Replacement Trees (2021)
Free trees provided to Sumter residence have been donated by Duke Energy. We are thankful for this generosity and their partnership & investment to the Sumter Urban Tree Canopy.
Free trees distributed to Clemson residence have been provided by the City of Clemson and Clemson Cooperative Extension. We are thankful for another year of partnership and investment in the Clemson comunity.
Learn more about the trees available for exchange:
- American basswood/American linden (Tilia americana)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
A medium to large native tree with oval-rounded outline and grows to approximately 50-80 feet tall.
This tree is quite versatile as it will grow in a variety of habitats and conditions, faring well on upland, dry areas as well as moist, bottomlands. It can be planted in full sun or part shade.
Fragrant, pale-yellow flowers in late spring benefit bees as flower nectar is used in honey production.
Small nutlet fruits follow flowering and ripen in late summer.
Large leaves are dark green, ovate-shaped and have pointed tips and serrated margins.
Fall color may be a faint yellow color.
- Beech, American (Fagus grandifolia)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
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.
- Blackgum (aka Black tupelo) (Nyssa sylvatica)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
Blackgum is a striking medium-large canopy tree with strong horizontal branching and a stout, central trunk, growing 40-60 feet in height with narrower spread of 15-20 feet.
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.
- Chestnut, Common Chinquapin/Dwarf (Castanea pumila)
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Available at Sumter.
Chinquapin, also called American Chinquapin or Dwarf Chestnut, is a small, multi-stemmed, densely branched shrub or small tree with spreading lower branches and ascending upper branches.
This tree can grow to a mature size of 15-25 feet in height and spread of 6-20’.
Attractive yellow flowers bloom in spring, followed by production of edible nuts. Numerous species of birds and other wildlife relish in Chinquapin’s sweetly-flavored nuts.
Chinquapin tolerates a variety of soil conditions and can be planted in full sun to partial shade.
This tree is also resistant to Chestnut blight.
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
Bald cypress is a large, attractive tree with a distinct pyramidal shape and spreading crown of soft, feathery needle-like leaves.
It is often mistaken for an evergreen tree due to its cone fruits, however, Bald cypress is actually deciduous and sheds its leaves during dormancy.
It reaches heights of 70-100 feet, however, more commonly a size ranging 45-50 feet in the urban environment and spreads, narrowly, to 20-35 feet.
Although this tree grows naturally in moist-wet soils, it is considered a superior urban selection, lending great versatility and tolerance to harsh, urban conditions.
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 and is also admired for its drought-tolerance.
- Dogwood, Alternate leaf/Pagoda (Cornus alternifolia)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
A small, multi-stemmed tree similar to Flowering Dogwood but slightly smaller in size with other subtle differences in physical characteristics.
Alternate leaf Dogwood typically matures to a size of 15-25 feet and has characteristic tiered or layered horizontal branching.
This tree tolerates both moist and dry soils as well as full sun to partial shade. Showy springtime blooms are small, fragrant, yellowish-white flowers.
Bluish-black fruits ripen by fall.
Although most Dogwoods have an opposite arrangement, this species has elliptic to oval-shaped leaves arranged alternately along branches, hence the name.
Leaves transition to an attractive reddish-purple color with tinges of yellow or green in the fall.
- Dogwood, Flowering (Cornus florida)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
A small landscape favorite with horizontal branching, popular for its beautiful white, five-petal spring flowers and handsome form.
This native has a mature height and spread of 18-30.
Clusters of attractive small red fruits are produced each season, ripen by fall and are 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 bright red fall color.
- Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
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.
- Hickory, Pignut (Carya glabra)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
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.
- Holly, Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)
Available at Sumter.
A small evergreen tree with shiny green, elliptical-shaped leaves and strong, upright branching form.
Yaupon holly typically matures to a size of 10-20 feet in height and spread of 8-12 feet.
Growth rate can be slow to moderate and op dense branching, making it an ideal tree for screening and privacy.
Copious amounts of attractive, bright red berries are produced by female trees, most popularly sold in nurseries.
Yaupon holly is a versatile little tree that transplants easily, tolerates a range of soil types, drought and even occasional flooding.
Plant this small canopy tree in full sun or part shade.
- Magnolia, Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
Sweetbay magnolia is a moderately quick-growing, small to medium-sized tree with a vase-shape and mature height of 20-50 feet and typical spread of 15-20 feet.
Springtime blooms decorate this tree with beautiful, fragrant, creamy white flowers.
Leaves are evergreen to semi-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.
- Oak, Overcup (Quercus lyrata)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
A medium-sized oak in the white oak group that grows to an average of 40-60 feet tall and wide and has a strong, upright-branching crown and beautiful, symmetrical form.
Overcup oak is considered a hearty, urban-tolerant selection as it is adaptable to difficult urban sites, including poorly drained soils and excessive soil moisture. 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.
- Oak, Shumard (Quercus shumardii)
Available at Sumter.
A large, spreading, robust oak with strong branching and oval-rounded form.
Shumard oak typically grows to 45-60 feet in height and spread of 30-40 feet.
Summer leaves are attractive medium-to-dark green that later coalesce into a kaleidoscope of vivid fall colors of red, orange and gold.
This tree is a versatile selection, tolerating a wide range of site conditions.
Plant in full sun or partial shade, dry or moist/wet soils or in clay, loamy or sandy soils.
Shumard oak is very agreeable in highly acidic to slightly alkaline soil pH.
- Oak, Swamp chestnut (Quercus michauxii)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
Swamp chestnut oak is a medium-sized oak tree with a beautiful, upright, oval form and dark green summer leaves that transform into attractive copper and red fall colors.
Although it can grow to reach 100 feet in height, it typically matures to a size of 60-70 feet.
Though Swamp chestnut oak can be found growing naturally in low-lying, moist bottomland areas, this tree does 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.
- Oak, Swamp white (Quercus bicolor)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
A beautiful, medium-sized shade tree with a broad, rounded canopy, shorter trunk and commonly matures to a size of 50-60 feet in height.
This is a tough tree that is very adaptable, naturally grows in moist soils of bottomlands, swampy areas and other lowlands.
It is quite tolerant of both moist and drier, upland soils.
Lobed leaves are thick, shiny green with silvery-white underside.
Fall color is an attractive yellow with occasional reddish-purple.
- Oak, White (Quercus alba)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
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.
- Paw Paw (Asimina triloba)
Available at Sumter.
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.
- Rusty blackhaw (Southern blackhaw) (Viburnum rufidulum)
Available at Clemson and Sumter.
Rusty Blackhaw 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)
Photo courtesy of Ed Gilman, University of Florida - Southern Waxmyrtle (Morella cerifera)
Available at Sumter.
Waxmyrtle is a small, wispy evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple stems and height typically ranging from 6-15 feet.
Though it can reach a height of twenty feet, it is usually much shorter. Leaves are slender, olive green with a wavy, toothed margin and spicy, aromatic odor when crushed. Bark is light gray to brown and smooth.
Cylindrical flowers are produced in the spring, followed by clusters of bluish-white berries that persist into winter.
Waxmyrtle is a versatile little tree that grows naturally in moist, wet soils and also establishes well on drier sites.
This is a popular southern native, especially useful as a screening plant and tolerates both full sun and part shade.
- Swamp Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora)
Available at Sumter.
Swamp Titi, also known as “Swamp Cyrilla” or “Littleleaf Titi,” is a small, semi-evergreen tree or shrub with graceful, contorted form and mature height of 12-15 feet.
This interesting little tree boasts both evergreen and deciduous leaves, providing a canopy of lustrous, evergreen leaves, combined with a colorful show of deciduous leaves during fall.
Summer flower display is stunning and long-lasted, and seeds are attractive to birds.
Attractive, exfoliating bark is striking, revealing gray and cinnamon-red colors.
Similar to other plants that originate in wet habitats, Titi also grows well in upland, drier soils.
