TRICOLOR EUROPEAN BEECH

TRICOLOR EUROPEAN BEECH

Fagus sylvatica 'Tricolor'

COLLECTION

Oak Park

FAMILY

Fagaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

4-7

CULTURE

The ‘Tricolor’ European Beech prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil in part sun with regular watering until established. It will not stand wet or compacted soils.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Purple foliage with pinkish-white and rose border. Turns copper in the fall.

PROBLEMS

Not recommended for hot or dry locations as leaves will scorch.

GARDEN USES

This beech is used for shade; it is a colorful specimen accent among evergreens.

FERNLEAF EUROPEAN BEECH

Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia'

COLLECTION

Oak Park

FAMILY

Fagaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

5-7

CULTURE

Rich, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Will not withstand wet or compacted soils.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Gracefully cut (dissected) foliage that have a fern-like structure. They are dark green and glossy in summer, turn golden-brown in autumn.

PROBLEMS

Coral spot fungus can girdle the tree.

GARDEN USES

This beech is a large shade tree specimen that makes a great focal point.

HISTORY

It is estimated to be twenty years old.

SAWTOOTH OAK

Quercus acutissima

COLLECTION

Oak Park

FAMILY

Fagaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

5-9

CULTURE

Easily grown in acidic, well-drained soils but is adaptable to a wide range of soils.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Sawtooth Oak, an Asian species, is a small to medium size tree that forms a dense pyramidal crown that rounds out with age. Lustrous dark green serrated leaves that turn yellow to golden brown in autumn.

PROBLEMS

May develop chlorosis in high pH soils, otherwise no serious pests or diseases.

GARDEN USES

Handsome, wide spreading, clean-foliage shade or lawn tree.

BLACK OAK

Quercus velutina

COLLECTION

Oak Park

FAMILY

Fagaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous

ZONE

3-9

CULTURE

Prefers rich, sandy, well-drained, acidic soil in full sun.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

With space, this medium to large tree will develop a large spreading crown giving shade cover.

PROBLEMS

Black oaks are difficult to transplant due to their extensive taproot.

GARDEN USES

A medium shade tree for massive open space.

HISTORY

Large trees were selected to remain as part of the original Frederick Law Olmsted design. Our collection has trees ranging from 130 to 150 years old.

DAWN REDWOOD

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

COLLECTION

Oak Park

FAMILY

Cupressaceae formally Taxodiaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Deciduous Conifer

ZONE

5-8

CULTURE

Dawn Redwood is a fast growing, deciduous conifer that performs best in moist, deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soils in full sun. It is related to and closely resembles Bald Cypress (Taxodium).

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

Develops large trunks with wide buttresses, bark exfoliates in ribbon-like strips. The foliage is bright green in spring changing to an orangey-brown in autumn.

PROBLEMS

There are no serious pests but it can be susceptible to canker and Japanese beetle damage and it is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

GARDEN USES

Used in large open areas.

HISTORY

Thought to be extinct until discovered in China by T. Kan. Seeds from these trees were collected and distributed to universities and arboretums. Seeds were planted here in the 1970s.