Trees and Plants at SOTA

Northern Catalpa/ Catalpa Speciosa:

Native to Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, and Texas. The juice from either the leaves or roots was used by pioneer doctors to treat swelling of an eye or cutaneous affections. Green leaves were crushed and placed on swollen lymph glands. The bark was dried then ground to a powder and taken, or brewed in a tea and taken for swollen lymph glands.

 English Ivy/Hedera helix:

 Native to most of Europe and western Asia. It is a familiar sight in gardens, waste spaces, and wild areas, where it grows on walls, fences, tree trunks, etc. It's colorful leaves emerge in late spring, turning from green to burgundy. It is tolerant of sun or shade, wind, pollution, and salt. 

Burning Bush/Euonymus alatus:

This plant is native to Northeastern Asia, but also resides in North America. It typically grows from 15 - 20 feet tall. It blooms in May, when it turns a bright reddish or pink color. 

Tawny Daylilies/hemerocallis fulva:

Hemerocallis fulva is commonly called tawny daylily for the 5" diameter, tawny orange flowers. Individual flowers are open for one day. This large species of daylily has flower scapes rising up to 6' tall from a large clump of thick, arching, blade-like, bright green leaves.

Creeping Buttercup/Ranunculus repens:

Native to Europe, this invasive species has bright yellow flowers and spreads by creeping stolons (horizontal stems).

Hosta ‘First Frost’/Plantain Lily:

Native to China, Japan, and Korea, not native to North America. It forms heart shaped blue-green leaves. Wide gold margins form in spring, which gradually mature into a creamy-white. Lavender blooms appear in midsummer. 

Tree of Heaven/Ailanthus altissima:

Native to China and Taiwan, introduced to the US in the 1700s as an ornamental tree. It is considered an invasive species. The tree is very hardy and can grow anywhere there is sun. It can disperse 300,000 seeds annually. It grows back from cuttings and is known for creating root suckers. It creates chemicals that can limit the growth of other plants. It is also the host for the invasive spotted lantern fly. It stinks when cut.