Big Trees of the Arb
Learn about Big Trees located within Nichols Arboretum
Nichols Arboretum
Nichols Arboretum (locally known as the Arb) is a 128 acre nature oasis in Ann Arbor, Michigan dedicated to scientific research, education, and enjoyment.
Nichols Arboretum Boundary
During the summertime, 450 plant species begin to come alive, attracting an assortment of wildlife and decorating the landscapes with lively colors.
(Top Left) Black-eyed Susan, (Top Right) Fox squirrel, (Bottom Left) Monarch Butterfly on Common Milkweed, (Bottom Right) Overlook across the Main Valley
Of the 450 plant species within the living collections database , roughly 110 are trees. But only a few tree species grow to become notably large. Showcased below are among the most captivating Big Trees. Scroll down to begin the journey!
Why Big Trees?
Source: Google Images
Source: Open University
Big Trees are key components of a healthy forest ecosystem and provide the following ecological services:
- deliver oxygen into the air and sequester carbon from the atmosphere
- promote species diversity and increase biodiversity
- provide shelter, food, and habitat for wildlife
- drop leaves that decompose and recycle nutrients into the soil
- create shade that cools the surrounding air
Explore the interactive maps below for location and other information (diameter, height, etc) on the photographed tree specimen.
Example
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 22-30 m, Diameter: 60-100 cm
The Eastern White Pine is native to Michigan and is Michigan's state tree. From 1850 to 1900, Michigander's from the upper half of the Lower Peninsula, harvested it for lumber. Today they out-compete hardwoods like oaks and maples after regeneration from forest fires.
Eastern White Pine Location and Data
Needles: Long and thin and come in clusters of 5. Source: University of Kentucky
Pine Cone: Long, cylindrical, and partly opened.
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 18-32 m, Diameter: 50-100 cm
Eastern Cottonwoods are commonly found growing along rivers and streams. In late spring, female cottonwoods release seeds attached to tufts of white fluff into the air. Because of its lightweight nature, the seeds are carried off and dispersed into different directions by the wind.
Eastern Cottonwood Location and Data
Leaf: Round and triangular shaped. Pointed on the top and almost flat on the bottom. Dark green and shiny above and paler on the underside.
Bark: Light grey with very deep and narrow furrows.
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
🌳🌳 Medium tree, Height: 12-18 m, Diameter: 30-60 cm
The Norway Maple will continue to grow despite the presence of pollutants and excess salt in the soil. They also adapt well to other soil conditions. The world's largest recorded Norway Maple reached a height of 105 feet and a diameter of 8 feet.
Norway Maple Location and Data
Leaf: Divided into 5 -7 portions with pointy ends. Outer edges are smooth. To distinguish the Sugar Maple from the Norway maple, remove a leaf from its tree branch. At the base of its stem, a milky fluid will begin to ooze out.
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
🌳🌳 Medium tree, Height: 15-22 m, Diameter: 30-60 cm
The Paper Birch tree has an outer bark layer that is flammable making it ideal for firewood. Prior to colonization, indigenous people used Paper Birch to make canoes and utensils.
Paper Birch Location and Data
Leaf: Oval shaped. Smooth base and saw-like edges.
Bark: White outer bark. When peeled, the inner bark is black.
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 18-28 m, Diameter: 60-120 cm
Black Walnuts release a chemical called juglone into the soil that inhibits the growth of plants growing underneath it. Its wood is highly sought after for furniture making.
Black Walnut Location and Data
Leaflets: Usually 13-23 leaflets that are oval shaped with saw- like edges.
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 20-28 m, Diameter: 50-100 cm
Northern Red Oaks are free from most diseases and pests and can live up to 300 years. Indigenous people used its bark for medicinal purposes such as treating asthma, indigestion, and sore throats.
Northern Red Oak Location and Data
Leaf: Divided into 5 to 7 portions with pointy ends. Inner curves are rounded. Dull dark green above and pale underside. Leaves turn reddish brown during the autumn.
Acorn: Beret shaped tops. Reddish brown and around 2-3 cm long when full grown. Photo: Minnesota Wildflowers
Carolina Hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 20-30 m, Diameter: 50-120 cm
Carolina Hemlocks thrive in well drained soils with access to shade. They are native to the Appalachian Mountains, 4,500 ft above sea level. Outside of home, Carolina Hemlocks are susceptible to a wide range of diseases such as needle blight, which causes its needles to turn yellow and fall off.
Carolina Hemlock Location and Data
Needles: Small and flattened. 3/4ths of an inch long.
Bark: Reddish brown with rough and scaly vertical patches.
Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
🌳🌳 Medium tree, Height: 30-45 ft
Amur Corktrees are native to the valley along the Amur River, the boundary that separates China and Siberia. While it prefers the rich and moist soils from the valley, well established corktrees can tolerate droughts. In some parts of the Midwest, it is considered a noxious weed or invasive plant.
Amur Corktree Location and Data
Leaflets: 5-11 leaflets that are dark green and oval shaped. Photo: University of Connecticut
Bark: Grayish brown, soft, and corky like.
Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 18-24 m, Diameter: 50-100 cm
Black Oak grows well in upland habitats that are far away from high water tables and contain dry soils. In the past, it was primarily cultivated for its tannin to produce leather.
Black Oak Location and Data
Leaf: Usually divided into 7 portions. Triangular shaped bottom. Leathery, dark green, and shiny above. Underside can feel either rough or soft from short hairs.
Bark: Dark brown or black. Short and irregular shaped segments that resemble cookie dough.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
🌳🌳 Small-medium tree, Height: 9-18 m, Diameter: 20-60 cm
When left to grow, Sassafras trees will quickly colonize human disturbed areas. Its bark was used to produce oils that flavor medicine, root beer, and sweets. Another common use of Sassafras is Sassafras tea, which is created by boiling the roots or lower bark. Historically, Sassafras tea was used as a blood thinner.
Sassafras Location and Data
Bark: Dark reddish brown with long vertical segments.
Leaf: 3 distinct shapes: one is shaped like the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, the other is smooth and oval shaped, and the last is divided into 3 portions.
White Oak (Quercus alba)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 22-28 m, Diameter: 60-120 cm
White Oak grows well in upland areas with well drained soils and thrives in oak-hickory dominated forests. Despite a slow growth rate, once established, White Oaks can live for up to 600 years.
White Oak Location and Data
Leaf: Divided into 5-9 portions. Smooth and rounded.
Bark: Light gray or whitish. Vertical and scaly blocks.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 18-26 m, Diameter: 60-120 cm
The Bur Oak's ideal habitat is one composed of limestone rich soils. It is extremely resilient, withstanding conditions such as drought, fire, and flooding and can surpass damage by humans. When a juvenile Bur Oak tree is removed or killed, in place of the damage, sprouts form and begin to regrow.
Bur Oak Location and Data
Leaf: Divided into 5-9 portions. Deep openings in the middle. Smooth edges. Dark green and shiny above with a paler underside.
Bark: Grayish brown with long vertical segments.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
🌳🌳🌳 Medium-large tree, Height: 15-25 m, Diameter: 30-60 cm
Black Cherry tree seeds can persist for up to 1 to 3 years before germinating. They are long lived and fast growers that can tolerate freezing temperatures. However, when Eastern Tent Caterpillars invade a Black Cherry tree and make nest, its leaves become damaged and gradually fall off.
A couple of Eastern Tent Caterpillars building a silky webbed tent on a young Black Cherry tree. Photo: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Black Cherry Location and Data
Bark: Older trees are blackish and rough with uneven vertical segments.
Leaf: Oval shaped leaves with saw-like edges. Dark green and shiny above. Paler underside that is initially white in the middle but turns reddish-brown as the leaf ages.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
🌳🌳🌳 Medium-large tree, Height: 18-30 m, Diameter: 50-80 cm
Similar to Sassafras, Red Maples do well in human disturbed areas. Without natural occurring forest fires to keep its population in check, Red Maples have continued to spread rapidly. For this reason, today they are among the most widespread tree species across the Eastern part of the United States.
Red Maple Location and Data
Bark: Dark grey with long and thin vertical plates.
Leaf: Divided into 3-5 portions with pointy tips and saw-like edges. Red and shiny twigs. Photo: Minnesota Seasons
American Basswood (Tilia americana)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 18-30 m, Diameter: 40-100 cm
In the beginning of its life cycle, the American Basswood has a difficult time germinating. And once established it grows slow. But when full grown, American Basswood flowers produce nectar that drive bees wild. Bees swarm the tree, collecting nectar and creating basswood honey, a highly prized food commodity.
American Basswood Location and Data
Leaf: Heart shaped. Asymmetrical on the bottom. Saw-like edges with a pointy tip. Dull and yellowish green above.
Bark: Dark grey. Nearly parallel vertical segments that are flat and narrow.
White Willow (Salix alba)
🌳🌳🌳 Large tree, Height: 75-100 ft, Diameter: 50-100 ft
The White Willow's native habitat is in western Siberia and central Asia in wet locations with plenty of access to sunlight and soil water. They tend to grow along rivers and streams and can tolerate flooding and low oxygen environments.
White Willow Location and Data
Leaf: Very long, slender, and thin. Usually 4-10 cm long. Saw-like edges.
The Importance of Big Trees at Matthaei-Nichols
How does a tree from a small seed get to be so big? The key is in their genetics. Trees that surpass other ones in height, diameter, or age may have genes that cause them to be more resilient to environmental changes. But whether or not trees at Matthaei-Nichols reach a high life expectancy, the environment and the flora and fauna are still impacted.
More than just Big Trees
Only 16 trees were featured here. Come and explore the rest of MBGNA and browse through other applications here or plan a visit below!
Tree Descriptions: Michigan Trees by Burton V. Barnes and Warren H. Wagner, Jr., Missouri Botanical Gardens , and Morton Arboretum
Story Map Author: Erika Perez, 2019 Doris Duke Conservation Scholar
Photo Credits: Erika Perez
Funding for this application was provided in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Consultation and guidance were provided by Maricela Avalos and Michael Kost.
