Derry Township near Hershey in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Meet the Mother Tree
This is a special Cryptomeria japonica 'Dense Jade' tree. It began life as an aberration of nature in a New Jersey nursery.
In the early 1960s, a tree variety known as Cryptomeria japonica 'Lobbii' grew a "witches' broom," which is a shoot that is genetically different than the parent. Typically, the witches' broom is weak and undesirable and is therefore removed and destroyed. However, the growers recognized this particular witches' broom as highly unusual with prized characteristics including its own unique DNA signature. It was carefully cultivated and developed into a new variety.
Offspring from this single tree were propagated and Cryptomeria japonica 'Dense Jade' is now available in nurseries worldwide.
The "Mother Tree" in front of you was the original witches' broom that all 'Dense Jade' trees trace their DNA back to.
Botanical name: Cryptomeria japonica 'Dense Jade'
Family name: Taxodiaceae
Common name: Hybrid Japanese Cedar
Acquired: September 2006
Erected by Hershey Gardens.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical month for this entry is September 2006.
Location. 40° 17.951′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, in the Susquehanna Valley, and in Greater Harrisburg. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Hershey Rose Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Four Seasons Statues (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The M.S. Hershey Rose (about 400 feet away); Cart and Pony (about 400 feet away); Why here? (about 500 feet away); High Point Mansion
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 18, 2021
2. Meet the Mother Tree Marker
This is a previous iteration of the marker. The text is identical to its replacement.
Also see . . . Hershey Gardens. (Submitted on August 27, 2021, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 18, 2021
3. Meet the Mother Tree & Marker
This is a former iteration of the marker in prior environs.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 18, 2021
4. Meet the Mother Tree & Marker
This is a former iteration of the marker in its environs.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2021, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 490 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on February 24, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on August 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2021, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the current iteration of the marker in its environs. • Can you help?
