Tree's throughout our Cemetery
White Oak (Quercus alba) – The white oak is a majestic tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall and live for centuries. It is known for its strong, durable wood, which has been used for everything from shipbuilding to furniture-making. The white oak is also an important food source for wildlife, providing acorns that are eaten by squirrels, deer, and other animals.
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) – The red oak is another large and long-lived tree that can be found in Rockland Cemetery. Like the white oak, it is an important source of food for wildlife, and its wood has been used for a variety of purposes over the years. The red oak is also a beautiful tree, with distinctive red leaves that turn a deep crimson in the fall.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) – The American beech is a slow-growing, long-lived tree that can be found throughout the eastern United States. It is known for its smooth, gray bark and distinctive leaves, which are oval-shaped with serrated edges. The beech is also an important source of food for wildlife, with its nuts providing a valuable food source for birds and mammals.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – The Eastern redbud is a small, ornamental tree that is native to the eastern United States. It is known for its beautiful pink flowers, which bloom in early spring before the leaves appear. The Eastern redbud is also a popular landscaping tree, valued for its small size and attractive appearance.
Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) – The sycamore is a large, fast-growing tree that can be found throughout the eastern United States. It is known for its distinctive mottled bark, which peels away to reveal patches of white, gray, and brown. The sycamore is also an important source of food for wildlife, with its seeds and bark providing sustenance for a variety of animals
Red Maple (Acer rubrum): The Red Maple is a medium-sized tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall. It is easily recognized by its red buds, red twigs, and red flowers, which appear in early spring before the leaves. The leaves are lobed and turn bright red or orange in the fall. The Red Maple is a popular landscaping tree and is also used for maple syrup production.
White Pine (Pinus strobus): The White Pine is a tall, evergreen tree that can grow up to 230 feet tall. It has long, soft needles and produces large cones that can be up to 16 inches long. The White Pine is an important timber tree and is also used for Christmas trees
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis): The Eastern Hemlock is a slow-growing evergreen tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall. It has short, flat needles and produces small, brown cones. The Eastern Hemlock is a popular landscaping tree and is also used for timber and pulpwood
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida): The Flowering Dogwood is a small, deciduous tree that grows up to 30 feet tall. It produces showy pink or white flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall. The Flowering Dogwood is a popular ornamental tree and is often planted in gardens and parks.
Bushes and Flowering Plants
In addition to the many trees that can be found on the grounds of Rockland Cemetery, there are also a variety of bushes and shrubs that contribute to the beauty and diversity of this historic cemetery. Here are a few of the most notable examples:
Rockland Cemetery is home to a diverse range of bushes that provide both beauty and function. One of the most prominent bushes on the grounds is the evergreen rhododendron, which produces large clusters of pink, purple, and white flowers in the spring. These bushes can grow up to 10 feet tall and are often used to create borders and privacy screens.
Another popular bush at Rockland Cemetery is the boxwood, a small evergreen shrub that is commonly used for hedges and topiaries. Boxwoods are slow-growing and can live for hundreds of years, making them a popular choice for formal gardens and historic landscapes. At Rockland Cemetery, boxwoods can be found lining the edges of pathways and surrounding monuments.
The spirea is another bush that can be found throughout the cemetery’s grounds. This deciduous shrub produces clusters of white or pink flowers in the spring and summer and can grow up to 6 feet tall. Spireas are often used in landscaping for their attractive flowers and foliage, as well as their ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
The butterfly bush is another popular choice at Rockland Cemetery. This shrub produces long spikes of purple, pink, or white flowers in the summer and fall, which are highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Butterfly bushes can grow up to 10 feet tall and are often used in informal gardens and naturalistic landscapes.
