Sammy Sosquirrely Branches Out Quiz

Answer: pin oak

While there are many species of oak, the pin oak is one of the easiest to transplant and the most tolerant of less than ideal soil conditions. It grows to 70 feet tall with a pyramidal shape, and boasts dark green leaves which turn brown in the fall and tend to hang on instead of dropping.

Answer: common hawthorn

There are more than a hundred species of hawthorn native to North America, but the common hawthorn is actually native to Europe, West Africa and West Asia. Boasting fragrant small flowers in the spring, the thorny branches deter all but the most persistent visitors. In the fall, the fruits - known as haws - are an important food source for birds.

Answer: sour cherry

The Prunus cerasus, or sour cherry, produces a small fruit that is usually used in pie fillings. There are almost countless cultivars in the Prunus genus, which also includes plums, apricots, peaches and almonds. While most are grown for their crops, some are planted strictly for their ornamental value.
Ranging in size from dwarf to full sized, sour cherry trees can grow up to thirty-five feet in height. Their springtime flowers bloom white to pink, and their fall foliage can range from dark red to almost purple.

Answer: eastern cottonwood

With the Latin name of Populus deltoides, the eastern cottonwood is a rather weak-wooded and short-lived tree which is usually planted to provide a fast-growing screen or natural border. The roots can be invasive, and the tree is best planted in a sunny spot away from foundations, driveways and sidewalks. Growing up to one hundred feet tall, and almost as wide, the cottonwood tolerates salty conditions and air pollution.

Answer: magnolia

With most native to China, there are over a hundred species of magnolias. Sporting large flowers that range from white to pink to lavender, they often bloom well ahead of leafing out. Some species, such as Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia virginiana are evergreen, at least in the warmer parts of their range. Typically growing up to forty feet tall, some species can attain heighths of over one hundred feet.

Answer: flowering dogwood

A good understory tree, although somewhat slow-growing, the flowering dogwood does well in the shade of tall trees such as maples or oaks. It prefers moist acidic soil, partners well with azaleas, and thrives when organic matter is provided. Growing to thirty feet tall, it blooms white to shades of pink in the spring, and its green foliage turns red in the fall.

Answer: horse chestnut

Growing up to seventy feet tall, and seventy feet in width, the horse chestnut needs to be planted in a spot where there is ample room for growth. With large five-lobed serrated leaves, the horse chestnut grows into a magnificent shade tree. The spring flowers, known as candles, range in color from white to pink.
The fruit matures in the fall into golf-ball sized spiny globes which contain nuts called 'buckeyes' in the U.S. and 'conkers' in the U.K.

Answer: maidenhair

Native to China, the maidenhair tree grows slowly to eighty feet, and while it prefers deep sandy soil, it is adaptable to poor soil conditions. It is also tolerant of drought and air pollution.
Growing upright, the tree spreads out as it ages, the female more so than the male. Females also drop flesh-covered seeds which can be rather messy and smelly.
Considered sacred according to the Buddhist religion, the maidenhair is cultivated throughout China and Japan, and planted extensively on temple grounds.

Answer: flowering crabapple

Usually growing to less than twenty-five feet tall, crabapples flower in the spring with blossoms that range from white to deep pink. The fruit is usually used for jelly-making, although there are recipes for crabapple relishes, sauces and chutneys. Crabapple trees tend to be susceptible to fire blight, cedar-apple rust, Japanese beetles and apple scab.
Before the Europeans brought apple trees to North America, crabapples were the only native species of apple tree. Crabapples can serve as pollinators for 'regular' apples.

Answer: shagbark hickory

The shagbark hickory grows tall and spreads wide, and has striking gray exfoliating bark. The bark, cut into chips, is often used for grilling or smoking food. Its leaves, twigs and nuts drop easily, making it a somewhat messy tree. The nuts are large, up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and are extremely enticing to squirrels.