Dogwood Lane

The Quarterly Journal of the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum ___________________________________

Volume Six Issue 3 - Spring 2024

Expanding the Plant Collection at the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum

As part of ongoing improvements to the arboretum, the Trustees initiated and completed an arboretum entrance improvement plan. The new widened entrance allows visitors to enter and exit safely onto Brush Hill Road and is illuminated for our evening events. Once the hardscape work was completed, more than one hundred new plants were added to the lane. These new plants showcase many specimens from Polly’s gardens along with some additions to the collection. This edition of Dogwood Lane highlights some of these plants.

Polly's four-square planting of redbuds in the Front Garden

Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud

Polly Wakefield had an affinity for spring blooming trees and shrubs. While expanding the gardens at the arboretum, Polly added a four-square planting of redbuds to the Front Garden. She selected two species, Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' and Cercis canadensis f 'alba'. Cercis canadensis or Eastern redbuds are noted for their profuse, brightly-colored flowers in early spring. The flowers are particularly showy as they bloom along the stems of the tree before the leaves come out. ‘Forest Pansy’ has bright pink blooms and ‘alba’ has white blooms. These blooms are a source of nectar for hummingbirds, bees and several species of butterflies. Redbuds are typically understory trees in the wild, but Polly planted them in the hot summer garden where they thrived for many years. The trees were replaced in 2015 when the Front Garden was renovated and this spring the redbuds were stunning. Redbuds produce prolific seed pods and are known to self sow. Here at the arboretum there are volunteers of both the white and red redbuds throughout the garden. 

Cercis canadensis flower buds

Over the past twenty years there has been a great deal of experimentation with redbuds producing a wide variety of cultivars. One of these cultivars was added to the new planting along the lane. Known for its beautiful flower and leaf color and weeping form, Flame Thrower® Redbud features showy hot pink pea-like flowers with dark red calyces along the branches from early to mid- spring. It has attractive yellow-variegated lime-green foliage with hints of red which is burgundy in the spring and turns orange, yellow and green in the fall. 

Cercis canadensis 'Flamethrower' (Simpson nurseries photo)

Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and agriculturally important family of flowering plants. Redbuds are a member of this family. This family includes trees, shrubs, perennials and annual herbaceous plants. The young flowers of the redbud are edible, full of vitamins and are quite tasty, resembling the flavor of peas. The flowers can be sprinkled into a salad, used as a garnish, or even baked into cookies or cakes. The young leaf and flower buds can also be added into a stir fry, salad, or even lightly sautéed with other greens as a vegetable side dish.The long seed pods, when young and purple, can also be harvested from the tree. These make a great addition to a stir fry, or when finely chopped, they can be added to dressings and dips.

Redbud blossoms on a salad. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Fothergilla, Witch Alder

When driving past the new lane planting, or as you stroll down to the Rolling Lawn, you will pass several shrubs with creamy yellow plumes of sweet-smelling flowers. While observing the individual flowers you will see all sorts of pollinators visiting, including flies and bees. Fothergilla flowers in late April into early May, the flowers lasting a few weeks. The leaves are just emerging while the shrub flowers and continues to grow. Once the leaves are fully out they are oblong to ovate in shape, with a dark green color. The flowers are beautiful but the fall foliage is even more breathtaking. Fothergilla is known for its fiery red/orange fall foliage. Although Fothergilla species do not produce berries, it is still a great alternative to the invasive burning bush. 

Fothergilla major along path in formal gardens.

Here at the arboretum we have two different species, Fothergilla gardenii and Fothergilla major. Frothergilla gardenii stays between 2 and 3 feet tall with a similar sized spread, while Fothergilla major grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 9 feet wide. Fothergilla major is native to the southern United States, specifically Appalachia, preferring ravines, rich forests and stream banks. Fothergilla gardenii is also native to the southern United States and Appalachia but grows in moist bogs and savannas. Both Fothergilla species have a preference for acidic, well draining soil. When looking at the leaves you'll notice they may have a familiar shape to another iconic woodland shrub. This is because Fothergilla is in the Hamamelidaceae family, or the witch-hazel family.

Spectacular fall color of Fothergilla.

Aesculus parviflora, Bottlebrush Buckeye

One of Bottlebrush Buckeye’s, Aesculus parviflora, unique characteristics is the tubular, white lace flowers that bloom mid-summer. Because of the flower shape, animals that visit them have adapted to be able to reach the nectar within the flower. They regularly attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Not only are the flowers unique but Bottlebrush Buckeye has large palmate leaves with 5-7 leaflets that turn a buttery yellow in the fall. Although slow-growing, they mature into large thickets that can grow up to 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide. The growth habit is another attractive characteristic, as they grow layered branches that form a wall of vegetation which works well for homeowners looking for privacy in the summer. Bottlebrush buckeye seeds begin to form once pollinated. This is how they got their common name, as seeds are large nuts that look like buckeyes. This is an indicator of the family that Bottlebrush Buckeye is classified by, the Soapberry or the Sapindaceae family, which includes Maples and even Lychee trees. One of the challenges of gardening that many of us are familiar with is pest pressure. The main pest we struggle with here at the arboretum are deer. However, we have found that Bottlebrush Buckeye is not browsed by the deer in our area. You can find these plants at the arboretum in the back corner of the Rolling Lawn or along the lane past the chicken coop. 

In late summer and early autumn brown pear-shaped pods appear. These nuts are related to horse chestnuts and are consumed by squirrels and chipmunks but are poisonous to humans.

Corylopsis is an early spring bloomer adding bright colors to the landscape.

Corylopsis, Winter-hazel

Corylopsis, commonly called winter-hazel, is a medium-sized shrub that grows best in full sun to part shade. The word Corylopsis derives from the Greek korylos (hazelnut) and opsis (resembling), meaning “resembling a hazelnut”. It is in the witch-hazel family, and shares several characteristics with witch-hazels (Hamamelis): late winter or early spring bloom, horizontal branching, and pest and disease resistance. All Corylopsis species grow best in light shade and moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. The leaves, which resemble those of hazelnuts, are arranged in an alternate pattern on the stems, and appear after flowering. Fall color ranges from green to straw yellow. Fruits are insignificant, greenish dry capsules. Winter-hazel is tolerant of many different soil conditions. Corylopsis spicata and Corylopsis pauciflora are both native to Eastern Asia. Fossils of the extinct Corylopsis reedae has been found in Washington State. These fossils are dated from the Eocene epoch, which is 56 million years ago. One of the noteworthy characteristics of winter-hazel are the beautiful yellow green, vaguely fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that emerge in mid April.

This spring our Corylopsis was heavy with flowers and almost glowed in the center of the formal gardens. At the arboretum you can find two different species of Corylopsis, Corylopsis pauciflora and Corylopsis spicata, both are commonly called winter-hazel. Both species can be found within the formal gardens. They are considered low maintenance shrubs and both species grow no more than 10 feet tall. The new lane planting includes several Corylopsis.

The leathery foliage of Corylopsis remains attractive throughout the season and develops brilliant yellow, orange, red and burgundy colors late in the fall.

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea', Yellow twig dogwood

Native to North America, the yellow twig dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flavirmea’) is a unique shrub that has many ecological services. Beautiful in every season, the yellow twig dogwood is another addition to the new lane planting. One of the most notable characteristics of yellow twig dogwood is the striking golden twigs that glow in the winter sun. In the spring the leaves are a bright green with yellow stems. They produce clustered white flowers that once pollinated produce round white berries that attract birds and small mammals. Yellow twig dogwoods are host plants for many butterfly and moth larvae. The butterflies or moths will lay eggs on the host plant, and once the larvae or caterpillars hatch they are at their food source. One of the species you may see is the Spring Azure Butterfly. Yellow twig dogwoods grow 6 to 8 feet tall and create multi- stemmed thickets by producing suckers around the original plant. They can grow in most soil conditions and prefer full sun to part shade. This plant is a great option for winter interest and for areas that would benefit from soil stabilization. 

The yellow twig dogwood is a cultivar from red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), selected for its golden yellow bark. These dogwoods were used by Native Americans as a tobacco substitute or additive, scraping away at the pith of the young stems and toasting it before adding to their pipes with tobacco. 1. Dogwoods have also been historically used for basket weaving and wicker furniture because of its thin flexible branches. Visit our yellow twig dogwood in the formal gardens and along the new lane planting. 

Philadelphus coronarius, Mock Orange

Mock Orange “Illuminati Sparks’ (Philadelphus coronarius) is a classic deciduous, fragrant garden specimen, best known for its white flowers that smell sweet with hints of citrus. Philadelphus coronarius ‘Illuminati Sparks’ is a cultivar that was prioritized for its attractive foliage with dappled yellow variegation. This cultivar does not grow larger than 3 to 4 feet, which makes it a great addition to spaces needing a smaller shrub.

Mock Orange is known historically as a garden staple, with evidence that it has been in cultivation since the 16th century. There are historical journals that prove Thomas Jefferson and George Washington had many Mock Orange planted at their homes. Monticello and Mount Vernon still have Mock Orange planted in the gardens at these historic estates in Virginia. Thomas Jefferson's garden book entry on April 19, 1807, notes: "planted 9 Philadelphus coronarium, Mock orange in the 4 circular beds of shrubs at the 4 corners of the house."(Betts, Garden Book, p.335)

The straight species of Mock Orange grows to be 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide, typically multi-stemmed with arching branches. It has ovate green leaves that help to give a bright green background to the stunning flower display in early spring. They are easy keepers and require minimal maintenance. Mock Orange is in the Hydrangeacea family, which includes hydrangeas and deutzias. Because of their thick growth habit they work well as privacy screens and hedges in the summer. Although they are native to Turkey and North Caucasus, you will see many native pollinators flock to their sweet-smelling blossoms. 

Footnotes

1.(https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cornus_sericea.shtml)

Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum | 617-333-0924

1465 Brush Hill Road, Milton, MA 02186 | www.wakefieldtrust.org