Plants of the Week: June 2

Rosa ‘Harrison’s Yellow’

I have always been a fan of yellow roses, probably by osmosis, it being my mother’s favorite flower. These in particular stuck out to me because they are among the first to bloom this year in the Dean Bond Rose Garden. Sometimes referred to as Oregon Trail Rose, the flowers of this cultivar are a vivid, true yellow and act as a nice introduction to summer colors as spring hues fade to verdant foliage.  Photo credit: J. Bickel

Viburnum plicatum ‘Summer Snowflakes’

Located at the end of Trotter Hall as you approach Kohlberg, there are a few Viburnum plicatum cultivars planted together. Though Viburnum is a common sight, it is nice to be caught off guard by something often seen and sometimes overlooked. What captured me was the interesting structure of the inflorescence: a compound corymb, which the outermost bracts exhibit a repeating, peculiar, asymmetrical shape and surround a collection of visually insignificant, fertile flowers. It is reminiscent of a swarm of bright white butterflies resting all at once on a shrub . Truly a unique flower. Photo credit: J. Bickel

Lonicera sempervirens ‘Superba’

This cultivar of native honeysuckle vine is particularly notable for attracting hummingbirds. Found growing up a wall at Wharton Hall, the lively, red-orange, trumpet-like flowers seem to pop like fireworks from the vine. Also interesting is the foliage which surrounds the stem, creating a shield-like leaf structure from which the flower clusters appear. Photo credit: J. Bickel