What’s in Bloom

This deciduous tree native to China, produces large, fragrant, panicles of lavender flowers in the spring.  The wood of this fast growing tree is highly prized and used to make furniture and musical instruments. Japanese craftsmen prize princess-tree wood for making the koto, a six-foot long, stringed instrument that is the national instrument of Japan. Kotos create music when the strings that bridge across the hollow body of the instrument, are plucked. The unique sound is distinctively energetic and reflective because of the resonance of the princess-tree wood.

Paeonia obovata carries a quieter kind of intrigue compared to its showier garden relatives. In Japan, where it is known as a woodland peony, it has long been appreciated for its natural, almost understated elegance and is often associated with mountain landscapes and contemplative garden settings. One of its most fascinating features comes after flowering: the seed pods split open to reveal a vivid mix of glossy blue-black fertile seeds and bright red sterile ones, thought to mimic berries and attract birds for dispersal. This unexpected burst of color has made it as valued for its seed display as for its flowers.

Rhododendron ‘Doctor V.H. Rutgers’ is an evergreen hybrid known for vivid red to hot-pink flowers in mid- to late spring, set against dark green foliage. Introduced in the early 20th century and named for a Rutgers University horticulturist, it reflects efforts to develop hardy, richly colored rhododendrons for American gardens. Though not native, it descends from China and the Himalayas species, contributing to its adaptability in cool, acidic, woodland conditions. Valued for reliable bloom and bold color, it remains a staple in collections and public gardens and provides a mid-spring nectar source for pollinators.

This orchid was once more common in southeastern Pennsylvania, but has become rare due to habitat loss. Lady’s slipper orchids can be incredibly long-lived; the plants seen here were planted in the Garden in 1963.  The greater yellow lady’s slipper was the first species entered into Longwood’s plant conservation program.

Commonly known as creeping phlox, this native wildflower can be identified as a low growing mat-like groundcover. These shade loving, spreading perennials are best used in woodlands, informal borders, or tucked into corners, paths, and rock walls. From late April to early June, the popular cultivar ‘Sherwood Purple’ bears highly fragrant purple-blue flowers on 6 inch tall stems. 

Amsonia hubrichtii was named  “Perennial Plant of the Year” by the Perennial Plant Association in 2011. This species is truly distinctive and extraordinary, with clusters of powder-blue flowers in April and May. It grows to a height and width of 2 to 3 feet. In the fall, its golden-orange color rivals the best trees and shrubs. This clump-forming herbaceous perennial prefers full sun to partial shade and is native to the central and northeastern United States. Additionally, it is deer and disease resistant.

This native aroid is widely distributed throughout eastern and central North America and can be extremely variable in coloration and height. The spathe may be completely green and striped or almost completely purple and striped. It can be seen flowering from early April to mid-June but is difficult to find during the summer as it will have died back to swollen underground stems known as tubers  Perhaps the best known ethnobotanical application of Jack-in-the-pulpit is the culinary uses of the tuber by Native Americans, hence the alternative common name “Indian turnip.” 

Wild cranesbill has delicate pale to deep pink flowers that bloom in early to mid-spring. It has a deaply cut leaf and grows best in a woodland setting in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Forming loose 2 foot mounds in shade, this native geranium will also grow as a groundcover in sun. Hardy to zone 4, wild cranesbill is native to all counties of Pennsylvania.  This cultivar has dark, brownish-purple leaves.

Tower-of-jewels is native to the Canary Islands, specifically the island of Tenerife.  The seeds of this plant first came to Longwood in 1983 and it took extensive research on how to grow it until it was first displayed in the the Conservatory in 1991.  

Rhododendron periclymenoides is a deciduous shrub that has pink funnel shaped flowers in late April to early May. This native azalea likes part shade and moist, well-drained soils. It can grow to be 10 feet at maturity and is a lovely addition to a woodland garden.
 

Aesculus pavia, red buckeye; large blooms and glossy foliage attract in Peirce’s Woods

Rhododendron ‘Scintillation’ is a widely grown evergreen hybrid valued for its soft pink, dome-shaped trusses that appear in mid-spring, each floret often marked with a subtle golden blotch. Developed in the mid-20th century as part of the surge in American rhododendron breeding, it reflects the influence of Asian parent species, particularly Rhododendron yakushimanum, native to Japan, which contribute to its compact habit, dense foliage, and improved cold hardiness.  ‘Scintillation’ has remained popular for decades because it combines reliable flowering with a tidy, rounded form, making it as effective in foundation plantings as it is in woodland gardens, where its blooms provide an early-season nectar source for pollinators.