The Appalachian mountains are home to some native species that are not usually found while hiking here in Licking County. With this, we have brought the Appalachian Trail to you! The Dawes Arboretum is now home to the “Appalachian Hollow”, located next to Holly Hill trail. This collection is made up of a diverse flora and there are many species specific to Appalachia. This area of our grounds is unique in the fact that it is mainly made up of wild origin, meaning they were collected directly from wild plants- with the correct permits, of course.
Recently, our Science & Conservation team traveled to Jackson County where they focused on collecting umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala ) and bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), both of which are on the Ohio rare plant list and are Appalachian species. With having the knowledge of their exact location, we are able to provide conservation and research to the individual plants we grow. By conserving plants, this protects the diversity found in genes by growing plants outside of their native range or habitat- this is called ex-situ conservation. The Appalachian Hollow is a great example of how botanic gardens can grow for conservation purposes while also creating a beautiful environment for the public to enjoy.
The planning of this collection began with the overall goal to to provide visitors with a representation of species and habitats from the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. The species added to the trail were intentionally collected to provide those that could be found in cove forests and mountainous habitats of the Appalachia mountain range.
During the start of the project in 2021, we focused from the ground up. Basic needs such as soil and prioritizing defined soil mounds for planting that require better drainage were first defined. We also acquired woodland soil/humus from other locations (leaving limited disturbance) to backfill rock outcroppings in preparation for new plant additions.
From summer of 2022 to the winter of 2023, we have been expanding this collection. We are presently working on propagations and acquisition of plant material to increase plantings in the area. Our Science and Conservation team are planning more routes of extra sub-trails within the region to highlight specific plants/plantings.