Most Popular Trees in the South

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Posted by @dave on
Which trees are the most popular in the Southern regions of the United States? Let's find out!

When members upload photos into our database, they have the option to include the location where that photo was taken. Well, using this information, we can create a report of the most popular trees in various regions of the country!

So, which trees have the most photos submitted in the North? Or the South? I compiled the report by looking at all the photos of trees, and for photos south of 37.6° they went into the South, otherwise they went into the North. Without further ado, I present to you the report of the most popular trees in the South:

Photo by StephGTx
#1: Bush Morning Glory (Ipomoea carnea)

@virginiarose says, "Very easy to grow."
Photo by ARUBA1334
#2: Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

@Sharon says, "This is a lovely early spring bloom in Kentucky. They dot the hillsides with their deep rosy color. The black seedpods of fall create quite a show too, and you'll need to watch out for multiple seedlings if the pods are left where they fall.

Cercis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species."
Photo by jperilloux
#3: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

@Sharon says, "I started this plant from seed. A few years ago I had a huge fully mature Magnolia growing too close to my house and the wet soil from heavy spring rains tilted it to about a 45 degree angle. The tree had to go, but I saved one of the seed pods. I knew nothing about growing Magnolias from seed, but pretended to be a bird and dropped a few of the seeds in some select places in my flower garden. The following spring, I had two seedlings. I gave one of them away and kept this one, but moved it to my back garden. It is now about 12 feet tall and produced its first bloom this year.

Two or three years later, another seedling appeared in one of the places I'd planted those seeds. Now I have another that is about 3 feet tall. Amazing how that happens. Nature's surprises."
Photo by Bubbles
#4: Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis)

@SCButtercup says, "I winter-sowed this from seed in February and I now have a small plant that is thriving in a container in part shade. The plan is to transplant it in the fall with some protective leaf mulch when my zone 7/8 cools down and weather gets rainy. Will post more info in spring."
Photo by robertduval14
#5: Desert Bird of Paradise (Erythrostemon gilliesii)

@Katie says, "This is a very pretty plant, but it attracts stink bugs. The stink bugs cause the seed pods to prematurely dry."

@Trish added, "Yellow flowers with red stamens.
Low water needs once established.
Nitrogen fixer."
Photo by Sharon
#6: Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

@Sharon says, "The red cedar tree has a tremendous history, both legendary as well as medicinal. Our Native American ancestors used teas made from it as various cures for ailments, but the cedar chippings themselves with their aromatic scent were used as well. In Appalachia, a mixture of nuts, leaves, and cedar twigs is often still boiled and inhaled as a treatment for bronchitis.

Sources tell me that cedarwood oil is used in insect repellants, perfumes and soaps. Cedar chips have been used as moth repellants. The oil also shows up in furniture polish. These are some of the same uses that I grew up with in the southern Appalachians. We also used cedar chips as bedding for our dogs.

It was also considered to be a revered tree, holy, because the souls of ancestors resided within the tree. Legend has it that it remains evergreen because of those souls. It's a beautiful tree with an unusual history. Where it grows wild, seedlings sprout nearby in abundance."
Photo by plantladylin
#7: Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

@jmorth says, "One cool tree. Autumn brings yellow-copper hue to leaves before dropped (1 of only a few conifer trees w/ deciduous habit). Tree is well suited to wet conditions (though conversely, is drought tolerant when established). Fast growth rate (2'/yr), can reach 60' in less than 25 years. Often utilized in landscaping. Native to the US.
When in standing water, often sends up large root projections called knees above surface of earth or water (note pics from Ft Worth)."
Photo by dave
#8: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

@SongofJoy says, "Numerous species of birds feed on the red ripe fruit of Dogwood trees, swallowing the entire berry. The seeds inside the fruit are undamaged and softened in the digestive process. They are then passed in bird droppings to be scattered and "planted" many places. Other animals such as squirrels eat and destroy the seeds from the center of the fruit and leave the surrounding meat of the fruit untouched."
Photo by OrlandoBill
#9: Japanese Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)

@Gymgirl says, "Careful when reaching in to harvest seeds from a female plant blossom, as some people can (unknowingly) have an allergic reaction to the blossom. Always wear long sleeves and gloves to avoid an itchy, burning, sensation along your arms. It's very similar to a what you experience after laying fiberglass insulation!"
Photo by frostweed
#10: Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans)

@Dutchlady1 says, "In my region of Southwest Florida this plant can indeed become invasive. However, its cheerful yellow flowers are such a splash of sunshine that it is worth growing anyway. For me this blooms from spring to late fall."

@CarolineScott added, "On researching this plant: It is the national flower of the Bahamas.
The plant has one problem: It attracts bees, but the honey will be contaminated by an alkaloid, which is in the pollen."


How about the trees in Northern gardens? Click here to view this same report for the North!

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
I need to skew the results! by canadanna Aug 3, 2014 1:02 PM 12

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