Welcome To Elizabeth Park

Hartford, CT

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Trees of Elizabeth Park


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1. NYSSA SYLVATICA
Black Tupelo
Somewhat pyramidal when young with densely set branches, some of which are pendulous. Leaf color is dark green in summer, turning to burgundy in fall.

2. LIQUIDAMBAR
STYRACULUA
American Sweetgum
Profile is nearly pyramidal when young, growing to an oblong to rounded crown at maturity. Seed pods are a good identification feature.

3. CARYAOVATA
Shagbark Hickory
Large tree of 80 feet, often to 100 feet. Straight trunk, oblong crown of ascending branches. Foliage turns very yellow m fall. The bark gains a shaggy character with age.

4. CERCIDIPHYLLUM
JAPONICUM
Katsuratree
Very fine landscape plant reaching 40-60 feet. Fall color of apricot orange. Fall leaves have an odor of sugar and cinnamon.

5. MAGNOLIA CORDATA
Yellow Cucumber Magnolia
This is really a small version of the massive Cucumber Magnolia, with smaller leaves and yellower blossoms. It also has cucumber-like seed pods, which split open to show red seeds. A native of Georgia, our tree is 46 feet high.

6. PICEA ABIES
"PENDULA"
Weeping Norway Spruce
The Norway Spruce is a native of Europe. Elizabeth Park has many large Norway Spruces, but only one weeping specimen. Our tree is 38 feet tall.

7. METASEQUOIA
    GLYVROSTROBOIDES
Dawn Redwood
This tree can reach heights of 50 feet in thirty years and can grow to 120 feet tall. Pyramidal to conical shape on a single trunk. Fine deciduous leaf which turns orange - brown in fall. This species has been growing for 50 million years and was part of the landscape of the dinosaurs.

8. CORNUS KOUSA
Kousa Dogwood
Very distinct stratified branching habit. Wonderful exfoliating bark with age, adds to the winter landscape. Flowers in June.

9. CARPINUS BETULUS
   "FASTIGIATA"
Pyramidal European Hornbeam
This tree grows 40 - 60 feet high and 30 - 40 feet wide. Winter is a good time to see the slender branches arranged around the main leader. This is a very fine small landscape tree.

10. CEDRUS ATLANTICA
   "GLAUCA PENDULA"
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
The bluish foliage adds color to the winter landscape with branches which cascade like water. This tree must be staked to develop strong leaders.

11. PINUS FLEXILIS
Limber Pine
A conifer native to western North America. Needles are in clusters of five, similar to our Eastern White Pine. Cones are 4 - 6 inches long and tend to be covered with pitch. Our tree has lost its leader to a storm.

12. PICEA PUNGENS
    "GLAUCA PENDULA"
Weeping Blue Spruce
This conifer, a variety of the familiar Blue or Colorado Spruce is native to the Rocky Mountains. Its tortuous branches are rather unusual. Our State Champion is 30 feet tall. A smaller, more recumbent specimen is located 150 feet to the south.

13. CEDRUS ATLANTICA
    "GLAUCA"
Blue Atlas Cedar
This tree was planted in 1998 so some time must pass before we can see it in its mature glory.

14. CRYPTOMERIA
       JAPONICA
Japanese Cedar

15. CHAMAECYPARIS
       OBTUSA
Hinoki Cypress
A conifer native to Japan, where it grows to 120 feet. Cultivated plants, of which there are many varieties, tend to grow more slowly. Cones are very small. Our specimen is 38 feet tall.

16. THUJA PLICATA
Western Red Cedar
A conifer native to western USA. Also known as Giant Arbor -Vitae. Flat foliage with small cones, reddish bark. Can be very large in its native habitat. Our specimen is 81 feet tall.

17. ABIES CONCOLOR
White or Concolor Fir
This tree has a conical form with upper branches pointed upward and lower brandies deflecting downward. Leaf color is bluish gray green with pale bluish bands beneath. Native to western USA.

18. ACER MONO
Mono Maple
Elizabeth Park has four of these trees, which are believed to be a variety named "Savatieri". The leaves, which turn yellow in autumn, have five or seven lobes and exude milky sap at the stem. A native of eastern Asia, our State Champion tree is 60 feet high.

19. OXYDENDRUM
       ARBOREUM
Sourwood
This tree gives two shows each year - one is the flowers in June and July and the second is the fall colors of yellow, red and purple at one time on the same tree.

20. LIRIODENDRON
       TULIPIFERA
Tulip tree
This tree needs a lot of room to grow. It has spectacular fall color. May and June flowers are green the outside and orange on the inside and resemble a tulip.

           More Trees Below

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21. ABIES VEITCHII
Vietch Fir
With such handsome foliage this tree stands out well as a specimen tree. No cones have yet been observed on it.

22. ILEX OPACA
American Holly
Native from Massachusetts to Texas, this evergreen tree has spiny leaves and bright red berries. Its branches are frequently used for Christmas decorations. Our tree is 39 feet tall.

23. PINUS STROBUS
Eastern White Pine
Native tree with outstanding ornamental value as specimens in large areas, such as parks.

24. FAGUS SYLVATICA
"FASTIGIATA"
Columnar European Beech
This upright beech can grow to 80 feet tall with a 10 foot spread, so it would fit well in a
home landscape.

25. PINUS LEUCODERMIS
Bosnian Pine
Native of Italy and the Balkans
This tree was planted in 1996 and is already showing some fine characteristics.

26. GINKGO BILOBA
Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree
Very large tree with massive, picturesque branches. Fall color is an excellent yellow.
Unique fan shaped leaf.

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27. QUERCUS X LEANA
Lea's Hybrid Oak
A natural hybrid between the Black Oak and the Shingle Oak. This tree was discovered about 1830 near Cincinnati. The leaves are variable, ranging from several lobes to none. Our tree is a very fine specimen standing 84 feet tall.

28. AESCULUS GLABRA
Ohio Buckeye
A good park or large area species. When mature it's hard to grow a lawn underneath.
Fall color of yellow to pumpkin orange.

29. CELTIS OCCIDENTALIS
Common Hackberry
Our tree is very large and shows off the corky nature of the bark. Though native to Connecticut, it is Uncommon, and sometimes mistaken for an elm.

30. QUERCUS PALUSTRIS
Pin Oak
Pin Oaks naturally occur in wet ground, but they will grow almost anywhere. The easiest oak to transplant (no taproot), they have small acorns with flexible cups, and bristle- tipped, deeply cut leaves.

31. QUERCUS X RUNCINATA
Bottom Oak
The odd leaves and acorns of this tree appear to conform to a hybrid between the Northern Red Oak
(Q. rubra) and the Shingle Oak
(Q. iinbricaria)

32. QUERCUS RUBRA
Northern Red Oak
This oak is one of our finest native trees, and currently the most valuable for lumber. It has big cones with flat cups.

33. QUERCUS BICOLOR
Swamp White Oak
This magnificent specimen is the water loving brother of the White Oak. Its leaves have quite shallow lobes. Also, the front and back of the leaves differ, hence the botanical name "bicolor".

34. ULMUS AMERICANA
American Elm
At one time this was a great street tree. Unfortunately, elms have not stopped dying from Dutch elm disease. Most large survivors are probably protected by their isolation.

35. JUGLANS NIGRA
Black Walnut
A very large tree forming an open crown at maturity. The wood from this tree is highly valuable to cabinet makers.

36. ACER SACCHARUM
Sugar Maple
This specimen is a good example of why these trees are so highly prized for the shade and fall color they give us. It's hard to describe the fall color of a New England Sugar Maple.

37. PRUNUS SEROTINA
Black Cherry
BETULA LENTA
Black Birch
At this location you can see two native trees grown in a perfect woodland setting.

38. ACER PALMATUM
Japanese Maple
We bring your attention to one specimen tree. When you start walking in this area, you will notice many types of Japanese Maples.

39. PSEUDOLARIX AMABILIS
Golden Larch
This deciduous conifer is a native of China. A rare tree, its needles turn to gold before dropping in fall. Cones are rarely seen because they self destruct on falling. Our State Champion is 100 feet tall.

40. FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA
American Beech
One of our most beautiful native trees. If this tree is in a small yard it will probably be the only one with no lawn underneath. The word "noble" has been used to describe this tree

41. FRANKLINIA. ALATAMAHA
Franklin Tree
Native of Georgia, the tree has n been found in the wild since 179 Flowers in August and early September. Our tree is so entangled with a Sawara Falsecypress that the two cannot separated.

42. TAXUS CUSPIDATA
Japanese Yew
The nomenclature of this genus has become very confused. Enjoy these trees for what they are. Look closely at the different types in area. And yes, these are the trees at can be seen as foundation plantings around many homes.

43. CHAMAECYPARIS PISIFE "PLUMOSA"
Plume Sawara Falsecypress
There are several varieties of this Japanese conifer in the park. The species, however, is seldom seen.

For a free brochure "Trees of Elizabeth Park" send request to:
Friends of Elizabeth Park
P.O. Box 370361
West Hartford, Connecticut 06137

or email: elizabethpark@att.net