Monumental trees in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew

Here 11 trees are described in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew (county of City of London).

The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew or simply Kew Gardens near London is one the oldest and most important botanic gardens in the world.

Lots of plants were discovered and described for the first time by British botanists, so many of the oldest planted specimens of a large number of plant species can be found in Kew.

In biological circles Kew, with its world leading botanic research, is a well-known institute.

In Kew living specimens of species that are critically endangered or already have become extinct in the wild, are grown and so Kew can be seen as a true Ark of Noah.

Apart from the scientific importance of Kew, it is also just a nice garden to visit. Every time of the year different plants are flowering and different details are highlighted. Kew Gardens is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in my opinion it is a must-see for everyone who has the slightest interest in plants, strange species, or English gardens.

More information on Kew Gardens...

The trees

Waterlily House:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia) "1727"	7.69 m @ 1.50 m	~ 33.00 m

Lily Pool:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) "1792"	?	?
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) "1736"	?	?

Syon Vista:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) "3056"	?	?

Sequoia Grove:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "4059"	?	?

Palm House:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) "4060"	?	?

Orangery Lawn:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Wollemia (Wollemia nobilis) "4217"	?	?

Holly Walk:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Spanish oak (Quercus × hispanica) "4317", Variety 'Lucombeana'	6.25 m @ 50 cm	~ 20.00 m

Broad Walk:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "9245", Variety 'Purpurea'	?	?
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "9244", Variety 'Pendula'	?	?

Near Mediterranean Garden:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) "9267"	~ 8.41 m @ 1.50 m	?

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Lily Pool

The tree in front is a dawn redwood, a species discoved only in 1949. Kew's specimen is one of the oldest trees in cultivation, dating from the first wave of planting, in 1949-1951.

Those first trees were often planted near water (in the background a bald cypress can be seen), because of its similarity to the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), that enjoys those wet standing places. Nowadays it is known that the dawn redwood does equally well in drier locations.

Sequoia Grove

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Chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia) "1727"

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