An Arborist's Favorite Trees

Written by: Jenn Schanz

Posted: 2025 | Fall | Tree and Shrub Planting

Trees have a way of connecting us to time and each other. Trees remind us of the past, help us look into the future and help us recognize the ongoing cycle of life. There are so many trees I love, and

 each one is special in its own way.  

One of the first things I notice about a tree is its leaves. Some are deeply lobed; some have spikey edges while others are smooth. Some leaves feel fuzzy, some are thick and waxy, others are paper-thin. They all feel a little different in your hand or under your feet. I love how leaves paint the landscape throughout the seasons. In spring, trees may emerge with bright gold, green or red and turn darker and shinier in summer. In fall, many trees do magic tricks by drastically changing their leaf color like Ginkgo! A forest in the fall is beautifully stippled with red, bright orange, and golden yellow.  

Another feature that draws me in are the flowers of a tree. Some trees have big, colorful flowers, while others have small blossoms that are edible and a source of pollen for bees like Eastern Redbud. There’s nothing more nostalgic to me than the smell of lilac blooms wafting through open windows in late spring. Trees also provide fruit or nuts for people and wildlife. Many trees grow berries, pods, or nutlets, all of which beautifully accent the tree year-round like Ironwood. 

Finally, I always admire the form and the bark of a tree. Trees may spread their arms out wide, while others grow in a gumdrop shape and some shoot straight up to the sky. I love trees that have a unique architectural form with branches that twist and turn. Many trees have interesting bark with varying textures and colors. One of my favorites is Musclewood, aptly named with its smooth bark with long ridges underneath giving it the appearance of muscles.  

I collaborated with some of my fellow arborists to gather a list of a few more of our favorite trees for you to check out: Fagus sylvatica – Beech; Quercus muehlenbergii – Chinkapin Oak; Cercidiphyllum – Katsura; Larix laricina – Larch; Pinus strobus – Eastern White Pine; Staphylea trifolia – American Bladdernut. Contact your arborist to learn more about any of these wonderful trees!

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