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Next up on our exploration of the UGA Campus Arboretum is the South Campus tour. An arboretum is just a fancy word for a botanical garden that features mainly trees. Back in 2000, UGA dedicated its entire campus as an arboretum and created the UGA Campus Arboretum foundation. The foundation’s mission is to plant and maintain trees of historic, local, and botanical value across its 762 acres. This week, we’re going through the South Campus tour. Check out our articles on the North Campus tour and Central Campus tour, or visit Campus Arboretum’s website for interactive walk-throughs. Read on to browse through the trees included on the South Campus tour! 1. Douglas Fir – Pseudotsuga menziesiThe Douglas fir is commonly chosen for Christmas trees, and is valued for its soft and light-colored lumber. 2. Eastern Red Cedar – Juniperus virginianNative to the eastern US, these cedar trees grow slowly over hundreds of years. Visit our Tree of the Month article to learn more about the Eastern Red Cedar! 3. Golden Raintree – Koelreuteria paniculataThe vibrant yellow blossoms of this east-Asian native float to the ground when disturbed by the wind, just like golden rain! 4. Dawn Redwood – Metasequoia glyptostroboidesNot to be confused with the coastal redwoods of the Redwood Forest, the dawn redwood is the only surviving species of the Metasequoia genus. 5. Southern Live Oak – Quercus virginianaThese massive, ancient trees are a staple to our southeast coastlines, and are often decorated with dripping Spanish moss. Check out our Tree of the Month article to learn more about Southern Live Oaks! 6. Swamp Chestnut Oak – Quercus michauxiiThe Swamp chestnut oak, like the name suggests, prefers to grow in the wetlands and swamps of the Southeast. 7. Savannah Holly – Ilex x attenuata ‘Savannah’A hybrid between the dahoon and American holly, this cultivar is a hardy grower with fluorescent-red berries. 8. Japanese Snowbell – Styrax japonicusThis small, flowering tree is native to China, Japan, and Korea, and grows petticoat-like white flower clusters. 9. Weeping Yaupon Holly – Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’This holly is the only tree native to North America that contains caffeine, and it gets its unique species name from purification ceremonies where it was used in teas, and where many people often vomited. 10. Eastern White Pine – Pinus strobusThe twigs and branches of these hardy trees are flexible to help bear the weight of heavy snowfall without breaking. 11. Hardy Orange – Poncirus trifoliataAnother China and Korea native, this citrus tree grows more like a shrub and bears small, fuzz-covered fruits. 12. Scarlet Oak – Quercus coccineaThe scarlet oak gets its name from its leaves that turn brilliant reds in fall. 13. Foster’s #2 Holly – Ilex x attenuata ‘Foster’s #2’One of E.E. Foster’s five holly cultivars, Foster’s #2 is unique as the female tree does not require male pollination to bear fruit. 14. Lusterleaf Holly – Ilex latifoliaThis broad-leaved Japanese and Chinese native is the largest of all holly species. 15. Siberian Elm – Ulmus pumilaLike the name suggests, this species is native to Siberia, as well as northern China and Turkestan. 16. Hybrid Yellow-Poplar – Liriodendron tulipifera x L. chinenseMost trees can only pollinate trees in their species, or trees that are closely related. But the North American yellow-poplar and the Chinese tulip-tree, despite millions of years separating their populations, will still happily reproduce together when given the chance. The result of this inter-fertilization is the hybrid yellow-poplar. 17. Chinese Chestnut – Castenea mollissimaThis chestnut species is mostly immune to chestnut blight, a rampant pathogen that decimates American Chestnut populations. 18. Japanese Evergreen Oak – Quercus glaucaThe leathery foliage of this evergreen species often has a bronze tint when it first emerges, giving it a unique appearance. 19. Chinese Flame Tree – Koelreuteria bipinnataThis tree offers plenty of attractive color, including large butter-yellow flowers in the summer and rosy-pink fruits. 20. Little Leaf Linden – Tilia cordataA European native, this ornamental tree is beloved for its elegant foliage and dense, low-growing branches. 21. Pyramidal European Hornbeam – Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’With strong and muscular trunks, the hardwood of these hornbeams is widely loved in the lumber industry. 22. Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichumThis deciduous conifer is best known for the knobby “knees” it grows when in marshy wetlands. To learn more about the Bald Cypress, check out our Tree of the Month article! 23. Water Tupelo – Nyssa aquaticaThe name of the water tupelo comes from the way its annual seed crop is mostly dispersed via water. 24. Dahoon Holly – Ilex cassineWith its classic red holly berries and attractive evergreen foliage, this holly is a popular ornamental landscaping choice. 25. Sugarberry – Celtis laevigataThe berries of the sugarberry are orange-red to yellow in color and are beloved by a wide range of bird species. 26. Water Hickory – Carya aquaticaWater hickories prefer water-logged wetlands, and their roots can even purify the water around them! 27. Atlantic White Cedar – Chamaecyparis thyoidesThese slow-growing trees can live up to 1,000 years old, and are incredibly decay-resistant. 28. Weeping Gold White Willow – Salix alba ‘Tristis’First introduced in colonial times, this European native is valued for its gorgeous yellowish-green “weeping” branches. 29. Virginia Pine – Pinus virginianaThis short-lived and slow-growing species is often used in reforestation projects to kick off a nourishing ecosystem in otherwise devastated areas. 30. Japanese Zelkova – Zelkova serrataNative to Japan, Taiwan, and eastern China, this species was introduced to America to boost the native American elm populations that easily succumb to Dutch elm disease. 31. Grancy Greybeard – Chionanthus virginicusThis species is known for its clusters of drooping flowers and dark blue fruits. 32. Kentucky Yellowwood – Cladrastis kentukeaThis species features yellow heartwood and fragrant white blooms, and is one of the rarest forest trees in the eastern US. 33. Tulip Poplar – Liriodendron tulipiferaThese fast-growing trees are often the tallest in the forest, reaching heights nearing 150 feet on average. 34. Longleaf Pine – Pinus palustrisBefore the land was settled, these 100-year-old giants dominated an estimated 90 million acres of land between Virginia to Florida to Texas. 35. Bur Oak – Quercus macrocarpaBur oaks won’t bear their acorns until they reach maturity at around 30 to 35 years old, but will then live for nearly 300 more years! 36. Athena Chinese Elm – Ulmis parvifolia ‘Athena’With spectacular mottled bark, this durable cultivar was developed on UGA’s own campus by Dr. Michael Dirr in the 1980s. 37. Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichumThe tour’s second bald cypress, these swamp-loving trees are known for their wide, buttressed trunks. More about the Bald Cypress can be found here. 38. Sawtooth Oak – Quercus acutissimaThis fast-growing oak is a favorite of wildlife in both its native China, Japan, and Korea as well as North America. 39. Black Tupelo – Nyssa sylvaticaThe black tupelo is a popular source of nectar for bees, and is where the majority of tupelo honey comes from. 40. American Beech – Fagus grandifoliaThis unique species can self-propagate via underground sucker shoots. 41. American Hornbeam – Carpinus carolinianaA small understory tree, the American hornbeam features a fluted trunk with smooth gray bark. 42. Bigleaf Magnolia – Magnolia macrophyllaThe overly-large leaves and flowers of this magnolia species are the largest of any native North American tree. 43. Swamp White Oak – Quercus bicolorDrought-resistant and easily transplanted, these trees are common across central and eastern North America. 44. Shortleaf Pine – Pinus echinataThe shortleaf pine is exactly what most people picture when they think of a pine tree, and is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States. 45. Chinese Fringe Tree – Chionanthus retususWith snowy-white flowers that produce a gentle fragrance, the Chinese Fringe tree is a popular ornamental choice. 46. Trident Maple – Acer buergerianumThis species is a popular street tree in our very own Athens! 47. Persian Parrotia – Parrotia persicaNative to northern Iraq, this ornamental tree was discovered on a mountaineering expedition in 1830. 48. Ohio Buckeye – Aesculus glabraThis species naturally grows in heavily-forested areas, and is rarely seen in open areas. 49. American Holly – Ilex opacaWith bright-red berries and spiny leaves, the American holly is a well-known and well-loved tree. 50. Compton Oak – Quercus x comptoniaeA cross between the southern live oak and the overcup oak, this naturally-occurring cultivar is extremely hardy and handsome. 51. Star Magnolia – Magnolia stellataMuch smaller than other magnolias, this species is native to Japan’s Honshu island. 52. Lacebark Pine – Pinus bungeanaWith attractive exfoliating bark and multi-stemmed trunks, these trees are known in China to symbolize longevity. 53. Formosan Sweetgum – Liquidambar formosanaNative to China and Taiwan, every part of this sweetgum is used in a variety of industries. 54. Black Walnut – Juglans nigraPrized for its lumber, the black walnut is logged extensively and coveted for its delicious nuts. Learn more about the Black Walnut in our Tree of the Month article! 55. European Horse Chestnut – Aesculus hippocastanumThis species gets its name from the mistaken belief that its fruits could cure horse cough. 56. Golden Larch – Pseudolarix amabilisDespite the name, this species is not actually a true larch tree! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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In case you missed our article a few weeks ago, the UGA Arboretum is a botanical garden dedicated specifically to trees that is made up of the entire UGA campus. Basically, all the trees and plants on UGA grounds are a part of the arboretum, although some receive a little special treatment. Trees of historic, local, and botanical value (in addition to a few state specimens) have been identified with little black plaques that denote their species and the UGA Arboretum’s logo. Last week, we walked you through the UGA Arboretum North Campus Tour, which features all the distinguished trees on North Campus. This week, we’ll be going through all the trees on the Central Campus Tour. Featuring 34 individual trees, the Central Campus Tour was the Campus Arboretum’s first official project, and paved the way for other tours around campus, as well as a variety of initiatives intended to promote and study trees. 1. Overcup Oak – Quercus lyrataNative to the lowlands of the southeast, the leaves of this oak resemble three lyres stacked atop one another, which is where it gets its denomination lyrate (which means lyre-like in Latin). 2. Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia indicaThe crape myrtle is a popular tree amongst landscapers and homeowners alike, and though not native to the United States, you’ll find them all over public and private property – especially here in Athens! 3. Northern Red Oak – Quercus rubraLike the name suggests, northern red oaks are known for their brilliant fall colors. 4. Carolina Cherry Laurel – Prunus carolinianaThe Carolina cherry laurel gets its name from the cherry-like scent the leaves give off when crushed. 5. Southern Red Oak – Quercus falcataA classic southeastern tree, southern red oaks tend to grow in forests of hardwood pines – in other words, every forest in Georgia. 6. Devilwood – Cartrema americanusThis smaller, shrub-like tree grows attractive white flowers every spring that give off a pleasant fragrance. 7. Sugar Maple – Acer saccharumSugar maples are, unsurprisingly, the choice maple for syrup production thanks to their high sugar content! 8. Shumard Oak – Quercus shumardiiThese hardy oaks are able to withstand the heat and drought associated with the southeast, and offer a breathtaking fall display. 9. Eastern Hemlock – Tsuga canadensisThough usually found further north than Georgia, the eastern hemlock is nonetheless an important staple to the ecosystem. 10. Post Oak – Quercus stellataAnother hardy oak built to withstand drought and heat, the post oak is a slower-growing species that can live up to 500 years old. 11. Swamp Laurel Oak – Quercus laurifoliaMost oak trees live for hundreds – if not thousands – of years, but the swamp laurel oak breaks the norm. These fast-growing trees have fairly short lifespans and favor the moist woodlands of the south. 12. Laurel Oak – Quercus hemisphaericaLaurel oaks are almost evergreen, and will hold onto their green leaves until February here in the south before finally giving them up to the ground. 13. Chinese Pistache – Pistachia chinensisNative to China, Taiwan, and the Philippines, this hardy species has been introduced to temperate climates all over the world thanks to its attractive appearance, fall color, and interesting fruit. 14. Wirt L. Winn Holly – Ilex x koehneanaA hybrid of Ilex latifolia and Ilex aquifolium, this densely-branched holly makes for a great privacy screen. 15. Burford Chinese Holly – Ilex cornutaThis holly is native to China and Korea, and is often grown as a shrub rather than a full-sized tree. They’re resistant to most diseases and insects, and grow attractive red berries, making them a popular landscaping choice. 16. Black Cherry – Prunus serotinaBlack cherries grow rapidly as compared to other cherries, and are used across the United States and Central Mexico for their fruit and timber. 17. Sugarberry – Celtis laevigataSugarberries are known for their orangey-red and yellow berries, as well as their distinctive gray bark that grows mottled warts when mature. 18. Persimmon – Diospyros virginianaPersimmons have a long history in the southeast and Midwest. Their fruit is popular with humans and wildlife alike, and their seeds were often used as makeshift buttons during the Civil War. In southern folklore, persimmons could also be used to predict the weather! 19. Blue Atlas Cedar – Cedrus atlanticaNative to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where it gets its name, as well as Algeria, the blue atlas cedar is an endangered species. The glauca (which means “blue” and refers to the silver-blue needled foliage) cultivar on UGA’s campus is over 100 years old. 20. Eastern Hemlock – Tsuga canadensisThe eastern hemlock gets another stop on the tour. These trees can live over a thousand years and are currently under attack by an invasive pest species in the United States. 21. Pignut Hickory – Carya glabraWith their deep taproot, pignut hickories can survive very dry conditions, making them well-suited to the fickle weather of the southeast. Their name comes from the early American settlers who noticed how wild hogs loved the nuts. 22. White Ash – Fraxinus americanaThe white ash tree is the most common ash native to the United States, and is the most valued ash for timber. Louisville Sluggers use white ash to make their baseball bats! 23. Chinese Parasol Tree – Firmiana simplexThis small tree is native to China, Korea, Japan, and southwest Asia, and gets its name from its large leaves that can provide shade, just like a parasol. 24. Red Buckeye – Aesculus paviaRed buckeyes are known for their long, tubular flowers that are bright red and attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. 25. Callaway Crabapple – MalusThese ornamental trees grow tart fruits that are made into popular jams and jellies. 26. Sweetgum – Liquidambar styracifluaGum from the sweetgum tree was used in both World Wars to make soap, drugs, and adhesives. Nowadays, it is valued for its lumber thanks to the close-grained wood that readily takes stains and finishes. 27. Japanese Black Pine – Pinus thunbergiiNative to Japan and Korea, the Japanese black pine is a classic bonsai subject and can easily be pruned into Niwaki forms in landscaping. 28. Sweet Bay Magnolia – Magnolia virginianaAnother southeast native, these ornamental trees grow lemon-scented flowers and retain their foliage almost year-round. 29. Chestnut Oak – Quercus prinusChestnut oaks are set apart by their attractive ridged bark, and can live up to 400 years old. 30. Star Magnolia – Magnolia stellataA smaller magnolia, the star magnolia is native to the Japanese island of Honshu, where it is beloved for its white blossoms and knobby pink fruit. 31. Saucer Magnolia – Magnolia x soulangeanaA cross between Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliiflora, this hybrid grows pinkish-white flowers that are streaked with pink and purple on the underside. 32. Japanese Pagoda Tree – Styphnolobium japonicumThe Japanese pagoda tree is actually native to China and Korea, and was introduced in Japan for use around Buddhist temples. 33. Loblolly Pine – Pinus taedaOne of the most common pine species in the southeast, the loblolly pine is an integral part of the commercial forestry industry. 34. Georgia Oak – Quercus georgianaThe Georgia oak is a rare species that grows exclusively on granite outcroppings, and can be found only in small pockets throughout Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. They’re much smaller than other oak species, and this particular specimen of the UGA arboretum is actually the largest-known Georgia oak! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Taxodium distichum, more commonly known as the bald cypress, is a native staple to the deep South. These classic, pyramidal trees with the wide, buttressed bases are often found clustered together in large stands along coastal areas, bayous, marshes, and swamps. With their imposing limbs and wide trunks often draped with Spanish moss, they make for a haunting image – and for good reason! Bald cypress trees in the wild often grow well over 100 feet tall with trunks over 6 feet wide. The species is one of the oldest living in the world, with most mature trees well into their hundreds. These towering behemoths are perhaps best-known for the conical “cypress knees” (scientifically called pneumatophores) they grow in wet conditions. There’s plenty of speculation as to the function of these nodules that spring up from the roots, but science hasn’t yet identified any one definite purpose. One common theory is that these protrusions provide structural stability in waterlogged swamplands. Another theory purports that they might help channel oxygen to the root system. Though native to the wetlands, bald cypress trees actually grow quite successfully in more urban settings, easily adapting to both wet and dry conditions. A highly tolerant species, they can adjust to most any soil type and are generally unbothered by air pollution and short flooding. Thanks to their low-maintenance lifespan and quick growth rate of 1 to 2 feet a year, bald cypresses are a popular landscaping choice for street trees and parking lot fixtures. This flexibility also allows them to be grown by homeowners, where they offer lightly dappled shade. The only upkeep is the occasional pruning of dead, dying, or damaged limbs. You’ll also want to ensure full-sun exposure, or about 6 hours of direct sunlight each day – not hard to do in the South! If you do decide to add one of these beauties to your yard, it’s important to remember their massive size when picking a place to plant. Though they definitely won’t reach into the 100s of feet like they would naturally, domestically-grown bald cypresses still manage impressive heights of 50 to 70 feet, with a crown spread of up to 25 feet at maturity. The bald cypress is a conifer, or cone-bearing, species with needles for foliage rather than leaves. These needles grow in pairs along slender branches and can vary in color, straying to the yellow-green end of the spectrum in spring and changing to reddish- and orangish-browns in the fall. As one of only five deciduous conifer species, bald cypresses shed their needles in the fall. But don’t worry – their gray-brown bark exfoliates in long vertical strips, giving those bare trunks an attractive mottled appearance. This loss of needles is popularly assumed to be the origin of the common name. They go bald in the fall, hence “bald cypress.” Despite this theory, there is no historical record indicating where the name came from. The cones of the bald cypress are much smaller than the pinecones you’re used to seeing, and are generally only about an inch in length. They start out green in the summer, and then fade to brown before they fall, where local wildlife eats the tiny triangular seeds they house. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. |
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January 2023
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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24