Cathays Cemetery has a substantial tree collection, including some mature specimens probably planted in the 19th century. The Cemetery opened in 1859 and planting began in the early 1860s with purchases of Hawthorns to form boundaries, followed by Firs, Pines, Spruces, Yews and Red cedars. Subsequently native deciduous trees were added including Oaks, Beeches and Sycamores.[1] This is the present day southern half of the cemetery. Here there are Pines, Spruces, Yews, Evergreen oaks, Birches, Beeches, Ashes, Cypresses and Hollies, as well as Hawthorns, Magnolias, and ornamental Cherries and Crab apples. The main paths in the central part are lined with mature Austrian pines. Significant individual trees include the Cedar of Lebanon behind the chapels and the Harold Hillier lime at the Fairoak Road entrance. The southern-most section bordering Fairoak Road between the main (chapels) entrance and Cathays Library has much new planting from the 1990s.
The northern half, separated from the southern by Eastern Avenue, has a separate entrance off Allensbank Road and was developed during the early twentieth century. The tree collection here includes Hornbeams, Austrian pines, Redwoods, Beeches and some old Cherry trees.
The following notable trees are all in the southern part of Cathays Cemetery.
| Name | Common Name | Origin | Status | Location | OS Grid | Map ref | Place | Event | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abies nordmanniana | Caucasian fir | W. Caucasus, N Turkey | North east of chapels near railway line | ST 18365 78840 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Acer campestre | Field maple | Europe & West Asia | Beside the Fairoak Road boundary | ST 18121 78434 | U | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Acer capillipes | Red snake-bark maple | Japan | South west of chapels | ST 18110 78583 | N | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset'† | Red maple | Garden origin | Towards the south end | ST 18118 78527 | T | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Alnus glutinosa 'Laciniata' | Cut leaved alder | Europe & North Africa | South end | ST 18019 78383 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Amelanchier 'Ballerina | Snowy mespilus | Garden origin | South end | ST 18053 78350 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Betula 'Fetisowii'† | Central Asian hybrid birch | Central Asia | South end, opposite Robert St. | ST 18071 78353 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Betula papyrifera | Paper bark birch | North America | South end, level with Robert Street | ST 18056 78355 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Betula spp | Birch | Southern section | ST 18085 78441 | V | Cathays Cemetery | ||||
| Calocedrus decurrens | Incense cedar | West N. America | Mid south | ST 17976 78384 | S | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Catalpa bungei Duclouxii Group | Chinese catalpa | China | Wales Champion 2020 | Centre of southern section | ST 18044 78486 | W | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Catalpa bungei Fargesii Group | Farges' catalpa | China | Rare Glamorgan Champion 2018 | Beside Fairoak Road railings | ST 18076 78343 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Cedrus libani | Cedar of Lebanon | Asia Minor and Syria | Immediately behind the chapels | ST 18243 78634 | - | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Cercidiphyllum japonicum | Katsura; | Japan | Towards the south end | ST 18021 78456 | W | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | Lawson cypress | West USA | Immediately NE of chapels | ST 18304 78656 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Crataegus mollis #1 | Red haw | Central N. America | Rare | South end | ST 18034 78358 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Crataegus mollis #2 | Red haw | Central N. America | Rare | South end | ST 18041 78369 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Crataegus monogyna #1 | Common hawthorn | Europe | Approx. 100M NE of the chapels | ST 18318 78677 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Crataegus monogyna #2 | Common hawthorn | Europe | 60M north east of chapels | ST 18278 78697 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Crataegus persimilis 'prunifolia' | Cherry leaved hawthorn | East north America | North east of chapels near railway line | ST 18359 78812 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Crataegus phaenopyrum | Washington thorn | South east USA | Wales Champion 2020 | Towards the south end | ST 18107 78534 | T | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Cryptomeria japonica | Japanese red cedar | Japan | North east of chapels near railway line | ST 18378 78791 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia' | Fern-leaved beech | Garden origin | 145M west of the chapels | ST 18105 78586 | N | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Fagus sylvatica 'Rotundifolia' | Small-leaved beech | Garden origin | Rare | To the west of the chapels | ST 18136 78609 | N | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| +Laburnocytisus adamii | Adam's laburnum | Garden origin | Rare | Centre of southern section | ST 18054 78488 | W | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip tree | East North America | 100M north east of chapels | ST 18294 78729 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Magnolia x soulangeana | Saucer magnolia | Garden origin | Glamorgan Champion 2020 | 100M north east of chapels | ST 18288 78734 | L | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Nyssa sylvatica | Tupelo | East North America | Rather rare | Beside Fairoak Road railings | ST 18132 78441 | U | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Paulownia fargesii | Foxglove tree | West China | Very rare | ST 18006 78435 | W | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Picea omorika #1 | Serbian spruce | Serbia | Towards the south end | ST 18082 78551 | T | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Picea omorika #2 | Serbian spruce | Serbia | North east of chapels near railway line | ST 18359 78828 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Picea pungens 'Glauca'† #1 | Blue Colorado spruce | West USA | North east of chapels near railway line | ST 18362 78823 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Picea pungens 'Glauca'† #2 | Blue Colorado spruce | West USA | North east of chapels near railway line | ST 18360 78863 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Pinus muricata | Bishop pine | California & NW Mexico | North west corner | ST 17968 78919 | A | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Pinus nigra austriaca #1 | Austrian pine | Austria, Italy, Balkans | North west corner | ST 18052 78848 | C | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Pinus nigra austriaca #2 | Austrian pine | Austria, Italy, Balkans | Glamorgan Champion 2020 | Central, NW of chapels | ST 18093 78674 | P | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii† | Pyrenean pine | Pyrenees, Iberia, N. Africa | South end near Library | ST 17999 78333 | S | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Pinus pinaster | Maritime pine | Mediterranean region | Allensbank Rd, opposite Llanishen St. | ST 17941 78768 | R | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Pinus sylvestris 'Aurea' | Golden Scots pine | Garden origin | Rare Wales Champion 2020 | Towards the south end | ST 18071 78561 | T | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Pinus wallichiana | Bhutan pine | Himalayas | Towards the centre of the south section | ST 18088 78570 | T | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Platanus orientalis 'Digitata' | Oriental plane | Garden origin | South end near Whitchurch Road boundary | ST 18007 78292 | S | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Prunus cerasifera #1 | Plum cherry | Garden origin | South of the chapels | ST 18084 78463 | V | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Prunus cerasifera #2 | Plum cherry | Garden origin | South of the chapels | ST 18075 78464 | V | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Prunus 'Fudan-zakura' | Cherry 'Fudan-zakura' | Garden origin | Towards the south end | ST 18107 78457 | U | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Prunus padus 'Watereri' | Bird cherry | Europe | Towards the south end | ST 18136 78471 | U | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Prunus sargentii | Sargent's cherry | Japan & Korea | Towards the south end | ST 18107 78460 | U | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Prunus spp #1 | Cherry | Right of main entrance, Fairoak Road | ST 18289 78629 | - | Cathays Cemetery | ||||
| Prunus 'Tai Haku' | Great white cherry | Garden origin | Against the Whitchurch Road boundary wall. | ST 17979 78338 | S | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer' | Callery pear | Garden origin | South end, 20M from Library entrance | ST 18039 78309 | S | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Quercus coccinea 'Splendens' | Scarlet oak 'Splendens' | Garden origin | South end near Whitchurch Road boundary | ST 17986 78349 | S | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Quercus phellos | Willow oak | East USA | Rather rare | South end | ST 18044 78387 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Quercus robur Fastigiata Group | Cypress oak | Europe | Beside main path south from chapels | ST 18193 58559 | M | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Quercus x schochiana #1 | Schoch oak | South east USA | Rare | Towards centre of south section | ST 18050 78467 | W | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Quercus x schochiana #2 | Schoch oak | South east USA | Rare | At path junction between map sections W & S | ST 18011 78474 | W | Cathays Cemetery | ||
| Quercus x turneri 'Pseudoturneri' | Turner's oak | Garden origin | Southern section, near Fairoak Road | ST 18179 78509 | M | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Sorbus x kewensis | Kew hybrid rowan | Garden origin | South end, opposite Robert St. | ST 18070 78359 | Y | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Taxus baccata | Yew | Europe, W. Asia, N.Africa | Right of main entrance off Fairoak Road | ST 18286 78611 | - | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' | White cedar 'Sunkist' | Garden origin | Centre tree of three by the Fairoak Road railings | ST 18166 78482 | M | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Thuja plicata #1 | Western red cedar | West N. America | Beside curving path, section P north | ST 18111 78762 | P | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Thuja plicata #2 | Western red cedar | West N. America | North east boundary near railway line | ST 18383 78804 | L | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Thuja plicata 'Zebrina' | Western red cedar 'Zebrina' | Garden origin | West, towards Allensbank Road | ST 17978 78539 | R | Cathays Cemetery | |||
| Tilia 'Harold Hillier' | Harold Hillier hybrid lime | Garden origin | Wales Champion 2020 | Fairoak Road entrance, near Nonconformist chapel | ST 18243 78595 | M | Cathays Cemetery |
The table above gives map references for the locations of these trees. The maps are available on the Cathays Cemetery history page and also as an Acrobat pdf.
Sources of information