Get to know the trees on campus.

• Small flowering tree that grows up to 25 feet
• Puts on a showy display of double pink blossoms in spring
• Produces bright yellow crabapples in summer

Originated from a chance seedling in the Arnold Arboretum in 1943. Donald Wyman, Head Horticulturist at the Arnold Arboretum from 1937-1970, named this variety for his daughter, Dorothea Wyman Thomas, who was a resident of Fox Hill Village. This beautiful tree is located on the upper walkway in the back of Ellis.

• Low growing, small tree with purple leaves that turn scarlet in fall
• Each leaf has 5-7 deeply cut lobes
• Small whitish flowers bloom in spring

Native to Japan, Korea and China, this is a dwarf variety of Acer palmatum. Notice how the leaves spread from a single point like fingers from the palm of a hand. The Japanese word momiji, which means “baby’s hands,” is sometimes applied to this tree. This graceful maple is located near the Resident Garden on the outside left back corner across the walking path.

• Coniferous tree that grows to 100 feet tall
• Feathery, fern-like foliage that emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer and turns red-bronze in fall
• As the tree matures, the trunk broadens at the base and develops elaborate fluting

The smallest of the redwoods, the dawn redwood was once thought to be extinct. Fossils in northern parts of the U.S. show the tree existed when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Surprisingly, the dawn redwood was discovered growing in a remote valley of the Szechwan province of China in 1941. Seeds were sent to the Arnold Arboretum in 1947 and the species has been distributed worldwide.

Since there is only one dawn redwood at Fox Hill, it must self-pollinate to produce cones. It has not done so. The Dawn Redwood stands on the wooded side of the walking path near the back of the building by the Dana/Ellis plaza entrance.

• Dense pyramidal conifer that can grow 40-70 feet tall or more
• Soft, feathery needles form flat sprays of foliage
• Short dark green needles have two white bands on their underside

Also called Canadian hemlock, Tsuga canadensis is native to North America from eastern Canada south to Alabama. It yields an abundance of small cones that hang from the branches like ornaments.

Native Americans and colonists used the tannins from the bark as a curative and for tanning leather. Unlike the hemlock that poisoned Socrates, the Canadian hemlock is not poisonous. The needles have been used to make a tea that is high in vitamin C.

The hemlocks around the main building at Fox Hill Village have been trimmed to form a lollypop shape. The large hemlock is near the Baker West driveway entrance near the end of Ames.

• Largest northeastern conifer reaching heights of 50-80 feet, sometimes much taller
• Horizontal tiered branches
• Long, slender blue-green needles grown in bundles of five
• Produces cones 6-8” long that are slightly curved with smooth scales

Pinus strobus used to be the most valuable tree of the northeast. The tall straight trunks were prized for ship masts in colonial days.

When the British Parliament passed laws reserving white pines for the Crown and Royal Navy, the U.S. Congress prohibited the export of white pine. During the War of Independence, colonial warships flew a flag showing a white pine, a symbol of power and defiance the British clearly understood. Today the white pine is the state tree of Maine and Michigan.

Pinus strobus can be found on the left toward the top of the path to White Oak Cottages.

• Native flowering tree with showy spring flowers, red fruit and scarlet autumn foliage
• Typically grows 15-30 feet tall
• Short trunk with gray bark that resembles alligator hide

Also called the white dogwood, Cornus florida is one of America’s most popular ornamental trees. Four petaled white flower clusters bloom in spring before leaves emerge. Clusters of green berries ripen to bright red in autumn. Egg-shaped leaves turn yellow, orange or red in fall before dropping.

The smooth, straight twigs of dogwood were historically used to make butchers’ skewers, which were called dogs or dags. Thus, the name dogwood. You can see this native beauty outside Ames-Baker knuckle.

• Can grow 50-80 feet tall
• Unique fan-shaped leaves which turn a vibrant yellow in autumn
• Straight trunk with rough, gray bark deeply furrowed

Ginkgo biloba is the last surviving member of its species. It’s a living fossil going back about 250 million years. The ginkgo tree was one of the few living things to survive the bombing of Hiroshima, which has made it a symbol of resilience and peace.

It’s commonly called the maidenhair tree because its fan-shaped leaves resemble the maidenhair fern. In old Chinese literature, ginkgo is called duck’s foot because the leaves resemble the webbed foot of a duck.

The tree is dioecious with separate male and female trees. The female produces seeds encased in a fleshy cone that drops in autumn, splits open and emits a foul odor. It’s why nurseries typically sell only male trees. You can find two of these beautiful trees on either side of the Main Dining Room entrance next to the patio.

• Flowering tree with a rounded crown that typically reaches 30-40 feet in height
• Sprays of yellow flowers reaching a foot long appear in early summer
• Clusters of lantern-like seed pods change from green to yellow to a pinkish brown in fall

Renowned for its brilliant yellow flowers, the Golden Rain Tree (also called the Pride of India) was introduced to North America in 1763. It’s become a favorite landscape tree in many regions.

The foliage emerges in spring with a pinkish-bronze hue, turns bright green in summer and transitions to a golden yellow in fall. You can follow the Golden Rain Tree’s wardrobe changes in the center island at the bottom of the Dana/Ellis Plaza entrance.

• 30-75 ft. tree with feathery, yellow-green leaves that turn bright yellow in fall
• Leaves are bipinnately compound (like a Boston Fern)
• Fruit is a pod-like legume

The honey locust is native to central North America and ranges east into Massachusetts. Wild trees have stout thorns which, thankfully, do not appear on cultivated varieties. Clusters of greenish-yellow flowers bloom in spring. Flowers are followed by long, flat seedpods.

The sweet pulp in honey locust seed pods is attractive food for deer, rabbits and squirrels. The dense, rot-resistant wood is used for posts and rails. Thorns have been used for carding wool. There are three Honey Locust trees in front of Dana to the left of the Main Entrance.

• Large tree that reaches 50-80 feet in height, forming a broad, rounded crown as it ages
• Short trunk with grayish white to grayish brown bark
• Serrated leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, copper, dark red and purplish red in autumn

Also known as the Japanese elm, a mature Zelkova serrata can grow up to 100 feet. Paradoxically, it’s also used for bonsai.

The wood is valued in Japan for furniture and taiko drums. In Korea, the tree is considered a symbol of protection. The oldest of these trees are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. Two Japanese Zelkova trees are located on the outer edges of the Main Dining Room Patio. They are surrounded by liriope.

• Handsome shade tree with a short trunk and narrow crown
• Leaves emerge late in spring with a pinkish-bronze hue, mature to a blue-green shade in summer, and turn gold and yellow in fall

As its name suggests, this tree is native to the Midwest but grows throughout New England. It’s one of the last trees to leaf out in spring. Clusters of greenish-white flowers bloom at the same time.

A member of the pea family, fertilized female flowers produce seed pods 5-10″ long which turn brown in autumn. The seeds are toxic and should not be eaten.

The tree was named by Kentucky settlers who noticed the resemblance of its seeds to coffee beans. Historically, the wood was used in the construction of railway sleeper cars. There are two Kentucky Coffee Trees along the right side of Longwood drive as you approach the Main Entrance circle.

• A small deciduous flowering tree that typically grows 15-30 ft. tall
• Produces star-like blooms in spring (about a month later than Cornus florida)
• Dark green leaves are 2-4″ long, oval and pointed; leaves turn purple and scarlet in autumn

Dogwood trees are known for their delicate beauty and year-round visual appeal. In spring, the kousa puts on a flower show of white blossoms. Flowers are followed by berry-like fruits which mature to a pinkish red in summer. In the fall, leaves turn shades of red. Even in winter, the mottled tan and gray bark adds interest. Most of the dogwood trees at Fox Hill Village are kousa dogwoods. You can admire this tree to the left of the garage entrance at the walking path rounding the back of Dana.

• Reaches heights of 40-50 feet tall
• Rounded crown with small dark leaves that change to yellow and reddish purple in fall
• Distinctive bark is smooth with a mottled, flaking blend of steely gray and peach, speckled with deep rusty-orange spots

The Lacebark Elm is named for its distinctive bark. Also known as the Chinese Elm, the tree was introduced to America in 1794. It flowers in late summer and produces a small, brown fruit in fall that has a notched, elliptical wing about ½” long.

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Allee’ is resistant to Dutch Elm disease and provides nesting sites for squirrels and birds. The leaves also attract mourning cloak, eastern coma and question mark butterfly larvae. (It also makes an excellent bonsai plant.) You’ll see three of these handsome specimens as you go around the Baker West circle driveway.

• Deciduous tree reaching 40-60 ft. tall with arched branching and a rounded spreading crown
• Leaves are spear shaped with serrated edges except at the base
• Older bark is covered with warty, corky projections

The northern hackberry isn’t particularly impressive to look at, but birds love the berries, especially the cedar waxwing, mockingbird and robin. The hackberry also attracts many butterfly species including American snout, hackberry, mourning cloak and tawny emperor.

Historically, the tough, flexible wood was used for barrel hoops and flooring in pioneer cabins. The tree is a member of the Cannabis family. You can find Celtis occidentalis at the upper end corner of the Ames parking lot.

• Majestic fast-growing tree celebrated for its brilliant fall foliage
• Typically grows 50-70 ft. tall and wide
• Bark gradually ages into a dark gray with broad, flat-topped ridges separated by deep furrows

The northern red oak has been called “one of the handsomest, cleanest and stateliest trees in North America” by naturalist Joseph S. Illick. Its dense foliage provides great shade and hosts the larvae of numerous butterfly species. Its acorns are favored by blue jays, squirrels, turkeys, raccoons and other wildlife. In fall, its dark green leaves turn russet-red to vibrant crimson. The tree’s beautiful reddish-white wood is used for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, veneer and firewood. You can find Quercus rubra on the walking path midway between Ellis and Baker after the Resident Garden heading toward the main building.

• Grows up to 40-50 ft. tall and 30-50 ft. wide
• Dense foliage of dark green leaves that turn yellow in fall
• Leaves up to 7″ have five pointed lobes

This tree was introduced to New England in 1756 and was popular as a hardy street tree. Today it’s regarded as an invasive species and banned in some states. Its dense shade and shallow roots inhibit the growth of other plants.

The leaves of Norway Maple resemble those of sugar maple, but the stems exude a white sap when broken. Norway maples also drop their leaves later than native sugar maples. Located in front of the Ames building near the Main Entrance and parking lot.

• Beautiful fast-growing tree known for its brilliant fall color
• Typically grows 40-60 ft. tall with a rounded to oval crown
• Leaves have 5 lobes that emerge reddish in spring, turn green in summer, then turn red, yellow or orange in fall

Red maple is one of the most appropriately named trees featuring something red in each season: buds in winter, flowers in spring, leafstalks in summer and brilliant foliage in autumn.

Native to North America, Red Maple has the greatest north-south distribution of all tree species along the east coast. It’s also the state tree of Rhode Island. You can see this native favorite on the back side of Ames near the end of the building, between the building and the parking lot.

• Fast-growing tree that typically grows 40-70 ft. tall
• Bark peels in thin, curling layers revealing shades of salmon-pink, tan or reddish-brown
• Diamond-shaped leaves are bright green in spring, dark green in summer and golden yellow in fall

River birch is native to the eastern and central U.S., where it occurs naturally along riverbanks. As a landscape tree, river birch can be planted almost anywhere.

Produces brown and green catkins in spring that attract redpolls, pine siskin and sparrows. Historically, river birch trees were used for ox yokes and wooden shoes. You can see Betula nigra near the front of Ames on your right as you approach the Main Entrance.

• Grows 30-60 ft. tall
• Three different leaf shapes: oval, two lobes or three lobes
• Bark is thick, reddish brown, deeply furrowed

This aromatic tree is known for its mitten-shaped green leaves and vibrant fall color. A member of the laurel family, it’s native to eastern North America and can live for up to 100 years.

Historically, oil from the bark was used to flavor root beer. Many of the former uses for the oils are now banned after the oils were found to contain safrole, a carcinogen. At Fox Hill Village, these trees are on the right of the walking path after the Resident Garden and dog park heading toward Baker West.

• Large shrub or small understory tree which grows up to 30 ft. tall
• Produces white flowers in March and edible berries in June
• Finely toothed dark green leaves turn orange-red in autumn

Early in spring, white clusters of blooms provide a dramatic contrast against the new green of spring. Plump red berries attract birds in summer. In the fall, red and gold leaves add beauty to the landscape.

Also known as the shadbush, Amelanchier canadensis is a harbinger of spring. Its bloom in March or April occurs when the shad are running in New England. There are four serviceberry trees along the parking circle at the Ames/Baker and Baker West entrances.

• Long-lived tree that grows 40-80 ft. tall with a dense, rounded crown
• Leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, burnt orange and red in fall
• Produces seeds that are winged and spin to the ground like a helicopter in autumn

The sugar maple is one of America’s best-loved trees. More states have claimed it as their state tree than any other species. A stylized maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada.

The sugar maple is commercially planted for its syrup and lumber. During the 2001 baseball season, Barry Bonds switched from an ash wood bat to one made of maple and hit a record-breaking 73 home runs. You can see this beautiful tree standing in front of Dana between the parking lot and the middle of Dana.

• Produces pale pink buds in spring which blossom into masses of fragrant white flowers
• Small red crabapples appear soon after and last through the winter
• Leaves are dark green, slender, ovate and serrated

There are hundreds of crabapple species. Malus Sugar Tyme is known for its sweet-smelling white blossoms, spreading crown and prolific fruiting. It typically grows up to 18 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide. Fruits are red and about ½” in diameter. Crabapples are generally used as an accent tree or planted in small groups. There are four of these beauties in the center circle at the Main Entrance.

• Small, broadleaf semi-evergreen with creamy white, lemon-scented flowers
• Typically grows 10–35 ft. tall
• Glossy green leaves with silvery undersides
• Smooth, pale gray bark

Also known as swamp magnolia or laurel magnolia, Magnolia virginiana is native to the southeastern U.S. It’s often found in moist woodlands and along streambanks and was called “Beaver tree” by colonists who caught beavers in traps baited with the fleshy roots.

This attractive ornamental is popular for its fragrant flowers, showy cornlike fruit, handsome foliage of contrasting colors, and smooth bark. It blooms from late spring into summer, attracting pollinators with its fragrant flowers. You can see this fragrant late bloomer in the back of Baker West lower-level patio.

• One of the largest native trees in eastern North America that can grow up to 80 ft. tall and 40 ft. wide
• Known for its tulip-shaped flowers and leaves
• Bright green leaves turn golden yellow in fall

Also known as the tulip poplar, the tulip tree is a member of the Magnolia family. The yellow-orange flowers are often missed because they appear higher up the tree after the leaves have fully developed.

Furrowed bark with narrow tight ridges covers the tree’s straight trunk. The lustrous, yellow wood is light and soft, and used for furniture, plywood, musical instruments and boatbuilding. Native Americans and pioneers made dugout canoes from the straight trunks. There are three of these native beauties on the left wooded side of the paved walking path at the end of Ellis.

• Single- or multi-trunked tree with white peeling bark
• Bright green leaves turn yellow in fall
• Can grow 50-70 ft. tall and live for up to 80 years

Leaves are ovate, irregularly toothed and up to 4″ long. Brown or green catkins appear in spring, followed by cone-like fruits containing winged seeds that mature in summer.

Also known as paper birch or canoe birch, white birch is easy to spot with its unique white bark. It’s the source of skin for traditional birch bark canoes. The pliable wood is also used to shape the frames of snowshoes. Located between Longwood Drive and the front of Ames heading toward the Main Entrance as the walking path splits from the road.

• Pyramid-shaped conifer with blue-green needles
• Typically grows 40-60 ft. tall
• Cones grow upright on the branches

Also known as the Sierra white fir and Low’s fir, Abies concolor var. Iowiana is a subspecies of white fir native to the western U.S. The white fir is found on mountain slopes where it can grow up to 200 ft. in height and live up to 300 years or more. The shape and color of Abies Iowiana make it a popular choice for urban landscaping and the Christmas tree industry. You can see this shapely conifer on the right toward the top of the path to White Oak Cottages.