Plants of the Week – November 14

Lindera glauca var. salicifolia is in its full fall glory. Shades of yellow and orange complement shiny black fruit. As the leaf pigments fade, the paper-brown leaves remain throughout the winter months providing a dramatic backdrop for evergreens and other winter-interest plants. Imagine cultivars of red or yellow twig dogwoods, Cornus sericea or C. sanguinea, highlighted by a background of L. glauca var. salicifolia.  Photo credit: J. Coceano

Taxodium ascendens, commonly known as pond cypress, is a deciduous conifer native to North America. Currently, the needles are displaying their tawny-brown fall color. T. ascendens, near Kohlberg Hall, is an adaptable tree preferring acidic soils in a full sun, open location. Photo credit: J. Coceano

Mitchella repens, seen here in the Crum Woods, is a creeping evergreen woodland understory plant. Native Americans had many names for this indigenous North American plant including squaw berry, two-eyed berry, running fox, and Noon kie oo nah yeah. The plant, used in traditional medicine, produces an edible though bland tasting fruit.    Photo credit: J. Coceano

Sorbus alnifolia, growing near Ben West and featured in the October 17^th post, is looking outstanding! Leaves, burnt orange in color and edged in yellow, partner well with the persisting fruit. The species is considered by some to be the handsomest of all mountainash. Photo credit: J. Coceano