Philadelphians will breathe a little easier next summer, thanks to the planting of four Redpointe® Maples that were among more than two dozen installed on the streets of Philadelphia.

The Redpointe® Maples may well be the first of this tough and adaptable new cultivar to be planted on city streets of the Northeast.  Heat and drought tolerance, pest resistance, adaptability to urban soils, a strong central leader and strong, open branch angles are among reasons it’s becoming a preferred street tree. Grown from Schmidt bare root liners, these were grown to street-ready size and donated to TreeVitalize by Schichtel’s Nursery of Springville, NY.

Television cameras rolled as more than 40 volunteers gathered from as far away as American Samoa for the Nov. 7 service planting. The event kicked off the Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) and Partners in Community Forestry Conference. Coordinated by Arbor Day Foundation, the combined meetings attracted more than 500 tree advocates to the City of Brotherly Love.

Joe Schiavo, leader of Old City Tree Tenders, told planters how the community group’s tree planting and stewardship efforts have been key to revitalizing the historic Old City neighborhood. Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, City Tavern, Penn’s Landing and other historic sites are located there.

Old City Tree Tender Edwin Watkeys pitches in to help Linda and Mike Leisher (Northeast regional sales representative for JFS) and Jim Kisker (Schichtel’s Nursery sales manager) Together, they plant a Redpointe® Maple near the corner of Wood and N. American Streets.

Autumn Gold Ginkgo is planted via the team effort of Michael Leff (TreeVitalize), Phillip Rodbell (USFS), Jen Bruhler and Patrice Sheehan (Delaware Center for Horticulture), Nancy Buley and Mike and Linda Leisher.