Oct 22, 2022 / Washington Park Arboretum, Horticulture, News / UWBG Horticulturist, Megan Westcott

Beautiful foliage that isn’t ready to leaf (leave) the Washington Park Arboretum

With the drought still hanging around, these drought-tolerant species are not ready to drop their foliage and are standing tall.

Native to the Mediterranean region.
With blue/purple berries and white/pink flowers and purple foliage, this is a beautiful shrub for interest in October. Great resource for pollinators.
Many found along the Arboretum Loop Trail (A.L.T) on the west side in the Viburnum Collection.

Previously known as Sophora viciifolia.
The roots are used traditionally as a medicinal herb in China to help a sore throat and inflammation.⁽¹⁾
Be sure to check out its beautiful flowers in the spring.
Late dropping of leaves. Once they do, they turn yellow, adding a nice pacing of fall color.
Find these in the Legumes section, in the beds near the benches.

White flowers in late summer, turning to a red, then blue/purple berry.
Commonly used medicinally to relieve a cough, inflammation, and induce menstruation postponed by stress and other factors.⁽²⁾
The Pomo, Yuki, and Concow Nations used this as a highly valued herb. ⁽²⁾
Find these in the Cascadia section of the Pacific Connections Garden at the top of the hill.

The berries start out orange and turn a bright red as they age, and they cause a weeping effect with their prolific production.
In the Sichuan Province, monks on Emei (pronounced “Omei”) Mountain used the leaves for medicinal sweet tea.⁽³⁾
Many found along the A.L.T on the west side in the Viburnum Collection.

Has naturalized along the southeastern coast of the U.S. and has even hybridized with the Albizia julibrissin or Silk Tree in the region.
Yellowish-white bloom from May to June, but during this time of the year, it has a nice bright yellowish fall color.
Native to eastern Asia.
Found on the west side of the A.L.T. just south of the Birch lot or Parking Lot 19.
Even pinnately compound leaf structure or bi-pinnate. They close as the sun sets and open with sunrise.

University of Washington Botanic Gardens