HOLDEN ARBORETUM June 2000
On a tour of the gardens I was shown the THUJA collection by Mr. Charles Tubesing.
On the way to the collection I asked if he
could show me the difference between the three or four species of Thuja. He said
it was
difficult because the outward appearance of the small cones is the way you key
them out.
We stopped about 200 feet from the
collection. Mr. Tubesing said he could identify the different species from that
distance and asked
could I identify them. I could not.
Finally he said: "Look how some of
the plants have been trimmed up from the bottom, that is deer damage. Deer are
such a problem
that the Holden have discontinued the once substantial Taxus (Yew) collection.
The deer just ate them up." Many areas of the
Arboretum are now fenced.
click each pic to enlarge
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Center plants are Thuja
Plicata, variety is Euchlora. Other plants are Thuja Occidentalis (American
Arborvitae). Notice the protective fencing and the trees eaten by deer. |
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Deer damage of American Arborvitae, variety Lutea |
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Mr.Tubesing showing deer
damage to Thuja Occidentalis (American Arborvitae) , also notice Thuja O. have
multiple trunks or tops. Multiple trunks or tops generally increase snow and ice damage. Thuja Plicata and Green Giant form central leaders. |
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Green Giant Thuja about 9 feet tall, planted in 1996. Deer pass this young tree and eat others. |
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Thuja Standishi--Japanese
Arborvitae. Notice how the deer have eaten this plant. This is 1/2 the parantage
of Green Giant. Thuja Standishi x Thuja Plicata = Thuja Green Giant |