Five Things You Might Not Know About Horticulture at the Disneyland Resort

Erin Glover

by , Director, Publicity, Walt Disney Animation Studios

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It’s the details that make you feel like you’re in another world at a Disney Park, and horticulture plays a huge role in creating that feeling. When you’re walking through the untamed jungles of Adventureland in Disneyland park, you may notice the towering bamboo plants near Tarzan’s Treehouse. As you’re strolling through the wooded mountains of Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure park, you see the colorful California foliage. These are some of the magical details created every season by the Disneyland Resort Horticulture team. Here are some things you might not know about horticulture at the Disneyland Resort:

  1. The Jungle Cruise tree canopy stands as tall as 100 feet.

  2. More than 3,600 annuals make up the smiling face of Mickey Mouse at the entrance to Disneyland park.

  3. With approximately 18,000 trees and 125,000 shrubs, the Disneyland Resort is one of the largest gardens in Southern California.

  4. Twenty-two topiary animals and characters call the Disneyland Resort home.

  5. The oldest living tree at the Disneyland Resort is a two-foot-tall Mugho Pine, which is more than 150 years old. Guests can find this tree during a cruise on the Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland.

What is your favorite detail of the landscape panorama at the Disneyland Resort?

Destinations: Five Things You Might Not Know About Horticulture at the Disneyland Resort

Comments

  • Erin, this is such a great post, I cannot agree with you more that the details is what makes the Parks great, and the greenery greatly helps to that end. BC (i.e. Before Conversion to Disney), I was first impressed with Disney’s use of plants in the parks when my wife (then girlfriend) would take me to the parks– it was this impressiveness that largely helped me become a Disney-phile! AD (After Disney), I very much enjoy many of the items you mention, most particularly I’m impressed with the numerous banzai plants that are used throughout the Storybook Land Canal, and also the frequent use of mondo grass throughout the parks and resorts. I would also be remiss in not mentioning the greenery throughout Tomorrowland (and indeed Future World in Epcot) which somehow really gives it that “futuristic” feel. And there’s absolutely no weeds, no nutgrass anywhere!

  • A tree is a living thing so what’s the difference?

  • I highly recommend the Cultivating the Magic tour at Disneyland. You learn many interesting things about the park landscaping.

  • I thought the Dominguez Tree was the oldest living thing in Disneyland. How much older is the Mugho Pine?

    • I think the Dominguez Palm is the living thing that has been at the Disneyland Resort the longest, while the Mugho Pine is the oldest. But that gives me something to dig into!

  • What a good question! Naturally, I’m thinking most are at “it’s a small world.” But I’ll see what I can find out!

  • I love all of the flowers and plants around Disneyland Resort!

    There are many lush green trees and plants in various locations, but there are also quite a few randomly placed Autumn-esque trees here and there, with Fall-colored leaves (though I think the trees might be in those locations all year long). I have seen them in the spot where Grizzly Peak meets Paradise Pier in DCA, as well as in Critter Country, and at the Big Thunder Ranch/Halloween Carnival/Jingle Jangle Jamboree and a few other places.

    I appreciate that most of the flowers around DLR — both in color scheme and in variety — fit their respective lands, seasons and areas. They are always theme-appropriate.

    I guess this falls under the category of “Holiday Horticulture” 🙂 : One thing that I really love is the large array of Christmas trees around DLR. (I remember seeing a segment on the news a few years ago that said there are over 700 Christmas trees around DLR, but this was prior to the DCA re-imagining.) When the Holidays are in full swing, I love walking all over DLR (hotels, Downtown Disney and all) trying to find as many Christmas trees as I possibly can, as there are so many interesting ones (large and small) with theme-specific decor. Some of them are hidden gems, tucked around corners or away from the main flow of foot traffic, but they are no less beautiful than the more centrally located trees!

  • In regards to Number 4, I’m trying to think where all 22 topiary animals/characters are at the DL Resort. Any hints

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