Rooted in Conservation: Longwood Gardens' First Collection
When Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property on which Longwood Gardens sits today he had one goal in mind—to save hundreds of trees that were earmarked for timber.
The arboretum, known as Peirce's Park
These trees are an important part of plant collection and the study of botany in the United States—the origins of the collection date back to 1798, when the Peirce family began planting trees on the land—long before the establishment of Longwood Gardens.
One of the finest tree collections in the nation
During the 19th century, the arboretum was a popular destination for social gatherings and picnics; however, by the 1900s, it was in need of stewardship. In 1906, Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property to save this extraordinary tree collection from being cut down for timber.
Longwood worked with Lewis and Valentine Co. to plant mature trees. by unknownLongwood Gardens
Stewards of the arboretum
Pierre and Alice du Pont built upon this original collection, adding a significant number of mature trees to the property—exemplified here by one of the many bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum) added in the early 1900s throughout the Gardens. The du Ponts carried forward the Peirce legacy of revering trees as they developed their "Longwood Gardens."
Today, trees are the backbone of the Gardens—treasured for their environmental, historical, and aesthetic value—from those early specimens to those planted by the du Pont’s to our present day work.
Autumn Tree (2013) by Daniel TraubLongwood Gardens
Visitors enjoy the beauty
This diverse collection, gathered from all corners of the globe and brought to the Gardens frames familiar views, creates magical vistas, and stands as singular specimens of arresting appearance.
Few visitors, however, realize the incredible amount of work and dedication required to maintain, develop, and conserve these treasured trees. Here are just a few...
One resulting tree of our yellow cucumber magnolia propagation is planted in Peirce's Park. (2013) by Steve FellowsLongwood Gardens
Strong winds, Spring 2020
During strong wind gusts experienced in the spring of 2020, our beloved yellow cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata ‘Peirce’s Park’) fell within feet of our Peirce-du Pont House.
This magnificent tree, thought to be nearly 200 years old, was the first tree at Longwood to be designated a state champion tree, meaning it was considered the largest of its kind of Pennsylvania—and then went on to be deemed the largest in the nation.
Thankfully, in recent years we propagated this beloved tree and planted resulting trees throughout the Gardens—meaning these new trees will honor their fallen ancestor in the form of new growth and a strong future.
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Tulip trees
Liriodendron tulipifera
a native tree seen throughout woodlands in the Eastern United States, are well established in our managed forests at Longwood Gardens.
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While monitoring the trees in our Forest Walk, we keep an eye on one specific tulip-tree, a giant we've appropriately named Pierre’s Poplar. It's the tallest recorded Liriodendron in the northeast United States measuring 164 feet tall, with a circumference of 146 inches (3.7 meters) and a spread of 73 feet (22.25 meters).
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American Elm
This mature Ulmus americana is the sole survivor of an allée of elms planted in the 1930s that were later compromised by Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease spread by beetles. Signs of the disease first appeared in North America in the 1930s. Between 1975-89 our stately elms to the east of this remaining specimen were impacted.
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Today, our team has collected propagules from this surviving elm to replant in other areas of the Gardens. You can find one located in Peirce’s Woods.
Franklinia
A grove of mature franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha) were planted in 1976 and are still thriving in the Gardens—an extraordinary life span for this relatively short-lived tree.
Franklinia, native to the Southeastern United States, are now extinct in the wild. The trees were brought into cultivation by botanist William Bartram in 1773.
Original collection
An early Peirce herbarium specimen identifies franklinia as part of their original collection. Our historians suspect that this specimen was grown from seeds collected by William Bartram in the late 18th century. Bartram named the new plant Franklinia alatamaha in honor of his father’s friend Benjamin Franklin.
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Longwood Gardens recognized
In recognition of Longwood Gardens dedication to the development, management, and conservation of tree collections, we were granted the highest level of accreditation through ArbNet.
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ArbNet
ArbNet is a global program developed by the Morton Arboretum to promote communication among organizations with noteworthy tree collections.
Spring blooms at Longwood Gardens by Daniel Traub and 2018Longwood Gardens
The work continues
Pierre S. du Pont’s initial act of conservation inspires much of our work today. Conservation work extends to cultivating rare and beautiful plants, research, and stewardship of our landscapes and collections for future generations.
Nestled in Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great gardens, encompassing 1,100 acres of display gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, and conservatories. Longwood continues the mission set forth by founders Pierre S. and Alice du Pont, to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education, and the arts.
longwoodgardens.org
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