Home Grown
Tips and resources for farmers and gardeners |
Home Grown
Tips and resources for farmers and gardeners |
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Barks
of Winter
 Although
it takes many years for bark to reach its
mature stage, some
trees are worth planting for this characteristic alone. In some cases,
the texture is so unique they can be identified simply by touch.The following trees have very dramatic, noticeable bark: American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis): Well known for its patchwork bark of white, cream, olive and shades of brown. Aspen: The smooth greenish-white to cream-colored bark of quaking aspen is a real treat in the landscape. The bark is especially attractive against an evergreen backdrop or dark-colored home. Bald Cypress: Shaggy, cinnamon-colored bark stands out against light green needles. In mature trees, it peels off in long strips and is further accented by the low, flared trunk and strong branching structure.  Birch:
Several types of birch trees
have exfoliating bark. The paper
birch has a chalky-white
bark that peels into thin paper-like layers. The river birch stands out
with its exfoliating orange to cinnamon brown bark that
peels freely when young. These papery sheets reveal white to
salmon-colored inner bark.Coffeetree: Few deciduous trees match the leafless beauty of coffeetree. Its coarse outline and stucco-like bark make it an eye catcher in the winter landscape. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood: Scaly, exfoliating bark is a mix of gray and tan.
Lacebark Pine: As its name implies, the bark on this tree exfoliates (much like sycamore) in a smooth patchwork of lighter and darker shades of gray and gray-brown.  London Planetree:
These trees have
smooth bark that exfoliates to expose gray, brown and
creamy white layers in a mottled patchwork pattern.Persimmon: Persimmon has a thick, dark (almost black) bark deeply divided into very distinctive small blocks. Red Oak: Bark resembles ski trails and furrows. Shagbark Hickory: Like its name implies, the bark of this hickory exfoliates in long, shaggy strips. Striped Maple: Green bark and greenish white stripes.  Sugar Maple:
A smooth gray bark
gives rise to large irregular plates that give way to deep furrows. Sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua): A large tree that has textural interest in the branches. Young branches have a corky wing look to them and the prickly seed balls linger throughout the winter. Yellowwood: The gray bark on mature trees is very smooth and gray. Types of Bark and Functions Sources: Bob Henrickson, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Norman Winter. Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center |
 Trees direct from the nursery  Sweetgum Tree  Nature, Culture, and Big Old Trees  Seed, Plant, and Nursery Catalogs |