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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During the pandemic, the way I could connect with people, enjoy natural beauty, and try to stay fit was to walk in the Arboretum. I did that regularly, masked, with multiple friends and I’m so so grateful that the Arboretum is in my neighborhood and available to all at no cost. What a gift.Linda Jackson
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When free plants were given to members, I selected two yellow wood trees collected by one of Harvard's botanists. There are now 15 ft high and I am waiting for them to bloom one of these years. Too bad that program was stopped.Stephen C. Snyder
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My first encounter with the Arnold Arboretum was fate. I saw it advertised on a paper poster hung on campus at my undergrad university. I happened to walk by this covered bulletin board in the hall on a Sunday. I stopped to tie my shoe and when I looked up I saw the poster advertising the Summer Intern program. I applied and was accepted. While I was waiting to see if I was an intern candidate, I asked a well known gardener for one of Salt Lake’s busiest tourist destinations if he thought the expense of living back east was worth the experience. He told me that visiting the Arnold was every gardeners journey to Mecca, and encouraged me to do everything possible to get there if I was accepted. I took his advice and sold my car and quit my job. Looking back, I’ve made that pilgrimage back to the Arnold several times for the sheer joy of the experience. Sometimes, the trip was made with limited funds but the sacrifices made were always worth the experience. Something about being in the presence of greatness and the splendid old friends growing in the collection gave me the perspective of 4 Dimensional design over time. Some of my favorite haunts are the Maples, the Oaks, the Rose Collection (spent a lot of sweat equity weeding there), Lilac Hill, Crabapple Meadow and Peter’s Hill. My favorite is visiting the Lars Anderson Bonsai collection. I had the fun of watering it personally. Those plants have more personality than a Vegas Show Headliner. I’ve been able to share the Arnold with friends and family occasionally over the last twenty years. Recently, I visited the Hunwell Building in March of 2020 for the conference on Women in Horticulture. I was able to reconnect with a friend and we went together. The conference was just the boost I needed to get back into the landscape/horticulture industry after raising a young family as a stay at home gardener. Listening to the presenters reminded me that I had valuable skills and knowledge amplified by life experience, which made my transition back to the paid work place less intimidating. The Arboretum and it’s programs are an invaluable asset to the world and community. I share my experiences there often as a Master Gardener adjunct lecturer, Garden Tour Docent and Landscape Designer. It’s truly a place that invokes a better understanding of time and place and one’s connection of self and soul in the natural world.Virginia Harding Hooper
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 →-
Hemlock Hill in the winterWalking through Hemlock Hill on a winter afternoon with the snow crunching underfoot and stillness thick in the air.Tanya Holton: Director of Institutional Advancement
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Dog favoritesMy dog's favorite things at the Arboretum are: rolling in lawn fertilizer, squirrels, rabbits, reading the dog mail by the visitor center water fountain, and ending walks with a splash in the stream by the metasequoia grove.Lee Toomey: Plant Growth Facilities Manager
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HickoriesI love seeing the hickories in their full golden splendor each fall. One last show before the year ends!Danny Schissler: Head of Operations and Project Management
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Asiatic sweetleafMy favorite tree I've discovered in our expansive landscape is the Asiatic sweetleaf, Symplocos paniculata (1948-80*A), found in the small open field between the lilacs and birches on Bussey Hill. The dark pea-sized berries it produces are a deep blue, reminiscent of a summer evening, when the sky transitions, like a freshly painted watercolor, to a rich blue as the setting sun transects the horizon. They also remind me of the vibrant blues in sometsuke, the blue and white porcelain pottery originating from Japan. Before the berries emerge, the short tree can be easily glanced over, as the unsuspecting beauty and seemingly unnatural blues remain a hidden secret. Come back in different seasons to experience this tree in all its stages.Mikhail Fischer: Landscape Term