What’s In Bloom?

20, Aug, 2010 Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

by Matthew Lobdell

Pink Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana ‘Rosea’)

Native to the Eastern United States, Obedient Plant is a perennial growing to approximately three feet tall by three feet wide. The name “Obiedient Plant” refers to the tightly held arrangement of flowers on the stem, which will remain intact regardless of disturbance. Many gardeners view Obedient Plant as anything but however, due to the plant’s aggressive spreading tendencies.

Physostegia virginiana Rosea

Zuni Crepemyrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Zuni’)

A close relative of the Crepemyrtles featured earlier this year, ‘Zuni’ is a purple flowering shrub introduced by the US National Arboretum. Currently there is only one ‘Zuni’ on the Greenway, in the Urban Arboretum where it was planted just this summer. Though as currently pictured it appears to be only hovering above the Zebra Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’), in future years it will be more evident as it approaches its adult height of 8-9’.

Lagerstroemia Zuni

Adagio Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’)

Chinese Silvergrass is a hardy ornamental grass, and relatively low maintenance so long as it receives full sun. The cultivar ‘Adagio’, found in Chinatown Park, is known for having a more silvery colored foliage than the standard variety, as well as only growing to approximately half the size (four feet rather than eight feet). Many horticulturists consider the species to be showy throughout the winter months as well, and will not generally cut it back until early spring.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'

Also in Bloom:

  • North End Parks: Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Gateway Hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’)
  • Wharf District Parks: Pink Tickseed (Coreopsis rosea), White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
  • Urban Arboretum: Pink Velour, Red Rocket, and Burgundy Cotton Crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit III’, ‘Whit IV’, and Whit ‘VI’)
  • Fort Point Channel Parks: Pamina Anemone (Anemone ‘Pamina’), Lady Sedum (Sedum ‘Matrona’), Neon Showy Stonecrop (Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Neon’)
  • Dewey Square Park: Goldsturm Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’), Purple Hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Atropurpureum’), Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
  • Chinatown Park: Adagio Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’)