Trees

Trees have always been an important element in Patterson Park. The earliest record of tree plantings date back to 1835, when William Patterson planted 200 trees on the six acres of land that he donated to the City of Baltimore.

The species composition of the trees within the park has changed dramatically since the 19th century, not only in the diversity (the number of different species present), but also in the composition of the tree species. In 1887 an inventory conducted and reported in the annual Parks Commission report revealed that the most predominate species were an assortment of Maples: Silver, Norway, Red, and Box Elder. The second most prominent trees found in the park were the Lindens, both European and American. According to a map of the park dated 1915 which documented tree locations and species, the Maples continued to be the most dominant species, with the Lindens showing an increase in prominence. The Maple species in the 1915 inventory were unspecified, though it is known that Sugar Maples were planted between 1887 and 1915 adding to the number of maple species on the site. Species diversity declined by more than half during this period from 45 species to 21.

Since 1915, species diversity has increased by nearly three times to 59 species. Lindens are now dominant, Oaks much more prominent, and Maples showing a decline. Of the Maples, the Box Elder has disappeared, the Silver, Norway, and Sugar Maples have declined dramatically in numbers, yet the Red Maples have increased. Though Lindens and Oaks are the dominant trees in Patterson Park, there is a remarkable and eclectic assortment of species that reside there such as the largest Amur Cork and the largest Weeping Mulberry found in the city. Other species that date back to 1887 and are indigenous to Southern Europe include the Horse Chestnut and the Babylon Weeping Willow.

Through a partnership with the Fine Arts Gallery of UMBC, the Friends of Patterson Park were able, with the help of the Joseph Beuys Youth Group, to plant 130 new trees over the last year. More than 300 volunteers have helped to plant and continue to mulch and water the new trees.