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Stop 6 of 20

The Gustav Vasa Monument, the pyramid oaks and the Caucasian wingnut

Stop 6: The Gustav Vasa Monument, the pyramid oaks and the Caucasian wingnut — The Park Promenade, Kalmar, Sweden

This hill, with the Gustav Vasa monument, has existed since the park's early days. In fact, the monument was originally erected at Stensö udde, where Mr. Ericsson, as he was then called, landed. But when the park was built, it was moved here so that more people could enjoy the lavish monument.

The two magnificent pyramid oaks have been around since the park was laid out and are the oldest in Kalmar.

The large tree with its long swaying branches is a Caucasian wingnut. An absolutely fantastic shade tree if you have room for it — it can grow up to 30 meters in both width and height!

Good to know

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Extra background — not part of the original printed guide.

  • Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523, the event traditionally treated as the birth of the modern Swedish state; Kalmar Castle was one of his key strongholds.
  • Pyramid oaks are a naturally occurring upright mutation of the common oak, propagated by grafting since the 1700s because seedlings rarely keep the narrow shape.
  • The Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia) is a walnut relative from the Caucasus and Iran; its seeds hang in long chains of small winged nuts.

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Ready for the next one? Follow the path and we'll meet at the ginkgo — one of the oldest kinds of tree on earth.

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