Page 57 - Free State Summer 2022

bluish needles, and ‘Silveray’, which has an upright tight
pyramid with rich blue-green needles. Disease pests include
rots, rusts, tip blights and occasional insect pests include
bores, moths, sawflies and Pine needle scale.
Zelkova serrata or Japanese Zelkova is a medium to large
sized deciduous tree from Japan, Taiwan and Eastern China,
that grows 50-80 feet tall with a upward branching to create
a vase shaped crown. The County Champion was planted
west of Holloway Hall and is almost 53 feet tall. The Japanese
Zelkova is cold hardy in USDA zones 4-8, thriving in full sun and
prefers rich, moist well-drained loamy soils, but will tolerate
some drought, wind and air pollution. Early spring before the
leaves emerge, the tiny green flowers begin to bloom and
mature into a kidney shaped drupe that ripens in the fall.
The dark green 1 ¼ to 4 inch long leaves are arranged in an
alternate fashion on the stems. The smooth surface of the leaf
highlights the coarse serrated edges and the tips of the leaves
narrow down to almost a point. Autumn color can variable White Oak
from pale yellow to vivid yellow-orange to deep red. The bark
is smooth and cherry red with lots of lenticels when young
and with age begins to exfoliate to show off the orange- soils and is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and air
brown inner bark. The silhouette is vase shaped with branches pollution. The heart shaped shiny dark green leaf margins are
gracefully growing up and out. To many, the Japanese Zelkova finely and sharply toothed. The base and the tips help create
looks similar to the American Elm, but others feel that there the 3-inch long lovely heart shape. Late spring brings out the
is really no substitute. The plants root system allows it to fragrant pale yellow flowers which draw in many pollinators.
be easily transplanted, and once established it can be very The flowers mature into small nutlets that are attached to
cold and drought tolerant. There are no National Champion leafy wings about 3 to 3 ½ inches long. In the autumn the dark
Zelkova serrata found in the National Register of Champion green leaves fade to pale green then pale yellow. The Crimean
Trees. The Zelkova makes a great street tree, a shade tree Linden can be an excellent shade or lawn tree or it can be
in residential neighborhoods or in a park. There are many used as a screen. There are no National Champion Tilia x
™
cultivars including Autumn Glow that has a lovely silhouette euchlora found in the National Register of Champion Trees.
and leaf texture along with deep purple autumn coloring. Disease pests can include canker, leaf spots, powdery mildew
®
Green Vase is a vigorous, graceful vase shaped grower with and Verticillium wilt although infrequent can be deadly. Insect
orange-brown to bronze-red autumn color and Spring Grove pests include aphids (not as bad as on other Tilia), borers,
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also has a graceful vase shape and dark green foliage that caterpillars, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, leaf miners, scale
burns wine red in the autumn. The disease pests can include and during hot dry summers, spider mites.
Phloem necrosis, cankers and wilts, but is highly resistant to
Dutch Elm Disease. Insect pests can include beetles, leaf miner Every tree has an opportunity to become a Champion Tree
and spider mites during hot dry summers. given time, space and good growing season. While the
young trees grow, take the time to visit the known Champions
Tilia x euchlora or Crimean linden is a cross between T. cordata that are available to view, to photograph, to hug and to
(Littleleaf Linden) and T.dasystlye (Tilia lime tree) in 1860, and celebrate! A
is considered a medium to large deciduous tree that can
grow 40-60 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide. The parents are from
Europe and from Turkey and Iran and the cross created a Ginny Rosenkranz
graceful tree that naturally allows the branches to arch and Extension Educator, Commercial
flow down to the ground. The two State Champions were Horticulture, University of Maryland
planted in 1926, both on the north west side of Holloway Hall, Extension, Dorchester, Sommerset,
one is almost about 75 feet tall while the other is 70 feet tall, Wicomico and Worchester County
410 749-6141 x106
both with graceful branches flowing down to the ground. rosnkrnz@umd.edu
The Crimean Linden is cold hardy in USDA zones 3-7, and
thrives in full sun and prefers fertile, moist well-drained loam

Get Active. Stay Involved. • SUMMER 2022 57