Walking tour showcases 40 rare trees

A new self-guided walking tour showcases 40 of the University’s most unusual trees.

The guide includes a map and descriptions of the plants.

“We picked trees that are impressive because of their size and grandeur, or because they are rare, bear a special flower or fruit, or have a particularly interesting leaves or bark,” says Mark Brand, professor of plant science and co-chair of the University’s Arboretum Committee.

“Some of the trees have been here since 1895 such as the jumbo-sized Camperdown Elm,” says Brand, who wrote the guide with input from other members of the committee.

“When we know certain facts of interest, we’ve included them.”

The guide was designed by graphic artist Virge Kask.

One of the trees included on the tour is a Giant Sequoia, located in the Torrey Life Sciences courtyard.

“They’re the largest trees on earth and it’s unusual to find them on the East Coast,” Brand says. “They’re native to California and better adapted to the Pacific Coast environments. The courtyard here protects the UConn specimen from the drying winter winds.”

Another noteworthy tree is a Japanese Pagodatree, located near von der Mehden Recital Hall.

“It’s very old and the largest in Connecticut,” Brand says.

“It has green-barked, cascading branches, and is rare to begin with. To find one as large and robust as the one we have on campus is really unusual.”