Carol and Joe Perchetti have an outstanding example of an American Holly tree (Ilex opaca) on their property on Springfield Road in Broomall. Typically associated with the Christmas season, their Holly tree was designated as one of Marple’s “Distinguished” trees by the Marple Tree Commission at the Board of Commissioners meeting, December 2012. Distinguished trees represent the very best qualities of their species and deserve protection from residents and township officials. Protecting the tree is exactly what the Perchetti’s have done over the years.  When they moved into their home in 1998, it was suggested that they remove the tree, but they decided to let it grow. “Some people asked us to remove it, but we decided to trim it instead,” said Joe. “It provides wonderful shade in the summer time.” Fourteen years later, over 30 feet tall, and with a trunk that is approximately 15” in diameter, this gorgeous American Holly continues to thrive.

Carol and Joe Perchetti pose for the camera in front of the magnificent American Holly at their home on Springfield Road.

American Holly is native to the Eastern US, from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. It can reach a height of 50”, but in gardens, it typically grows to a height of 30’. American Holly is dioecious meaning that it has male and female flowers on separate plants. The beautiful red fruit that it bears at the Christmas season occurs on the female plant, and the female plant will only bear fruit if there is a male plant nearby. American Holly’s flowers attract bees in spring, and its berries attract birds in late winter. To avoid leaf burn during the winter, plant the tree so that it is out of the direct rays of western sun.

On Saturday, October 13, the MTC participated in Marple Community “Pride Day,” an event sponsored by the Marple Township Businessmen’s Association, and held on the grounds across from the Fire Company on Malin Road. Eight members of the MTC were on hand to greet the public at the Tree Commission’s booth. They explained MTC’s latest project, “Re-Leaf Marple” and distributed a handout with information about how residents can purchase a tree for their properties. Janis Egan provided three baskets of herbs and garden tools and yard ornaments as raffle prizes. Children who stopped by with their parents enjoyed receiving “Trees are Cool!” stickers and the chance to select their own “buckeyes” (nuts from the Ohio Buckeye Tree) to take home for planting. Visitors enjoyed Rick Ray’s creative display entitled “Crime Scene”, which showed some of the worst things that homeowners can do to tree, including building mulch volcanoes around the base, staking a tree improperly, and leaving stubbed branches when pruning. A good time was had by all!

Rick Ray’s “Crime Scene” display garnered a lot of attention from “Pride Day” attendees.

William Adolph, PA State Rep., 165th Legislative District, chats with Debbie Parsons, Director of the Marple Public Library (on the right) and Liz Ball, MTC Secretary (standing behind the booth).

“Recognizing that Marple Township’s community forest is essential to the health and well being of its residents, the Marple Tree Commission works to assure that the trees that grow within our township, on both public and private property, are respected and cared for.

We seek to foster a sense of shared commitment by township residents and officials to the preservation and restoration of our community forest by planting new trees, providing information on choosing and caring for trees and by offering advisory and consultation services on tree issues.”

For detailed information about these trees, their uses and care, visit Horticopia, or consult the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael Dirr, Easy Tree Guide by Keith Rushforth, or Encyclopedia of Trees by Hugh Johnson in the Marple Township Library.

  denotes Native species that are especially recommended.

DECIDUOUS TREES (Drop their leaves in the fall)

Small deciduous trees (0-30 feet*)

Common Name	Botanical Name	Suggestions/comments
Buckeye, red	Aesculus pavia
Cherry Okame cherry Oriental cherry	Prunus hybrid Prunus serrulata	‘Okame’
Crabapple	Malus	Assorted disease resistant varieties
Dogwood Flowering dogwood Corneliancherry Chinese dogwood	Cornus florida Cornus mas Cornus kousa	‘Appalachian Spring’ ‘Golden Glory’
Dovetree	Davidia involucrata
Franklinia	Franklinia alatamaha	needs special care
Hawthorn Green hawthorn	Crataegus viridis	‘Winter King’
Hornbeam American hornbeam European hornbeam	Carpinus caroliniana Carpinus betulus	‘Fastigiata’
Lilac Japanese tree lilac	Syringa reticulata
Maackia Amur maackia	Maackia amurensis
Magnolia Sweetbay magnolia Saucer magnolia	Magnolia virginiana Magnolia x solaniana
Maple Hedge maple Paperbark maple	Acer campestre Acer griseum	Special care
Redbud Eastern redbud	Cercis canadensis
Serviceberry Allegheny serviceberry Downy serviceberry Shadblow/Serviceberry	Amelanchier laevis Amelanchier arborea Amelanchier canadensis
Silverbell Carolina silverbell	Halesia tetraptera
Stewartia Japanese stewartia	Stewartia pseudocamellia

Medium deciduous trees (30-60 feet*)

Common Name	Botanical Name	Suggestions/comments
Alder	Alnus species
Birch Gray birch River birch Sweet birch	Betula populifolia Betula nigra Betula lenta	‘Whitespire’ ‘Heritage’
Cherry Sergeant cherry	Prunus sargentii	‘Columnaris’
Elm Lacebark elm	Ulmus parvifolia
Hophornbeam American hophornbeam	Ostrya virginiana
Honeylocust Common honeylocust	Gleditsia tricanthos(thornless; no fruits)	‘Moraine’ ‘Imperial’ ‘Shademaster’ ‘Skyline’
Horsechestnut Red horsechestnut	Aesculus x carnea	‘Briotii’ ‘Fort McNair’
Katsura tree	Cercidiphyllum japonicum	use male
Maple Trident maple	Acer buergerianum
Oak Sawtooth oak Shingle oak Willow oak	Quercus acutissima Quercus imbricaria Quercus phellos
Parrotia Persian ironwood	Parrotia persica	single stem
Sourwood	Oxydendrum arboreum
Yellowwood	Cladastris kentukea	not near street

Large deciduous trees (60+ feet*)

Common Name	Botanical Name	Suggestions/comments
Ash Green Ash White Ash	Fraxinus pensylvanica Fraxinus americana	seedless type best ‘Autumn Purple’ ‘Rose Hill’ ‘Autumn Applause’
Baldcypress	Taxodium distichum
Beech American beech European beech	Fagus grandifolia Fagus sylvatica
Black gum/tupelo	Nyssa sylvatica	Species or various cultivars
Elm	Ulmus(selected)	‘Valley Forge’ ‘Princeton’ ‘Liberty’
Kentucky coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus	male
Magnolia Cucumber tree	Magnolia acuminata	‘Butterflies’
Larch, Golden	Pseudolarix kaempferi	Best for parks
Linden Silver linden Pendant Silver linden	Tilia tomentosum Tilia petiolaris
London Planetree	Plantanus x acerifolia
Maidenhair tree	Ginkgo biloba	use male
Maple Red maple Sugar maple	Acer rubrum Acer saccharum	‘October Glory’ ‘Red Sunset’ ‘Autumn Flame’ ‘Green Mountain’ ‘Legacy’ ‘Bonfire’
Oak Bur oak Pin oak English oak Northern red oak Swamp white oak Shumard oak White oak	Quercus macrocarpa Quercus palustris Quercus robur Quercus rubra Quercus bicolor Quercus shumardii Quercus alba	species or Green Pillar® ‘Fastigiata’ ‘Attention’
Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua	‘Rotundiloba’ (fruitless)
Tuliptree/tulip poplar	Liriodendron tulipifera	for parks
Zelkova Japanese	Zelkova serrata	‘Green Vase’/‘Village Green’

EVERGREEN TREES (retain their broad or needled foliage all year)

Small evergreen trees (20-35 feet*)

Common Name	Botanical Name	Suggestions/comments
Arborvitae American arborvitae West coast arborvitae	Thuja occidentalis Thuja x(hybrid)	‘Emerald Green’ ‘Nigra’ ‘Techny’ ‘Pyramidalis’ ‘Green Giant’
Holly American holly	Ilex opaca	‘Angelica’ ‘Jersey Knight’ ‘Wyetta’ ‘Jersey Princess’ ‘Old Heavy Berry’
Eastern red cedar	Juniperus virginiana	Emerald Sentinel™
Magnolia, southern	Magnolia grandiflora	‘Edith Bogue’ ‘Little Gem’ ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ ‘D.D. Blanchard’
Pine Japanese black pine Japanese red pine Japanese white pine Lacebark pine Limber pine Swiss stone pine	Pinus thunbergiana Pinus densiflora Pinus parviflora Pinus bungeana Pinus flexilis Pinus cembra	‘Umbraculifera’ ‘Glauca’ ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’
Spruce Serbian spruce	Picea omorika

Medium evergreen trees (35-60 feet*)

Large evergreen trees (60+ feet*)

Common Name	Botanical Name	Suggestions/comments
Fir Douglas-fir	Pseudotsuga menzieii
Pine Eastern white pine	Pinus strobus	‘Fastigiata’
Spruce Norway spruce Oriental spruce	Cedrus atlantica Picea abies Picea orientalis

NOT RECOMMENDED!