Plants of the Week: June 14

Guest Author Summer Intern Ellie Hollo

Cornus kousa ‘samzam’, commonly known as the Samaritan kousa dogwood, is a mid-sized dogwood variety known for its frilly green and white variegated foliage. This understory tree does well in part shade. Its white and green leaves along with white summer flowers help brighten up a shady location. The Samaritan kousa dogwood’s leaves turn bright red and burgundy in autumn, making this dogwood a good landscape accent in the fall as well. Fun side note: the red berries it grows are edible! Scott Arboretum’s Samaritan kousa dogwood is located on the side of McCabe Library. Photo credit: E. Hollo

Eastern redbud is a mid-sized, shade-tolerant tree native to the eastern US. The variety Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’ was found growing in an alley in Kentucky, and it has since been introduced for sale in nurseries. It features pinkish-purple flowers in the spring and variegated green and white leaves in the summer. The variegated leaves of ‘Alley Cat’ are stable, so they will not revert back to plain green. The splashy leaves are great for adding visual pop to your garden. The white leaves will help brighten up a shady place and provide a visual distraction from too much plain green. The redbud’s flowers are an added bonus, and they will add color to any spring garden. You can find Scott Arboretum’s ‘Alley cat’ redbud in the West Garden. Photo credit: E. Hollo

Magnolia grandiflora is an evergreen magnolia commonly known as the southern magnolia or evergreen magnolia. It is native to the southeastern US, but it is hardy up to zone 7a. Magnolia grandiflora has shiny green leaves year round, which in the winter provide a rich color contrast to leafless deciduous trees. In the early summer, large, cream-white, fragrant flowers begin to bloom, attracting bumble bees and honey bees. Magnolia grandiflora usually maintains a neat, conical shape, another contrast to our common deciduous trees. It is an eye-catching accent to any landscape year round. Several varieties, which are currently in bloom, can be found in the Magnolia Collection. Photo credit: E. Hollo