While plant shopping with fellow garden enthusiasts, we discovered several great hydrangeas for our gardens including: H. arborescens ‘Green Dragon’ and H. serrata ‘Oamacha Variegata’, but the find of the weekend was H. macrophylla ‘Ayesha’.  We were all struck by the unique flowers of this plant and knew it was coming home with us immediately no matter the cost.

Pink bloom of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' next to white blooms of Hydrangea umbellata. photo credit: R. Robert

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ayesha’ produces a free-flowering, sometimes oblong-shaped, mophead bloom as expected with a macrophylla. The striking difference is the sepals are shaped like cupped spoons with a waxy, succulent-like texture and feel. Unlike other mopheads, this cultivar is also fragrant. The color ranges from pink to pale blue depending on the soil acidity as with other hydrangeas.  These unique blossoms decorate the fresh green foliage from early to mid summer.

A close-up of the cupped spoons sepals of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha'. photo credit. R. Robert

Sometimes also listed as H. macrophylla ‘Silver Slipper’, ‘Ayesha’ has been named a Great Plant Pick by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden and awarded the Award of Merit and Award of Garden Merit by Royal Horticultural Society.

Upon returning the Arboretum on Monday, I inquired if this cultivar was already part of our collection. No surprise, our curator, Andrew Bunting, has three plants blooming in pink and pale blue in the Hydrangea Collection. Stop by to see our complete collection of unique hydrangea cultivars and see what gems you might find that have to be a part of your garden.

Part of our planting efforts at the Scott Arboretum are designed to disguise or hide the utilities of campus buildings. We have used Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’ to hide the loading dock of Clothier Hall, Viburnum rhytidophyllum ‘Cree’ to camouflage the loading dock of Parrish Hall, and our boxwood trials to disguise the utilities of Beardsley Hall. Our spicebush collection throughout campus also veils various mechanical installations. Planted to serve as a screen for utilities behind Mertz Hall, Lindera reflexa reaches out along this border of the Gold Medal Garden. This Asiatic spicebush is a rare species with broad deciduous leaves.

The broad deciduous leaves of Lindera reflexa. photo credit: R. Robert

Like most Lindera, it is prized for its truly stunning fall color, turning from yellow to vibrant pumpkin-orange. Thriving in sun and shade, L. reflexa has the best fall color when plant in full sun. This spicebush grows best in a organic-rich soil.  Because this is relatively new to cultivation the ultimate size is not well documented;  however, it probably will reach approximately ten feet tall and ten feet wide at maturity.

Lindera reflexa provides screening between Kemp and Mertz Hall. photo credit: R. Robert

Consider the various species of Lindera for screening unsightly views in your garden. Almost all Lindera are also deer resistant! Enter for your chance to win the rare Lindera reflexa at tonight’s Sunset Sippin’: Blanc Franc and Fragrance from 6 to 8 pm.

Spring is time for planting and our volunteers and interns have been busy installing a new planting along College Avenue. As a result of the completion of the Wister Education Center and Greenhouse, the garden bed along College Ave. needed a face-lift.

Originally this bed served as a screen for the parking lot and the dilapidated original Wister Greenhouse. The intent of the new planting is to create a more dramatic offset to the new Wister Center. A series of shrubs has been planted to reach about five feet high and screen the cars in the parking lot but allow a view of the new Wister Center. Repeating masses of evergreen, dry-tolerant perennials create an interesting but subtle ground layer.

Heptacodium miconides provides shade over the plantings along College Ave. photo credit: R. Robert

The canopy consists of several trees from the original planting, Prunus ‘Okame’, Heptacodium miconioides, and Ilex opaca.  Curator, Andrew Bunting’s new design uses Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ and Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ as the screening shrub layer.

M. ‘Winter Sun’ was selected for its more compact growth habit and increased fragrance. Like all mahonias, M. ‘Winter Sun’ will provide multi-seasonal interest with sprays of yellow flowers in late fall and early winter developing into black berries for the birds in later summer and autumn. The evergreen foliage will create a screen throughout the year.

Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ was selected as a compact cultivar. This evergreen shrub is slow growing with an upright rounded habit. These features also create a screen throughout the year. The small leaves of I. ‘Shamrock’ make a contrast to the large dramatic foliage of M. ‘Winter Sun’.

Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride' photo credit: R. Robert

Planted in repeating masses as the understory are Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’, Meehania cordata, Carex flacca ‘ Blue Zinger’, Carex platyphylla, and Polystichum acrostichoides. Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ is an easy-care shade-tolerant plant with chartreuse foliage. In addition to the foliage contrast it provides in the garden, H. villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ blooms with long stalks of pure white typical Heuchera flowers.

Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' photo credit: R. Robert

For spring interest in the border, the trailing stems of Meehania cordata create a carpet of green coated with blue flowers in late April to May. Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’ and Carex platyphylla both provide an evergreen, shade-tolerant groundcover. C. ‘Blue Zinger’ has a light blue tint on the sedge’s foliage, while C. platyphylla has a thicker, powder-blue leaf adding texture and subtle plays of color.

Polystichum acrostichoides. photo credit: R. Robert

Polystichum acrostichoides, Christmas fern, was selected as an evergreen fern to add to the understory. The fountain-like clumps of Christmas fern add a neat habit and dimension to the masses of perennials in this planting.

As the College prepares for Alumni Weekend, the Scott Arboretum is preparing to celebrate the installation of new garden, Chica Maynard ’48 garden. In the tradition of Swarthmore alumni, the Class of 1948 has established the Chica Maynard ’48 Cherry Border Fund in honor of, you guessed it, Carolien ‘Chica’ Powers Maynard, class of 1948.

Carolien Powers '22 "whisper bench". photo credit: R. Robert

This fund will allow for the maintenance, upkeep, and enhancements of the Cherry Border and the “whisper bench”. The bench was originally a gift from Chica Maynard’s grandmother in honor of Chica Maynard’s mother, Carolien Powers ’22. In 1972, a white oak fell on the bench shattering it. Through the generosity of Chica Maynard and her father, the bench was completely rebuilt. With this rich history of generations of loyal alumnae, the Class of 1948 was inspired to establish this fund to perform immediate maintenance on the bench, enhance the gardens around the bench, and create a fund to ensure the long term care of the area.

Ceris canadensis 'Pauline Lily' creating garden backdrop to the "whisper bench." photo credit: R. Robert

Designed by Sam Keitch, curatorial intern, and Andrew Bunting, curator, the Chica Maynard ’48 garden was intended to have a natural feel and serve as subtle backdrop to the “whisper bench.” As a part of the Meetinghouse woods, the canopy consists of native trees, thus native plants were selected for the understory. Perennials were planted in sweeps to create a gentle backdrop.

Two native redbuds, Ceris canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’, were planted as understory trees. ‘Pauline Lily’ has a soft lilac bloom instead of the traditional pink to red blooms of a redbud.

The next layer of understory is Rhododendron ‘Snowbird’. This deciduous azalea has very fragrant delicate pink-flushed white flowers in the spring. Imagine whispering your secrets along the curve of the “whisper bench” and catching the delightful fragrance of ‘Snowbird’. In addition to the fragrance, ‘Snowbird’ features lovely orange fall color with red to yellow tones, as well as resistant to powdery mildew.

Plugs of Tiarella cordifolia 'Brandywine' planted surrounding the "whisper bench." photo credit. R. Robert

Among the perennial sweeps, you will find Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’. Part of the River Series introduced by Adam Dunvegan Nursery, ‘Brandywine’ is named for our local river. This Tiarella is a robust clump former for a shade garden. It produces creamy white flowers in the spring, which are a presence in the garden for 6 to 8 weeks. The glossy leaves turn an beautiful bronze fall and winter color to add to the fall colors of the cherry border.

During your visit to Scott Arboretum explore the upper corner of the Cherry Border near the weeping cherries. Here you will find a bench designed to share secrets and a garden to help forget the worry of secrets.

This week we are preparing for our graduation tradition of pinning roses on seniors’ gowns. Often at this time of year, we are nervous about having enough roses in bloom to accommodate the graduating class. Because of our warm spring, the Dean Bond Rose Garden is looking spectacular and is overflowing with blooms.

Rosa 'Swarthmore' in bloom in the Dean Bond Rose Garden. photo credit: R. Robert

An arresting hybrid tea rose named after Swarthmore College currently blooming in the garden is Rosa ‘Swarthmore’. Registered in 1963, ‘Swarthmore’ exhibits the traditional characteristics of a hybrid tea rose. This shrub produces long pointed buds which slowly unfurl at the end of the stem, as opposed to the clusters of flowers found on many species roses. Hybrid tea roses are the classic long-stem roses ideal for cut flowers.

The unique coloration of Rosa 'Swarthmore' photo credit. R. Robert

R. ‘Swarthmore’ has a unique pink-red color bloom. In the tradition of hybrid teas, the double bloom has a slight fragrance that has been described as spicy.  Stop by the Dean Bond Rose Garden to evaluate the fragrance yourself. Check out the guide from Greater Philadelphia Gardens to all the great rose gardens throughout the greater Philadelphia region.

Today is Plant Conservation Day! It was started in 2001 by the AZH, Association of Zoological Horticulture and expanded in 2006 by partnering with the BGCI, Botanic Gardens Conservation International.  In 2008, Plant Conservation Day celebrations were held in the United States and Europe.  Through a grant in 2009, activities were expanded worldwide.

The Scott Arboretum is not defined as a conservation-based organization, however, our collections do include many specimens from across the globe which are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  This list provides taxonomic, conservation status, and distribution information on plants that are facing a high risk of global extinction.

Bloom of Liriodendron chinense. photo credit: D. Mattis

In 2009, the Red List of Magnoliaceae was published with the support of Fauna and Flora International; BGCI; The Global Trees Campaign; the IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature; and the SSI, Species Survival Commission.  This document lists and describes those taxa of Magnoliaceae which are threatened and endangered throughout the world.

Pyramidal habit of Liriodendron chinense. photo credit: D. Mattis

We have several specimens of globally threatened plants growing at the Scott Arboretum.   Closely related to our native tulip tree is Liriodendron chinense.  At the Sharples Dining Hall is a relatively young specimen with leaves very similar to Liriodendron tulipifera, but almost twice the size.  While our native tulip trees are very upright as young specimens, the Chinese tuliptree is broadly pyramidal.  In the wild, this species is found in montane forests in the Yangtze River valley extending south into northern Vietnam.

Arboretum Assistant, Alan Kruza demonstrates the size of the leaf and flower of M. ashei. photo credit: D. Mattis

Endemic to northern Florida is Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei.  This is found from Leon and Wakulla Counties westward to Santa Rosa county in the Florida Panhandle.  Like Magnolia macrophylla, big-leaf magnolia, M. ashei has very large leaves, however the stature of the plant is much smaller.  Flowering in late May it has very large white fragrant flowers over one foot in diameter with a purple splotch in the center.  At Old Tarble there is a specimen that is twelve feet tall with an equal spread.

In addition to the aforementioned species, the Arboretum plans to add the following globally threatened species to our collections: Magnolia sinensis, M. wilsonii, M. dawsoniana and M. biondii.

The Gold Medal Award Program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society was originally conceived by J. Franklin Styer in 1979.  This award recognizes outstanding woody, ornamental trees, shrubs, and vines. Each year the Gold Medal Plant Award Committee, made up of horticulturists, nurserymen, and plant experts throughout the Delaware Valley, selects several plants to receive the Gold Medal designation.

For the last 30 years the Scott Arboretum has been showcasing most of the Gold Medal selections throughout its collections.  In recent years, the Arboretum has been creating a Gold Medal garden around the newest student dormitories, Alice Paul and David Kemp Residence Halls.  These two buildings sit between Mertz Residence Hall and Chester Road.  The gardens surrounding these buildings are planted with both specimens and masses of Gold Medal selections from the last several decades.

The plants that are designated as a Gold Medal selections are denoted with a Gold Medal medallion on a stake next to the plant. More information on the Gold Medal program can be found at www.goldmedalplants.com.

A planting of Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' in the Gold Medal garden. photo credit. R. Robert

The following are some great representative plants of the Gold Medal program.  One of the earliest winners of this award was Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’, Virginia sweetspire.  This plant originally came from the Henry Foundation in Gladwyne, but was named at the Scott Arboretum in the mid-1970s.  From June to July, it is covered in bottlebrush-like white flowers which have a sweet fragrance.  In fall, the narrow foliage turns a beautiful merlot-purple.  At maturity, I. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ will reach up to five feet tall and will eventually spread into a thick colony.  This native plant is tolerant of fairly moist conditions.

Another excellent native shrub is the sweet pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’.   Like the Itea, this is a colonizing shrub.  In August, the bottlebrush-like flowers turn deep pink with a striking fragrance.  In the fall, the foliage turns a beautiful golden yellow.

Lindera glauca var. salicifolia fall color. photo credit: J. Jin

Recently added to the plantings at Kemp Hall is another excellent shrub for fall color, the pale spicebush, Lindera glauca var. salicifolia.  Like other spicebushes, this lindera is resistant to deer grazing.  In the fall, the narrow foliage turns from yellow to pumpkin-orange and eventually to beige-brown.  While it is ultimately a deciduous plant, the foliage stays all winter giving this large shrub great winter interest.  As the old leaves shed in the spring, it bears clusters of tiny yellow flowers.

Blooms of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'. photo credit: R. Maurer

One of the best oakleaf hydrangeas is represented in this garden: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’.  This selection hales from Princeton Nursery in New Jersey.  It was selected for the abundance of cone-like panicles of white flowers which emerge in July.  In the fall, the leaves which resemble red oak leaves turn purple-red.  This relatively large shrub can reach twelve feet tall and wide at maturity.

Fall color of Cladrastis kentukea. photo credit: R. Maurer

Several trees grow around Alice Paul and David Kemp Residence Hall.  The American yellowwood, Cladrastis kentukea forms a beautiful vase-shape over time.  The compound foliage turns a striking golden-yellow in the fall.  With maturity, the bark will become smooth and silver like that of our native beech, Fagus grandifolia.  In May, this medium-sized tree is covered with pendant clusters of sweetly scented white flowers with a slight pink blush.

The late winter flowers of Parrotia persica. photo credit: R. Maurer

For fall and winter interest an excellent choice is the Persian ironwood, Parrotia persica.  This is often grown as a multi-stemmed tree. The largest specimen at the Arboretum grows along Chester Road (Rt. 320) near the playing fields and is approximately sixty feet tall with an equal spread.  In the fall, the oblong leaves with scalloped margins turn red-purple.  As parrotia matures, the bark develops into a beautiful tapestry of cream, grey, and forest green.  In late winter curious clusters of burgundy flowers are borne.

The oversized flowers of Cornus Venus (R). photo credit: D. Mattis

A recent recipient of the Gold Medal award is a stunning small flowering tree, Cornus Venus®.  This dogwood is a hybrid between the Kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa and C. nuttallii. It resembles an upright version of the Kousa dogwood with oversized flowers.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight' photo credit: A. Bunting

The Gold Medal Program also boasts several vines including the Japanese hydrangea vine, Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’.  This self-clinging vine has rounded, pewter, variegated leaves which really stand out in shady spots.  If this vine is given half-day sun, there will be spectacular flat-topped clusters of flowers in July.  Each flower is made up of a large single bract which looks as if it is hovering above the foliage.  Like its close relative the climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris, the Japanese hydrangea vine has excellent summer fragrance.

The aforementioned are merely thumbnail sketches of the dozens of Gold Medal specimens found in the Gold Medal Garden.  A visit the Scott Arboretum will reveal the rich contribution this program has made to ornamental horticulture.

At the Scott Arboretum in the spring the flowering of the magnolias and cherries is unprecedented for its sheer beauty.  Both of these collections are impressive to say the least. The flowering cherries, Prunus, are mostly massed in the Cherry Border which is across the street from the Scott Arboretum offices.  The cherries are planted along Cedar Lane and lead up the President’s house across to the Meetinghouse extending all the way to the Lilac Collection.  The lawn in the middle has been left mostly unplanted so the visitor can stand on the lawn and have a panoramic view of the cherry collection.  Many of these specimens are well over 50 years old and therefore are mature and picturesque specimens.

In all, the Arboretum’s collection includes 66 taxa of flowering cherries.  This is a collection that we are actively curating and trying to  add new cultivars, especially the Japanese flowering cherries.  In fact, this spring we will be receiving cuttings from both the United States National Arboretum and the Arnold Arboretum of cultivars that are not represented in our collection.  We will propagate these cuttings in the Wister Center Greenhouse, and in 4 years these plants will probably be big enough to add to the collection.

The first cherries begin flowering at the end of March and continue into early April.  Of course, depending on the weather the flowering of the cherries can fluctuate.  This year all the cherries started flowering  7-10 days earlier than normal. As of April 9^th, the earliest flowering cherries have already finished flowering and their delicate petals are cascading to the ground.  This group included Prunus ‘Okame’, Prunus x yedoenis, Prunus subhirtella, P. sargentii, ‘Accolade’, ‘Fugenzo’, and ‘Hally Jolivette’.

Prunus 'Manoga' photo credit: R. Maurer

Starting to flower are the mid-season and late-season flowering cherries.   One of the most common of all the flowering cherries is just starting flowering: Prunus ‘Sekiyma’.  Commonly called the Kwanzan cherry, this cherry is often seen gardens as well as at shopping malls, municipal spaces, etc.  Along the storefronts  in Swarthmore there used to be a row of Kwanzan cherries.  This upright to vase-shaped tree has magenta pink buds that open to double bubble gum-pink flowers.  In Swarthmore when the flowering was finished the pink petals would rain down like confetti.  The sidewalks and streets would be beautifully decorated with a carpet of petals.

Prunus 'Shirotae' photo credit: D. Mattis

Flowering cherries can range in size from small, almost shrub-like plants to medium-sized trees that can reach forty feet tall with an equal spread.  While most people will predominantly select a flowering cherry for its spring blossoms, it should be noted that all flowering cherries have fantastic fall color.  In November, the small leaves turn red, orange, and yellow.

Prunus 'Royal Burgundy' photo credit: R. Maurer

A relatively new addition to our collections is Prunus ‘Royal Burgundy’.  The leaves are a shiny burgundy which when emerging provide a stunning juxtaposition to the striking deep, double-pink flowers.  The tree is upright and vase-shaped.  ‘Higurashi’ is a small tree.    The flowers are double white that have a soft pink edge to the outer petals.  ‘Ojochin’ is a somewhat upright tree in habit.  The single white flowers are flushed with pink and the entire petal is ‘crinkled’ giving it a textural quality as well.  ‘Manoga’ is a tall broad spreading tree.  The semi-double flowers are soft pink.

Prunus 'Ukon' photo credit: R. Maurer

One of my favorites of the late flowering cherries is ‘Ukon’.  Most flowering cherries are white or pink or some shade thereof, but ‘Ukon’ is a very soft yellow-green.  Its habit is very upright and the branches become laden with semi-double yellow flowers.  This tree would best be displayed with a dark evergreen background such as the Japanese red-cedar, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’ or the Oriental spruce, Picea orientalis.  ‘Hizakura’ is one of the largest trees in our collection.  The large semi-double flowers are soft pink. The flowers of ‘Shirotae’ are just now emerging.  The double white flowers are flushed with pink.

Prunus 'Ojochin' photo credit: R. Maurer

If your are looking for a flowering cherry with strong architectural form then ‘Amanogawa’ is worth considering.  This cherry has a distinct very upright habit.  It could be used in formal settings where a matching pair of upright specimens might flank an entrance.  The semi-double flowers are soft pink.  For the small garden, ‘Shogetsu’ is a good choice.  Reaching only about eight feet tall this cherry can be trained as a small tree or large shrub.  The double flowers are a very soft pink.

The flowering cherries are the quintessential spring flowering tree.  Since the flowers generally emerge before the foliage they are completely unmasked giving a full floral display.  Because of the different flowering times; flower colors, habits, and ultimate heights and spreads, the choices for the home gardener are almost limitless.

Emerging out of the cracks and crevices of the stone wall within the Scott Entrance Garden is a perennial with fern-like foliage and an upright spike of yellow flowers. Commonly know as the ferny corydalis, Corydalis cheilanthifolia can stump the plant aficionado.

Corydalia cheilanthifolia growing in the stone wall in the Scott Entrance garden. photo credit: R. Robert

While not a member of the fern family, the semi-evergreen fern-like foliage is often the source of confusion. Ferny corydalis is easily identifiable when in bloom from spring to early summer. The spike-like racemes of straight-spurred deep yellow flowers are representative of the corydalis genera.

A native of western and central China, Corydalis cheilanthifolia thrives in full to part sun with well drained soil. This is great plant to allow to self-seed in your garden. It also appreciates the moderately fertile soil of a rock garden.

In addition to sprouting from the wall in the Scott Entrance garden, this plant is creating a home in the John W. Nason garden.

While during the spring season, many people are captivated by the stunning array of cherry blooms and saucer magnolia blossoms, garden enthusiasts look for little gems that appear just for a brief moment in spring. The best garden on campus to discover these spring garden gems is the Terry Shane Teaching Garden. Here our curator, Andrew Bunting, and our intern are always stashing little treasures for you to enjoy.

A small native plant with a brief but memorable show in the spring is Sanguinaria canadensis. The pristine white flowers are pollinated by small flying insects during the early spring. Sanguinaria canadensis gets its common name, bloodroot, because when the roots are cut they “bleed” a red sap. The uniquely-textured foliage goes dormant in mid to late summer.

Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex' photo credit: R. Robert

A naturalized collection can be seen blooming in the Meetinghouse Woods, but for the attractive cultivar S. ‘Multiplex’ visit the Terry Shane Teaching Garden. This double form of our native bloodroot has large white blooms which last longer in the landscape because the flowers are sterile. Be sure to stop by soon to experience this selection because the unseasonable warm weather will make this plant disappear early.

Arisaema tosaense photo credit: R. Robert

The Terry Shane Teaching garden also hosts several unique Arisaema or jack –in-the-pulpit. Creating quite a fuss right now is Arisaema tosaense. This species originates from Shikoku Islands in Japan. In our spring gardens, A. tosaense towers over other woodland spring ephemerals reaching 30 inches tall.  The “pulpit” or spathe is a translucent green with white striping.

Another distinctive flower garnering a lot attention in the Terry Shane Teaching garden is Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’. In March, our intern, Sam Keitch, trimmed the foliage of this Carex to remove the battered winter leaves. As a result, tall spikes of the Carex flower are stumping garden visitors.

Carex morrowii 'Variegata' photo credit: R. Robert

C. ‘Variegata’ is traditionally grown for its attractive variegated foliage. Like other Carex, it is a durable sedge that provides texture and interest throughout the season. Carex are rarely noticed for their flowers because the small inconspicuous blooms are normally barely visible through the foliage. Since the foliage was trimmed because of winter damage, the singular, distinctive flower stalks are eye-catching among the other newly emerging plants.

As a result of our summer-like weather, the spring ephemeral season is shorter than usual. Stop by the Terry Shane Teaching garden to discover some garden gems for yourself. Oh yeah, don’t forget to look up and enjoy the cherry blossoms and magnolia blooms too.