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HISTORIC PLANT INVENTORY

Within cultural landscapes, plants may have historical or Plants that are difficult to identify or are of potential
botanical significance. A plant may have been associated historical significance are further examined in the
with a historic figure or event or be part of a notable laboratory by a plant taxonomist who compares leaf,
landscape design. A plant may be an uncommon fruit, and flower characteristics with herbarium
cultivar, exceptional in size, age, rare and commercially / specimens for named species, cultivars and varieties.
unavailable. If such plants are lost, there would be a loss For plants species with many cultivars, such as apples,
of historic integrity and biological diversity of the cultural roses, and grapes, specimens may be sent to specialists
landscape.To ensure that significant plants are preserved, for identification.
an inventory of historic plants is being conducted at the If a plant cannot be identified, is dying or in decline,
North Atlantic Region of the National Park Service. 8
and unavailable from commercial nurseries, it may be
Historical landscape architects work with landscape
propagated. Propagation ensures that when rare and
managers and historians to gather oral and documented
significant plants decline, they can be replaced with
history on the plant's origin and potential significance.
genetically-identical plants. Cuttings are propagated
Each plant is then examined in the field by an expert
and grown to replacement size in a North Atlantic
horticulturist who records its name, condition, age, size,
Region Historic Plant Nursery.
distribution, and, any notable botanic characteristics.

1. The Arnold Arboretum's preservation technician, lilac specialist, and
horticulturist compare lilacs from the Vanderbilt Mansion National
Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York with lilac specimens in the
Arboretum's living collection. (courtesy Olmsted Center)

3. The Arnold Arboretum's horticulturist, landscape historian, 2. The Arnold Arboretum's horticulturist alld preservation technician
and preservation technician examine shrubs at the Longfellow examine an enormous black locust tree at the Home of FD. Roosevelt
National Historic Site in Cambridge, MA. (courtesy Olmsted National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. (courtesy Olmsted Center)
Center)

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