Seattle Woody Plants: Trees not Typically Grown in Boston

 By Richard B. Primack 

 

“I suspect that the child plucks its first flower with an insight into its beauty & significance which the subsequent botanist never retains.” Henry David Thoreau in his Journal.

 

 

On a recent spring trip to Seattle, Washington, I encountered many novel woody plants. The wetter and milder climate of the area provides welcoming conditions for many plants which can’t be found, or only found rarely, in Boston.

 

Here are some examples of these trees:

 

Photo 1: Giant redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are grown as street trees. 

 

Photo 2A: Laurel cherries (Prunus laurocerasus) are commonly grown as hedges. 

 

Photo 2B: Small plants being used to start a hedge.

 

Photo 2C: Open flowers.

 

Photo 3: Chusan palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) growing in a yard.