1)  Illicium henryi     (Henry’s Star Anise) This Chinese Illicium is a standout of the genus, as most anise have white or cream-colored flowers. I. henryi can be found along the foot path of the Sino-Himalayan Hillside as well as along the Ridgetop Trail, just west of the Magnolia Collection. 2)  Kalmia latifolia     (Mountain Laurel) This under-used Rhododendron relative is native to the eastern United States. 

      1)   Aesculus x carnea    ‘Fort McNair’ A hybrid between A. pavia and A. hippocastanum, it probably originated as a chance hybrid made by insects in 19th-century Germany. Selected at the fort of the same name in Washington, D.C., flowers are pink with a yellow throat. It can be found on Azalea Way, across from the Woodland Garden.     2)   Buddleja globosa A species of flowering plant endemic to Chile and Argentina, where it grows in dry and moist forest. 

1)   Acer circinatum (Vine maple) Taken for granted around here, this time of year our vine maple is most eye-catching in flower. Located throughout our native matrix as a deciduous forest understory tree. Vine maple is native to the North American west coast from British Columbia to California. 2)   Acer cissifolium   (Vine-leaf maple) Despite their similar common names, vine maple and vine-leaf maple could hardly be more different. 

“Now it will Spring forth!” 1)  Acer macrophyllum    (Bigleaf maple) Taken for granted around here, this time of year our Bigleaf maple is most eye-catching in flower. It’s the subtle texture of its expanding leaf that drew my attention. Located throughout our native matrix as the dominant deciduous forest tree. 2)  Aesculus wangii A horse chestnut classified as vulnerable in its native habitat of Vietnam. 

1) Azara dentata Native to temperate and subtropical Chile. Bears gold spring time flowers. Located in the Pacific Connections Chilean Entry Garden. 2) Liriodendron chinense A smaller Chinese version of the North American native tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Known for its unique leaf shape and tulip-shaped flower. Located in the Magnolia Collection. 3) Rehderodendron macrocarpum            A small deciduous tree native to China. 

Pacific Connections Garden 1)  Corokia x virgata    ‘Sunsplash’ An odd shrub from New Zealand with variegated foliage and wiry, twisty branches. This carefree evergreen tolerates some dry and looks great in containers. Specimens can be found in the New Zealand Entry Garden. 2)  Grevillea victoriae Fine-textured foliage, long thin flower clusters and drought tolerance make these evergreen shrubs very popular. Also known as Royal Grevillea, it is endemic to parts of Victoria in Australia. 

1)  Camellia japonica  ‘High Hat’ One of our earlier-flowering Japanese camellias. This specimen can be found along the west side of Arboretum Drive near the construction zone detour. 2)  Pieris japonica  ‘Valentine’s Day’ Showing its large panicles of pink flowers. Can be found on Azalea Way just south of the Lilacs. 3)  Rhododendron floribundum Native to the Szechwan Province of China. 

Witt Winter Garden 1) Chimonanthus praecox           Wintersweet Wintersweet is in the allspice family of Calycanthaceae. The sulfur-yellow flowers are intensely fragrant and are born on bare stems. This winter garden favorite is native to China. 2) Ganya x issaquahensis            Hybrid Silktassel This natural hybrid, between G. elliptica and G. fremontii, is native to the western U.S. The showy male catkins will soon produce large amounts of yellow pollen. 

“Scratch and Sniff” 1)  Abies amabilis (Pacific Silver Fir) Pacific Northwestern native growing up to 250 feet tall in the wild, but is often short-lived in gardens. Its crushed needles smell like orange peel. The easiest of the Arboretum specimens to find is on the Upper Trail below the Peony bed. 2)  Cupressus goveniana var. pygmaea (Mendocino Cypress) The “pygmy” stature occurs in this tree’s native habitat: infertile ancient sand dunes above the Pacific Ocean near Mendocino. 

“Judge a Plant by Its Cover”:  Twigs and Bark 1)   Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple) – photo of trunk (to the right) Move over Stewartia pseudocamellia, at least for the time being. Exceptional mottled flakey, lighter gray-brown bark on this young Asian maple. Makes a good street tree in Seattle, tolerant of a wide-range of stress factors. 2)   Acer caesium ssp. giraldii Maple featuring young branches covered with a whitish bloom (DO NOT TOUCH) Native to the Himalaya region of China (Shaanxi and Yunnan provinces) Specimen located along Arboretum Drive in the Peonies 3)   Betula albo-sinensis var.