Pictures of Unusual Specimens at the NJBG and Washington Crossing State Park

Pictures by Greyneedle. Pictures taken 2003.

(Information Provided is for Recreational Purposes Only--No Liability Assumed) 

There are three Redwood species:
Coast Redwood (of Redwood Forest fame and lumber):  Sequoia sempervirens
Dawn Redwood (Chinese native, deciduous and similar to Bald Cypress in appearance):   Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Giant Redwood/Giant Sequoia (Big Trees of the Sierra Nevada interior, Yosemite and Sequoia Natl Park):  Sequoiadendron giganteum

In the NYC/Philly Area, Metasequoia grows easily, Sequoiadendron grows grudgingly and S. sempervirens generally
will not survive our winters. S.s. is seen growing in coastal Maryland, Virginia and DE (borderline zone 8 areas).

There are some tricks to growing Sequoiadendron in the area, so this site is dedicated to those interested.

Growers of Giant Sequoias are often interested in other exotic species:

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This is an overview of the pinetum at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens at Skylands Manor in Ringwood. There are other specimens scattered about the grounds. The grounds are at an elevation of maybe 500' to 1000' in zone 6b. The park was slowly reopened in the 1980's after the abandoned estate was turned over to the state. Thus, it has old and new plantings. It is still being developed and restored.

 

Here is Pinus jeffreyi at the NJBG. About 60' to 70'. Most of the specimens planted outside the pinetum were planted in the 1920's. I did not see any cones. The tree is in a crowded location. Sm
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Here is a nice blue fir in the pinetum. Not sure which species. Very blue in color. This indicates that there are firs that can grow in hot, humid NJ summers.

 

Here is Metasequoia glyptostroboides at the NJBG. This is the species, so it is more unruly looking than the conical cultivars you most often see. Sm
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Here is Pinus aristata at the NJBG. It is planted on a hillside above the pinetum. Doing okay, but not as nice as other specimens. Hillside planting probably improves drainage.

 

I'm not sure what type of spruce this is, but I'd like to own one. Med

 

Here are the slides from Washington Crossing State Park Near Trenton, where there are about a half-dozen Douglas Firs growing. Several are right by the parking lot for the "arboretum" and ferry house, including the tallest in the state, while another one is near the Delaware river at a nexus of the road and canal tow-path by the crossing site sign. The trees are producing lots of cones. They appear to be very healthy, perhaps because the site is fairly isolated, with temperatures moderated by the river (it is zone 7), in the middle of a deciduous forest. However, the Delaware is frozen over in the winter and icy winds come out of the north, which can make the area seem very cold in the winter. Douglas-Fir seem to do well when grown in isolation, but in the East not many reach appreciable height.

 

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I found this tree right above the crossing marker on the river. It is by the tow path for the canal. Soil is gravelly/sandy.

 

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Here I think is the tallest DF in the state of NJ. It is in a grove of DF near the "arboretum" parking lot. Maybe about 90' tall.

 

Just by chance, I found this specimen on the edge of a large estate 2 miles from my house. Again the DF are growing in relative isolation. However, DF can get this tall, the problem is if they can survive to get to be as tall as the ones above. Sm
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Further Links:
Exotic Tree Home Page
Giant Sequoia Growing in NJ, NY and PA
More GS Photos in NYC/Philly Area
Photos of Area GS from Middle 2004
Photos of Area GS from Late 2004
Photos of GS Diseases
More Photos of GS Diseases
Conifer Winter Bronzing Photos
GS Photos from Other Photographers
Some Other Exotic Tree Species
Bald Cypress and Dawn Redwood Bark Photos

Germination Trials for growing by seed:
Summary of Tips for Growing GS from Seeds
Environmental Considerations
Germination Trials I
Germination Trials II
Germination Trials III
Germination Trials IV