There are many interesting trees and plants in Cwmdonkin Park, some dating from the 19th Century. Apparently, Kew Gardens still holds details of the original planting.
As part of the 150th Anniversary, Friends of Cwmdonkin Park have been identifying and labelling (in Latin, English and Welsh) some of the more interesting trees.
Here’s a map to help you find them.
Lawson’s Cypress (Fagus Sylvatica Atropurpurea) Ffawydden Goprog
Lawson’s Cypress is native to California and was introduced to Britain in 1854. It is named after the 19th century Scottish plant collector Charles Lawson. The trunk from our tree has “forked” making this distinctive shape.
Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) Oestrwrydden
Hornbeam trees can live for over 300 years and have year round leaf cover that is great for wildlife in the winter. Look out for the catkins in the spring. Hornbeams can be found in Asia and Europe but also native to the U.K.
Hickory (Carya Ovata) Collen Ffrengig
These trees produce nuts that are highly valued both by wildlife and humans. Hickory nuts are rich and sweet. The wood is often used for smoking meat. The hickory is native to North America.
Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) Masarnen Felys
Sugar maples are famous for their sweet sap, which is harvested in the spring to produce maple syrup. It takes about 150 litres of sap to make just a few litres of syrup! They come from North America where maple syrup is very popular.
Katsura (Cercidophyllum Japonicum) Catsura
One of the most unique features of this tree is its sweet, caramel-like fragrance that it gives off in the autumn when its leaves drop. Some people even describe the scent as similar to burnt sugar or candyfloss. Katsuras are native to The Caribbean and East Asia. Quite a change from the South Wales climate.
Judas Tree (Cercis Siliquastrum) Sercis Suddas
There’s a legend that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from this tree after betraying Jesus, causing the tree to blush with shame, which is how it allegedly got its name. It has stunning pink or purple flowers that bloom directly on the trunk and branches. Unsurprisingly, it is native to the East Mediterranean.
Magnolia (Magnolia Soulangeana) Coeden Fagnolia
There are hundreds of species of magnolias. Fossil evidence shows that magnolias could have first appeared over 200 million years ago. Unlike most flowers that rely on bees, magnolias evolved before bees existed. Instead, they are pollinated by beetles! They originally come from China but can now be found all over the world.
Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) Coeden Afalau Crabas
The crab apple has delicate blossoms in spring that range from white to pink, filling the air with a sweet fragrance that attracts bees and other pollinators. In autumn, it produces small, tart fruits that are perfect for making jam, ciders, or even wildlife snacks.
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron Tulipfera) Tiwilpwydden
Tulip trees are majestic flowering trees that can grow up to 120 feet tall and have distinctive lobed leaves that look like tulips. They are part of the magnolia family. You might have to look up high for the flowers. Tulip trees are native to North America.
Copper Beech (Fagus Sylvatica Atropurpurea) Ffawydden Goprog
This tree is easily spotted by its distinctive dark purple leaf colour. The reason for its purple colour is still not fully understood. Its foliage provides food for moth caterpillars, and its nuts are eaten by birds, squirrels, and mice. It’s native to North America.
Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa Bignoides) Ffâ o India
This tree has handsome, large leaves and showy, bell-shaped flowers in late summer, followed by slender bean-like seed pods. The tree is native to the south eastern United States, and the “Indian” part of its name comes from the Catawba Native American tribe.
Giant Redwood ( Sequoiadendron Gigantuem) Gochwydden Welingtonia
The tallest trees on earth. They can reach heights of over 350feet (107m) and can live for thousands of years making them among the oldest living organisms. They are listed as endangered, with fewer than 80,000 remaining in their native California. The tree was brought to the United Kingdom in1853, where it is often called Wellingtonia, after the Duke of Wellington. Our redwood is only about 30 feet (9m) high so has a long way to grow.
Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus Atlantica Glauca) Cedrwydden yr Atlas
You’d be more likely to find this tree in Morocco than Swansea. That’s where the highest number of Blue Atlas Cedars are in the world. In its native Atlas Mountains, it is a sacred tree, symbolizing resilience and wisdom. Its silvery-blue foliage makes it a standout in gardens and landscapes.
Whitebeam (Sorbus Aria) Cerddinen Wen
The whitebeam’s fruit is a favourite of garden birds. It’s rarely found in the wild but is a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens, with lovely blossom in late spring and russet leaves and scarlet berries in the autumn. The tree produces red berries in late summer or autumn, which are a favourite of birds. They are edible for humans but taste best when nearly rotten! It’s native to Europe and the U.K.
Maidenhair (Ginko Bilboa) Coed y gwyfyn
This tree dates back over 270 million years! Often called living fossils – they were around before the dinosaurs! Its fan-shaped leaves turn a stunning golden-yellow in autumn, creating a breath taking display. Six Ginkgo trees survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima so they are known as symbols of hope and resilience. Their fruit is a bit smelly, so most public places only plant male trees that don’t produce fruit.
London Plane Tree ( Platanus ×Acerifolila) Palmwydden Llundain
The London plane tree was first discovered in the 17th century. Its bark peels off in patches to reveal a camouflage-like pattern. Even though it’s called the London plane, it’s planted in cities all over the world because it’s so resilient. It can cope with pollution and heavy pruning. its large canopy provides shelter for birds and insects, making it a mini-ecosystem in the middle of the city.
Honey Locust (Gleditsa Triacanthos) Melddrainen
The tree produces long, twisted seed pods that contain a sweet, edible pulp, which was historically used by Native Americans as a food source. Animals also like the pulp and help spread the seeds. The seeds inside the pods are hard and can be used as beads or in crafts. Some parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine, and scientists are studying its potential to fight cancer and arthritis.
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) Llawr-sirianen Portiwgal
With glossy, dark evergreen leaves, complemented by striking reddish stems that add a splash of colour even in winter. In early summer, it produces clusters of fragrant white flowers that attract bees and other pollinators, followed by small red-purple fruits that birds love. It can reach impressive heights if left untrimmed. The example in Cwmdonkin is unusually large. Although its leaves are similar to a bay leaf, they are not edible.
Chinese Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) Coeden Melinwyntio
The Chinese windmill has fan-shaped leaves, which can grow up to 1.5 meters long, give it a distinctive “windmill” appearance. This palm is incredibly resilient—it can tolerate cold temperatures as low as -15°C, making it one of the most hardy palms in the world. In late spring, the tree produces clusters of small, fragrant yellow flowers, followed by blue-black fruits that attract birds. In China and Japan, people have used its leaf fibres for thousands of years to make ropes, sacks, and cloth.
Tree Ferns (Cyatheales) Coedredynen
Tree ferns are some of the oldest plants on Earth and have been around for over 360 million years. They can grow up to 20 meters tall. These ferns reproduce through spores and their young fronds emerge as tightly coiled “fiddleheads” that unfurl as they grow. Tree ferns thrive in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as temperate rainforests. Long ago, coal forests were filled with tree ferns and cycads. Dinosaurs may have munched on them!
Silver/white birch (Betula jacqemonti) Bedwen
The tree gets its name from its white bark, which often peels off in thin, papery layers. As it ages, the bark becomes dark and rugged at the base. This bark is also waterproof and highly flammable, even when wet, which made it invaluable to indigenous peoples for crafting canoes and fire starters. White birches are among the first trees to grow in areas recovering from disturbances like forest fires – called a pioneer tree. Look out for the lovely catkin flowers in the spring. So called, as they look like lambs’ tails.