What’s in Bloom

Longwood Gardens forces blue-poppies to flower every year in March. This cultivar, 'Lingholm', produces large flowers that are four inches in diameter on average. Blue-poppies, native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains, are infrequently cultivated outside their native habitat. Given the right conditions, however, they can thrive in gardens located in the northern regions of North America and Europe.

Korean rhododendron is one of the earliest flowering shrubs with its bright rosy pink to pinkish purple flowers emerging before its foliage in late winter.  In its native Korea, it grows on rocky, dry slopes.  In the garden, it prefers full sun and moist soil with good drainage. The Korean name for this shrub is Jin-dal-rae. There, the delicate, exquisite blossom is eaten as a delicacy.  A pan-fried sweet rice cake and a traditional Korean form of sake are brewed from the plant flower petals.
 

This tender subshrub is one of the stars of our late winter West Conservatory display.  Grown from cuttings, it takes a little more than a year to get a new cutting to the size of the plant you see on display. As the common name Pride of Madeira implies, this comes from and is endemic to the island of Madeira, where it grows on rocky cliffs and terraces. It is considered rare in its native habitat, possibly threatened because of wildfire potential, but it is in no danger of extinction. It is commonly found in California landscapes, and has naturalized in New Zealand and Australia. It is attractive to honeybees, hummingbirds and butterflies, but generally unpalatable to deer and other browsers. 
 

Although the shortest of the squill varieties at 4 inches, the individual flowers of Scilla mischtschenkoana are larger than most. The earliest blooming squill, the white petals have a blue stripe down the midrib, yellow stamens and a fruity scent. It can be seen surrounding the Peirce-du Pont House and near the Chimes Tower.

Fortunella margarita, commonly known as a kumquat, is a slow-growing shrub or small tree up to 10 feet tall. It has glossy, dark green, evergreen leaves, and fragrant white flowers, appearing in April and May, followed by fruit from October to December. The fruits are similar to oranges but much smaller and oval and a single plant can produce thousands of fruits in a year. Both the rind and the pulp are edible.   The fruit has been very popular in China since the 12th century, but was introduced into the North America only in the mid-19th century. Hardy to zone 8, it is native to the broad-leaved evergreen forests in southeastern China. 

This impressive specimen lived for almost 100 years in Japan before surviving an arduous journey to the United States. Developed by the Chinsho-en Nursery in Takamatsu, Japan in the upright style, today, under masterful care, it is thriving.

One of the most interesting features of many Grevillea species is their intricate, tube-shaped flowers that attract specific pollinators. The flowers' long tubular shapes are ideal for birds with long beaks, while their colors and nectar production make them irresistible. It's a great example of co-evolution between plant and pollinator. Although the tree is native to Australia, it was originally introduced to many parts of the world, including Africa and the Pacific Islands, where it became an exotic ornamental plant. Because of its rapid growth and long-lasting wood, some people referred to it as the "Australian timber that traveled the world.“ The Aboriginal people of Australia have a long history of utilizing Grevillea plants in a variety of ways. Some species of Grevillea, particularly the larger, woody shrubs and trees, have a remarkable ability to regenerate after bushfires, which are common in Australia. Grevillea have adapted to fire-prone environments by having a "fire-resistant" seed bank. Even though the plant might burn down in a fire, the seeds in the soil are often able to survive the heat and sprout anew once the fire has passed. 

This tried-and-true variety of miniature daffodil was developed by pioneer plant breeder Alec Gray sometime in the 1940’s.  With it's modest 6 inch stature, featuring 2-to-3 slightly reflexed and vibrant yellow flowers per stem, and a reliable propensity to naturalize, 'Tete-a-tete' is a perfect choice for a variety of garden settings.