Section 1
1. Rocky Mountain Juniper
Scientific name: Juniperus scopulorum ‘Tolleson’s Blue Weeping’
Provenance: Horticulture (Rocky Mountain area)
Conservation Status: Least Concern
From the main entrance plaza, walk right along the asphalt path to the Peacock Café. Just after the stairs to the café, make a right. Look immediately to your left. The Rocky Mountain Juniper is characterized by pendulous branches covered in bluish-green, scale-like foliage. The tree is used to drought and full sun while being able to weather temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C) during the winter. Many different varieties of the species exist all the way from British Columbia to northern Mexico.
2. Pink Trumpet Tree
Scientific name: Handroanthus heptaphyllus
Provenance: Southern Bolivia to Brazil and northeast Argentina
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Continue down from the Rocky Mountain Juniper. Walk towards the restrooms at the end of the path; look left. From as early as January to as late as May, the pink trumpet tree displays its vibrant flowers in full bloom. The name “pink trumpet tree” can refer to more than one plant species; you are looking at a specimen of Handroanthus heptaphyllus. This species is distinct for its pronouncedly jagged leaf edges and relatively modest height of 45 feet (~14 meters). The tree is related to the trumpet creeper (which is a relative of the golden trumpet tree) and the jacaranda tree.
3. Rainbow Gum
Scientific name: Eucalyptus deglupta
Provenance:
Philippines, New Guinea, Indonesia
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Walk down the path marked by a map of the Arboretum and an arrow to Ayres Hall. Head to the pedestrian circle and the Rainbow gum can be seen near Ayres Hall. Also known as Mindanao gum, rainbow gum is distinctive for its multi-colored bark appearing in long, vertical patches. The varying colors are a result of the tree shedding its bark over time, with different colors appearing depending on how long the bark has been exposed to the air (oxidation). White to pale yellow flowers can be found on the tree. Rainbow gum is generally found in subtropical and tropical habitats, with abundant sunlight and water in these areas allowing rainbow gum trees to quickly grow up to 130 feet (~40 meters) in height.
4. Garden for All Seasons Small Fruit Trees
From the pedestrian circle, head towards the grassy area and you will come across the Garden for All Seasons on your right. This small forest abounds in a variety of ninety distinct fruit trees and vines. Subtropical species, including cherimoya, jaboticaba, mango, starfruit, and white sapote can be found. Temperate species are also present, such as apple, cherry, citruses, pawpaw, peach, and pomegranate. Look nearby for raised beds of grown vegetables and herbs that are the preferred snacks of the Arboretum’s peafowl! These plant beds are in an enclosed space that has pavers which are permeable to rainwater, with this water being directed through underground pipes to replenish a pond.
5. Red Silk-Cotton Tree
Scientific name: Bombax ceiba
Provenance: Tropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Immediately on your left past the Garden for All Seasons is the red-silk cotton tree. The red silk-cotton tree, being adapted to monsoonal forests and savannahs, is accustomed to periods of heavy rain and extended aridity. If you are at the Arboretum in the early spring, you will find this tree displaying stunning red flowers. The scientific genus of the red silk-cotton tree, Bombax, is derived from the Greek word bombyx, which means “silk.” This is reflected in the seeds of the red silk-cotton tree being covered in silk-like fibers; these fibers catch wind gusts and allow the seeds to be carried long distances. Other related species at the Arboretum include the pink silk-floss tree (Ceiba speciosa, formerly Chorisia speciosa), white silk-floss tree (Ceiba insignis, formerly Chorisia insignis), kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), and shaving-brush tree (Pseudobombax grandiflorum).
6. Pink Silk-Floss Tree
Scientific name: Ceiba speciosa
Provenance: South America
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Just beyond the red-silk cotton tree is the pink-silk floss tree on the left. What you may first notice about the pink silk-floss tree are protrusions on the trunk and branches. These are known as prickles, acting to deter animals like monkeys in South America from ruining the tree’s flowers, fruits, and bark. The flowers of pink silk-floss grow up to five inches (~13 centimeters) in diameter and become rich shades of pink with cream-white centers. Large, palmate leaves usually appear on pink silk-floss after these flowers have bloomed. The seeds of this tree are covered in silk-like fibers to aid in wind dispersal, which is the same method used by the related red silk-cotton tree. The fibers are sometimes used in stuffing pillows and mattresses. Dr. Samuel Ayres generously donated the first seeds of pink silk-floss tree to the Arboretum in 1953; since then, four cultivars of the species have been acquired by the Arboretum: ‘Arcadia,’ Lasca Beauty,’ ‘Los Angeles Beautiful,’ and ‘September Splendour.’