Collections

An Assortment of Color and Texture

Rhododendron

The backbone of Lakewold’s plant collection is the Rhododendron. Nearly 900 Rhodies make their home at Lakewold. From tiny species rhododendrons to giant hybrids of yesterday, Lakewold’s Rhody Collection is sure to captivate the visitor with heady fragrances, masses of color, and sheer volume. Viewing is best done March through May.

Japanese Maples

From the beautiful peeling bark of the Paper Bark Maple, Acer grisium, to their unrivalled fall color, the Japanese maple has become a quintessential northwest garden plant. Lakewold has 30 Japanese maples to view, including two state champions, but it’s our prized beauty Acer ‘Shindeshojo’ that gets all the attention. To see the ‘Shindeshojo’ at its peak you will need to come early spring, as its beauty is only ephemeral.

Champion Trees of Washington State

A champion tree is the largest known example of its kind, representing the maximum growth of a species. The Washington State Big Tree Program has registered over 1,000 trees belonging to over 800 species and cultivated varieties that are the largest in the state. This program is very important as it recognizes, documents, and helps preserve these majestic examples of biological maturity.

Current Champion Trees at Lakewold

Acer palmatum - Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ - Red Japanese Maple
Halesia caroliniana var. monticola - Mountain Silverbell
Ilex x altaclerensis camelliafolia - Camellia-leaved Highclere
Ilex crenata - Japanese Holly
Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood
Parrotia persica - Persian Ironwood
Prunus lusitanica - Portugal Cherry
Prunus ‘Pandora’ - Pandora Cherry
Prunus ‘Tai Haku’- Tai Haku Cherry

Source: Robert Van Pelt, Champion Trees of Washington State (U.S. of America: University of Washington Press, 1996.