2024 -2025 Public Horticulture Intern Seamus Lewin reviews how to identify and remove invasives plants commonly found in PA woodlands.

Tune into the Gardener’s Almanac to learn what we are doing in the garden at this moment. Learn from Scott Arboretum staff which plants we are pruning, planting, weeding and which pests we are monitoring and removing right now. This virtual almanac is a great reference guide for gardeners.

The post Gardener’s Almanac: Winter Invasive Plant Removal appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

Public Horticulture Intern Wylie Lapp completes our Creating a Bog Container series discussing watering and maintaining your bog container.

Creating a Bog Container: Part One – Containers and Soil

Creating a Bog Container: Part Two – Bog Plants and Planting

Creating a Bog Container: Part Three – Watering and Maintenance

Tune into the Gardener’s Almanac to learn what we are doing in the garden at this moment. Learn from Scott Arboretum staff which plants we are pruning, planting, weeding and which pests we are monitoring and removing right now. This virtual almanac is a great reference guide for gardeners.

The post Gardener’s Almanac: Creating a Bog Container: Part 3 – Watering and Maintenance appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’ (camellia)

The fall-blooming camellia season is upon us! During this time of thoughtful beauty it seemed appropriate to revisit the origin story for many of the specimens currently in bloom. The Winter Series, or Ackerman Hybrids is a collection of cold hardy camellias that were born out of disaster at the U.S. National Arboretum. A series of cold winters had nearly destroyed the collections of camellia species and varieties; of the 956 specimens, only 15 had survived. Prevailing through the successive harshness of winter’s icy touch was the C. oleifera. Dr. William Ackerman, a plant hybridizer at the arboretum made interspecific crosses between C. oleifera and C. sasanqua, C. hiemalis, and C. vernalis selections. The resulting hybrids, released in 1991, were praised as showing little to no winter injury as far north as Zone 6. The Ackerman Hybrids are all fall-blooming and one of the earliest to show its fanciful blooms is the Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’.

Located in the Camellia Collection along College Ave here at Scott Arboretum, this specimen is a cross between Camellia ‘Frost Princess’ (flower form) and Camellia oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ (cold hardiness). Each white flower is 3-4 inches wide and consists of twelve petals surrounding a prominent center of petaloids (small petals) and golden stamens. 

Like most camellias, this plant needs consistently moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter and thrives in partial shade and sheltered spaces. The Scott Arboretum recommends installing camellias in the spring so they have plenty of time to establish roots before winter sets in. 

It is a wonderful time to enjoy our camellias at the Scott Arboretum, not only to take in the beauty of the evergreen shrubs and their blooms but also to appreciate the history, perseverance, and adapted survival of this plant genus! Photo credit: M. Rossman

Ageratina altissima (white snakeroot)

We minded our business and tended to our gardens all summer long: removing weeds, trimming plants back, adding mulch. We thought we knew every plant in our garden beds and had them just the way we wanted. But we were wrong. Because growing inconspicuously in shady spots and between our garden plants was a one- to four-foot tall plant with toothy, dark green leaves. It hid perfectly in plain sight and then POOF! It’s everywhere you turn, all adorned with fluffy white flowers.

Ageratina altissima formerly known as Eupatorium rugosum, is one of the latest U.S. eastern natives to bloom. And while its lovely clouds of white blooms may sway you to keep it, beware – it has a dark history and an aggressive future. 

White snakeroot got its name because early settlers believed it could be utilized to treat snakebites, when in reality it is quite toxic. Containing the toxin trematol, humans that consume products from cows who have grazed on Ageratina altissima develop milk sickness, a potentially life threatening condition. And while this is no longer a concern for us dairy and meat eaters, white snakeroot can still present problems.

Known to be particularly aggressive, it can spread by seeds or rhizomes. Additionally there is a popular variety, ‘Chocolate’, introduced by Mt. Cuba Center that has attractive purple stems bearing dark chocolate-brown tinged leaves. And while it may look pretty for a season it will quickly revert back to its green origins. In many areas of the Scott Arboretum we try to deadhead the flowers before seeding or remove the plant all together due to its aggressive nature. However, being one of the last wild natives to flower, it is a godsend to hungry insects like bees, moths, and flies as winter quickly approaches. So while we must champion natives, I will leave this plant to the discretion of the individual gardener and how they choose to navigate their own path with the tricky white snakeroot. Photo credit: M. Rossman

Hamamelis virginiana (common witchhazel)

The witchhazels have started to bloom! Behind the Science Center on Whittier Place there is a collection of Hamamelis virginiana that have started to show their stem-hugging clusters of bright ribbon-shaped yellow flowers. 

Blooming October through December, this small eastern native tree can be found naturally in woodlands, forest margins, and stream banks. It grows in Zones 3-8 and has lettuce-green deciduous leaves that turn brilliant gold in fall. Petals appear after the leaves have dropped and fertilized flowers will form fruit throughout the winter. Upon drying during the spring, the seed capsule will then eject its 1-2 small seeds as far as 30 feet. The common witchhazel is extra neat because this is the only tree in North America to have flowers, fruit, and next year’s leaf buds all at once! 

While the Hamamelis virginiana gets a lot of press these days for its use in skincare products, it has been a useful species for quite some time. The common name comes from the folk practice of “water-witching,” where early settlers would carry a forked or bent witchhazel branch as a divining rod. They would observe whether the branch twisted or dripped, which they believed signaled underground water sources. 
Here at the Scott Arboretum we have much to anticipate in the way of witchhazels, but it is certainly exciting to see the beginning of the Hamamelis blooming season starting behind the Science Center. Photo credit: M. Rossman

The post Plants of the Week: Nov. 7 appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ (azure monkshood)

Beautiful… but dangerous; a recent bloom in the garden has arrived with its seductive color and its hood pulled low. Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ has bloomed in a variety of gardens here at the Scott Arboretum, including the Pollinator Garden, North Kohlberg Border, and the Cut Flower Garden. 

This attractive plant has spires of rich azure-blue hooded flowers that grow above attractive dark green foliage. Growing from 2-5 feet this erect tuberous perennial has flowers that are born on to particularly strong stems that do not require staking and are fantastic in the rear of borders where their height can be appreciated. Happy in partial sun with moist, well-draining soils, these lovely fall blooms will add interest to your garden from September to November. 

Azure monkshood is part of the genus Aconitum which is commonly referred to as wolfsbane and has been intertwined within folklore and fantasy. Due to the toxicity of the Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ I would advise caution when handling this plant and suggest planting it in an area away from where children or pets could access it. But despite its reputation and cautions I couldn’t be more pleased to see this specimen delighting the gardens here at Scott Arboretum. Photo credit: M. Rossman

Pseudolarix amabilis (golden larch)

Recounting my childhood in the mountains of Colorado, growing up I learned the aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) loose their leaves in the fall but all the needled trees do not. I continued to hold this knowledge as truth and applied it to every other needed tree I encountered. And yet, to my surprise I have found myself reassessing my knowledge and adjusting those early learned binaries as I learn more and more. One such tree in particular is helping me to expand my knowledge and that is the Pseudolarix amabilis, or the golden larch. 

This deciduous conifer is currently glowing a beautiful golden and is quite a stunner in its location in the Peony Collection. At a height of 55 feet, this eastern China native is transitioning to winter as its soft green foliage turns yellow and it is losing its needles. We have other deciduous conifers here at Scott Arboretum including the Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood) and the Taxodium distichum (bald cypress), which will also lose their needles as winter approaches, but they have not begun this transition yet. 

I highly recommend visiting this Heritage Tree specimen and experiencing for yourself its incredibly soft needles that break away from the branch under your touch to contribute to the golden carpet below. Photo credit: M. Rossman

Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’ (tatarian aster)

Here at the Scott Arboretum, this fall has been dominated by purple blooms. The Aconitums (monkshood), Colchicums (fall crocus), and most stunningly, the Asters. One aster in particular that caught my attention this week is the Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’ (tatarian aster). 

Blooming from September through November, this Zone 4-8 plant is most notable for its tall stems that bring these blooms up above the garden bed. Even better, they have sturdy stems that seldom require staking!

Growing best in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun the tatarian aster has small, but abundant flowers with deep lavender to blue rays and mustard-yellow centers. This perennial looks wonderful in the middle or rear of borders where its height can be appreciated; it pairs well with other yellow plants that bring out its bright center such as Solidago (goldenrod). Come view the lovely Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’ for yourself here at the Scott Entrance Garden where it is standing tall and abundant. Photo credit: M. Rossman

The post Plants of the Week: Oct. 31 appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

Osmanthus x fortunei ‘Fruitlandii’ (Fortune’s osmanthus)

You’re walking into Parrish from the north entrance when suddenly you encounter a delightful fragrance that stops you in your tracks. You look around but don’t notice anything outstanding that could be causing this pungently sweet aroma. Deciding to get on your way, you enter Parrish Hall and continue with your day, but the memory of that delectable scent lingers in your mind throughout the day.

A subtle plant, the Osmanthus x fortunei ‘Fruitlandii’ delights passerbys without the need for showy flowers or jaw-dropping color. But if you do happen to recognize this evergreen shrub you will notice that it has small, white, four-petaled flowers in clusters along the leaf axils. You may also happen to see that the dark-green leaves on the upper part of the Fortune’s osmanthus have smooth edges while the leaves on the lower branches are toothed. 

This plant is best planted where the fragrance can be enjoyed and due to the “pointiness” of its leaves it is frequently used in exclusion hedges and screens. It prefers full sun with moist, well-drained soil and is pollution tolerant. It has a slow growth rate and blooms during mid- to late-fall. Wander on over to the rear side of Parrish Hall across from the Isabelle Cosby Courtyard to experience its lovely scent and subtle nature. Photo credit: M. Rossman

Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’ (camellia)

Once upon a time, a series of cold winters destroyed and/or badly injured most of the camellias at the U.S National Arboretum; a few survived, many perished, but in the midst of this loss, one specimen prevailed. Showing little to no winter injury, the Camellia oleifera (tea-oil camellia) survived the hard winters and became an important species in the creation of cold-hardy cultivars. 

One such cultivar is Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’, a cross between Camellia oleifera and Camellia hiemalis ‘Showa-no-sakae’. Getting its cold hardiness from C. oleifera and its lovely pink flowers from C. hiemalis ‘Showa-no-sakae’, Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’ is a tough camellia that blooms in October through November. 

Thriving in sun-dappled part-shade under the protection of tree canopies, this specimen also appreciates protection from direct hot summer afternoon sun and from strong winds. To see a good example of this camellia planted in a location well-suited for its needs visit the specimen on the northside of Parrish Hall. Currently this 4-6 foot tall shrub is covered in light pink, six-petaled flowers with a center of bushy yellow stamens. We here at the Scott Arboretum highly recommend installing camellias in the spring so that they have plenty of time to get roots to establish before winter sets in.  Photo credit: M. Rossman

Picea pungens (Colorado spruce)

Every December, my folks and I would travel over Battle Mountain Pass in Colorado to a small road pull-off, outside the town of Red Cliff. There, we would cross the road and start trudging through the snow up an old Forest Service road where we would begin our search for our Christmas tree. When I was younger, I remember always calling out to my parents saying, “here, I found the perfect one!” They would take one glance at the tree I had selected and reply that we couldn’t cut that one down because it was a blue spruce – the Colorado state tree. 

That is how I eventually learned how to identify and differentiate the Picea pungens from the rest of the needled trees in the White River National Forest surrounding my home. The Picea pungens or Colorado spruce (known to me as the blue spruce) is a wide ranging tree that can grow in Zones 2-7. It is native to the central Rocky Mountains, from southern Montana and eastern Idaho to New Mexico, where it is typically found in locations above 6000-11000 feet in elevation. It has stiff blue-green to silver-blue needles that will let you know when you get too close. 

I was surprised to learn that the Scott Arboretum had a specimen located at the top of the Cherry Border. It looks quite different from the stout Colorado spruces that I had known growing up, with their pyramidal shape, as the Scott specimen is very tall with very few lower branches. It is common for spruce trees to lose lower branches with age and this limb loss can be heightened in areas where the Picea pungens experience environmental stress, such as drought, high heat, and humidity. But despite its initial unfamiliarity, I enjoyed this reminder of home.  Photo credit: M. Rossman

The post Plants of the Week: Oct. 24 appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

by John Bickel

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’

Each year the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society awards plants of exceptional garden merit through their Gold Medal program. In 2001 they awarded three plants, one of which, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, is featured in the Gold Medal garden near Alice Paul and David Kemp residence halls.

Commonly called the “smooth hydrangea,” and less commonly “sevenbark,” H. arborescens is an  Eastern North American native deciduous shrub with large, fluffy corymbs of white flowers that bloom in late summer. The cultivar ‘Annabelle’ was selected for its even larger, denser flowers, which dry and persist through winter and offer dense, tan, cloud-like, textural winter interest. photo credit: R. Robert

Hamamelis vernalis ‘Red Imp’

I usually wait until very early Spring to highlight Hamamelis cultivars, but Hamamelis vernalis ‘Red Imp’ made the cut this week for its wonderful fall colors that range from deep, flat red to luminescent pink-orange. The species Hamamelis vernalis exhibits a phenomenon called “marcescence,” which is loosely defined as a deciduous plant’s tendency to not drop dead leaves.

The leaves wither and die but are not abscised as most deciduous plant leaves are. This behavior can also be seen in many species of Quercus that seem to defiantly hold their leaves. Native to southern and central United States. This specimen can be found growing behind the Frats on Swarthmore’s Campus. photo credit: J. Bickel

Chionanthus retusus ‘Serrulatus’

The bark of the chinese fringetree Chionanthus retusus caught my eye today. Long, flat, silver, plate-like stripes are accented by shallow, dark fissures with stripes of orange. The silver popped against the tawny backdrop of the fallen needles of the Metasequoia allée.

The species name retusus refers to the leaves’ slightly indented (or “retuse”) apices. The cultivar name refers to the very finely serrated leaf margins. Sources indicate that the Chinese native C. retusus differs most from its North American counterpart (C. virginicus) in its tendency to set blooms on new wood, therefore making the light, white, airy flowers and purple-black berries easier to spot and appreciate.photo credit: J. Bickel

The post Plants of the Week: December 18 appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

Helenium autumnale ‘Salsa’

Being able to fill in gaps in the garden with a reliable, pest free, perennial is a wonderful feeling, especially when that perennial brings such a burst of color. The dense, compact  and tidy habit of Helenium autumnale ‘Salsa’ will do just that for your garden from late summer through fall. H. autumnale can be found in the Pollinator Garden at the Scott Arboretum covered with bright red blooms that will age to shades of orange and yellow as the seasons progress.

Also known as Helen’s flower, or sneezeweed, this pollinator magnet is an excellent option for planters, borders, or simply massing throughout the garden. H. autumnale grows to be 18-20 inches tall and can spread 20-24 inches wide in a well-drained, moist , sunny location. Photo Credit: R. Armstrong

Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’

I’ve been watching this plant get larger and larger; noticing its dark serrated foliage in different gardens throughout the Scott Arboretum. Last week when it bloomed, I was pleased to find showy, pink, snapdragon-like flowers perched at the top of the stems. Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ is a herbaceous perennial from the family Plantaginaceae.

Also known as pink turtlehead, due to its flower resembling an open-mouthed turtle, it naturalizes in full sun to part shade in rich, moist, humusy, soil. This is a deer tolerant native which escaped gardens in parts of New England and has made its way into the forests. C. lyonii spreads slowly by rhizomes or by self seeding, however, it is not considered invasive.

There are no serious insect problems that come with this perennial, but some may be susceptible to mildew if soils are kept on the dry side with poor air circulation. If grown in too much shade, staking or pinching may be required. Examples of Chelone lyonii can be found in the Pollinator Garden and in the Scott Entrance Garden. Photo Credit: R. Armstrong

Liriope muscari  ‘Monroe’s White’

Liriope has been in almost every garden where I have worked. I keep waiting for the day that I get sick of seeing it, but that day has not yet come. It’s a fantastic ground cover that keeps gardens looking full and orderly. This fast growing, easy care, perennial needs only occasional maintenance once established. Lilyturf benefits from removal of old foliage each spring and division every 2 to 3 years.

L. muscari is used in Asian inspired gardens along rock paths or planted in masses under trees and shrubs. The leaves of liriope were used as bookmarks in ancient China where paper was an expensive commodity. L. muscari is fantastic for cut flowers arrangements, is pet friendly, bird friendly, and has year round interest.

This particular cultivar, with its white flower spikes, can be found in the Theresa Lang Garden of Fragrance.  ‘Monroe’s White’ prefers more shade, well-drained soil, and grows slower than other lilyturf. This makes it an excellent option for specimen projects or areas where you do not want anything invasive.   Photo Credit: R. Armstrong

The post Plants of the Week: August 28 appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

by Melita Schmeckpeper (2017-2018 Education Intern)

Fall is an ideal time for planting. I asked Scott Arboretum Curator and Plant Recorder Mary Tipping for three of her favorite tried-and-true plant performers.  Whether you’re looking for resilient hydrangeas, texture-rich perennials, or abundantly-flowering trees, her list was inspiring!

Resembling stars hovering around the smaller fertile flowers, the sterile flowers of Hydrangea serrata ‘Miyama-yae-murasaki’ are doubled with slightly pointed petals. photo credit: J. Coceano

Hydrangea serrata ‘Miyama-yae-murasaki’

If your Hydrangea macrophylla are suffering from winter damage, Mary Tipping recommends this lovely mountain hydrangea as a great substitute thanks to its good winter resistance and attractive purple flowers. Unlike H. macrophylla, this plant is able to bloom on both old and new growth, which means you’ll still see flowers even if the older branches are broken by winter weather.  

This cultivar, commonly known as purple tiers mountain hydrangea, is beautiful in its own right.  Resembling stars hovering around the smaller fertile flowers, the sterile flowers are doubled with slightly pointed petals.  H. serrata ‘Miyama-yae-murasaki’ responds well to changes in soil pH, so you can shift the flower color slightly as desired, with colors ranging from pink to blue-violet. It blooms later in the summer than H. macrophylla, so if you’d like to enjoy both in your garden, you can expect a longer display of flowers.  

H. serrata ‘Miyama-yae-murasaki’ is about 4 ft wide and high at maturity; its compact size relative to many hydrangeas makes it a good plant if you have space limitations. While it will tolerate sun, it is best-suited to partially-shaded locations, and does best in well-drained soils.  Hardy from zones 6 to 9.  

Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’ bears an abundant quantity of striking purple-pink flowers in late summer. photo credit: R. Robert

Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’

Commonly known as narrow-leaf ironweed, this Vernonia cultivar is notable for the delicacy of its unusual, needle-like foliage, reminiscent of Amsonia hubrichtii.  However, unlike A. hubrichtii, this vigorous plant bears an abundant quantity of striking purple-pink flowers in late summer.  As reflected by its cultivar name, it is a favorite of butterflies and other pollinators.  Later in the season, this multi-faceted plant provides winter interest thanks to its strong texture and the contrast between its dark stems and fluffy cream-colored seed heads.  

Later in the season, Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’ provides winter interest thanks to its strong texture and the contrast between its dark stems and fluffy cream-colored seed heads. photo credit: R. Robert

Providing both texture and color to a garden, Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’ is great in masses or as an accent, and shines in dry areas of pollinator gardens.  It grows to 30-36 inches in height and width, and can be cut back by half in midsummer to further control height. It is best in full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, including dry, rocky sites, though it is important to ensure sufficient water during the first growing season until the plant establishes itself.  Hardy from zones 4 to 9.  

Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’ produces a cloud of fragrant white flowers in late spring. photo credit: Pleasant Run Nursery

Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’

Beautiful year-round and unique due to its columnar form, Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’ bears glossy, dark green leaves and produces a cloud of fragrant white flowers in late spring.  This fringetree cultivar has tan and gold exfoliating bark, and is decorated late in the season by bright yellow fall color.  Its blueberry-like fruits are a good food source for birds.  

Beautiful year-round and unique due to its columnar form, Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’ bears glossy, dark green leaves. photo credit: Pleasant Run Nursery

This low-maintenance tree rarely requires pruning and does well in urban settings since it is tolerant of air pollution.  It can be planted in full sun to part shade, but flowers best in full sun.  It grows happily in well-drained soils with medium moisture levels.  Reaching 12 to 15 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, this cultivar works well in small spaces or as an accent in larger areas.  Hardy from zones 6 to 9.

All these great garden plants can found at  the Scott Arboretum Selections: Fall Sale on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17!  Every two years, Scott Arboretum staff and volunteers draw on their experience growing and enjoying plants in this region to assemble a great selection of hard-to-find ferns, hydrangeas, edible ornamentals, perennials, and woodies that are ideal for use and planting in the fall. What are you planting this fall?

The post Fall Planting Wishlist appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

John Bickel, assistant horticulturist, spray painting the large branches of Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’. photo credit: R. Robert

Last spring Josh Coceano, horticulturist, and John Bickel, assistant horticulturist, painted the deceased Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’ a vibrant purple to highlight the beautiful structure of this weeping tree. This season the vibrant purple is decorated with stripes of white.

These stripes are rows of Trametes versicolor or turkey-tails. photo credit: R. Robert

These stripes are rows of Trametes versicolor or turkey-tails. Turkey-tails are wood-decaying polypore mushrooms that grow on virtually any type of wood. Most wood-decaying fungi are specialists, either softwoods or hardwoods, but not both.

This season the vibrant purple is decorated with stripes of white turkey-tails. photo credit: R. Robert

Called “guardians of the forest” by Paul Stamets, a dedicated mycologist, they are the most common mushroom in the world, found across various temperature climates. Turkey-tails are typically the first fungi to form, paving the way for further fungi and microbial succession.

Ephemeral art of dead and dying trees brings attention to the complete lifecycle of trees as they age and pass in landscape. photo credit: R. Robert

With their fan-shape, it is easy to see why people call them turkey tails. Their color is affected by the mineral content of the wood they are decaying. This coloration can be used to make blue and green dyes for wool and other fabrics.

Tsuga canadensis Pendula Purpurea underplanted with Tulipa ‘Prinses Irene’ this spring. photo credit: R. Robert

Stop by the “purple tree” as it takes on second life through fungi.

The post Lifecycles: Trametes versicolor appeared first on Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

Last week we continued our efforts to increase the integration of the campus proper with the Crum Woods. In accordance with the Swarthmore College Master Plan, we have been planting woodland gardens to extend the edge of our natural area, the Crum Woods, and to expand our distinct sense of place.

Here are some pointers to create your own woodland garden:

Our latest woodland expansion into Parrish West Circle has two of our oldest Nyssa sylvatica as well as native Cladratis kentukea, Halesia diptera var. magniflora, and Quercus macrocarpo to mention a few that form the mature canopy. photo credit: R. Robert

1. Choose a location with existing mature trees.

Our latest woodland expansion into Parrish West Circle has two of our oldest Nyssa sylvatica as well as native Cladratis kentukea, Halesia diptera var. magniflora, and Quercus macrocarpo to mention a few that form the mature canopy.

Deciduous azaleas, like Rhododendron ‘Sundance Yellow’, make great shrub layers in woodland gardens. photo credit: R. Robert

2. Select plants appropriate for woodland conditions.

Since woodland gardens are under a canopy of mature trees, the plants selected for that garden must tolerate dappled shade and drier conditions as they are competing for light and water resources.

In the Parrish West Circle, we received a donation of wild-collected deciduous azaleas for our shrub layer. You can also find several cultivars of Enkianthus campanulatus, Hamamelis vernalis ‘Lansing’, and Ilex opaca ‘Dan Fenton’ in this planting.

Epimedium ‘Enchantress’ is a great perennial for the woodland garden. photo credit: R. Robert

Some great shade perennials for a woodland garden include: Tiarella cordiflora, Epimedium , Anemone, Aquilegia , Begonia grandis, Carex, Chelone , Brunnera macrophylla, Trillium, Tricyrtis, and Astilbe. Let me emphasize this is a short list. The variety of shade plants is extensive.

Once established, woodland gardens require minimal care. photo credit: R. Robert

3.Give extra help getting a woodland garden established.

As with any  new planting, woodland gardens require more frequent watering to become established. They  may require extra care because, again, they are under a canopy of mature trees competing for water resources.

Once established, woodland gardens only need an annual top dressing to encourage healthly soil and plant community.

Happy planting.

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