Pyrus calleryana - Ornamental Pear

Pyrus calleryana: Pyrus, Latin for 'pear'; calleryana, named for J. Callery, a French missionary in China who collected this tree and brought it to the west

More upright in form than Pyrus kawakamii.

Commonly used as a street tree in New York.
Leaves less susceptible to leaf spot than P. kawakamii. Bark on stems tends to be a glossy reddish-brown.
Inedible fruit looks like a miniature pear.

Pinus densiflora - Japanese Red Pine

Pinus densiflora: Pinus, from Latin for 'pine'; densiflora, densely flowered -- possibly so named for its proliferation of cones.

Common in a multi-trunk form.
Needles in fascicles of two. Trees are monoecious.
'Oculus Draconis' cultivar has two yellow bands on each needle.
Flakey bark can resemble Ulmus Parvifolia.

Parrotia persica - Persian Parrotia

Parrotia persica: Parrotia, named for Parrot, German naturalist and traveler who climbed Turkey’s Mt. Ararat in 1834; persica, from Persia.

Nyssa sylvatica - Sour Gum

also known as Tupelo or Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica - Nyssa, named for Nyssa, a Greek water nymph; sylvatica, growing in forest or woods.







Horizontal branching habit is common and apparent in winter silhouette.

Metrosideros excelsa - New Zealand Christmas Tree

Metrosideros excelsa: Metrosideros, from Greek meaning “iron heartwood,” referring to hardness of wood; excelsa, meaning 'tall.'


Flowers are most commonly red.
'Aurea' cultivar has yellow flowers.
Aerial roots hang down from branches.

Malus floribunda - Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Malus floribunda: Malus, from Greek melon, meaning apple; floribunda, producing abundant flowers.

Geijera parviflora - Australian Willow

Geijera parviflora: Geijera, after J.D. Geijer, a Swedish botanist; parviflora, meaning small-flowered.


Linear leaves with a distinct, protruding midrib.
Tiny white flowers in panicles.

Eucalyptus ficifolia - Red-flowering Gum

formerly known as Corymbia ficifolia

Eucalyptus ficifolia: Eucalyptus from the Greek, meaning “well-covered,” referring to the fused lid over the flower before it opens (called an operculum); ficifolia meaning 'with leaves like a fig.'

Davidia involucrata - Dove Tree, or Handkerchief Tree

Davidia involucrata: Davidia, named in honor of a French missionary in China, Abbe Armand David, who collected many plants; involucrata for having an involucre, or a ring of bracts surrounding several flowers.


Showy white flowers are actually bracts, or modified leaves.

Cordate (heart-shaped) leaves

Betula nigra - River Birch

Betula nigra: Betula refers to the Birch family; nigra is Latin for 'black,' probably referring to the relatively (for birches) dark colored bark.


Exfoliating bark.