Scott Arboretum Plant Introductions
A number of woody plant introductions from the Arboretum now circulate in the nursery trade; some of the better known ones include:Hamamelis mollis ‘Early Bright’ (1988)
This witchhazel was selected from a group of seed-raised plants received from Koster Nursery, Bridgeton, New Jersey in 1951. It was named and registered by Andrew Bunting, the Curator, since it flowers three to four weeks earlier than other plants and has outstanding yellow flowers.
Hosta 'Swarthmore Surprise'
This white and green variegated diminutive selection of hosta was selected by Gertrude Wister, former assistant director of the Scott Arboretum.
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ (1982)
Probably the most successful introduction; Mrs. Josephine Henry of the Henry Foundation, Gladwyne, PA, gave the Arboretum several seedlings collected in Georgia, and one of the seedlings caught the eye of Michael Dirr, Professor of Horticulture at University of Georgia. To recognize the connection between Mrs. Henry and Swarthmore College, the Arboretum named it ‘Henry’s Garnet’, with garnet referring to College’s color. In addition to its rich burgundy autumn color, ‘Henry’s Garnet’ has white flowers that attract butterflies and pollinators.
Magnolia virginiana var. australis ‘Henry Hicks’ (1967)
Singled out for its persistent evergreen leaves and dense habit, this sweetbay magnolia commemorates a famous New York nurseryman whose daughter attended Swarthmore College; the original tree resides in the magnolia collection.
Prunus subhirtella 'Scott Early' (1941)
The plant was a gift of Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott. Like other Prunus subhirtella it blooms very early in the spring around the first of April and has striking, soft pink flowers.
Rhododendron ‘Scintillation’ (1973)
A popular hybrid of unknown parentage—the funnel-shaped cotton-candy pink flowers and well-branched habit makes it one of the top rhododendrons for the region. Dr. John Wister, the first Director of the Arboretum, raised other numerous, outstanding rhododendrons, in addition to ‘Scintillation.’
Other Introductions include:
Rhododendron 'Adelphia'
Rhododendron 'Baccalaureate'
Rhododendron 'Balakyn'
Rhododendron 'Basking Ridge'
Rhododendron 'Brambleside'
Rhododendron 'Brewster'
Rhododendron 'Charming Maid'
Rhododendron 'Charming Miss'
Rhododendron 'Charming Mom'
Rhododendron 'Contentment'
Rhododendron 'Cornerstone'
Rhododendron 'Crestline'
Rhododendron 'Crowning Touch'
Rhododendron 'Dainty Cloud'
Rhododendron 'Delayed Dawn'
Rhododendron 'Delayed Event'
Rhododendron 'Delayed Surprise'
Rhododendron 'Delkyn'
Rhododendron 'Dilemma'
Rhododendron 'Diploma'
Rhododendron 'Edgemont'
Rhododendron 'Emmissary'
Rhododendron 'Enigma'
Rhododendron 'Fairmont Pride'
Rhododendron 'Fairmont Lodge'
Rhododendron 'Folcroft'
Rhododendron 'Forest Border'
Rhododendron 'Friendship'
Rhododendron 'Frontier='Westdale'
Rhododendron 'Full Measure'
Rhododendron 'Gigi'
Rhododendron 'Gladstone'
Rhododendron 'Good Fortune'
Rhododendron 'Good Luck'
Rhododendron 'Great Eastern'
Rhododendron 'Halesite'
Rhododendron 'Heatherwood'
Rhododendron 'High Hope'
Rhododendron 'High Regard'
Rhododendron 'Ingleneuk'
Rhododendron 'Ingleside'
Rhododendron 'Joyous'
Rhododendron 'July Morn'
Rhododendron 'Kingswood'
Rhododendron 'Lahaska'
Rhododendron 'Late Arrival'
Rhododendron 'Late Beginning'
Rhododendron 'Late Discovery'
Rhododendron 'Madison Hill'
Rhododendron 'Maralyn Gillespie'
Rhododendron 'Margaret Fell'
Rhododendron 'Milestone'
Rhododendron 'Narragansett'
Rhododendron 'Newburyport Beauty'
Rhododendron 'Newburyport Belle'
Rhododendron 'Niantic'
Rhododendron 'Nobleman'
Rhododendron 'Notation'
Rhododendron 'Pacesetter'
Rhododendron 'Path Finder'
Rhododendron 'Pink Picotee'
Rhododendron 'Pink Promise'
Rhododendron 'Rocklyn'
Rhododendron 'Sagamore Bridge'
Rhododendron 'Senior Picnic'
Rhododendron 'Sheer Delight'
Rhododendron 'Sparkling Jewel'
Rhododendron 'Summer Jewel'
Rhododendron 'Sun Sheen'
Rhododendron 'Sunlit Snow'
Rhododendron 'Tenadores'
Rhododendron 'Tinicum'
Rhododendron 'Toastmaster'
Rhododendron 'Tohicon'
Rhododendron 'Tulpehocken'
Rhododendron 'Westdale'