Fun Facts

10 Best Trees in America

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On May 18, 2022
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american trees

American Trees That Blow Your Mind

We have gathered a list with Cedar Sense’s favorite North American trees.  Although we might be a tad biased towards the eastern red cedar tree, we encourage you to read the list because there could be facts in here that you might not have ever known about the best trees in America. 

This blog is completely our opinion and in no way are we trying to persuade you on what the coolest tree species in the world is.  That’s because it’s hands-down the Eastern red aromatic cedar tree.  I mean who’s ever going to argue with that?!?! 

We simply made this list for your entertainment and to provide knowledge to some of the coolest carbon cleansing plants we have in this country.

ENJOY!

1. Eastern Red Cedar Tree

  • Where It’s Found: eastern half of the U.S. (South Dakota to Maine, Texas to Florida)
  • Years To Maturity: 10 – 20 years
  • Average Life Span: ~150 years, but can live up to 300+ years
  • Average Height: 30 – 50 feet
  • Fun Facts: This tree is actually a juniper species, not a cedar! It is also a pioneer species, meaning it is one of the first things to grow in an area that’s been disturbed (by fire, etc.)
eastern red cedar tree
Eastern Red Cedar

2. White Pine

  • Where It’s Found: northeast America (Minnesota to northern Georgia)
  • Years To Maturity: 25 – 30 years
  • Average Life Span: ~200 years, but can live up to 450+ years
  • Average Height: 50 – 80 feet
  • Fun Facts: White pines are often used for Christmas trees. Songbirds, porcupines, and white tail deer love to eat white pine seeds.
eastern red cedar tree
White Pine

3. Weeping Willow

  • Where It’s Found: Canada to Georgia to Missouri
  • Years To Maturity: 15 – 20 years
  • Average Life Span: ~30 years
  • Average Height: 30 – 50 feet
  • Fun Facts: One ingredient in aspirin can be found in the bark of a weeping willow. They also grow very well near water.
eastern red cedar tree
Weeping Willow

4. Sugar Maple

  • Where It’s Found: Minnesota to Tennessee and east to New York and Pennsylvania
  • Years To Maturity: 30 – 40 years
  • Average Life Span: ~200 years, but can live up to 400 years
  • Average Height: 60 – 75 feet
  • Fun Facts: A sugar maple tree produces roughly 20 – 30 gallons of sap. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup!
eastern red cedar tree
Sugar Maple

5. Paper Birch

  • Where It’s Found: some northern states (Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota to New York
  • Years To Maturity: 60 – 70 years
  • Average Life Span: ~100 years, but can live up to 200 years
  • Average Height: 50 – 70 feet
  • Fun Facts: Many years ago, the paper-like birch was used to write letters and notes on. Paper birch is sometimes used to make furniture, flooring, and popsicle sticks!
eastern red cedar tree
Paper Birch

6. White Oak

  • Where It’s Found: Eastern United States (Minnesota to Maine and Texas to Florida)
  • Years To Maturity: 20 years
  • Average Life Span: ~200 years, but can live up to 300+ years
  • Average Height: 50 – 80 feet
  • Fun Facts: It is the tallest of the oak species. The white oak tree produces a fruit called an acorn, typically stored away and eaten by squirrels and mice.
eastern red cedar tree
White Oak

7. Flowering Dogwood

  • Where It’s Found: from Maine, down and west to Kansas and Texas
  • Years To Maturity: 15 years
  • Average Life Span: ~80 years
  • Average Height: 20 – 40 feet
  • Fun Facts: They can range in color from white, pink, and red (scarlet). Dogwood is still used to make some golf clubs, canes, and tool handles because of its dense, strong properties.
eastern red cedar tree
Flowering Dogwood

8. Redwood

  • Where It’s Found: southern Oregon to California
  • Years To Maturity: 5 – 10 years
  • Average Life Span: ~800 – 1,200 years, but can live up to 3,000+ years
  • Average Height: 250 – 300 feet
  • Fun Facts: Redwoods can be so large and old that other trees and plants live on their branches and trunks. They have been tracked to be as old as some dinosaurs!
eastern red cedar tree
Redwood

9. Blue Spruce

  • Where It’s Found: central and southern Rocky Mountains
  • Years To Maturity: 30 – 60 years
  • Average Life Span: ~200 years, but can live up to 600+ years
  • Average Height: 50 – 75 feet
  • Fun Facts: They are a member of the pine family. The blue spruce is also known as white spruce or Colorado blue spruce.
eastern red cedar tree
Blue Spruce

10. Quaking Aspen

  • Where It’s Found: some western states and northeastern states
  • Years To Maturity: 30 – 60 years
  • Average Life Span: ~60 years, but can live up to 150+ years
  • Average Height: 20 – 80 feet
  • Fun Facts: During hard winters, aspen trees provide nutrients to elk and deer. The flat leaves of an aspen shake even in the slightest breeze, hence the ‘quaking’ aspen name.
eastern red cedar tree
Quaking Aspen

So, what did you think about our list?  Did you learn anything?  Did we get your favorite tree in there? Even though our favorite is the eastern red cedar tree, don’t be afraid to ruffle our branches if you disagree and let us know if we missed a tree or two. 

Thank you for reading our blog.  Subscribe to join in on the fun lists and entertainment that Cedar Sense gets out there all the time.  You don’t want to miss out on the next fun list.  Feel free to read some of our past work too on the Cedar Sense website.  Take care and see you next time!

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FAQs

Is Eastern Red cedar a good tree?
If you are looking for a tree to create a windbreak, eastern red cedar is a good choice. It is resistant to extremes of drought, heat and cold. It’s tolerant of a wide range of soils – poor dry soil or alkaline soil. Also tolerant of salt, making it favorable for use near roads, driveways and sidewalks.

How fast do eastern red cedars grow?
The Red Cedar is not really a Cedar but is actually a juniper. It has a medium growth rate of 12-24” per year with sticky foliage that is a dull green from spring to fall, and in the winter can be green or turn brown or purple. In the open its branches extend to the ground giving excellent protection.

How long does eastern red cedar last?
The bark is very sturdy and has been crafted into small shelters and also small furniture. Life span: Depending if it is in its natural habitat, the Red Cedar can live between 100 years to about 300 years

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