Explore the CelebriTrees

American Hornbeam—Carpinus caroliniana—This tree is an understorey tree that is native to Ontario and southwest Quebec. The bark is smooth, and on mature trees it’s fluted as if rippling with muscles. This trait leads to other names for the tree, such as Blue-beech and Musclewood. The American Hornbeam tree has an attractive round or flat-topped form. The tree can grow to 10 metres tall. This tree is located next to the Arboretum circle road, nearly across from a path leading down into the wooded area of the Arboretum.

Autumn Treasure Ironwood—Ostrya virginiana ‘Autumn Treasure’—Ironwood is a sturdy understorey tree found regularly in the forests around Ottawa. Having no serious pests or diseases, it deserves to be planted more in the city. Its hanging flowers are called catkins, and they develop into hop-like fruits that bear little nutlets sought by birds and other animals. Autumn Treasure is a narrow form of the species, with golden fall colour. The tree can grow to 15 metres tall. This tree is located along the lowland path, about 30 metres southeast of a very large old bur oak.

Bur Oak (2)—Quercus macrocarpa—Bur Oak is a stalwart component of the local forest as well as the urban landscape. It’s been planted in Ottawa’s parks and streets for many years despite its large girth and height. The species grows from New Brunswick to as far west as Alberta, the biggest range of our native oaks. Like other oaks, it is a source of shelter and food for many kinds of wildlife. The tree can grow to 25 metres tall. This tree is located about 20 metres west of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden parking lot entrance to the Arboretum.

Dawn Redwood (2)—Metasequoia glyptostroboides—This unique genus is closely related to Giant Sequoias and Redwoods found in California and, although fossils can be found throughout the northern hemisphere, living specimens were only discovered in China in the 1940’s. It was then introduced to gardens around the world. The tree has a pyramidal shape and attractive feathery foliage that turns reddish brown in the fall. Although the tree can reach 45 metres in a rainforest, in Ottawa it will grow to no more than 25 metres tall. This tree is located on the northeastern tip of Heart Island, reached by a small bridge on its south end.

Imperial Honey Locust—Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Impcole’—Honey Locust has become a very popular street tree worldwide due to its graceful open crown of fine leaflets and its tolerance of many urban problems including drought and salt spray. Although the wild species has formidable thorns growing out of its trunk and branches, the varieties sold by nurseries (including this one) are thornless. The Imperial cultivar has a very regular growth habit with branches that emerge at right angles from the trunk. The tree can grow to 20 metres tall. This tree is located very close to the intersection of the Arboretum’s south path with the downhill path that heads to the east.

Korean Sun Pear—Pyrus fauriei ‘Westwood’—This is a small ornamental pear tree native to Korea.  The tree has a compact rounded form and is very cold hardy. The flowers and fruit are quite small, but they are attractive as they appear in masses on the tree. The Korean Sun variety was selected for its attractive autumn colours of red, yellow, and orange. The tree can grow to a little over 5 metres tall. This tree is located along the path at the north end of the Arboretum, about 60 metres east of the point where the path meets Prince of Wales Drive.

Paper Birch (2)—Betula papyrifera—Paper Birch (or White Birch) is the iconic tree of the north, ranging from sea to sea to sea in Canada. All Canadians know of its use by the indigenous people in canoes, baskets, bags, and other essential things. It’s a pioneer, one of the first trees to grow back on disturbed sites. The bark starts out a dark red colour, turning white after several years. The fall leaf colour is bright yellow. The tree can grow to 20 metres tall. This tree is about 100 metres south of the bench in the Arboretum circle, about 25 metres east of Paper Birch (1).

Redmond Basswood—Tilia americana ‘Redmond‘—Basswood is often found in local hardwood forests along with maple, beech, and birch trees. It grows quickly into a tall tree with many large leaves providing lots of shade. Its flowers, seeds, and leaves provide food for wildlife. The Redmond variety of Basswood has dense branches that are slightly more upright than the species form. The tree can grow to 20 metres tall. This tree is located between the two south paths, in an open area that is right at the bottom of the hill.

River Birch (2)—Betula nigra—Although the normal range for River Birch is south of the Canadian border, its cold hardiness and heat tolerance suit Ottawa conditions well. It’s also resistant to pests including the bronze birch borer which plagues other birch species. River Birch is an attractive round tree with very interesting bark that peels to show a pink salmon colour on the branches. The tree can grow as high as 20 metres. This tree is located across the Arboretum circle road and about 20 metres south from River Birch (1).

Wildfire Black Gum—Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire‘—In Canada, Black Gum grows only in the most southern part of Ontario. The species grows all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico (and into Mexico) where it’s called ‘Tupelo’ and its nectar is used by bees to make honey. The tree leaves have beautiful red-purple fall colours. The Wildfire cultivar has a nice form and bright red leaves in the spring as well. The tree can grow to 20 metres tall. This tree is located inside the Arboretum circle road, about 30 metres southwest of the North Lookout parking area.

Zumi Crabapple—Malus ‘Zumi’—The Zumi crabapple variety is a naturally-occurring hybrid that is often used for rootstock due to its salt tolerance and drought resistance. Several cultivars of this crabapple tree are also propagated and sold commercially. It’s known for its fragrant white flowers in the spring as well as its glossy fruit that attracts many birds. The tree can grow to about 5 to 10 metres tall.  This tree is located near the parking lot at Building 72, just 25 metres west of the northwest corner of the lot.

Apollo Sugar Maple [2023] — Acer saccharum ‘Barrett Cole’ — Sugar Maple is the iconic tree of eastern Canada, much loved for its syrup and fall colour. This is an attractive cultivar called Apollo with dense branching and beautiful colour. It stands out in the landscape due to its concise columnar shape, fitting nicely into the landscape. Its fall leaves are described as being “gold to burnt orange.” It grows to about 10 metres at maturity, with a width of about 4 metres.

This tree can be found in the maple area along Prince of Wales Drive, about 100 metres south of the roundabout, tucked in behind some tall honey locust trees.

Black Cherry (1) [2024] — Prunus serotina — Black Cherry is a native tree occasionally found in the forest around Ottawa, but almost never planted in the city. It has short stalks of small white flowers that turn into red-black berrylike fruit. On mature trees, the bark breaks into distinctive square sections. The rich reddish-brown wood of this tree is highly valued for use in cabinetry.

This tree is located next to a large rock, near the intersection of the lowland path with a path going into the woodland. The tree can grow to 15 metres or so.

Butterflies Magnolia [2024] — Magnolia ‘Butterflies’—Magnolias are always beautiful additions to a landscape, and the flowers of Butterflies Magnolia have an especially luscious yellow colour. The mature flowers also have a lemony scent. This variety is a cross between a native and an Asian Magnolia, and can grow to be a small tree with a central leader, or a multi-stemmed shrub. This tree can grow 5 to 10 metres in height.

The tree is located about 50 metres NW of an intersection between paths leading from Dow’s Lake to the Arboretum.

Crimson Cloud Hawthorn [2024] — Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ — Crimson Cloud is a variety of English Hawthorn, a species that is used extensively in hedges and other plantings across Britain. In the spring, this variety is covered with small flowers that are fragrant and en masse look like a red cloud. The variety is also thornless and resistant to the leaf blight that afflicts other trees of this species. The tree usually reaches little more than 5 metres in height.

This tree is located about 20 metres SW of the intersection of two paths in the south of the Arboretum.

Fraser Fir [2023] — Abies fraseri — This classic conifer with upturned branches is sometimes called ‘Southern Balsam’ since it closely resembles Balsam Fir and grows mainly in the Appalachian Mountains, where it is considered endangered. Fraser Fir is frequently found in damp and fragrant woods in southeastern U.S. along with red spruce and mosses and ferns. In Canada it is grown primarily as a Christmas tree and is greatly preferred for that use due to its long-lasting, fresh-smelling needles. A mature Fraser fir can grow up to 20 metres in height, with a width of up to 10 metres.

This tree can be found by following the Arboretum circle road around past the south parking lookout, then going into the circle about 15 metres to a small clearing where it is planted amongst other conifer trees.

Harvest Gold Linden [2024] —Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest Gold’ — Linden trees are frequently planted in parks and streets of the city, but Mongolian Linden is a smaller version that can also fit into small landscapes. The Mongolian species has an unusual peeling bark. In addition, this Harvest Gold variety has fragrant yellow flowers and red petioles, and its leaves turn a lovely gold colour in the fall. This tree grows to about 10 metres in height.

The tree is located about 40 metres west of a sidewalk that goes from Building 72 to Building 74 in the Arboretum.

Jack Pine [2024] — Pinus banksiana — Jack Pine is the iconic Algonquin Park tree featured in a painting by Tom Thomson, of the Group of Seven. This species is not commonly planted in cities, but is very cold-hardy and grows in the boreal as well as in hardwood forests. The cones are sealed shut with resin and only open under intense heat, making the tree a pioneer species that can repopulate areas ravaged by fire. Jack Pine can grow to be about 20 metres tall, although that will vary depending on the site.

This tree is located along the lowland path, about 50 metres north of the intersection with a path going into the woodland.

Merrill Magnolia [2023] — Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ — ‘Merrill’ is a cross between two Japanese species: Magnolia stellata (star magnolia) and Magnolia kobus (Kobus Magnolia). It has fragrant white star-shaped flowers with yellow eyes, and the flowers are less susceptible than other magnolias to late frosts. The fruits are showy pink pods. Merrill Magnolia has a low wide canopy and can grow about 10 metres tall with a spread of 10 metres.

This tree is located between Buildings 72 and 74, about 10 metres from the small walkway between the two buildings.

Ohio Buckeye [2023] — Aesculus glabra — Buckeye is a North American tree that is closely related to European horse chestnut trees. The Aesculus genus is noted for the spike of showy flowers in the spring and large whorl of leaves in the summer. Ohio Buckeye leaves may turn pumpkin-orange in the fall, although the colour is variable. Although this tree isn’t commonly planted this far north, it has been shown to be hardy in Ottawa. When it matures, it’s a very pleasant shade tree with round canopy.Its mature height is approximately 10 metres, and its spread about the same.

This tree is about 12 metres east of the Ruby Red Horse Chestnut (see location for that tree) where it is planted near some pines and junipers.

Red Fox Katsura [2023] — Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Rotfuchs’ — This is a purple-leaved cultivar of a very popular Japanese tree. The shape of the Red Fox cultivar is narrow and columnar. The leaf colour changes to bluish green in summer and then orange-red in fall. Katsura trees are also noted for their ‘cotton candy’ odor in the fall. The mature height of this tree is about 15 metres.

This tree is located about 40 metres east of the intersection of the Circle road with the entrance way.

Red Oak [2023] — Quercus rubra — This beautiful and hardy native species is a popular shade tree. In the open, it has a more rounded form than most oak trees; in the forest, it grows tall and straight. Its leaves emerge with a bronze-red colour, and turn a deep scarlet in the fall. Red oak is an important lumber tree used for furniture and flooring among other applications, and many birds and mammals feed on the acorns. Red oak can grow to 20 metres in height and width. This tree is planted right next to the path that runs southeast toward the canal, down in the lowland area just west of the Arboretum’s little island.

Follow the path past the intersection with the other paths, a little further along from the bench up on the hill, and look for the tree on the left side of the path.

Ruby Red Horse Chestnut [2023] — Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotii’ — Ruby Red Horse chestnut is a hybrid between the North American red buckeye and the European horse chestnut. In the spring, it has beautiful large panicles of red flowers. Briotii is a cultivar with even larger, darker red flowers. The leaves, like those of other buckeyes and horse chestnuts, radiate in distinctive whorls of several leaflets.Ruby Red Horse Chestnut grows to about 10 metres tall, with a dense, broadly round canopy.

This tree can be found by following the Arboretum circle road about 140 metres until you get to the gate on the right hand side; the tree is on the opposite side, across from the gate.

Shagbark Hickory (1) [2024] — Carya ovata — Hickories are prized native trees in the North American forest, and Shagbark is one of the best of the hickory genus for its appearance and form. Although it generally grows south of the US border, isolated stands of Shagbark Hickory have been found in places near Ottawa. This species has a straight trunk and shapely crown, and mature trees have the interesting bark feature that gives them their name. Shagbark Hickory can reach 25 metres in height.

This tree is located in the northern part of the Arboretum, about 20 metres east of the north path and about 100 metres south of the Prince of Wales crosswalk.

Shiloh Splash Birch [2024] — Betula nigra ‘Shiloh Splash’ — Shiloh Splash is a variety of the hardy River Birch, an underutilized birch species for growing in Ottawa. It is a good selection for urban planting, not being affected by major pests that attack other birches. This cultivar, first discovered at a nursery in North Carolina, is named for its interesting leaves that are splashed with white colour. This is a small but striking tree, growing only about 5 metres tall.

This tree is located about 35 metres south of the intersection of the Arboretum circle road with the entrance road. 

Snowdrift Crabapple [2024] — Malus ‘Snowdrift’ — Crabapple trees come in many different shapes and sizes. The Snowdrift variety has a consistent rounded form, filled with a dense canopy and dark green leaves. In the spring it has nice pink buds that turn into bright white flowers. The leaves have a yellow colour in the fall. The orange-red fruit attracts birds through the winter. It will grow to about 5 metres in height.

This tree is located about 30 metres NW of the parking lot around Building 72 in the Arboretum.

Sugar Maple (2) [2024] —Acer saccharum – No tree is more Canadian than Sugar Maple, and it is a very familiar sight in forests around Ottawa. It is valued highly for its sweet-tasting sap, its finely grained but tough wood, and especially for its fall display of orange, red and yellow colours. This species is native to cool climates, needing cold weather during its dormant period. Sugar Maple reaches about 20 metres in height, although it can be taller in the forest.

This tree is located near the lowland path that tracks beside the woodland area of the Arboretum, about 20 metres northwest of Sugar Maple (1).

Swamp White Oak (1) [2024] — Quercus bicolor — This tree wasn’t thought to be native to this region until a few very mature trees were found not far from Ottawa. They can grow to an impressive size, with long coarse branches extending out from wide trunks. Like other oaks, this species is important to the ecology due to features that feed or shelter a lot of wildlife. Swamp White Oak can be identified by its leaves, dark green above and light-coloured underneath. The tree grows to about 20 metres tall.

This tree is located about 90 metres north of the North Lookout parking area, near the old windbreak of conifers.

Tulip Tree [2023] — Liriodendron tulipifera — Tulip Trees are iconic tall trees in southwestern Ontario and in the northeastern US, but are rare to be seen in eastern Canada. They are named for their distinctive tulip-shaped leaves. They also have interesting tulip-shaped flowers of yellow, orange and green. The leaves turn an attractive yellow in the fall. They are sometimes called “Yellow Poplar”. Tulip Trees are capable of growing straight and tall (25 metres) in prime locations.

This tree is located in the northern part of the Arboretum, on a small rise just south of the magnolia area, about 40 metres east of the north path.

White Oak (2) [2023] — Quercus alba — This is the most impressive of the native oaks, growing in the southern parts of Ontario and Quebec but rare to find as far north as Ottawa. In an open setting, the tree spreads its branches wide and its outline becomes more rounded with age. The dark green leaves turn russet colour in the fall, and the bark is light coloured and scaly. White Oak wood is valued highly and used for furniture, flooring, barrels and many other applications. White Oak can grow to about 15 to 20 metres in height.

This tree is planted next to the first branch of the south path, heading down toward Dow’s Lake.