Village of Westmont
Date Issued: April 20, 2014
The Village of Westmont is once again giving free tree seedlings to Westmont residents who want to plant new trees in the community. This year’s giveaway will also incorporate an online sign-up to help manage the seedling inventory. Additional seedlings will be handed out at the Westmont Library, 428 N. Cass, on Earth Day, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“This program has been very successful,” says Village Forester Jon Yeater. “This year we have picked 10 specific species for residents to choose from. Our new online sign-up form will be very convenient for most of our citizens. We want to thank the Westmont Library for partnering with us on the Earth Day seedling giveaway.”
Online sign-up for seedlings has begun. Residents can fill out the online sign-up form to make their seedling requests:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_L3461Q4Ni__ZvZw67uvCuI6LA7p_8P9kSXjSGBgVZA/viewform
Residents will be able to choose from the following seedling species:
BALD CYPRESS (Taxodium distichum)
Size - 50-70’ high by 30-30’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - yellow-rust brown
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - unique reddish brown fibrous bark
BLACK OAK (Quercus velutina)
Size - 60-75’ high by 50-70’ wide
Growth Rate - medium
Fall Color - russet red
Habit - rounded
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - fast growing oak species
CHINKAPIN OAK (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Size - 40-50’ high by 40-50’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - yellow brown
Habit - rounded
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - fast growing oak species
HACKBERRY (Celtis occidentalis)
Size- 50-60’ high by 40-50’ wide
Growth Rate- medium-fas
Fall Color- dull yellow
Habit- vase-shaped
Maintenance Requirement- medium Other- unique corky bark
KENTUCKY COFFEETREE (Gymnocladus dioicus)
Size - 60-75’ high by 40-50’ wide
Growth Rate - medium
Fall Color - yellow
Habit - obovate
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - unique bark characteristics
NORWAY SPRUCE (Picea abies)
Size - 40-60’ high by 25-35’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - good specimen evergreen
SHAGBARK HICKORY (Carya ovata)
Size - 60-80’ high by 30-40’ wide
Growth Rate - slow
Fall Color - yellow
Habit - oblong
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - native, unique bark characteristics
TULIP POPLAR (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Size - 70-90’ high by 35-50’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - golden yellow-yellow
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - white flowers in spring
WHITE OAK (Quercus alba)
Size - 60-70’ high by 60-70’ wide
Growth Rate - medium
Fall Color - typically red, sometimes purple
Habit - irregular pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - native, Illinois State Tree
WHITE PINE (Pinus strobus)
Size - 50-80’ high by 20-40’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - fast growing native pine species
Additionally, in honor of Arbor Day, the Village of Westmont will be at Miller School on April 24 to interact with students and plant new trees on the school property. “Each year, the Village works with local schools on Arbor Day projects,” adds Yeater. “We’re excited to continue to interact with students so they can learn about the importance of trees in our environment.”
For more information, contact Municipal Services at jyeater@westmont.il.gov or 630-981-6285.
