These are native in my area, one of the best, long-lived hardwood shade trees and one of the few that has showy fall foliage. They can g...Read Morerow to 100' tall with immense trunks--I've seen some whoppers in old growth forest--and are fairly fast growers. The average lifespan is 200 yrs., maximum 300. The only drawback to this tree is the hundreds of dried fruits, "gumballs", that it drops in the fall and winter. They have pointy spikes all over them that open to release the seeds when dry, and are a killer when you're mowing or walking barefoot. North of here, the gumballs are used for Christmas decorations, like pinecones. We'd rather burn them!
RHS notes it was discoveed by Hieram Stubblefield of Forest Nursery in McMinnville, TN, in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
These are native in my area, one of the best, long-lived hardwood shade trees and one of the few that has showy fall foliage. They can g...Read More