Selected cuttings from the Washington Park Arboretum (January 17 – 31, 2012)

1)  Camellia sasanqua    ’Shichi Fukujin’

An upright to spreading shrub or small tree with elliptical, dark green leaves and bearing single cup-shaped flowers, C. sasanqua is one of many camellia species native to Japan.
Known to flower early in the season when colors are greatly appreciated, it is considered a less spectacular shrub than the spring-flowering C. 

1)  Hamamalis mollis    (Chinese Witch-hazel)

Hamamelis mollis is a species of witch-hazel native to central and eastern China.
It is the most fragrant of all witch-hazels and worth growing for that characteristic alone. It is disease resistant and easy to grow.
Located in the Witt Winter Garden.

2)  Hamamalis x intermedia ‘Hiltingbury’

Hamamelis x intermedia hybrids are crosses between Japanese witch hazel (H. 

Seattle-based composer, sound artist and UW doctoral student in music Abby Aresty has designed an amazing sound installation for the Washington Park Arboretum planned for autumn 2012. But she needs to raise more money for equipment to build the installation. Please help!

It has been an incredibly busy autumn here at CUH as we have several new projects underway. Our entire horticultural team has been involved with 2 major projects we’d like to highlight as these are pretty significant changes that might raise a few eyebrows.

Earlier this autumn, our arborist crew took down a large specimen of Parrotia persica that’s been growing in a raised planter in the Orin and Althea Soest Herbaceous Perennial Garden. 

1)  Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’
(Midwinter Fire Dogwood)

Perhaps the first dogwood to show its bright winter stems, Midwinter Fire will continue to be the show-stopper of the twig bed until dressed in leaves again.
You will have no trouble finding this shrub in the Witt Winter Garden.

2)  Euonymus myrianthus   (Spindle Tree)

This bushy, evergreen shrub has bright orange-yellow fruit which split open to reveal the showy red arils of the seeds. 

1) Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica ‘Glauca’ (Blue Atlas Cedar)

This native of the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco is now placed in the same species as the “Cedar of Lebanon”.
Two beautiful specimens are located 38 and 39-6W at the Lynn Street entrance to the Arboretum.

2)  Juniperus virginiana  ‘Blue Coast’     (Red Cedar)

Though the species reaches over 100 feet, ‘Blue Coast’ is a shrubby cultivar. 

1)  Cupressus arizonica var. montana   (San Pedro Martir Cypress) 

This botanical variety of Arizona cypress grows at a high elevation in northern Baja California in
the San Pedro Martir mountain range.
Has attractive bark and cones that open when ripe.
Listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN red list.
Located in 2-6E, south end of Arboretum Drive along Broadmoor fence.

2)  Diospyros sp.  

UWBG professor, Soo-Hyung Kim, just published a paper in PLoS ONE that describes his study of the impact future climate change may have on the bloom dates of flowering cherries. The authors,  including Uran Chung, Liz Mack, Jin I. Yun, studied the cherry trees in Tidal Basin, Washington DC and the timing of the annual cherry festival. The cherry tree cultivars studied, Yoshino and Kwanzan, are the same cultivars growing on the UW campus campus (Quad: Yoshino, Rainer vista: Kwanzan). 

1) Callicarpa japonica   (Japanese beautyberry)

Native to Japan, the small metallic purple berries of this multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub are
best viewed when the leaves have dropped beginning mid-to-late fall.
The berries are an important survival food for birds and other animals.
Beautyberry is just beginning to reflect its true glory in the Winter Garden.

2) Daphniphyllum macropodum

It is one of the most handsome evergreens for foliage effects. 

Bioblitz 2011 has come and gone, and like last year I find myself still thinking about how awesome it was a week.5 after the fact.  It’s a lot to pull together and 10 days seems about right as far as decompression goes.  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but bioblitzes tap into so many different fibers of my genetic memory.