Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
The swamp white oak is a large, narrow-crowned tree. Although naturally found on deep, rich, moist bottomlands along streams throughout the northeastern United States as far west as Iowa and eastern Missouri, it has proven to be a versatile and tough ornamental addition for shade and wild-life habitat with minimal requirements. Drought tolerant once established the Swamp White Oak is a compatible selection in low care settings and as a street tree.
Did you know? The acorns usually occur in pairs and are very similar to white oak acorns except that they grow on long stalks. The acorn cap is smooth.
Northern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
This is a rugged yet superior tree that withstands heat, drought, wind, and alkaline soils. A mid-size tree with a moderate to fast growth rate and balanced appearance, it displays a pleasant appearance and interesting bark. Late in the season it develops yellow fall color with red-orange fruit. Occasionally it develops interesting growth characteristic called witches ‘brooms. This tree is attractive to the hackberry butterfly. This tree has the potential to reach a height of over 50 feet, making it a wonderful shade option for eco-friendly homes.
Did you know? The sweet fruit, which matures in autumn, is attractive to many song birds as well as quail, pheasants, woodpeckers, and cedar waxwings.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
This is an easy to grow woody shrub once established (3-10 feet tall) for average soil conditions. It has attractive bark and unique flowers that deserves a place in most landscapes- wet or dry. It can be trained with minimal pruning into small ornamental tree. Tolerant of extended wet periods, it is perfect for transitional areas that are very moist and then dry such as rain gardens. It has shiny dark-green leaves. The flowers of buttonbush are easily identified by the white tube shaped flowers produced in dense ball-shaped clusters about 1 inch in diameter.
Did you know? Butterflies find thee flowers attractive as does the occasional humming bird. .Buttonbush is used for nesting by many birds. The seeds are occasionally eaten by ducks
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Swamp milkweed has deep pink flowers clustered at the top of a tall, branching stem, bearing numerous narrow leaves. The milkweed flowers from June to August.
Did you know? The juice of this wetland milkweed is less milky than that of other species. The genus was named in honor of Aesculapius, Greek god of medicine, undoubtedly because some species have long been used to treat a variety of ailments.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Also known as red columbine, wild columbine is a short lived perennial wild flower that has a red and yellow flower with upward spurred petals alternating with spreading, colored sepals and numerous yellow stamens hanging below the petals.
Did you know? Columbine flowers contain nectar that attracts long-tongued insects especially adapted for reaching the sweet nectar including hummingbirds.
Which agency is in charge of protecting my trees? Is EAB in St. Louis?
Missouri Emerald Ash Borer Action Plan has a multi-agency task force that includes the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Conservation as well as specialist within the state. They have combined efforts and have a communication and action plan framework in place with a technical team that is working to protect Missouri’s ash trees from Emerald Ash Borer.
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has not been found in the St. Louis area. It was found in Wayne County, Missouri. The likely pathway of introduction was firewood. They have been monitoring high risk areas where firewood is being used as well as other monitoring locations through a variety of methods and traps.
There are a lot of trees in Wayne County What action is taking place to look for more EAB in the immediate area since it was found?
There is a good understanding of the life cycle and activities of the borers as well as the most likely ways it could become a threat based on past outbreaks, the firewood transportation issues and knowledge about the insect. There has been an investigation of Wayne County’s campground and vicinity, as well as the other State Parks and federal campgrounds in the county, it has been reported that to date no signs of EAB have been found outside of the original area. They will continue to have multi-agency crews on site to continue the survey efforts in the region and continue with education to increase awareness of the danger to our ash forest from the transportation of firewood.
Although the state, local and regional experts were certain this was EAB, it was also sent through the required USDA process. The official determination that it was EAB was made Friday, July 25, 2008 by USDA entomologists in Beltsville, Maryland. This is standard protocol.
We are fortunate to have our dedicated technical team of experienced and educated people who work with a passion and love for our forests. They are drawing on the experience and management practices used in other states as well as their own knowledge of our state when dealing with EAB. This multi-agency Missouri Emerald Ash Borer Technical Team is determining the best risk management practice for handling this situation in Missouri through an in-depth evaluation process and is taking into consideration the best way to manage this particular situation using the Missouri Emerald Ash Borer Action Plan as their framework. They know how precious our trees are to our sense of place as well as the importance of conservation and preserving our ecosystems.
A common question has been “will it be mandated that all ash trees be removed around known infestation sites?” Although the property managers of the site where the EAB was found has expressed a desire to remove ash trees from their land in this vicinity to safeguard the surrounding area, this will not be required by impending state and federal quarantines of the area.
Since the initial discovery of EAB in Michigan in 2002, USDA, MDA and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) have conducted extensive surveys throughout the state in search of EAB. These agencies will continue these extensive surveys including the use of a newly developed EAB detection trap that USDA has been deployed in high risk areas.
Is there a ban now on the sale of ash trees in Missouri?
Unlike the neighboring states, the entire state of Missouri will NOT be quarantined at this time. Only Wayne County will be quarantined at this time. In the event that EAB is found in other areas of the state, the quarantine will be expanded only when and where necessary. Outside of the quarantine area, sales of ash nursery stock or other ash products will not be prohibited. The sale of ash nursery stock within Missouri and to other states will be permitted, as long as it did not originate from the quarantine area
According to most sources there are no known effective treatments available for emerald ash borer at this time. There may be some experimental use of some pesticides but none labeled for this pest as yet. Be sure to hire a certified arborist for any pest management program.
I have been seeing a green beetle on my roses and plum tree-is that EAB?
No, that is most likely Japanese Beetle. They are much broader and oval shaped and there were a lot of them this year. We have been having them in the St. Louis region as a problem during June and July for several years. They are almost gone for now but they were very noticeable this year. They are spreading through Missouri too but there are traps and some controls that are effective for Japanese Beetle. They do not cause the fatal damage of the EAB and EAB primarily affects Ash trees. Most plants affected by Japanese Beetle recover.
Can someone treat my trees to protect them from EA
Was this a surprise? Were we watching for this?
Missouri has a huge population of ornamental plantings as well as our native ash trees in our woods, Will the government require us to just start cutting down our trees like they did in some other states?
There are a lot of borers in Missouri - are we sure this was EAB?
