Types of trees in CT are ones that would cover hectares of forest land, which is how they make this state green. In the spring and summer, these Connecticut native trees grow so thick that you can get lost for hours if you just wander away. That’s why you will find many signposts, trails, and maps in Connecticut to keep you on the right path.
In the Autumn, the black oak, maple, and other beautiful trees listed below turn this state into a display of beautiful foliage attracting tourists worldwide.
Contents
A Complete List of Types of Trees in CT
1. American Beech
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Fagus Grandifolia is an indigenous tree that can live up to 400 years. It is easy to identify them in winter due to their smooth, brown buds with sharp points. They grow tall, towering over other trees at 75 feet tall.
Their saw-toothed triangular leaves are always a show, and they would change their colors in fall, which would be on the shades of yellow to orange, due to climate change. These leaves develop a golden bronze color in the fall. Moreover, it is also significant that this beech tree is graceful and superior to other beeches remaining attractive all year long.
2. Eastern Hemlock
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Tsuga Canadensis is an evergreen tree that beautifully carries its drooping branches and small cones. It grows slowly, with most people opting to prune it for a hedge but is best if left to grow as a tree.
However, you should also be very keen upon this tree, because it is known to get infested by different pests such as hemlock or even scale, which is why you should tackle them before they increase in their number.
Also, note that its needle-like leaves are green-gray and glossy with a white underside. The eastern hemlock bark is so smooth and brown, especially on the young trees but matures to blackish brown with deep groves. The leaves have sharp serrated edges that could hurt you if you come into contact.
3. Eastern White Pine
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Pinus Strobus is an evergreen conifer tree belonging to the pine family; also it is native to the Northeastern United States and Canada, where the atmosphere is cooler. This plant is known to grow in moist, well-drained fertile sandy loamy soils so that they would thrive, and as for their sun requirements, they need full sun to establish themselves.
This tree grows naturally, reaching up to 80 feet tall, and is intolerant of many air pollutants like ozone salts, sulfur dioxide, and alkaline soils.
4. White Oak
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Quercus Alba or charter oak is commonly known as the official tree of Connecticut state. It is the most widely grown tree in this state, reaching up to 80 feet high. The leaves are dark green to slightly blue-green in summer, while the bark is light, ashy gray.
The fall foliage is showy with brown and wine-red to orange leaves, and as they develop, they would start producing acorns; on average, this is when it’s about 50 to 100 years old. Moreover, this tree is known to thrive under bright and full sun, as it is in moist soil.
5. Red Pine
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The scientific name of this plant is called, the Pinus Resinosa, and it is a more common and dominant species than the white pine. This plant can be identified by its needle arrangement and bark. These needles grow in bundles of two and can break easily when bent.
Moreover, the cones are egg-shaped; the bark has reddish-gray to reddish-orange flaky plates. These pines grow fast with straight trunks and are sometimes referred to as Norway pine, and it is famous for its sweet yet earthy smell.
6. Red Maple
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Acer Rubrum is a close relative to the sugar maple tree. It is a slow-growing tree that takes about 25 years to mature.
It is named for its red fruit, flowers, twigs, and autumn foliage, and in spring, you would also see them blooming little flowers. The largest of these trees can grow up to 120 feet tall, and their leaves would grow as wide as almost six inches.
7. Northern Red Oak
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Quercus Rubra is a long-lived species, often living up to 300 years. It is a medium-sized tree that grows fast and has a rounded spreading crown. The crown branches of this red oak are one that is close to the ground and spread across the lawn beautifully.
Moreover, it has green leaves with grayish-white undersides, which is what signifies it. Together with its beautiful leaves that are known to turn reddish brown fall color, leaving it aesthetical in the season.
Most of the time, you may find them on common streets, and that is because these trees are pollution tolerant, and they would show their resilience and stay healthy.
8. Red Mulberry
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Morus Rubra tree is a medium-sized tree with ovate leaves that are heart-shaped and serrated margins. The bark is gray and has long scaly ridges as it matures. The flower and fruit of this tree mature in the summer and measure about an inch long.
This tree best grows in rich, moist soils under full sun to partial shade. You can easily grow it from cuttings or seeds; if allowed, it also self-seeds. When you grow them, make sure that it is pruned in the fall or winter so that you would avoid bleeding the tree.
9. Black Cherry
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Prunus Serotina is a tall deciduous tree growing up to 90 feet tall. Its green leaves turn orange in the autumn before falling off, but in spring, they would thrive again with their beautiful and vibrant foliage.
This is the type of tree that is known to produce small, black fruits at least half an inch across and are eaten by humans and birds. In general, the tree grows flaky or scaly bits on the bark as it ages; on the other hand, the bark, roots, and stem contain high concentrations of a toxic cyanogenic compound hence the bitter taste.
10. White Ash
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Fraxinus Americana is a deciduous tree that does not tolerate exposure to salt air, and it grows to about 100 feet and grows in rich, moist soils. You will commonly find it growing in river bottomlands and mountain coves, because they are known to inhabit those areas.
Moreover, these trees produce small light green to purple flowers with no petals. When it comes to the pollination process, they have male and female flowers on separate trees and only the female flowers develop into fruits, and they would develop.
11. Eastern Redbud
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Cercis Canadensis has reddish-purple leaves that change to dark green and then yellow, in the autumn time, before they would fall; in addition, they form a graceful, spreading crown. In the spring season, on the other hand, they would attract different pollinators and they would help in the pollination process and blooming of the little colorful flowers.
The Eastern tree of Redbud has a short trunk and belongs to the legume family, commonly grown in ornamental gardens and landscaping areas. It is the state tree of Oklahoma, with two varieties with smaller, glossier leaves.
12. Smooth Sumac
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Rhus Glabra is a small tree with a spreading crown, and it has alternate leaves at least 122 to 16 inches long with about 15 to 23 leaflets. On the other hand, the leaves are dark green and shiny with a white lower surface.
The margins are coarsely toothed, and the leaves release a white sticky sap when broken. These leaves turn red in the fall, and you would have such an aesthetical feature around your house if you plant them.
13. American Sweet Gum Tree
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Liquidambar Styraciflua is a large forest tree commonly found in wet river bottoms in swamps that get flooded and drier uplands. It is a deciduous tree that will grow up to 120 feet.
The tree has alternate-lobed leaves with serrated margins, and it is famous for producing small bright yellow-green flowers in the spring. The spherical, spiny fruits known as gumball follow. The leaves turn purple, red, yellow, or orange in the fall, and in winter, this tree is known to go dormant.
14. Black Birch
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This is the tree that is also known as sweet birch, a tree grows up to 70 feet tall. It is a fast-growing tree that takes only ten years to reach full maturity.
It is a genus of about 60 species found in many gardens across America, at times in botany; some may also call it the betula lenta. It is a pyramidal-shaped tree maturing into a more rounded shape, and it would grow when you irrigate properly and place it in alkaline soil.
15. Pignut Hickory
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Carya Glabra is a tall tree growing up to 100 feet tall, having beautiful leaves which are veined are parallel. It has serrated leaves that are saw-like along the edges, and the only issue is that they would get infested heavily by some beetles, which may also cause them to die.
When they reach the age to mature, the tree care should still be keen, because it would be able to produce nuts with a husk that splits into four when mature revealing the hard nut inside.
Conclusion
Types of trees in CT are as many as listed in the above article; as you see, you have enough options to grow all these native trees in Connecticut without any problem. Here are some take-home points you need to remember:
- Most of these trees are as tall as over 60 feet tall, allowing you to grow them tall and tower over your landscape.
- The pest and disease problems shared above are easy to treat and care for when the tree is young, such as for the Pignut Hickory tree, which gets infested by beetles.
- If you want to add trees from which you can harvest wood in the future, it’s best to go for any type of pine or oak listed above. These will give you quality timber.
- Choosing the site carefully when growing these trees is best to ensure they are planted away from your house, so they don’t cause accidents in case of broken branches from strong winds.
Now, the question is, after you have read and understood each tree and its specifications, which one would you wish to go for? For instance, a red maple is a great option because it changes colors and adds vibrancy.
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