Download Aspire Park Unique Trees Project

Aspire Park has a concept of sourcing and planting rare and unique trees from all over the world for
creating an opportunity for the public to enjoy in the Qatar desert harsh climatic conditions as part of
a unique project managed by Aspire Logistics Sport Turf and Landscape Department. This was the first
project in Qatar which sourced trees in large sizes of unique tree species making Aspire Logistics a pioneer
in tree species introduction to Qatar. The on-going proactive program also utilizes, when accessible, local
trees from existing sites that were scheduled for construction work, thus showcasing a beautiful blend of
imported rare trees alongside local salvaged trees.
How Trees are managed in Aspire Park
Sport Turf and Landscape Department continues to grow the numbers and variety of trees in the park as
well as maintaining the imported trees and helping them adjust to their new home. Aspire park is adorned
with trees of various genus and species with different form, structure, texture, growth and flowering habit.
The trees are aesthetically and meticulously managed with safety to public and environment. The beauty
and elegancy of the trees is preserved by careful maintenance of their shape, form, structure, and biomass
load by appropriate pruning methods and techniques including structural or formative, corrective and
preventive pruning, cleaning, raising and reduction techniques.
Mulching is being practiced in order to retain the soil moisture, maintain moderate soil temperature,
eliminate weed and to control the association of turf with tree base. Mulching improves the soil properties,
reduce the water requirement and enhance the visual appeal of the area around the base of the trees. Mulch
is a layer of material (organic or inorganic) applied on the soil surface. Organic mulches are being used in
Aspire Park.
The water management for the trees is done by an automated system and the irrigation frequency and
quantity of water are fixed by programming 7 controllers installed at different localities throughout the
park. The controllers are adjusted seasonally (winter and summer) to match specified water requirements.
The Sport Turf and Landscape department also monitors trees for any signs of biotic stress caused by
insects and harmful microorganism. Integrated Pest and Disease control practices are followed to keep the
trees safe from various biotic stresses. Abiotic stress caused by high temperature, wind rarely rain, human
intervention, machinery movement is being managed efficiently.
Tree Inspection and Tree risk assessment are being carried out via the department
regularly.
Each Tree Tells a Story:
Rare and exotic trees have been imported from Italy, Spain, South Africa, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina
and Australia. The longest journeys the trees had to make to Aspire Park are from Adansonia (outback
of Australia) and Chorisia (Argentina). Different trees in the Aspire Park have different characteristics;
some are evergreen, some are deciduous in nature. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that each tree has an
interesting story to tell.
Cassia fistula
Common Name: Golden Shower Tree
Botanical Name: Cassia fistula
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Asia (India)
This tree’s age at the park is seven years old. Gold
Shower tree was sourced from Thailand, and is well
adapted in Aspire Park and flowering every year
during April and May.
The tree sheds the leaves and flower buds formed
and covered all over the tree. The flower is yellow
color and has long bunches up to 40 cm. The tree is
a national flower to Thailand and used in India and
Asia for all major celebrations.
Adansonia gregorii
Common Name: Australian Boab Tree
Botanical Name: Adansoina gregorii
Family: Malvaceae
Origin: Western Australia
This tree’s age at the park is less than one year old.
The tree was sourced from Western Australia and
planted at Aspire Park in 2013. The tree has special
bottle flat trunk with waxy glands can prevent the
forest fire and hot temperatures and regrowth itself
immediately.
Australian Boab tree is native and adapted to
Western Australia region and not found in any parts
of the world. The tree is deciduous in nature sheds
the leaves in winter and put forth new shoots and
leaves during the summer season. This is the first
time this specie has been used and planted in the
GCC.
Chorisia insignis
Cassia spectabilis
Common Name: Silk Floss Tree
Common Name: Cassia
Botanical Name: Chorisia insignis
Family: Malvaceae
Origin: Argentina (South America)
Botanical Name: Cassia spectabilis
Family: Leguminosae
Origin: Tropical America
This tree’s age at the park is seven years old, sourced
from Argentina and planted in 2006. The tree is
deciduous in nature, sheds the leaves in winter and
blooming more than one month and well adapted
to Qatar climatic conditions. The tree flower color
a mixture of white and yellow inside, and some
trees at Aspire Park have thorns on the trunk and
branches. The tree average girth size is above 2.5 m
and stores more water in the trunk.
Delonix regia
This tree’s age at the park is seven years old. Cassia
tree was sourced from China and growing well in
Aspire Park. The tree is evergreen well adapted to
Qatar climate conditions and flowering throughout
the year.
The tree flower color is yellow and arranged in
spike clusters and forms black colored pods. The
flower secrets honey dew and attracted Honey bees
and flies to enhance cross pollination.
Tabebuia impetiginosa
Common Name: Red Flame Tree
Common Name: Purple Tabebuia
Botanical Name: Delonix regia
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Madagascar (Central Africa)
Botanical Name: Tabebuia impetiginosa
Family: Bignoniaceae
Origin: Trindad & Tobacco Islands (Tropical
America)
This tree’s age at the park is seven years old. Red
flame tree was sourced locally and transplanted
in the year 2006. The tree is well adapted and
flowering every year during the months of April and
May.
The tree sheds the leaves and forms deep red
color flowers covering the whole tree, and no pods
formation due to the hot climatic conditions. It is
very attractive and focal point for the park visitors.
This tree’s age at the park is seven years old. The
purple Tabebuia was sourced from China and
planted in the year 2006. The tree is deciduous and
sheds the leaves in winter and flowering in March
with flower spikes every year.
The tree flower is dark purple pink and covered
the whole tree and looks attractive for the park
visitors. Also the tree has attractive foliage and can
withstand Qatar climatic conditions.
Lagerstroemia speciosa
Common Name: Pride of India
Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia speciosa
Family: Lythraceae
Origin: India (South East Asia)
This tree’s age is six years old at Aspire Park. The
pride of India was sourced from Thailand and
planted in the year 2008. The tree is deciduous and
slow growing tree, sheds the leaves completely in
winter and put forth new shoots and flowers until
October every year.
The tree has attractive pink flowers in spikes and
attracts flies and honey bees for cross pollination.
Also the tree is very hardy can withstand summer
high temperatures.
Ziziphus jujube
Mangifera indica
Common Name: Mango Tree
Botanical Name: Mangifera indica
Family: Anacardiaceae
Origin: India (South East Asia)
This tree’s age is seven years at the park. The mango
tree was sourced from China and planted in the year
2006. The tree is called the king of fruits eaten by
most of the people around the world.
The tree has been flowering every year at the park
and bearing big fruits every year. The flowers are
formed at the terminals shoots in flower spike all
over the tree. Also slow growing and adapting to the
park climatic conditions.
Pithecellobium dulce
Common Name: Ber Tree
Common Name: Madras Thorn Tree
Botanical Name: Ziziphus jujuba
Family: Rhamnaceae
Origin: Temperate Asia
Botanical Name: Pithecellobium dulce
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Subtropical America
This tree’s age at the park is three years old. The tree
was sourced locally and transplanted in the year
2011. The tree is small native to the temperate Asia
including the Middle East. The flowers are formed in
May and fruiting by June every year.
The tree is regular bearing and fruits eaten by the
birds in the park. Also the tree is very hardy and can
withstand the summer high temperatures.
This tree’s age at the park is seven years old.
The Madras Thorn tree was sourced locally and
transplanted in the year 2006. The tree is well
adapted to the Qatar climatic conditions and hard
enough to withstand the summer high temperatures.
The trunk and shoots have thorns all over the tree
and flowers during the month of March and fruiting
by April and May every year. The fruits are edible
and eaten by birds in the park and highly nutritious.
AT A GLANCE
•
The Unique project imports rare trees as well as salvaging
local trees
•
Overall number of trees within the park to over 75 species
and 1,000 trees.
•
The countries the trees have been imported from are Italy,
Spain, South Africa, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina
and Australia.