UGA Campus Arboretum: Central Campus Tour

​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 lyrata

​Native 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 indica

​The 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 rubra

​Like the name suggests, northern red oaks are known for their brilliant fall colors.

​4. Carolina Cherry Laurel – Prunus caroliniana

​The Carolina cherry laurel gets its name from the cherry-like scent the leaves give off when crushed. 

5. Southern Red Oak – Quercus falcata

​A classic southeastern tree, southern red oaks tend to grow in forests of hardwood pines – in other words, every forest in Georgia.

6. Devilwood – Cartrema americanus

​This smaller, shrub-like tree grows attractive white flowers every spring that give off a pleasant fragrance.

​7. Sugar Maple – Acer saccharum

​Sugar maples are, unsurprisingly, the choice maple for syrup production thanks to their high sugar content!

​8. Shumard Oak – Quercus shumardii

​These hardy oaks are able to withstand the heat and drought associated with the southeast, and offer a breathtaking fall display.

​9. Eastern Hemlock – Tsuga canadensis

​Though usually found further north than Georgia, the eastern hemlock is nonetheless an important staple to the ecosystem. 

​10. Post Oak – Quercus stellata

​Another 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 laurifolia

​Most 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 hemisphaerica

Laurel 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 chinensis

​Native 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 koehneana 

​A hybrid of Ilex latifolia and Ilex aquifolium, this densely-branched holly makes for a great privacy screen.

​15. Burford Chinese Holly – Ilex cornuta

​This 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 serotina

​Black 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 laevigata

​Sugarberries 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 virginiana

​Persimmons 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 atlantica

​Native 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 canadensis

​The 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 glabra

​With 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 americana

​The 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 simplex

​This 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 pavia

​Red buckeyes are known for their long, tubular flowers that are bright red and attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. 

​25. Callaway Crabapple – Malus

​These ornamental trees grow tart fruits that are made into popular jams and jellies. 

​26. Sweetgum – Liquidambar styraciflua

Gum 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 thunbergii

​Native 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 virginiana

​Another southeast native, these ornamental trees grow lemon-scented flowers and retain their foliage almost year-round.

​29. Chestnut Oak – Quercus prinus

​Chestnut oaks are set apart by their attractive ridged bark, and can live up to 400 years old.

​30. Star Magnolia – Magnolia stellata

​A 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 soulangeana

​A 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 japonicum

​The Japanese pagoda tree is actually native to China and Korea, and was introduced in Japan for use around Buddhist temples. 

​33. Loblolly Pine – Pinus taeda

​One 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 georgiana

​The 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!

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Author

Emily 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.

Sources:
Green Thumbs Garden
Gardening Know How
NC State Extension
Gardenia
​UGA Campus Arboretum
UGA Campus Arboretum: Central Campus Tour