All the Presidents Trees….and our recommendations for your home landscape
Many of the trees on the grounds of the White House have been planted as commemorative trees by presidents dating back to the 1800s. There is a wide variety of species, symbolic of different generations, yet many are very practical and have stood the test of time.
Pictured is the oldest tree on the White House grounds. In 1829, Andrew Jackson planted this southern magnolia, against the South Portico, as a tribute to his wife whom passed away weeks before he was sworn into office.
According the National Park Service, President Ronald W. Reagan planted a willow oak tree on the South Grounds on October 24, 1988. A white oak tree was planted on the North Grounds on April 27, 1935, by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
A little leaf linden tree was planted by President George H. W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II on May 14, 1991. This commemorative planting replaced the remaining tree from the original pair planted in 1937 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration to honor the coronation of the Queen’s father, King George VI.
6 Fun Facts About Presidents and Trees (arbordayblog.org)
The White House Gardens and Grounds – White House Historical Association (whitehousehistory.org)
If you’re looking for a dependable tree that will be an asset to your home landscape, we recommend most all oak species. In particular, the willow oak which is planted on the White House grounds is capable of tolerating wet soils but also has smaller leaves that are not as messy as pin oak leaves.
A southern magnolia is a wonderful tree with fragrant blooms and glossy dark evergreen foliage.
A yellowwood tree is often referred to as one of the best native flowering trees in Kentucky.
More recently, the blackgum tree has become popular again and widely available in nurseries. Its scarlet red to purple fall color is gorgeous and it grows at a good rate.
For a more ornamental tree, we recommend a katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum).
The University of Kentucky has excellent resources and recommendations for trees which grow well and may also be native to our region in the publication: Trees with Minimal Insect and Disease Problems for Kentucky Landscapes. https://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ho/ho94/ho94.pdf
Gerrein Green – Tree Removal Service Northern Kentucky and East Side Cincinnati