Location: Ornamental Gardens

Family: Theaceae

Hybrid origin: parent plants are Camellia oleifera 'Lu Shan Snow' (cold hardiness) and Camellia hiemalis 'Showa-no-sakae' (flower).

Bloom time: October to November

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Highlights:

• Camellia ‘Winter's Star’ is an early blooming Ackerman hybrid from the Winter Series hybrid.

• The flowers are single with compact shape, petals have pretty variations of deep pink-violet undertones. When most shrubs are going dormant, ‘Winter's Star’ sets out its flowers, a true floral retreat for any landscape.

• The upright form of this beautiful evergreen shrub, shapely glossy green leaves and early autumn flowers that hold their shape well, make this Camellia an all-star Cold-hardy Ackerman Hybrid.

Location: Winter Walk

Family: Theaceae

Native range: Japan

Bloom time: June to July

Highlights:

• Japanese Stewartia is a medium sized landscape specimen tree and a unique botanical specimen with multi-season beauty. It belongs to the tea family and has a handful similar species.

• Elegant creamy white flowers resemble Camellias and are one of the best features of this plant.

• Fall interest includes blaring reddish-orange leaves. But the most colorful part of the tree is the cinnamon-orange-grey shades of exfoliating bark that gives this tree year round interest and its true beauty.

Location: Ornamental Gardens

Family: Magnoliaceae

Native range: Southeastern United States

Bloom time: May to June

Highlights:

• Magnolia grandiflora, is a magnificent shade tree reaching up to 80 feet tall. As the name suggests, it has large flowers with stark ivory white tepals arranged neatly around long stamens.

• The oblong leathery leaves are a striking feature of the Southern Magnolias, and since it is an evergreen tree, the beauty of these deep green leaves can be enjoyed all year long. The underside of the leaves is especially pretty with copper-bronze undertones.

• The fruits of the Southern Magnolias are also unique and have bright orange seeds arranged ornately in the vase shaped seed pods. Magnolias evolved prior to the butterflies and bees, and the beetles are the primary pollinators of the Magnolias.

Location: Azalea Glade

Family: Sapindaceae

Native range: Korea, Japan

Bloom time: April

Highlights:

• Maples are an essential understory tree in woodland gardens. Growing under mature shade trees in dappled shade, Maples provide an added layer of filter for shade loving ground covers.

• New leaves are a bright chartreuse green and in fall the leaves bring out their bright red tones.

• Bark colors-striations, leaf color and lacey low hanging branches make the Japanese maples one of the most elegant understory landscape specimen trees.

Location: Meditation Bench

Family: Sapindaceae

Native range: Japan, Korea and China

Bloom time: April (Reddish purple)

Highlights:

• Japanese Maple ‘Sango-Kaku’ is an elegant low branching tree with year round interest. It is mainly used as a statement tree in landscapes, because of its outstanding reddish coral bark.

• Reddish purple flowers blossom in April followed by samaras (fruits) that last till late fall.

• Bright yellow-gold fall leaf color, next to the reddish brown bark makes this maple an exceptionally beautiful landscape tree.

Location: Holly Grove

Family: Ginkgoaceae

Native range:  Southern China

Bloom time: April

Highlights:

• Leaves of Ginkgo trees have a distinct fan shape unlike any other plant. Soft golden yellow fall color of the leaves is one of the most striking features of this beautiful tree.

• Ginkgo trees are considered to be living fossils, dating back as far as 150 million years ago. They are the oldest trees, that existed even before the dinosaurs were alive.

• Ginkgo trees are also cherished as a symbol of longevity and endurance and can easily amplify the beauty of any landscape.

Location: Spring Walk

Family: Styracaceae

Native range: China, Japan, Korea

Bloom time: Late spring

Highlights:

• Japanese Snowbells is a graceful flowering tree (deciduous) with a compact vase like shape and low spread-out horizontal branching.

• Flowers are abundant, white, pendulous in groups of 3-6 and, mildly fragrant. Fruits are dainty drupes that persist for long even after petals have withered away.

• Older branches show greyish bark fissures revealing beautiful inner orange color.

Location: Spring Walk

Family: Magnoliaceae

Hybrid origin: Parents of this hybrid are M. obovata and M. sieboldii

Bloom time: May to June

Highlights:

• Magnolia wieseneri, also known as Watson’s Magnolia tree, has an ornate elegant vase like structure. Both tree shape and large flowers make this Magnolia a remarkable ornamental tree.

• Beautiful large flowers with tropical scent, ivory white tepals with pink-maroons, red stamens, make this Magnolia one of the most graceful landscape trees.

• Most flower buds escape frost since it one of the late blooming Magnolias.

Location: Spring Walk

Family: Theaceae

Native range: Southeastern Asia

Bloom time: October to December

Highlights:

• Camellia sinensis is the true tea camellia, with black, oolong & green teas originating from it.

• Although popular for its caffeine content, the flowers of Camellia sinensis are extremely fragrant, unlike other Camellias which aren’t fragrant.

• Creamy white flowers grow profusely on the tree Camellia plant in late October. It is a delightful sight to behold with the creamy white droplet like buds hanging down along with the delicate flowers.

Location: Ornamental Gardens

Family: Cupressaceae

Native range: Central and western China

Highlights:

• Dawn redwood is an endangered tree and fossil records show that these trees date back to as many as 50-65 million years ago.

• A statuesque tree, dawn redwoods can reach upto 100ft in height & maintain a pyramidal shape.

• Fall color of leaves is a beautiful mix of orange, rusty red and bronze, giving it a rather stunning appearance to these grand trees.

Location: Momi Fir Path

Family: Magnoliaceae

Hybrid origin: a cross between cucumber tree (M. acuminata) and Yulan magnolia (M. denudata)

Bloom time: March to April

Highlights:

• Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ is one of the rare and unique yellow Magnolias to be first available in the trade. Most Magnolias are white or pink, but shades of yellow are newer varieties.

• Flowers are fragrant, tapered and come in exquisite tones of primrose-creamy yellow that open up much later in spring than other Magnolias, giving them a chance to escape frost.

• An award winning Magnolia that is ranked best for its unique color, pyramidal shape of tree and unique fall color of leaves, Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ is a true asset to any landscape.

Location: Momi Fir Path

Family: Pinaceae

Native range: Japan

Highlights:

• Momi Fir is one of the best firs for warmer climates. The orderly and close placement of needles gives this tree a beautiful silhouette. Momi Firs can reach upto 100 ft tall.

• Momi Fir is usually used as a statement tree in landscape as well as holiday trees.

• Native to hills and mountains, Momi Firs are usually found in mixed forests with variety of conifers.