Burr Oak is native to the central U.S. It is a slow growing, stout tree typical of the Oak family. They reach 70-80' at maturity and can grow to over 100'.

2. DAWN REDWOOD- Metasequoia glyptostroboides

This specimen is the only Dawn Redwood on campus. This genus was described in 1941 from fossils discovered in Japan in lower Pliocene strata. Live specimens were found growing wild in China in the same year. An expedition to the area in 1944 collected seeds which were shared with arboreta and botanical gardens around the world. This species has been growing and reproducing itself for 50 million years. Mature height to 100' and greater.

3. LIMBER PINE- Pinus flexilis

Limber Pine, a native of the Rocky Mountains of western North America, makes a handsome specimen tree. It is a slow growing tree that reaches a height of 50'.

4. LACEBARK PINE - Pinus bungeana

Lacebark pine is a native of China. Introduced into this country in 1846, it is one of the most beautiful of the introduced pines. Its exfoliating bark gives it its attractiveness and its name.

5. BIRD'S NEST SPRUCE-Picea abies nidiformis

This plant is a cultivar of Norway Spruce. A spreading, dense, broad plant of regular growth. The hedge you see here started out as a nursery row more than 45 years ago.

6. WHITE WALNUT - Juglans cinerea

The seeds of Butternut are sweet, edible and very oily. The inner bark has mild cathartic properties and was used in older times as an orange or yellow dye. Native from New Brunswick to Georgia, it ranges much farther north than its cousin, Black Walnut.

7. COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE- Picea pungens

A large specimen evergreen tree, 40' to 50' at maturity. The best known and most widely grown of the spruces. Extremely hardy, thriving best in the most open, exposed location. New growth is steel-blue, darkening with age.

8. YELLOW BUCKEYE- Aesculus octandra

Reaches 60 -75' in height. The dark green leaves turn a pumpkin color in the fall. One of the most beautiful of the large Aesculus.

9. OHIO BUCKEYE-Aesculus glabra

This tree is a native to the mid-west. The state tree of Ohio. Bright green leaves when unfolding, changing to dark green in the summer; one of the first trees to leaf out and also one of the first to defoliate in the fall. Grows along the streams of the eastern U.S.

10. EUROPEAN BEECH- Fagus sylvatica

One of the most spectacular of specimen trees. Its smooth gray bark and lustrous dark green leaves almost overwhelm one at first glance. It can reach heights of 60' at maturity.

11. CASTOR-ARALIA- Kalopanax pictus

A native of China, Castor-aralia is an unusual tree not readily found in the landscape. Though small now this tree reaches a mature height of 80-90'. Makes an excellent shade tree believe it or not.

12. CAMPERDOWN ELM - Ulmus glabra

Camperdown Elm is a roundheaded, pendulous-branched elm that is usually grafted about 6-7 feet high on understock. The original of 'Camperdownii" is interesting for it apparently originated as a seedling and was discovered creeping along the ground at Camperdown House near Dundee, Scotland in the first half of the 19th century.

13. AMERICAN HOLLY- Ilex opaca

This specimen tree can reach heights of 40-50' and is very slow growing. These trees were part of a nursery in this area about 40 years ago.

14. LONDON PLANE tree- Platanis acerifolia

mature height of 70-100'. An ideal, quick growing, large deciduous tree for urban areas. Very tolerant of air pollution. It is widely planted in Europe and especially in England where in London it is the dominant street and park tree.

15. SCARLET OAK- Quercus coccinia

Scarlet Oak grows 70-75' in height. An excellent shade tree with glossy dark green foliage in summer changing to scarlet in the fall. Native range extends from Maine to Florida, west to Minnesota and Missouri.

16. HOOPSI BLUE SPRUCE- P. pungens "Hoopsi"

A cultivar of Picea pungens picked for its intense blue color.

17. HEDGE MAPLE - Acer campestre

A native of Europe, this tree was brought to the U.S. in early colonial times. It is a slow growing tree that reaches 25 feet at maturity. It is easily trimmed into hedges and is often used for this in Europe.

18. WEEPING WHITE PINE- Pinus strobus "pendula"

A very handsome ornamental specimen. Will retain its weeping form to maturity. A soft needled pine native to the U.S.

19. EASTERN RED CEDAR-Juniperus virginiana

This tree is a native of Eastern and Central North America and can reach up to 50'. The wood is used for cedar chests, closet finishings, pencils, carvings and small ornamental work.

20. COMMON BALD CYPRESS- Taxodium distichum

This tree is one of 3 species on campus that loses all of its needles in the fall. When planted near water the roots form these distinctive "knees." These trees are exceptionally wind firm and even winds of hurricane force rarely overturn them.

21. CONCOLOR FIR- Abies concolor

This is the best fir for planting in the Midwest and the east. White Fir is both cold and drought hardy and its blue color rivals that of Colorado Spruce.

22. NORWAY SPRUCE-Picea abies

This popular variety of spruce has a pyramidal form and graceful drooping branchlets as the tree matures. The Norway Spruce is often used as a windbreak in the Midwest.

23. WHITE ASH- Fraxinus americana

Because of its strength, moderate weight, and straight grain, the wood is perfect for baseball bats, oars, crutches, and long handled tools. There are other species of ash on campus but they are so similar that most people simply call them ash trees.

24. AMERICAN LINDEN- Tile americana

Basswood has many useful qualities. Flowers from the basswood tree provide a rich commercial honey. The ropiness and flexibility of the wood has proved to be valuable for use in livestock fencing gates. Native Americans made rope from the inner back.

25. WEEPING MULBERRY- Morus alba "Pendula"

This is a cultivar of common Mulberry. Its weeping branches and gnarled twisted habit make an interesting addition to the landscape.

26. SPICEBUSH- Lindera benzoin

A Shrubby tree spice bush makes a good naturalizing plant. The fruits are a brilliant scarlet and eye-catching in the autumn landscape.

27. KENTUCKY COFFEEtree- Gymnocladus dioicus

The coffeetree bears stout twigs and large, feathery compound leaves up to 3 feet long. Pioneers roasted the seeds for imitation coffee.

28. EASTERN WHITE PINE- Pinus strobus

Mature height of 80-100'. A fast growing, soft wooded pine with long, soft, blue green needles. Highly ornamental, much grown as Christmas tree.

29. JAPANESE BLACK PINE - Pinus thunbergeana

Because of its tolerance to salt spray Japanese black pine is invaluable for seashore plantings and in stabilizing dunes. It is also used expensively Bonsai and makes a good accent plant.

30. CANADIAN HEMLOCK- Tsuga canadensis

Its dense texture makes Canadian Hemlock a popular evergreen. It can be pruned as a hedge or allowed to grow to its full height. The bark from this tree was used by Native Americans to make a paste the would draw out venom and act as an antiseptic. This plant is in no way associated to the "hemlock' poison drunk by the philosopher Socrates.

31. CONCOLOR FIR- Abies concolor

32. BLACKGUM- Nyssa sylvatica

This is a tree with eye-catching features throughout much of the year. It has a neat, pyramidal form that shows well in all seasons. The leaves are dark glossy green in the summer and turn to orange and scarlet in the fall. The alligator hide-like bark is another striking characteristic.

33. SWEETGUM- Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum is notable for its star shaped leaves and spectacular fall color. This specimen is one of the largest sweetgums in the state and is estimated to be more than 200 years old.

34. GINGKO- Gingko biloba

The Maidenhair tree represents the last surviving species of the gingko family. This tree, native to China and Japan, is now planted worldwide. Ornamental use in cities is favored as gingko is drought, pollution, and insect resistant. The female bears a very ill smelling fruit.

35. SASSAFRAS - Sassafras albidum

Best known for sassafras tea made from its roots, red dye was also a popular product from this first forest export from the "new world". After forest disturbance, the seeds and root suckers of the sassafras tree sprout aggressively.

36. NORTHERN RED OAK- Quercus rubra

Red Oak is the most commercially important oak. It is a desired timber and ornamental species and can easily be transplanted. Fine furniture and veneer are manufactured from Red Oak. It is the New Jersey state tree.

37. BALD CYPRESS- Taxodium distichum

This tree is one of the largest Bald Cypress in the state.

38. WASHINGTON HAWTHORN- Crataegus phaenopyrum

Washington Hawthorn grows to 25-30' tall. The white flowers in early June and the red fruit that persists all winter make it an attractive ornamental.

39. SCOTCH PINE- Pinus sylvestris

This pine is widely grown for Christmas trees. However in the landscape, it is more valued for its picturesque character; useful as a distorted specimen or in masses on waste lands. For displaying unique form and color among the pines it is outstanding.

40. MUGHO PINE- Pinus mugho

The straight species of this plant can reach a height of 20 feet with equal spread. It is more valued for its dwarf cultivars. It is a native of the mountains of central and southern Europe.

41. WILLOW OAK - Quercus phellos

Some people consider this to be the best oak for overall texture and form. With a mature height exceeding 70 feet, it makes an excellent street tree.

42. OSAGE ORANGE- Maclura pomifera

Osage orange, also called hedgeapple, is native to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. Midwesterners soon discovered that it would grow anywhere and made an excellent livestock hedge. Hedgeapple bears a large green apple like fruit in late summer. Pioneers also used the fruit as a pest repellent by storing them around the foundations of buildings. This specimen is one of the oldest trees on campus and certainly on of the most interesting.

43. SUGAR MAPLE- Acer saccharum

Sugar Maple, named for its sweet sap, provides much more than maple syrup. It is one of the best of the larger shade and lawn trees. It has a beautiful fall color. Sugar Maple is the state tree of New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

44. CHINKAPIN OAK - Quercus muehlenbergii

The Yellow Chestnut Oak is native from Vermont to Virginia, west to Nebraska, Mexico and Texas. In the wild it is found on dry limestone outcrops but prefers rich bottomlands and there attains its greatest size which can reach up to 80 feet.

45. JAPANESE ZELKOVA- Zelkova serrata

A very handsome tree because of its good foliage, interesting growth habit and handsome bark. It is well suited for residential streets and parks. At one time, Zelkova was considered as a replacement for the American Elm.

46. SWISS STONE PINE - Pinus cembra

A picturesque and hardy tree. This pine is useful as a specimen or mass planting. A very handsome tree although somewhat slow growing. It is a native of the mountains of central Europe and southern Asia.

47. AMUN CHOKECHERRY - Prunus maackii

This small ornamental tree is quite showy with white flowers occurring on 2-3" long racemes around late April to early May. The bark is a rich cinnamon brown that exfoliates when the tree matures. Best suited to cold climates.

48. AMERICAN HORNBEAM- Carpinus caroliniana

Blue beech plays a small but decorative part in the forest understory. It is usually a poorly formed tree with tight blue gray bark. Originally the dense tree was used for making tool handles and later, baseball bats.

49. BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE- Aesculus parviflora

Bottlebrush Buckeye is named for its flowers which appear in June-July on stiff upright planting. Truly spectacular in flower.

50. ARBORVITAE- Thuja

Arborvitae are commonly used as screens, windbreaks, or hedges. They can reach heights up to 60'.

• For the map of The Formal Gardens Tree Walk, click here.
• For a list of the trees on The Formal Gardens Tree Walk, click here.
• For the introduction of Tree Walk, please click here.