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Bright Spots
Self-Guided Plant Tour
(ROUTE DIRECTIONS ARE ALWAYS NOTED IN ALL CAPS)
November 11, 2015
Did you know…?
Not all conifers are evergreens; some, like Taxodium distichum (Swamp Cypress)
lose their foliage every Fall. Visitors occasionally think the trees are dying, as the green
needle-like leaves turn to russet and then drop to the ground. There are several Swamp
Cypress to be found at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, most notably in the West Island
Garden and along the perimeter of Sydnor Lake.
Take special note of the specimen standing sentinel at the Children’s Garden end
of the Lotus Bridge. It is filled with clusters of beautiful cones the color of oxidized
copper. These trees produce seeds every year, but bountiful crops like this example
occur at 3 to 5 year intervals.
If you look over the side of the bridge at the base of the tree you can observe
another interesting feature – this tree has “knees”. These conical structures arise from
lateral roots. At one time they were thought to help the tree absorb oxygen but current
research does not confirm this as a critical function. They may help to stabilize the tree,
however, in its typical damp surroundings.
The seeds of this southeastern US native provide food for wild turkeys, squirrels,
birds and wood ducks and the crown provides nesting spots for bald eagles and osprey.
You will probably not be planting one of these in your garden however, since they
can attain mature heights of 140 feet.
Sources: http://www.conifers.org/cu/Taxodium_distichum_distichum.php;
U.S. Forest Service Silvics Manual: Taxodium distichum
www.efloras.org, Flora of North America
*Notable Plants: Several times a month, Garden Volunteers record the most dramatic seasonal
displays and highlight exceptional plants in the garden and Conservatory.
+Denotes Virginia Native Plant
Plant Material
Location
Fountain Terrace
Ornamental Kale, Brassica oleracea ‘Redbor’, low, dark purple red, wavy
edged leaves with silver tones
Red Cabbage, Brassica oleracea ‘Super Red 80’, red leaves with gray
tints, developing head in center
Viola, Viola cornuta Sorbet XP ‘Yellow’, yellow flowers
Swiss Chard, Beta vulgaris ‘Bright Yellow’, edible leafy greens with bright
yellow stems
Viola, Viola cornuta ‘Black Jump Up’, purple to black pansy faces
Camellia cv., evergreen shrub with smaller white flowers, yellow centers
Around fountain
Around fountain
Around fountain
In Pots
In Pots
Left corner
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Monk’s Hood, Aconitum charmichaelii, tall spikes of deep violet blue
hooded flowers
Both corners
THROUGH THE GATES
TURN LEFT, THEN RIGHT INTO
George Bragdon Memorial Daffodil Garden
Holly, Ilex x ‘Virginia’, tree with glossy leaves and brilliant red berries
Right side by the
wall
TURN RIGHT THROUGH STONE ARCH INTO
Four Seasons Garden
+Purple Muhlygrass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, wiry grass developing a fog
of purple seed heads
*Miscanthus sinensis cv., tall graceful tan plumes over green grass
streaked with white
Winterberry, Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’, deciduous shrub, brilliant red
berries
Both front beds
Far right side, back
of bed
Near left side, back
of bed
RETURN TO CENTRAL PATH, WALK THROUGH THE ARBOR
Meditation Garden
Viola, Viola cornuta Sorbet XP ‘Beaconsfield’, mounding plant, purple
flowers
*Ornamental Kale, Brassica oleracea ‘Peacock White’ , lacey leaves,
white towards the center of the plant
Ornamental Kale, Brassica oleracea ‘Redbor’, low, dark purple red, wavy
edged leaves with silver tones
Throughout
Central Beds
Central Beds
Medicinal Garden
+ Callicarpa, Callicarpa americana, also called beautyberry, large shrub
with coarse oval leaves and clusters of small vivid purple berries along
stems
Left side, back of
bed
Fountain Garden: Sunken Garden, Lower Level
THIS GARDEN IS IN TRANSITION WITH NEWLY PLANTED VIOLAS
TURN LEFT TOWARD EDUCATION CENTER THEN RIGHT ALONG TRIANGLE BEDS
FOUNTAIN GARDEN
UPPER LEVEL
*Muhlygrass, Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ ,wiry grass with a
fog of ivory/lime green seed heads
Throughout
EAST and WEST TRIANGLE BEDS
New plantings of violas form a spiral pattern. Spaces are filled with
“flowers” made from recycled bottles as part of our GardenFest décor.
Later, spring bulbs will emerge to fill in the spaces.
BEAR RIGHT TO CONSERVATORY STAIRS
Ornamental Grass Garden
+Prairie Dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis, flower panicles rise above
slender foliage
Both sides
+Purple Muhlygrass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, wiry grass developing a fog
of purple seedheads
Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’, olive green to blue green
grass topped by beige plume
Both sides
Both sides
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Plume Grass, Saccharum ravennae, tall silvery plumes above green
foliage
Both sides at far
back
Conservatory, Palm House
Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia reginae, vivid orange and bright purple crane
shaped flower, large dark green fan shaped leaves
Bed to left of
entrance
Dried Gourds and inverted Tillandsias (airplants) are combined to
resemble jellyfish
Skyduster Palm, Washingtonia robusta, large fan-shaped leaves
Look up
Bromeliad, Portea ‘Jungles’, large rosette of stiff leaves, tall orange flower
stalks
Australian Fan Palm, Licuala ramsayi, glossy fan-shaped pleated leaves
Bed to left of
entrance
Container by door
to West Wing, far
left bed
Back beds, both
corners
Conservatory, East Wing
Showy Melastome, Medinilla magnifica, large drooping clusters of pink
flowers
Powder Puff Tree, Calliandra haematocephala, flowers are covered with
hundreds of delicate, bright red stamens, native of Bolivia
Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’, orange-tinted leaves on new growth
Screw Pine, Pandanus utilis, tall plant with trunk twisting like a screw, long
strap-shaped leaves, roots angle out like props
Bloodleaf Banana, Musa acuminata ‘Sumatrana’, tall plant with reddish
leaves; Don’t miss the banana cluster!
Bird’s Nest Fern, Asplenium nidus ‘Old World Tropical’, fronds arranged in
clumps resembling a bird’s nest; new fronds unfurling from center of plant
White Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia nicolai, large banana-like leaves are
arranged in a fan-like position, large, crane-shaped, creamy white flowers
Bougainvillea x ‘ Monka’, Oo-la-la®, magenta-red flower bracts on climbing
branches
Pot to right of door
Right side near
front entrance
Front of right bed
Left bed, just inside
after door
Left bed, after
screw pine
Right side across
from grotto
Left side beyond
grotto, corner bed
Far left corner and
overhead
Conservatory, West Wing
Bromeliad, Aechmea ‘Little Harv’, elongated foliage, tall salmon pink petals
and bracts, yellow blooms
Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia milii ‘Des Moulins’, low, twisted branching
with miniature crimson flowers
Glass Cactus, Cleistocactus hylacanthus, elongated barrels up to three
feet, miniature cream colored thorns
Dragon Bones, Euphorbia lactea, also called Candelabra Plant, light green
spikes with horizontal leaves off spikes
Throughout
Left side in pot
Left of cottage
Far left side against
wall
FROM CONSERVATORY, PROCEED TO ANGLED PATH ON THE LEFT TOWARD
THE VISITOR CENTER
+ Coralberry, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, small shrub with abundant
small dark scarlet berries along arching branches
CONTINUE TO VISITOR CENTER AND TURN LEFT ON THE AGGREGATE WALK
Asian Valley
Right of path
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Take Note: A variety of foliage colors and textures
characteristic of an Asian garden
Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum, tree with mottled bark, small delicate
green leaves turning first to brilliant red, then burgundy
Camellia japonica ‘Spring Promise’, semi-double shell pink flowers, large
evergreen leaves
Camellia ‘Winter’s Snowman’, anemone form, white flowers, yellow
stamens, dark green foliage
Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’, evergreen shrub, single, pale pink bloom, yellow
stamens
Grove of trees on
both sides of path
Right, top of bank
near café terrace
Right, top of bank
near café terrace
Right, top of bank
near café terrace
TURN RIGHT AT BOTTOM OF AGGREGATE PATH, BEAR RIGHT AROUND LOOP
Camellia ‘White Flurry’, pure white, peony like blooms on evergreen shrub
Camellia ‘Hot Flash’, semi-double rose-red flowers, deep green, glossy
foliage
*Camellia sasanqua ‘Pink Snow’, semi-double, fragrant, light pink large
flowers, large shrub with glossy deep green foliage
Camellia sasanqua ‘Rainbow’, white flower edged in deep pink with a
crown of prominent stamens, buds pink
Right side of loop
toward the back
Right side of loop
path
Right side of loop
path
Right side of loop
toward back of
planted area
RETURN TO COMPOSITE PATH ALONG LAKE EDGE
Hardy Mum, Dendranthema ‘Mei-Kyo’, tiny leaves, low plant, small double
lavender/pink blooms
Camellia, Camellia oleifera ‘Lu Shan Snow’, shrub, single white flowers
with large yellow center
Camellia ‘Winter’s Beauty’, compact, upright, double, frilly, peony-form
flowers, shell pink with very light pink centers
Liberty Holly, Ilex x Liberty™, medium size tree with prominent clusters of
red berries, deep green leaves
Left side behind
large rock, across
from lake
Left of path
Left on slope
before Himalayan
Pine
Right side across
pond
CONTINUE PAST THE GRAVEL PATH
*Camellia ‘Winter’s Joy’, tall evergreen, glossy dark green foliage, semi
double bright pink flowers
Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’, tall evergreen, single flowers, pale pink, yellow
stamens
*Camellia ‘Winter’s Fire’, evergreen shrub, semi-double, flower is a mix
of pink and coral with white splotches
Camellia, Camellia sasanqua x Camellia oleifera, woody shrub with rose
pink frilly flowers
Left of path at
intersection with
gravel path
Left of path past
intersection with
gravel path
Left of path behind
bench
Left of path, deep
in the bed
TURN RIGHT TOWARD THE TEA HOUSE
Pterocarya stenoptera var. brevialata, take note of the interesting root
structure and branching habit of this tree
At the corner
TURN LEFT DOWN THE WINDING PATH BEFORE THE TREE HOUSE
Fringe Flower, Loropetalum chinense, Razzleberri® ‘Monraz’, large shrub,
clusters of raspberry red fringed flowers
Left of path,
overhanging path
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Japanese Persimmon, Diospyros kaki ‘Korean’, small tree with plentiful
orange fruit
+ Swamp Cypress, Taxodium distichum, tree with orange fronds
Left of path
At lake edge across
from path’s end
TURN RIGHT ONTO GRAY BRICK PATH, AND WALK ALONG LAKE SIDE
Autumn Coral™ Encore® Azalea, Rhododendron Autumn Coral™, coral
blooms on low plant
Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Inaba Shidare’, lowbranching tree with palmate leaves in shades of bronze, yellow, orange
and red.
Dwarf White-striped Bamboo, Pleioblastus variegatus, long, upwardpointing green leaves strongly variegated with white
Camellia sasanqua ‘Jean May’, evergreen shrub, abundant semi-double
shell pink flowers
Right side
Right of path at the
waterfall
Right side in front
of Tea House
Right at corner just
past Tea House
TURN LEFT ONTO RED BRICK PATH
Flagler Perennial Garden
Dendranthema ‘Mei-Kyo’, tiny leaves, low plant, small double
lavender/pink blooms
Autumn Royalty™ Encore® Azalea, Rhododendron Autumn Royalty™,
magenta flowers
Hawthorn, Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’, bare branches with abundant
orange red berries
Red Reblooming Azalea, Rhododendron Bloom-A-Thon®, large clear red
flowers
View from steps,
right of lawn
Left of path
Left of path
Right of path
CONTINUE AROUND TO THE RIGHT; CROSS THE MONET BRIDGE; AT END OF
PATH, LOOK LEFT
+ Swamp Cypress, Taxodium distichum, tree with green and orange fronds At end of Lotus
Bridge
TURN RIGHT; AT THE CIRCLE TURN RIGHT AGAIN
*Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Gethsemane Moonlight’, buds on tall
stalks opening to luminous yellow, single chrysanthemum blooms; enjoy till
frost
*Camellia ‘Winter’s Snowman’, anemone form, white flowers, yellow
stamens, dark green foliage
Both sides of path
Bed on right
TURN RIGHT, WALK THROUGH GAZEBO TOWARDS BLOEMENDAAL HOUSE,
Grace Arents Garden
Panola, Viola x wittrockiana Citrus Mixture XP
Panola, Viola x wittrockiana Silhouette Mixture
Panola, Viola x wittrockiana Pink Shades
Ginkgo biloba, large tree with fan-shaped leaves turning from green to
yellow, fruit fallen to ground below has strong odor
Throughout
Throughout
Throughout
Right side
RETRACE STEPS TO THE CIRCLE
PROCEED AHEAD TO
Lake Walk
+ Callicarpa, Callicarpa americana, also called Beautyberry, large shrub
with coarse oval leaves and clusters of small light purple berries along
stems
Heuchera ‘Citronelle’, bright chartreuse leaves on compact, low plant
Right side along
fence
Left of path beyond
Tree House
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Autumn Embers™ Encore® Azalea, Rhododendron Autumn Embers™,
Dwarf evergreen azalea with orange red blooms
Pink Chrysanthemum, Dendranthema ‘Celo’s Pink’, mounds of pink single
flowers
Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Standing Ovation’, grass
clumps with sturdy upright stems; blue green
Meadow Sage, Salvia x sylvestris ‘Blauhugel’, compact mound with spikes
of blue purple flowers
*Pineapple Sage, Salvia elegans, tall shrubby plant with lipstick red
tubular flowers along the stems – enjoy now till frost
Persimmon, Diospyros kaki ‘Eureka’, abundant, small, bright orange fruit
on multi-trunk tree; edible variety
Left side
Left side
Left side
Left along lake and
throughout
Left of path
Look right across
Children’s Garden
at the opening in
the gate
FOLLOW PATH AS IT CURVES LEFT AROUND THE LAKE
*Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’, tall broad-leafed evergreen, large
white single flowers, petals curled, many yellow stamens in center
Camellia sasanqua ‘Polar Ice’, white medium sized anemone to peony
form flowers, upright habit, glossy dark leaves
Right of path after
leaving paved road
Left of path by the
Rustic Gazebo
EXIT CONIFER GARDEN, TURNING LEFT ONTO AGGREGATE PATH
TURN RIGHT ON PATH AND ENTER
THE ROSE GARDEN
Enjoy a collection of late bloomers until frost.
EXIT GARDEN AT THE BOTTOM PATH NEAR THE LOTUS BRIDGE;
TURN RIGHT UP THE
Main Path
Camellia sasanqua ‘Elfin Rose’, evergreen shrub, glossy green foliage,
rose/pink, formal double flowers like roses
Eulalia, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’, 6 foot grass with bronze
seedheads
*Beautyberry, Callicarpa dichotoma, woody shrub with clusters of bright
violet berries along arching stems
Viola, Viola cornuta Sorbet XP ‘White’
Viola, Viola cornuta Sorbet XP ‘Yellow’
Viola, Viola cornuta Sorbet™ ‘Banana Cream’
*Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Gethsemane Moonlight’, buds on tall
stalks opening to luminous yellow, single chrysanthemum blooms; enjoy till
frost
Blood-twig dogwood, Cornus sanguinea, vivid red twigs on multi-stemmed
shrub
Winterberry, Ilex verticillata ‘Winter’s Gold’, tall shrub with abundant golden
berries
TURN RIGHT ON BRICK PATH TO RETURN TO VISITORS CENTER
Left side at the
bottom of the Main
Path
Left of path next to
Moon Gate
Right of path
behind the bench
Both sides
Both sides
Both sides
Left side past
gravel path
Left side before
‘Winter’s Gold’
Left side