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.
Our native honeysuckle vine. Other common names include
Coral honeysuckle and
Trumpet honeysuckle. Early nectar source for hummingbirds, which are its main pollinator.
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| 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 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.
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.
Crush the leaves of the Carolina Sweet Shrub to get a spicy, sweet aroma. Also called
Sweet Betsy in North Carolina.
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 - a must for any shade garden. Also forms an interesting seed pod.
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