We are unable to respond to phone calls on this topic!
Orders only accepted via email to Keith.O’Herrin@UnionCountyNC.gov
Seedlings will be available for pickup in early February during normal business hours. No delivery. This program is only for Union County residents.
Dogwood, Redbud, and Southern Crabapple are limited to 1 of each per household, and you must take some other tree(s) as well.
Due to high demand, quantities will be capped at 10 total trees per household.
Red Maples go fast, and Black Gum is an excellent substitute, so consider that instead.
Click the links below to view the full details of each tree available for the giveaway on the NC Master Gardeners Plant Toolbox website. Heights (in feet) on that website are average for trees grown in high quality, undisturbed soil. The heights listed on this sheet are averages for trees grown in urban soils, which are generally poorer quality. Trees will grow taller in soils that haven’t been disturbed by construction.
White Oak (Quercus alba) – Large white oak, growing to 50’ tall or more. Our most decay-resistant and storm-resistant oak, and thus our longest lived oak. Plant 40’ away from a structure or powerlines. Excellent choice to plant in large open areas such as HOA common open space, natural areas, and large empty yards. Not as tolerant of poor quality urban soils as Shumard Oak.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-alba/
Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) – Large red oak, growing to 50’ tall. It has great fall color. Used as an urban tree for planting in streets, parking lots, and yards. Plant 30-40’ away from structures or powerlines. Tolerant of poor quality urban soils.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-shumardii/
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) – Large, long-lived tree growing to 60’ tall but only 30’ wide at the base with a pyramidal shape. It has feathery needles, not leaves, but it drops it needles each autumn. Native to floodplains, but does exceptionally well in dry sites and poor quality urban soils. Does not produce knees in average or dry soil, only wet soils. Excellent shade tree for a yard. Almost no pest problems.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/taxodium-distichum/
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) – Maple with excellent fall color. 35’ tall. Not very tolerant of urban conditions (poor soil, compacted soil, dry soil). It is commonly infested with gloomy scales and performs poorly if planted near concrete and asphalt due to excessive heat radiation, so it should be planted in backyards or side yards.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/acer-rubrum/
Black Gum (Nyssa biflora) – Medium-sized hardwood with great fall color and glossy dark green summer foliage. 35’ tall in full sun. It produces tiny black berries the birds love, but is not messy. This is not the same tree as Sweet Gum with the spiky balls. Tolerant of urban conditions. Great for street trees and yards.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nyssa-biflora/
River Birch (Betula nigra) – Medium-sized shade tree with golden autumn color and prized for its visually interesting flaky orange bark. Commonly sold in stores with three trunks clumped together, but lives longer and is structurally more sound with one trunk. Does well in poor quality urban soils.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/betula-nigra/
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) – Flowering ornamental tree and the State Flower of North Carolina. White flowers. 12-15’ tall. Not tolerant of urban conditions. Wants good soil and no hot afternoon sun. Plant as an understory tree on the edge of a woodline.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cornus-florida/
Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Flowering ornamental tree. 12-15’ tall. More tolerant of poor quality urban soils than flowering dogwood. Dark pink/light purple flowers.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cercis-canadensis/
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia) – Small flowering native shrub with white flowers and small fruits. High value for pollinators and wildlife. Capable of forming a thicket with many suckers from the base and roots, which are easily managed if you mow around it regularly. It can be pruned into a small tree or left as a shrub. Plant in full sun and good air flow for best results (more blooms, more fruit, and fewer pest problems). It works best near the borders of woodlands, as a backdrop to a fence, or in natural areas. Taming it into a well-behaved ornamental tree in your yard would require pruning once per year. This is not the same species as the ubiquitous ornamental flowering crabapple trees planted up North, but closely related.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/malus-angustifolia/
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) – This evergreen tree is tough and reliable, highly tolerant of urban conditions. Best alternative to Leyland cypress. Can be planted as a single tree and pruned up into tree form, or you can leave the branches to the ground and plant in groups 12-20’ on center for privacy screening. Minimal pest problems.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juniperus-virginiana/
