NYC’s Great Trees: The Caucasian Wingnut at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Discover the 'Great Trees' of NYC, focusing on the magnificent Caucasian Wingnut at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Learn about its history, impressive size, and how to find this ancient specimen.

The Remarkable Caucasian Wingnut

There are over seven million trees in the Big Apple by the USDA’s count, but just around 120 worthwhile of the New York City Parks Department’s official title “Great Tree of New York City.” These are trees of historical, cultural or organic significance, with 5 of them situated within the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. One of these, located on the west side of the garden, is a Caucasian Wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia)– a titan, wizened and knotted specimen with a trunk that splits into 4 parts, one so thick and horizontal that it requires external help in the form of a prop to keep up.

A Century of Growth and Propagation

The tree originally came from Rome in 1922 as a sapling, and in its century of development has actually accomplished 60 feet in height and 9 feet in diameter. The tree was propagated in 1978, with the younger tree grown even more down the course near the Herb Yard.

Finding the White Wingnut

The White Wingnut lies simply southern of the Oak Circle on the west side of the Garden. To reach it, go into via the Flatbush Method gateway and stay on the western (left-hand) course or, if going into through the Eastern Parkway or Washington Avenue entries, head to the Cherry Esplanade, then take the path past the Rose Arc Swimming Pool to Oak Circle.