A deciduous native tree also known as the White Birch
or Canoe Birch. Often found in dense stands, it grows to
33m tall, with 60cm diameter, in a broad oval shape. Bark
is white, papery, and peels away in strips.The oval leaves,
4cm long, are edged in coarse “teeth”. Its slender twigs
have bumps.
A common Pacific Coast conifer that grows up to 40m
tall and 4m in diameter.Trunk tapers from wide base to
narrow top. Leaves are yellowish-green and scale-like.
BC’s First Nations collected the fibrous bark and used it
to create baskets, clothing, ropes and mats.
4. Paper B irch Betula papyrifera
1. Western R edcedar Thuja plicata
7. Silver M aple Acer saccharinum
Common maple in eastern North America. Leaves are
large with deep lobes; green on top and silvery white
underneath. Reddish small flowers in early spring.
Autumn leaves vary from pale yellow to orange and red.
A deciduous tree that grows to 30m tall, with grey bark
that has deep grooves.
10. Coast R edwood Sequoia sempervirens
Native to Coastal California. One of the tallest trees in
the world growing up to 100 meters tall and living to
1500 years old. Sempervirens comes from two Latin
words, semper meaning ‘always’ and virens meaning
‘green’. Needles on lower branches are 1/2" to 1 1/4"
long in flat sprays.
Re d w o o d Pa r k
T h e t re e s o f
Discover the magnificent trees of Redwood Park through this self-guided walk. Although this
brochure highlights 24 trees, there are a total of 32 outstanding trees and five towering groves
marked for you to discover. As you walk the serene trails and explore this unique arboretum, hunt
for the other eight trees, including the rare Shagbark Hickory!
21. W y c h E l m Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens
12. C h i n e s e C h e s t n u t Castanea mollissima
6. Dougla s - f ir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Deciduous conifer native to China. Live trees discovered
in 1941; previously, known only from fossils. Grows
rapidly to 30 to 40m tall. Orange-brown fibrous bark.
Light brown branches turn upward. Soft, needle-like
leaves turn from pale green to light bronze in autumn.
Small, oval cones, 2-3cm.
Deciduous; up to 48m tall. Shaped like a broad widespreading cone. Rounded, untoothed leaves are a dark
glossy green that turns red-brown in autumn; leaves stay
on twigs late into winter. Pale grey bark is smooth, even
on older trees.
The City planted the Dawn Redwood trees in the park,
including this young specimen, after fossil evidence of
this species was found in the Park. See #3 for more
information.
Also called the Common Ash.A deciduous tree native to
Europe that grows to 45m tall and spreads vigorously.
On each stem there are 7-13 leaflets edged with distinct
teeth. Valuable for timber. Fruits are large and flat. In
winter have distinctive dark brown buds.
A native of Japan, this pyramid-shaped deciduous tree
grows to 38m tall. In spring the blooms are a coppery
pink; autumn color is also vibrant. Male and female
flowers are found on separate plants.
11. European B eech Fagus sylvatica
8. Dawn R edwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
5. European A sh Fraxinus excelsior
2. Katsura Cercidiphyllum japonicum
3. Dawn R edwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Pacific Northwest conifer very important for its timber.
Largest tree native to Canada; may reach 126m tall, but
more common at 60-70m with 1.2m diameter. Bark on
older trees is thick and fissured. Profuse cones hang
downward, 5-7cm long; distinguished by a 3-pronged
bract protruding below each cone scale.
9. Giant S equoia Sequoiadendron giganteum
Also called the Giant Redwood, native to the western
slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. One of the
largest trees in the world, growing up to 89m tall, with a
massive trunk (>3m). Some trees believed to be 3,500
years old. Foliage is grey-green overlapping scales and
reddish-brown fissured bark. See map for the location of
the Giant Redwood Grove.
12. Chinese C hestnut Castanea mollissima
A deciduous tree native to China. Grows vigorously
to 20m tall and spreads. Fruit is edible. Leaves are
oval-shaped, toothed, glossy, and light green.
land in 1959.
this potential park property and purchased the
of the property. Surrey recognized the value of
at which time a legal battle erupted over the disposal
David died in 1949, and then Peter at 86 in 1957,
This brochure was developed in partnership with
the White Rock and Surrey Naturalists.
nicknamed "The Hotel."
Photography by: Frank Thurston
Tree Identification: Susan Murray and Roy Strang, 1999
burned down, they built a two-story tree house,
isolated existence on the land. After several homes
Located in Surrey on 20th Avenue, between 176th Street and 180th Street
The twins, who were deaf from birth, lived an
Redwood Park
and vegetables.
and non-native trees were interspersed with flowers
Environmental benefits are calculated based on research done by
Environmental Defense, Paper Task Force, and Conservatree, who comissioned
a study on the environmental impacts of the paper industry.
Russia, Japan, France and Italy. Groves of native
other seeds, which they ordered from Austria,
trees
water
solid waste
electricity
greenhouse
gases
5
1,196
262
4
405
fully grown
gallons
pounds
million BTUs
pounds
They continued to collect and plant evergreen and
grove from seedlings obtained on a visit to California.
orchard when the brothers started the redwood
logged, was ready for cultivation as a fruit and nut
We are pleased to report the following resources that have
been saved by using this environmentally friendly paper:
on their 21st birthday. The land, which had been
This brochure is printed on recycled paper, made with
100% recycled fibers, 50% post-consumer waste,
processed chlorine free.
40 acres of land by their father, David Brown, in 1893,
David and Peter Brown (twins) were each given
Environmental Benefits of Using Recycled Paper
ECO-AUDIT
From the collection of the City of Surrey Archives
One of the original “Tree houses”
built by twin brothers, David and Peter Brown.
This park stands today as a living monument to the Brown family.
history of the City of Surrey, as well as a wonderful natural resource.
Redwood Park
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offers a window on the early pioneer
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9. Giant S equoia Sequoiadendron giganteum
Page 2
13. Lawson C ypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
17. English O ak Quercus robur
13. Lawson C ypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
19. Incens e - c edar Calocedrus decurrens
Also known as the Port Orford Cedar. A Pacific Coast
evergreen tree up to 42m tall. Branches grow
straight out from the trunk, then droop at the tips.
Older, large trees in cultivation may keep branches
almost to ground level. Many blue-brown or purplebrown cones. A timber tree.
Park Entrance
Native to Oregon and California. It is called the Incensecedar because the tree's oil has an incense-like odour.
Also called the Pencil Tree because the scent of its bark
is likened to the scent of fresh pencils. Largest specimen
70m tall and 2m in diameter.
20. Cedar o f L ebanon Cedrus libani
14. Monkey Puzzle Tree Araucaria araucana
Evergreen native to the Middle East. Grows to 43m tall.
Black or brown bark has scaly fissures and ridges.
Young trees are cone-shaped; older ones are flattopped. Needles are 1.5 to 2cm and a dull green
Evergreen native to Chile. Slow growth; reaches 25 to
30m tall. Symmetrical whorled branches and wedgeshaped, sharp-pointed dark-green leaves. Branchlets are
tangled and ropelike. Some trees may retain limbs very
close to the ground.Trees are male or female.
21. Wych E lm Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens’
Also known as Scotch Elm.This deciduous tree is native
to Europe. Grows to 30m tall. In spring, produces tiny
red flowers followed by winged green fruit. Large, thick
oval leaves are rough on top and soft underneath;
these dark green, double-toothed leaves turn yellow
in autumn.
15. Grand F ir Abies grandis
Conifer growing at low elevations in Pacific Coast
regions, preferably in rich soil, to 70m tall and higher;
diameter of 1m. Flat, blunt-tipped dark green needles
3-5cm long grow in a flat rank from either side of twig.
Needles have citrus aroma when crushed. Elongated
cones, found only on upper branches, point upward.
22. English W alnut Juglans regia
European native that grows quickly, especially in youth,
to 20m tall. Bark is smooth and grey. Branches are
horizontal or angled upward. Aromatic leaves grow to
7.5 to 15cm and have 5 to 7 leaflets. It is also a source
of our common edible walnuts.
16. Pacific Y ew Taxus brevifolia
Only native yew on the Pacific Coast. Grows in shade
under larger trees to 9m tall, 30cm diameter. A twisted
trunk. Cinnamon-colored bark on older species. Bark
found to contain taxol, a chemical used in treatment of
some types of cancer. Extremely slow growing, small
tees can be “ancient”.
23. Big L eaf M aple Acer macrophyllum
Widespread from southeastern Alaska to California,
this round-topped deciduous tree is also called the
Broadleaf Maple. Growing to 30m tall, it also has the
world's largest maple leaves, which are 5-lobed, 12 to
30cm, and often turn yellow in autumn. Showy hanging
clusters of greenish-white flowers in spring.
17. English O ak Quercus robur
Deciduous spreading tree native to Europe, where it
may grow to 42m tall. Bark is grey-brown with fissures.
Dark green leaves grow to 14cm on very short stalks.
Large round acorns may be singular or in clusters
of 2 to 3.
24. Black W alnut Juglans nigra
Vigorous, spreading deciduous tree native to eastern
North America. Grows to 50m tall. Wood used for
furniture; nuts are highly prized. Leaves are aromatic. In
spring, trees are late to leaf. Many parts of the tree
have medicinal properties.
18. Hiba A rborvitae Thujopsis dolabrata
Evergreen tree native to Japan. Pyramidal, of very slow
growth to 30m tall. Foliage resembles Western
Redcedar, but twigs are coarser, branching in a deer
horn effect. Leaves are dark green above with white
patches below.
4. Paper B irch Betula papyrifera
11. European B eech Fagus sylvatica
19. Incens e - c edar Calocedrus decurrens
3. Dawn R edwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
22. English W alnut Juglans regia