Cold Hardy
Species capable of surviving extended sub-freezing temperatures without serious injury. They often enter dormancy, produce antifreeze compounds, or develop insulating bark. Tagging a plant “cold-hardy” signals suitability for high-latitude or high-altitude gardens where winter lows are severe.
Cercidiphyllum japonicum: The Katsura at Dumbarton Oaks
The katsura tree at Dumbarton Oaks, with its sweeping branches and ancient roots, has stood since before the estate was purchased in 1920. This story traces the species’ long history—from prehistoric times to its poetic and horticultural significance in Japan and North America—revealing how it came to grace this Washington, D.C. garden.
tree, ornamental, temperate, cold-hardyWhat We Know Now: Tracing the Tamarack
The Tamarack tree, or Larix laricina, holds deep cultural and ecological significance, especially in Ojibwe traditions where it symbolizes humility and reciprocity. This story explores the tree’s seasonal rhythms, its role in Indigenous storytelling and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and its potential as a symbol for conservation and interconnectedness with the natural world.
tree, conifer, wetland, cold-hardy
