Page 65 - Free State Winter 2022 - Website Version

underside along with 2 gray green bands. The gray bark moist soils. A strong taproot forms as the plants become
is scaly and fissured, becoming corky as it matures. Plants established, making them difficult to move. The palmately
can reach 40-60 feet tall, spreading 30-50 wide, growing compound dark green leaves are created with 5-7 double-
in a pyramidal fashion with young trees growing branches toothed margined leaflets. There is little to no change of
that reach upwards and older trees have more horizontal color when the temperatures drop in the autumn. Plants can
branches as they age. Momi Firs flower in early spring, grow 30-40 feet tall with a rounded silhouette. There are no
maturing into upright 3 ½ to 5 inch yellow brown showy cones. National Champion Aesculus x carnea found in the National
Once the seeds in the cones have ripened, the cones begin to Register of Champion Trees. Although this hybrid has better
drop their scales, leaving the center spike on the tree. Momi is disease resistance it can still have leaf blotch, leaf scorch,
Japanese for Fir and firma is Latin for firm for the firm needles. Powdery Mildew and leaf spots may occur. Insect pests can
There are no National Champion Abies firma found in the include bagworms, borers and Japanese beetles. Aesculus x
National Register of Champion Trees. There are a few insect carnea can be grown as a beautiful shade or specimen in a
pests including aphids, bagworms, bark beetles, spider mites park or in a large yard, but due to its dropping of nuts, twigs
and spruce budworm, but the balsam wooly adelgid is not a and leaves, it is not considered a good street tree.
pest. Potential diseases can include cankers, heart rot, needle Firmiana simplex or Chinese Parasol tree is a very fast growing
rust, root rot and twig blight. The fragrant dark green needles small to medium sized deciduous tree, originally from China
and graceful branches can make the Abies firma a wonderful and Japan. The Champion tree on UMD is locate by the
specimen or planted as a screen. Memorial Chapel. Cold hardy in USDA zones 7-9 and thrives
Acer buergerianum or the Trident Maple is originally from in full sun or partial shade and well-drained soils. Early spring
China, Korea and Japan. The Champion tree on the campus brings the pale yellow leaves that quickly develop into a rich
of University of Maryland is located near the Union Lane green color with 3-5 lobed leaves that are almost tropically
Parking Garage. Plants are cold tolerant from USDA zones large, growing 8-12 inches across and long which helps the
5-9, thriving in full sun and moist, well-drained acidic soils, tree to cast very dense shade – like a parasol. The palmately
and once established can be drought tolerant. Trident veined bright green leaves attach alternately to the smooth
Maples flower in the early spring, maturing into samara with gray green stems. In the autumn the leaves change to butter
wings 1 inch long and ½ inch wide. The lustrous dark green yellow before leaving the trees. The silhouette of the tree is
leaves have 3 trianglar lobes with medium cut sinuses, and rounded as it reaches heights of 35-50 feet tall and 15-20 feet
are arranged on opposite sides of the gray-brown slender wide. In summer, the upright 10-20 inch long panicles hold
stems. New leaves emerge with a green-purple or bronze (continued on next page)
color, maturing to dark green for the summer. In the autumn,
the leaves can change to yellow, orange and red. On older
trees, the bark begins to exfoliate, creating lighter and darker
patches that provide winter interest. The silhouette of the
Trident Maple multi-stemmed with a rounded habit. These
small to medium trees can grow 20-30 feet tall and wide,
making them an excellent candidate for smaller landscapes.
There were no serious insect or disease pests listed, and
no National Champion printed in the National Register of
Champion Trees.

Aesculus x carnea or the Red Horsechestnut is the result of a
chance cross between Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus
pavia, Red Buckeye in Europe in 1812. The results created a
deciduous tree that bloomed with beautiful rose red flowers
on a panicle 3-4 inches wide and 6-8 inches tall. The flowers
are doubles with double the chromosomes, creating even
larger more lovely blooms. After flowering the seed capsules
emerge and have a slightly prickly exterior. The nuts in the
pods are poisonous as are the fruit of A. pavia. The Red
Horsechestnut Champion can be found on in the Arboretum
near the Benjamin Building. Plants are cold hardy in USDA
zones 5-8, thriving in full sun to partial shade and fertile, Chinese parasoltree

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