Deciduous trees

Acer saccharinum, commonly known as silver maple or silver maple, is a large deciduous tree native to North America. It is recognized for its rapid growth, attractive foliage, and ability to adapt to a variety of soil and climate conditions.

General description:
Family: Sapindaceae.
Origin: North America, especially in wetlands along rivers and on the banks of waters.
Dimensions: Acer saccharinum can reach a height of 15-25 meters, but it can also reach 30-35 meters in ideal conditions. It has a wide, irregular crown with hanging branches and a crown diameter of up to 15 meters.
Longevity: The silver maple can live between 100 and 125 years, but its relatively fragile structure makes the branches susceptible to breaking during storms.
Foliage:
Leaves: The leaves are palmate-lobed, with 5 deep lobes and serrated edges. The upper face of the leaf is light green, while the lower part is silvery, from which the common name of the species also originates. The leaves are 8-16 cm long and similarly wide.
Autumn color: In autumn, the leaves can take on shades of pale yellow, sometimes with orange tones, but the autumn coloration is not as vibrant as in other maple species.
Flowers:
Color: The flowers are small, greenish-yellow or reddish, and appear before foliage, usually in early spring, in March-April.
Disposition: The flowers are grouped in clusters and are usually unattractive, but they are important for pollination.
Fruits:
Samare: The fruits are samaris arranged in pairs, with long wings (5-7 cm) and a wide angle between them. They ripen in early summer and are spread by the wind.

Carpinus betulus ‘Lucas’ is another cultivar of the European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), prized for its narrow columnar form and ornamental characteristics. It resembles Carpinus betulus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ but has some subtle differences, particularly in crown shape and density.

Features:

• Tree type: medium to large, medium to large, deciduous tree with narrow columnar growth in the early years, becoming slightly broader at maturity.
• Height and diameter: Reaches a height of about 10-15 meters and has a smaller crown diameter than ‘Fastigiata’, generally between 2-3 meters, making it ideal for smaller spaces.
• Foliage: The leaves are dark green in summer, turning golden yellow in autumn, providing a great visual impact. The leaves are smooth, elliptic in shape with finely serrated edges.
• Flowers and fruits: the flowers are small, ornamentally insignificant, and the fruits are small, clustered in pendulous structures.
• Bark: Light gray, smooth, similar to other species of hornbeam, becoming slightly rough with age. (DESCRIPTION CONTINUES BELOW)