Exceptional trees

Maidenhair Tree

History of the trees

This tree is part of by the oldest known family of trees which appeared more than 270 million years ago. It arrived in Europe in 1730 in the Botanical Garden of Utrecht. The first subject was planted in France in 1778 at the Garden of Plants of Montpellier. Its leaf is the symbol of the city of Tokyo in Japon. The Ginkgo Biloba is the tree of the city of Weimar (Germany). This loves its leaves which is rare for a conifer tree.

Utilization

Beautiful ornamental tree with particiularly decorative leaves, the ginkgo is planted more and more in cities, standing alone or in lines because it resists pollution well. The seed of the Maidenhair Tree is used in Japanese chawanmushi, which is a "type of egg custard." The seeds are a traditional food in China, often served at weddings.

Flowers and colors

Very nice yellow color in autumn

Name
Ginkgoaceae
Genus
Ginkgo
Variety
biloba

Age
1966
Origin
China (center et South West)
Flowering
April-may

Hankerchief Tree

History of the trees

Discovered in 1869 by a French missionary botanist Jean-Pierre Armand David, this very unique tree was introduced in France in 1897. Its name as the tree of tissue, the tree of handkerchief, or even the tree of ghosts comes from its flowers which remind one of pieces of white tissiue. This tree is known in England under the name “Dove Tree,” because its big white bracts which surround the flowers mimick the bird, ready to fly.

Utilization

A very decorative tree, used in its countries of origin in the work of artisans, in scupture, or for making toys.

Flowers and colors

Flowering in june, wonderfull autumnal colors

Name
Nyssaceae
Genus
Davidia
Variety
Involucrata

Age
2005
Origin
China (Center and West-Center)
Flowering
May-june

Deodar

History of the trees

Introduced in Europe in 1822, this tree symbolizes in Hinduism the “tree of the gods.” Its name comes from the Sanskrit word, “dévaradu,” which means tree of the gods.

Utilization

A beautiful ornamental tree with a golden glow found in the parks in Europe. The aromatic wood, resistant to mold and termites, was used to construct temples in the Middle-East and in India, which now exhibit its longevity. Its wood is also utilised for construction of boats, bridges, furniture and sculptures in Asia.

Flowers and colors

Name
Pinaceae
Genus
Cedrus
Variety
deodara
Variety
Cedrus

Age
1975
Origin
West Nepal, Afganistan
Flowering

Cork Oak Tree

History of the trees

The Greeks and Romans had already discovered the properties of the cork. With the development of the glass industry at the beginning of the 17th century and the discovery of the use of glass bottles for the production of sparkling wine by the Benedictine Monk Dom Périgon, the cork industry developed greatly. It then became the best product for the conservation of wine. Portugal produces 54% of the world cork production.

Utilization

The bark can reach 25 cm in thickness and it is used in cork-making.

Flowers and colors

The young subject of Acquigny begins to develop a nice cork

Name
Fagaceae
Genus
Quercus
Variety
suber

Age
2008
Origin
Mediterranean region
Flowering
May-june

Holm Oak Tree

History of the trees

The Holm Oak Tree is the emblematic species of the French Mid-Mediterranean as it constitutes, with the Aleppo Pine Trees and the Common Juniper Tree dominant species of the maquis. The dark green folliage has a glossy composition which prevents the evaporation during summer. It is rare to find this tree in Normandy.

Utilization

In Corsica, the acorns of the Holm Oak Tree are very well liked by the pigs, and are play a role in the fame of the local butchers. The wood is very dense and is excellent for the heading and production of good wood charcoal.

Flowers and colors

Indecidoous leaves

Name
Fagaceae
Genus
Quercus
Variety
Ilex

Age
1991
Origin
Mediterranean region
Flowering
April-may

Chitalpa of Tashkent

History of the trees

This tree is a recent achievement realized through the recent successful crossbreeding in 1960 at the Academy of Tashkent in Uzbekistan (Central Asia) by the Botanist Rosanov: The “Chilapsis linearis” of North America and the Indian Bean Trees, “Catalpa bignonioïdes” of China from which the name comes from the contractions of the names of the two trees. Economic agreements between the two great world powers of the United States and the USSR in 1970 allowed its distribution.

Utilization

Ornamental tree with abundant flowering of roses during the summer.

Flowers and colors

Pink flowering in august

Name
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Catalpa
Variety
tashkentensis

Age
2004
Origin
Central Asia  (Uzbékistan)
Flowering
August

American Sweetgum Tree

History of the trees

The “Liquidambar” was discovered in Florida by the Spanish in 1528. The American “Liquidambar” was introduced in 1681 in Europe. Its name comes from the latin “liquidus” and from the Arabic “Ambar” for “Amber Liquid.”

Utilization

Beautiful ornamental tree. Its wood is used for making furniture in the cabinet-making industry in America. One can extract from of its wood and its fruits an amber liquid called "Balm of Liquidambar" or "Balm of Peru." In 1786, an English scientist distilled the resin of the Liquidambar tree and extracted an oil called Styrax, which was then used to make an herbal tea that clears the respiratory channels and to work against stress.

Flowers and colors

In autumn leaves are red, orange and yellow

Name
Hamamelidaceae
Genus
Liquidambar
Variety
styraciflua

Age
1993
Origin
East United States, Mexico
Flowering
May-june

True Service Tree

History of the trees

Originally from the Mediterranean perimeter, it was planted in all of Europe by the Romans.

Utilization

The True Service Tree is a tree that is today becoming rare. It gives fruit called "Cormes" which resemble small pears, from which they get their nickname of "poirillons" in french (mini-pears.) The wood of this tree is extremely heavy dence: 800 to 900 kg/m3 (compared to the wood of Oak Tree at 700-800 kg/m3, and the wood of the Wild Cherry Tree at 550-600 kg/m3). The wood of the True Service Tree was appreciated in cabinet-making for making handles for tools. The wood of Tree True Service Tree is among the most tough wood indigenous to France. In mills, the teeth of the cogs were often made of this wood .

Flowers and colors

Blazing color in autumn

Name
Rosaceae
Genus
Sorbus
Variety
domestica

Age
2001
Origin
 North Africa, Southern  Europe  
Flowering
June

Swamp Cypress Tree

History of the trees

Tree of Louisiana, the Swamp Cypress Tree loses its leaves, which is rare for the conifer trees. It was introduced in England by John Tradescent (1570-1638). Its pneumatophores are the growth of the roots of this tree in wetlands.

Utilization

The wood of the cyprus is similar to that the of the Scots Pine Tree, but one plants this species above all for decoration.

Flowers and colors

Very nice coppery red color in antumn of the deciduous leaves

Name
Taxodiaceae
Genus
Taxodium
Variety
distichum

Age
1780
Origin
 South-East of the United States
Flowering
March

Southern Blue Gum Tree

History of the trees

The first explorers called Australia “the country of blue fog”. Medecine used by the Aboriginal inhabitants for millions of years is made from its essential oil has been manufactured in Australia since the 19th century.

Utilization

Ornamental Tree. Its bark is smooth, peeling into long strips to leave a patchwork of white. Itss young silvery-blue and rounded leaves remain on the tree all year round and are used in bouquets. It's gum is used for candy and in cough drops.

Flowers and colors

Blue leaves all the year long

Name
Myrtaceae
Genus
Eucalyptus
Variety
gunnii

Age
1999
Origin
Australia (Tasmania)
Flowering
May-june-july

Copper Beech Tree

History of the trees

The Copper Beech Tree was discovered as early as 1680 close to Zurich, then in “Thuringe” or in the “Tyrol”.

Utilization

It knows constant success as a great ornamental tree. The leaves are purple because of their high content of anthocyanidin which masks the green tint of the chlorophyl. The fine grains of the wood are very appreciated in woodwork (chairs, staircases).

Flowers and colors

Interesting color of the leaves at spring and in autumn

Name
Fagaceae
Genus
Sylvatica
Variety
purpurea

Age
1860
Origin
Flowering
March-april

Dawn Redwood Tree

History of the trees

This species that was believed to have disappeared for more than 100 million years was rediscovered in the Valley of Madaoqi in China in 1941 close to Lichuan between the provinces of Hubei and Szechuan. In 1948 the seeds were sent to the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University. The first tree was planted that same year at the Museum of Natural History in Paris.This tree is on the list of wild species in risk of extinction. Since the 1980s one can find this tree in specialized nursery.

Utilization

An ornamental tree that grows very fast. In autumn its needles take a light-brown and fall.

Flowers and colors

Leaves deciduous is light-reddish brown in autumn

Name
Taxodiaceae
Genus
Metasequoia
Variety
glyptostroboides

Age
1986
Origin
Flowering
May

Southern Nettle Tree

History of the trees

Its bark and roots were used to produce yellow dye. It exists in “Sorède,” in the region of “Perpignan,” in South of France a workshop that was the last in the world to use the Southern Nettle Tree as it has been used since the 13th century for making braided whips. “A Sauve, in the Gard”, the Southern Nettle Tree were still cultivated for the traditional manufacturing of flexible yet robust pitchforks. Its wood folds but does not break, and its great suppleness allowed it to be used to make circular barrels, poles for harvesting fruit.

Utilization

A beautiful, urban ornamental tree from the Provence. It is being more and more planted downtown to replace the old chestnut trees and sick elm trees. But it was also used as wood for sculpters. The leaves were formerly used as food for cattle and livestock.

Flowers and colors

Name
Ulmaceae
Genus
Celtis
Variety
australis

Age
1983
Origin
Mediterrannan perimeter
Flowering
May

Austrian Pine

History of the trees

Originally from Austrian and the Balkans, the Austrian Black Pine was made popular under the influence of Jean-Jacques Rousseau with the discovery of the mountain where it grows. It was introduced in France in the 19th century for reforesting mountains.

Utilization

It's straight trunk, and it's many large branches make it very attractive for parks and gardens. Its wood resembles that of the Maritime Pine Tree. It has good mechanical properties and is used for construction, sawing, telephone poles (thanks to its straight form). It is planted in the reforestation of mountanous zones.

Flowers and colors

Very imposant austrian Pine in Acquigny

Name
Pinaceae
Genus
Pinus
Variety
nigra
Variety
ssp. nigra

Age
1815
Origin
Austria
Flowering
May-june

Stone Pine

History of the trees

In the Lands of Gascony, and in the south of the Charentes, the Stone Pine is planted close to the home as a symbol of ownership. In Poitou and Aunis, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the presense of the Stone Pine signified a Protestant home.

Utilization

The pine kernels are used in pastry-making, in garnishing salads, or for plates in a tagine sauce mixing sweet and salty. The wood of the Stone PineTree is light and supple. One can use it in woodwork and for building, notably for maritime constructions. Spain is the first world producer of pine kernals.

Flowers and colors

Interesting shaped umbrella Tree

Name
Pinaceae
Genus
Pinus
Variety
pinea

Age
1980
Origin
Flowering
April-may

London Plane

History of the trees

There are many different hybrid Plane Trees in the Park of the Chateau d’Acquginy and they reach exceptional heights. One can see a Plane tree which was 47 meters in height in 2002, among the tallest known, and other Plane Trees there have more than 8 meters in circumference…This tree is also the tallest in Paris where there is an example which is 45 meters in height.

Utilization

Ornamental parkland tree, alignment along the roads and paths, woodwork.

Flowers and colors

Exceptional stocks in Acquigny

Name
Platanaceae
Genus
Platanus
Variety
x acerifolia
Variety
Horticole, hybride

Age
env. 1800
Origin
Flowering
May

Espaliered Pear Tree

History of the trees

The grafted Pear Tree on a “Quince Tree” of an ancient and non-identified variety, is one of the biggest espaliered Pear Trees known: spanning 12 meters, with a cicumference of 1.06 meters before its separation into branches. It has 32 espaliered branches which are perfectly balanced. The pear tree dates from the creation of the “Potager” of which the walls were constructed around 1745 by Pierre Robert le Roux d’Esneval, “Président à mortier” for the Parliament of Normandy, known under the name of Monsieur d’Acquigny. We have other interesting espaliered Pear Trees from the 18th century in the “Potager” with 15 or 20 branches.

Utilization

Flowers and colors

Interesting form of the tree in all seasons

Name
Rosaceae
Genus
Pyrus
Variety
communis

Age
1750
Origin
Flowering
March-april

Spanish Fir Tree

History of the trees

The South of Spain, (Sierra de las nievas, between 1000 and 1800 m in altitude). The Spanish Fir Tree was known in the Kingdom of Granada, then it was forgotten about until 1838, when it was rediscovered at Mount Tabor and Mount Babor, in Kabylie (Algeria) and was introduced in France in 1839.

Utilization

Ornamental tree. The over-exploitation of the Spanish Fir Tree for its wood almost made the tree go extinct from its native region.

Flowers and colors

Name
Pinaceae
Genus
Abies
Variety
pinsapo

Age
1960
Origin
Spain
Flowering
April-may

Wellingtonia

History of the trees

This tree is the most volumous of the planet, although it is neither the biggest nor the tallest. It’s natural area is in California. The biggest subject known is the General Sherman in the United States. It was the Native American chief Sequoyah the Cherokee who gave the name to this tree because of its force and perseverence. In 1853, the first seeds of this tree arrived in Europe in Scotland where they disseminated rapidly and the Wellingtonia was rapidly planted in all the European Parks.

Utilization

The Wellingtonia is used in woodwork in North America, and very sarcely in Europe. Its wood is resistant to decomposition, so it is used to make telephone poles, and roofing. The young shoots of the Wellingtonia in the spring were used in gemmotherapy to help women with osteoporosis.

Flowers and colors

Name
Taxodiaceae
Genus
Sequoia
Variety
giganteum

Age
1860
Origin
United States, California
Flowering
March-april

Coast Redwood Tree

History of the trees

The tallest specimen, the Hypérion, measured 115.55 meters. It was only identified in the summer of 2006 by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor in the National Redwood Park. It is the tallest tree in the world.

Utilization

The wood is of excellent quality, rather light and aesthetic. It does not rot, it resists insects well, and, as it lacks canals of resin, it resists fire equally well. Because of its good resistance to decomposition, it is often used in the United States for railroad tracks. It is especially used in woodwork.

Flowers and colors

Nice red cork

Name
Taxodiaceae
Genus
Sequoia
Variety
sempervirens

Age
1985
Origin
United States (Pacific coast of North America)
Flowering
February

Pagoda Tree

History of the trees

The name “Sophora” comes from the words in Arabic for “Tree of Honey,” referencing its honey-bearing flowers. It was introduced in Europe by the French Father Pierre d’Incarville, originally in the village of the same name close to Louviers some kilometers from Acquigny. The Father d’Incarville stayed in Beijing fom 1742-1757 and send the seeds to Jussieu who gave them in 1768 to Historical Natural Museum in Paris and to Monsieur d’Acquigny. The two Pagoda Tree at Acquigny reach circumferences of more than 4 and 5 meters around. Along with a Pagoda Tree in Paris, these three subjects are well known because they are among the oldest and biggest in Europe.

Utilization

Beautiful tree for decoration and lining roads and paths in Europe. In China it is often planted close to Buddhist temples, from which it gets its name as the "Pagoda Tree" and its flower buds are used there for dying silk yellow. The Japanese use the greenish and tough wood for woodwork.

Flowers and colors

Two exceptional subjects in Acquigny, ravishing flowering in august

Name
Fabaceae
Genus
Sophora
Variety
japonica

Age
1768
Origin
Flowering
August

Small-leaved Lime

History of the trees

Its leaves are heart-shaped. The wood is homogeneous and easy to carve. its flowers are appreciated by the bees and honey is very pleasant to the taste

Utilization

sculpture

Flowers and colors

Name
Tiliaceae
Genus
Tilia
Variety
cordata

Age
1750
Origin
Flowering
June

Tilleul de Hollande fastigées à feuilles laciniée

History of the trees

Its leaves are heart-shaped. The wood is homogeneous and easy to carve. its flowers are appreciated by the bees and honey is very pleasant to the taste

Utilization

Flowers and colors

Its fastigiated bearing and laciniated leaves are interesting

Name
Tiliaceae
Genus
Tilia
Variety
platyphyllos
Variety
'Laciniata'

Age
1986
Origin
Flowering
June

Tulip Tree

History of the trees

Originally from the East North America it was introduced in Europe in 1663 and in France at the beginning of the 18th century.

Utilization

An ornamental tree. The brown wood is used in its regions of origin for the production of beams, rafters, flooring, door panels, panneling, cabinet-making, and stringed instrument making. In July, the ravishing green-orange flowers make excellent dark honey in America.

Flowers and colors

The tree is in full flower at the end of june and the begining of July, yellow leaves in automn

Name
Magnoliaceae
Genus
Liriodendron
Variety
tulipifera

Age
1983
Origin
Flowering
June-july

Caucasian Elm Tree

History of the trees

The color of the folliage is always interesting in each season.

Utilization

Very decorative. The young leaves go from pink to white and green in the Spring and have a lovely orange color in the autumn.

Flowers and colors

Name
Ulmaceae
Genus
Serrata
Variety
goshiki

Age
2008
Origin
Flowering
June-july

Maidenhair Tree

Maidenhair Tree

Hankerchief Tree

Hankerchief Tree

Deodar

Deodar

Cork Oak Tree

Cork Oak Tree

Holm Oak Tree

Holm Oak Tree

Chitalpa of Tashkent

Chitalpa of Tashkent

American Sweetgum Tree

American Sweetgum Tree

True Service Tree

True Service Tree

Swamp Cypress Tree

Swamp Cypress Tree

Southern Blue Gum Tree

Southern Blue Gum Tree

Copper Beech Tree

Copper Beech Tree

Dawn Redwood Tree

Dawn Redwood Tree

Southern Nettle Tree

Southern Nettle Tree

Austrian Pine

Austrian Pine

Stone Pine

Stone Pine

London Plane

London Plane

Espaliered Pear Tree

Espaliered Pear Tree

Spanish Fir Tree

Spanish Fir Tree

Wellingtonia

Wellingtonia

Coast Redwood Tree

Coast Redwood Tree

Pagoda Tree

Pagoda Tree

Small-leaved Lime

Small-leaved Lime

Tilleul de Hollande fastigées à feuilles laciniée

Tilleul de Hollande fastigées à feuilles laciniée

Tulip Tree

Tulip Tree

Caucasian Elm Tree

Caucasian Elm Tree

Information