Hortus Botanicus historic tree threatened by drought

A historic Japanese horse chestnut tree dating back to 1850 at the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden is facing a critical threat due to prolonged summer droughts. Rogier van Vugt, Head of Horticulture at the botanical garden, reports that a large portion of the tree is permanently damaged and susceptible to fungal infections, which could signal the beginning of the end for the specimen.

Van Vugt noted that while the tree might survive for another twenty to thirty years if rainfall increases, the changing climate makes it difficult to adapt the garden accordingly. To preserve the species, horticulturalists are grafting genetic material onto younger chestnut trees. Interestingly, other species like the Lebanon Oak, which originates from the Mediterranean region, are proving more resilient to the current dry conditions.