2018 Summer Intern

Lagerstroemia ‘Tuskegee’

With its large, slightly pendulous pink flowers and height of up to 20 feet, this crapemyrtle sure is a stunner!  Lagerstroemia is native to East Asia, and was introduced into South Carolina around 1760. Originating in 1986, this cultivar was the fourth mildew-resistant cultivar to come out of the National Arboretum. It features large, pendulous, hot-pink blooms and mottled bark. It has a notoriously long bloom period-about 100 days-and foliage that turns a dark orange in fall. Although the specimen near Old Tarble is cultivated as multi-stemmed, this shrub can also be pruned to have a tree-like single trunk, fitting any landscape need! photo credit: E. Fogarty

Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. pendula

There’s something beautiful about a weeping tree. Nestled amongst the rigid, structured specimens of the Pinetum collection, the liquidity of this weeping katsura’s branches is breathtaking. Sometimes called “caramel tree” due to the smell it emits in the fall, Cercidiphyllum japonicum is an endangered plant in its native Japan to China range.

The species was introduced to America in 1865 (although this cultivar was a later creation), when Thomas Hogg sent seeds from Japan to his brother’s New York nursery. The pendulous variety has earned a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit, and for good reason! In the spring, small white flowers precede the appearance of red-purple leaves, which mature to green. These leaves later turn to red and gold cascades, at up to 15 feet tall. photo credit: E. Fogarty

Helianthus x multiflorus ‘Sunshine Daydream’

This lovely sunflower is a cultivar of the multiflorus species, which was described prior to the creation of modern taxonomy by Linnaeus. More resembling its Dahlia cousins than the traditional sunflower (both are members of the Asteraceae family), ‘Sunshine Daydream’ is what is commonly known as a “double” – a sunflower with tiny florets in the area where seeds would normally be seen (the black center on a traditional sunflower). The 3-inch flowers of ‘Sunshine Daydream’ rise a modest 5 or 6 feet above the soil, and spread 2 to 4 feet. This sunflower likes sunny, moist soil, making it the perfect choice for the edge of the biostream! Catch it blooming all summer, until the first frost hits. photo credit: E. Fogarty

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Allium ‘Summer Beauty’

Looking at the mass of pale purple globes and green foliage of this plant, one cannot imagine that Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ is related to a common cooking ingredient—onions!  Although it would be unwise to eat the bulbs of these plants as they are bred to be ornamental, these cheery floral globes in the rose garden are close relatives to the vegetable you probably have in your kitchen! The ornamental cultivars (‘Summer Beauty’ included) can be distinguished from their edible cousins by their much denser umbels of flowers. ‘Summer Beauty’ is a late bloomer for an ornamental Allium, and its mid- to late-summer blooms add interest to the garden after many other flowers are past their prime: a great addition to any garden! photo credit: E. Fogarty

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver Dollar’

‘Silver Dollar’, like all panicle hydrangeas, is a late bloomer for a hydrangea. This shrub doesn’t come into its own until mid-summer, with blooms persisting until fall. It stands out amongst the crowd. At 6-8 feet in height, ‘Silver Dollar’ is tall enough to be branded a small tree by some nurseries; however, it is suitable for small yards. ‘Silver Dollar’ features bright, cone-shaped flowers, which begin greenish and age to white. It is adaptable for most soils and levels of sun. Cut this hydrangea back every year and it will return in full force the next! Check out this stunning hydrangea in the Terry Shane Teaching Garden. photo credit: E. Fogarty

Phegopteris decursive-pinnata

If you have damp soil with a decent amount of shade, conditions seen in our Metasequoia Allée, this fern is for you! A native to Asia, Phegopteris decursive-pinnata is compact, 1-2 feet wide and up to 1.5 feet in spread, with delicate, feathery fronds. Phegopteris decursive-pinnata color ranges from a bright green in full shade to a pale, almost-white green in partial shade. The genus Phegopteris, if translated from Latin, means “beech fern,” possibly due to its habit of growing under canopies of trees. This fern can spread to fill an area, but not so quickly as to be overwhelming. Luckly, it is resistant to both rabbit and deer browsing. Phegopteris decursive-pinnata is the perfect choice to add an extra bit of texture to a woodland environment! photo credit: E. Fogarty

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The Scott Arboretum has many significant tree specimens including a pin oak, planted in 1915 by President Taft, and five state champion trees. However, my favorite is a Ginkgo biloba located in the Tree Peony Collection below Sproul Observatory. Although this particular specimen is neither a state champion nor planted by anyone special, it is a gorgeous example of a ginko.

Ginkgo biloba features fan-shaped leaves with radiating venation. photo credit: J. Coceano

Native to Asia, the Gingko biloba is certainly unique. It features fan-shaped leaves with radiating venation. Female trees produce round ovules and male trees grow pollen cones. They are large trees, growing from 30-40 feet tall during a long life span. Some specimens are estimated to be 2,500 years old because of their aerial roots and disease resistance. Gingko foliage turns a vibrant saffron-yellow in the fall. The nuts are said to be delicious when roasted.

Gingko foliage turns a vibrant saffron-yellow in the fall. photo credit: R. Manduca

All this, however, is not what makes the ginkgo special. What makes it so remarkable is that, out of all the species in its order and its over 250 million year history, the Ginkgo biloba is the lone survivor.

It is thought that the ginkgo’s cultivated history is much more recent however, with a Yale scholar estimating that it began being cultivated by monks in China as a nut crop around 1,000 years ago. photo credit: R. Robert

The Ginkgoales order has existed since the Cretaceous period, when the earth was still one supercontinent known as Pangea, but became prolific during the Triassic, and stopped morphologically changing in the Mesozoic, approximately 66 million years ago. At its height, it included five families, all of which had the same radiating venation as the G. biloba, and are thought to further descend from tree ferns. By the end of the Pleistocene, all species but the Ginkgo biloba disappeared from the fossil record, and are presumed extinct.

Green fruit of ginkgo. photo credit: E. Fogarty

It is thought that the ginkgo’s cultivated history is much more recent however, with a Yale scholar estimating that it began being cultivated by monks in China as a nut crop around 1,000 years ago. Indeed, this gardening by men of the cloth is to  what many attribute the survival of this “living fossil” to. Even in the greatest times of strife and destruction, religious sites generally survive, making monasteries, cemeteries, and churches some of the best places to find ancient plant species. In the West, they were first mentioned by a worker for the Dutch East India Company in 1692, but were not introduced until about the 1750s.

Today, the ginkgo is found mainly lining city streets; its resilience makes it especially suited for the task. Even planted in tiny spots, barraged with street salts and countless other pollutants, the ginkgo manages to thrive, adding shade and enjoyment to harsh city streets. Even though it is rare in the wild, cultivation of the gingko keeps it surviving as a species, and hopefully, it will be around for thousands more years.

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Fagus sylvatica

As the days of summer get hotter, finding respite in a shady spot becomes more important! One of my favorite shady spots on campus is an Adirondack chair beneath the canopy of the European beech, Fagus sylvatica, outside McCabe Library. Its round crown is almost like an umbrella and its dense leaves give protection from the sun’s heat.

European beeches are notoriously long-lived. They are known to live up to 500 years, and pollen from an Iron Age European beech has been found in England, possibly introduced by Vikings. While it takes many years for a tree to become as majestic as the one on campus (planted many, many years ago, but accessioned to our collections in 1980) you can plant one if you admire its smooth bark and bright green leaves. European beech is more tolerant of its pH than the American beech, and transplants well. It prefers well-drained soil and has few pest or disease problems. Plant one now, to invest in the enjoyment of generations to come.  Photo credit: E. Fogarty

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’

Many people immediately think of macrophylla or serrata species when they hear about hydrangeas –  the ones with thick balls of flowers which change color depending on the pH of the soil. Although they are a welcome addition to any landscape, I think the oakleaf hydrangea,Hydrangea quercifolia, in particular ‘Snow Queen’, deserves more praise than it’s usually given.

Named because its large, lobed, dark-green leaves that resemble those of an oak, these woody shrubs feature cones of white blooms that stay white regardless of the soil pH. The oakleaf hydrangea is native to this area. A mention of it can be found in William Bartram’s 18th century journals.

Hydrangea quercifolia is low-maintenance requiring well-drained soil.  The flowers fade to tan by the end of summer. The leaves present a glorious show of red in the fall, giving it another season of interest. The bark is interesting when the leaves finally fall. You can find oakleaf hydrangeas behind the arbor in the Terry Shane Teaching Garden and between Parrish Hall and the Rose Garden Circle.  Photo credit: E. Fogarty

Digitalis ferruginea

I have a fondness for historic medicinal plants, so when these beautiful foxgloves popped up by the Swarthmore Entrance Rock and in front of Cunningham House, I was smitten. With its pale yellow-to-orange blooms, Digitalis ferruginea, rusty foxglove,  plants are certainly less showy than its D. purpurea relations, but is equally beautiful.  

The foxglove as medicine was first mentioned in the late 18th century; however, Digitalis ferruginea can be seen in 16th century herbologies. Foxgloves didn’t become important until much later when a compound called digitalin was extracted from it and used in heart medicines to combat arrhythmia. It must be noted that although this is used in medication, it should not be ingested, and modern herbalists have abandoned it completely. Although in certain doses this plant can stop arrhythmia, it can just as easily propel it into motion, leading to its dual use as a poison that was especially popular in the Middle Ages. This plant is a lovely addition to any garden—just be sure to give it partial shade and well-drained soil.  Photo Credit: E. Fogarty

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By Erin Fogarty, 2018 Summer Intern

Jovibarba spp.

Succulents are easy to care for and perfect for windowsills. They are a great choice for even the smallest space. Here at the Scott Arboretum, a certain succulent, Jovibarba spp, Jupiter’s beard, is finding its home on the green roofs of the Alice Paul and David Kemp Residence Halls.

Jovibarba spp. is perfect for this difficult-to-access location. As a native of the mountainous Carpathian region, it can withstand our difficult winters that would kill most other succulents. It is also able to tolerate light foot traffic, cutting down on maintenance.

Jovibarba is similar to its hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum spp.) cousin, growing multiple smaller “pups” off the main blooms in bright green and burgundy. These plants need good drainage and not much watering. Whether you want to liven up your spacious patio or add a new plant to your windowsill collection, Jovibarba is a great choice. Photo Credit: E. Fogarty

Papaver somniferum

Looking at the delicate bicolor petals and pale green leaves of Papaver somniferum, it is easy to see why this plant has been prized for thousands of years (literally – images of this plant have been found on 6,000 year old Sumerian pottery!)

Since the ancient Greeks, people have recognized opium poppy for its “medicinal properties”. Mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, it was used it to treat bad eyesight, stomach ailments, asthma, and nervous complaints. The poppy launched Great Britain and China into not one but two wars, and was later used to create the “opiate” family of illicit drugs.

Although anyone is welcome to grow these flowers for aesthetic enjoyment, it is illegal to produce them in mass quantities. In fact as a result of the DEA investigation of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in the 1990s, they no longer sell poppy seeds in their gift shop.

When planting poppies, note that they do not take well to being transplanted. It is best to scatter seeds on the soil in your garden in early spring, then let them sprout where they fall. Poppies prefer adequate drainage and plenty of light. Enjoy looking at these beautiful blooms around the Cunningham House while you can – although the seed pods last until fall, the petals only appear for a few days. Photo Credit: E. Fogarty

Rosa [Julia Child^TM ] ‘WEKvossutono’

Julia Child was one of America’s best French chefs, so it is only fitting that one of the best varieties of garden roses is her namesake. A relatively new variety released in 2006 as a cross of four roses, Rosa [Julia Child^TM ] ‘WEKvossutono’ is remarkably resistant to heat stress, black spot, and mildew. With its compact size of 30” tall and wide, and its multitudinous flowers that bloom all summer, this rose has quickly become a favorite of home gardeners.

Reportedly, Julia Child, who was very resistant to giving her name to any commercial product, saw the rose while it was still an unnamed test subject in the garden of one of her producers. She fell in love with the flower’s buttery yellow blossoms and clove-like scent. Julia Child then consented to the rose being named after her.

Unfortunately, Julia Child died two years before the rose went to market. Surely, she would be proud of how the rose bearing her name has made rose cultivation approachable for amateur gardeners, just as she made French cuisine approachable to home chefs. Photo credit: R. Robert

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