Chimes Tower District

Kirengeshoma palmata is a rare and elegant perennial plant native to the mountainous woodlands of Japan and China. Belonging to the hydrangea family, it thrives in shady, moist environments and is prized for its late-summer blooms and distinctive foliage. Kirengeshoma features maple-like leaves and nodding, waxy, pale yellow flowers that resemble small bells. It is cherished in Japanese gardens for its subtle beauty and its ability to brighten shaded areas when many other plants have finished blooming. 

Vernonia glauca is a native plant with several common names including Appalachian ironweed due to its native range primarily following the Appalachian Mountains. It is known to be drought and moisture tolerant and attracts pollinators including the American painted lady butterfly, of which it is the host plant. This plant has traditionally been used by the Cherokee as an analgesic as well as a treatment for stomach ulcers. 

Blooming from mid summer to early fall, panicle hydrangea gets its name from its large, showy panicles of flowers.  Leaving the dried flowerheads on the plant can add interesting forms and textures to the garden in winter.  Combined with its long bloom time, panicle hydrangea offers nearly year-round interest. Find a variety of cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata as well as other species of Hydrangea in bloom throughout the gardens!