Download Black Willow (Swamp Willow) Salix nigra 60

A Few Notes On Riverview Loop Trees
You’ll see a wide variety of trees before the trail starts, where Charlottesville Parks
and Recreation Dept. has planted them. River edge trees are dominated by
Sycamores. Try to count these large beauties! I count 48, 3” diameter Sycamores
along the river. Boxelders, Hackberries and pawpaws are also in abundance.
Black Willow (Swamp Willow) Salix nigra 60-100’ tall, largest native willow
Black Gum (Tupelo) Nyssa sylvatica 50-100’, berry like, dark fruit in fall
Sweet Gum, Liquidambar styraciflua, 60-100’, known for its prickly balls
Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana 40-60’, actually in the juniper family
Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor 60-70’ tall, 60’ wide, leaves white underneath. Can
live for centuries. Bark peels when young.
White Ash, Fraximus americana up to 80’, clusters of winged seeds on females,
opposite branches. Emerald ash borers are threatening the survival of ash trees.
Catalpa, Catalpa bignoniodes up to 50’, blooms around May and sets “cigar” pods.
Large Sphinx Moth caterpillars love Catalpas and make good fish bait.
White Pine Pinus strobus up to 120’, needles in bundles of 5. Tallest tree in the east.
Osage Orange, Maclura pomifera up to 50’, large, light green, heavy, bumpy fruit
London Planetree, Platanus acerifolia, up to 70’, close relative of native Sycamore
Red Mulberry, Morus rubra, up to 65’ tasty, dark fruit, red when unripe
Kentucky Coffeetree, 60-70’,Gymnocladus dioicus seeds once roasted like coffee
Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis 60-100’ white bark so visible in winter along the river
Pawpaw, Asimina triloba, small tree up to 30’, large fruit hides well, loved by animals
Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum, 50-80’ a lacey leaved maple, pale underside leaves
Bitternut Hickory, Carya cordiformis, 60-80’ yellow buds identify this hickory
Boxelder, Acer negundo, 30-60’, serrated leaves can appear in 3’s resembling poison
ivy. New shoots are green. Boxelder bugs love the seed keys.
Persimmon, Diospyros texana, 40‘ blocky bark, 1” orange fruit on female trees in fall
Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis, 50-90’, warty bark, small berries birds like
White oak, Quercus alba, 80-100’, rounded lobes on leaves
River Birch, Betula nigra, 40-80’ shiny, brown bark peels back in large, pinkish strips
Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra, 60-90’, large acorns, pointed lobed leaves
Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, 40-80’, fragrant flowers, deeply grooved
Mysteriously large leaved Mulberry—due to shade? Injury when young?
Sugar Maple, 70-100’, Acer saccharum 5 wide lobes on leaves, sharp pointed tips
Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipfera 80-120’ 4 pointed, wide leaf lobes, orange flowers
Sapsucker drilled hickory. Amazing this tree is still alive!
Black Cherry, Prunus serotina, up to 80’, slightly bitter, small, dark cherries
Sassafras, Sassafras albidum 30-60’ colorful in fall, roots flavor root beer and tea
Dogwood, Cornus florida, 30’ white flowers, red fruit, dark red fall color
Note many invasive plants we are trying to eradicate, such as: Mimosa, Ailanthus,
Japanese Knotweed, Privet, Autumn Olive. These multiply aggressively, so our native
varieties will diminish, if not disappear. Vines have also become a hazard to our trees.
Robin Hanes
info also at charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org