The Japanese Umbrella Pine

The Japanese umbrella-pine (Sciadopytis verticillata) is an attractive coniferous evergreen with unique foliage and an intriguing history. Sciadopytis verticillata, or koya-maki in Japanese, has existed on this earth for close to 250 million years (pre-dinosaurs!). As another member of Bayard Cutting Arboretum's “living fossil” club along with Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and Gingko (Ginkgo biloba), the umbrella-pine has no known living relatives, and is the sole representative of the genus Sciadopitys and family Sciadopityaceae. Three species of Sciadopitys were once found across the globe in North America and Northern Eurasia, but now only Sciadopitys verticillata is found naturally in the cloud forests of Japan. . 

The arrangement of the needles, which much resemble the spines on an umbrella, are what inspired both the botanical Latin and common name for this tree, but the descriptor of pine is misleading as it is not a member of the Pinus genus or Pinaceae family. The long needle-like leaves that are whorled around the branch are not technically leaves at all, but cladodes, a botanical phenomenon in which modified stem growths assume the photosynthetic function of leaves. A non-woody, but very common example of this are the flat, thick paddles of prickly pear cacti. The paddles are photosynthetic stems and the spines are actually the true leaves, just modified for protection against herbivory. On the umbrella-pine, the true leaves are small, brown scales that lay flush on the branch. True leaf or not, the luxuriant foliage of the umbrella-pine is unlike anything else we have in the garden, and is an excellent choice for year-round interest.

Yale University: True Leaves of Sciadopitys verticillata

The flaky cinnamon-colored bark of the umbrella-pine is another attractive feature of the tree, usually secreted away by the dense foliage of the little evergreen umbrellas. The umbrella-pine has been a highly prized timber species for centuries as a component of the ‘five trees of Kiso’, a forested valley that provided high value timber for Japan’s governmental and spiritual buildings during feudal times, and is still sought after for boat building. There are a few familiar landscape plants that comprise this forest: Japanese umbrella-pine (Sciadopitys verticillata or koyamaki), Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa or hinoki), Japanese arborvitae (Thuja standishii or nezuko), Japanese falsecypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera or sawara), and Hiba arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata or asuhi). 

Sciadopitys ‘Picola’

Sciadopitys ‘Ossorio’s Gold’

At Bayard Cutting Arboretum, we have 4 out of 5 of the species representing this ancient forest palette, with 14 specimens of Japanese umbrella-pine alone. Among the specimens include impressive examples of mature trees (1946-NP47), and several examples of newer cultivars that explore the species’ texture, color, and habit. Sciadopitys ‘Propeller’ (2023-0043) is one of the newest additions to the Arboretum, named as such because the leaves gently arch around the stem, reminiscent of an airplane’s propeller. Sciadopitys ‘Picola’(2018-0066) is a true dwarf variety, maintaining a dense, compact habit with shortened shoot growth, and Sciadopitys ‘Ossorio’s Gold’ (2020-0229) was selected for its evergold foliage, which is most striking during the gray winter months. You can also learn about the Japanese umbrella-pine in our newly installed Museum of Trees exhibit, located in the Visitor’s Center!

Defining Our Collections

Our Visitor Center has officially been open since early summer. We’ve had the opportunity to meet so many of you and share our mission through exhibits and knowledgeable staff. It has been a true pleasure to see our passion for trees impact our visitors’ relationship with the Arboretum. At the end of September, an additional exhibit has been installed at the entrance of the Visitor Center. It introduces what an arboretum is and how Bayard Cutting Arboretum defines it as a “Museum of Trees”. Visitors can discover our notable specimens and study the key identifying features in beautifully sculpted botanical models. Key specimens are represented as a scaled, hand drawn silhouette and realistic model with a short description. For example, one of the key specimens is the Japanese umbrella pine described by Jessica. Visitors also have the opportunity to scan the QR code and find the tree's location in the landscape. The exhibit allows both new and seasoned visitors to gain a deeper appreciation for the nuances in our individual trees and collection as a whole. 

The back of the exhibit introduces how our individual specimens make up collections. This is my favorite part of the exhibit because it shares a new perspective to our visitors. It reminds me of my grandfather’s collection of international coins. Growing up I loved studying the different sizes, colors, and images. As I’ve aged, I recognized the coins created a larger sense of meaning and value. My grandparents traveled the world, collected historic coins, and had stories for each piece. Some were collected while serving our country overseas, others from extended vacations, and some gifted from friends. There are many methods and approaches to building collections. This part of the exhibit shares three key concepts on how we approach our tree collections. It conveys how purposeful we are with plant acquisitions and plantings. Visitors can learn how we utilize concepts like taxonomy, conservation, and beauty to display our trees in a meaningful and organized way.

Every season brings new things to marvel at in nature. We encourage you to visit the Arboretum in the upcoming weeks as foliage changes and weather cools. Stop in the Visitor Center to explore our newest exhibit, “Museum of Trees”. Also, we would like to thank you all for the wonderful responses and support of our Visitor Center. We look forward to meeting more visitors and sharing our love of trees. Keep your eyes open for more finishing touches to our exhibits and new merchandise available in the upcoming months.

-Joy Arden, Landscape Curator

Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Honey Available

Many of you may have noticed the hives hidden away at the eastern portion of the CSA Farm in the Arboretum. Our beekeeper, George Tashie of Bayberry Apiary, has spent the last year working on strengthening and rebuilding the hives. These hives have been nurtured for over two years now, and the bees have finally amassed enough honey to be harvested. 

For those who have been searching for local honey produced on the South Shore, this tree pollen based variety will be sold at the Visitor Center starting October 1st.

Follow us on Facebook for more information about

Beekeeper George Tashie and our delicious honey.

Scarecrows Celebrating

New York State Park Centennial

In 2024, New York State Parks and Historic Sites celebrates our Centennial, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of our parks. Bayard Cutting Arboretum's annual fall scarecrow display celebrates this milestone! Walk through the Four Season Garden and Old Pinetum to enjoy the fall display.

The scarecrows will remain on display (weather permitting) throughout much of October.

A relaxing view of the sun rising over the CSA Farm.

Patrick Hein, Park Manager

Art Show: Impressions of Nature, A Multi-Media Fine Art Exhibition

Women Sharing Art, Inc. has been a long-time friend of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, and this year is a celebration of their 7th multi-media exhibition. WSA is thrilled to present this autumn show entitled Impressions of Nature.

This must-see exhibit, inspired by the beauty and diversity of nature, offers a captivating multimedia experience. It’s perfect for art lovers, nature enthusiasts, and those with a curiosity for the unexpected. The show immerses visitors in a dynamic celebration of the natural world, encouraging them to see familiar environments in new and imaginative ways.

September 26 - October 20, 2024

Thursday - Sunday 11:00AM to 4:00PM

Forest Bathing Walk

Join certified forest therapy guide, Linda Lombardo of Wild Heart Nature Connection, on a walk to reconnect with the natural world around us.

Saturday, October 5th - 10:30AM to 12:30PM

Fee: $40 per person.

Please wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and warm clothing for walking outdoors. Register here!

Jungle Bob’s Exotic Reptile Show:

Creepy Crawler Edition

Jungle Bob brings the wonders of nature to life with a LIVE animal show featuring some of the world's "unloved, unusual and unknown." Expect to encounter amazing reptiles, amphibians and creepy crawling invertebrates! Jungle Bob, Long Island’s own adventurer and traveler, has explored tropical rainforests over 4 dozen times. Adults and kids alike are treated to an interactive program getting up close and personal with awesome animals.

Saturday, October 26th - 9:30AM to 10:30PM

$15 per Adult (Ages: 18+)

$10 per Child (Ages: 5-17)

Register here!

Arboretum Yoga

In partnership with Think-Wellness NY, a licensed Yoga Instructor will guide participants through a 30-minute nature-based mindfulness lesson and 60 minutes of yoga that aim to foster a deeper personal understanding of the Arboretum’s mission statement.

Saturday, October 12th - 9:30AM to 11AM

$27 per person

Register here!

Seasonal Scents: Custom Candle Workshop

This holiday season join us for a workshop with special guest Chrissy Lehat of Curiously Creative Candles. A local Long Island business owner with 25 years of experience making candles. In this workshop we will be learning a layering process to utilize recycled wax and choose from a variety of seasonal scents to create a unique gift for yourself or loved ones.

Saturday, November 23rd - 9:30AM to 11AM

$45 per person

Register here!

Watercolor Workshops with Teresa Cromwell

Have fun with watercolors and go home with a finished picture ready to frame!

Tuesday, October 8 - 11:00AM to 1:00PM

Saturday, September 19 - 11:00AM to 1:00PM

Fee: $50 per Student

All materials are provided by the instructor. Feel free to bring your own paints and brushes to class. Registration, additional dates, and more information can be found on our website.