Community Engagement
Visitor Stories
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After wandering the Arboretum for years, starting when my children were young, I had the honor of writing about this international treasure for the British garden quarterly HORTUS -- each of four installments focused on a woody plant that shines in that season and tells the Arboretum's story. A wonderful opportunity to delve into the past, present and future of this incomparable public and scholarly resource with Ned, Michael and all the brilliant staff.Sukie Amory
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In 2020 I began walking almost daily in the Arboretum and found myself exploring paths I had never walked on before. One of my favorites is the Hickory Path, accessed from the Conifer Path, because one passes through some unmanicured woods before emerging again in a more cultivated area. Eventually I discovered the Osage orange tree there, a tree I remembered from childhood, but one I had not seen in the northeast. Over weeks, I watched the tree fruit, saw the fruit mature (it is so weird), noticed when it fell from the tree, covering the ground with beautiful green balls, saw squirrels attacking the fruit and carrying it whole in their mouths, then demolishing the fruit until the ground was littered with pieces of it. Happiness, for the squirrels and for me.Helen P. Netos
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I got to marry the man of my dreams surrounded by nature without breaking the bank. I look forward to visiting that spot and walking thr grounds every year to mark the passing of time and to look back on that special moment we got to share in a place that is so public yet so intimate.Mary Darling
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I used to live on Fairview, close to the Mendum street gates and have walked the arboretum for the past 25 plus years. During the pandemic when I went remote, I got up every morning, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and walked for at least an hour. I never walked in the Arb(I'm a Rozzident of 16 years lol) in the Winter/cold weather nor did I do a sunrise walk, because I was always commuting to Harvard Sq. I love the nature, sounds, trees, birds, little animals that come and go through the seasons. The Arb gave me peace when the world was literally crazy, politically, environmentally and health-wise. I see all the early morning regulars and we greet each other and have a little chat. I loved seeing the ponds getting cleaned and hearing the frogs and turtles squawking again. I'd love to take an official tour sometime, just to hear the history and the plans for the years ahead.Meg Kelly
Sesquicentennial Trees
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- Viburnum setigerum 'Aurantiacum'
Orangeberry Tea Viburnum- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Viburnum setigerum 'Aurantiacum'
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- Viburnum plicatum
Japanese Snowball- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Viburnum plicatum
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- Viburnum furcatum
Forked Viburnum- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Viburnum furcatum
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- Viburnum dentatum
Smooth Arrowwood- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Viburnum dentatum
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- Vaccinium corymbosum
Highbush Blueberry- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Massachusetts
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Vaccinium corymbosum
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- Ulmus pumila
Siberian Elm- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- William Purdom
- Ulmus pumila
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- Ulmus laevis
European White Elm- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Ulmus laevis
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- Ulmus davidiana var. japonica
Japanese Elm- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Ulmus davidiana var. japonica
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- Tsuga canadensis forma pendula
Weeping Canadian Hemlock- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Tsuga canadensis forma pendula
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- Tilia × moltkei
Moltka Linden- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Tilia × moltkei
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- Tilia japonica
Japanese Linden- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Tilia japonica
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- Tilia americana
American Linden- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Indiana
- Collected By
- C. C. Deam
- Tilia americana
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- Thuja plicata
Western Redcedar- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Washington
- Collected By
- O. D. Allen
- Thuja plicata
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- Taxus cuspidata
Japanese Yew- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Taxus cuspidata
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- Syringa × hyacinthiflora 'Hyacinthiflora Plena'
Early Flowering Hybrid Lilac Cultivar- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Syringa × hyacinthiflora 'Hyacinthiflora Plena'
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- Syringa vulgaris 'Valetteana'
Cultivar of Common Lilac- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Syringa vulgaris 'Valetteana'
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- Syringa vulgaris 'Jean Bart'
Cultivar of Common Lilac- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Syringa vulgaris 'Jean Bart'
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- Symplocos paniculata
Asiatic Sweetleaf- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Symplocos paniculata
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- Stewartia pseudocamellia
Japanese Stewartia- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- South Korea
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Stewartia pseudocamellia
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- Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora
Bridalwreath Spirea- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- South Korea
- Collected By
- J. G. Jack
- Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora
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- Sassafras albidum
Sassafras- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Massachusetts
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Sassafras albidum
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- Rhus typhina
Staghorn Sumac- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Massachusetts
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Rhus typhina
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- Rhododendron × gandavense 'Comte de Flandre'
Ghent hybrid azalea- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Rhododendron × gandavense 'Comte de Flandre'
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- Rhododendron smirnowii (undetermined hybrid)
Hybrid of Smirnow Rhododendron- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Rhododendron smirnowii (undetermined hybrid)
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- Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Royal Azalea- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- South Korea
- Collected By
- J. G. Jack
- Rhododendron schlippenbachii
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- Rhododendron periclymenoides
Pinxterbloom Azalea- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Rhododendron periclymenoides
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- Rhododendron 'Parsons' Grandiflorum'
Elepidote Rhododendron- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Rhododendron 'Parsons' Grandiflorum'
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- Rhododendron 'Mrs Harry Ingersoll'
Cultivar of Rhododendron- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Rhododendron 'Mrs Harry Ingersoll'
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- Rhododendron micranthum
Manchurian Rhododendron- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Rhododendron micranthum
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- Rhododendron 'Atrosanguineum'
Elepidote Rhododendron Cultivar- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Rhododendron 'Atrosanguineum'
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- Quercus × sargentii
Sargent Oak- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Collected From
- Massachusetts
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Quercus × sargentii
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- Quercus variabilis
Oriental Oak- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Quercus variabilis
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- Quercus serrata
Konara Oak- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Quercus serrata
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- Quercus rubra
Northern Red Oak - Quercus rubra
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- Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- New York
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Quercus macrocarpa
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- Quercus gambelii
Gambel Oak - Quercus gambelii
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- Pyrus ussuriensis var. hondoensis
Hondo Pear- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Pyrus ussuriensis var. hondoensis
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- Pyrus pyrifolia
Chinese pear- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Pyrus pyrifolia
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- Pinus thunbergii
Japanese Black Pine - Pinus thunbergii
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- Pinus tabuliformis
Tabletop Pine- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- William Purdom
- Pinus tabuliformis
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- Pinus sylvestris
Scotch Pine- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Pinus sylvestris
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- Pinus resinosa
Red Pine- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- New Hampshire
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Pinus resinosa
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- Pinus koraiensis
Korean Pine- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Pinus koraiensis
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- Picea wilsonii
Wilson Spruce- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- William Purdom
- Picea wilsonii
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- Picea engelmannii
Engelmann Spruce- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Colorado
- Collected By
- Dr. C. C. Parry
- Picea engelmannii
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- Picea asperata var. ponderosa
Bigcone Dragon Spruce- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Picea asperata var. ponderosa
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- Picea abies 'Remontii'
Remont Norway Spruce- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Picea abies 'Remontii'
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- Phellodendron amurense var. lavallei
Lavalle Cork Tree- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- J. G. Jack
- Phellodendron amurense var. lavallei
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- Morus alba 'Pendula'
Cultivar of White Mulberry- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Morus alba 'Pendula'
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- Malus × micromalus
Midget Crabapple- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Malus × micromalus
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- Malus spontanea
- Provenance Type
- Cultivated plant of known (indirect) wild origin
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
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- Malus hupehensis
Tea Crabapple- Provenance Type
- Cultivated plant of known (indirect) wild origin
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Malus hupehensis
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- Magnolia virginiana
Sweetbay Magnolia- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Magnolia virginiana
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- Magnolia stellata 'Rosea'
Cultivar of Star Magnolia- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Magnolia stellata 'Rosea'
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- Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina
Maleberry- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Massachusetts
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina
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- Lonicera maackii
Amur Honeysuckle- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Lonicera maackii
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- Larix kaempferi
Japanese Larch- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Larix kaempferi
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- Koelreuteria paniculata
Golden Rain Tree- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Koelreuteria paniculata
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- Kalopanax septemlobus
Castor Aralia- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Kalopanax septemlobus
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- Juglans regia
Persian Walnut- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- F. N. Meyer
- Juglans regia
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- Hydrangea paniculata 'Praecox'
Cultivar of Panicle Hydrangea- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Hydrangea paniculata 'Praecox'
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- Hamamelis vernalis forma tomentella
Form of Ozark Witch-hazel - Hamamelis vernalis forma tomentella
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- Hamamelis vernalis
Ozark Witch-hazel- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Missouri
- Collected By
- B. F. Bush
- Hamamelis vernalis
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- Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky Coffeetree - Gymnocladus dioicus
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- Gleditsia triacanthos
Honeylocust- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Missouri
- Collected By
- E. J. Palmer
- Gleditsia triacanthos
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- Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ash- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Missouri
- Collected By
- G. W. Letterman
- Fraxinus quadrangulata
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- Fraxinus chinensis ssp. rhynchophylla
Korean Ash- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- South Korea
- Collected By
- J. G. Jack
- Fraxinus chinensis ssp. rhynchophylla
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- Fagus sylvatica 'Tortuosa'
Cultivar of European Beech- Provenance Type
- Cultivated plant of known (indirect) wild origin
- Collected From
- France
- Fagus sylvatica 'Tortuosa'
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- Fagus sylvatica
European Beech- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Fagus sylvatica
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- Fagus grandifolia
American Beech- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Massachusetts
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Fagus grandifolia
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- Fagus crenata
Japanese Beech- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Fagus crenata
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- Exochorda giraldii var. wilsonii
Wilson Pearlbush- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Exochorda giraldii var. wilsonii
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- Euonymus alatus forma apterus
Form of Winged Euonymus- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- South Korea
- Collected By
- J. G. Jack
- Euonymus alatus forma apterus
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- Ehretia ovalifolia
- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
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- Dipelta floribunda
Rosy Dipelta- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Dipelta floribunda
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- Diospyros virginiana
Possumwood- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Diospyros virginiana
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- Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana
Vilmorin Dove Tree- Provenance Type
- Cultivated plant of known (indirect) wild origin
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Pere Paul Guillaume Farges
- Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana
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- Crataegus viridis var. ovata
Variety of Green Hawthorn- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Illinois
- Collected By
- J. H. Kellogg
- Crataegus viridis var. ovata
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- Crataegus crus-galli
Cockspur Hawthorn- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Missouri
- Collected By
- E. J. Palmer
- Crataegus crus-galli
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- Crataegus coccinea var. coccinea
Scarlet Hawthorn - Crataegus coccinea var. coccinea
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- Cotoneaster dielsianus
Diels' Cotoneaster- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Cotoneaster dielsianus
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- Corylopsis spicata
Spike Winterhazel- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Corylopsis spicata
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- Cornus racemosa
Gray Dogwood- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Ohio
- Collected By
- W. C. Hampton
- Cornus racemosa
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- Cornus kousa
Kousa Dogwood- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected By
- Joseph Hers
- Cornus kousa
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- Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Cornus florida
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- Cladrastis kentukea
American yellowwood- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Cladrastis kentukea
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- Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Katsura Tree- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- W. S. Clark
- Cercidiphyllum japonicum
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- Cedrus libani
Cedar of Lebanon- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Turkey
- Collected By
- Walter Siehe
- Cedrus libani
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- Carya ovata var. ovata
Shagbark Hickory- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Carya ovata var. ovata
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- Carya laciniosa
Shellbark Hickory- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Missouri
- Collected By
- G. W. Letterman
- Carya laciniosa
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- Carya glabra
Pignut- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Pennsylvania
- Collected By
- Charles Sprague Sargent
- Carya glabra
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- Carya cordiformis
Bitternut Hickory- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Carya cordiformis
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- Caragana arborescens 'Nana'
Dwarf Siberian Peashrub- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Caragana arborescens 'Nana'
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- Betula alleghaniensis
Yellow Birch- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Maine
- Collected By
- J. T. Dawson
- Betula alleghaniensis
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- Aesculus × bushii
Bush's Chestnut- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Mississippi
- Collected By
- T. G. Hardison
- Aesculus × bushii
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- Aesculus parviflora forma serotina
Late Bottlebrush Buckeye- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Alabama
- Collected By
- T. G. Hardison
- Aesculus parviflora forma serotina
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- Aesculus glabra var. glabra
Ohio Buckeye- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Ohio
- Collected By
- W. C. Hampton
- Aesculus glabra var. glabra
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- Aesculus flava
Yellow Buckeye- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- North Carolina
- Collected By
- T. G. Hardison
- Aesculus flava
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- Acer saccharum 'Temple's Upright'
Cultivar of Sugar Maple- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Acer saccharum 'Temple's Upright'
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- Acer rubrum 'Schlesingeri'
Cultivar of Red Maple- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Acer rubrum 'Schlesingeri'
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- Acer platanoides 'Schwedleri'
Cultivar of Norway Maple- Provenance Type
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Acer platanoides 'Schwedleri'
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- Acer mono var. mayrii
Mayr's Maple- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- Japan
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Acer mono var. mayrii
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- Acer griseum
Paperbark Maple- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- China
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Acer griseum
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- Abies nephrolepis
Khingan Fir- Provenance Type
- Collected directly from wild; origin known
- Collected From
- South Korea
- Collected By
- Ernest Henry Wilson
- Abies nephrolepis
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Arboretum Staff Top 150
See All →-
Mulch path through the conifersThe mulch path through the conifers that starts at the Carpinus, not Conifer path. It's a magical place, full of cool old trees with crazy forms.Laura Mele: Lead Horticulturist
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Larz Anderson Bonsai CollectionThese trees are some of the oldest that the Arboretum has to offer. It is powerful to consider that each plant has been watered and cared for every single day, century after century.Chris Copeland: Greenhouse Horticulturist
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Leventritt Shrub & Vine GardenIt is the most formal area of the Arboretum with a great density of very diverse plant material. Each terrace has a unique grouping of plants, and walking through this garden will lead you to our bonsai collection. A must-stop on your strolls!Rachel Lawlor: Gardener I
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Dirt roads on the bank of Bussey BrookAnother favorite spot is the small dirt trail on the bank of Bussey Brook as it passes through the Rhododendron Collection. The shade of the hemlocks and moisture from the water always cool the air even on the hottest summer days. Snow on the evergreens and ice on the water is beautiful in winter, especially in the evenings when owls call from the hillsides.Brendan Keegan: Horticulturist