What’s in Bloom

Yulan magnolia is a deciduous tree native to central and eastern China, where it has been cultivated in Chinese Buddhist temple gardens since 600 AD. Its flowers were regarded as a symbol of purity in the Tang dynasty and it was planted in the grounds of the emperor’s palace. This specimen tree has an excellent white to ivory colored floral display in the spring before the leaves emerge, which contribute to the origin of the Chinese name for the plant, "jade orchid." With creamy white flowers born on the bare branches at the end of winter, the yulan magnolia is regarded as an emblem of purity, feminine sweetness, and beauty.

Scilla siberica, commonly called Siberian squill, is a small bulbous perennial native to southwestern Russia, the Caucasus, and parts of Turkey. It is one of the earliest spring bloomers, producing nodding, vivid blue, star-shaped flowers that can naturalize into striking carpets in lawns and woodland edges. Blooming before trees leaf out, it provides an important early nectar source for pollinators such as bees. Like many spring ephemerals, its foliage emerges, flowers, and then fades back to dormancy by late spring, allowing it to thrive in sunny spring conditions and shaded summer environments. 
 

Thalictrum thalictroides, or rue anemone, is a delicate spring ephemeral native to rich deciduous woodlands of eastern North America and one of the earliest to bloom. It produces airy white to pale pink flowers with yellow stamens above finely divided foliage, attracting early pollinators such as small native bees, flies, and beetles. As a spring ephemeral (a plant that emerges, flowers, and sets seed quickly before the canopy leafs out), it typically goes dormant by early summer and thrives in moist, humus-rich woodland soils.

This tender subshrub is one of the stars in the Garden Path display in the East Conservatory.  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 'Star 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. 
 

Edgeworthia chrysantha, commonly known as paperbush, is a deciduous shrub native to woodland edges of China, the Himalayas, and parts of Japan. It is especially valued for its late winter to early spring bloom, when clusters of fragrant, silky yellow tubular flowers appear on bare stems, often providing one of the earliest nectar sources for pollinators. A member of the Daphne family (Thymelaeaceae), it is perhaps most fascinating for its historical use: the inner bark fibers have long been harvested to produce high-quality paper, including traditional Japanese washi paper and even banknotes. The plant typically forms a rounded, architectural habit with distinctive peeling bark and prefers partial shade with rich, well-drained soil. Its combination of winter fragrance, unusual branching structure, and cultural significance makes it a standout in the garden during an otherwise quiet season.

Commonly known as hellebore or Lenten rose, is a genus of evergreen to semi-evergreen perennials native to Europe and western Asia. Valued for their late winter to mid-spring bloom, hellebores produce nodding, cup-shaped flowers in shades ranging from white and green to pink, purple, and near black. They are an important early nectar and pollen source for pollinators such as bees when few other plants are in flower. Thriving in partial to full shade, they prefer rich, well-drained soils and are notably deer- and rabbit-resistant due to their toxic foliage, making them reliable and long-lived additions to woodland

Bloodroot flowers are fleeting, they bloom for just a few days in early spring.  Each bloom opens in response to sunlight and closes at night or on cloudy days. The flower often withers before the leaves fully unfurl, giving it a kind of "blink-and-you-miss-it" mystique in the woodlands. Bloodroot produces a fatty "snack" or nutrient-rich structure on the seed called an elaiosome, which attracts ants. Ants carry seeds underground, eat the "snack" and leave the seed to grow—a strategy called myrmecochory. The leftover seed gets tossed aside in a waste chamber, a perfect underground spot for germination.

The Punica granatum, pomegranate, bonsai in blossom in the West Conservatory

Narcissus ‘Kassel’s Gold’; One of many daffodil displays throughout the Gardens. These are in the Idea Garden

 

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. Be sure to stroll through the paths in Oak and Conifer Knoll and enjoy the splendor of these darling flowers flooding the lawns!