Allium ‘Lucy Ball’ is hardy between zones 3 and 8, and performs best when planted in full sun. Most ornamental onions will thrive in average soil but appreciate good drainage, especially in winter when their bulbs are dormant. The pungent oils in the bulbs, leaves, and stems render ornamental onions unpalatable to deer and rodents, making them a great choice for a critter-proof landscape.

You can see Allium ‘Lucy Ball’ in all her glory in the Scott Arboretum’s Entrance Garden.

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Trilliums are one of the most well-loved woodland wildflowers, and it’s easy to see why. They bloom in early spring, just as the canopy trees of the forest are beginning to leaf out, and their nodding flowers make a walk in the woods feel enchanted. There are 43 species in the genus Trillium, the majority of which are native to the eastern United States. The genus used to be included in the lily family, Liliaceae. Recently, however, geneticists have reclassified trilliums into their own family, Trilliaceae.

If you’re interested in seeing the trilliums at the Scott Arboretum, stop by our office and we’ll direct you. Be prepared for a hike, though – the plants are along one of the trails in the woods!

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Parrotia persica, or Persian ironwood, is a unique and beautiful winter-blooming specimen tree. Its unusual flowers emerge on leafless stems in late February and last for up to a month, providing valuable late-winter interest in the garden. Although blossoms are relatively small (only about ½ inch across), their bright red color and sheer profusion make for a wonderful display. Interestingly, the flowers themselves are without petals – the crimson stamens provide the show.

Parrotia persica has an overall habit that is upright and oval in shape; mature specimens can grow up to 40′ tall and 30′ wide. With age, trunks and larger branches begin to exfoliate, exposing a beautiful mosaic of gray, green, white, and brown bark. This feature adds considerable winter interest, and becomes more pronounced as the specimen matures.

Parrotia persica is a member of the Hamamelidaceae, or witch hazel family, which includes many other winter- and early spring-blooming shrubs and trees. It is native to northern Alborz mountains of Iran (formerly Persia; hence the common name Persian ironwood), but is widely hardy in much of Europe and North America and can be reliably cultivated between USDA zones 4-8. Its high tolerance of stressful environmental conditions, as well as its freedom from pest and disease problems, provide yet more reason to grow this outstanding plant.

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