Tree Giveaway & Helene Memorial Replanting

Also known as Old Man’s Beard, is best loved for its showy, sweet-smelling clusters of white fringed flowers in April and May. But it’s really a spectacular small tree or large shrub for three seasons. The bluish-black fruits will attract a variety of birds In the fall, Fringe Tree’s leaves turn a lovely yellow.

This tree is an all-season beauty. Delicate white flowers bloom in the spring, and vibrant foliage makes an appearance in the fall. Produces plump red berries edible to both birds and humans. Grows 15'-25' high with an equal spread.

Flowering, Red Twig, Alternate Leaf

Most Dogwoods are tall, deciduous shrubs or small tree species that can grow 5-10 m in height. It can be grown either in the form of a single stem tree or multi-stemmed shrub comprised of two or three smaller trunks. The flowers bloom between May and June. These flowers produce clusters of dark berries. The flowers are beneficial for pollinator species while the berries are beneficial for wildlife species. The root system is valuable for controlling erosion and stabilizing loose soil. 

Black gum or black tupelo is a medium-sized, native deciduous tree, growing throughout North Carolina. The black gum is grown as an ornamental for its beautiful scarlet red, fall color and for its shiny, dark green leaves in the summer. 

The River Birch is a fast-growing, deciduous tree known for its striking, peeling bark that reveals shades of cinnamon, cream, and salmon, adding year-round visual interest. Reaching heights of 40-70 feet, this tree is perfect for adding texture and color to landscapes, especially in wet or flood-prone areas. Its lush, green leaves turn golden-yellow in the fall, offering seasonal beauty. The River Birch thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to various soil types, particularly moist, acidic soils. With its hardy, low-maintenance nature, it's a popular choice for naturalizing areas and erosion control.

Chestnut, Shingle, White, Cherry Bark

An oak is a hardwood tree or shrub in the genus Quercus of the beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere; it includes some 500 species, both deciduous and evergreen.

Black cherry is a woody, deciduous tree in the rose family (Rosaceae). It has a conical habit and is a rapid grower capable of reaching 60 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 60 feet wide. It is found in all parts of North Carolina but grows best in the mountains. Black cherry requires full sun, soil high in organic matter and good drainage. It can be pruned and kept at shrub size by cutting it to the ground every two to three years. Propagate it by seed or stem cutting. It is deer resistant. As the tree ages, it exhibits a scaly or flaky pattern. In the spring, small, white flowers mature and provide nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. It produces a round, dark purple fruit that matures in late summer and attracts songbirds. Plant black cherry in a woodland or as a shade tree. It is also well-suited for butterfly, edible, native or pollinator gardens.

Sourwood is a deciduous, small to medium tree in the blueberry family (Ericaceae). It is native to the eastern and southern United States, from Pennsylvania to northern Florida and west to Ohio and Louisiana. This plant prefers acidic, peaty, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of shade and dry soils and moderately tolerant of salt. A very ornamental plant, it will flower in 4 to 5 years after planting from seed. The bark is red-brown with deep vertical furrows that separate flat, pointed ridges. In mid-summer, fragrant, white, urn-shaped flowers mature on panicles. Fall foliage is red to reddish-purple. Sourwood makes an excellent understory tree or planted in small groups in a woodland garden. It also serves well as a shade or flowering specimen in a native, pollinator, butterfly, or children’s garden.

American holly is a woody, broadleaf evergreen tree in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae) that has generated numerous cultivars. In nature, it is found growing as an understory tree or shrub in moist, deciduous forests in the central and southeastern United States. American holly grows in moist, neutral to acidic soils in full sun to partial shade. It is intolerant of limestone soils. It will tolerate a range of soil textures, is moderately salt tolerant, and is highly deer resistant. It will tolerate occasionally wet or dry soil, but not flooding. For optimum growth, avoid poorly drained soils. Protect it from cold winter winds and winter sun. In hot summer climates, give it afternoon shade. Being situated in too much shade will cause the plant foliage to lose density. To have the bright red or orange berries that the holly is known for, both male and female plants must be present. Only female trees produce fruits and they must have a nearby male pollinizer.  

Carolina silverbell is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils in part shade. It has an irregular, spreading, open crown and yellow fall color.  It suffers during drought, so it will need supplemental irrigation. Carolina silverbell is sensitive to heat, drought and soil compaction. In nature, Carolina silverbell can usually be found in moist slopes, coves, creek-banks, and bottomlands. It can be grown as a large multi-trunked shrub or trained into a small understory tree. The tree will bloom when it is only a few years old and continue blooming during its life expectancy of up to 100 years. It makes an attractive specimen plant for a lawn or in a shrub border or woodland garden and is occasionally planted as an ornamental. It can be used in a rain garden. It also looks attractive planted with rhododendrons and azaleas.

Also known as swamp maple, water maple, or soft maple, it is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern and central North America. The U.S. Forest Service recognizes it as the most abundant native tree in eastern North America. Its flowers, petioles, twigs, and seeds are all red to varying degrees. Among these features, however, it is best known for its brilliant deep scarlet foliage in autumn. Red maple is adaptable to a very wide range of site conditions, perhaps more so than any other tree in eastern North America. It can be found growing in swamps, on poor, dry soils, and almost anywhere in between. Due to its attractive fall foliage and pleasing form, it is often used as a shade tree for landscapes.

American elderberry is a woody, deciduous shrub or small tree, 5 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, that is native to North America. It can be found in all areas of North Carolina along streams, marshes, moist forests, and disturbed areas. American elderberry tolerates a wide variety of wet to dry soils but prefers rich, moist, slightly acidic soil in sun to partial shade. Plants will spread by root sucker and will form thickets if the suckers are not removed. In summer, small white flowers are borne in dense clusters. Flowers are followed by a purple-black drupe that is produced in drooping clusters from late summer to fall. The drupe is an edible fruit and when cooked can be used in pies, pancakes, and jellies. Elderberry flowers and fruits are used in winemaking. Wildlife also enjoys the fruits, and the arching branches provide a habitat for nesting birds. Use this plant in naturalized areas, as a hedge, in a woodland, or along streams and ponds. It is a good addition to butterfly, edible, native, pollinator, or rain gardens. It is effective erosion control in moist sites.