II. - Schloss Schwetzingen

II.
80
Fig. 6: Tree “Taxodium
distichum” (photo: R. Stripf).
II. Schwetzingen – A Prince Elector’s Eighteenth-Century Summer Residence
The box so characteristic of Renaissance and
Baroque gardens, as well as of the traditional
rustic or cottage garden, is represented by approximately
25 varieties. The plants are left to
grow freely, allowing a study of their growing
habits and the size, colour and shape of their
leaves. The genus Magnolia is represented by
18 species and varieties too. 18
As well as measures to preserve the character
of the plant collections for scientifi c purposes,
steps are also taken to keep the historical
tradition of a landscaped garden alive. Sckell’s
criteria for the picturesque grouping and arrangement
of trees and shrubs are taken into
account, especially in the older arboretum, the
“Arborium Theodoricum”.
The woody plants of both arboreta have been
identifi ed with labels giving their botanical
and common names, their family and place of
origin. They are also listed and described in a
guidebook. 19
(Rainer Stripf)
18 after Wertz 2004, p. 27.
19 Rainer Stripf, Die Arboreten des Schwetzinger Schlossgartens,
München/Berlin 2004.