Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dioscorea japonica

Family: (Dioscoreaceae)

(P) climber to 8′.  Japanese Mountain Yam.  East Asia, China, C & S Japan.  This twining perennial vine on the Order Beds always attracts attention.  Shiny, alternate, cordate-palmate foliage.  Blooms September to October with bubble gum-scented, small, inconspicuous cream flowers borne in axillary racemes.  Sun, moist soil.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Daphne mezureum f. alba

Family: Thymelaeaceae

(P) to 4′.  White Mezereon.  British native.  An easy deciduous Daphne which blooms before foliage emerges in early spring.  White, strongly fragrant, axillary flowers coat the upright stems.  Foliage becomes a subtle grey-green, and in midsummer, is joined by attractive yellow berries, alas poisonous.  Charming.  Sun or light shade.  4 & 6 & 7

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Xanthorhiza simplicissima

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

Hardy shrub to 18″.  Yellowroot.  Appalachians.  A much underused native plant that makes a striking groundcover for the woodland.  In early summer, sprays of peculiar, starry, brownish purple flowers emerge atop stems of rich green, irregularly toothed, pinnate leaflets.  Over time the plants form dense, lush green colonies with the foliage turning a burnished coppery-gold in the autumn.  Partial shade/shade.  PC – 4 wks, 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clethra acuminata

Family: (Clethraceae)

Shrub to 12′. Cinnamon Clethra. Appalachia. A rarely seen but choice native shrub or small tree, grown for its striking exfoliating bark of rich cinnamon-brown, with accents of tan, grey and purple. Terminal racemes of white flowers with a musky-sweet fragrance appear in July and August. Foliage turns yellow in fall. Well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sinocalycanthus chinensis

Family: (Calycanthaceae)

Hardy Shrub to 12′. Eastern China. A rare and choice deciduous shrub closely related to Carolina Allspice. Large, waxy, white flowers with yellow stamens adorn the branches in early summer. Broad leaves are glossy green and sharply pointed. Interesting, fleshy, fig-shaped fruits turn dry and fibrous with age.  Moist, well-drained soil. Partial shade. PC- 8 weeks, 1 then 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tripterygium regelii

Family: (Celastraceae)

Hardy vine to 30′. Regel’s Threewingnut. China, Manchuria and Korea. A sprawling, scandent, shrubby plant with small, white, green tinged flowers in large terminal panicles up to eight inches long. Produces green, three winged fruits that dry like the samaras of elm trees. Dark green, broadly rounded, alternate leaves. Notable as Beatrix Farrand’s favourite vine. Sun. PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vitex negundo var. heterophylla

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Hardy shrub to 10′. East Asia. Cut-Leaf Chaste Tree. This choice shrub has a loosely branched, open airy habit with palmately compound, finely dissected, greyish green foliage. Small, 5 lobed, lavender, fragrant flowers in terminal panicles appear in July and August. Creates a good architectural backdrop for the dry, sunny border. Well-drained soil. Sun. PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Zanthoxylum simulans

Family: (Rutaceae)

Hardy shrub to 15′. Prickly Ash. China. Small, greenish-yellow flower panicles in July are followed by reddish fruits. Elegant, pinnately compound, lustrous, dark green leaves with a prickly midrib. Spreading branches form a gracefully arching shrub or small tree. Stems have distinctive, broad, flat spines along their length. A lovely and unusual specimen tree. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calycanthus floridus

Family: (Calycanthaceae)

Woody shrub to 6′. Carolina Allspice. Maroon, strawberry scented flowers. Fruits are hard, fig-shaped capsules. Good autumn colour. A tough and attractive shrub. Sun. PC- 8 weeks, 1 then 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clematis hexapetala

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

Hardy vine to 10′. Northeast China, Japan. This Clematis resembles the Sweet Autumn Clematis. Many flowered cymes of one-inch, white blooms with prominent, creamy stamens are borne in profusion. However, the major distinction is the early summer bloom. A focal point in our White Bed, growing up a tripod. Sun. 3 & 7 for 8 weeks, then T2