October at the JC Raulston Arboretum

This post is 10 of 12 of a series I’m doing this year reflecting back on some of my favorite plants from visiting the JC Raulston Arboretum while attending graduate school at NC State in Raleigh, NC.

October was one of my favorite months to visit the JC Raulston Arboretum. The warmth and light of summer that had spurred growth was now waning, and we saw the last flowers of the year emerge before first frost. The cooler weather and shortening days also meant that the first fall colors began to manifest on trees and shrubs. Such a time was ripe to walk through the gardens and enjoy a harvest of color. I hope these favorite plants from the arboretum inspire you to try a few new ones in your garden.

Lespedeza thunbergii subsp. thunbergii ‘Little Volcano’ is such a focal point in fall with its blue-green foliage that is soon covered with magenta flowers. The flowers are so plentiful they weight the stems down for a few weeks while the plant is in bloom.

I loved this combination of Salvia mexicana ‘Limelight’, Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’, and Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’ at the arboretum. It is a play off the classic yellow/purple contrasting color scheme with a hint of orange/blue contrast, too.

A close-up of the acid green sepals and indigo flowers on Salvia mexicana ‘Limelight’.

I always liked the height of Aster tartaricus. Many asters tend to hug the ground or be in little balls, but this one can rise in a garden bed.

It isn’t fall without mums! Chrysanthemum ‘Gethsemane Moonlight’ is a very vigorous grower and features soft lemon-colored ray petals.

You probably won’t find Pityopsis graminifolia in many gardens, but it is a cool native. Evergreen silvery foliage that looks more like grass leaves (hence the graminifolia which means leaves resembling grass) than something in the aster family puts forth yellow blooms in autumn.

I always enjoyed seeing these Cosmos sulphureus erupt out of the perennial border at the arboretum in fall. Most years, I wouldn’t even see seedlings until well into summer.

Don’t you love how the ray color of Dahlia ‘Forncett Furnace’ echoes the stems on Hibiscus ‘Holly Springs’ in the foreground?

Students are always amazed in the fall to see yellow aster-like flowers emerge from these funky kidney-shaped leaves. Here a mass of Farfugium japonicum ‘Aureomaculatum’ flanks the side of the new lath house.

You can’t make out much variegation on this Callicarpa americana ‘Berries and Cream’, but the berries certainly do shine.

Aster ageratoides ‘Ezo Murasaki’ was a new aster to me. While it has lovely blooms in fall, it can be a bit aggressive.

I love seeing the bracts on hydrangeas fade. You never know what colors are going to manifest like the soft red on Hydrangea macrophylla ‘REI 05’ Forever & Ever Together.

I had seen the Ozark native Amsonia hubrichtii many times in the green, but this plant at the arboretum was my first encounter with its buttery yellow fall color.

The first time Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ caught my eye was seeing the vibrant orange stems on a chilly day. The second time it caught my eye was at the end of October when the leaves turned a lovely yellow.

Brie Arthur stands in front of Parrotia subaequalis for scale. This more recent Parrotia introduction is beloved for its spectacular fall color.

A close-up of the flaming Parrotia subaequalis foliage.

The lobed leaves of Acer saccharum ‘Flax Mill Majesty’ (or it appears to go by just ‘Majesty’ now) are burning bright against a gray sky.

The Asian persimmons often offer good fall color as seen here with the brilliant red foliage on Diospyros kaki.

And, last on the list is Hamamelis mollis ‘Wisley Supreme’. Its fading leaves are a final call for the end of the season, but tucked just behind are the swelling buds that will soon open and warm winter days.

blah

September at the JC Raulston Arboretum

This post is 9 of 12 of a series I’m doing this year reflecting back on some of my favorite plants from visiting the JC Raulston Arboretum while attending graduate school at NC State in Raleigh NC.

This week we left September behind, and I had fun sorting through photographs from the JC Raulston Arboretum. Each year when I went out to take these photos, school would have just started back, and it was a nice break to get out in the garden and witness the shifting seasons from summer to fall. Enjoy these photos and great plants from my time in Raleigh.

Passiflora 'Purple Haze' blooms with its sensational flowers.  I love how Passiflora are a host to Gulf fritillary that we see buzzing our flowers in fall.

Passiflora 'Purple Haze' blooms with its sensational flowers. I love how Passiflora are a host to Gulf fritillary that we see buzzing our flowers in fall.

I was delighted to see Symphytum × uplandicum 'Axminster Gold' at the arboretum in the lath house.  I figured it would burn in the south, but the foliage was quite clean and colorful.

I was delighted to see Symphytum × uplandicum 'Axminster Gold' at the arboretum in the lath house. I figured it would burn in the south, but the foliage was quite clean and colorful.

 
Callicarpa americana 'Welch's Pink' is a wonderful pink fruited selection of our native beautyberry that was discovered by SFA graduate Matt Welch.    The JCRA website notes that seedlings tend to come true to type, indicating this mutation is likely stable and not the result of hybridization.

Callicarpa americana 'Welch's Pink' is a wonderful pink fruited selection of our native beautyberry that was discovered by SFA graduate Matt Welch. The JCRA website notes that seedlings tend to come true to type, indicating this mutation is likely stable and not the result of hybridization.

 
Butterfly gingers smell spectacular throughout the summer, and in September their bloom begins to wind down as we head into fall.  Here, the coral colored flowers of Hedychium 'Elizabeth' are still hanging on.

Butterfly gingers smell spectacular throughout the summer, and in September their bloom begins to wind down as we head into fall. Here, the coral colored flowers of Hedychium 'Elizabeth' are still hanging on.

I loved watching the flower bud of Musella lasiocarpa develop over the summer at the arboretum.  It looked so freaky with all the sheathing leaves until…

I loved watching the flower bud of Musella lasiocarpa develop over the summer at the arboretum. It looked so freaky with all the sheathing leaves until…

…it exploded into flower.  Musella lasiocarpa really is an amazing ornamental banana with its giant inflorescence.

…it exploded into flower. Musella lasiocarpa really is an amazing ornamental banana with its giant inflorescence.

The arboretum featured a collection of rainlilies like this Zephyranthes ‘Bangkok Yellow’.  I always delighted in seeing them bloom, roughly five days after a rain.

The arboretum featured a collection of rainlilies like this Zephyranthes ‘Bangkok Yellow’. I always delighted in seeing them bloom, roughly five days after a rain.

 
One day, I noticed that this Zingiber mioga 'Silver Arrow' had some fallen flowers at its base.  I knelt down to investigate, and I discovered that these were actually flowers emerging from the plant!  It was such an interesting adaptation seeing the blooms at ground level.

One day, I noticed that this Zingiber mioga 'Silver Arrow' had some fallen flowers at its base. I knelt down to investigate, and I discovered that these were actually flowers emerging from the plant! It was such an interesting adaptation seeing the blooms at ground level.

 
Here’s a close up of the flowers of Zingiber mioga 'Silver Arrow' that emerged from the ground.

Here’s a close up of the flowers of Zingiber mioga 'Silver Arrow' that emerged from the ground.

If you are looking for variegated tropical foliage, Curcuma petiolata 'Emperor' fits the bill.  It looks like it has been streaked with a white paintbrush.

If you are looking for variegated tropical foliage, Curcuma petiolata 'Emperor' fits the bill. It looks like it has been streaked with a white paintbrush.

Most people know Chlorophytum as the variegated, low growing spider plant.  But, I loved this upright Chlorophytum colubrinum that sported flowers in autumn.

Most people know Chlorophytum as the variegated, low growing spider plant. But, I loved this upright Chlorophytum colubrinum that sported flowers in autumn.

How can you not love the smoky pink and teal flowers of Polinathes (Agave) howardii?  It is such an unusual color combination to see in a tubular flower.

How can you not love the smoky pink and teal flowers of Polinathes (Agave) howardii? It is such an unusual color combination to see in a tubular flower.

I admired the voluminous inflorescences of Kniphofia rooperi.  This species is a later flowering form of red hot poker.

I admired the voluminous inflorescences of Kniphofia rooperi. This species is a later flowering form of red hot poker.

Rhodophiala bifida is a bulb I have gotten to know well after moving to Texas.  Oxblood lily blooms after our first rain in autumn, usually as a herald to the emergence of Lycoris.

Rhodophiala bifida is a bulb I have gotten to know well after moving to Texas. Oxblood lily blooms after our first rain in autumn, usually as a herald to the emergence of Lycoris.

Lycoris albiflora emerges from herbaceous froth in the white garden at the arboretum.

Lycoris albiflora emerges from herbaceous froth in the white garden at the arboretum.

August at the JC Raulston Arboretum

This post is 8 of 12 of a series I’m doing this year reflecting back on some of my favorite plants from visiting the JC Raulston Arboretum while attending graduate school at NC State in Raleigh NC.

Of course, it’s September now, but I’ve been sorting through photographs the past few weeks that I took in Augusts past at the JC Raulston Arboretum. I moved to Raleigh, NC in August of 2008, and the arboretum became a home away from home. I would spend some of my first evenings walking around the garden to learn plants that grew well in the area. Each August thereafter would still have that same feeling of learning and exploration as a new school year began. So, I hope you enjoy learning and exploring a few of my favorite plants from the JC Raulston Arboretum from one of the hottest months of the year.

One of the first photographs I took after moving to Raleigh was this looking down shot on a Yucca rostrata, a tough plant that can become a focal point in the landscape.  It starts as a skirt of lanceolate leaves and then elongates towards the sky o…

One of the first photographs I took after moving to Raleigh was this looking down shot on a Yucca rostrata, a tough plant that can become a focal point in the landscape. It starts as a skirt of lanceolate leaves and then elongates towards the sky over the years, leaving a thick stem in its wake.

August was the month that I started noticing the warm orange color on Salix ‘Flame’ that would become prominent over the winter months once the foliage dropped.  Here you also notice the smoky color of the leaves.

August was the month that I started noticing the warm orange color on Salix ‘Flame’ that would become prominent over the winter months once the foliage dropped. Here you also notice the smoky color of the leaves.

In August the buds on Rostrinucula dependens would start to elongate before flowering a lovely pink.

In August the buds on Rostrinucula dependens would start to elongate before flowering a lovely pink.

I hate kudzu for its invasiveness, but the variegated ‘Sherman’s Ghost’ on the back patio created nice shade.  A tough spot deserves a tough plant I suppose.

I hate kudzu for its invasiveness, but the variegated ‘Sherman’s Ghost’ on the back patio created nice shade. A tough spot deserves a tough plant I suppose.

Years ago, I saw a curious vine loaded with red samaras and yellow flowers at Callaway Gardens in Georgia with no idea of its identity.  At the arboretum I learned it as Heteropterys glabra, or redwing.

Years ago, I saw a curious vine loaded with red samaras and yellow flowers at Callaway Gardens in Georgia with no idea of its identity. At the arboretum I learned it as Heteropterys glabra, or redwing.

A close up of the beautiful fruit of Heteropterys glabra

A close up of the beautiful fruit of Heteropterys glabra

 
Another amazing vine I saw at the arboretum was Mucuna cyclocarpa, or purple jade vine.  I love members of the bean family that have incredible flowers, and this new-to-me vine wasn’t an exception.  If you grow this species, just be aware that some have an allergy to touching the hairs on the plant.

Another amazing vine I saw at the arboretum was Mucuna cyclocarpa, or purple jade vine. I love members of the bean family that have incredible flowers, and this new-to-me vine wasn’t an exception. If you grow this species, just be aware that some have an allergy to touching the hairs on the plant.

 
In the Lath House at the arboretum, Hydrangea involucrata ‘Wim Rutten’ Blue Bunny(TM) bloomed well into August with its billowy lacecaps.  This Hydrangea supposedly blooms on new wood, a plus for areas where winter bud damage is an issue.

In the Lath House at the arboretum, Hydrangea involucrata ‘Wim Rutten’ Blue Bunny(TM) bloomed well into August with its billowy lacecaps. This Hydrangea supposedly blooms on new wood, a plus for areas where winter bud damage is an issue.

Many geophytes would start flowering after summer’s crescendo as witnessed here by the geophyte border.

Many geophytes would start flowering after summer’s crescendo as witnessed here by the geophyte border.

One of my favorite bulbs for August is Lilium formosanum.  My friend Jimmy Williams told me years ago that there are few plants that reach such height in the middle of summer and bloom so effectively as this lily.

One of my favorite bulbs for August is Lilium formosanum. My friend Jimmy Williams told me years ago that there are few plants that reach such height in the middle of summer and bloom so effectively as this lily.

Lycoris or spider lilies would start popping in August.  I loved the pink-to-purple-to-blue fade on this Lycoris sprengeri.

Lycoris or spider lilies would start popping in August. I loved the pink-to-purple-to-blue fade on this Lycoris sprengeri.

A new Lycoris species to me was the cream-colored Lycoris anhuiensis.  I quite liked how it was planted to emerge through this groundcover of Sedum emarginatum ‘Eco Mt. Emei’.

A new Lycoris species to me was the cream-colored Lycoris anhuiensis. I quite liked how it was planted to emerge through this groundcover of Sedum emarginatum ‘Eco Mt. Emei’.

The star-shaped, two-toned flowers of Gladiolus 'Flevo Kosmic' were out of this world!

The star-shaped, two-toned flowers of Gladiolus 'Flevo Kosmic' were out of this world!

The sweet smell of Hedychium flowers is so welcome in August.  They remind me of swimming in our pool back home in Tennessee where the fragrance would waft across the water in the evenings.  ‘White Starburst’ has a beautiful spiral of flowers atop 5–6 foot stems.

The sweet smell of Hedychium flowers is so welcome in August. They remind me of swimming in our pool back home in Tennessee where the fragrance would waft across the water in the evenings. ‘White Starburst’ has a beautiful spiral of flowers atop 5–6 foot stems.

I really didn’t pay much attention to turk’s cap when in Raleigh, but now that I live in Texas I see it everywhere.  It’s a durable, tough, native perennial that attracts Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  This clump is ‘Big Momma’, a cultivar developed by my friend Greg Grant.

I really didn’t pay much attention to turk’s cap when in Raleigh, but now that I live in Texas I see it everywhere. It’s a durable, tough, native perennial that attracts Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. This clump is ‘Big Momma’, a cultivar developed by my friend Greg Grant.

 
A close up of the flowers on Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii 'Big Momma'

A close up of the flowers on Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii 'Big Momma'

 
I was blown away when I saw this Fuchsia ‘Sunihanf’ Angel Earrings® thriving in the lath house because this genus doesn’t do well in the south at all.  This cultivar is much more heat tolerant and is certainly on my wish list for trying in Texas.

I was blown away when I saw this Fuchsia ‘Sunihanf’ Angel Earrings® thriving in the lath house because this genus doesn’t do well in the south at all. This cultivar is much more heat tolerant and is certainly on my wish list for trying in Texas.

I’ve written before about my love of Titanotrichum oldhamii.  In the lath house this gold woodland foxglove was thriving and starting to bloom for fall.

I’ve written before about my love of Titanotrichum oldhamii. In the lath house this gold woodland foxglove was thriving and starting to bloom for fall.

This sheet of flowers on Sedum ‘Pure Joy’ is… well… pure joy.

This sheet of flowers on Sedum ‘Pure Joy’ is… well… pure joy.