Trees
There are more than 50 trees in the Hortus. Most of them are unique: they are either very old or rare, or have a striking growth habit. The 24 most remarkable specimens have been included in the tree route. Eye-catchers are the huge Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna; planted in 1795), the evergreen Turner's oak (Quercus x turneri), and the more than 150-year-old common catalpa or Indian bean (Catalpa bignonioides).
The presence of so many large trees is unusual, especially in the center of a metropolis like Amsterdam. This is because trees often have problems in the narrow, busy streets of a city center. In the Hortus, the branches and roots are given all the room they need. Many birds and insects have discovered the Hortus as an ideal habitat: they get their food from the trees and build their nests or seek shelter there.
By following a special care program, the garden employees make sure that the Hortus' trees stay in good condition.