton
A large deciduous, slender-branched shrub or small tree with showy, white, bell-shaped flowers and a graceful, arching crown. Mature height ranges from 6-12 feet When in bloom, pendulous clusters of flowers abundantly cover the plant, exuding a sweetly fragrant aura. This native plant attracts many pollinators species of bees, butterflies, and moths. Plant in full sun to partial shade in acidic, well-drained or moist-wet soil.
- Bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum) - Available in Clinton
Bald cypress is a large, needle-leaf, cone-bearing tree with a pyramidal shape, spreading crown and soft, feathery leaves. It reaches heights of 70-100 feet with narrower spread of 20-35 feet. Although this tree occurs in moist-wet soils, naturally, it is a superior selection in the urban environment, lending great versatility and tolerance of harsh, urban conditions, including heat, drought, diseases, and variable soil moisture. Bark is thin, fibrous, and light gray to reddish-brown. Small, one-inch, rounded cone fruits are produced each year, and fall color reveals a lovely, rich, bronze-reddish color. Bald cypress can be planted in full sun or partial shade.
- Bitternut Hickory ( Carya cordiformis) - Available in Hampton, Marion and Van Wyck
Bitternut hickory, Carya cordiformis, is a medium-to-large native, deciduous tree, that has a mature height of 60 to 80 feet and can live up to 200 years. Bitternut hickory prefers full sun locations and deep, moist soils but will tolerate poorly drained to drier sites. This tree has an open canopy, allowing turfgrass and other plants to grow beneath. Crisp fall weather will turn the leaves a vibrant yellow. The bitternut hickory produces bitter tasting nuts, mainly after 30 years of age. This tree is a host for moths, such as the beautiful luna moth (Actias luna) and the regal moth (Citheronia regalis).
- Blackgum (aka: Black tupelo) ( Nyssa sylvatica) - Available in Hampton, Marion, Van Wyck and Clinton
Black gum is a striking medium-large canopy tree with strong horizontal branching and a stout, central trunk, growing 40-60 feet in height with narrow spread of 15-20 feet. Young trees are consistently triangular. Attractive, dark green and glossy summer foliage transitions to a vivid display of scarlet red during fall. Clusters of small, bluish-black berry fruit produced, supplying an abundant food source for wild turkey, bobwhite quail, wood ducks and over 30 species of songbirds. Blackgum prefers full sun but will tolerate dappled shade.
- Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis) - Available in Van Wyck
Buttonbush is a native shrub that grows up to 10’ and spreads 6-8’. It naturally occurs in freshwater wetlands, so it thrives in moderate to wet soil with full sun to partial shade. If pruned, it can keep a round form. If left unpruned, it can serve as hedge or bordering plant. It is a great choice for pollinators, like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies during its flowering season from March to August. Buttonbush has spherical white puffball flowers with yellow tips. It has small brown nuts that persist through the winter.
- Carolina cherry laurel ( Prunus caroliniana ) - Available in Hampton, Marion and Clinton
The Carolina cherry-laurel is a multi-stemmed shrub that can grow to 35’ tall. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade. It is moderately salt tolerant and drought tolerant once established. It is also deer tolerant. It will self-seed in the landscape, so it can be a great hedge or border tree. It attracts pollinators and birds with fragrant, white flowers in the spring.
Carolina cherry laurel
Image courtesy of James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org - Cherrybark Oak ( Quercus pagoda) - Available in Van Wyck
Cherrybark oak is a large, shade tree that can grow over 100’ in the wild with a straight trunk and is fast-growing. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade on sandy or loam lowland sites. Acorns take two years to mature on trees at least 25 years old. In fall, the pagoda-shaped leaves turn yellow-brown. It has bark that closely resembles black cherry (Prunus serotina) as it matures. It is deer resistant, and attracts pollinators, various birds, and small mammals.
- Chinquapin (Aka: Dwarf chestnut, Allegheny chinquapin) ( Castanea pumila) - Available in Clinton
A small, deciduous, multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree known for its sweet-flavored, edible nuts, stout branching, and rounded, spreading canopy. This small tree can grow to 15-30 feet in height with 10– 20-foot spread and prefers full sun and dry to well-drained to soils. Chinquapin's bright green leaves are simple, oblong, and have fine-pointed, bristle-like teeth with a silvery underside. It makes a nice small shade tree and attracts songbirds and butterflies. Chinquapin is naturally drought and heat tolerant. At least two trees are needed to produce fruit. Several species of birds and mammals are attracted to this tree.
- Eastern redbud ( Cercis canadensis) - Available in Marion and Van Wyck
A small native tree with short trunk and multiple stems and vase shape with mature size of 15-25 feet in height with similar spread. Redbud is adored in early spring for its stunning display of gorgeous purplish-pink flowers that decorate the branches. Its leaves are smooth, simple, and heart-shaped, and bark is dark brown grayish with a flaky texture. Considered a tough, urban tree tolerant of clay soils and periods of drought.
- Elliott's blueberry ( Vaccinium elliotti) - Available in Clinton
A 4-6’ growing native shrub popular for its sweet blueberries and naturally grows in thickets along riverbanks or in bottomland forests. Leaves are small (one inch long) but slender with an elliptical shape. Plant Elliott's blueberry in full sun for best fruiting and in naturally acidic sandy, loamy soils. This shrub will grow well in moist to well-drained sites. Birds have been known to outcompete humans for the blueberries.
- Florida maple ( Acer floridanum) - Available in Clinton
lorida maple is a small to medium sized deciduous tree with rounded form mature height range of between 20-40 feet with similar spread. Though this species has the capacity to reach 60 feet in height, it is commonly observed as a smaller tree. Bright green leaves are simple and star-shaped with a lobed outline like northern sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Bark is smooth, light gray, and develops ridges which later split into plates as the tree matures and ages.
Florida maple is highly drought tolerant, can be grown in full sun or partial shade, and tolerates a variety of soil types and moisture conditions, including clay, loam, sand, acidic, well drained or wet soils. This beautiful tree makes an excellent shade tree for residential yards and parks, is free of major pests and diseases, and boasts an excellent yellow orange fall color.
- Florida anise tree ( Illicium floridanum) - Available in Clinton
Anise tree is a medium-large evergreen shrub or small tree with upright form and delicate, deep-red fringe-like flowers. Showy spring flowers grow to one and a half-inch in size and contain aromatic compounds that repel insects, making this plant pest resistant. Evergreen leaves are thick and shiny, olive green in color and have an aromatic fragrance when crushed. Plant Anise tree in partial sun or full shade to prevent leaves from scorching in excessive hours of bright sunlight. It prefers moist, rich soil to grow and can also tolerates excessively wet sites or occasional flooding.
- Hazel adler ( Alnus serrulata) - Available in Hampton and Marion
Hazel alder is a small, multi-trunked, deciduous tree with deep green leaves with serrated, wavy edges. Mature size of 10-15 feet. Also known as Smooth alder, this small shrubby tree is excellent for moist-wet soils as it grows naturally along edges of creeks, rivers, and ponds. Bark is shiny grayish-brown, smooth and fluted in appearance. Fall color is an attractive yellow with tinges of red. This native tree attracts songbirds, butterflies and other pollinators and can be planted in partial sun, partial shade, or full shade. Hazel alder is a robust little tree, tolerant of various site conditions, including clay, compaction, drought, erosion, heat, and occasional flooding.
- Oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia) - Available in Clinton
An attractive deciduous shrub that provides year-round interest and popular for its crowd-pleasing, summertime cone-shaped purplish-pink flower clusters. It’s large, dark green leaves cast a similar silhouette to oak tree leaves, later transitioning to a deep burgundy red in fall. As stems age, older bark reveals an exfoliating/peeling cinnamon-brown color. The average size of this shrub ranges from 3-6 feet in height and spread. Plant in full sun to partial shade and in moist to well-drained soils.
- Overcup oak ( Quercus lyrata) - Available in Marion and Clinton
A medium-sized oak in the white oak group that grows to an average of 40-60 feet tall and wide and has strong, upright-branching, and beautiful, symmetrical form. Overcup oak is considered a hearty, urban-tolerant selection and adapts well to difficult urban sites, including compaction and clay. It also tolerates occasional flooding. Dark green leaves often form a “cross-like” outline like Post oak. Fall color is a rich yellow. Bark is an attractive, ashy gray with flaky texture. Globular-shaped acorn fruits are enclosed in a warty cap and enjoyed by much wildlife, including ducks, turkey, deer, and squirrel.
- Paw paw ( Asimina triloba) - Available in Hampton, Marion and Van Wyck
A small, short-trunked tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub with large, tropical-like leaves and edible yellow fruit. Paw paw matures to a size of 10-25 feet and can be planted in full sun or part shade. The large, deciduous leaves are bright green and thick, gradually altering to a yellow-green color in the fall. Deep purple, six-petal flowers emerge in the spring, though not particularly showy, are interesting, nonetheless. Yellow, cylindrical fruits add appeal to this small tree and are also enjoyed by a variety of wildlife, including possums, squirrels, raccoons and birds.
- Persimmon ( Diospyros virginiana) - Available in Clinton
Persimmon trees have an oval form and mature to a typical size of 20-35 feet in height with slightly smaller spread. This tree is known for its production of small, orange fruits and distinctive, gray, blocky bark. Spring flowers are attractive yellowish-green blooms. Fruits are small, rounded, 1-2,” orange and fleshy with a sweet, honey flavor. Trees bear fruit between 4 and 9 years old and attract an array of wildlife, including small animals, birds, deer, fox, and black bear.
- Pin oak ( Quercus palustris) - Available in Clinton
An adaptable, fast-growing deciduous oak tree with a broad pyramidal crown, horizontal branching, and mature height of 50-70 feet. Pin oak grows naturally along creeks and streams, in floodplains, and moist, wet bottomland forests. Leaves are glossy, dark green 5 bristle-tipped lobes. Attractive, smooth gray-brown bark develops ridging with age. Pin oaks typically do not produce acorns for the first 15 or 20 years. Acorns are small, rounded, 1/2-inch sized fruits that are an important source of food for many species of wildlife, including deer, squirrels, turkey, ducks, woodpeckers, and bluejays. Fall color is russet-red to bright, crimson red. Plant pin oak in full sun in average, medium to wet (preferably acidic) soils.
- Pond cypress ( Taxodium ascendens) - Available in Clinton
A deciduous, cone-bearing tree with a narrow, conical form, and feathery foliage. Leaves appear overlapping and scale-like. Though this tree looks like an evergreen, it does shed its leaves each fall. An attractive fall color develops into a bright orange. Pond cypress is slow-growing, smaller and narrower than bald cypress, growing to a height of 70 feet and spread of 15-20 feet. It is found growing along margins of southern swamps and river bottoms. Attractive light-brown bark becomes ridged with age. Though it thrives in wet soils, pond cypress is very adaptable to drier, upland sites, requires full sun, and adapts to various soil types. Two-inch cone fruits bear seeds that attract several bird species. Pond cypress is very wind-resistant, rot resistant, and free of major pests and diseases.
- Possumhaw viburnum ( Viburnum nudum ) - Available in Hampton, Marion, Van Wyck and Clinton
Smooth witherod or Possumhaw viburnum is a native, deciduous shrub best grown in acidic soil. It can tolerate occasional wet sites in full sun to partial shade. It is best grown along ponds, streams, and bogs. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It is not deer-tolerant and leaves are eaten by birds. It has white flowers in the spring that are fragrant. This viburnum produces different colored berries that can be picked when they ripen in the fall for jam.
Possumhaw viburnum
Image courtesy of James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org - Pignut hickory ( Carya glabra) - Available in Clinton
Pignut hickory is a large tree with glossy, dark green leaves and pear-shaped nut that matures in the fall. Bark is smooth on young trees and later develops as dark gray with interlacing, thick ridges, forming a diamond pattern. This tree prefers sites with well-drained soils and full sun, however it will also tolerate intermittent shade. Leaves transform into a brilliant, golden yellow during fall. Pignut hickory is a beneficial tree for numerous species of wildlife, as a host plant for butterflies and moths, and food source for squirrels, black bear, deer foxes and mice. There are no serious pests for this tree.
- River birch (Betula nigra) - Available in Clinton
River birch is a native, upright deciduous tree associated with moist soils along creeks, rivers, and lowlands. It is known for its attractive, papery, exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark and its natural occurrence along creeks, riverbanks, and other lowland areas. Though it prefers moist-wet sites, it also fares well in rocky and well-drained sites. River birch tolerates heat as well as periods of drought and occasional flooding. This native also makes a terrific landscape tree as its crown and branching are wind resistant. Plant River birch in full sun or partial shade. Full sun plantings yield optimum fall color. It is also a wind-resistant tree .
- Rusty lyonia ( Lyonia ferruginea ) - Available in Hampton, Marion and Van Wyck
Rusty lyonia or rusty staggerbush reaches a mature size of 15’ tall and 8’ wide. It has unique, twisted branching and an irregular crown. The leaves are pubescent with green on top and an underside that has is rust in color. It is best to plant in full sun with moisture, well-drained sandy soil. It is not deer tolerant. White flowers bloom in the spring that are important for pollinators, and it produces brown fruit.
- Serviceberry ( Amelanchier arborea) - Available in Clinton
A deciduous small tree that often grows in open woods, along forested slopes and bluffs, and in moist soils near riverbanks. Serviceberry is an adaptable tree, performing well in a variety of site conditions, including full sun to partial shade; sandy, loam, or clay soil; and dry, moist, well-drained, or wet soil. It naturally grows in a multi-stemmed habit but can be trained to a single stem tree. Serviceberry typically grows 15-25 feet and has a narrow, rounded form. Fragrant, 5-petaled white blooms adorn this attractive small tree each spring, followed by bright green, finely toothed leaves. Serviceberry fruits are small, red to purple, blueberry-like berries. An array of wildlife species from songbirds and pollinators to small mammals are drawn to this native. As a member of the Rose family, Serviceberry can be susceptible to common insects and disease issues experienced by other plants in this family.
- Southern Catalpa ( Catalpa bignonioides) - Available in Van Wyck
Southern Catalpa tree is an attractive medium-sized tree with showy spring flowers, heart-shaped leaves, and mature height of 25-40 feet. This tree evokes interesting branching as short, crooked branches form a spreading, irregular crown. Heart-shaped leaves are unusually large, spanning 6-12 inches long and wide, and leaves are light green and smooth. Large, two-inch flowers are white and yellow with deep purple stripes and a ruffled appearance. Large, cigar-like fruit pods dangle from this tree in late summer and fall. This tree makes a fantastic shade tree, climbing tree, and ornamental that offers strong visual appeal.
Southern Catalpa
Image courtesy of Paul Thompson, Clemson Extension - Swamp white oak ( Quercus bicolor) - Available in Hampton and Clinton
A beautiful, native oak with a broad, rounded canopy shorter trunk and typical mature height of 50-60 feet with similar spread. It grows naturally in moist soils of bottomlands, swampy areas, and other lowlands. This is a tough, urban tree that is quite tolerant of both moist and drier, upland soils, clay soils and compaction. Large-lobed leaves are thick and shiny green with silvery-white undersides. Fall color is an attractive yellow that transitions into shades of reds and occasionally reddish-purple.
- Sweetbay magnolia ( Magnolia virginiana) - Available in Hampton, Van Wyck and Clinton
A moderately quick-growing, small to medium-sized tree with a vase-shape, mature height and spread of 20-50 feet x 15-20 feet. Springtime blooms decorate this tree with beautiful, fragrant, creamy white flowers. Leaves are semi-evergreen to evergreen, 4-6 inches long and elliptically shaped. Bark is thin, smooth, and gray, becoming scaly as the tree matures. Although this tree occurs extensively in the low country, it has also adapted successfully on drier sites and in Piedmont soils of the upstate.
- White fringetree ( Chionanthus virginicus) - Available in Hampton and Marion
The white fringetree is a small, deciduous tree that grows 12’-20’ tall, with a multi-stemmed rounded crown. It grows best and has the best blooms when planted in in full sun. Although it has the best foliage in partial shade. It is best to plant in well-drained soil, but it can tolerate clay soil. In late spring, fragrant flower clusters with white fringe-like petals appear. In late summer, birds and wildlife eat the clusters of olive-like berries. In fall, the leaves turn yellow.
- White oak ( Quercus alba) - Available in Van Wyck
White oak is a massive, long-lived stately tree with a wide-spreading, horizontally-branched crown that boasts an exquisite, wine-red fall leaf color that later fades to winter shades of brown. This native reaches grows to 80-100 feet in the wild and 60-80 feet tall and wide in the urban environment, providing ample shade for larger landscape spaces. Shiny, bright green leaves have finger-like lobes, and large, acorn fruits that are largely commonly consumed by squirrels, woodpeckers, turkey and white-tailed deer. Numerous butterflies use white oak as a host tree. Bark is ash-gray and scaly on young trees and ridged and platy on older trees. White oak is fairly adaptable, grows very well on most urban sites, preferring sites offering full sun and rich, well-drained soils.
- Winged elm ( Ulmus alata) - Available in Clinton
A deciduous, fast-growing medium to large sized tree with oval to rounded form and distinctive corky, wing-like outcropping on twigs and branches. The mature size ranges from 40-60 feet height with canopy spread of 30-40 feet. Winged elm has rich, dark green, elliptically shaped leaves that feature a paler underside and a double-serrated (toothed) margin. Leaves are rich, dark green with a paler green underside and pubescent, sandpaper-like texture. The fall color is an attractive yellow. Small, rounded, lightweight samara fruit (one-seeded winged fruit) are produced each year. The attractive bark is gray, brown with flat ridges and fissures. Winged elm is a very adaptable tree, performing well in a range of soil conditions, including clay, loam, acidic or alkaline, wet or well-drained soils. It is especially tolerant of drought, compaction, and dry, rocky soils. Wood is strong and breakage resistant. Plant winged elm in full sun or part shade. Some structural pruning is needed to maintain a strong, central trunk. Winged elm makes a fine addition in the landscape as a nice, attractive shade tree and benefits wildlife, in particular, insectivorous birds, small mammals, and the Question Mark butterfly.