Spring Trees

Exceptional Trees - Spring
Not just a garden - a philosophy

Boxerwood has over 2,500 specimen trees
The following trees were featured in a special tour sponsored by the Tree Committee of Historic Lexington Foundation and the National Tree Trust.
Japanese Maple(s) - (Acer palmatum) - 163 varieties


White Fringetree - (Chionanthus virginicus)
	Absolutely spectacular when it blooms in late May to early June, fringetree can be either a large wide-spreading shrub or small tree depending on its site and its parentage. This underused native plant tolerates harsh conditions and will even bloom in shade like this one at Boxerwood. Flowering begins at a young age.
American Yellowwood - (Cladrastis kentuckea)
	Yellowwood's smooth gray bark is complemented by its cascade of snow-white flowers in May and June. Fall foliage ranges from a clear yellow to a warm golden. This tree at Boxerwood is 30 years old. Yellowwood is native to our area and grows well in our alkaline soils. Careful pruning when the tree is young will prevent it from growing trunks that are too closely spaced.
Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)
	This native viburnum grows into a large shrub or small tree with arching branches. A number of blackhaw viburnums are showing their flat-topped, creamy white flowers in the areas around the Great Oak. Fall foliage ranges from bronze to dull or deep red, and the berries, relished by birds, turn from a rosy pink to bluish black at maturity. Blackhaw has a multi-trunk habit of growth, with bark that resembles dogwood.
Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
	Look at the fantastic bark and gold-green leaves of this native maple! After a spectacular golden fall foliage, you can enjoy its green and white striped bark all winter long. This maple prefers woodland edges with moist soil and part sun to shade. It is a smaller maple, with a mature height of 20 to 30 feet.
Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
	A tough and trouble-free lilac, Japanese tree lilac's large and fragrant flowers emerge in May and June. It works well in the landscape as a large shrub or small tree, and the best flowering will be in full sun. An excellent tree for under utility lines with a mature height of about 25 feet. This tree lilac growing along the New Pond has been propped to keep it from leaning further.
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
	Imagine this tree's gorgeous cinnamon bark against the snow! Paperbark maple is truly a tree for all seasons, its blue-green summer leaves turning to brilliant red in the fall. This maple stays small (20 to 30 feet tall), tolerates a wide range of soil types, and works well as a lawn tree, in groupings, or even in the shrub border.
Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)
	This native tree is one of the few deciduous conifers, losing its foliage each fall after turning a coppery bronze. Notice the pale green, feathery foliage now emerging. Baldcypress's reddish bark and distinctive shape are wonderful in all seasons. Cypress "knees" will emerge when this tree is grown near water, but this large (to 80 feet or more) tree also does fine in drier sites, and prefers full sun.
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidntalis)
	This is only one example of the many types of arborvitae or white cedars available for the landscape. Many forms and shapes are found in a large number of cultivars. All of these natives are excellent screens and tolerate pruning and shearing. They hold up well in show and ice, and will grow well in partial shade. The brown on the leaves is actually small cones. White cedars prefer moist sites, but will tolerate dryness once established.
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
	Is it a tree or is it a shrub? Whatever you call it, Bottlebrush Buckeye has been describes as one of the best plants for the early summer border. Its dark-green leaves are complemented by the 8 to 12-inch white flower stalks that form at the end of branches. While it doesn't grow high (only about 12 feet or so), this plant's suckering habit means it needs a site that provides lots of room for its spread.
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
	This is another native buckeye that prefers the shade and moistness under larger trees. Its rich carmine flowers are a spring highlight. Red Buckeye has a rounded habit of growth and will grow 15 to 20 feet high and wide. One disadvantage of this tree is that it may lose its foliage early (August to September), especially during dry summers.
Red Horsechestnut (Aesculus x carnea 'Briottii')
	This tree is a cross between the red buckeye and the horsechestnut. Briottii's deep red flowers form in large spikes. Like #12 and #13, this tree also prefers moist woodland sites, but is adaptable to many sites. It will grow 30 to 40 feet high and about that wide.