CULLMAN, Ala. – Master Gardeners and other nature enthusiasts gathered Monday morning at Sportsman Lake’s Wildflower Garden to shadow Mary Claire Smith in identifying 25 unique species of trees and woody growth in an effort to have the garden accredited as an arboretum. An arboretum is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees and woody growth, generally used for educational purposes.
With an area so rich in growth, Smith, a forester with Alabama Forestry Commission, was able to quickly identify 32 species of trees and woody growth. This list is key in kicking off the accreditation process through the Arboretum Accreditation Program.
Retired Cullman County Extension Coordinator Tony Glover described the endeavor as a potential tourism draw, an opportunity for more conservation grants and a major education tool specifically for local 4-H and high school forestry teams to practice identification.
See the final list of tree and woody growth species below.
SPORTSMAN LAKE ARBORETUM SPECIES
- Sweetgum – Liquidambar styraciflua
- Red bud – Cercis canadensis
- Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana
- Flowering Dogwood – Cornus florida
- Silver bell – Halesia tetraptera
- Eastern Hemlock – Tsuga canadensis
- Florida Anise – Illicium floridanum
- Azalea
- Bottlebrush
- Eastern Redcedar – Juniperus virginiana
- American Beech – Fagus grandifolia
- Mahonia
- Gingko – Ginkgo biloba
- Sweet bay magnolia – Magnolia virginiana
- Sourwood – Oxydendrum arboreum
- American hornbeam (Musclewood) – Carpinus caroliniana
- Southern bayberry (Wax myrtle) – Myrica caroliniensis
- Loblolly pine – Pinus taeda
- Black oak – Quercus velutina
- Red maple – Acer rubrum
- Red oak – Quercus rubra
- Yellow poplar – Liriodendron tulipfera
- Blueberry – Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus
- American Holly – Ilex opaca
- Shagbark Hickory – Carya ovata
- Common Persimmon – Diospyros virginiana
- Chalk Maple – Acer leucoderme
- Black Cherry – Prunus serotina
- Shortleaf pine – Pinus echinata
- Virginia pine – Pinus virginiana
- Witch-hazel – Hamamelis virginiana
- Red Buckeye – Aesculus pavia
