May 3, 2014 / Washington Park Arboretum, News / David Zuckerman

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May Color Appears at the Washington Park Arboretum

Selected cuttings from the Washington Park Arboretum (April 28 - May 11, 2014)
Selected cuttings from the Washington Park Arboretum (April 28 – May 11, 2014)

1)   Rhododendron spp.           Azalea

  • Azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron, with evergreen azaleas in the subgenus Tsutsusi and deciduous azaleas in the subgenus Pentanthera.
  • The Olmstead Brothers originally planned for 11,000 azaleas to be planted along Azalea Way. More than 3,100 have been planted and over 2,000 remain.
  • Azalea Way contains 21 species of azalea and more than 200 hybrids.

2)  Tsuga heterophylla           Western Hemlock

  • Our native western hemlocks are currently laden with new female cones which are deep purple when immature.
  • Currently, a scientific experiment is being conducted as a collaboration between the Washington Park Arboretum and the University of Massachusetts, using the collection of T. heterophylla and T. canadensis.
  • We are studying the predator/prey relationships among the hemlock Wooly Adelgid, eastern and western hemlocks, and the predator species that prey on the Adelgid.

3)  Syringa oblata var. dilatata, S. patula           Lilac

Close-up photo of newly-forming female cone on <em>Larix decidua</em>
Close-up photo of newly-forming female cone on Larix decidua
  • Our Lilac Collection contains more than 14 species along with several more hybrids.
  • Our primary lilac display is on Azalea Way, just south of the Woodland Garden.

4)  Larix decidua, L. kaempferi          Larch

  • Now is a great time to admire many conifers for their display of young and old cones on the same branch.

5)  Rhododendron  ‘El Camino’           Halfdan Lem hybrid

  • Our Puget Sound Rhododendron hybrid bed is located on Azalea Way south of our Lilac Collection.
  • This bed contains plants from local hybridizers dating back to the early 1940s.