Plants of the Week: April 25

A pair of Cornus florida ‘Pluribracteata’ can be seen flanking either end of Parrish Hall. ‘Pluribracteata’ was selected for the doubled number of white bracts.  The small tree reaches 18 – 25 feet in height with an equal spread.

Consider Prunus ‘Higurashi’ if space is a limiting factor.  The upright tree reaches 25 feet in height and bears double pink flowers.

Disporum flavum, or Mandarin fairy bells, is a rarely seen but easy-to-grow perennial for the woodland garden.  Several mature clumps can be seen in the Terry Shane Teaching Garden.  Yellow flowers are followed by blue fruits in autumn.

A native of China, Paeonia rockii, is an upright deciduous shrub. Semi-double flowers are borne in late spring and early summer. They are cup-shaped, white with deep maroon markings at the base of the petals and creamy-yellow stamens.  Tree peonies are beginning to bloom at the Scott Arboretum.