The Graham Arboretum

Welcome to the Graham Arboretum, one of London’s best-kept secrets. 

The Arboretum area of Springbank Park was first created in 1926 by Ernie Graham, Parks Superintendent. The collection contains over 300 trees made up of at least 75 different species of native and exotic trees, with some mature specimen being over 80 years old. Although small in size, the Graham Arboretum is home to some trees that are considered to be the largest specimen found in public and private gardens in Ontario, particularly for evergreen trees.

Please note this is a living webpage and more updates to the information available will be coming soon. Thank you for your patience.

In 2006, the City of London adopted a masterplan with the goal of re-in­vigorating of the Graham Arboretum as a major public asset. This master plan is still being used and implemented today.

An entrance to Springbank Park’s Graham Arboretum in June.

How to visit the Graham Arboretum

The Graham Arboretum is located in Springbank Park near Arboretum Avenue. The arboretum is free to visit. 

Paths wind through the arboretum for visitors to walk along. 

Visitors riding their bike can also reach the arboretum by using the Thames Valley Parkway nearby.  

Parking is available on Arboretum Avenue and a parking lot is available outside Storybook Gardens nearby. 

The trees growing in the Graham Arboretum

The Graham Arboretum site is divided into four pedestrian loops, each featuring a different experience for visitors.

  • Conifer Loop
    • Walk around a collection of giant evergreens and discover some of their companion plants, such as birch and maple trees with outstanding colour.
  • Memorial Loop
    • Take a pause at the Memory Wall then keep walking along the pathway to discover a collection of memory trees planted to celebrate loved ones and a mix of older and newer flowering trees, such as magnolias and crab apples.
  • Orchard Loop
    • To be established in the near future - A delight in the springtime, come to experience many crab apples and flowering trees in bloom. There is also a collection of nut trees, including an alley of century-old oaks.
  • Valley Loop
    • To be established in the future (and so not marked yet on the map below) - A future bridge will take you through this naturalized ravine, while providing a link between the Memorial and Orchard Loops.

Graham Arboretum Tree Tour

A map of the Graham Arboretum shows which pathways to walk to see all the trees.

Eighteen trees have been selected as highlights, with signage that provide information on each specie, to help visitors navigate the world of trees through their visit. Trees are classified into six categories inspired from the Forest Regions of Canada as well as geographic locations. The categories include three local native groupings: Carolinian, Great Lakes, and Boreal; the other three are broader geographical areas such as Canada-wide, North America, and World trees.

There are examples of species in the Arboretum of each category listed, and in the future, there will be new trees added to strengthen the Arboretum collection as a whole.

Carolinian

This category includes trees of the Carolinian Forest Region. It is the southernmost forest region within Canada, located between the southern tip of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie, and shares many characteristics with the deciduous forest that extends as far as South Carolina. It is the smallest forest region in Canada. However, it supports the largest number of trees species in any region. Example of species present include most of the tree and shrubs species found in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence forest region, in addition to black walnut, butternut, tulip, magnolia, black gum, many types of oaks, hickories, sassafras and red bud.1 

Flowering Dogwood 

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

The Flowering Dogwood (species at risk in Ontario) is native to Eastern Canada/United States and Northern Mexico. All parts of this tree are used as food for birds and animals, including over 35 species of birds that eat the fruit.

Full Tree

flowering dogwood full tree

Bark

flowering dogwood bark

Flower

Four white pedals surround a cluster of tiny yellow flowers in the centre of this flower.

Fruit

flowering dogwood fruit

Leaf (summer)

flowering dogwood leaf

 

Leaf (fall)

flowering dogwood leaf

Winter Silhouette

flowering dogwood winter silouhette
Black Gum

Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Native to eastern North America, the nectar from these trees is collected by bees, which creates mild-tasting honey. Many Indigenous Peoples use various parts of black gum to treat wounds and numerous illnesses.

Full Tree

Black Gum full Tree

Bark

Black gum Bark

 

Leaf (summer)

Black Gum Summer Leaf

 

 

Tree (fall)

A black gum tree has red brown leaves in the fall.

 

Winter Silhouette

Black Gum Winter Siluehette
Hoptree

Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata)

The hoptree (species at risk in Ontario) is a native species of Ontario, New York to Florida, and West Coast to Minnesota. German immigrants in the 19th century used its seeds in place of hops in the beer-making process, giving the species its common name.
 

Full Tree 

A green leafed hoptree in a wooded area.

 

Flower 

Small, greenish-white flowers on the green leaves of a hoptree.

 

Samara Fruit

The green-brown flat samara fruit of the hop tree, extending off green leaves.

 

Leaf (summer)

Small, greenish-white flowers on the green leaves of a hoptree.

Great Lakes

This category includes trees of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Forest Region. This forest extends along the St. Lawrence River, across central Ontario to Lake Huron, and west of Lake Superior along the border with Minnesota. It is known for its biodiversity and presents a mix of deciduous and coniferous forest that houses many hardwood tree species such as maple, oak, yellow birch, as well as white and red pine.2

American Beech

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Native from New Brunswick west to Ontario and south to Florida and Texas. Birds and mammals like chipmunks and squirrels eat beechnuts from the tree. Early settlers ground the nuts into flour and used it for baking.

Full Tree 

An American beech tree on a mowed lawn.

 

Bark

American Beech Bark
Smooth, light-grey barks on an American beech tree.

 

Leaf (summer)

Green, ovate shaped leaves.

 

 

Leaf (fall)

American Beech Leaf
Golden, bronze leaf.

Winter Silhouette

American Beech Winter Silhouette
Red Oak

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Native from Nova Scotia to Pennsylvania and west to Minnesota and Iowa. The acorns can be eaten by first shelling the nuts and then tying them up in a cloth and leaching them to remove bitterness. They can then be eaten whole or ground into a flour.

Full Tree

Red oak tree stands tall in a wooded area.
Red Oak Full Tree

 

Bark

Red oak tree bark with green tinge.
Red Oak Bark

 

Leaf (summer)

Green oak tree leaves.

 

 

Leaf (fall)

Vibrant red leaves of Red Oak tree in fall.
Green leaves on a Red Oak tree turning yellow orange in early fall.

 

Winter Silhouette

Red Oak Winter Silhouette
Eastern Hemlock

Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Native from Nova Scotia to Minnesota to south along the mountains to Alabama and Georgia. The needles have been used to make tea that is high in vitamin C and tannins from the bark as a curative for diseases and for tanning leather.

Full Tree

Eastern hemlock tree with long, deep-green needles surrounded by brown mulch.
Eastern Hemlock Full Tree

 

Bark

Deeply furrowed bark of a mature eastern hemlock tree.
Eastern Hemlock Bark

 

Cone

Small brown cones of an eastern hemlock tree.
Eastern Hemlock Fruit

 

Needle

Deep green, soft looking needles grow opposite each other on the branches in feathery horizontal sprays.
Eastern Hemlock Summer Leaf

Winter Silhouette

Eastern Hemlock Winter Silhouette

Boreal

This category includes trees of the Boreal Forest Region. Located in the northern areas, it is the largest forest region in Canada, spanning from coast to coast, from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Yukon. Characterized by a cold climate and a low diversity of tree species, it still supports a diverse ecosystem of living organisms and is an essential contributor to healthy habitats for many wildlife species. It is densely populated by coniferous trees such as spruce, pine, and fir, with some deciduous tree species such as birch and poplar.3

Balsam Fir

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)

Native over a wide part of North America, especially in the higher altitudes from Labrador to Alberta to Pennsylvania. A favourite tree with its pleasant scent and long-lasting needles after it has been cut.

Full Tree

A green, needle-heavy Balsam fire tree in a circle of mulch.

Bark

Grey and smooth Balsam fire bark, which also has many small, raised, reddish-brown resin blisters.

Needle

The dark green needles of a Balsam fir tree are 2.5 cm in length and are flat with 2 white bands on the bottom.

Cone

Grey-brown Balsam fir cones.

 

White (Paper) Birch

White (Paper) Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Native from Greenland to British Columbia, and south to Pennsylvania. Squirrels, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, and hummingbirds eat the sap. Many Indigenous Peoples make birchbark canoes by stretching the stripped bark over wooden frames. Birchbark is also used in quill box and medallion construction.

Full Tree

A white birch tree.
Paper Birch (White Birch) Full Tree

Bark

The bark of a white birch tree.
Paper Birch (White Birch) Bark

 

Fruit

Paper Birch (White Birch) Fruit

 

Leaf (summer)

The ovate shaped green leaves of a white birch tree in summer.
Paper Birch (White Birch) Summer Leaf

Leaf (fall)

A white birch tree in the fall with leaves turning orange-brown.

Winter Silhouette

Paper Birch (White Birch) Winter Silhouette
Larch/Tamarack

Larch/Tamarack (Larix sp.)

Native to northern North America and can be found as far north as the Arctic Circle. This tree received its name from the word Tamarack, which is the Algonquin name for the species and means "wood used for snowshoes”.

Full tree

A green, needle-laden Tamarack tree.

Bark

Grey to reddish-brown, the young limbs of a Tamarack tree are smooth and thin and once mature become thick and scaly.

Needle (summer) 

Blue-green needles of the Tamarack tree.

Needle (fall) 

The yellow-brown needles of the Tamarack tree in the fall.

Canada Wide

Canada includes several other forest regions in addition to the Carolinian, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence, and Boreal. Trees that are native to Canada, but are not specifically associated with those regions, are included in the Canada Wide category. For instance, the Douglas-fir is native to the Coast Forest Region of British Columbia. Also included, trees that are present through a wide area of the country, such as the Trembling Aspen, or overlapping onto other forest regions such as the Acadian Forest Region of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, like the Eastern White Cedar. 

Douglas-fir

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Native along the Pacific coast to the inland mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Douglas-firs are among one of the largest and oldest trees in Canada and are considered one of the world's most important timber species.

Full Tree

The evergreen Douglas-fir tree.

 

Bark

The bark of a Douglas-fir tree shows thick, corky reddish-brown ridges separated by deep irregular fissures.

Needle

The yellow-green, grey-green, or blue-green needles of a Douglas-fir tree that are simple, about 4 cm long and that grow in a spiral fashion.

Cone

A Douglas-fire tree produces light-brown, 8-10 cm cones with distinctive 3-pointed bracts protruding from between the scales.
Eastern White Cedar

Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Native to Canada from Manitoba to the East Coast. Another name for cedar comes from the Latin word Arborvitae, meaning ‘tree of life’, which is fitting as the typical lifespan is 200 years. The wood has been and continues to be used to make canoes.

Full tree

A large bushy, eastern white cedar tree on grass.

Bark

The mature bark of the eastern white cedar is thin and fibrous and greyish-brown in colour.

Needle

The needles of the eastern white cedar are small, flat and dull green.

Cone

The fruit of an eastern white cedar is a small, egg-shaped cone, 1-1.5 cm long, which is green when immature and brown at maturity.
Trembling Aspen

Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Native from Labrador to Alaska, south to northern Mexico and lower California. Aspens are the first trees to grow after a forest fire and spread by sending up sprouts from their roots to form large stands.

Full Tree

Trembling aspen tree, with a long white trunk and green leaves.

Bark

The smooth, pale bark of a trembling aspen tree.

Leaf (summer)

The leaves of a trembling aspen are dark green rounded, triangular leaves with small teeth on margins and arranged alternately on branches. They make a 'trembling' sound in the wind.

Leaf (fall)

Trembling aspen leaves that are yellow in the fall.

North America

This category includes trees that are native to North America, but that are originating from outside Canada. Although coming from regions with a warmer climate, these non-native species can adapt and survive in our environment. With the event of climate change, it is anticipated that some tree species will be migrating north from their current native distribution range. Some can become invasive, such as the Black Locust. Other trees in this category include the Yellowwood and the Umbrella Magnolia.

Yellowwood

Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)

Native to North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. The tree is a pollinator plant that supports insects and birds. In spring the bees will visit the flowers for the nectar they produce. Early settlers used the tree's yellow heartwood (centre of the tree) for dyes.

Full Tree

Yellowwood Full Tree

Bark

The bark of the Yellowwood tree is smooth and grey to light brown in colour.
Yellowwood Bark

Flower

Fragrant, white, pea-type flowers in drooping clusters appear on the Yellowwood tree.

Leaf (summer)

Yellowwood Summer Leaf

Leaf (fall)

Yellowwood Fall Leaf

Winter Silhouette

Yellowwood Winter Silhouette
Umbrella Magnolia

Umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetala)

Native to the Eastern United States. The fruit produced by the Umbrella Magnolia is a source of food for birds and small mammals. The name of the tree comes from the way the leaves cluster at the tips of branches, forming an umbrella shape.

Full Tree

The Umbrella Magnolia tree has green leaves that cluster at the tips of its branches, forming an umbrella shape.
Umbrella Magnolia Full Tree

Bark

Umbrella Magnolia Bark

Flower

A large unpleasantly fragrant, creamy white flower on an Umbrella Magnolia tree.

Fruit

Elongated, cone-shaped, rosy-red fruit on an Umbrella Magnolia tree.
Umbrella Magnolia Fruit

Leaf (summer)

The Umbrella Magnolia tree's leaves are very large ovate, green leaves, 25-65 cm long with clear veins and a pointed tip.
Umbrella Magnolia Summer Leaf

Leaf (fall)

Umbrella Magnolia Fall Leaf

Winter Silhouette

Umbrella Magnolia Winter Silhouette
Black Locust

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Native to the Southern Appalachian and the Ozarks. The black locust provides nesting cavities for woodpeckers, including hairy, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers and northern flickers. NOTE: Not recommended for planting as the species easily spreads and can takeover unmaintained areas.

Full Tree

Black locust trees together in a cluster.
Black Locust Full Tree

Bark

The Black Locust tree bark is grey-black, deeply furrowed into rounded, interlacing scaly ridges.
Black Locust Bark

Flower

The white, extremely fragrant flowers bloom in long clusters on a Black Locust tree.

 

Fruit

Black Locust Fruit

Leaf (summer)

Dull, dark blue-green leaves on the Black Locust tree are 15-35 cm long and made up of 7-19 leaflets.
Black Locust Summer Fruit

Winter Silhouette

Black Locust Winter Silhouette

World

This category includes trees that originate from other areas of the world, such as Europe, Northern Africa and Asia. They are non-native to Canada, but able to adapt and grow in our climate. They are being planted in cities, along roads, in parks or private gardens, due to some unusual and attractive characteristics, such as form, foliage, flower or fruit. The English Columnar Oak is an example of a tree appreciated for its compact form. Some of the species of trees represented in this category have been around for millions of years, such as Ginkgo and Dawn Redwood.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Native to eastern China, the Ginkgo tree is one of the oldest trees, growing on earth for 150 million years. Once the trees are at least 20 years of age, edible seeds are produced that have a good flavour and are used in East Asian cooking.

Full Tree

The ginkgo tree, with fan-shaped bright green leaves.
Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree) Full Tree

Bark

The Ginkgo bark is usually grey-brown ridges with darker furrows.
Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree) Bark

Fruit

Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree) Fruit

Leaf (summer)

Ginkgo leaves are bright green and smooth, and grow in clusters of 3-5 on the stem.
Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree) Summer Leaf

Leaf (fall)

Ginkgo leaves turning yellow in the fall.

Winter Silhouette

Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree) Winter Silhouette
Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

This tall tree is native to central China. Dawn redwood is an ancient tree that lived millions of years ago at the same time as dinosaurs – when it was plentiful in North America and Greenland. The tree was known only as a fossil until it was rediscovered surviving in remote valleys.

Full Tree

A Dawn Redwood tree in a grove.
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) Full Tree

Bark

A young Dawn Redwood's reddish-brown bark.
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) Bark

Needle (summer)

The fine, flat, feathery needles of a Dawn Redwood are bright green in colour, about 4 cm long,
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) Summer Leaf

Winter Silhouette

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) Winter Silhouette
Columnar English Oak

Columnar English Oak (Quercus robur Fastigiata)

Native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, the variety ‘Fastigiata’ naturally grows into a column-like shape. This tree produces acorns that are a valuable source of food for small mammals and birds, although it can take up to 20 years before the first crop of acorns is produced.

Full Tree

A tall Columna English Oak tree with green, rounded leaves.

Bark

The Columnar English Oak has ridged and furrowed bark that is dark grey.
Columnar English Oak Bark

Leaf (summer)

The blue-green leaf of the Columnar English Oak has 3-7 rounded lobes.

Winter Silhouette

Columnar English Oak Winter Silhouette

Future

Currently the more prominent areas of the Graham Arboretum are the Memorial Tree Loop and the Conifer Loop. In the future, the City of London hopes to establish the other spaces of the arboretum and continue creating an inviting space for the public to learn more about trees.

Last modified:Thursday, September 12, 2024