This beautiful Chamaecyparis situated behind Kohlberg Hall is showing off its healthy, dark green foliage. In Japanese, hinoki means “fire tree”. This dwarf hinoki cypress has likely surpassed its expected height of 9’, but the species plants grow up to 120’ in the wild. The cultivar name means “Dwarf” for nana, and “Slender or graceful” for gracilis. Photo credit: J. Preisendorfer

Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Snow Cream’

At the corner of the Lang Performing Arts Center and the back of Kohlberg Hall, you’ll find this interesting Edgeworthia. I like this plant largely because of the whirling leaf patterns. Each cluster of leaves has a unique helicopter appearance. This plant reaches about 6’ tall and enjoys full sun. If you want to try the straight species, Edgeworthia chrysantha is available at the 2015 Scott Arboretum Plant Sale (Setpember 11 to 13, 2015.) Photo credit: J. Preisendorfer

Musa basjoo

It’s really cool to see a hardy banana! The Isabelle Cosby Courtyard has several other banana plants, but this winter-hardy one is great for the long term. Musa basjoo is native to the Ryuku Islands near Japan. The leaves can grow up to 2’ wide and 6’ long, and the plant can grow up to 14’ tall. It has a strong presence in the courtyard, and might surprise people when they realize it’s a banana plant. Photo credit: J. Preisendorfer

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Isabelle Cosby Courtyard has a lot of interesting plants, including this Alstroemeria ‘Freedom’. With its red flowers during this hot time of year, it draws a lot of interest. These plants enjoy full sun to partial sun, and are heat tolerant. They reach about 30” tall. The petal shapes and dotting of colors is great. This is a very nice, compact plant. Photo credit: J. Preisendorfer

Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’

Next to the Pollinators Garden is this great Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’. The plant seems to be very healthy and happy with partial sun in this location. The variegation on the leaves is beautiful, and the wall is a nice backdrop. These plants get to be about 10’ tall. It’s a lovely plant to walk by on your way to and from the nearby buildings. Photo credit: J. Preisendorfer

Lilium ‘Black Beauty’

This Lilium ‘Black Beauty’ at Isabelle Cosby Courtyard has fantastic flowers, with strong, reddish-pink petals. It can tolerate full sun to partial shade, and can grow up to 7’. This plant grows from a bulb, and enjoys rich, organic soil. The flowers are fragrant with reflexed petals, making the view from the seating area nearby delightful. Photo credit: J. Preisendorfer

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Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyama’ displays a dome-like habit. photo credit: J. Preisendorfer-McGinnis

Acer palmatum displays many genetic differences. Height and shape can vary between cultivars, but the average for species plants is approximately 25 feet tall. Its habit can change depending on cultivar, but species plants are dome-like at maturity. These plants typically grow as understory trees in the wild. Acer palmatum’s leaves have five, seven, or nine pointed lobes, and the leaf size and shape can vary. The leaves are often the strongest part of the plant for me.

The twisting branches of Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ add great winter interest to the garden. photo credit: R. Robert

Acer palmatum is adaptable to different conditions and gets along well with other plants. They are good for paths and shallow areas due to their compact roots. Well drained soil and planting in the spring is advised. While not required if you have enough space, pruning can be nice to give a personal or artistic touch to the plant.

Acer palmatum’s leaves have five, seven, or nine pointed lobes, and the leaf size and shape can vary. The fall color of Acer palmatum‘ Dissectum’ is particular striking. photo credit: R. Robert

Acer palmatum was named by Carl Peter Thunberg after the hand like shape of its leaves.

Acer palmatum ‘Shishgashira’ has lovely fall color. photo credit: D. Mattis

For hundreds of years, Japanese horticulturists have developed many cultivars, and some drastically differ from the species plants. Since a lot of the allure of this plant is the wide array of cultivars in habit, leaf shape and color, I’d like to cover a few of the ones that stand out at the Harry Wood Garden.

Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ is a slow growing cultivar that only reaches 7 to 15′ tall. photo credit: J. Preisendorfer-McGinnis

‘Shishigashira’ is a slow-growing cultivar that only reaches 7-15’ tall. The crinkled leaves are very interesting, and the fall color is gold and crimson.

‘Tamukeyama’ has a drooping habit with red, lacy leaves. It’s about 8’ tall and 12’ wide. Its fall color is even stronger red.

Acer palmatum ‘Hogyoku’ has very nice pumpkin orange fall color. photo credit: J. Preisendorfer-McGinnis

‘Hogyoku’ grows to about 18’ tall and 15’ wide. It has very nice pumpkin orange fall color. Cultivar name is from Japanese for “jewel”.

Acer palmatum ‘Utsu semi’ produces bright green when they first appear. photo credit: J. Preisendorfer-McGinnis

‘Utsu-semi’ has purple and red fall color. After 10 years it matures to 9’-12’ tall and wide. Leaves are bright green when they first appear.

These four aren’t even the tip of the iceberg with this great plant. There are hundreds more, which are great and differ greatly!

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Alocasia macrorrhizos ‘Black Stem’

Although the Terry Shane Teaching Garden has many interesting and beautiful plants, this Alocasia really caught my eye with its black stem and strong leaves. The dark venation on the underside of the leaves adds a very nice contrast to the green, and it complements the plants around it as well as looking great in front of the wall which shows it off. Photo credit: J Preisendorfer

Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’

Adding some interesting purple foliage to the  Rose Garden Circle is this great Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’. With its upright shape and upright leaves, ‘Royal Purple’ makes a great hedge or shrub border. I’ll be very interested in seeing it in autumn with its scarlet fall color. Parish Hall is behind the plant, and I enjoy that contrast with the stone. Photo credit: J Preisendorfer

Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’

The John W. Nason Garden has many plants that appeal to texture, and this one caught my eye. The color is strong and makes for a nice difference from the plants around it. This juniper is large, creating an impressive area to view! The berries are a nice touch, adding color, and the ebb and flow of the small leaves draw the eye around ‘Grey Owl’. This plant is available at the 2015 Scott Arboretum Plant Sale. Photo credit: J Preisendorfer

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