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Trees Gallery - RHS Harlow Carr
Crag End, Harrogate
Harlow Carr Gardens
The Royal Horticultural Society took over Harlow Carr gardens from the Northern Horicultural Society in 2001. They had leased 26 acres of woodland from Harrogate Council, opening a botanical garden in 1950. The gardens have been developed to provide all year interest - these pictures were from visits in November and January, when the structure of the trees reveals itself.
Liquidamber styraciflua 'Lane Roberts'
Sweet gum
A broad-crowned medium-sized deciduous tree with maple-like, dark, glossy green leaves which turn to deep blackish-crimson for several weeks in autumn. This is a young specimen - eventually it will grow to 12 metres, with an 8 metre spread. Native to Central and NE North America
Betula utilis 'Jacquemontii'
Himalayan birch
Betula utilis, the Himalayan birch, is a deciduous tree native to the Western Himalayas, growing at elevations up to 4,500 m. "utilis" means "useful", and refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. The white, paper-like bark was used in ancient times for writing Sanskrit scriptures and texts. It is still used as paper for the writing of sacred mantras, with the bark placed in an amulet and worn for protection.
Quercus robur
Common oak
There are a number of fine English oaks growing around the gardens, presumably from the days when the area was woodland. The one on the right here has a giant mistletoe sculpture hanging from its branches (November).
Tsuga heterophylla
Western hemlock
A large conifer (reaching 70 m), native to the west coast of N. America. Introduced to the UK in the 1800s. The needles have two white stripes underneath. The cones are small and have no stalks.
Staphylea pinnata
European bladdernut
A large shrub growing to 5m. Native to Europe, naturalised in Britain. Bladder-like, white, two or three lobed fruits. Compound pinnate leaflets arranged in 2 rows either side of a midrib like a feather leaves with 5 - 7 leaflets.
Betula utilis 'Jacquemontii'
Himalayan birch
There are a number of stands of Himalayan birch in the gardens - their bold white trunks tend to look better in groups. Named after French botanist Victor Jacquemont 1801-1832. A fascinating open seed head lingered on one branch in the stand near the lake.
Nothofagus fusca
Red beech
A southern red beech, endemic to New Zealand. A medium sized (35m), fast growing evergreen tree.
Euonymous europaeus 'Red Cascade'
Common spindle
A large deciduous shrub or small tree which grows on the edges of forests across Europe. Autumn turns the leaves to scarlet, and then as they fall winged red fruits develop to continue the show of colour.
Betula pendula burrs
Silver birch burrs
A stand of heavily burred unnatural growth caused by the grain growing around a foreign object, a localised virus or a fungus infection birch tree trunks in the woodland area of the garden. Such burrs are highly prized by woodturners for their deepy figured curly grain pattern, and also as veneer material. The burrs often form a crust about six inches thick.
