There’s a growing body of evidence that trees are good medicine, and that gardens and green spaces are a prescription for good health. Those of us who grow and care for trees know that walking among trees in an arboretum, a forest, or in our nurseries feels good. So, it comes as no surprise to us that trees and green spaces are good medicine and are increasingly being prescribed by doctors for improving patient health.
The healing power of plants has been recognized since ancient times, but only recently has their contribution to human health been studied and quantified via scientific methods. Some of that science is highlighted in the March issue of Digger Magazine, in an article authored by Erica Browne Grivas, “The restorative powers of plants.”
Grivas reports that, “mounting evidence across disciplines shows that green environments boost physical and mental health, creativity, attention, feelings of safety, property values, and more.” She interviewed internationally recognized experts in the field of therapeutic garden design including Dr. Kathleen Wolf, retired University of Washington social science researcher and a pioneer in exploring the connections between human health and the nearby nature provided by urban forests. Wolf notes that people seek out nature in times of crisis or grief and refers to a design theory that our attraction to trees is hardwired after centuries of finding shelter and safety among them.
Grivas also interviewed Horticultural Therapist Teresia Hazen, who’s been a driving force in the development of healing gardens. She recently retired from Legacy Health Systems where she spearheaded the creation of more than a dozen healing gardens on Portland area hospital grounds. Most of the gardens include JFS trees, chosen by Hazen for their healing powers and ability to provide garden visitors with shade and solace and respite. Her pioneering work and leadership, her gardens and some of her favorite JFS trees are featured in our June 15, 2023 blog, Trees are Good Medicine.
Grivas turned to JFS Communications Director Nancy Buley for suggestions of good trees for healing gardens. She highlighted several that are time-tested favorites of Hazen – Golden Raindrops® Crabapple, June Snow™ Dogwood and Paperbark Maple.
“Trees with interesting bark such as paperbark maple, Stewartia and American hornbeam are great choices for therapeutic gardens,” Buley said. “Trees with fragrant flowers, unusual form, or bright and colorful summer and fall foliage are also important design considerations.”
Several of our favorite trees for therapeutic gardens and healing spaces are described:
Paperbark Maple
Acer griseum
The handsome trunks of multi-stem forms multiply the beauty of the exfoliating, cinnamon-brown bark of this handsome and tough maple species. Rich green foliage and blazing red to orange fall color give it all-season appeal. Whether grown as a single-trunk tree or multi-trunked, it is a sight to behold in any season. Planted close to a seat wall or garden pathway, it entices hospital patients and garden visitors to reach out and touch its magically smooth, papery bark. In addition to trees grown from seed, we offer two cultivars developed at our nursery: Fireburst® Paperbark Maple was selected for superior all-around performance and Copper Rocket® Paperbark Maple for its uniquely columnar form and outstanding foliage and fall color. Find photos and details of all three in the tree library on our website.
Heart's Desire™ Redbud
Cercis canadensis ‘UMN7101’
This exceptionally hardy introduction of the University of Minnesota is a perfect choice for healing gardens in cold winter regions where other redbuds might not survive. It welcomes spring with a profusion of lavender pink blooms, bringing the therapeutic healing power of flowers to gardens and green spaces. Its stunning display of flowers is a welcome sight after the long, dark days of winter. Heart-shaped leaves are delightful throughout the growing season as they mature to medium green and turn bright yellow in autumn. Rounded and spreading in form, mature height and spread of this USDA Zone 4 tree are approximately 15’ x 20’. Pictured on our website as a grove of multi-stem trees.
Milky Way Select Dogwood
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way Select’
This time-tested selection of Chinese Dogwood serves up four seasons of beauty and is most notable for its prolific crop of white flowers that smother its dark green leaves in June. Composed of four creamy white bracts, they are followed in late summer by bright orange red fruits. These complement the deep red and orange to scarlet fall foliage and remain well after leaf drop to provide an extra display of seasonal color. With age, it develops mottled bark in warm tones of brown and gray that add to its winter appeal. Mature form of this USDA Zone 5 tree is widely vase shaped as it grows to 15’x 15’. Find more photos on our website.
Golden Raindrops® Crabapple
Malus ‘Schmidtcutleaf’
Elegant and unique among the flowering crabapples, the slender, upright growing branches of this unique cultivar are smothered in springtime with masses of delicate, starlike white flowers. Blooms are followed by deeply lobed, fine textured foliage that turns golden yellow in autumn.
Abundant clusters of tiny golden yellow fruits complement its glossy green, disease-resistant leaves in late summer and sparkle like golden raindrops among the bare branches of early winter. Cedar waxwings, robins and other birds flock to its tasty, beak-size, 1/4” fruits. Zone 3 hardiness as well as good resistance to heat and drought extend its planting range.
Declaring that “every garden should have a Golden Raindrops® Crabapple,” Teresia Hazen has included this top-performing garden tree in many of her therapeutic garden designs. Learn more about this unique crabapple and its remarkable offspring, Royal Raindrops® Crabapple, in our online tree library.
Additional resources for learning more about the
health benefits of trees, healing gardens and green spaces:
Gardeners! Please note that our nursery is strictly wholesale. To purchase these and other trees grown by our nursery, please use our Retailer Locator to find sources of JFS trees near you.
