The Trees of the Bishop's Palace

The grounds of the Palace cover an area of approximately 14 acres and contain a magnificent collection of trees. Here we identify some of these trees to give you a flavour of what you can see during your visit.

Foxglove Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa)

Native to China
Stems of foxglove-like flowers appear in May followed by large velvet leaves.

Handkerchief Tree (Davida Involucrata)

Native to China
A hardy ornamental deciduous tree. First introduced in 1897

American Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra)

Native to the USA
Imported to Britain in the mid 18th century. Rarely found north of the midlands. Lives for around 200 years. The wood is valued for furniture ands gun stocks. The skin of the fruit was used as a brown dye. This tree is about 190 years old. A young established tree is planted nearby ready to take over

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus Altissima)

Native to China
Imported into Britain in 1751, its Latin name means ‘Reaching to the Heavens’, even though these trees reach a maximum of 25metres (65ft). The leaves unfold a deep red in May of June. The female tree bears bunches of fruit that become a striking crimson in late autumn.

Golden Catalpa (Catalpa Bignonioides Auten)

USA
A smaller variation of the Southern Catalpa, it has bright yellow leaves which turn light green after mid-summer. A tender tree which can scorch in direct summer sun.

Black Mulberry (Morus Nigra)

Central Asia
There are three Black Mulberry trees in the garden. Two are survivors of five planted in 1897, the third was presented to Bishop Bickersteth for his 80th birthday in 2001.

Black Locust Tree (Robinia Pseudacacia)

SE USA
Also known as the false Acacia it was introduced into England in 1638. It thrives in poor soils and needs warm summers to bear masses of white fragrant flowers.

Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa Bignonioides)

S USA
Introduced into Britain in 1726. It needs hot summers to flower well. The flowers are white tinged with pink. The fruits which are hanging pods remain on the tree throughout the winter and later split open to drop their seeds.

Maidenhair Tree (Ginko Biloba)

China
Also known as the Ginko, it was first raised in Britain in 1758. It has unusual leaves being fan shaped, light green turning dark green and yellow in autumn. Leaves have been found in fossils which show it was widely distributed around the world 150 million years ago. A hardy tree which needs warm summers for good growth, male and female flowers on separate trees, female trees are rare in Britain.

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera)

E USA
Introduced into Britain around 1650, this tree was planted in 1909. One of the first Tulip trees to be grown in England was in Bishop Crompton's gardens in Fulham. Its distinct shaped leaves turn a splendid gold and orange in autumn. It does flower but requires a hot summer to have a good show. The flowers are green and pale orange in colour and stand on the tree like tulips, hence its name.

Eucryphia Intermedia (Eucryphia Intermedia)

Chilean Hybrid
Grown for its display of large white fragrant flowers in late summer, this species is a hybrid first grown in Northern Ireland from two species from the southern hemisphere.

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glyptostroboides)

SW China
Grown widely in parks and gardens for ornament, it has orangelred bark which peels in vertical stringy flakes and can reach 40m. (130ft) when fully grown.

Weeping Willow (Salix Sepulcralis)

Asia, China & Europe
This species is a hybrid of the White Willow and Chinese Weeping Willow. This graceful tree grows on a small island in the moat. Its long branches reach down to the water beside the wooden footbridge.

Nottingham Medlar (Mespilus Germanica)

S Europe
Large crinkled, dark yellow-green leaves with sunken veins. White flowers with 5 petals, produces brown fruit edible when over-ripe.