University of Tennessee Forest Resources Research Center

Ginkgo (or Maidenhair Tree) is putting on its spectacular fall display. For a short period its leaves turn bright yellow, and then almost overnight they fall to the ground creating a conspicuous leaf shadow under the tree's spreading branches. A well-developed Ginkgo can be seen across the Arboretum entrance road from the Visitors' Center. Several Ginkgos can also be seen in the Shade Tree Study Area near the Program Shelter.

Ginkgo is a Gymnosperm — its developing ovules and seeds are not enclosed in an ovary. Its fan-shaped leaves resemble those of Maidenhair Fern (hence its common name) and have dichotomous (forked) venation. Ginkgo is well-represented in the fossil record. For thousands of years it only survived in temple gardens in China. The tree is often referred to as a living fossil. Ginkgo is dioecious with separate male and female trees. The male trees are most commonly planted because the female trees produce fruits with a strong, malodorous odor. Ginkgos are hardy trees that are planted in many parts of the U.S. and elsewhere.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Early to Mid November

Red Maple is found on a wide variety of sites throughout the Arboretum’s forests. Its fall foliage presents a brilliant display of color from bright yellow and orange to red. The opposite, palmate leaves are mostly 3-lobed but sometimes have 5 lobes. In the summer, the leaf petioles (leaf stalks) are often red and the undersides of the leaves are pale green to silver. In spring, red maple is one of the earliest trees to bloom (as early as February or March). Its small red flowers produce abundant seeds that are eaten by squirrels, birds, and other wildlife.

Red maple is found throughout the Eastern U.S. and Midwest — from the Maritimes in Canada and New England, to Florida, and west to Texas and Minnesota and states in-between. A number of excellent cultivars are available that are among the most popular landscaping tree species available.

Sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis)

Mid to Late November

Sycamores are found in many places throughout the Arboretum, but are especially abundant along Old Kerr Hollow Road. As winter approaches and leaf fall occurs, Sycamores stand out in the forest with their upper trunks a skeleton white. The outer bark on lower portions of mature trees breaks into pieces leaving a patchy mosaic of brown, green, and gray overlying the inner white bark. Other key characteristics include large (4 - 8 in. wide), coarsely toothed leaves that are 3 - 5 pointed and a single ball-shaped fruit on the end of a long stalk.

Sycamore is a massive tree, growing 80 to 100 ft high with wide-spreading branch and root systems. It is found throughout the Eastern U.S., often in bottomland forests but occupies a variety of upland habitats as well. The leaves, pollen, and fruits of sycamore are allergenic. The London Planetree, a common street tree in many countries, is a cross between our native Sycamore (P. occidentalis) and the Oriental Planetree (P. orientalis). The London Planetree can be recognized in the fall by having 2 or 3 fruits on each stalk.

Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

Late November to Early December

Two large, impressive trees in the Arboretum’s Conifer Collection are the Japanese Cedars on the hill above the Program Shelter. These are not true cedars, but belong to the Cupressaceae family, which also includes junipers, bald cypress, arborvitae, and redwoods. A dwarf form of this tree can be found in the Dwarf Conifer Collection. This ancient tree is the National tree of Japan and is also called "Temple Tree" for its use in building the centuries-old Shinto temples. It has a pyramidal, conical shape with somewhat pendulous branches. It is evergreen, grows 50-60 ft high (though old trees as high as 230 ft have been reported).

Japanese Cedar has blue-green, needle-like leaves and a red-brown bark that peels off in vertical strips. The seed cones are globular. It is a forest tree native to Japan (16% of Japanese managed forests are of Japanese Cedar). It has a wide variety of uses in construction and the manufacture of furniture, utensils, and paper. It is cultivated as an ornamental, landscape tree, and is frequently used for Bonsai.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis)

Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)