What’s in Bloom

As we savor the last days of summer and enter into the fall, we will begin to see fruit on our trees and shrubs, showy grasses, and fall foliage. Here are some of our early fall highlights:

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

The Cranberrybush Viburnums have already put out their fruit throughout the parks, and the Holly fruit are beginning to ripen as well. This week the Magnolia virginiana throughout the Wharf District Parks are adorned with elongated pink fruit that burst open to reveal red fleshy-coated seeds. The red coating of the seeds attracts birds, which consume and digest them and then disperse them.

Sweetbay Magnolia

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum Byzantinum)

The Autumn Crocus (Colchicum byzantinum) are starting to bloom at the end of the North End Parks near the corner of Stillman and Endicott streets. These are unusual plants to observe because they produce wide glossy green foliage in the spring, which will have died back by the time they flower. Colchicum byzantinum have pinkish-lavender flowers but are not true Autumn crocuses, which tend to be blue-lavender or white.

Autumn Crocus

Adagio Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ is an ornamental grass that has silvery-gray leaves with soft white inflorescences blooming in the late summer and fall. ‘Adagio’ is a dwarf cultivar, only growing to 3 or 4  feet tall, half the size of other grasses in its genus. This grass is fairly low maintenance, and is an excellent choice for fall and winter interest in the garden.

Chinese Silvergrass