Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

During a tree-planting session on Friday, April 10, volunteers planted a selection of native tree species to create pedestrian shade inside the historic Elmwood Cemetery (4900 E. Truman Rd.) founded in 1872. Ten trees were planted along a roadway in the northeast section of the cemetery to replace trees lost through natural attrition over the years, for a total of 100 trees planted in the last three years.

In October 2022, Elmwood Cemetery Society began working with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to identify the number and status of trees on the property. During this survey, three trees —- a cucumber magnolia, a tulip tree and a catalpa —- were given Champion Tree status based on the diameter, crown spread and height.  Following that survey, the cemetery was declared a Level 1 Arboretum through MDC’s Community Forestry Program in 2023.

To complement the 48 unique tree species identified in 2022, MDC staff and cemetery volunteers began planting seedlings of native Missouri species. Molly Gosnell, an arborist contracted through MDC, selected seedlings that include short leaf pine, pecan and serviceberry and determined best locations for each.  To ensure these developing tree’s root systems won’t interfere with gravesites, cemetery board vice-president John Weilert used cemetery maps to locate century-old pathways that were developed and no gravesites plotted. 

For this planting session, 20 volunteers from Heartland Tree Alliance, in association with Bridging The Gap KC, toured the cemetery to view the Champion Trees and learn some Elmwood history, led by Gosnell and Brad Finch, Cemetery Society Board member and Grounds and Maintenance Committee Chair.

Each tree planted is a 10 to 15 gallon size and a specific variety selected to create species diversity as each will grow to different heights, leaf out, and change colors at varying times during the growing season. These native trees included one of each: Espresso Coffeetree, Ivory Silk Lilac,Tulip Tree, Flashfire Maple, American Hornbeam, Fall Fiesta Maple, Skyline Locust, Swamp White Oak, American Sentry Linden and Bur Oak.

Placement and selection was coordinated by Cathy Justice, certified arborist and program manager for Heartland Tree Alliance and funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service and sponsored by the City of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Elmwood Cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public, private, and self-guided tours are available, visit https://elmwoodcemeterykc.org/visit-elmwood/ for more information.

All photos by Dorri Partain