Washington Hall

Cedrus atlantica glauca The Blue Atlas Cedar (right), at the southwest corner of Washington Hall.

Phellodendron amurense Amur Corktree.

Phellodendron amurense Closeup of the Corktree, showing its distinctive bark.

Camellia sp. Delicate white blossoms appear on this Camellia in early June.

Aesculus hippocastanum The leaves and immature fruit of the Horse Chestnut.

Morus alba A low, spreading White Mulberry, framed by Jefferson Hall.

1983 The Mulberry tree largely escaped damage in the 1983 fire at Jefferson Hall.

Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia.

Quercus virginiana The Live Oak is prized for its graceful, spreading habit.

Tree Cluster and Notable Species Near Washington Hall

At the southwest corner of Washington Hall, you’ll find a striking cluster of trees that includes a magnificent blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’), an amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense), and a camellia (Camellia species). The corktree, native to China, adds unique texture and interest to this grouping. Nearby stands a horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), completing the ensemble.

South of Washington Hall, the landscape features several intriguing species. Among the most unusual is the loquat oak (Quercus rysophylla), introduced from Mexico in the 1970s. This semi-evergreen oak sports elongated, oval-shaped leaves with deeply sunken veins, which give it a striking appearance reminiscent of the true loquat tree you’ll encounter later. You might not recognize it as an oak until it bears its characteristic acorns. The loquat oak was honored as Tree of the Year in 2016 by an International Horticultural Society publication.

Another remarkable specimen here is a mature white mulberry (Morus alba). Introduced during colonial times to support silk production, white mulberries never thrived for silkworms but became common—and invasive—trees in the area. This particular tree may be one of the largest and oldest white mulberries in the United States. It is unusually spreading, a trait more typical of the black mulberry, making it a rare specimen. Notably, it survived the Jefferson Hall fire in 1983.

Also found here and elsewhere on campus is the live oak (Quercus virginiana), an evergreen oak native to the southeastern United States. One of the earliest cultivated species on campus, the live oak continues to thrive and add stately greenery.