By Andi Anderson
Iowa State University is expanding its impressive campus landscape with the addition of 50 to 60 rare tree and shrub species. The initiative aims to increase plant diversity, provide valuable educational opportunities, and strengthen the long-term health of the campus environment.
Recognized as one of the nation's most beautiful college campuses, Iowa State is home to more than 12,000 trees. This latest project builds on that legacy by introducing uncommon species that are rarely found in residential landscapes due to their unique growing requirements.
The project is a collaborative effort between Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) and Iowa State Student Government. Funding for the initiative was provided through the Student Government Green Initiative Fund, which allocated resources to purchase the new trees and shrubs.
Rhonda Martin, Landscape Architect with Facilities Planning and Management, highlighted the challenges of growing these uncommon species, saying, "They’re considered to be rare because not many homeowners would take a chance on these plants on their property as they are often hard to grow."
The project also received support from Delaney Graef, Forestry Student and Student Government Senator, who worked closely on the initiative before graduating. Graef emphasized the educational value of increasing the variety of tree species on campus. "Being such a tree nerd, I’ve really opened people’s eyes to the needs of campus and how students can benefit from seeing tree species not commonly found in Iowa," Graef said.
Among the rare plants being introduced are the sawtooth oak, American filbert shrub, striped maple, and ponderosa pine. These species represent different regions of the United States and contribute to a richer and more diverse landscape.
According to Martin, "We’re diversifying the campus canopy to better represent the various regions of the United States and other parts of the world. We try to get as broad a plant diversity as we can and as Iowa’s climate allows."
The new plantings will also serve as outdoor learning tools. Students studying forestry, ecology, and natural resource management will gain hands-on experience identifying and understanding a broader range of plant species.
Jen Merryman, Assistant Teaching Professor of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, noted the value of this exposure for future forestry professionals. "Forestry professionals move around a lot throughout the course of their careers, so it’s important to expose forestry students to as many species as possible while they’re on campus," Merryman said.
Beyond their educational value, the additional trees and shrubs will help increase biodiversity, improve resistance to insects and diseases, and ensure Iowa State's campus remains beautiful and environmentally resilient for generations to come.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, Education