American Witchazel, Hamamelis virginiana
American Witchhazel is a shrubby bush or small tree with attractive fragrant flowers in late fall to winter. Fruit is eaten by wildlife.
I. The Program
Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC) and Howard EcoWorks are partnering to bring 50 free native trees to Sligo Creek watershed neighborhoods. It’s a great opportunity for residents, businesses, and others to plant one or more native trees to their property. The program includes the trees plus professional planting and materials, thanks to a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
→Fill out this interest form to learn more
Trees clean the air, absorb rainwater, cool our neighborhoods, and provide habitat for birds and pollinators, all while making our communities beautiful and greener for everyone. Learn more about trees and stormwater on the Stormwater page.
This project is part of Maryland’s Five Million Trees initiative, which has already planted more than 1.5 million trees. To make sure the benefits reach everyone, at least 500,000 of those trees are go to historically underserved urban areas, including many parts of our watershed.
II. Is my property eligible?
Check the map to see if your property is in a target area (the brown overlay) in the Sligo watershed. You’ll need to have space for at least one tree.
Properties can be:
- A Home Owners Assn. or Civic Association common area
- A congregation
- An institution, such as a school or college or similar
- A commercial property
- A multi-family property
- A single-family home – if your neighborhood can come together for 10 or more trees. Talk to your neighbors and encourage them to apply!
(Click on the map to see the full map.)
III. What you get
1. A pre-planting site assessment by an arborist
2. Free native tree(s) in 5–7 gallon containers
3. Free materials and installation by EcoWorks staff
Available native trees include:
American Yellow-wood
Pagoda Dogwood
Southern Hawthorn
Kentucky Coffee Tree
American Witch-hazel
Sourwood
Blackjack Oak
Cherrybark Oak
Dwarf Chinquapin Oak
Post Oak
Water Oak
Note: Availability may vary depending on when you sign up
American Yellowwood
(Cladrastis kentukea)
Attracts songbirds for nesting sites and nectar. The pollen attracts bees and other pollinators. The tree has beautiful pea-like, fragrant flowers and showy seedpods that ripen in the fall. (Tom Gill photo)
Blackjack Oak
(Quercus marilandica – the MD state tree)
A top pollinator host. Game birds and mammals eat the acorns. Birds and mammals use it for nesting. (Jim Robbins photo)
Plant info and photos via NC State Extension.
IV. What we ask of you
Commit to watering and long-term care after planting, such as bark protection and weeding (especially keeping vines off your tree).
V. What happens next
Submit the interest form!
→ Fill out this interest form to learn more.
Then discuss with EcoWorks staff the best tree(s) for your location during the site assessment. If you want to proceed, you sign a no-cost agreement stating that EcoWorks will plant the tree(s) for free and you will water and maintain them. Planting happens this winter through spring 2027.
Please share this opportunity with your neighbors, HOA, congregation, or other people who live in the Sligo Creek watershed and who you think would be interested in free trees for their property. Thank you.
The more people who join, the better the chances of planting on your street, and the healthier Sligo Creek and parklands will be!
For the trees,
Elaine
Elaine Lamirande
FOSC Stormwater Chair