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Leafy Survivors
December 1992
by Bruce Fellman

There are easier places for trees to make a living than at Yale.

Air pollution, poor soil, being “tatooed” by students, and, of course, dogs—these and many other indignities pose a dendrological challenge to all the trees that shade the campus. But some manage to grow, indeed flourish, in the urban environment

Yale is certainly richer for their tenacity, and yet their heroics have gone largely unheralded. The actual number of trees on campus remains a mystery, and there is no catalog of the varieties. No one even knows which tree is the oldest

David M. Smith, the Morris K. Jesup Professor Emeritus of Silviculture, suspects that the honor belongs to one of several senior citizens that are growing near the Kline Biology Tower on land that was once part of an old estate. “My guess is that these trees—all oaks—are around 200 years old,” says Smith.

Had times been different, the longevity winner might have been an American elm. Many of these stately trees were planted here at the beginning of the last century, but the oldest among them fell victim to an elm blight that began claiming victims in the 1930s. Thanks to an ongoing program of spraying, pruning, and injections with antibiotics, however, some impressive, middle-aged elms remain in the “Elm City.”

To replace trees lost to disease and attrition, Yale in 1987 began a major planting program. It was completed last spring, and when the good weather returns, the leafy shade of more than 650 new trees will grace the campus. Among these hardy urban survivors is the Hollandica elm (a blight-resistant variety), the Greenvase Zelkova (an elm lookalike), the Norway and Red maple, various oak species, the Sweetgum, and what many silviculturists consider the ultimate urbanite, the Sycamore.

“It’s a pretty tough customer,” declares William R. Smith, professor of forest biology. The tree scoffs at dirty air and rarely gets sick. It also thrives in the nutrient-poor city soil.

“In nature, these trees grow in poorly drained, wet sites that are very low in oxygen,” Smith points out. “Many of the species that do well here are found in similar difficult habitats.”

The use of such adaptable natives was pioneered by Beatrix Farrand, the landscape architect whose plantings, now more than a half-century old, continue to beautify the courtyards of Branford and Silliman colleges. “We have a wealth of plantings,” notes William Ohr, manager of grounds maintenance. “There’s great concern around here for trees, and I think the students really appreciate our efforts.”

Shannon Wamboldt ’93, is one who does. Standing under a majestic elm in the Branford College courtyard, the political science major explains the appeal of this particular tree, with its much-used rope swing. “It provides shade and color. It’s a relaxing place to study, a hangout and a meeting spot. And it’s a perfect spot for new romance,” says Wamboldt, noting that her words could apply to many campus trees. “I’m just glad they can’t talk.”  

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