Ewell Hall

Ulmus americana This large American Elm dominates the area to the east of Ewell Hall

Ulmus americana Closeup showing leaves of the American Elm.

Various Boxwood Professor Baldwin was a national authority on Boxwood and planted them widely on campus.

Ilex cornuta and Ilex pernyi The protected niche formed by Ewell Hall provides shelter for a verdant alley of hybrid hollies

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Ewell Hall Protected Niche and Surrounding Plantings

The sheltered niche formed by Ewell Hall—warmed by the College’s underground steam tunnels—hosts a lush alley of hybrid hollies (a cross between Ilex cornuta and Ilex pernyi) alongside two windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei). Like the amur corktree near Washington Hall, these palms are typically found only as far north as South Carolina. Professor Baldwin’s keen understanding of Williamsburg’s buffered climate and microclimates allowed him to successfully cultivate many exotic and otherwise unlikely plants in this area.

Between Ewell and Jefferson halls, two unusual conifers stand out. At the courtyard’s center is a small monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) native to Chile and Argentina, aptly named because it “should puzzle a monkey to climb that!” Running your fingers over its triangular leaves that cover every branch and even the trunk reveals why. In the northeast corner of Jefferson Hall, you’ll find the Asian yew plum pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), known for its distinctive strap-shaped leaves.

As you walk around the east side of Ewell Hall, a dominant feature is the massive American elm (Ulmus americana) that commands the space.

Along the wall of Wren Courtyard, a collection of diverse boxwood varieties thrives. These include curly-locks boxwood (Buxus microphylla ‘Curly-Locks’), hardwick boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Hardwickensis’), littleleaf boxwood (Buxus microphylla), Harlands boxwood (Buxus harlandi), and Vardar Valley boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Vardar Valley’). Take a close look to spot the subtle differences among these varieties.