Tree Types Found in Frederick, Maryland

There are many different types of trees that can be found in Frederick, Maryland. Some of the more common species include oak, maple, pine, and dogwood. Other trees that are commonly found in the area include tulip poplar, sycamore, sweet gum, and hickory. Additionally, there are many invasive species like the Bradford pear and the Norway maple which are also found in Frederick. It’s worth noting that the types of trees found in Frederick will depend on the specific location within the city and surrounding area.

Oak

Oak trees are a type of deciduous tree that belongs to the genus Quercus. They are native to the Northern Hemisphere and are known for their large size, longevity, and wide range of ecological roles. Oak trees are a very diverse group, and there are many different species of oak trees, but some common features include:

• Leaves: Oak trees have simple leaves that are typically lobed, with the number and shape of lobes varying depending on the species.
• Acorns: Oak trees are known for their acorns, which are the fruit of the tree. Acorns are typically large and hard, with a cap or cup-like structure at the top.
• Bark: Oak tree bark is typically thick and deeply furrowed, with a dark grayish-brown color.
• Size: Oak trees can grow to be quite large, with some species reaching heights of more than 100 feet.
• Life Span: Oak trees are also known for their longevity, with some species living for several hundred years.
• Wood: Oak wood is strong, hard, and durable, making it a popular choice for a variety of construction and furniture-making applications.
• Distribution: Oak trees are found in many regions of the world, such as North America, Europe, and Asia. They are also known to be found in different climate zones, from tropical to temperate and to Mediterranean climates.
• Ecological role: Oak trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife and support a wide range of insects and fungi. They also play a role in soil development and water regulation.

Maple

Maple trees are a type of deciduous tree that belongs to the genus Acer. They are known for their vibrant fall colors, opposite leaves, and maple syrup production. Maple trees are a very diverse group, and there are many different species of maple trees, but some common features include:

• Leaves: Maple tree leaves are typically opposite, with simple, lobed or palmate shapes. The shape and size of the leaf can vary depending on the species.
• Flowers: Maple trees produce small, inconspicuous flowers that develop into winged fruits called samaras.
• Bark: Maple tree bark is typically smooth and gray on young trees, but as the tree ages, it becomes rough and deeply furrowed.
• Size: Maple trees can vary in size depending on the species, some species can reach over 100 feet in height while others are small and shrub-like.
• Life Span: Maple trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Maple wood is known for its strength, durability, and attractive grain patterns, making it popular for a variety of woodworking and furniture-making applications.
• Distribution: Maple trees are native to the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with a majority of species found in Asia and North America.
• Ecological role: Maple trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, and their leaves contribute to the formation of humus, enriching the soil. Maple trees are also known for their vibrant fall colors, which can be a popular tourist attraction in some areas.

Pine

Pine trees are a type of evergreen tree that belongs to the genus Pinus. They are known for their tall, straight trunks, long needles, and distinctive cones. Pine trees are a very diverse group, and there are many different species of pine trees, but some common features include:

• Needles: Pine tree needles are typically long and slender, growing in clusters of two to five. The number of needles per cluster can vary depending on the species.
• Cones: Pine trees produce cones, which are the tree’s reproductive structures. The cones can vary in size and shape depending on the species. They can be large and woody, or small and papery.
• Bark: Pine tree bark is typically thick and scaly, with a reddish-brown to gray color.
• Size: Pine trees can vary in size depending on the species, some species can reach over 200 feet in height while others are small and shrub-like.
• Life Span: Pine trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Pine wood is lightweight, strong and soft, it’s used in construction, furniture, paneling and paper products.
• Distribution: Pine trees are native to the Northern Hemisphere, with a majority of species found in North America, Europe and Asia. They are also known to be found in different climate zones, from tropical to temperate and to Mediterranean climates.
• Ecological role: Pine trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, their needles contribute to the formation of humus, enriching the soil and they also play a role in water regulation and soil erosion control.

Dogwood

Dogwood trees are a type of deciduous tree that belong to the genus Cornus. They are known for their small size, vibrant spring flowers and colorful fall foliage. Dogwood trees are a very diverse group, and there are many different species of dogwood trees, but some common features include:

• Leaves: Dogwood tree leaves are typically simple and opposite, with a glossy green color, they can range in size from 1-4 inches long and 0.5-2 inches wide.
• Flowers: Dogwood trees produce small but showy flowers that are typically white, pink or red. They bloom in the spring before the leaves appear.
• Bark: Dogwood tree bark is typically smooth and gray on young trees, but as the tree ages, it becomes rough and deeply furrowed.
• Size: Dogwood trees are small to medium-sized trees, typically growing to 20-30 feet in height.
• Life Span: Dogwood trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Dogwood wood is hard and strong, but not commonly used for commercial purposes.
• Distribution: Dogwood trees are native to North America, Asia, and Europe. They are found in different climates, from temperate to subtropical regions.
• Ecological role: Dogwood trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as birds and small mammals. Their flowers and fall foliage also provide visual interest and attract pollinators.

Tulip Poplar

Tulip poplar, also known as tulip tree or yellow poplar, is a type of deciduous tree that belongs to the genus Liriodendron. They are known for their large size, unique leaf shape, and large, tulip-shaped flowers. Some common features of tulip poplar trees include:

• Leaves: Tulip poplar leaves are typically four-lobed, with a distinctive, tulip-shaped appearance. They are a large, glossy, and bright green color.
• Flowers: Tulip poplar trees produce large, tulip-shaped flowers that are typically yellow-green in color. They bloom in the spring before the leaves appear.
• Bark: Tulip poplar tree bark is typically smooth and light gray when young, but as the tree ages it becomes deeply furrowed and dark gray.
• Size: Tulip poplar trees are large, typically growing to 80-100 feet in height and 3-4 feet in diameter
• Life Span: Tulip poplars can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Tulip poplar wood is light, soft, and straight-grained and is commonly used for furniture, paneling, and construction.
• Distribution: Tulip poplar trees are native to the eastern United States, and found in the Appalachian mountains to the Mississippi river valley.
• Ecological role: Tulip poplar trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, and their leaves contribute to the formation of humus, enriching the soil. They also can play a role in water regulation and soil erosion control.

Sycamore

Sycamore trees are a type of deciduous tree that belong to the genus Platanus. They are known for their large size, distinctive mottled bark, and large, maple-like leaves. Some common features of sycamore trees include:

• Leaves: Sycamore tree leaves are large, typically 4-8 inches long, and 3-6 inches wide with a lobed or palmate shape. They are a bright green color on top and a pale green color on the bottom.
• Flowers: Sycamore trees produce small, inconspicuous flowers that develop into small, winged fruit called achenes.
• Bark: Sycamore tree bark is typically light-colored and smooth when young, but as the tree ages, it becomes thick and mottled, with a gray-brown color. The bark can peel away in large, irregular plates, revealing the pale inner bark.
• Size: Sycamore trees are large, typically growing to 80-100 feet in height and 3-4 feet in diameter.
• Life Span: Sycamore trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Sycamore wood is light, hard, and strong. It’s used for furniture, flooring, and construction.
• Distribution: Sycamore trees are native to the Eastern United States and also found in Europe. They are also known to be found in different climate zones, from tropical to temperate and to Mediterranean climates.
• Ecological role: Sycamore trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, and their leaves contribute to the formation of humus, enriching the soil. They also can play a role in water regulation and soil erosion control.

Sweetgum

Sweetgum trees are a type of deciduous tree that belong to the genus Liquidambar. They are known for their star-shaped leaves, vibrant fall color, and the production of spiky, woody balls called “gum balls” that can be found on the ground around the tree. Some common features of sweetgum trees include:

• Leaves: Sweetgum tree leaves are typically star-shaped with five to seven lobes, they are glossy and green on top and pale green on the bottom.
• Flowers: Sweetgum trees produce small, greenish-yellow flowers that develop into woody, spiky balls called “gumballs”.
• Bark: Sweetgum tree bark is typically dark gray and furrowed, with a corky texture.
• Size: Sweetgum trees are medium-sized to large, typically growing to 80-100 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter.
• Life Span: Sweetgum trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Sweetgum wood is hard, strong and heavy, it’s used for furniture, flooring, and construction.
• Distribution: Sweetgum trees are native to the Eastern United States and also found in Mexico and Central America.
• Ecological role: Sweetgum trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, and their leaves contribute to the formation of humus, enriching the soil. They also can play a role in water regulation and soil erosion control.

It’s worth noting that the fruit, “gum balls” produced by the tree can be a nuisance to homeowners and gardeners as they can be messy and difficult to remove.

Hickory

Hickory trees are a type of deciduous tree that belong to the genus Carya. They are known for their large size, strong and heavy wood and for producing a sweet, edible nut. Some common features of hickory trees include:

• Leaves: Hickory tree leaves are typically compound, with 5-17 leaflets. They are glossy and a dark green color.
• Flowers: Hickory trees produce small, greenish-yellow flowers that develop into edible nuts encased in a thick, hard shell.
• Bark: Hickory tree bark is typically thick and furrowed, with a gray-brown color. It can be smooth on young trees, but as the tree ages, it becomes rough and deeply furrowed.
• Size: Hickory trees are large, typically growing to 80-100 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter.
• Life Span: Hickory trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Hickory wood is known for its strength, hardness, and flexibility. It’s used for furniture, flooring, tool handles, and smoking meats.
• Distribution: Hickory trees are native to the Eastern United States, from southern Maine to Florida and as far west as Missouri.
• Ecological role: Hickory trees play an important ecological role in many ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, and their leaves contribute to the formation of humus, enriching the soil. They also can play a role in water regulation and soil erosion control.

Bradford Pear

Bradford Pear trees (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) are a cultivar of the Callery pear tree, which is a type of deciduous tree that belongs to the genus Pyrus. They are known for their fast growth, ornamental white flowers and striking red and orange fall foliage. Some common features of Bradford Pear trees include:

• Leaves: Bradford Pear tree leaves are typically glossy green, simple, and ovate in shape. They are about 3-4 inches long and 2-3 inches wide.
• Flowers: Bradford Pear trees produce clusters of small, white flowers in the spring before the leaves appear.
• Bark: Bradford Pear tree bark is typically smooth and gray when young, but as the tree ages it becomes rough and deeply furrowed.
• Size: Bradford Pear trees are medium-sized, typically growing to 20-30 feet in height and 15-20 feet in width.
• Life Span: Bradford Pear trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Bradford Pear wood is weak and brittle, it’s not commonly used for commercial purposes.
• Distribution: Bradford Pear trees are native to China, however, they are widely cultivated and planted in many regions of the United States as ornamental trees.
• Ecological role: Bradford Pear trees play a minimal role in the ecosystem. They are not a natural food source for wildlife and can potentially be invasive and outcompete native plant species.

It’s worth noting that the Bradford Pear tree is an ornamental cultivar and not a naturally occurring species. It is widely planted in landscaping and urban areas, but it is not recommended for planting due to its weak structure and tendency to split in storms and its invasive nature.

Norway Maple

Norway Maple trees (Acer platanoides) are a type of deciduous tree that belong to the genus Acer. They are known for their vibrant fall colors, opposite leaves, and their tolerance to urban conditions. Some common features of Norway Maple trees include:

• Leaves: Norway Maple tree leaves are typically opposite, with a simple, lobed shape. They are about 3-6 inches long and 3-5 inches wide. They are glossy and green on top and pale green on the bottom.
• Flowers: Norway Maple trees produce small, greenish-yellow flowers that develop into winged fruits called samaras.
• Bark: Norway Maple tree bark is typically smooth and gray when young, but as the tree ages, it becomes rough and deeply furrowed.
• Size: Norway Maple trees are medium-sized, typically growing to 40-50 feet in height and 30-40 feet in width.
• Life Span: Norway Maple trees can live for several decades to over a century depending on the species.
• Wood: Norway Maple wood is hard, strong, and durable, it’s used for furniture and flooring.
• Distribution: Norway Maple trees are native to Europe, but have been widely introduced as ornamental trees in North America, Asia, and Australia.
• Ecological role: Norway Maple trees play a minimal role in the ecosystem. They are not a natural food source for wildlife and can potentially outcompete native plant species. They are considered invasive species in many regions of North America and are not recommended for planting.

Norway Maple trees are a popular ornamental tree and are often planted in urban areas due to their tolerance to pollution and compact soil. However, they are considered invasive in many regions of North America and are not recommended for planting as they can outcompete native plant species and disrupt natural ecosystems.