Take a Walk at Ivy Creek
School Trail
Finding Your Roots:
Learn the Native Trees of Virginia
On the School Trail
As you walk on the trail with the take-along guide (see link below) look to each side to find the labeled trees in this order:
- American beech
has ight gray bark that is smooth down to its roots. This is the tree commonly carved on.
- Northern red oak has flat white ridges running vertically up its bark and red leaves in fall.
- Blackgum has branches that grow at a 90 degree angle to the trunk. This is an important bear den tree.
- Red maple has dark gray smooth bark on young wood that furrows as it ages and has beautiful fall color.
- Black cherry, when young, has smooth bark with horizontal “breathing” holes called lenticels. Older bark turns dark with a look of 'burnt corn flakes.' Tent caterpillars in the spring serves to identify this tree.
- Scarlet oak leaves are recognized by sinuses that cut deeply into the leaf and for its beautiful fall foliage.
- Virginia pine is also called scrub pine for it retains its dead branches along the trunk below the living crown.
- Tulip poplar
is notable for its very tall and straight trunk. This common tree is the
tallest species in VA.
- American holly, known for its beautiful red berries in winter, is one of our few broad-leaved evergreens.
- American hornbeam is called musclewood for its smooth sinewy bark and dense wood.
- White oak leaves have rounded lobes distinguishing it from the red oaks. This is an important wood used in ships, furniture and fuel.
- Black oak
bark is dark and furrowed unlike that of the white oak next to it. Like all red oaks,
its acorns take two years to mature.
- Southern red oak leaves have a bell-shaped base. Think "Southern belle" to identify this tree.
- Pignut hickory and mockernut hickory were prized by indigenous people for its strong, tough yet flexible branches. Nuts of the Pignut have thin husks, while mockernut fruit have thick husks.
- Flowering dogwood is Virginia's state tree and flower. Its bright red berries are a favorite of birds.
- Eastern redcedar (across bridge) is a common Virginia tree that thrives in full sun but is shaded out here by large deciduous hardwood trees. Compare this Redcedar to the one next to the Barn.
Download a take-along guide to the trees of the School Trail
Mockernut Hickory
photo by Donna Watkins
Trees on School Trail:
Fact sheets from Virginia Tech (alphabetically)
- American beech
- American holly
- American hornbeam
- black cherry
- blackgum (tupelo)
- black oak
- eastern redcedar
- flowering dogwood
- northern red oak
- mockernut hickory
- pignut hickory
- red maple
- scarlet oak
- southern red oak
- tulip poplar
- Virginia pine
- white oak