The GTC recently explored a deceptively simple question: what is a tree? While scientists often define a tree as a tall, woody plant with a single trunk, the reality is more complicated. Many plants can grow as shrubs or trees depending on conditions, and some familiar “trees,” like palms, bamboo, and bananas, don’t meet the classic biological definition at all.
The confusion extends to taxonomy. Trees aren’t a single biological group; tree-like forms have evolved many times across different plant families. In fact, a peach tree is more closely related to a rose than to an oak.
For the GTC, however, the answer is more practical. Connecticut’s climate naturally limits what can grow here, leaving us with traditionally woody species that thrive locally. Our focus remains simple: planting and protecting the trees best suited to our environment to help create a Greenwich that is greener, healthier, and more beautiful.
Read the full article in the Greenwich Sentinel to learn more about this complicated question.