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Green Tree Boxes: the Queen of France’s exotic trees

… the secrets of the Luxembourg Garden in Paris …

MARTINA NICOLLS

Sep 18

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You may have noticed dozens of large green tree boxes along the paths and terraces of the Luxembourg Garden in Paris. Here’s what I discovered on my walk there yesterday and what makes these green tree boxes so special.

The green tree boxes with citrus trees, especially the Bitter Orange (Citrus × aurantium), are among the oldest trees in the Luxembourg Garden, aged around 300-400 years old. Some contain pomegranate shrubs (Punica granatum). Other boxes have palm trees, such as the Phoenix Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and smaller palms like the European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis). A few contain Oleanders and other Mediterranean or subtropical plants.

They are boxed to keep the exotic or delicate plants safe in winter. Many of these plants cannot survive Paris winters if left fully exposed. The boxes allow them to be moved to the orangery.

They have a long historical tradition, dating back to the establishment of the garden by Marie de Médicis (1575-1642) in the 17^th century. Marie de Médicis, the Queen of France (from 1610-1617) was the second wife of King Henry IV. She commissioned the garden, orangery, and the practice of using boxes or crates as part of the garden’s design within the Palais du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Palace). The palace is now the French Senate and the queen’s garden is now a public garden.

The orangery was established as a symbol of prestige, and a way to show off exotic flora. The Luxembourg Garden inventory of 1675 listed 246 crates of orange, lemon, and lime trees. Now the orangery has about 180 plants in green boxes and containers. This includes 60 citrus trees (34 bitter oranges), about 19 date palms, 7 Chamaerops, 24 pomegranate trees, and 46 oleanders.

From the warmer months, May to October, many of these boxed trees are placed along the south facade of the Senate building for display. The oleanders and smaller trees are located on the east side paths (near Rue de Médicis) because it is more shaded. In autumn the boxed trees are pruned and moved to be stored and maintained over the winter months.

Yesterday, the garden’s tractors commenced moving the boxed trees. They can’t be moved manually because of their weight. Large palm boxes, for example, can weigh up to 9,900 pounds (4.5 tonnes) when full of soil. Heavy boxes are moved using flatbed carriages. To mitigate noise or pollution, the gardeners now use electric motors for these carriages.

The green boxes themselves have been evolving over the years. The oldest ones have cast-iron frames and wooden panels, which may be replaced every 12-15 years. Palm trees are re-boxed more frequently because their roots grow fast and damage the wooden panels.

To see the green tree boxes, the best time to visit the Luxembourg Garden is late spring to early summer when the citrus blossoms and pomegranates are in full bloom. In autumn and winter, they are in the orangery (L’Orangerie du Luxembourg) which is located at the west end of the garden, near Rue de Vaugirard.

Take the Green Box Circuit of 30-40 minutes by entering from the Odéon and Rue de Médicis gate, walking along the eastern gravel paths until you spot the first boxed trees of oleanders, head southwest toward the Senate terrace to see the grand symmetrical lineup of citrus and palms. Continue westward to the orangery. Even if you can’t go inside, notice the size of the building. If the doors are open for an event or exhibit, peek in to see the historic architecture. Loop back north along the shaded Rue de Vaugirard side to complete the circuit.