Main text and photos:Bruce McDonald
Tree notes (below) by Chris Powell
As part of Insole Court’s
Heritage Day, Cardiff Naturalists’ Society agreed to organise a tree walk which
was led by Chris Powell, ex-Cardiff City Parks department and currently leading
walks in Dyffryn Gardens. There is only limited information on the trees at
Insole; a list of champion trees on the Cardiff City website and another list
derived from a walk around the garden in 1902 with Tony Titchen. The notes from
Tony’s walk were helpful although inevitably in the intervening 16 years some
trees had disappeared and there has been some new plantings of, principally,
Acers.
Chris kindly passed on his own
notes that were the basis for this tour and what follows is essentially what
was covered on his perambulation. Fine weather was on offer and a large group of
31 assembled outside the Visitor Centre to look at the trees. With some of the
paths narrow and winding a group of around a dozen would have been ideal and
with over 30 it was inevitable that people at the back did not always hear what
was said. It seems that a self-guided
tree trail would be a good idea and we hope that the Society will be able to
design and publish one as part of its decades long involvement with Insole.
The house was acquired in 1856/7
by James Harvey Insole (1821-1901) who had extensive coal and shipping
interests. The garden developed initially in 1861 by local nurseryman William
Treseder and then Insole’s daughter Violet added a national collection of
Irises and a large rockery containing an extensive collection of alpines which
has since disappeared. A horse Chestnut avenue was planted in 1882. Cardiff
Council then acquired the house in 1932 by compulsory purchase for the creation
of Western Avenue and new housing.
Today there is a large collection
of interesting trees some of which are Glamorgan and Welsh National Champions.
The mid Victorian period was a time of great interest in gardening spurred on
by the plant hunting expeditions that were introducing new plants from North
and South America , Asia and in particular China. Plant hunters like George
Forrest introduced Rhododendrons from the Himalayas and Ernest Wilson added new
species from China. The fashion for planting exotics was spurred on by the new
found wealth acquired as a result of the Industrial Revolution and there was
considerable competition to outdo neighbouring estates such as Bute Park,
Dyffryn Gardens and the Plymouth estate in St Fagans. Insole Court includes a
good range of New Zealand plants as well as others from the northern hemisphere
which were able to thrive in this area of Wales
Tree notes by Chris Powell
Acer Lawn formerly a rose
Garden
Acer glade
Magnolia Kobus borealis Northern Japanese Magnolia larger than
species but shy flowering.
Acer crataegifolium Hawthorn Maple Japan having yellow flowers and
prettily marked bark.
Cornus nuttallii Pacific Dogwood W N America introduced 1835. Large
bracts appear in May sometimes flushed pink.
Cotoneaster x waterii – Hybrid Cotoneaster with upright fruits and
flowers
From drive looking beyond the
hedge
Sequioa sempervirens (Californian Redwood) introduced by Archibald Menzies in 1794 can reach over 100m in Californian forests soft and spongy bark
which is fire resistant. Slightly drooping branches. Grow on seaward side of
coastal mountain ranges. Tallest tree in Devon in 1970 reached 40m but are often struck by lightning in Britain.
Long lived, 500-700 years average but can live up to 2000 years
Sequoiadendron giganteum Wellingtonia having the widest in girth
(24m) grows in the western slopes of Sierra Nevada in California. Said to be
the oldest living thing in the world. 3000 years plus. Reddish brown bark
similar to the giant redwood.
Pinus nigra (Austrian pine) has roughish greyish brown bark
introduced to Britain in 1835 often as a wind break.
Trachycarpus fortunei Chusan Palm introduced in 1849 winter hardy
Alongside
drive
Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat) from Japan. (Wales Champion 2017).
Large shrub or small tree growing 6-10 m with blackish bark cracked with age. Leaves
deeply veined and brown and woolly on underside. The flowers are white hawthorn
like followed by yellow pear shaped fruit which ripen the following summer. It
seldom fruits in Britain although its large evergreen leaves make for an exotic
effect. (Rosaceae)
2 Magnolia grandifloras from SE America usually grown against a
south wall on houses. The large white flowers are scented and appear in July
and August.
Pinus nigra var. caramanica Crimea Pine from West Asia broad
conical habit more compact habit than Pinus nigra introduced in 1798. Thrives
in chalky soil. Trunk divides into several stems.
Alongside house
Gleditsia triacanthos Honey Locust E United states introduced in
1700. Pinnate leaves resembling mimosas flowers greenish followed by flattened
shining brown seed pods.
Gingkgo biloba Maidenhair tree ancestors found in Britain 160
million years ago. Male and female trees. Introduced in 1727
Magnolia grandiflora Bull Bay Magnolia – S E United States often grown
against south facing walls. Large creamy white flowers produced throughout
summer and able to be smelt through open windows. Lime tolerant
Myrtus luma syn M. apiculata. Chilean
Myrtle Wales Champion in 2005 with
orange brown bark peeling white. Dark green fragrant leaves with white single
flowers appearing in late summer and early autumn. Naturalised in parts of
southern Ireland, the red and black fruits are edible and sweet.
Sophora tetraptera – Kowhai from New
Zealand. Leaves pendulous and with 20-40 leaflets In May yellow flowers appear
in clusters followed by winged seed pods. Rare Wales Champion 12m tall in 2017.
Introduced in 1772.
Kowhai
X Cupressocyparis leylandii - Leyland
Cypress. Fast growing tree bigeneric hybrid slightly drooping sprays. First
originated from Leighton Hall in Montgomeryshire in 1888 and 1911. Wales
Champion 2017 next to Gingko.
Front Garden
Cedrus libani (Glamorgan Champion) from Asia Minor and Levant grows
35-40 m with flattened tops and deeply cracked stems. Level branches as opposed
to Cedrus atlantica with upturned branches and Cedrus deodara with pendulous
tips to branches. Tree was declared a Glamorgan Champion in 2005
Liquidamber styraciflua - Sweet Gum
from Eastern N America and Nicaragua - a large tree with deeply lobed alternate
leaves and a corky bark. Very good Autumn Colour with red yellow and purple tints.
Glamorgan Champion in 2017.
Corokia Cotoneaster- Wire netting Bush
New Zealand with twisted branch system and tiny yellow but attractive flowers.
Fagus sylvatica purpurea Purple Beech
purplish leaves selected from seedlings. Grows up to 40m tall with yellowish
green flowers in May
Fagus sylvatica Riversii Purple Beech
either vegetatively propagated or in this case possibly grafted
Carpinus betulus – An upright form of Common hornbeam makes a very large
tree with broader crown as it matures. Suitable for clay and chalky soils.
Cornus
capitata Bentham’s Cornel – An evergreen tree with large sulphur bracts in
June July followed by large strawberry like fruits
Benthams Cornel
Cryptomeria
japonica – Japanese cedar large tree with reddish shredding bark and
spreading branches. Likes moist soils. Similar to Wellingtonia but with less
spongy bark.
Griselinia
littoralis- Cornacaea introduced from New Zealand in 1850 an evergreen
leafy shrub often used as a coastal hedge.
Quercus
petraea Sessile Oak native oak growing in west and north. Long stalked
leaves and sessile fruit
Podocarpus
totara – Totara. A tall tree from New Zealand with yellowish green leaves
leathery stiff and sharply pointed. It likes the protection of other
evergreens.
Eucryphia
x nymansensis – A deciduous shrub with pinnate leaves. A profusion of white flowers in July and August. Hybrid between
cordifolia and glutinosa.
Aesculus
indica – Indian Horse Chestnut from N W Himalayas with later flowering
large panicles of red flowers. Introduced in 1851
Thuja
occidentalis American Arbor-vitae columnar tree with reddish brown pealing
bark. Branches horizontally spreading up curved at tips. Leaves have
conspicuous resin glands dark green above pale green below. Pleasant fruity
smell when crushed. Important timber tree in N America coping with colder
conditions.
Stuartia
pseudocamellia – Japan a small acid loving tree with lovely autumn colour
and flaking bark. A member of the Tea family closely related to Camellias with
large white camellia flowers occurring solitary in leaf axils
Acer
sacchirinum – Silver Maple A large fast growing tree from N America with 5
lobed leaves silvery underneath. Introduced in 1725.
Chamecyparis
nootkatensis pendula – Nootka Cypress from western N America with drooping
branchlets. Introduced in 1853 the sharp point scale like leaves are strong
smelling.
Picea
brewerana- Brewer’s Weeping Spruce. From North West California and Oregon. It
is a rare tree in the wild (Siskiyou Mountains). Makes a majestic tree when
mature.
Cupressus
macrocarpa Lutea Monterey Cypress a tall columnar tree becoming broader
with age, with soft yellow foliage becoming green. First Introduced in Britain
1893.
Other plants seen but not described
were flowering Bescheria yuccoides, Cestrum parqui, Abutilon megapotimcum growing
on the west facing wall along the Acer Lawn. In the area behind the former
rockery were Crinodendrum hookerianum (Tricuspidaria lanceolate) Chilean
lantern, Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree).
Bruce McDonald
Photos by Bruce McDonald
Tree notes by Chris Powell
