THE LEAFLET
Showy Trees We Plant For Free
The Goldilocks of urban trees, these trees fit seamlessly into your space while providing expanded cooling, shade, and runoff mitigation. Plus, some of them have eye catching blooms, leaves, or bark! If you’re looking for shade, flowers, berries, or simply some greenery these trees can help you out. The best part? We plant them for FREE as part of our residential planting programs for District residents.
One of the most popular planted trees, red maples are coveted for their brilliant fall color, ability to withstand challenging soil conditions and their seeds which fall “helicopter-like” to the ground. Red maples prefer full sun, and can reach 40 feet in approximately 30 to 40 years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
River birches are known for their distinct peeling bark, golden-yellow fall foliage, and their ability to tolerate difficult urban conditions. Its ornamental bark is particularly striking after its leaves drop in autumn, and are commonly found in gardens and yards throughout the city. Planted in full sun, the river birch will normally attain a height of 30 feet in as many years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
The black gum, aka “tupelo,” is famous for its brilliant fall color, small purple fruit, and as the source of tupelo honey!The black gum thrives under partial shade to full sun. A slow-grower, black gums typically reach 30 feet in height in about 40 years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
A hardy ornamental shade tree that is adaptable to a wide range of conditions, the yellowwood has beautiful pea-like flowers and showy seedpods that ripen in the fall. In full-sun, yellowwoods will reach a height of 30 feet in about 30 to 40 years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanthos
A beautiful and enduring small to medium shade tree, honey locusts have light, attractive leaves resembling ferns that turn a brilliant yellow in fall. Its leaves degrade quickly once fallen – something gardeners greatly value. A tough tree, honey locusts have been used to reclaim lands disturbed by mining operations, and are very tolerant of salt and similar urban stressors. Honey locusts do best in full sun. While variable, it typically reaches 30 feet to 50 feet in approximately 40 years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
The American linden, also known as “basswood,” is a stately shade tree with delicate pea-shaped fruits hanging from wing-shaped bracts. It is a summer-blooming tree with small white flowers, and bold, heart-shaped leaves that turn golden yellow in autumn. Linden trees line Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue – DC’s historic linden corridor. The American linden will reach approximately 50 feet in about 50 years. Lindens do well in sun or partial shade. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
The American holly is a pyramid-shaped tree symbolizing the holiday season with its dark green leaves and red berries that are appreciated by birds. It adds a splash of green in our otherwise leafless winters and is prized in many gardens throughout the DC area. The fast growing “Nellie R. Stevens” holly is about half the size of the American holly and is also common in our area. The American holly grows slowly, typically taking 30 years to reach a height of 20 feet. It will grow in full sun but prefers partial shade. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
Southern Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora
This elegant tree has large fragrant flowers that bloom from March to June, striking seed pods that drop bright red seeds in the fall, and bold, beautiful leaves. Southern magnolias are a much sought-after, durable evergreen tree that grace gardens and yards throughout the District. Southern magnolias reach approximately 50 feet in height in about 50 years. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
At the north end of its range in DC, the pawpaw is an under-used, small tropical tree with lustrous, dark-green leaves. Its deep-purple spring flowers produce clusters of kidney-shaped fruit that taste like a banana crossed with a mango. Animals enjoy the fruit, so the tree should be netted to protect the fruit for human consumption, however, deer will not eat pawpaw leaves. For optimal fruit production pawpaws should be pollinated by hand. May be grown in full sun or partial shade, reaching heights of 20 feet – 25 feet in 15 to 20 years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes.