Missourian, 5/15/1960
Rare Plants to Beautify M.U.
School Using Ginkgo Tree, New 'Nigras'
by ROBERT SANDERS
The University campus is receiving a mass horticultural beauty treatment this spring as about 8,000 individual plants are being added to the already lush acres. Including ground covers, this number would jump to 20,000.
There are 134 new species and varieties of trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers rarely seen in Columbia or elsewhere in the state that will be introduced.
In addition to beautifying the campus, the new additions eventually will give Columbia residents and students an opportunity to view first hand virtually every variety of plant grown in Missouri.

Plans are to identify many of the various trees and shrubs with plastic laminated labels embedded in the group. Trial labeling of the unusual plants at the Memorial Student Union has been completed. Detailed location maps also are being drawn up for use late this summer by touring groups.
Designing and maintaining the new plantings are associate professor Willard S. Summers and assistant professor Ronald Taven, both of the landscaping section of the horticulture department.
Changes are taking place all over the campus.
The University Mall's current naked look will be transformed into a vista of beauty by 80 trees and more than 1,000 flowers in the school colors.
Simulating the falling water of the fountains will be 32 "Higan" weeping cherry trees. Rare in Columbia, these grow to a height of 10 feet and have large white-pink blooms. Sixteen have been planted and the rest will be added in the fall. Initial blooms are expected next spring.
Tracing the length of the Mall will be 48 unusual "Mayfield" gingko trees. Climbing to a height of 30 feet with a 7 foot spread, this picturesque tree features fan-shaped leaves and a graceful, narrow fastigiate form that offers contrast to the weeping cherries.

"The gingko is the most permanent tree we could have planted," Taven said. "In addition to being virtually storm resistant, it is not infested with any insects or diseases and needs no spraying. It is probably the most ancient tree alive today. Geographical records prove it has been growing for 10 million years."
It also has an odd habit. Unlike most trees whose leaves drop in small clusters over a period of weeks or months, the ginkgo's bright yellow fall foliage drops overnight.
The ground under the gingkos will be covered with grey-green creeping junipers in place of grass. Each plant is expected to spread about 10 feet.

Five beds of Sparton roses will grace the north and south sides of the fountains during the summer. About 1,000 red and white tulips will bloom between the cherries by next spring.
Warm-seasoned "Meyer" zoysia grass is planned for the 12,000 square foot of soil area between the 20-foot Mall walks. "It's so plush that when you walk on it your feet never touch the ground," Summers commented. Weed eradication of the area began this past Friday and planting is scheduled for the first week of June. Zoysia is not seeded, but instead one square foot of the sod will be torn apart and the resulting runners will be painstakingly placed in rows covering 100 square feet.
The dense grass has many advantages over the popular bluegrass variety, but one particular disadvantage. Winter's first
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Rare Plants Being Planted To Beautify M.U. Campus
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frost turns it brown; at that time the bronze blades can be sprayed with a naturalistic green dye.

Landscaping at the Student Union is simple and complimentary to the vertical spires of the building. Six rare pyramidal white pines were planted at the west entrance last month. "It was quite a problem to find these six," Summers said. "We wanted more, but there just aren't enough in the country of the size we needed." These trees will climb to about 30 feet when mature and are the most permanent and reliable pines that could have been planted.
The Union's entire west wall is neatly faced with 24 "Nigras", a new variety of yew. The squatty shrub has berrylike fruit and its deep green foliage maintains its color during the winter. Until recently, this species had not been available in Columbia.
Francis Quadrangle will be re-landscaped and "rejuvenated" by next spring. Larger trees, overgrown and irregularly sized shrubs and some woody plants facing the Quadrangle will be removed. The lawn area will get new grass. Broad-leafed evergreens and shrubs in new, crisp foliage will be planted to fill in gaps and complete a background in the landscaping design.

Currently bare grounds around the new dormitories are being clothed in exotic flowering trees.
Twelve pink redbuds known as "Pink Charm" will border the North and east sides of the men's South Residence Hall group. Clusters of leaves first appeared early this month on the exclusive dozen, probably the first trees of this spe[c]ies to grow in the state. Instead of the strong magenta color of the redbud common in Columbia, these will have clear, pink flowers which will harmonize with the buff-colored buildings.
Ten "red jade" Flowering crabapple trees have been planted on the east side of the new women's cafeteria on Kentucky Boulevard. These have a contorted, picturesque growth and will grow only 10 feet high. Blush-white flowers are characteristic, followed by brilliant red fruit. Some of the new plants bloomed unexpectedly this spring, to the amazement of the horticulture department.

One of the rarest trees planted this spring was the Japanese katsura now bordering the sidewalks on the north and east sides of the new women's residence halls. When mature, the leaves on this tree will grow in a layer effect, giving an oriental accent to the modern architecture. Five katsuras were planted this spring; five more are ordered for next spring. "I haven't seen another in the state," Taven added. This species is as pest free as any tree can be.
The Japanese zelkova planted on the west side of the new Electrical Engineering building also is unique and new to the campus.
"I had to go to Michigan to even see a zelkova," Taven said. "This variety might be accepted as one of the best substitutes for the American elm because of the similarity in shape. It is resistant, but not immune to the lethal Dutch elm disease."

More than 100 other varieties of plants and trees which are growing in popularity with Columbia homeowners will be planted in prominent locations.
"Horticulture students will benefit particularly from the wide assortment," Summers said. "We now have to take frequent weekend trips to see some of the rarer plants that we will grow here.
"We have so many new buildings to landscape that progress is slow on rejuvenating the plants around existing buildings on the campus. The Memorial Student Union was finished last week and plans are to star[t] on the Francis Quadrangle this summer or early fall."