by John A. Wott, Director Emeritus
On Thursday, October 29, 2015, the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington will honor Daniel J. Evans, on his 90th birthday, for his public leadership, scholarship, and service.  What an opportune time to mention the Daniel J. Evans Centennial Tree at the Washington Park Arboretum…a coast redwood  (Sequoia sempervirens) which he planted in the south Pinetum as part of the Washington State Arbor Day program.   

Pterocarya stenoptera, common name Chinese Wing Nut, has gorgeous lime green seed catkins 12-14″ long each bearing up to 80 seeds. That’s pretty amazing in itself but when these seed catkins are dripping off of each limb of a tall tree the effect is stunning.
The Wing Nut genus resides in the walnut family, or Juglandaceae, and is used for ornamental purposes in gardens around the world.   

How some trees react to high winds.
1)  Pseudotsuga menziesii                Douglas Fir

The detritus lying on the ground following a wind event in the Pacific Northwest provides ample evidence of how P. menziesii defends itself against wind.
The wood of P. menziesii is brittle and can snap. When a strong wind acts on a Douglas Fir, the tree sacrifices small pieces of foliage to shed the wind’s energy. 

Native to New Zealand (and Australia, Asia, and Africa). Flowers are sweetly scented and seeds are coated with a sticky substance giving the plant its name, pitch-seed.
All plants below can be seen growing in the New Zealand Forest in the Pacific Connections Garden.
1)   Pittosporum eugenioides               Lemonwood

New Zealand’s tallest Pittosporum, P. eugenioides can reach 40 feet.
Its yellow-green leaves with curly edges have a strong scent of lemon when crushed. 

1)  Clematis afoliata

Native to the dry, eastern side of New Zealand.
Now growing in our New Zealand Focal Forest.
Eventually becomes a wiry mound with fragrant spring flowers.

2)  Hakea epiglottis

Native to Tasmania and growing outside our Education Office.
Hakea needs sun and dry, infertile soil.
The round “stems” are true leaves despite their appearance.

3)  Phyllocladus aspleniifolius

Another Tasmanian native, this tree prefers moist lowlands. 

How does a teenager experience a tour of the Washington Park Arboretum? Read about it first-hand from our summer communications volunteer.

The Magnolia grandifloras in our collection are blooming now!  Who doesn’t love a 12-inch wide flower that smells great?   The commonly named Southern Magnolia or Bull-Bay is native to the SE United States from Eastern Texas, along the lower Gulf Coast to the Atlantic where it grows in loamy soils near water.  It has proven to be very adaptable to different soils and this has allowed for its ability to be cultivated in many different climates.  

Read the story behind the development of a University of Washington arboretum in Washington Park.

1)  Itea ilicifolia                Holly-leaved Sweet Spire

Native to western China
Evergreen shrub growing up to 16 feet tall and 10 feet wide
Bears fragrant racemes of greenish-white flowers in late summer and fall
Located west of the Magnolia Collection near the south end of the Asiatic Maples

2)  Lomatia myricoides                Long-leaf Lomatia

Native to New South Wales in southeastern Australia
One of the hardier members of the Proteaceae
Honey-scented white flowers are much visited by bees in summer
Located across Arboretum Drive from the New Zealand Focal Forest

3)  Pterocarya stenoptera                Chinese Wingnut

Native to China
Deciduous tree to 70 feet or greater, with a trunk diameter as large as 8 feet
Located west of Azalea Way, north of Loderi Valley

4)  Quercus vacciniifolia                Huckleberry Oak

Native to western North America, mountains of the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range
Leaves and acorns are an important food source for birds and mammals within its native range. 

1)  Quercus gilva                    Evergreen Oak

Native to China and Japan
Reaches heights of 90-100 feet in its native range
Located in the Oak Collection along the South Oaks Extension Trail

2)  Rhododendron calophytum           Beautiful-face Rhododendron

Native to China
Large species rhododendron capable of becoming a tree
Located along trail between Loderi Valley and the Woodland Garden

3)  Sequoia sempervirons  ‘Cantab’                     Coast Redwood

A cultivar of the coast redwood with unique needles
Specimens vary in form from shrubby to tree-like
Located in the north end of the Pinetum, along the Pinetum Trail

4)  Thujopsis dolobrata                    Hiba Arborvitae

A Japanese native
Capable of reaching 100 feet or more in Japan, yet large specimens are rare in the Seattle area
Located along the south slope of the Woodland Garden

5)  Viburnum rhytidophyllum                    Leatherleaf Viburnum

Native to China
Large evergreen shrub recorded to heights of 30 feet
Located along the trail through the Viburnum Collection