Clif Edwards

1)   Acer palmatum  ‘Beni-maiko’                     Japanese Maple

• The name Beni-maiko means “red dancing girl”, referring to the brilliant red-to-pinkish foliage that emerges in the spring.
• This tree’s current color stands out vibrantly in the Woodland Garden.
• Beni-maiko has been recognized by the Royal Horticulture Society and given the Award of Garden Merit for several recent years.

2)   Erica arborea                     Tree Heath/Giant Heather

• Erica arborea is native to Africa, having populations in the Ethiopian Highlands, mountains of Ruwenzori, and the Cameroon Mountains.
• The spring flowers offer a sweet scent as well as a silvery appearance.
• The wood is extremely hard and heat resistant making it valuable in making jewelry, knife handles, and smoking pipes.

3)   Magnolia x soulangeana  ‘Alexandrina’                     Saucer Magnolia

• The genus, Magnolia is named after French botanist, Pierre Magnol.
• M. x soulangeana is a very popular and common tree in our urban environment with many cultivars offering a wide range of colorful flowers.
• The ‘x’ indicates that the plant is a hybrid. This one is a hybrid between Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliflora.

4)   Malus x purpurea  ‘Lemoinei’                     Purple Flowering Crab

• The stunning spring display of rosy-purple flowers stand out in the Crabapple Meadow.
• The abundant fruit that sets in early to late fall, can be considered a mess to humans in the urban environment, but is a favorite food for many wildlife.

5)   Sorbus caloneura                     Small-Leaved Whitebeam

• The white flower clusters densely arranged along branches make this tree a spring highlight.
• This rare tree is native to central China.