Trees 1
Created Spring 2008
Acer palmatum- Cornus florida
BOTANICAL NAME

ACER PALMATUM
COMMON NAME

Japanese Maple
Connecting Scientific Names and
Common Names (the Mrs. A Way)

The Japanese Maple leaf is
shaped like your palm.
Acer PALMatum
PLANT
Deciduous
Height 8’ - 20’
Width 10’ - 15’
Upright/spreading

Growth

Slow
FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Arrangement: Opposite
 Composition: Simple
 Margin: Serrated

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Leaves are 5 - 7 lobed
depending on variety
 Doubly serrated
 Green, Red , or Variegated
depending on cultivar

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Color of foliage green to
red
Buds - small buds on
end of stem - matched
pair

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION

Leaf
Length 2” - 4”
Width 2” - 5”

FRUIT
Fall
1/2” samara

EXPOSURE

Semi-Shade
LANDSCAPE USE
Specimen
Accent plant
Bonsai
Small Gardens

Botanical Name
ACER RUBRUM
Common Name
Red Maple

Connecting Scientific Names and
Common Names (the Mrs. A Way)

Red reminds me of Rubrum
Plant
Deciduous
H 40 - 60’
W 25 - 35’
Upright
FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Arrangement: Opposite
Composition: Simple
Margin: Irregularly
Toothed

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Leaves 3 to 5 lobed
Leaves have gray cast
beneath
Medium green leaves
with red petioles

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Pubescent veins
New growth is often red

Fruit
Fall
Brown samara

Exposure
Sun
Part shade
Shade

Landscape Use
Specimen
Shade Tree
Fall Color
Botanical Name
BETULA NIGRA

Common Name
River Birch

Connecting Scientific Names and
Common Names (the Mrs. A Way)

Nigra reminds me of Nile
which is a river
Plant
DECIDUOUS
HEIGHT 40 -70’
WIDTH 20 - 40’
UPRIGHT

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Arrangement: Alternate
 Composition: Simple
 Margin: Double Serrated

Description
Leaves have sharp tips
Rhombic
Leaf


1 ½ to 3 inches long
Description

On branches 2” or more,
bark exfoliates into
papery plates exposing
the inner bark
Flower
Green (inconspicuous
Hanging Catkins)
Spring

Fruit
Spring
Samara

Exposure

SEMI-SHADE
Use
SPECIMEN
 LIGHT SHADE
 GROWS WELL ON HIGH
OR LOW GROUND

Other Information
Multi-stemmed
Winter interest (Bark)
Tolerant of soggy soils

BOTANICAL NAME

CERCIS CANADENSIS
COMMON NAME

Eastern Redbud

Judas tree
Connecting Scientific Names and
Common Names (the Mrs. A Way)
PLANT
Deciduous
 H- 20’ to 30’
 W - 12’ to 25’
 Upright

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Arrangement: Alternate
 Composition: Simple
 Margin: Entire

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Heart shaped 3-5 inches
long and wide
 Flower all along the stem
 Deep green although new
cultivars are purple or
variegated

FLOWER
Spring
 Red or white
 Edible

FRUIT
Fall
 Flattened pod

EXPOSURE
Sun
 Part shade

USE
Specimen
 Beautiful in bloom
 Drought resistant

Botanical Name
CORNUS

FLORIDA
Common Name
Flowering dogwood

Connecting Scientific Names and
Common Names (the Mrs. A Way)
CORNus DOGwood
 Corndog

Plant
Deciduous
Height 15’ to 30’
Spread 15’ to 20’
Upright

FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Arrangement: Opposite
 Composition: Simple
 Margin: Entire

Flattened, rounded bud
Fall color
FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION
Medium Green
Somewhat Wavy
3-6 inches long
Excellent foliage
color

Flower
Flowers in April, green
to light yellow
Buds set in fall, buds
are rounded
4 bracts; white, pink or
red

Fruit
Fall
Glossy red drupe,
1/4” in diameter

Exposure
Part shade
Shade
Use
Specimen
Provides year round
interest
Other Information
Flower- small compact heads
surrounded by 4 bracts (color
part)
 Bract is a modified leaf and is
not really part of the flower

Flower
Bract
Bract
Flower