Oaks & Conifers

The Arboretum is a nationally recognized collector of the genus Quercus, oaks of the northeastern United States, and has registered this collection with the American Public Garden Association's (APGA’s) North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum collection is unique in that many of its oaks were started from wild seedlings collected by Fred Lape. These slow growing specimens are now approaching a youthful maturity of fifty years.

The Arboretum’s signature tree, the Great Oak was conservatively estimated to be 500 years old. This white oak, Quercus alba, suffered the depredations of severe climate and northwest exposure and failed to leaf out in 2016. The LaJeunesse family donated a white oak sapling in the memory of their son, Jeremy, that is planted near the remnant trunk of the Great Oak. The Arboretum is home to other ancient trees, particularly in the two Old Growth Forests on our grounds, but we will always hold the Great Oak in special esteem.

The Landis Conifer Collection is a representative sample of mature plants, highly suited to the northeastern landscape. This collection of plants: pine, spruce and fir, is exceptional for its maturity, size and age, condition, and range of species. The Fir (Abies) Collection at Landis has one of the most complete groupings of mature firs in the east, with sixteen species. Fred Lape was well known for the conifer collection.

Ornamental trees

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OuTSTANDING SPECIMENS