Replacement Trees
Learn more about the trees available for trade:
- American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Available at Clemson.
American beech is a large canopy tree that grows to a height and spread of 50-80 feet and develops a dense, spreading, rounded to oval canopy with strong, central trunk. It grows naturally on rich, well-drained sites found in ravines, slopes and valleys.
Bark is very thin, smooth and gray. Dark green leaves are coarsely-toothed and elliptical in shape and transform to a brilliant golden bronze color in the fall.
Female trees produce Beechnuts, triangular-shaped, edible fruits that support an array of wildlife.
American beech is disease-resistant, deer-resistant and makes a terrific selection as a large shade tree on an open, spacious lawn.
- Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Available at Clemson.
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.
- Blackgum (aka: Black tupelo) (Nyssa sylvatica)
Available at Clemson.
Blackgum 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 in shape.
Attractive, dark green and glossy summer foliage transitions to a vivid display of scarlet red during fall.
Clusters of small, bluish-black berry fruit are 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.
- 'Weaver’s White’ Flowering Dogwood Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Weaver’s White’)
Available at Clemson.
A southern variety of Flowering Dogwood known for more colorful, white flowers and a handsome form with horizontal branching. Mature height is 30 feet and spread is 20 feet.
Beautiful, white springtime, 5-petaled flowers appear in April-May, followed by clusters of small red fruits enjoyed by numerous songbirds and other wildlife.
Bark is attractive, dark-brown with unique pattern.
This tree is very adaptable, however, is must have partial shade and well-drained soils to maintain good health, live long and optimize flowering and fall color.
'Weaver’s White’ Flowering Dogwood Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Weaver’s White’)
Image courtesy of SC Forestry Commission - Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)
Available at Clemson.
A medium-sized oak in the white oak group that grows to an average of 60 feet tall and wide and has a strong, upright-branching crown and beautiful, symmetrical form. Overcup oak is considered a hearty, urban-tolerant selection and is adaptable to difficult urban sites, including poorly drained soils and occasional flooding.
Dark green, leathery leaves have a “cross-like” outline similar to 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 many wildlife, including ducks, turkey, deer and squirrel.
- Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
Available at Clemson.
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.
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
Photo courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org - Rusty blackhaw (Southern Blackhaw) (Viburnum rufidulum)
Available at Clemson.
A small, multi-stemmed, flowering tree (or large shrub) that typically grows 12-25 feet in height and has glossy, dark green leaves that turn a variety of warm colors during fall, including pink, orange and lavender and red.
Showy profusions of tiny, white flowers form in flat-topped clusters in early spring.
Small, purplish-blue berries produced each year are a favorite of many species of birds and other animals.
Plant this tree in partial shade in drier, loamy soils.
Rusty blackhaw (Southern Blackhaw) (Viburnum rufidulum)
Photo courtesy of Ed Gilman, University of Florida - Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
Available at Clemson.
Swamp chestnut oak is a medium-sized oak tree, capable of growing to 100 feet, with a beautiful, upright, oval form and dark green summer leaves that transform into attractive copper and red fall colors. Although it is often found, naturally, in low-lying and moist bottomland areas, Swamp chestnut oak grows exceedingly well in the urban setting, withstanding compacted soil, drought and intense heat.
Simple leaves are shallow-lobed and bright green.
Bark is thick, scaly, loose and light-gray in color. This long-lived, moderately-fast growing tree makes an exceptional shade tree and performs best on full sun sites.
Acorns are relished by ducks, turkeys, squirrel, red fox and deer.
Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
Photo courtesy of David Stephens, Bugwood.org - Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Available at Clemson.
Sweetbay magnolia is a moderately quick-growing, small to medium-sized tree with a vase-shape and mature height of 20-50 feet and spread of 15-25 feet. Springtime blooms decorate this tree with beautiful, fragrant, creamy white flowers.
Leaves are evergreen to semi-evergreen, rich green in color, 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 successfully adapted well on drier sites and in Piedmont soils of the upstate.
Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Photo courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org - White oak (Quercus alba)
Available at Clemson.
White oak is a massive, long-lived stately tree with a wide-spreading, horizontally-branched crown that boasts an exquisite, wine-red fall color that fades to winter shades of brown. This native reaches grows to 80-100 feet and provides ample shade for larger landscape spaces.
Shiny, bright green leaves have finger-like lobes. Acorn fruits are 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 and prefers sites offering full sun and rich, well-drained soils.
