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- Tree of the Month - 2021
Tree of the Month - 2021
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July 2021 - Swamp White Oak
The Swamp White Oak is a large, deciduous native shade tree. It tolerates Princeton soil and supports the local wildlife.
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August 2021 - American Yellowwood
Yellowwood is a medium to large-sized native tree, with smooth bark, large hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers, and yellow fall color. A yellowwood tree is an excellent shade tree for a small- to medium-sized landscape.
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September 2021 - Black Gum
The black gum tree (Nyssa sylvatica) is a native medium-sized deciduous tree with a slow growth rate. It generally grows in a rounded shape with a straight trunk. The leaves are approximately 3 to 6 inches in length. The leaves change from a dark glossy green to brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple in the fall. Tiny flowers in the spring give way to small dark blue fruits that are edible but sour, though they tend to attract birds and other wildlife. This tree is best planted in the spring.
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October 2021 - Red Maple
The red maple is a medium to large deciduous tree named for its distinctive red fall leaves, fruits, flowers and twigs. Its bark is smooth and grey but becomes furrowed, scaly and dark grey as the tree ages. Its leaves are 2.5 to 4 inches in length, with three to five pointed lobes that have serrated edges. It is Native to the Eastern United States.
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November 2021 - Sweetgum
A sweet gum is a deciduous tree in the witch hazel family that ranges in height from 60 to 100 feet and has a narrow oval canopy. The Liquidambar styraciflua growth rate is moderate to rapid. The foliage is palmate, like a maple leaf, but more deeply lobed and star shaped. It is glossy green in the spring and summer, turning to vivid red, yellow and even purple in the fall. Sweet gum trees are native to the eastern U.S., but grow well throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9. The tree prefers moist, slightly acidic soil, but is adaptable to many soil types, including clay soil, dry or wet soil and soil that is neutral to somewhat alkaline.
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December 2021 - Eastern White Pine
The white pine is the largest conifer in the Northeast. It has a straight trunk with a crown of horizontal branches that make it ideal for the timber industry.