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.

This page is being updated and only partially reflects trees available for exchange at the 2022 events. The following trees are a complete list of species that have been offered at PREVIOUS exchange events and offer an idea of the scope of trees distributed to the public

• American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) - available spring 2023 at Spartanburg

  An aesthetically pleasing, short, stubby, deciduous tree with multiple leaders and extremely dense wood. Commonly referred to as “Musclewood” or “Ironwood,” American hornbeam reaches an average height of 30 feet with crown spread of 20-25 feet. Dark green, elliptically shaped leaves are shiny and have a toothed margin. Small, ribbed nutlet fruits are produced each season. Bark has a distinct blueish-gray tone, smooth texture and pronounced indentations similar in appearance to human “muscles.” Fall color is a bright, uplifting yellow color. This tree frequently grows naturally in moist soils along river and streambanks but also fares well on upland, drier sites. Hornbeam thrives in partial sun (2-6 hours of sunlight/day) and does best in loamy, sandy acidic soils. Ironwood also tolerates occasional flooding and is moderately resistant to deer. Avoid highly compacted sites and full sun.

  
  American hornbeam
  Image courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia,  Bugwood.org
• Brandywine red maple (Acer rubrum 'Brandywine') - available 2023 at Aiken

  Red maple ‘Brandywine’ is a red maple cultivar between Acer rubrum x ‘October Glory’ and Acer rubrum x ‘Autumn Blaze’ that has long-lasting fall color that turns to a deep red-purple color in fall. It only produces male flowers with no risk of seedlings or fruit. It has high tolerance of leafhopper, a common pest of red maples. The height at 12 years is 25’ with a spread of 12’. Eventually, the tree will grow to 35’-50’ ft and will maintain its oval form.

  
  Brandywine red maple
  Image courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
• Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) - available 2023 at Aiken

  Cedar elm is a native tree that can grow up to 50’-90; tall with a spread of 40’-60'. The bark is light gray with flattened ridges that break into thin, loose flaky scales. The stiff and rough-textured, dark green leaves fade to bright yellow to red/brown before dropping in fall. The inconspicuous, green, summertime flowers are followed by the production of winged seeds in late summer or early fall. Cedar Elm should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil, acid or alkaline. It is very drought-tolerant once established and tolerates wet soil well. This species may be susceptible to dutch elm disease.

  
  Cedar elm
  Image courtesy of Moons Tree Farm
• Dura-Heat River birch (Betula nigra ‘BNMTF’ DURA-HEAT) - available 2023 at Aiken

  River birch DURA-HEAT is a smaller cultivar that features better creamy white bark color, better tolerance to summer heat, better insect and disease resistance and superior foliage to the native species, river birch. It typically grows 30-40’ tall as a single trunk or multi-trunked tree. Its spread can be from 25’ to 35’. Prefers moist, acidic, fertile soils including semi-aquatic conditions, but also tolerates drier soils. It adapts well to clay soils and can tolerate poor drainage. The small but plentiful seeds are appreciated by a wide range of songbirds.

  
  Dura-heat River birch
  Image courtesy of University of Missouri Extension
• Freeman maple (Acer freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’) - available 2023 at Aiken

  Acer × freemanii, commonly called Freeman maple, is a hybrid of red maple (A. rubrum) and silver maple (A. saccharinum). This cultivar has a showy fall red color from red maple and adaptility and rapid growth from silver maple. The mature height is 40’-50’ with a spread of 30’-40’. It prefers average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

  
  Freeman maple
  Image courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
• Nuttall oak (Quercus texana) (40-60’height) - available spring 2023 at Spartanburg and Aiken

  An attractive, fast-growing oak with rounded form, outstanding fall color, and strong architectural branching. Mature height is 40-60’and spread of approximately 35-45 feet. Nuttall oak is considered one of the most widely adaptable oaks and is tolerant of occasional flooding and wet soils while quite also adapted to moderately dry soil. This species has few insect & disease problems and is easy to transplant. Acorns are very distinct and develop to one inch long and wide. Abundant acorn production is loved by many species of wildlife, especially squirrels and other small mammals. Nuttall oaks do best in loamy soils but will also thrive in clay soils with poor drainage. Like other large oaks, plant in full sun.

  
  Nuttall oak
  Image courtesy of Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org
• October Glory red maple (Acer rubrum 'October Glory') - available 2023 at Aiken

  Red maple ‘October Glory’ is a red maple cultivar that has exceptional red, fall color with an oval-rounded form. The mature height is 40’-50’. Spring flowers are red before foilage emerges. Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It is best to grow away from sidewalks and driveways, but great for lawns.

  
  October Glory red maple
  Image courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
• Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) - available 2023 at Aiken

  One of the largest species of oaks with a rounded form, mature height & spread of 40-60 feet, and outstanding red fall color. Spine-tipped leaves are an attractive dark green color. This stately native is fast-growing, very adaptable, and tolerates drought, compaction, and pollution. Acorns are abundantly produced and loved by deer and squirrels. Plant in full sun in its preferred moist, well-drained soils.

  
  Shumard Oak
  Photo  courtesy of  Bugwood.org .
• Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) - available spring 2023 at Spartanburg

  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.

  
  Swamp White oak
  Image courtesy of  Bugwood.org
• Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) - available spring 2023 Spartanburg

  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.

  
  Sweetbay magnolia
  Photo courtesy of John Ruter, University of Georgia,  Bugwood.org
• White oak (Quercus alba) - available spring 2023 at Spartanburg

  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.

  
  White oak
  Image courtesy of SC Forestry Commission
• Willow oak (Quercus phellos) - available 2023 at Aiken

  The fast-growing willow oak can reach over 70’ in height with more than a 40’ to 50’ foot spread. The pyramidal shape in youth gives way to a rounded canopy in middle and old age, with lower branches drooping toward the ground. The long, light green willow-like leaves create dense shade and a graceful effect turning bright yellow before they fall. Willow Oak is a tough tree well adapted to urban conditions but can develop chlorosis of high pH soils so be sure to plant on only acid or neutral soil. Willow oak has no major problems and tolerates clay, salt, poor drainage and compacted soil.

  
  Willow oak
  Photo Image courtesy of Vern Wilkins, Indiana University, Bugwood.org