Nice. The West Hartford Tree Project will be giving away 250 bare root seedlings of these cool trees in April 2022. Love the info about the moths that these support
I've eaten them. They actually taste pretty good, but there isn't much flesh. I've heard they are in the olive family. I survived eating them and am aware of no negative effects. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the info on this beautiful tree. Friends of Trees in Portland Oregon is planting these as sidewalk trees for $35 fee. I'm getting mine in a few weeks! So excited!
I know them as black gum in my area. Lots in the woods near me but none in my yard. I bought and planted three, 2 are thriving and have grown quite a bit.
Just discovered your site, while researching Little Bluestem grass. You have a perfect way of speaking. Sometimes, folks rattle on and on. Your information is direct and filled with joyful experience. Thank you so much. I'm just curious where you live. Not specifically! I live in central MD. Maryland is neither north nor south!
You can eat these fruits. The seed is just big compared to the flesh/meat. But just like others, a little tart and can use it for jams/jellies etc like other similar drupes.
The only to tell them a part that I can think of would be to examine the flowers up close and check for male vs female flowers. Some tree can have both at times. Good luck with your search.
@@jamesbarron1202 I've transplanted all year long except when it's extremely hot and dry. Ask the nursery where you're buying perhaps. Look for fruit as well. Good luck
@@Jem544 it’s definitely not a good time here in Texas. Triple digits everyday and I’m on a sand and sandstone hilltop. I planted 5 Vitex last week and the yellow grasshoppers devoured them in a day. They may be deer resistant but the grasshoppers love them. The grasshoppers don’t touch the native persimmons but will devour my Asian persimmons right beside them.
Interesting tree but very picky on soil requirements or it will grow at a snails pace. Has to have pH less than 6.0. I have used Ammonium Sulfate fertilizer to provide N and acidify the soil and finally after 15 years have a beautiful 10' tree.
Appreciate the video and the excellent discussion of this tree. I had my heart set on planting one, but I'm a city dweller and I had room for exactly one medium/large tree. The fact that they're dioecious forced me to give up on the idea, as I haven't seen any others in the neighborhood. I would have loved the fall color, but if it failed to produce berries I would have regretted the decision. Anyway, great tree, and thank you for the video!
@@Jem544 The winner was river birch, betula nigra. Just put it in the ground two weeks ago, in fact. Less useful for pollinators since I understand it to be wind pollinated, but the seeds are excellent bird food and it's a host for a lot of exciting caterpillars. Good omen, right before we planted it we saw mourning cloaks in our yard for the first time (both an adult and some caterpillars). The river birch is a larval host for it, so we're hoping these will be the first of many.
@@Jem544 I'm excited (and impatient, to be honest, lol) to see it grow and become productive for wildlife. It's not even 3', can't be more than 2-3 years old. How much growth did yours manage this season?