Return to Plants

Spring

Banana Shrub (Michelia figo) - Late in April, our staff begins to hear this question: 'What smells like Juicy Fruit?' The flowers of the banana shrub are not eye-catching, so when the fruity fragrance fills the air, visitors are left wondering. Even when not blooming, this 10 foot evergreen shrub makes a statement. The rich, dark green leaves are a perfect backdrop for variegated hostas or spotted leopard plants. You can find banana shrubs throughout The Gardens. A particularly nice specimen is growing at the Youth Fountain. They grow best in partial shade and are hardy in zones 7 to 10.
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum) - This plant brings its own favors to the party with pink, strappy flowers that look like confetti! Chinese fringe flower is a wonderful 6-10 foot evergreen shrub available in numerous combinations of foliage and flower colors. Ours are a purple leafed/pink flowered cultivar called ' Zhuzhou Fuchsia'. Look for the fringe flower in the Front Entrance Border and near the Lion Couchant Bird Bath. Hardy in zones 7 to 9.
Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) - Visitors smell this plant before they see it! Confederate jasmine climbs high into several of our trees. This wonderfully fragrant plant can also be used as a ground cover. Another great feature of this evergreen vine is that it continues to bloom sporadically through the rest of the year after the initial show in April. Hardy in zones 7 to10.
Daffodil (Narcissus species) - The traditionally bright yellow trumpet daffodils heralding spring in The Gardens are complemented by unique cultivars sporting pink cups, white petals, double flowers, and split coronas. Most narcissus are hardy in zones 3 to 8, the double narcissus is variable depending on cultivar. Triandrus, cyclamineus, and jonquilla are hardy in zones 4 to 9.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) - This beautiful native tree does best in partial shade, but will grow in full sun. Typically a small tree growing 15-20 feet, dogwoods not only provide white to pink flowers (actually bracts), but good fall color and bright red berries for the birds in winter. We have several dogwoods throughout The Gardens and a wonderful specimen in our front entrance border near the Iron Gate. Dogwoods are hardy in zones 5 to 9.
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana ) - The saucer magnolia wows visitors beginning in late February when the small tree's large (5-10”) blooms begin to open. Flower colors range from white to pink to light purple. The Gardens are fortunate to have a very unique dark, almost burgundy flowering specimen. As with the star magnolia, trees in cooler climates may lose flowers due to late frosts. Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) - Slow growing, deciduous shrub growing to 10-15 feet. This magnolia blooms before the leaves appear in March. The star-like flowers are snow white and fragrant. There are 4 M. stellata located throughout the grounds of The Elizabethan Gardens. Protect the flowers from late frosts in cooler climates. Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
Tulip (Tulipa species) - Visitors are greeted every April by 10,000 brightly colored tulips nodding in the breeze. One of our favorite combinations utilizes the beautiful double flowered cultivars Angelique, Lilac Perfection, and Mount Tacoma. These double beauties look like peonies with flowers lasting longer than the single tulips! Most tulips are hardy in zones 3 to 8.