Descendant of George Washington’s tree alive and well on Washington University’s campus

Whether he did or did not cut down that cherry tree, George Washington loved trees. He planted hundreds on his Mount Vernon estate. And, by George, Washington University in St. Louis has a direct descendent of one of those trees on its Danforth Campus. WUSTL’s horticuluturists have taken special care of the tree since receiving the seedling in 1991. One of 60 seedlings sent to sites around the country, only 12 offspring remain of Washington’s tulip poplar.

750 new trees, and counting

WUSTL community members help place soil around the 750th tree to be planted on the Danforth Campus since 2008. The tree, a Swamp White Oak, was planted Dec. 15 and is located next to Brown Hall along the new Centennial Greenway bike path. Currently, the Danforth Campus is home to approximately 3,800 trees.

Fall foliage on the Danforth Campus

Participants in the Oct. 21 Second Annual Fall Arbor tour — led by Kent Theiling (right), grounds manager/horticulturist for the Danforth Campus — listen as Theiling points out distinguishing features of the different types of trees that dot the Danforth Campus. Arbor tours, which are led by Theiling, are held twice a year, in the spring and fall.