Autumnal highlights: Cross breed

As part of Westonbirt's activities for families this October, Caroline Bennett from our Learning and Participation Team has created a trail of autumnal highlights which will run from 29 October - 2 November. Here are some of the fascinating facts she has researched...

Unlike deciduous trees, this tree, Pinus x schwerinii, has a very different survival strategy. It has tough weather resistant leaves that stay on the tree throughout the winter.

Evergreen leaves are often waxy or hairy, small in size (like these needles) or thick and leathery like rhododendron. All these features help to reduce water loss during winter.

This pine is a natural cross between the Eastern White Pine from North America and the Blue Pine from Afghanistan. It was discovered in (and named after) the town of Schwerin in Germany, where the two trees were growing near one another in a park.

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