1)   Buddleja longiflora

David Zuckerman

David Zuckerman

• This rare evergreen butterfly bush is native to the Serra do Caparao mountains in Brazil.
• What makes this Buddleja species unique from other species and cultivars is its stunning, long tubular orange flowers that are paired in three-to-five flowered cymes.
• Its flowers, plus striking white tomentose leaves and small stature (four feet), make this a worthy plant to introduce into the nursery trade.
• Our specimen is located on the east side of the Miller Library near the Blooms of Bressingham garden beds.

2)   Cynara cardunculus                                                                                      Cardoon

David Zuckerman

• Call it a thistle on steroids!  This impressive large herbaceous perennial is a close relative of the artichoke.  Both are members of the sunflower family.
• Of Mediterranean origin, Cardoon stalks are edible and popular in French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cuisine.
• Several of these can’t be missed in Bed 6 (full sun, limited irrigation) of our Soest Herbaceous Display Garden.

3)   Lonicera involucrata                                                                      Black Twinberry

David Zuckerman

David Zuckerman

• It was surprising to see freshly developed berries on our native honeysuckle already, even when still in flower!
• But do not eat the berries, no matter how tempting they appear! They are apparently bitter and not considered palatable. The Northwest coastal peoples named it ‘raven’s food’, ‘crow berry’ and ‘monster’s food’! See page 69 in Pojar’s book, “Plants of the Pacific Northwest” for Native American lore and other uses.
• This large deciduous shrub can be found naturalizing in Goodfellow Grove and the Union Bay Natural Area.

4)   Rodgersia podophylla                                                               Bronzeleaf Rodgersia

David Zuckerman

• This bold herbaceous perennial from China is a “must have” for the bog garden.
• It prefers sun, but is tolerant of partial shade and is in full resplendent flower now.
• Located in Bed 5 of our Soest Herbaceous Display Garden.

5)   Rosa  ‘Ausmerchant’                                                                                                                                                   Princess Alexandra of Kent

David Zuckerman

• June would not be complete without featuring a rose and what a rose it is!
• This David Austin selection is an English Old Rose hybrid sporting massive fully-petalled, glowing pink flowers producing what I consider the quintessential rose fragrance.
• It has won several awards for best fragrance. You can find it in full glory in the Fragrance Garden.