Looking for Treasure on the Arboretum's West Side

Tagged as:

Where can you find the witch-alder, or how about a magnificent specimen of Korean mountain ash, or a majestic Oglethorpe oak? You might have to travel off the beaten path and do some exploring, but it is well worth the travails to find these and other gems.

Located north of Lake Marmo on the Arboretum's West Side is an old collection of plants from members of the witch hazel family. From the western end of the lake, walk north across the road from where the bluebells flower in the spring and head uphill on the woods western edge. (Look for a small Hypericum in the field and you'll know you're in the right spot.) About 100 feet north of the road, you'll discover along the edge of the woods a gathering of shrubs in the witch-hazel family.

In the very early spring, maybe even late winter if the weather has been warm enough, look for the red-flowered witch-hazel. The thin, red flowers resemble a starfish or spider and are more than welcome at this time of year. Another helpful tip to find this shrub are the persistent brown leaves from the previous year. This plant can reach ten feet tall and more than six feet wide, but removing unwanted old canes after flowering can help keep the height down.

Visit this same area in early to mid-May to see the honey-scented, puffy, white flowers of the large fothergilla light up against a blue sky. Also known as the witch-alder, this particular plant came to the Arboretum in 1922 as seed. Most people are more familiar with the smaller garden fothergilla. (Fothergillas, in general, require moist, welldrained, slightly acidic soil.)

Making your visit to this area complete, notice the large oak in the field about 50 feet to the west. This graceful scarlet oak also came to the Arboretum in 1922, but as a plant. A late October stop is best when it's scarlet red. However, this mature specimen can be appreciated at any time of the year.

Moving to a new location, west of parking lot 24 and south of the road, is another late autumn or even winter destination if the weather hasn't been too cold. Find two stately, broadly pyramidal Oglethorpe oaks. Named for Oglethorpe County in Georgia where it was found, its native range extends to adjacent South Carolina. These trees originated as seed received in 1980. A member of the white oak group, its leaves are unusual in that they are entire, no serrations - similar to shingle oak. Leaves are glossy green in the summer and turn bronzy-brown in the fall, with color that can intensify if winter temperatures are mild.

Oglethorpe oak has stiff, twiggy stems and wide-spreading branches. In the wild, it is found on poorly-drained soil; it does well here because of good siting with protection from the wind (it's marginally hardy here). An acidic mulch is helpful. These plants are definitely worth finding in fall and winter!

On to the Birch Collection near parking lot 25, you'll discover a group of Dahurian birches on the north side of the road which are native to Manchuria, Northern China, and Korea. The highlight here is their beautiful exfoliating bark, a wonderful mix of white, cream, and orange-brown. Although supposedly susceptible to borer damage, birches on these clayey soils seem to do better on sloped terrain that provides better drainage.

Heading south across the road and uphill toward the white pines, search for the multi-stemmed loose-flowered hornbeam. Received in 1986 as seed wild collected in China, this is the only plant of this species in The Morton Arboretum. On a spring morning when the coppery buds begin to swell, there is beautiful contrast with a clear, blue sky. Strong, fluted limbs resemble those of the American Hornbeam.

Our last and most challenging goal is the Arboretum's largest Korean mountain-ash. From parking lot 25, walk 300 feet west and then turn to the south and head towards the fence line. About 50 feet from the fence you'll discover the Korean mountain-ash. Received as seed in 1955, this spectacular specimen has beautiful smooth, gray bark and, in the years when there is heavy fruit production, the pinkish-red fruits almost persist as fall color. Leaves are simple, not compound as most mountain-ashes, and autumn color is orange to golden brown. White flowers appear in May (see photo BB), but vary in production from year to year. Not a tree for stressful situations, this Korean mountainash is outstanding in this secluded spot.

Now that your journey is complete and you've explored some rugged terrain to find those hidden treasures, don't hesitate to check on these jewels throughout the seasons. From year to year, your quest may yield a richer reward. Happy hunting!

Plant List

Hamamelis vernalis f. carnea
Red-flowered Vernal Witch-Hazel
North of Lake Marmo, W-12 area

 

Fothergilla major
Large Fotherfilla, Witch-Alder
North of Lake Marmo, W-12 area

Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak
North of Lake Marmo, X-12 area

Quercus oglethorpensis
Oglethorpe Oak
Bobolink Meadow, J-13 and J-14 area

Betula davurica
Dahurian Birch
Birch Collection, F-13 and F-14 area

Carpus laxiflora var. macrostachya
Loose-flowered Hornbeam
Birch Collection, D-13 area

Sorbus alnifolia
Korean Mountain-Ash
Parking lot 25, Slippery Jack Hill, D-4 area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print

Related Articles