Plants of the Week: December 2

Guest Author: Seamus Lewin, 2024 -2025 Public Horticulture Intern

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ (maiden grass)

Standing proudly in the center of the John W. Nason Garden is a cluster of 7-foot-tall ornamental grasses known as Miscanthus sinensis. Their inflorescence provides great winter interest and appears almost fountain-like as they sway in the cold gusts of wind. This grass is native to the lowland areas of Asia, in countries like Japan, Korea, and China, but has since naturalized in over 25 states in the Central and Eastern United States. 

The particular cultivar of M. sinensis found in the Nason Garden is ‘Morning Light’; is notable for its narrow green leaves with white variegation on the outer margins. It features a dense clump of upward-arching stems and leaves. During the winter months, the foliage fades to a beige-green, losing most of its interesting color. ‘Morning Light’ blooms later than most other Miscanthus cultivars. This, along with the fading interest in its foliage, brings extra attention to the showy, silvery-white inflorescence during the winter. 

Acer x conspicuum ‘Phoenix’ (snakebark maple)

Nestled on the eastern side of the Science Center, at the bottom of the roundabout, is a remarkably showy maple hybrid. Whereas most maple species lose their interest after dropping their leaves in the fall, Acer x conspicuum ‘Phoenix’ gains interest as its bright orange-red bark is put on full display. 

The cultivar ‘Phoenix’ is an interspecific hybrid resulting from the cross between the Chinese Acer davidii and the North American Acer pensylvanicum. Interspecific refers to the fact that both species used in the cross are from the same genus. It is a slow-growing maple with upright, slender branches and bark that is a deeper red than A. pensylvanicum, one of the species crossed to create it. The common name “snakebark’ refers to the striped pattern of the bark, and I believe that all maple enthusiasts should have at least one snakebark in their collection. 

Abies pinsapo ‘Aurea’ (Spanish fir)

Featured prominently in the front of the Pinetum and visible from Magill Walk is a small, coniferous evergreen tree known as Abies pinsapo ‘Aurea.’  This Spanish fir typically features a wonderful yellow foliage color, but in colder climates it reverts back to a deep green during the winter months. Fortunately, this loss of color does not mean a loss of interest for this species of fir.

A. pinsapo features short and straight needles that are densely and seemingly perfectly distributed on cylindrical stems. These needles are remarkably soft, and I think that the plant must be touched in order to be fully appreciated. When not mature, it has quite an interesting silhouette, appearing more bushy and having an irregular shape. When mature, this cultivar forms a more uniform pyramid shape that reaches about 25 feet tall and 12 feet wide. This fir does quite well in warm temperatures and is native to USDA zones 6-8.