The Scott Arboretum on Swarthmore College has impressive Metasequoia trees. Established in 1929 with more than 300 acres, the arboretum features more than 4,000 varieties of ornamental plants. Notable areas of the garden include the biostream, the outdoor amphitheatre, the holly collection, rose garden, and especially, "Metasequoia Allee".



The Scott is noteworthy because it actually has a part of its Arboretum dedicated to the Metasequoia namesake. Metasequoia Allee features Metasequoia trees outlining a walkway, underplanted with an array of white-flowering and fruiting perennials and shrubs. In this Arboretum there are in fact 41 Metasequoias, an extraordinary total. Yet only two were planted before 1975. These two are Arnold Arboretum originals, received and planted in 1948. They have reached impressive sizes. One is 100 feet tall with a base 41 inches in diameter. The other is shorter and stouter, 70 feet tall with a base 48 inches in diameter. This second tree represents a particularly interesting height / DBH ratio, a relatively short tree with a rather huge base. It is quite an unusual specimen.

The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue

Swarthmore, PA 19081

http://www.scottarboretum.org/

Data courtesy The Scott Arboretum. Photo property of the Scott Arboretum Archives

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