Plants of the Week: September 2

“The Grand Finale”

Unfortunately, this is my last “plants of the week” blog post since my internship at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College has come to an end. However, this week’s theme is “the grand finale” because many of these plants’ flowers remind me of fireworks. Much like a firework grand finale, I saved the best for last! Before I leave here, I want to share five of my favorite plants that now finally look their best!

This multi-stemmed crape myrtle features magenta-pink terminal flowers up to one foot long. Lagerstroemia indica Pink Velour^® blooms from mid-summer to frost on upright branches that reaching as high as 10 feet. Its foliage emerges burgundy-red in spring, matures to purplish-green by summer, and turns orange-brown in autumn. When the branches arch downwards from the weight of the blossoms, it reminds me of a lit firework about to explode in a summer’s night sky.

Photo Credit: Aaron D’Addio

Garden Location: west side of Parrish Hall

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Amethyst’ is yet another phenomenal selection of hydrangea introduced by the Michael Dirr. This plant offers a magic show of color-changing flowers. Initially amethyst these six-inch-long flowers start with creamy white sepals which wine-red as they mature. This color lasts for an extended period, even after cut or dried for floral arrangements. In autumn, the uniquely textured foliage turns deep burgundy-red.

Photo Credit: Aaron D’Addio

Garden Location: west side of Parrish Hall

Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ is commonly known as sweet coneflower, but it does not look like most Rudbeckia. What gives this its unique appearance is its very separated, rolled yellow rays attached to a central, dome-shaped, brown disk. These yellow flower petal “quills” slowly unravel at the ends and flatten out during an extensive bloom period. Its stems are covered in soft hairs and its foliage has a pleasant aroma of vanilla/anise. These distinct blooms remind me of yellow fireworks bursting in the air.

Photo Credit: Aaron D’Addio

Garden Location: John W. Nason Garden

Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’ is also called mountain fleece or bistort. This is a vigorous, slow-spreading, noninvasive, clump-forming perennial. Persicaria flowers from early summer into fall with narrow, crimson, bottle-brush-like flower spikes of varying heights. Reaching up to four feet tall supported on long, green stalks, they create a pleasant layered appearance. These red flower spikes bring back fond memories of lit fire sparklers.

Photo Credit: Aaron D’Addio

Garden Location: Scott Arboretum Entrance Garden

Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’ is commonly known as butterfly weed, since it is a butterfly magnet, especially for Monarchs. This drought-tolerant perennial can grow up to three feet tall and displays showy, flattened, dense clusters of sunny, bright yellow flowers of upright stems with narrow, lance-shaped foliage. These small, yellow, star-shaped flowers remind me of sparks from those “bang snaps” that I used to throw on the sidewalk as a child.

Photo Credit: Aaron D’Addio

Garden Location: John W. Nason Garden

I enjoyed interning at the beautiful Scott Arboretum this summer under horticulturist, Josh Coceano, and curator, Andrew Bunting! I would like to thank them for teaching me a tremendous amount this summer, the entire Scott staff, and active volunteer Carol Mattheiss for housing me all summer as well! I will miss you all and I will never forget this incredible experience!