Today’s the day for the Del Ray GardenFest and we have a new tree addition. Check out the Loblolly Pine!

The Del Ray GardenFest 2025 is Sunday, April 27^st from noon – 4 pm at the Colasanto Park baseball field at Commonwealth Ave & Mt Vernon Ave. GardenFest is a fun, free, educational afternoon of garden-centric demonstrations, informational booths, and interactive activities. The neighborhood is invited to come out and learn about all sorts of gardening topics, such as the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia plant clinic, at-home composting, growing native plants, and beekeeping. They’ll be giving away hundreds of native tree seedlings and seed packets to anyone who wants them! Plants will also be available for sale for you to bring home. Stop by the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria to learn about site and plant selection and learn more about what our group is doing in the community.

GardenFest is hosted annually by the Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA).  More information can be found on their website, Del Ray Gardenfest 2025.

This year they will be giving away free trees and shrubs, courtesy of Fairfax ReLeaf. Click on the links below to explore these wonderful plants.

• White Oak (Quercus alba)
• American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) 
• Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
• Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua)
• Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)
• Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
• Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
• Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Learn more about site selection, planting, and ongoing care here.

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Characteristics

• Size: White Oak trees can grow up to 80-100 feet tall, with a canopy spreading 50-80 feet wide.
• Leaves: Its leaves are deeply lobed, green in summer, turning shades of red and brown in the fall.
• Bark: The bark is light gray and scaly, providing a distinctive appearance.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: White oak plays a crucial role in our ecosystems. As a native tree species, it provides habitat and food for numerous wildlife, including birds, mammals, and insects. The acorns produced by white oaks are a vital food source for animals such as deer, squirrels, and turkeys, contributing to the biodiversity and health of the forest.
• Environmental Impact: The tree provides significant benefits in terms of carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and biodiversity support.
• Longevity: White Oak trees are known for their durability and can live for several centuries, making them a valuable addition to landscapes.

Care

• Conditions: Prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of soil types, from acidic to alkaline.
• Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, primarily occasional watering during dry periods and pruning to maintain shape.

Additional information can be found at White Oak at NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Keep Reading for More Tree Species!

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Characteristics

• Size: The American Beautyberry typically reaches a height of 3 to 6 feet, with a spread of 4 to 6 feet, forming a rounded shape that fits well into various garden settings.
• Leaves: The American Beautyberry has ovate, serrated leaves that are a vibrant green during the growing season and turn yellow in the fall.
• Bark: The bark is smooth and gray, adding visual interest to the garden landscape.
• Flowers: This shrub produces small, pink to lavender flowers in clusters along its stems during the summer.
• Fruit: The highlight of the American Beautyberry is its stunning clusters of bright purple berries that mature in late summer to fall and persist into winter, providing a striking contrast against the foliage.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: The berries are a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife, attracting species such as mockingbirds, robins, and deer. The flowers also attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
• Environmental Impact: It serves as a wonderful addition to natural landscapes, promoting biodiversity and supporting pollinators, as well as providing wildlife habitat.
• Beauty: Beyond its ecological benefits, the American Beautyberry offers ornamental value with its colorful berries and appealing foliage, making it a popular choice for gardeners seeking to enhance the aesthetic of their spaces.
• Longevity: This shrub is relatively hardy and can thrive for many years with proper care.

Care

• Conditions: Prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a variety of conditions, including full sun to partial shade. It adapts well to both dry and moist environments.
• Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established. Occasional pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages healthy growth. Regular watering during dry spells ensures vigorous berry production.

Additional information can be found at American Beautyberry at MGNV.

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Characteristics

• Size: Typically, Sweetbay Magnolia grows to a height of 10 to 35 feet, with a spread of 10 to 20 feet, forming an upright, rounded shape.
• Leaves: The Sweetbay Magnolia boasts simple, oblong leaves that have a glossy green upper surface and a silvery-white underside. These leaves remain semi-evergreen in warmer climates, providing year-round interest.
• Bark: The bark is smooth and gray, adding to its aesthetic appeal even when the tree is not in bloom.
• Flowers: The creamy white, cup-shaped flowers of the Sweetbay Magnolia are one of its most enchanting features. Blooming from late spring to summer, they exude a lovely lemony scent that attracts pollinators.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: The Sweetbay Magnolia’s flowers and seeds serve as a valuable food source for birds, bees, and other wildlife, promoting biodiversity in the garden.
• Environmental Impact: As a native species, it supports local ecosystems and contributes to the health of natural landscapes.
• Beauty: Beyond its ecological benefits, the Sweetbay Magnolia offers ornamental value with its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, making it a popular choice for gardeners seeking to enhance the aesthetic of their spaces.
• Longevity: This tree is relatively hardy and can thrive for many years with proper care, often becoming a cherished centerpiece in the garden.

Care

• Conditions: Prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a variety of conditions, including full sun to partial shade. It adapts well to both dry and moist environments.
• Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established. Occasional pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages healthy growth. Regular watering during dry spells ensures vigorous flower production.

Additional information can be found at Sweetbay Magnolia at MGNV.

Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua)

Characteristics

• Size: Typically, Ilex decidua grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet, with a spread of 6 to 10 feet, forming a rounded or irregular shape.
• Leaves: Possumhaw Holly has simple, elliptical leaves that are glossy green during the growing season and turn a subtle yellow or brown in the fall before shedding.
• Bark: The bark is smooth and gray, adding to its aesthetic appeal even when the leaves have fallen.
• Berries: The bright red berries are perhaps the most distinctive feature, appearing in clusters and persisting through winter, providing a burst of color when most plants are dormant.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: The berries provide an essential food source for birds and other wildlife during the winter months when other resources are scarce. The small white flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting the ecosystem’s health and resilience. The dense foliage offers shelter and nesting sites for various bird species, contributing to local biodiversity and beneficial habitat.
• Environmental Impact: Its ability to grow in a variety of soil conditions and environments helps prevent soil erosion and promotes soil health.
• Beauty: With its glossy leaves, striking berries, and smooth bark, Possumhaw Holly adds year-round interest and beauty to any landscape. It is particularly favored for winter gardens and naturalized areas. Due to its appealing looks and low maintenance requirements, it is often used in decorative plantings, hedges, and wildlife gardens.

Care

• Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH and prefers areas of full sun to partial shade. Regular watering during dry periods will support healthy growth.
• Maintenance: Possumhaw Holly requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all experience levels. Occasional pruning to remove dead or damaged branches will keep the plant in good shape and encourage healthy growth.

Additional information can be found at Possumhaw Holly at NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Characteristics

• Size: Smooth sumac typically grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet, with a spread of 10 to 15 feet, forming thickets through its suckering habit.
• Leaves: The leaves are compound, consisting of 11-31 leaflets arranged alternately along the stem. Each leaflet is lance-shaped with serrated edges, turning vibrant shades of red in the fall.
• Bark: The bark of Rhus glabra is smooth, grayish-brown, and develops a shallowly fissured texture with age.
• Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow flowers appear in dense, upright clusters known as panicles, typically blooming in early summer.
• Fruit: The fruit is a cluster of small, red drupes that persist into winter, providing visual interest and food for wildlife.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: Rhus glabra is highly beneficial to wildlife; its fruit is a food source for birds and mammals. The shrub also provides cover and nesting sites for various species.
• Environmental Impact: Smooth sumac plays a crucial role in soil stabilization and can thrive in disturbed areas, preventing erosion and improving soil quality.
• Beauty: The shrub is prized for its aesthetic appeal, offering vibrant fall color, attractive fruit clusters, and a distinctive winter silhouette.
• Longevity: Rhus glabra is a hardy plant, with individual shrubs living for many years and spreading through suckers to form large colonies.

Care

• Conditions: Smooth sumac prefers full sun to partial shade and grows in a wide range of soil types, from dry, rocky soils to fertile, well-drained soils. It is drought-tolerant and adaptable to various environments.
• Maintenance: The plant requires minimal maintenance. It may need occasional pruning to control its spread and maintain desired shape. Removing suckers can help manage its tendency to form thickets. Regular watering during establishment will aid growth, but mature plants are relatively drought-resistant.

Additional information can be found at Smooth Sumac at NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Characteristics

• Size: Black chokeberry typically grows to a height of 3 to 6 feet with a similar spread.
• Leaves: The leaves are glossy, dark green, and elliptical, turning vibrant red and orange in the autumn.
• Bark: The bark is smooth and gray, providing a subtle backdrop to the plant’s more striking features.
• Flower: Black chokeberry blooms in late spring, producing small, white, 5-petaled flowers arranged in clusters.
• Fruit: By late summer, the shrub bears small, dark purplish-black berries, which are rich in antioxidants and have a tart flavor.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: The berries are a food source for various bird species, while the dense foliage provides shelter for wildlife.
• Environmental Impact: This shrub helps prevent soil erosion and can thrive in wet, harsh conditions, making it useful for stabilizing landscapes.
• Beauty: With its seasonal foliage colors, delicate flowers, and striking berries, Black chokeberry adds visual interest to gardens and natural areas year-round.
• Longevity: Black chokeberry is a hardy plant that can live for several decades, offering long-term benefits to the landscape.

Care

• Conditions: Black chokeberry prefers full sun to partial shade and adapts well to various soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It is tolerant of wet conditions but also manages drought reasonably well.
• Maintenance: The shrub requires minimal maintenance. Annual pruning can help maintain its shape and encourage healthy growth. It is generally disease-resistant and can be mulched to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Additional information can be found at Black Chokeberry at MGNV.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Characteristics

• Size: The Eastern Redbud typically grows to a height of 20-30 feet, with a similar spread, forming a graceful, rounded shape.
• Leaves: The leaves are heart-shaped, approximately 3-5 inches across, and emerge reddish, then turning green as they mature. In the fall, they transition to a vibrant yellow, adding seasonal beauty.
• Bark: The bark is dark and smooth when young, but as the tree ages, it develops ridges and furrows, providing a textured appearance.
• Flowers: One of the most distinctive features of the Eastern Redbud is its profusion of pink to reddish-purple flowers that bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge. The flowers are small, pea-like, and arranged in clusters along the branches.
• Fruit: Following the flowers, the tree produces flattened, green seed pods that turn brown as they mature. Each pod contains several seeds and can remain on the tree into winter.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: The Eastern Redbud is a valuable source of nectar for early pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Birds and other wildlife also benefit from the shelter and food provided by the seeds.
• Environmental Impact: Cercis canadensis is well-adapted to various soil types and conditions, making it a resilient choice for stabilizing landscapes and preventing erosion. Its deep root system helps improve soil structure and water infiltration.
• Beauty: With its stunning spring flowers, heart-shaped leaves, and attractive fall foliage, the Eastern Redbud brings year-round visual interest to gardens and natural areas. Its unique form and seasonal color changes make it a favorite among landscapers and gardeners.
• Longevity: Eastern Redbud is a hardy and long-lived tree, often thriving for 50-70 years with proper care. Its durability and resilience ensure it continues to provide benefits for many decades.

Care

• Conditions: Cercis canadensis prefers full sun to partial shade and can adapt to a wide range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It tolerates both wet and dry conditions but performs best in well-drained soil.
• Maintenance: The Eastern Redbud requires minimal maintenance once established. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring to remove dead or diseased branches and to maintain its shape. Mulching around the base of the tree helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Overall, it is relatively disease-resistant but can benefit from occasional monitoring for pests and diseases.

Additional information can be found at Eastern Redbud at MGNV.

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Characteristics

• Size: The Loblolly pine can reach impressive heights of up to 100 feet, with some specimens even growing taller under optimal conditions. The diameter of the trunk can range from 2 to 3 feet.
• Leaves: The leaves of the Loblolly pine are needle-like and grow in bundles of three. These needles are typically about 6 to 9 inches long and have a glossy, dark green appearance, which helps in photosynthesis throughout the year.
• Bark: The bark of the Loblolly pine is thick and deeply furrowed, providing protection against fires. The bark is reddish-brown and becomes more rugged and fissured as the tree ages.

Benefits

• Wildlife Value: The Loblolly pine plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, providing habitat and food for various wildlife species. Birds such as woodpeckers and squirrels often nest in its branches, while its seeds are a food source for many animals.
• Environmental Impact: Loblolly pines contribute to the environment by acting as carbon sinks, thus helping in mitigating climate change. They also prevent soil erosion with their extensive root systems and improve soil quality.
• Longevity: While the Loblolly pine grows quickly, it can also live for several decades, often reaching ages of 70 to 100 years. This longevity makes it a stable component of forests and woodlands.

Care

• Conditions: The Loblolly pine thrives in full sun and prefers acidic, well-drained soils. It is adaptable to various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils. The tree is also tolerant of wet conditions but does not fare well in extremely dry environments.
• Maintenance: Maintenance of the Loblolly pine involves regular watering during its initial growth phase, especially in dry periods. Mulching around the base can help retain moisture and prevent weed growth. Pruning should be done to remove dead or diseased branches, which can otherwise attract pests and diseases. Monitoring for signs of pests such as pine beetles and taking appropriate measures to control them is crucial for the tree’s health.

Additional information can be found at Loblolly Pine at NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Site Selection, Planting, and Ongoing Care

Providing the best environment for your tree or shrub to thrive starts with selecting the best location for your tree type. The projected growth size, soil and sunlight needs, and the distance from structures and power lines all need to be considered. The following resources provide great information to help you select the best place for your new tree or shrub.

• Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place (Arbor Day Foundation)
• Choosing the tree location (Plant NOVA Natives)
• Do you have room for a shade tree? (Plant NOVA Natives)

Planting and Caring for a Seedling

The seedlings will be small, about 12 inches tall. The great news about seedlings is that they are very easy to plant and the primary requirements are making sure the hole is deep enough and ensuring that they get plenty of water over the next couple of weeks. Make sure the soil is moist but not overly wet. The first video below shows how you can use an empty soda bottle to protect your seedling.

• How to Plant a Bare Root Tree Seedling (Chesapeake Bay Foundation – YouTube)
• Tree Sapling Planting and Care (Montgomery Co. Parks – YouTube)
• Tree Seedling Planting Guide from Utah State University

Ongoing Care

The TreesAreGood website is a great resource for tree care and finding an arborist, when needed. Plant NOVA Trees is another good resource, in both English and Spanish. Several good links can be found on this site, under Tree Care.