Wonder if your favorite tree is growing in the Arboretum? Now anyone can search a map and learn all about plants in the collection.

The first buildings to be added to the grounds of the Washington Park Arboretum were begun in 1985, as defined in the Jones and Jones Master Plan Update for the Washington Park Arboretum. It took almost ten years for the building plans to be finalized and the funds to be raised.

1)   Houpu Magnolia    (Magnolia officinalis var. biloba)

Unique bi-lobed leaf 8-12″ in length
4-8″ seed pods on display in late summer
Located in grid 27-1W in the Rhododendron hybrid bed

2)   Sargent Magnolia    (Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta)

Bears large pink flowers in spring
Large, pinkish-red fruit appear in late summer and fall
Located in grid 13-7E in Rhododendron Glen

3)   Rehder Tree    (Rehderodendron macrocarpum)

White flowers appear in spring
3-4″ seed pods weigh down branches in late summer
Located in grid 13-6E and elsewhere throughout the Washington Park Arboretum

4)   Himalayan Stachyurus    (Stachyurus himilaicus)

Deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub to height of 10’
Displays clusters of flowers in early spring
Located in grid 25-1W

5)   Yunnan Stachyurus    (Stachyurus yunnanensis)

Small evergreen shrub to height of 6’
Chains of white flowers appear in spring
Located in grid 25-1W 

This photo is of a native Thuja Plicata (common name; Western Red Cedar) and shows the great J-arm branches that these trees feature. Although the Puget Mill Company logged most trees on the site by 1900, this particular Thuja was perhaps overlooked by the loggers and is therefore one of the oldest and largest specimens in the arboretum. It is located between the Witt Winter Garden and Azalea Way. 

“Sporting Wood”
1)    White Ash    (Fraxinus americana)

Tough, plentiful, and easily bent into curves, Ash is used in tennis racquets, billiard cues, skis, and baseball bats.
White Ash is native to eastern and central North America.
This cutting is from the cultivar ‘Rose Hill’, located in grid 47-3E near the Lagoons.

2)   Common Box    (Buxus sempervirens)

Used for crocquet balls because of its hardness. 

This photograph taken in April 1976, shows Joseph A. Witt inspecting seed flats and cuttings in the “pit houses” of the University of Washington Greenhouses at Washington Park Arboretum.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1)   Erhetia dicksonii

Ornamental tree from Asia with corky bark and fragrant white terminal cymes.
Located along path heading up to Rhododendron Glen from Azalea Way, grid 15-1E.
Go to link below for thorough description and uses.
http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-July07.html

2)   Holodiscus discolor      (Ocean Spray)

My favorite summer flowering Pacific Northwest native deciduous shrub. 

UW Information School graduates researched and designed a mobile app to enrich the experience of Arboretum visitors. Team member Sarai Dominguez reflects on discovering visitors’ information needs .

Leveraging the recently developed interactive map of the Arboretum’s plant collection UW Information School graduates researched and designed a mobile app. Team member Loryn Lestz shares her experience.

1)  Hydrangea macrophylla   ‘Madame Emile Mouillere’

A blizzard white beauty all summer, long considered the best white mop head.
A charming companion to evergreen shrubs.
A beautiful 70-year old specimen graces the Hydrangea Collection along the Arboretum Drive.

2)  Leucothoe davisiae      (Sierra Laurel)

Native to the mountains of northern California and southern Oregon.
One of 4,000 species in the Ericaceae family.