Nelly Moser Hybrid Clematis

This Clematis has enormous flowers, 8 to 9 inches across, which completely cover the vines from May through frost. Its vivid colors make the blossoms look tropical, but clematis is tough and hardy and is nearly carefree once established.

It requires a support and climbs 8 to 12 feet. Like all other Clematis it does best when planted in full sun with roots shaded. You can find it growing on the archway between the Vegetable and Fountain gardens.

Summer Snowflake Viburnum

Viburnums have become favorites with gardeners because of their multiple periods of interest – showy flowers in the spring, attractive berries that birds love and good fall color. Summer Snowflake adds to this impressive list of attributes by having repeat blooming characteristics not previously found in viburnums. The heaviest display of white flowers will be produced from mid April to mid May, but throughout the rest of the summer additional flowers will be produced as the plant grows. Because the plant continues to bloom throughout the summer, it seldom sets fruit. Summer Snowflake has a decidedly erect form and is suited for use as an entryway plant, for screening, or as part of a mixed border.

It has a height between 8 and 10 feet with a spread of 5 to 6 feet. It is easily grown in any reasonable soil. To keep the plant in bloom, it must make some new growth. Even though the plant is very drought tolerant, it will not bloom as much if not watered during our driest months. It can be planted in any season and requires full sun to part shade. You can find this gorgeous specimen plant in our Boulder garden.

Ninebark

Ninebark is a medium large multi-stemmed shrub in the Rose family with a height and spread of 6 to 9’. The recurved arching branches are crowded and dense with the older, most vigorous shoots showing heavy exfoliation (hence the common name). The leaves are simple, alternate, and toothed, mostly ovate shaped with those on the large, older branches usually having three lobes and ranging from l l/2 to 2 1/2” long and about as wide. The leaves on the smaller, younger shoots are variable in shape but are much smaller than those on the larger shoots.

The flowers, emerging in late April, are in white, tight, dense corms on the new season’s growth. The fruit, an inflated capsule, usually 5 to a cluster, forms immediately as flowering ceases, progressing in color from rosy pink to soft buff through the summer until ripening in early fall.

Ninebark is perfect in a shrub border with other large flowering shrubs such as Wigelia, Spiraea, Forsythia and Viburnuns. In our landscapes it is perfect close to a chain length fence where the tallest canes can arch through the holes giving a vine-like effect.

Our Linnaeus Garden has one displayed in the bolder area next to the stream to provide color from March through early winter. Ninebark is very adaptable and undemanding only asking for as much sun as possible and average soil a little in the acid range. It’s drought tolerant after establishment and very long lived. It can be transplanted from containers at any time, but the ideal time is when it’s dormant. It can grow quite large but is extremely amenable to selective pruning, which allows its owner to keep it looking perfect for the area in which it was planted.

Dianthus

This little plant is a show stopper for a brilliant spring display. Dianthus flowers are fringed, single or semi-double, and are produced in masses which add to the early flower show with redbuds, dogwoods, daffodils, and other spring bloomers. The small clumping and dainty height are perfect for borders, rock gardens, edging plants, or container patio displays. The grayish spike-like foliage on some selections makes a nice contrast plant in the perennial garden.

Check out the rock garden in the Linnaeus Garden to see a wonderful display of these little show stoppers.

Weigela

This colorful plant can be found at the bottom of the rock garden right next to the water feature.

Its marvelous display of pink flowers will truly draw your attention. Weigela is known for its distinctly dazzling early flowers that hummingbirds adore. The most common flower colors are red and pink.

One of the best features of Weigela is that it is user friendly. Adaptable to many soil types, it is hardy to zone 4 and has no serious pest problems. It is easy to propagate, easy to grow and presents itself well in a container. The only requirement of this plant is that it requires full sun to produce copious flowers.

White Nancy Dead Nettle

Are you looking for a perennial ground cover that can tolerate any soil type? This little beauty prefers partial shade but will grow in full sun if grown in moist, rich soil. This Old World herb is an ideal filler plant to cut down on weed growth and is an excellent color contrast in borders. Low growing, it produces spotted leaves and white flowers in late spring and spreads by runners and is easy to manage in your flower beds. It perks up a dabble sun area with its wonderful foliage.

Check it out in our boulder area beneath the outside classroom.

Weeping Red Jade Crabapple

This Crabapple is a weeping, white-flowered crabapple that typically matures to 12-15' tall and 20' wide. It is best planted as a specimen in an area where its weeping shape can be appreciated. It is noted for its weeping shape, white flowers and red fruit. Birds will be attracted to your yard because of its fruit.

You will find it in full bloom at the side entry door of our Linneaus Teaching Barn. It is best grown in medium moisture, well-drained, acidic loams in full sun. However, it does adapt to a wide range of soils and should be pruned as needed, after flowering but before June.

White buds tinged with pink open in spring to white flowers, followed by bright red crabapples that mature in fall and may persist into winter.

Avondale Chinese Redbud - (Cercis chinensis )

The first sign of spring comes with this wonderful tree whose branches are smothered in tight clusters of double dark pink, almost purple blooms. Not only are our visitors awe struck but it appears the butterflys and bees are also enjoying its splendor.

This cultivar was selected for its superior flowers, which are more intensely deep pink as well as more densely clustered along its branches, than is typical of the species. Green leaves of this Asian cousin of Eastern Redbud are glossier green than its North American counterpart, and turn yellow in the fall.

Avondale Redbud is multi-stemmed and grows in a rounded form to a height and spread of about 10 to 12 feet.

Our Linnaeus Teaching Garden has this specimen growning next to the stream - you must check it out!

Oklahoma Redbud

This Redbud is highly drought tolerant once established and grows well in all areas within its hardiness range of 6B thru 9A. The deep pink to red flowers appear in profusion up and down the tree limbs in springtime, well before the leaves begin to emerge, creating probably one of the best Redbud displays. It also has a subdued red-burgundy fall color. As a young tree it will benefit from some training and pruning to form an upright, more uniform crown. You can find it across the path at the top of the boulder garden next to the fence.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

This plant grows from 15 to 25' tall with multiple stems forming a dense shrub or, if pruned properly, a small tree. It adapts to a very wide range of soils and is somewhat drought tolerant.

Its spectacular show of white flowers in early spring is one of its main ornamental features. They begin as a pale pink, then fade to snowy white fragrant flowers. Its young leaves are purplish in color, then turn red, orange, and yellow in the fall. The fruit is round, sweet and edible in summer which is good for wildlife and also for human consumption.

To sum it up, here is an easy to grow plant which is featured in many gardening and landscape magazines - it can be found along the path of the Linnaeus boulder garden.