Nut Trees
Nut Trees
The Nut Trees were established in 1982 in the far southwest corner of the 40 acres. Several hybrid and cultivar introductions by the late Archie Sparks, the late Al Ferguson, and Ward Mally exist in this planting. Particular favorites of theirs to propagate were black walnut (Juglans nigra), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), northern pecan (Carya illinoinensis), and chestnut (Castanea). In some cases, visitors can also identify the graft union for where inter-crossing of hybrids took place. Cultivars in this collection were selected for their large, edible fruits. Other selection features include ease of cracking and self-hulling.
Many nut trees double as attractive ornamental trees with exceptional fall color, but are best tucked-away from high-traffic areas due to their fruitful nature. Selections noted more for shade trees are found elsewhere on the grounds due to having smaller fruits, and thus, less of a hindrance to the public.
The latest addition to this area is a architectural feature called BLUESTEM. This project was created by students from Iowa State University – School of Design, and is given it’s name after the native Iowan tall grass, big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) that once nearly covered 80% of Iowa. Two hundred tall, thin poles, meet the ground at varying angles and orientations, creating a moiré effect. The visual movement of the space is reminiscent of tall grasses swaying in the wind.
*This page was last updated on July 6, 2018.
Designation | Accession# | Genus | species | Cultivar | Common Name |
Deciduous Tree | 150003 | Corylus | americana | Purpleleaf | Purpleleaf American Hazelnut |
Deciduous Tree | 700009 | Fraxinus | americana | White Ash | |
Deciduous Tree | 700010 | Fraxinus | americana | White Ash | |
Deciduous Tree | 850143A | Corylus | avellana | Common Hazel Nut | |
Deciduous Tree | 850143B | Corylus | avellana | Common Hazel Nut | |
Deciduous Tree | 840038 | Corylus | colurna | Turkish Hazel | |
Deciduous Tree | 830234 | Tilia | heterophylla | Linden, Basswood | |
Deciduous Tree | 170010 | Castanea | hybrid (dentata x mollissima) | American Chestnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 790037 | Carya | illinoinensis | Donnellson | Northern Pecan |
Deciduous Tree | 870007 | Carya | illinoinensis | Gibson | Northern Pecan |
Deciduous Tree | 910065 | Carya | illinoinensis | Le Beau | Northern Pecan |
Deciduous Tree | 860078E | Carya | illinoinensis | Hardy Pecan, Sweet Pecan | |
Deciduous Tree | 860078C | Carya | illinoinensis | Hardy Pecan, Sweet Pecan | |
Deciduous Tree | 860078B | Carya | illinoinensis | Hardy Pecan, Sweet Pecan | |
Deciduous Tree | 860078D | Carya | illinoinensis | Hardy Pecan, Sweet Pecan | |
Deciduous Tree | 920177 | Carya | laciniosa | Kaufman | Shellbark Hickory |
Deciduous Tree | 790041 | Carya | laciniosa | Ross | Shellbark Hickory |
Deciduous Tree | 790034B | Carya | laciniosa | Selbhers | Shellbark Hickory |
Deciduous Tree | 790046 | Carya | laciniosa | Vinton | Shellbark Hickory |
Deciduous Tree | 830258A | Castanea | mollissima | Chinese Chestnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 830258B | Castanea | mollissima | Chinese Chestnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 830258C | Castanea | mollissima | Chinese Chestnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 850153A | Juglans | nigra | Cranz | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850153B | Juglans | nigra | Cranz | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850153C | Juglans | nigra | Cranz | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850148A | Juglans | nigra | Davidson | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850148C | Juglans | nigra | Davidson | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850148B | Juglans | nigra | Davidson | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850149A | Juglans | nigra | Eldora | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850149B | Juglans | nigra | Eldora | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850150A | Juglans | nigra | Hays | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850152B | Juglans | nigra | MS#4 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850152A | Juglans | nigra | MS#4 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 890026 | Juglans | nigra | PP #20 | Balck Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850146A | Juglans | nigra | Sparks #127 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850146B | Juglans | nigra | Sparks #127 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850157A | Juglans | nigra | Sparks #128 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850157B | Juglans | nigra | Sparks #128 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850147A | Juglans | nigra | Sparks #147 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850147B | Juglans | nigra | Sparks #147 | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850151 | Juglans | nigra | Sparrow | Black Walnut |
Deciduous Tree | 850154A | Juglans | nigra X regia | Hybrid Walnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 850154B | Juglans | nigra X regia | Hybrid Walnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 790036 | Carya | ovata | Abundance | Shagbark Hickory |
Deciduous Tree | 810088 | Carya | ovata | Hopson | Shagbark Hickory |
Deciduous Tree | 790045 | Carya | ovata X cordiformis | Vermace | Vermace Hickory Hybrid |
Deciduous Tree | 790038 | Carya | ovata X illinoinensis | Henke | Henke Hican (Hickory/Pecan Hybrid) |
Deciduous Tree | 010094 | Carya | ovata X illinoinensis | Henke | Henke Hican (Hickory/Pecan Hybrid) |
Deciduous Tree | 790043 | Carya | ovata X illinoinensis | Linn #3 | Linn #3 Hican (Hickory/Pecan Hybrid) |
Deciduous Tree | 120001 | Quercus | palustris | Pringreen | Green Pillar Pin Oak |
Deciduous Tree | 850018 | Acer | platanoides | Summershade | Summershade Norway Maple |
Deciduous Tree | 850019 | Acer | platanoides | Superform | Superform Norway Maple |
Deciduous Tree | 790014A | Pterocarya | rhoifolia | Japanese Wingnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 790014B | Pterocarya | rhoifolia | Japanese Wingnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 790014C | Pterocarya | rhoifolia | Japanese Wingnut | |
Deciduous Tree | 010106 | Quercus | robur x macrocarpa | English Oak x Bur Oak | |
Deciduous Tree | 820327A | Acer | saccharum grandidentatum | Caddo | Caddo Sugar Maple |
Deciduous Tree | 830252E | Carya | species | Shagbark Hickory Hybrid | |
Deciduous Tree | 830252H | Carya | species | Shagbark Hickory Hybrid | |
Deciduous Tree | 830252G | Carya | species | Shagbark Hickory Hybrid | |
Deciduous Tree | 880012A | Juglans | X quadrangulata | White’s Hybrid | White’s Hybrid Walnut |