Tree of the Month - September

September 9, 2024

Every year, the list of champion trees increases by several hundred as recently-introduced species reach tree size for the first time, or cultivars are newly recorded.

One newcomer for 2024 is Diplopanax stachyanthus, from wet subtropical forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, which is assessed by the IUCN as Vulnerable in the wild. Despite its name it is not a 'panax' from the Ivy Family but is more closely related to Nyssa.

This young tree is one of three in a private collection in the favourable conditions of the Roseland Peninsula in south Cornwall; it suffers some frost- and salt-damage here but is growing quite strongly.

This collection is typical of many which the Tree Register's volunteers get to visit in that it has become very overgrown after its creator passed away, and there is no catalogue or labelling. So it is thanks to Tom Hudson at Tregrehan for coming up with the name for this tree.

Owen Johnson MBE VMM
(Photo: Owen Johnson)