Collections

The Oak Collection is clustered along Constantine Way, from Munson Hall to DuBois Library. Several trees in this collection are over one hundred years old - ancient state champions, legacy trees, and contenders for future national champion status. The sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) pictured here is a state champion and Stockbridge School of Agriculture class tree of 1938. Other notable trees in the collection are: the pin oak (Quercus palustris) next to Munson Hall which is the class tree of 1908 and a former state champion, and the massive red oak (Quercus rubra) adjacent to Bartlett Hall. Featured in this collection are also a number of much younger fastigiate, or columnar, oaks. The columnar habit of these trees enhance the brutalist architecture that they are sited next to. For the sake of diversity, species of trees outside of the genus Quercus share the space where the Oak Collection is sited. 

Planted along Campus Center Way and Ellis Way is our collection of cultivar Elms resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. The trees lining Ellis Way in the photo here are Ulmus Americana 'Valley Forge', one of the most promising cultivars available that displays the vase shaped habit of the American elms that populated city streets in the early 20th century. American elms bear historical value in the history of our campus landscape. They once lined M.A.C. Avenue and Olmstead Rd when our campus was known as Massachusetts Agricultural College. These trees defined the streetscape experience with their presence. The 'Valley Forge' elms that line the new Ellis Way pay homage to that history. Other cultivars that make up the collection along Campus Center Way include; Ulmus americana 'Princeton', Ulmus americana 'Jefferson', and Ulmus 'Morton'.

Learn more about Dutch Elm Disease in a research paper by Nick Brazee et al.

This collection spreads across campus. It's heart-center at the top of Orchard Hill. This collection showcases and introduces campus visitors to a variety of nut bearing trees like the northern pecans (Carya illinoinensis) and Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) pictured here. Nut trees are some of the most important keystone species across the world. In the eastern U.S., the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) once reigned supreme - standing over 100' tall with trunks over 10' in diameter, providing an annual harvest of sweet nuts for wildlife and humans alike. Today's forests are very different. The American chestnut is functionally extinct, but species of oaks (Quercus spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), and many other nut trees thrive. These trees support wildlife up and down the food chain, provide shade and shelter, and often outlive the human or animal that planted them. With all that in mind, we believe that nut trees will continue to be crucial to forest ecosystems in times of climate chaos. It is our duty to plant, propagate, and champion them. Take a virtual tour of this collection.