| |
The Holden Arboretum in Mentor, Ohio has a group of Metasequoias that have grown about as well as one might expect them to in the cold, windy Cleveland, Ohio area. The vision for the Holden arboretum was created in 1913 after Albert Holden of Cleveland, Ohio, left a trust agreement that jumpstarted the movement for creating a large arboretum in the Cleveland metropolitan area. Eventually a 100 acre site was chosen in Kirtland Township, and in 1931 The Holden Arboretum was established. The arboretum currently holds 5,400 hundred plants represented in public display gardens, research collections, and conservation collections. The arboretum features a particular emphasis on crabapples, rhododendrons, magnolias, and especially, nut bearing trees. In fact the garden boasts the second largest collection of nutcrackers known! So if you want to check out 512 completely different nutcrackers, the Holden is the place to go. |
 |
The Holden Arboretum, located in Mentor, Ohio, has a group of seven Metasequoia trees all planted in the 1960s. They range from poor to fair, yet all in all it should be noted that these trees have grown considerately better than those in other cooler areas like the Chicago region, Cornell Plantations, and the Phipps Conservancy, all areas within a reasonable proximity to the Holden. However, those trees in the interior of Ohio have as a whole grown considerably better than here at the Holden. A single tree was received from the Cole Nursery in 1961, and currently stands at a height of 62 feet tall with a base diameter of 35 inches. Other trees planted between 1967 and 1973 were received from the Cole Nursery, the National Arboretum, and Wayside Gardens. They range from 20 to 66 feet in height, with base diameters from 17 inches to 31 inches. The most impressive specimen was planted in 1973 and is currently 66 feet tall with a base diameter of 31 inches, very impressive numbers for such a young tree. Yet most trees are about 50 feet in height with base diameters of about 20 inches.The Holden Arboretum is an important institution in the Cleveland area that suggests that there is limited but important growth potential for Metasequoias in the Great Lakes region. If you are in the Cleveland area, the Holden is a good bet for checking out Metasequoias. The Holden Arboretum 9500 Sperry Road Mentor, OH 44034 |
Photos and data courtesy The Holden Arboretum
 |