Tonhallengarten St. Gallen, Switzerland

On the eastern side of the old city centre of St. Gallen in Switzerland, next to the city park, is the 'Tonhalle' concert hall. An architectonic jewel, which was rebuilt in the neo-baroque style in the twentieth century and completely renovated in 1993. The garden at the concert hall - the Tonhallengarten - was completely redesigned in 2010 by landscape architects Raderschall & Partner. The use of lawns in combination with oval-shaped plant islands ensures the garden feels very spacious. The planting on these islands includes umbrella-shaped multi-stems, which form inviting plant oases for visitors in combination within various species of grass.

Know-how to grow

One of the species planted in the Tonhallengarten is the Cladrastis kentukea. This is a particularly characteristic multi-stem with a flattened round crown and branches that start at a low height. It’s a decorative species with composite leaves, beautiful blossom in long, white bunches and a bright yellow colour in autumn. It is also a valuable pollen tree for bees. Cladrastis definitely deserves to be planted in public spaces much more often.