Each month we will highlight a plant found in the Arborteum and Botanical Garden.
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October
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis Family: Rosaceae Hawthorn trees are pleasing to have in your yard's landscape. They have an attractive shape, shade potential, and clusters of pink or white flowers that bloom in spring and the thornless hawthorn has red-orange berries in the fall. While a very pretty tree, it doesn't come without problems - it is very susceptible to diseases like fire blight and several types of rust. Several varieties of pests like aphids and mites. Hawthorn trees need full sun and well-drained soil with the tree growing 15 to 30 feet tall. It's best to plant the tree in the spring so they have a full season to grow. These trees are drought resistant, though they need regularly watering in the first year. Location in the Arboretum: Kristen's Garden |
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September
Hick's Yew
Taxus x media
Family: Taxaceae
This hybrid yew is a dense, narrowly columnar, evergreen shrub with ascending branching. Typically matures to a height of 18-20' with a spread of 6-10' wide after 20 years; though more often seen as a 9-12' tall plant. Yews are classified as conifers, but female plants produce red, fleshy, single-seeded fruit instead of cones. The foliage is lustrous, dark green above and lighter green below. The Hick's Yew cultivar is a cross between Japanese yews and English yews. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. Generally long-lived, it is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils of near neutral pH in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good. Also tolerant of full shade and considerable pruning. Intolerant of temperature extremes.
Location in the Arboretum: The Rose Garden
Hick's Yew
Taxus x media
Family: Taxaceae
This hybrid yew is a dense, narrowly columnar, evergreen shrub with ascending branching. Typically matures to a height of 18-20' with a spread of 6-10' wide after 20 years; though more often seen as a 9-12' tall plant. Yews are classified as conifers, but female plants produce red, fleshy, single-seeded fruit instead of cones. The foliage is lustrous, dark green above and lighter green below. The Hick's Yew cultivar is a cross between Japanese yews and English yews. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. Generally long-lived, it is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils of near neutral pH in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good. Also tolerant of full shade and considerable pruning. Intolerant of temperature extremes.
Location in the Arboretum: The Rose Garden
August
Adam's Needle
Yucca filamentosa
Family: Agave
Adam’s needle is a native, evergreen, perennial shrub. The plants have long, thick underground stems and rarely have an above ground stem. The grayish green leaves appear from a rosette at or near the ground. The leaves are stiff and sword-shaped (30 to 76 cm long and 2.5 cm wide) with sharp, pointed tips and long, curly, filamentous threads at the margins. The bell-shaped flowers (5 to 8 cm wide) are a creamy white to pale yellow or green with broadly ovate petals (4-5 cm). The flowers, which appear in late spring and summer, hang loosely in clusters from a large, central spike (1 to 4 m tall) that emerges from the rosette. The flower stalk should be removed once the flowers have dropped. Otherwise, these plants are durable and require very little maintenance. Adam’s needle is adapted to hot, dry regions.
Location in the Arboretum: Near the Native Plant Garden down the path from the Rose Garden.
Adam's Needle
Yucca filamentosa
Family: Agave
Adam’s needle is a native, evergreen, perennial shrub. The plants have long, thick underground stems and rarely have an above ground stem. The grayish green leaves appear from a rosette at or near the ground. The leaves are stiff and sword-shaped (30 to 76 cm long and 2.5 cm wide) with sharp, pointed tips and long, curly, filamentous threads at the margins. The bell-shaped flowers (5 to 8 cm wide) are a creamy white to pale yellow or green with broadly ovate petals (4-5 cm). The flowers, which appear in late spring and summer, hang loosely in clusters from a large, central spike (1 to 4 m tall) that emerges from the rosette. The flower stalk should be removed once the flowers have dropped. Otherwise, these plants are durable and require very little maintenance. Adam’s needle is adapted to hot, dry regions.
Location in the Arboretum: Near the Native Plant Garden down the path from the Rose Garden.
July
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus Family: Malvaceae Rose of Sharon is a hardy deciduous shrub native to Asia and is the national flower of South Korea. It may grow 7 to 13 feet in height, bearing large pink, dark pink or white flowers blooming in the summer through early fall. While the flowers last only a day, they are plentiful on the shrub. Rose of Sharon requires little maintenance and prefers full sun to light shade with moist, well-drained soil. Pruning is important in early spring to shape and reduce its size. Location in the Arboretum: By the South Arboretum Entrance near the Ranch House. |
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June
Tri Color Beech Fagus sylvatica 'Roseo-Marginata' Family: Fagaceae This is an amazing shade tree with unusual foliage - best for a sunny or partly sunny area. It's early spring leaves are purplish-pink becoming marbled with silvery-white and cream color. In the fall, they turn a copper color. While the tree is slow growing it can get to 40' tall and 30' wide. The seeds are small tri-cornered nuts - commonly known as beechnuts. This tree prefers well-drained, moist and slightly acidic soil, though it is quite tolerant of a wide range of soils. It does not do well in waterlogged soils. Some use the tree as a hedge, as it does well with proper pruning. The tree is prone to scorched leaves if not sheltered from the hot sun or dry winds. Location in the Arboretum: In front of the building at the former entrance to the Great Basin Adventure Park. |
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May
Hawthorn
Crataegus
Family: Rosaceae
These are shrubs or small trees, with small pome fruit and most have thorny branches. The most common type of bark is smooth grey in young individuals, developing shallow longitudinal fissures with narrow ridges in older trees. The thorns are small sharp-tipped branches that arise either from other branches or from the trunk, and are typically .5 -1.5 inches. The leaves grow spirally arranged on long shoots, and in clusters on spur shoots on the branches or twigs. The leaves of most species have lobed or serrate margins and are somewhat variable in shape. Hawthorns provide food and shelter for many species of birds and mammals, and the flowers are important for many nectar-feeding insects. Hawthorns are also known as a Thornapple, May-tree, Whitethorn or Hawberry.
Location in the Arboretum: Directly in front of the Arboretum Office.
Hawthorn
Crataegus
Family: Rosaceae
These are shrubs or small trees, with small pome fruit and most have thorny branches. The most common type of bark is smooth grey in young individuals, developing shallow longitudinal fissures with narrow ridges in older trees. The thorns are small sharp-tipped branches that arise either from other branches or from the trunk, and are typically .5 -1.5 inches. The leaves grow spirally arranged on long shoots, and in clusters on spur shoots on the branches or twigs. The leaves of most species have lobed or serrate margins and are somewhat variable in shape. Hawthorns provide food and shelter for many species of birds and mammals, and the flowers are important for many nectar-feeding insects. Hawthorns are also known as a Thornapple, May-tree, Whitethorn or Hawberry.
Location in the Arboretum: Directly in front of the Arboretum Office.
April
Bleeding Heart
Dicentra spectabilis
Family: Papaveraceae
Native to Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan, this is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with 3-lobed compound leaves on fleshy green to pink stems. The arching horizontal racemes of up to 20 pendent flowers are seen in spring and early summer. The outer petals are bright fuchsia-pink, while the inner ones are white. The flowers strikingly resemble the conventional heart shape, with a droplet beneath. The plant frequently dies down to its fibrous roots in summer. In moist and cool climates, it will grow in full sun, but in warmer and drier climates it requires some shade. (photo courtesy of the May Arboretum)
Location in the Arboretum: Directly behind the Ranch House in the McDonald Garden under the shade of the trees
Bleeding Heart
Dicentra spectabilis
Family: Papaveraceae
Native to Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan, this is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with 3-lobed compound leaves on fleshy green to pink stems. The arching horizontal racemes of up to 20 pendent flowers are seen in spring and early summer. The outer petals are bright fuchsia-pink, while the inner ones are white. The flowers strikingly resemble the conventional heart shape, with a droplet beneath. The plant frequently dies down to its fibrous roots in summer. In moist and cool climates, it will grow in full sun, but in warmer and drier climates it requires some shade. (photo courtesy of the May Arboretum)
Location in the Arboretum: Directly behind the Ranch House in the McDonald Garden under the shade of the trees
March
Cornelian Cherry/Dogwood
Cornus mas
Family: Cornaceae
This is a a deciduous shrub or small tree - growing just 5-12 m. tall with dark brown branches and green twigs.
Leaves: The leaves are opposite with an ovate to oblong shape.
Flowers: The flowers are small with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10–25 together in the late winter, well before the leaves appear. The yellow flowers bloom in late winter - before the forsythia.
Fruit: The fruit is an oblong red drupe 2 cm. long and 1.5 cm. in diameter, containing a single seed The fruit ripens in mid-to-late summer and is edible, though it is only fully ripe after it falls from the tree. When ripe, the fruit is dark ruby red or a bright yellow and is mainly used for making jam.
Location in the Arboretum: Main path near the Rose garden.
Cornelian Cherry/Dogwood
Cornus mas
Family: Cornaceae
This is a a deciduous shrub or small tree - growing just 5-12 m. tall with dark brown branches and green twigs.
Leaves: The leaves are opposite with an ovate to oblong shape.
Flowers: The flowers are small with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10–25 together in the late winter, well before the leaves appear. The yellow flowers bloom in late winter - before the forsythia.
Fruit: The fruit is an oblong red drupe 2 cm. long and 1.5 cm. in diameter, containing a single seed The fruit ripens in mid-to-late summer and is edible, though it is only fully ripe after it falls from the tree. When ripe, the fruit is dark ruby red or a bright yellow and is mainly used for making jam.
Location in the Arboretum: Main path near the Rose garden.
February
Western Larch
Larix occidentalis
Family: Pinaceae
Also know as the Tamarack. After a forest fire, the Western Larch trees are one of the first trees to start growing back. They are later replaced by other conifers. The Western Larch is one of the few deciduous conifers. The cones do not drop off with the leaves. Galactin, a natural sugar, that is found in the wood and gum of the tree is similar to a bitter honey. The substance is used in medicine and in the making of baking powder. Western Larch grows rapidly as a young tree, but the growth slows as it matures. They can be found growring in deep rocky soils. They grow best in cooler area which have moderate precipitation, preferably snow.
Habit: Deciduous. A narror pyramid shaped tree with a pointed crown. Grows to 30 to 50 feet tall in gardens.
Leaves: Needles. 0.5 to 1.5 inches long, almost triangular shaped in cross section. Light green turning to yellow in the fall before falling off for the winter.
Fruit: Cone, 1 to 1.5 inches long, brown, held upright on the branches.
Location in the Arboretum: On the path which borders Songbird garden and above Honey’s garden.
Western Larch
Larix occidentalis
Family: Pinaceae
Also know as the Tamarack. After a forest fire, the Western Larch trees are one of the first trees to start growing back. They are later replaced by other conifers. The Western Larch is one of the few deciduous conifers. The cones do not drop off with the leaves. Galactin, a natural sugar, that is found in the wood and gum of the tree is similar to a bitter honey. The substance is used in medicine and in the making of baking powder. Western Larch grows rapidly as a young tree, but the growth slows as it matures. They can be found growring in deep rocky soils. They grow best in cooler area which have moderate precipitation, preferably snow.
Habit: Deciduous. A narror pyramid shaped tree with a pointed crown. Grows to 30 to 50 feet tall in gardens.
Leaves: Needles. 0.5 to 1.5 inches long, almost triangular shaped in cross section. Light green turning to yellow in the fall before falling off for the winter.
Fruit: Cone, 1 to 1.5 inches long, brown, held upright on the branches.
Location in the Arboretum: On the path which borders Songbird garden and above Honey’s garden.
JANUARY
Scotch Pine
Pinus xylvestris
Family: Pinaceae
Native to Northern Europe and Asia, the Scotch Pine has been widely planted in North American. It was introduced long ago, probably in colonial days, as a potential lumber source. Lacking the qualities of some of the native pines, it was abandoned for timber but is still planted as an ornamental. There are many horticultural forms available. Scotch Pine is fast growing for an evergreen.
Habit: Evergreen. Can grow to 70 to 100 feet tall. Straight, well branched and pyramidal in youth. Irregular and picturesque in age, with drooping branches. Orange, flaky bark.
Leaves: Needles. In fascicles of two, 1.5 to 3 inches long, blue-green, stiff.
Fruit: Cones, yellowish-brown, to 1.5 inches long, bent back at the tip and have flattened scales that are thickened at the tip.
Location in the Arboretum: Directly in front of the Arboretum office.
Scotch Pine
Pinus xylvestris
Family: Pinaceae
Native to Northern Europe and Asia, the Scotch Pine has been widely planted in North American. It was introduced long ago, probably in colonial days, as a potential lumber source. Lacking the qualities of some of the native pines, it was abandoned for timber but is still planted as an ornamental. There are many horticultural forms available. Scotch Pine is fast growing for an evergreen.
Habit: Evergreen. Can grow to 70 to 100 feet tall. Straight, well branched and pyramidal in youth. Irregular and picturesque in age, with drooping branches. Orange, flaky bark.
Leaves: Needles. In fascicles of two, 1.5 to 3 inches long, blue-green, stiff.
Fruit: Cones, yellowish-brown, to 1.5 inches long, bent back at the tip and have flattened scales that are thickened at the tip.
Location in the Arboretum: Directly in front of the Arboretum office.
