Monday, April 23, 2012

What's in Bloom - April 2012 - Wildlife Area

We hope to bring you a regular feature of "What's Blooming" in the various Demonstration Gardens throughout the year.  Jane Krumpe took these pictures last week from the Woodland, Meadow, Native Habitat Garden, otherwise known as the Wildlife Area.

Native Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
Our native honeysuckle vine.  Other common names include Coral honeysuckle and Trumpet honeysuckle.  Early nectar source for hummingbirds, which are its main pollinator.

Gelsemium sempervirens - Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens - Carolina Jessamine
Carolina Jessamine is South Carolina's state flower.  We're stretching its northern hardiness border at Zone 6b - usually described as a zone 7 plant.  It's considered toxic to livestock, but supposedly has some medicinal qualities.

Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia

Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia
Red Chokeberry is a common upright, open shrub with white flower clusters in spring and red fruits in fall and winter. The University of Connecticut lists it as one of the best shrubs for fall color, with foliage having an intense, shiny, raspberry to crimson color, with purplish highlights. Can also have some orange mixed in, especially in shady sites.  And of course the berries will provide food for wildlife.

Rhododendron calendulaceum - Native Flame Azalea
Just getting ready to bloom - one of our native deciduous Azaleas, the Flame Azalea.  Azaleas like acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0.

Carolina Sweet Shrub - Calycanthus floridus

Carolina Sweet Shrub - Calycanthus floridus
Crush the leaves of the Carolina Sweet Shrub to get a spicy, sweet aroma.  Also called Sweet Betsy in North Carolina.

Halesia tetraptera (Halesia carolina)
Carolina Silverbell
There seems to be one of those taxonomic changes going on, since multiple sources list both Halesia tetraptera along with Halesia carolina interchangeably with the common name Carolina Silverbell.  The University of Connecticut describes the fruit as interesting, four-winged (tetra - ptera), and oblong that changes from green to tan and persists into the winter.

Woodland Poppy - Stylophorum diphyllum
Woodland Poppy - a must for any shade garden.  Also forms an interesting seed pod.

No comments:

Post a Comment