Plants of Week – January 9

Camellia Forest Nursery considers Prunus mume ‘Fragrant Snow’ to be the best white-flowering variety of Japanese apricot. The deciduous tree, ultimately reaching 25’ in height with a similar spread, produces fragrant semi-double flowers in January. Seen here on a hillside beside McCabe Library, P. mume ‘Fragrant Snow’ will flower over a period of several weeks. Photo credit: J. Coceano

Cascading branches of Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’ soften the lines of Sharples Dining Hall. P. strobus ‘Pendula’ is a semi-dwarf cultivar typically growing 6-15’ tall with a wider spread. Form is variable and dependent upon pruning and training.  Photo credit: J. Coceano

Cool sunny days have prompted several witch hazels, including Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’, to bloom. This particular cultivar is beloved for its sweetly fragrant, ribbon-like, crinkly copper flowers. The x intermedia hybrids characteristically reach 12-20’ in height and offer good vigor. Photo credit: J. Coceano

Magnolia virginiana var. australis ‘Tensaw’ is a diminutive form of our native sweet bay magnolia. The upright, evergreen tree bears small leaves and quarter-size fragrant white flowers. Seen here framed against a backdrop of Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ and Mertz Hall, the small tree is excellent for the collector or those with limited space. Photo credit: J. Coceano