What is the oldest living tree?

One of the oldest living tree species in the world is Pinus aristata, which is the botanical name for the Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine that is native to the United States. They are known to live for 5,000 years. The oldest known Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine grows in Colorado’s southern Front Range. It had 2,435 countable annual rings in 1992; its actual age was estimated at 2,500 years.

A recent study in 2004 led by Leif Kullman, a professor at Umea University in Sweden discovered a Norway spruce that first took root at the end of the last Ice Age. A trees life can be determined by counting the annual tree rings which can be seen in a horizontal cross section cut through the trunk of a tree. In this recent study they have taken samples of the root system of the spruce and did a radiocarbon test. Radiocarbon dating is a technique that has been established and used as a research tool in a variety of fields since the late 1940s. This is a method of dating organic remains based on their content of carbon. The tree only stands 13 feet tall and researchers believe the tree stem has died while the root system has remained a live thus regenerating growth.

What is the oldest tree Species?

Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living tree species on earth. Ginkgo dates back 270 million years and is a symbol of long life and memory. It is a hardy ornamental tree that is virtually resistant to every kind of disease, pest, and fungus. Suitable for many climates, Ginkgo can be planted in zones 2 through 9, which includes most of the continental US.

What is the tallest growing tree?

The tallest tree in the world is a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), named Hyperion after a person in Greek mythology. He is no less than 379.1 feet tall! This enormous tree was discovered in August 2006 in a remote part of the Redwood National Park, California by naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor. Their first preliminary measurements were done with professional laser measurement equipment based on goniometry. In September 2006 the tree was re-measured by Steve Sillett. This was done in the most accurate way: he climbed to the top of the tree to drop a tape from there straight to the ground. This tape drop was filmed for National Geographic. Note that although the tallest living tree in the world is a coast redwood, the biggest living tree on the planet is a specimen of a related species, the giant sequoia. The largest giant sequoia is named "General Sherman".

What is the Illinois state tree?

Quercus alba, the white oak native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been documented to be over 450 years old. Although called a white oak, it is very unusual to find an individual specimen with white bark; the usual color is a light gray. White oak has tyloses that give the wood a closed cellular structure, making it water- and rot-resistant. Because of this characteristic, white oak is used for barrels for wine and whiskey production since it resists leaking. It has also been used in construction, shipbuilding, agricultural implements, and in the interior finishing of houses.

What is the tallest tree in Illinois?

The tallest tree on record in Illinois is Quercus rubra commonly known as northern red oak. This tree can be found in Dixon Springs state park where it stands a towering 150 ft. Northern red oak is easy to recognize by its bark, which feature bark ridges that appear to have shiny stripes down the center. A few other oaks have bark with this kind of appearance in the upper tree, but the northern red oak is the only tree with the striping all the way down the trunk. The northern red oak is one of the most important oaks for timber production in North America. The wood is of high value. Red oak wood grain is so open that smoke can be blown through it from end-grain to end-grain. For this reason, it is subject to moisture infiltration and is unsuitable for outdoor uses such as boatbuilding or exterior trim.

Illinois Tree Facts

· Illinois grows some of the finest hardwoods in the nation, such as black walnut, red oak, white oak, yellow poplar, ash, hickory, hard maple, and soft maple

· 97 percent of Illinois’ forests are classified as hardwoods

· 3 percent of Illinois’ forests are classified as conifers

· Illinois has six trees listed on the National Register of Big Trees

· Over 250 tree species have been recorded in Illinois

Tree Terminology

Balled and burlapped
Typically, “b and b” trees are grown in the ground versus a container. Once trees are removed from the ground, their root ball is wrapped in burlap and a wire cage then prepared for sale. Consumers usually have a wider range of material when choosing balled and burlapped trees. They tend to be larger and can be planted at any time.

Container stock
As the name implies, some trees are grown in containers. From an industry standpoint, container trees offer an advantage because soil mixes are lighter than native soils. This makes them easier to ship. Home gardeners should know that container trees demand more water initially than trees grown in native soil. Container stock has been babied, so it takes extra care to establish.

Bare root
Roots that are bare from soil. Bare root material has a very limited planting time and must be handled (harvested, shipped, planted) during dormancy. Bare roots are a perishable commodity - get them in the ground as soon as possible.

Dormancy
Dormancy is that period of winter rest where very little plant activity takes place. Dormancy is thus a good time to purchase, transplant or prune trees.

Caliper
A tree’s diameter is known as its caliper and is measured at either six or twelve inches from the ground, depending on the size of the tree. Calipers give the industry a standard method of measuring nursery stock. They help us determine the size and weight of the root ball.

Deciduous

Trees that drop their leaves in fall and leaf out again in spring. Many flowering and fruiting trees are deciduous.

Variegated

Plants that have more than one color in the leaf, stem, and flower. Variegated plants have been long-valued by gardeners, as the unusually lighter-colored variegation can help break up large blocks of solid green foliage creating beautiful gardens.

Broadleaf evergreen

Usually referred to as a shrub such as Rhododendron, Azalea, and Ilex that are known to be deciduous that can sometimes keep their leaves thru winter.

Conifers

Cone- bearing or plants that contain a naked seed. Not all conifers are evergreen, but most are. All conifers are woody plants and the great majority are trees with just a few being shrubs.

Root flare

This is the transition zone between the main stem (trunk of tree) and the root system, it should be exposed. Trees that look like a telephone pole coming up out of the ground are a definite sign that they were planted wrong.

Mycorrhiza

Fungus that grows on the root system of a plant and helps the plant take in more moisture and nutrients needed to maintain good health. Mycorrhiza naturally occurs in healthy soil. Soil that is sterile, clay, and even sandy can cause week conditions for the fungus to exist making it hard for plants to grow and even fight of disease. Mycorrhiza can be found packaged on its own or in a quality fertilizer.

Common Tree and Shrub Questions and Answers

When should I prune my trees and shrubs?

It depends on the plant; some can be pruned in early spring while others may benefit from fall pruning. The first thing to do is identify the plants that you wish to prune or think might need to be pruned. If you are not sure take a 4” to 6” sample or even a picture and bring it in to the department for evaluation. Plants should be pruned to maintain health, size and shape, along with improving flowering and fruiting. Plants that have buds set on old growth like forsythia or lilacs should be pruned after flowering. Plants that bloom on the new growth can be pruned early before the season starts and any sign of new life is visible. All evergreens other than pine should be pruned before the new growth starts in spring or during mid-summer when the growth stage is not active. Dead or diseased branches should be removed first and continue with pruning for shaping, rejuvenating neglected plants, sharpening your hedge line, or to promote fruit.

When is the best time to transplant my shrubs?

Some species may survive transplanting any time during the year when the ground is not frozen, but woody plants are preferably moved in the spring after the ground thaws and before the buds on the tree or shrub begin to swell. They may also be moved in the fall after leaf drop but before the ground freezes. Fall planting should take place soon after leaf drop, providing time for new water absorbing roots to develop before the soil freezes. Evergreens are especially prone to winter browning if planting is delayed until shortly before the ground freezes in the late fall, they should be moved in the late summer to early fall. Fall transplant success may be increased by transplanting hardy plants into sites with good soil moisture and wind protection.

Should I fertilize my trees and shrubs after planting or transplanting?

Woody plants that were planted in the fall should not be fertilized until the following spring. Plants installed in the spring will not require any synthetic or as we say shelf fertilizers within the first season of being planted. Newly planted trees and shrubs can be planted with compost; natural materials can serve to be as effective fertilizers without damaging the tender root system. Too much fertilizers or the wrong fertilizer can over stimulate your plants and cause them to have to be pruned more often. Developing healthy soil for microorganisms to thrive in will encourage good plant health.

Why won’t my shrub flower?

It is sometimes difficult to determine just why a particular plant will fail to set flower buds or will set them and then not develop flowers. There may be several reasons why, like too much fertilizer (high nitrogen), shade, and pruning at the wrong time, cold or drought stress, or not enough time for the plant to be established. In many cases the above mentioned conditions will account for the majority of reasons why a woody tree or shrub may not produce flowers during a particular season. It is important to keep in mind that plants are complex organisms and that flowering in plants is controlled by many factors in the environment. So even though you address the above mentioned factors there will still be some plants in your landscape that refuse to flower. Good plant selection, proper planting and after care techniques, proper site selection and sometimes patience is needed to ensure successful flowering in your trees and shrubs.