Identification:
Leaves—
medium size, yellow-green color, sharp edges
Twigs—
long, thin, smooth, dull gray-brown
Flowers—a
mix of red and green clusters
Fruit—
very small furry seeds
Bark—
not too rough, dull gray-brown color
Natural History:
Lifespan—
hundreds of years, even up to 300 years.
General description—
A strong long-lived tree with strong bark that easily becomes dominant when planted near other trees. (however, they are not too competitive.) They are also easily sensitive to Dutch Elm disease, so those who wish to grow them should keep that in mind.
Natural distribution and habitat—
Native to North America and found in the Midwest and east coast.
Conservation status—
Even though they easily grow, they were almost killed off by the Dutch elm disease.
Uses—
Used as ornamental trees. Also used to make wooden products and also used for fuel and firewood.
