Plants In Bloom

On the bank to the south of the Silver Center is a group of Korean Mountain Ash {Sorbus alnifolia} that are putting on a gorgeous multicolor display of fall foliage. Red, orange and yellow with red to pink fruit in the mix. The fruit will be more visible as the foliage drops and will last well into winter. Outside the Snack Bar at the HUB are four Korean Stewartis {S. koreana} showing their very attractive fall foliage. As their leaves drop it is easier to see the very attractive mottled bark that increases with age.

In the garden on the north side of Prospect Hall is a Sourwood tree {Oxydendron arboreum} that has deep red fall foliage with cream colored pendulous seed panicles that make this tree almost as attractive now as it was in full bloom [ July 8 entry]. This is a true multi-season tree with many great attributes; it always deserves a spot in your garden. It is also called Lily of the Valley Tree and Sorrel Tree. There are also three Sourwood trees on the west side of the Silver Center. Just outside the west entrance to the HUB is an ‘Early Amethyst’ Purple Beautyberry with fruit that gives the plant its name. The fruit in the center of the plant colors up first and it is very much worth a look as you pass. Certainly one of the most attractive and unique plants on campus for colorful fruit.

In the islands of the Hyde Hall parking lot are three large American Ash {Fraxinus americana} with beautiful fall foliage. These trees are always our first large trees to show their fall foliage and drop their leaves. Along both sides of Highland St. are several plantings of Dwarf Korean Lilacs {Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin} that have turned a deep shade of purple. On the west side of Lamson Library is a large ‘Blue Maid’ Holly {Ilex x meservae ‘Blue Maid’} that has a nice crop of red fruit. This evergreen shrub is the closest hardy variety to the traditional American Holly that we can grow in Plymouth. The male plant [necessary for pollination] is located to the right of the steps at the north entrance to Pemigewasset Hall.

In front of Prospect Hall there is a large mass planting of ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire {Itea virginiana ‘Henry’s Garnet’} that has turned a beautiful shade of red that often lasts well into November. This shrub is of marginal hardiness here in Plymouth and often has some tip dieback in the spring but I think it is a very worthwhile addition because of this fine fall display. In the rear of this same bed is group of ‘Winter Red’ Winterberry that has a large crop of red fruit. While the leaves are still a rich green the contrast is very attractive. The fruit will remain on the plants into the new year long after the leaves drop off.

In the bed to the right of the main entrance to Boyd Hall is a group of Rhododendrons, white flowered Catawba Rhododendron {R. catawbiense alba} and the dward ‘Purple Gem’ Rhododendron {R. x ‘Purple Gem’} that are having a second season of flowering, though much lighter than their first.  At the southwest corner of Ellen Reed Hall is a beautiful ‘Erie’ Viburnum with a great display of red fruit.  As we progress into fall the leaves will turn to shades of red and orange and finally a beautiful mahogany brown.  In front of Prospect Hall along the curb are several ‘Red Sprite’ Winterberries {Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’} whose fruit is just beginning to color red.

Next to the west entrance of the HUB is an ‘Early Amethyst’ Purple Beautyberry {Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Early Amethyst’} in bloom with clusters of very small lavender flowers that will yield many clusters of slightly larger lavender fruits if we remain frost free until late September. We treat this plant as a perennial that we cut down to the ground before winter. If the fruits have time to mature it is very attractive.

'Early Amethyst' Purple Beautyberry

On the southeast corner of Hyde Hall is a small planting of Scotch Heather [Calluna vulgaris} in bloom with white flowers. This is a very durable evergreen ground cover with a nice show of color when few other shrubs are blooming. Just around the corner on the east side of Hyde Hall is a group of Pink Summersweet {Clethra alnifolia 'Pink Spires'} with very fragrant pink flower spikes. There have been several new introductions of this fabulous native plant that has a long colorful and very fragrant flowering period. It is also called Sweet Pepperbush.

At the east entrance to Smith Hall is a multi-stem Amur Maple {Acer ginnala} whose fruit is turning pink.  The fruit will eventually be silver during the winter months and the leaves will be red and orange before they drop.  At the lower [downhill] entrance to Prospect Hall is a Siebold Viburnum {V. sieboldi} with fruit turning orange and eventually red and then black.  This plant had one of its heaviest blooms in memory and now has a large amount of fruit.  It usually is grown as a multi-stem shrub but lends itself to be trained as a small single-stem tree.

On the east side of the Bagley House on Highland St. is a planting of Summersweet {Clethra alnifolia} with numerous white flower spikes that are very fragrant.  This plant has a spreading habit, is native throughout southern New England and there are many varieties with either white or pink flowers in varying heights.

Summersweet

On the south side of Hall [dorm] Hall on Highland St. is a bed with several Bottlebrush Buckeyes along the back.  These are starting to bloom with spikes of white flowers that have been tall as 18″.  This shrub has deep green foliage and it turns a nice yellow in the fall.  Considered one of the finest lawn shrubs to be planted in the high shade of mature deciduous trees.