Plants of Week: April 28

Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Multiplex’

Being accustomed to seeing the non-cultivar bloodroot scattered along paths in local woods, I was completely blown away when I encountered this beauty it the Terry Shane Teaching Garden. It has the same leaves, general habit, and vivid, eggshell-white petals as the species but it blooms with explosive quadruples of the normal 7-9 petals. ‘Multiplex’ is truly a fantastic variation on a common Pennsylvania woodland native as well as a perfect early spring flower for any garden. photo credit: J. Bickel

Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Falconnet Charlet’

A dense, attractive thicket of these and other cultivars inhabit an edge of Benjamin West parking lot, bookended by Cornus mas  which are now finishing their golden-yellow flowering show. These flowering quinces offer a nice color palate with oranges, salmons and pinks. Though not yet in full bloom, the buds appear as rosey, blushing gumballs preparing to pop open into sweet, plentiful, rose-like flowers. The common name is flowering quince; and though the fruits resemble quinces, it is not to be confused with the edible quince Cydonia oblonga. photo credit: J. Bickel

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Seeing Pulsatilla vulgaris after months of winter was like being transported to another planet. When faced head-on, the flower has an attractive and appreciable level of intensity that gathers the eye to the center and hypnotizes the senses. The rest of the plant, including the finely dissected leaves, is densely covered in long, thin hairs making for a captivatingly interesting flower. Common to alkaline grasslands, it happily resides in the Harry Wood Garden. photo credit: J. Bickel