Great Trees

Paper-barked maple is treasured as an ornamental tree for its coppery, flaking bark and three-lobed leaves. It is endangered in the wild in China, but scientists from The Morton Arboretum are conducting fieldwork to identify and conserve pockets of genetic diversity.

Ginkgo is a long-lived tree and the species is a "living fossil" that first evolved over 200 million years ago. Ginkgo is one of the most commonly cultivated trees because of its tolerance to urban conditions, but it is endangered in its native range in China.

The Gansu elm is another tree that comes from China. The specimen at The Morton Arboretum came from a seed from the Beijing Botanical Garden in 1976. Hopefully, because of its resistance to Dutch elm disease and ornamental bark, we will see more of these trees in the future.

This tree has a perfectly rounded shape, with branches that swoop all the way to the ground. When you see a bur oak, look for the large, hairy, capped acorns it produces. Bur oaks are fairly tough trees that should be used more often in the large-scale urban environment.

In the spring, pink-white flowers clothe these trees, filling the air with their beautiful perfume. Year-round, their low, gnarly form is quite impressive. Native crabapples like these can be found throughout the upper midwest, woodland edges and clearings, and along fencerows.

Our scientists continually hunt for new trees, breed new varieties, and protect rare and endangered species. We hope these few extraordinary examples inspire you to explore more and support the Arboretum's efforts to champion our world's trees.