Winter in the Rhododendron Species Garden, Part 1

 

Of the approximately 1,000 known species within the Rhododendron genus throughout the world, over 700 are represented in the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, WA.  While the garden displays some impressive rhodies, my mission was to find new plants that not only survived but still look great after last month's big arctic frost where we had temperatures dip down to 10 F/-12 C.

First, let's take a look at a few ferns - the garden is filled with them. Dryopteris wallichiana is large and makes a very architectural statement.  It would make a great landscape fern even if it went deciduous in the winter but look - it's completely evergreen!

Dryopteris wallichiana

The garden also had a large clump of Dryopteris sieboldii.  This is my favorite fern of all time and I really mean that.  I am lucky enough to have this one in my garden.  It has a very tropical appearance yet needs no protection in our climate.

Dryopteris sieboldii

This stand of Blechnum chilense definitely took a beating during the frost but should make a full recovery come spring.  In milder winters the fronds will stay upright at 2-3 feet high.

Blechnum chilense

This was an intriguing one.  Brilliant red-orange foliage in early January?  What is this?  I need one!

Not sure about this one - maybe some kind of mutant Vaccinium ovatum??

As overpopulation starts becoming a reality in my own garden, miniature plants are becoming an increasingly vital commodity.  Rhododendron keiskei pulls off the miniaturized/dwarf look very nicely.  

Rhododendron keiskei

Speirantha convallarioides makes a nice evergreen groundcover and looks like it handled the subfreezing weather beautifully.  It resembles a miniature, flattened cast iron plant which it is indeed closely related to.  On top of that, it's very rare which makes it all the more enticing.

Speirantha convallarioides

Hardy scheffleras continue their invasion of the Northwest.  This one is Schefflera alpina and was collected by the director of the Rhododendron Species Garden, Steve Hootman, in Northern Vietnam.

Schefflera alpina

Here we have three Schefflera fengii specimens which were collected by Steve Hootman in the Yunnan province of China.  From the looks of the ground around the base of the plants (having a nerd moment here) it looks like they might have been covered in leaves during the frost.  I did e-mail Steve about this.  I'll keep you posted if I hear back.

Schefflera fengii

Iris foetidissima has been, until now, in the subconscious part of the plant wish list in my brain.  After seeing this beautiful clump of green strappy leaves with a few bright orange seed capsules, it is now in the conscious part.

Iris foetidissima

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of winter-blooming rhodies, but alas there was one very dismal display.  I'm guessing the ones that are supposed to bloom in winter had their flower buds frozen off by the arctic frost.

Rhododendron moupinense

Stay tuned for Part 2 coming up tomorrow, where I will take you inside the greenhouse and show you some exceedingly cool plants they have growing inside!

Nerd Night Nuttiness

The first annual Plant Nerd Night was a flora fest of Portlandian proportions, being based off a similar event held in Portland every year.  In a nutshell, it was a one-night flower show for plant addicts.

When I went to buy tickets for the event two months ago, it had already sold out.  The only way I was able to attend was by volunteering.

I worked here, offering guests free wine before setting them loose to hound and hoard the many rare plants being offered for sale.

The evening was hosted by Ciscoe Morris and featured six 10-minute lectures by some proven plant nerds: Richie Steffen of the Miller Garden, Paul Bonine of Xera Plants, Sue Milliken & Kelly Dodson of Far Reaches Farm, Dan Hinkley of Windcliff, Langley Fine Gardens, and Joy Creek Nursery (I didn't get the names of the last two speakers unfortunately).

A Portlandian choir called the Chorus of the Goddess Flora serenaded us with songs such as "The Bed of Asparagus" (to the tune of The Age of Aquarius) and sang the speakers off the stage when they exceeded their allotted speaking time.

Chorus of the Goddess Flora

In between speakers, or even during, people were able to roam around and buy some amazing plants.  Here are just a few:

Trillium grandiflorum 'Flore Pleno'

I have a feeling Far Reaches Farm didn't want to sell this trillium.  Instead of saying "For Display Only" they simply put a price tag on it for $1500.

Boquila trifoliolata, Evergreen Chilean relative of Akebia vines

Schefflera alpina, reportedly hardy to 5 degrees

Berberis replicata, an evergreen barberry with deep red new growth

Cardamine trifolia, an evergreen mounding perennial

Eryngium bourgatii

Ruscus colchicus, an evergreen shrub

Perfect-looking agaves

I exercised a large amount of restraint and did not buy a single plant...something I'm already starting to regret!  Oh well.  If you didn't go this year be sure to keep an eye out for it next year.  I'm sure they will move to a bigger venue but if not, buy a ticket the day they go on sale!