This Japanese maple from 1916 was threatened with uprooting, as it was supposed to make way for a new building of the University Hospital Zurich.
Thanks to the personal initiative of Professor Michael Fried, the clinic director, the unique maple was saved and found its way to the Tree Museum. Here, it continues to thrive to this day!

Professor Fried greatly admired the maple in the hospital park.
Over the years of passing by daily after work and during shift breaks, he developed a deep personal connection to it.
Due to this connection, the clinic director strongly opposed the felling of the tree.
After obtaining permission from the hospital management, the tree was transplanted to the Enea Tree Museum, securing its survival.

The reason why this beautifully shaped maple can radiate such charisma and establish a connection with a person becomes obvious to any visitor who visits the Enea Tree Museum today.
Over 100 years old and marked by time, the tree proudly stands at the top of the park’s main axis; demonstrating perfectly why Japanese maples have been and continue to be very popular in Swiss gardens and private parks.

The young branches are arranged in a way that strongly resembles Japanese folding fans, called “sensu” in Japanese.
This is why the Japanese maple is also sometimes known as “fan maple.”
It is the fan-like arrangement of branches that creates a beautiful crown structure and highly esteemed overall appearance.

This Persian ironwood tree stood next to a Japanese maple in front of the Zurich Convention Center for over 150 years.
Today, both are part of the tree collection here at the Enea Tree Museum.
Together, they were silent witnesses to the opening of the Tonhalle in 1895 with Johannes Brahms as conductor and special guest.
Later, in 2017, both trees had to be rescued from their location due to extensive renovation and expansion works at the convention center.

The Persian ironwood, with its quirky branches, bears oval-shaped, leathery leaves.
In autumn, they create a spectacular color palette ranging from yellow to orange and later turning red to violet.
Additionally, the bark is also attractive as it forms a characteristic camouflage pattern and peels off in pieces as the tree ages and the trunk grows in diameter – this can be clearly seen in this particularly old specimen.

The name “ironwood tree” indicates that the tree forms particularly hard and dense wood. It is so heavy that it no longer floats on water. The tree is also very well adapted to climate change.
They are drought- and heat-tolerant because the species originates from Iran, where it is accustomed to high temperatures and low water availability throughout the year.
Wind, salt, and air pollution are also not a problem for them. This makes the Persian ironwood tree very suitable for planting in cities, as well as for topiary, hedges, and bonsais.

The genus name of the Persian ironwood tree, “parrotia persica,” is named after the German physician and botanist Friedrich W. Parrot.

Another maple tree in our collection stood in front of the Zurich Convention Center for 150 years.
A silent witness to the opening of the Tonhalle in 1895 by Johannes Brahms as conductor and special guest.
Due to extensive renovation and expansion works on the convention center starting in 2017, the days of the tree seemed numbered – just like those of its neighbor, an ancient Persian ironwood tree.
Upon becoming aware of the tree’s fate, Enzo Enea immediately initiated a logistically and financially demanding rescue operation, which had a positive outcome at the Tree Museum.

Here you can see several larch trees in their decaying form, overgrown by climbing plants. They are 100 to 120 years old.
In 2019, the trees were “rescued” by the Enea team from a project site in Engadin to save them from being cut down.
At a time when others disregarded and excluded these larch trees as insignificant vegetation, Enea recognized their value.

Expelled from their mountainous habitat in alpine Graubünden, these larch trees found a new home at the Enea Tree Museum, as a last refuge.
The trees, however, are dying off. It simply becomes too warm for them.
Yet even as dead wood, the larch trees still impress with their magnificent sculptural forms.
The specimens which have already perished have been embraced by roses and continue to serve as a valuable reminder of the eternal cycle of life and death.
Sitting on the adjacent red bench, the impact of climate change and the suffering of the trees can be physically experienced.

This Manna Ash tree has an atypical, rounded crown due to the care of the previous owner.
The tree pruning created a dense artificial branch structure.
Today, these many small branches are overgrown with delicate green moss and patches of lichens, giving the tree the appearance of carrying green pearls on its inner branches.
This is particularly visible in winter.

Fraxinus ornus – the tree’s Latin name – is especially interesting in spring when the entire tree crown is filled with large, fragrant creamy-white flowers that peak in May.
The tree’s second name , Flowering Ash, is derived from these flowers.

In autumn, the leaves turn orange-red and later deep red-violet, making the Manna Ash very attractive from a design perspective as well.

But the Manna Ash is not only visually appealing! Its ability to survive in various soil types and different climate conditions makes it a “future-proof” tree.

It is even used for medicinal purposes! It contains a sap that, when dried, is referred to as “Manna sugar.”
One of the components of Manna sugar is the sweet-tasting, colorless hexavalent alcohol Mannitol. Mannitol is particularly beneficial for the intestines and kidneys.

Ginkgo trees are among the oldest living tree species, having existed since the time of the dinosaurs.
There are five living groups of seed plants in the world, and Ginkgo is one of them, with Ginkgo biloba being the only species remaining within this group today.

Originally native to China, the structure of the Ginkgo tree has remained virtually unchanged for over 200 million years, so petrified leaves from that time look essentially the same as they do today.
The fan-shaped leaf form is very recognizable, which is why the tree is also known as the Maidenhair Tree.

There are many reasons why the Ginkgo tree has been able to survive for so long.
Ginkgos even survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which demonstrates their resilience and ability to adapt to harsh environments.
Ginkgo leaves are unattractive to pests, and the tree bears fruits that attracted various animals, including dinosaurs.
We humans find the odor from these fruits very unpleasant. However, only female trees bear the foul-smelling fruits, which is why almost exclusively male trees are used for transplanting today.

Their resilience makes Ginkgo trees popular street trees as they can withstand today’s harsh urban conditions such as salt spray, drought, air pollution, and extreme heat.

This impressive horse chestnut tree was once the meeting point in the middle of a village square in the village of Schänis, St.Gallen, just a 20-minute drive from the museum.
In 2009, the chestnut tree was slated to be cut down to make way for road widening.
Fortunately, Enzo Enea happened to witness the felling as he drove by and decided to intervene, negotiating on the spot for the tree’s survival.
The tree was later successfully transported to its current location to give it a second life at the Enea Tree Museum.

Horse chestnuts were traditionally planted in many villages in Switzerland, making them a symbol of Swiss rural culture and closely connecting them with local traditions and daily life.

Upon closer inspection of this tree’s trunk, one can discover traces and remnants of posters that were stuck to the tree.
These posters advertised local events or gatherings, making the tree an important part of town communication – a place where people could stay informed about the latest happenings or meet with vendors, friends, or family.
For this reason, we now refer to this tree as “The Messenger.”

The laceleaf Japanese Maple is known for its deeply incised, feathery leaves.
In the autumn , they create a deep red color palette. Another important feature is the winged seeds that all maples have, called samaras.
In the air, they resemble rotating helicopter blades. They descend slowly towards the ground, allowing them to travel greater distances than other seeds.

This tree was originally planted in 1881. At over 140 years old, it is one of the oldest trees found here in the museum.
The Cutleaf Maple was brought here from a construction site where it had to make way for a new building. Upon arriving at the Enea Tree Museum, it was planted in a golden pot to honor its advanced age.
Now, the tree is well cared for – supported by stakes – as without this care, it would no longer be able to support itself.

Small-leaved limes can grow up to 30 meters tall, have a trunk diameter of up to 2 meters, and some specimens can live for over 1,000 years!
This gives the tree a prominent shape with a striking presence in the landscape.

Small-leaved limes are native to Europe and widely spread in the Swiss plains.
Their adaptability allows them to thrive under various conditions and in a wide range of environments, making them a great tree for urban areas as well.

The small-leaved lime, also known as small-leaved linden is a deciduous tree with the classic heart-shaped leaves typical of all limes.
The name is derived from their relatively small leaves which differentiate it from the larger-leaved species.

This specimen is already over 100 years old and visibly shaped by human influence.
Due to the previous owner’s pruning, the tree has a “Neptune fork cut” with three main branches.
When viewed from the side, this small-leaved lime appears flat and stands like a large espalier in the front of the stone wall.

Our Japanese maple collection dates back to the 19th century.
Instead of traditional plant pots, the trees are embedded in historical cast iron pots from the same century!
These are the casting molds that were originally used in the smelting of iron.
In the Tree Museum, they represent the harmonious integration of industrial materials and nature.
A rather unusual unity – and a combination that raises the question of how we can use the products of industrialization in favor of nature.

The volcanic mountains of Indonesia stretch from Sumatra through Java to Bali.
However, millions of years ago, large parts of the forests were uprooted and their trees buried under volcanic ash due to explosive eruptions of the volcanoes.

Many trees burned, others rotted, but for some, ideal conditions for petrification were found!
They were sealed airtight under the hot layer of ash, protected from decay without contact with oxygen nor microorganisms.

During petrification, infiltrating groundwater gradually replaces plant material over time with minerals dissolved in the water.
These are minerals that are abundant in the groundwater in these areas, accumulating as they flow through the layers of ash and sediments.

Thus, over millions of years, the trees are petrified.
Even today, beautiful details can be found in the tree fossils, such as bark and growth rings that have been perfectly preserved over time.
Due to it’s fragility, the petrified tree is only exhibited during the warm months.

The authentic English pavilion was Enzo Enea’s first major acquisition in the early days of his career.
It was constructed as a tribute to traditional English landscape gardens and artfully integrated as a modern contrast to the delicate environment.
It offers space for receptions and events of all kinds, where the magical atmosphere of the museum can be experienced day and night.
Quietly located at the back of the museum, the Orangery forms the focal point at the end of the main axis.
It is surrounded by historic large bald cypresses, maple trees, elms, and magnolias.

In 2023, the Enea Tree Museum was awarded the “Outstanding” quality seal by the Swiss Location Awards.
This confirms the beauty of the iconic spaces found throughout the grounds, offering a variety of unique settings.

This original French portal from 1742, which Enzo Enea bought at an auction at Sothebys, was held at Swiss customs for two years because it was thought to be a fake.
Experts had to first check its authenticity before it was finally released and could be rebuilt stone by stone at its new location.