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| The Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California harbors successful Metasequoias in a relatively tropical and nearly semi-arid environment. Established in 1903, the Huntington contains nearly 150 acres in the Northeastern area of Los Angeles. It is a research and educational center set amidst gardens. There are three art galleries and a library with incredible collections. And with over 15,000 kinds of plants in its gardens, the Huntington is one of the premier gardens in the Los Angeles area. Among the varieties of theme gardens are the Chinese, desert, herb, rose, Shakespeare, camellia, Japanese, Australian, palm, jungle, and subtropical gardens. The Huntington features some notably tall Metasequoias in a sub-tropical, relatively arid climate. The Huntington is within the California coastal chaparral forest shrub ecosystem, which extends from the Bay area to San Diego and beyond, traveling only along the coast. This is an ecosystem featuring hot, dry summers and rainy, mild winters. To the east is the California coastal range open woodland, which features a noticeable lack of precipitation. It is within Hardiness Zone 10, a more tropical zone. As with all sites on the west coast, it must be noted that west coast climates are more Mediterranean in nature, meaning that the summers are cooler and the winters are warmer. Thus Hardiness Zones will be higher, because Hardiness Zones indicate the average low temperate. This is used to analyze freezing points. Winds are average, and precipitation is below average, with an average rainfall likely between 20 and 30 inches per year. The dominant soil orders are Alfisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. |
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In these conditions Metasequoias have grown well. Five were received in 1948 from the Arnold Arboretum. The Metasequoias have grown tall, with three at about 95 feet tall with base diameters ranging from 21 to 29 inches. Another two are about 70 feet tall with base diameters ranging from 22 to 26 inches. Clearly, these have grown better than their other semi-arid counterpart at Brigham Young University. Yet like those at Callaway Gardens and the North Carolina Arboretum, they are taller trees with smaller base diameters. As I have noted in my Research Summary page and elsewhere, all of these sites are in more tropical climates. These trees have not developed the traditional buttressed base like many others in more northern climates. The sixth and last tree was received from the National Arboretum in 1964 and is currently 64 feet tall with a base diameter of 14 inches. Again, this is a tree without a buttressed base. So while these trees clearly grow tall, they have not developed large bases. Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 http://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/HEHBotanicalHome.html |
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