Washington's Trees

From his youthful venture into Virginia's Shenandoah Valley at age 16 until the end of his life, George Washington observed, collected, and planted hundreds of trees. When he created his new 1780s landscape, he went to the surrounding forest to find and transplant a variety of trees and shrubs. He sought to maintain groves of trees and areas he called “wilderness” around his home, and he also took part in plant exchanges with friends and family. The American chestnut was dominant in his forest, but since the middle of the 20th century it has all but vanished throughout the United States because of disease. Today, scientists are developing a blight-resistant chestnut tree, with experiments taking place at National Colonial Farm across the Potomac River from Mount Vernon. Washington's knowledge of nature allowed him to identify trees even when they were leafless by the color and texture of their bark and their overall shape. Tulip poplar, white oak, red maple, and sycamore, which were in his woodlands, can still be seen today along the Forest Trail, and a recent report identifies 270 plant and tree species currently found in Mount Vernon's forest.

Mount Vernon, Virginia · United States