“Plant a Native Tree!” is the theme for the TreeVitalize exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 5-12.

The 500-square-foot TreeVitalize exhibit will feature demonstrations on how to plant, prune and water trees. Visitors will also have the opportunity to receive seed packets containing Northern Red Oak acorns that were gathered by volunteers in Pennsylvania’s forests and packaged by the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps at DCNR’s Penn Nursery near State College.

Because native trees are well suited to the region, they don’t have to be watered as much. They are also naturally more resistant to disease, pests, and physiological disorders, and are an integral part of the larger biological community providing food and shelter for insects and wildlife.

TreeVitalize recommends planting one of 10 recommended native trees in southeastern Pennsylvania—

Serviceberry, Amelanchier laevis (Small tree with showy white early spring flower and edible berries); American Hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana (Small tree with a smooth, sculpted, muscular appearing trunk); Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum (Excellent ornamental tree for large open areas); Black gum, Nyssa sylvatica (Medium-sized tree with brilliant red autumn foliage); Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra (Large shade tree that produces acorns enjoyed by wildlife); River Birch, Betula nigra (Rapid grower with attractive light-colored peeling bark); White Oak, Quercus alba (Large shade tree that produces choice acorns for wildlife); American Beech, Fagus grandifolia (Handsome medium-sized tree with smooth gray bark); Eastern Redbud, Cercis Canadensis (Small tree with bright rose-colored flowers in early spring); or Tulip Poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera (Large tree – tallest of the eastern hardwoods – and rapid grower).

TreeVitalize partners include the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Department of Environmental Protection, Aqua Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Eagles, PECO, U.S. Forest Service, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Morris Arboretum, William Penn Foundation, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Fairmount Park Commission, and county and local governments.

For more information, visit the TreeVitalize website.

3/3/2006