It occurs frequently in moist habitats such as coastal regions, riverbanks, alongside streams, and damp woodlands.īigleaf Maple trees thrive in full sun or partial shade. It creates shelter and cover for birds and wild mammals, and elk, beavers, and deer graze on the foliage. The Bigleaf Maple usually lives for between 50 and 200 years and is important for local wildlife. By winter time, the branches of the Bigleaf Maple have no leaves, but the fruits which have followed clusters of small yellow flowers will persist on the tree, dangling like small ornaments. Like most maple trees, the leaves of the Bigleaf Maple warm up to shades of yellow and orange towards the latter end of the year, before falling to the ground. The foliage of the Bigleaf Maple is larger than that of any other type of maple, which is the reason behind this species’ common name. In maple trees of this size, individual leaves can span as much as 2 feet across, though leaves measuring 1 foot in width are more common on average Bigleaf Maples. The tree stands at just under 120 feet in height, with a massive spread of 91 feet. The largest living example in the world of a Bigleaf Maple is in Oregon, USA. It is large in stature, most commonly reaching heights of around 60 feet, with a similar-sized spread, though there are examples of Bigleaf Maples getting as tall as 150 feet. This is a North American native tree, growing predominantly across the Pacific coast. Common names: Bigleaf Maple, Oregon Maple,.You can easily prune flowering dogwood, but the tree naturally grows into a neat shape. Also, it needs 4 – 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. You can leave them there to attract wildlife to your yard! At least 36 birds-including ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, and wild turkey-are known to eat its fruit.Ĭhipmunks, foxes, squirrels, skunks, rabbits, deer (browsing for winter food), beaver (building dams with branches), and black bears (eating berries) also enjoy dining on them.įlowering dogwood strives in acidic and well-drained soil. They produce beautiful red fruits which ripen by the fall. Also, its famous white bracts, which are flower-like leaves, surround its tiny flowers.

It provides excellent fall color with its leaves turning a brilliant red-purple color. The white flowering dogwood is a favorite in many yards and gardens because it’s easy to grow. White flowering dogwood is one of the most popular trees in West Virginia. Varieties Suitable for West Virginia: Acoma, Centennial Spirit, Hopi Other Common Names: Crape myrtle, Crêpe myrtleĪverage Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 feet with a spread of 6 – 15 feet However, some varieties are cold-hardy ( Varieties Suitable for West Virginia). In West Virginia, especially in zone 6, the tree may be frozen to the ground if the winter is severe. The leaves will turn brilliant orange or bright red following a long cold fall. The new leaves appear tinted red in the spring. The tree features dark green leaves, about 1 to 2 ½ inches long and narrower than wide. These flowers transform into seed pods which the Smithsonian notes as a tasty food source for many native birds. You can find them in shades of pink, red, purple, or white. This small to a medium-sized tree grows on multiple stems.Ĭrepe myrtle flowers are crinkled like crepe paper and grow in dense and large clusters. Attractive bark and brilliant fall color. As a native to the swamps, it does well in areas with significant rainfall and wet soils.Īverage Size at Maturity: 50 – 70 feet tall with a spread of 25 feetĬrepe myrtles, an Asian import, are extremely popular in the United States because of their showy summer flowers.

These Cypress trees do best in full sun and it adapts to acidic, moist, sandy, clay, and well-drained soils. The tree grows at a medium rate, roughly a foot to two feet each year. The Bald cypress is a great shade tree, as its spreading canopy can block a significant amount of sunlight. By fall, the needles change to a beautiful reddish or orangish brown. The delicate short needles are yellow-green in spring and then turn soft green in summer. Like pine trees, spruces, and cedars, it produces cones and needles. But, the right conditions make an attractive specimen tree in the landscape.īald cypress is a deciduous conifer. There it out-competes other trees for resources. The mighty Bald cypress hails from the swamps of the southern United States.

Types of maple trees with green leaves