Let's Choose a New City Tree!
History
52 years ago, the 'Chanticleer' pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'), also commonly called callery or Bradford pear, was proclaimed the Official City Tree of Baltimore by Mayor Donald Schaefer due to its beauty and hardiness. Fast forward to today, we know that this tree is invasive, readily spreading across our landscapes and outcompeting native species. While existing 'Chanticleer' pears do provide valuable shade in our parks and streetscapes, it is time to select tree that better represents the unique ecology and cultural spirit of Baltimore – and we want to hear from you!
A Tree for the Future
In celebration of Arbor Day, TreeBaltimore is launching a poll for residents vote on a new, official city tree. We have narrowed the list down 6 exciting candidates that are native to the Baltimore region, climate resilient, and all-around wonderful trees to plant, protect and celebrate (listed alphabetically by scientific name):
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Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)
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Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
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Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)
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American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
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Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)
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Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Voting Timeline
Each week, from April 27th - June 6th, we will highlight one of the candidates on social media to provide in-depth information on why that species would be a great choice. Be sure to find us on Facebook and Instagram to follow along. In the meantime, you can peruse information on all 6 candidates and access the poll to cast your vote below!
The online poll will close at 11:59pm on Saturday, June 6th. The new official City Tree of Baltimore will be announced at the TreeBaltimore Summer Gathering on Thursday, August 27th.
Bitternut hickory
Carya cordiformis
Ranging from Texas to Minnesota and from Florida to Maine found in moist bottomlands, floodplains, and drier upland sites, the bitternut, or “yellowbud,” hickory is long-lived and adaptable to a huge variety of soils.
This species is the fastest growing and the largest of the hickories. It can be identified by its smooth grey bark, sulfur-yellow buds and bright yellow compound leaves in the fall. Bird species like Yellowbilled cuckoo are found in their tops where an abundance of insect diversity thrives.
The nuts have a bitter flavor (and are ignored by most wildlife) but when they are pressed into oil, the bitterness goes away and can be used in cooking! Foraging expert Samuel Thayer says "this tree species is the most promising temperate perennial oil crop in the world, and is an important indigenous foodway.”
The Baltimore City Champion is located in Herring Run Park.
Photo credit:
William (Ned) Friedman, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
The scientific name translates to “lily tree bearing tulips,” but tuliptrees aren’t closely related to lilies, tulips, or poplars – they're actually in the magnolia family. Tuliptrees are notable for their size, fast growth, useful wood, showy flowers, distinct leaf shape, and cultural importance. These giants can reach up to 200 feet in height and live for up to 300 years. Due to their height and high branch structure, they are an appealing site for the hanging nests of Baltimore orioles. Ornithological drawings often pair tulip poplars and Baltimore orioles because of this association!
In late spring, large showy flowers blossoms produce nectar, making it a valuable tree for wildlife. The leaf shape with its rounded base and pointed upper lobes resembles a tulip flower to some; others think it looks like a cat’s face.
The stately growth form of this tree was praised by poet Walt Whitman, who described it as “the Apollo of the woods—tall and graceful, yet robust and sinewy, inimitable in hang of foliage and throwing-out of limb; as if the beauteous, vital, leafy creature could walk, if it only would.”
The Baltimore City Champion is located in Druid Hill Park. It is also Maryland’s tallest tree!
Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica
Behold the black gum, a medium-sized deciduous tree with fiery fall foliage. This riparian species is both flood and drought tolerant, and a great choice for street and parks plantings.
The small fruits provide valuable energy food for birds and the nectar is major source of wild honey.
It supports tons of wildlife but also has a long, industrious history of supporting people, and even used to be popular wood for making railroad ties, factory flooring, and even teeth cleaning twigs!
American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a large, fast-growing shade tree that is recognizable year-round by distinctive multi-colored peeling bark, revealing smooth white patches underneath. It is also identifiable by large leaves and long-stalked spherical seed balls that remain on the limbs through winter.
Sycamore is widely planted as a majestic park tree that thrives in rich and moist soil, preferring lowland areas such as streams, rivers and flood plains. Large hollows in older trees were historically used by chimney swifts.
This species can be easily confused with London planetree (platanus x acerifolia), an urban-tolerant hybrid commonly planted along our streets. Identification tip: Sycamores only have one seedhead per stalk, whereas planetree’s often have two!
The Baltimore City champion is located on private property in 21207.
Overcup oak
Quercus lyrata
Overcup oak is a large shade tree native to the coastal plain of the eastern and southeastern United States. It gets its name from its acorns, whose nuts are almost entirely covered by the cap.
Naturally occurring in swamps, the tree is also known as swamp post oak, water white oak, and swamp white oak. Like other native oaks, it supports many forms of wildlife. Overcup oak is climate resilient and tolerant of tough urban conditions.
About 100 years ago, Baltimore City planted a number of these trees across our parks. Today, 10 of the 11 largest overcup oaks in all of Maryland are in Baltimore, including the state champion in Clifton Park!
Acorns from these trees have been sent to Maryland State Nursery to start the next generation.
Bald cypress
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress is a durable conifer (cone-bearing tree) that drops its fine, feathery leaves during the winter.
It’s typically found in swamps but has adapted to city living! This species maintains a strong, single trunk naturally and needs little pruning to develop strong structure.
It’s not the showiest species, displaying small ¾ inch cones and orangey-brown fall foliage, but those who recognize how adaptable this unassuming tree is will recognize its quiet beauty.
The Maryland State Co-Champion is located in Clifton Park.
