Washington University has a thriving botanical community. Whether the plants are used as medicinal cures, vehicles for social change, as lab rats or for campus beautification, the University’s green thumb is prominent. 

In interviews with the garden and landscape contingent of this community, one man comes up more than any other: Cody Azotea. He is mentioned not only for his central role in developing the campus ecosystem, but also for his encyclopedic horticultural knowledge.

One of the many gardens on campus planted by Cody Azotea’s team, Focal Pointe. (Photo courtesy of Cody Azotea)

As the WashU account manager of Focal Pointe contractors, Azotea manages the nuts and bolts of campus landscaping, though he tries to stay behind the scenes. The job itself is rewarding enough for someone as passionate about plants as he is.

Azotea’s plant education began in his childhood. “I had grandparents on both sides [who were] into plants—my mother’s parents had a homestead…that was always around me in my youth,” he said. “I was always interested in it, but never thought of it as a career path.” He later applied to a landscape architect program on a whim.

Since starting his role at the University in the fall of 2017, Azotea said that many things have changed. New things are always being planted, and Azotea’s team is working to expand the diversity of plant material on campus.

While the campus’ status as an arboretum and its goal of a 35% canopy by 2025 drives tree plantings, lower shrub and perennial plantings have also proliferated since 2017. 

“That’s the biggest thing that’s changed in the last three years. When I started there was a lot of bare mulch…things have filled in,” Azotea said.

The changing seasons dictate Focal Pointe’s work. “Our roles are all based around University needs—in springtime that’s commencement,” said Azotea. Commencement means making campus ready for pictures. “[It involves] a lot of maintenance items: keeping the weeds at bay, keeping a crisp edge, making sure the mowing looks well, mulching.”

Maintenance aside, commencement prep also requires artistry, and like a painter, Azotea must work with color.

“Red has to be in the color palette…and colors that complement red: whites, yellows, purples, silvers,” he said.  

The temporary summer planting gives them a lot more flexibility. “[That’s] the great thing about annuals—in the summer environment you can plant things from around the world,” Azotea said. 

While annuals might be easy, permanent plantings encounter more issues, especially in a city. 

“The most challenging thing is the urban environment,” Azotea said. “You never know what’s below ground.”

Azotea pointed out an area of such urban difficulties in front of Rebstock Hall. “If you see where the hedges come lower down, and the one tree is smaller, right underneath the tree was a steam-line leak.” 

But every challenge is also an opportunity for improvement. Dead grass is just an excuse to plant a new garden—in one instance, it just so happened that a replanting aligned with University priorities.

“Another goal of the Office of Sustainability is to reduce chemical use, which involves reducing turf,” Azotea said. Much more sustainable planted material now sits in the place of the steamed turf.

Other campus priorities factor into landscaping as well. “Security is a huge thing on campus—keeping sight lines open,” Azotea said. Focal Pointe keeps in communication with WUPD to ensure that the plantings do not hamper campus security.

When asked about his favorite plant on campus, Azotea could not pick one single answer. Among his favorites are the dogwood, red oak and ginkgoes, all of which can be found on the WashU trees website.

A bloom from one of the rarest magnolias in North America, the Ashei Magnolia, which grows on WashU’s campus. (Photo courtesy of Cody Azotea)

He also mentioned some of the rarer trees on campus, such as the dawn redwood. A so-called “living fossil,” it was only known as a fossil until a living specimen was discovered in a remote forest in China. Now it grows at WashU. The campus is also home to the Magnolia Ashei, which is one of the rarest magnolias in North America, found primarily in a few isolated locations in Florida, according to Azotea.

Finding such interesting trees for campus is not easy. Often, specimens will be shipped from out of state, then sent off to a local “contract grower.” Several years later, once they are sufficiently grown, they are transferred to the University for planting.

Azotea is adamant that the rare species are important, noting that while tracking them down can be difficult, “trying to find unique specimens to bring to campus that you can put in front of the students and the faculty, that people can learn from—that’s a lot of fun.”

Read more from the Rooted in St. Louis series

Rooted in St. Louis: The Elizabeth Danforth Butterfly Garden

Rooted in St. Louis: The creation of a campus forest

Rooted in St. Louis: The Ethnobotanical Work of Professor Memory Elvin-Lewis