1.
Giant Sequia (
Sequoiadendron giganteum)
These wonderous trees are native to the mountainous areas in California (Sierra Nevada). They are the largest trees on Earth and one of the oldest living trees as well. They live to be thousands of years old and have a diameter of over 30', and reach over 200' tall! There are NO other trees like these on the planet! Hardy in zones 6-8.
2.
Sugar Pine (Pinus
lambertiana) is a Pine tree native to Mountainous areas of California
and Oregon. They produce the largest Pine Cones in the world. The
largest Pine Cone came from this tree at a whopping 22.9" long! They are
very popular in Holiday decor since they are so massive. In fact Sugar
Pines are the largest growing Pine trees in the world. They can grow up
to 200' tall. Hardy in zones 6-7.
3.
Bristlecone Pine
There are 3 species native to the
Rocky Mountains and to the coastal mountains of California. All three
species can live to be at least 3,000 years old making them one of the
oldest single stemmed trees on Earth (not by means of cloning by sucker
growth). The species that has a specimen that is over 5,000 years old it
is Pinus longaeva. It is the oldest single stemmed tree on Earth. All these trees are hardy in zones 3-7. The botanical name of the other two species are
Pinus aristata, and Pinus
balfouriana.
4.
American Chestnut (Castanea
dentata)
Known as the Sequoia of the East. It is the 2nd largest growing tree in the US next to the Sequia. These trees ranged from most of the Appalachian mountains. Chestnuts are amazing to eat and by many were considered the best tasting nut! The tree is now considered virtually extinct in the wild. Only few select specimens remain. A fungle blight from Chinese Chestnuts (resistant to the blight) brought to New York in 1904. To this day the blight thrives in Eastern US forests living on Oak trees that don't affect any other tree. The blight spread across the native range killing billions of trees, the tree was considered virtually extinct by 1950. The American Chestnut Foundation has spent over 30 years working to develop a blight resistant American Chestnut with many saplings from rare specimens found to work with. So far they have developed a few varieties that have high resistance to the blight, and planting began a few years back in several national forests. Essentially scientists took the blight resistant gene out of the Chinese Chestnut and placed it in the American Chestnut. The blight resistant American Chestnut is 100% the gentically the same, but with added resistance to the deadly blight. The resulting tree is 15/16 American Chestnut and 1/16 Chinese Chestnut. American chestnuts are extremely fast growing trees at nearly 3' per year. This picture to the right was taken in the 1800s by loggers of these once majestic trees that dominated much of the Eastern US. Hardy in zones 4-9.
5.
Bald Cypress (
Taxodium distichum.)
Bald Cypress is a unique tree. It is a conifer (like a Pine) but is deciduous meaning it looses it's foliage every Fall. Also instead of growing in cold mountainous terrains like other conifers, in grows in swampy/wet areas in warm temperate to Sub-Tropical climates. It is native along the East coast up to Southern Indiana down all the way into Southern Florida in Everglades National Park. These tree can live for centuries, and the oldest specimens have been found at over 2,500 years old. They get massive bottom trunk with knees that are roots that pop up out of the ground. They are infamous for growing in standing water in true swamps. Even though they are native all the way down through Southern Florida they are hardy to -30°F. This is because they have a vast native range into part of the northern states. Hardy in zones 4-11.
6.
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
This tree is one of the most cold hardy broadleaf evergreen trees in the
world. Huge leaves that can span over 6" long. The tree is hardy to
-10°F, with some cultivars hardy to -20°F or slightly colder. Hardy in zones (5)6-10. It is
native from Central Florida up through the coastal South up to North
Carolina. Native through Southern half of Alabama, Mississippi, and
Georgia. Also goes through part of Louisiana and Eastern Texas. It is landscaped all the way up into Canada, adding a tropical look to a
frigid climate. They produce massive white flowers in late Spring and Early Summer that are considered by many to be
the most fragrent flower in the world. Popular in purfumes, candles..
7.
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
This is considered the bluest wild conifer in the world! While the
blue color can vary form specimen to specimen, they are cultivated to be
deep blue adding color to the landscape. There really is no other tree
with this color in the world! Native to the Rocky Mountains primarily in
Colorado, but in a few other states as well. It is landscaped all over
the country. In recent years a disease called
Rhizosphaera needlecast has limited planting in parts of the Eastern US. Hardy in zones 2-7.
8.
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Quaking Aspen is the most widespread tree in all of North America, ranging from most of the Rocky Mountains, parts of mountainous areas in Mexico, most of Canada, Alaska, most of the great lakes, and parts of Northeast and Midwest. Quaking Aspen is one of the oldest trees in the world by means of cloning (suckering). The tree sends sucker growth from the roots and the colonal growth can spread for miles. The oldest Grove is over 80,000 years old called "Pando" in Utah. It consists of thousands of what looks like individual trees, but are in fact one big tree growing on the same root system. They survive wildfires by sending thousands of suckers from the spring -midsummer every year. They grow in the coldest of climates and do not survive in areas with hot and humid summers with mild winters. They are hardy in USDA Zones 1-6. They have been known to survive temps colder than -70°F! Their attractive white bark, and "quaking or trembling" foliage in the slightest breeze makes this tree one of the most spectacular trees on this planet!
9.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
American Holly is the most cold hardy broadleaf evergreen tree in the
US, next to Southern Magnolia. Hardy to -20°F zones 5-9. Native from
Central Florida through much of the East Coast up to Massachusetts,
through all of the Appalachian mountains into Eastern Kentucky and Ohio.
Also extends in the South to Eastern Texas. Absent elsewhere in the
East and midwest. Landscaped across the country, though many places
don't offer it due to the many pest and disease issues limiting its
life. It's gorgeous red berries in winter with deep green leaves that
persist into subzero winters truly is a sight you must see!
10. River Birch (Betula nigra)
River Birch is a tree native in much of the South, and scattered in parts of the East and Midwest. Hardy in zones 4-9. The tree is most desired for its gray deep cinnamon peeling bark. In landscaping it is most commonly grown as a clump. Though single trunk is also very attractive in the landscape as well. In addition to the bark, the foliage turn bright yellow in fall. This tree in the wild grows in wet sites, and is intolerant of drought. This tree is a must when hiking, or landscaping!
