What’s in Bloom

Japanese camellias have glossy evergreen leaves and rose-like flowers in various shades of pink, red, and white that bloom at Longwood throughout the winter.  These beautiful flowering shrubs were one of Pierre S. du Pont’s favorite flowers and one of the first species planted in the Conservatory upon its completion in 1921.

Aponogeton distachyos is a water lily-like plant that produces floating leaves and fragrant flowers from tubers growing at the bottom of water bodies. It is beneficial for water gardens, as it helps to absorb excess nutrients, which can reduce algae growth. Large oblong leaves (to 3-6” long) lie flat on the water surface. The plant is also a popular choice for ponds and water gardens for its ability to grow in both shallow and deeper water areas, making it versatile in pond design. The flowers reportedly have a hawthorn-like fragrance, hence the additional common name of water hawthorn. In South Africa, this plant is commercially grown for its edible tubers that may be added to stews.

 

The Protea flower of the family Proteaceae is the national flower of South Africa, symbolizing beauty and diversity. Leucadendron 'Bell's Sunrise' is a rounded shrub with bronzy-red foliage and bright yellow bracts, and lush foliage year-round. In late winter to spring, the bracts color from a lime green to a pinkish red, making it an excellent cut flower.

 

A dense small evergreen shrub with heart-shaped leaves, Chorizema ′Bush Flame′ has arching to semi-erect sprays of brilliant orange and pink pea shaped flowers. There are a couple interpretations for what the French naturalist Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière named this genus in 1792. One idea is that the name comes from the Greek word "choros" meaning "dance," and "zema" meaning "drinking vessel," with the idea that the plant was discovered near a waterhole by a thirsty expedition party. Another more realistic story is that Labillardière created the name from the Greek words "chorizo" meaning "separate," and "nema" meaning "thread," in reference to the free filaments of the flower. 

 

Pink Rice Flower is a small evergreen shrub that prefers full sun or light shade and has narrow green leaves. This plant produces clusters of small fragrant pink, white, or cream-colored flowers that smell similar to rosemary or honey. These sweetly scented blooms attract bees and other pollinators, adding to its charm. It is often found in coastal regions and areas with sandy soils. 
 

Native to South Africa from the Bredasdorp area eastwards to King William's Town, Pelargonium cordifolium usually grows in moist places such as in the fynbos (shrublands), forests or forest edges.  Heart-leaf pelargonium grows to 3-5 feet in nature in full sun to shade. The name of the genus Pelargonium is Greek in origin, deriving its name from the shape of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a stork. Cordifolium refers to the heart-shaped leaves, which is known as cordate in botanical terminology. At Longwood, Pelargonium cordifolium is a staple of our late winter Conservatory displays. 

Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants, are unique members of the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), the same plant family that includes the pineapple. Like their relatives, bromeliads are known for their striking forms and colorful blooms, but Tillandsia stand out because most of them grow without soil, absorbing water and nutrients through tiny leaf scales called trichomes. Native to Central and South America, Mexico, and the southern United States, Tillandsia species thrive in habitats ranging from humid rainforests to dry deserts and cool mountain regions. There are over 650 species, making Tillandsia one of the largest and most diverse groups within the bromeliad family. Many bloom only once in their lifetime, producing vivid flowers and then pups (baby plants), a classic bromeliad trait that helps the plant live on long after the original bloom fades.  Scroll What's in Bloom to discover other plants on display that are in the bromeliad family, and come visit our Cascade and Silver Gardens to view the colorful and diverse beauty of bromeliads in person! 

Trees with ornamental bark can add texture and color to the winter garden.  This paperbark maple has beautiful exfoliating, cinnamon colored bark, which is a garden highlight any time of year. Check out the specimens near the entrance of the Open Air Theatre.  Look for other trees with ornamental bark in all areas of the outdoor gardens, especially around Chimes Tower and Hillside Garden.  Scroll this week's What's in Bloom and discover other trees with interesting bark, and consider implementing one into your landscape for a little winter pizazz!   

Native to the eastern United States, river birch is a large, deciduous tree, with a broad-pyramidal shape about 40 feet across and 60 feet high.  This particular cultivar is noted for its multicolored peeling bark of cream, cinnamon, copper, and brown tones that exfoliate heavily to reveal an often bright white smooth bark underneath.  Whether planted as a focal point or naturalized in a wet area, 'Cully' provides great color and texture in the winter garden.  When placed toward a western exposure, such as here at Longwood, the setting sun illuminates the bark, creating a soft glow.

A broadleaf trailing plant with blue/green fuzzy foliage, Streptocarpus ′Concord Blue′ produces an array of slender wiry stems with three to five dainty blue and purple flowers that gracefully float above the foliage. The flowers are an inch long with a narrow tube which splays out at the end into a slanted pansy-like face with five lobes. Cape-primrose grows well with part sun/shade and regular water, and it does well in average and well-drained soil. This plant is a good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant, and they are a very low maintenance easy care plant. It has a great self-cleaning habit, meaning no deadheading is required to keep it blooming well.