What’s In Bloom?

23, Jul, 2010 Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

by Matthew Lobdell

Kopper King Rose Mallow (Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’)

A perennial relative of Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), Kopper King Rose Mallow is known for its reddish-copper colored leaves as well as its huge blossoms which are often as large as one foot in diameter. Kopper King Rose Mallow can currently be seen flowering in the Fort Point Channel Parks.

Hibiscus 'kopper king'

Burgundy Cotton Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit VI’)

Crepemyrtles, a shrub native to India, China, and Korea, have been recently planted in the “Urban Arboretum” between Oliver St. and High St. Four varieties were planted, of which two, the white-flowered Burgundy Cotton (pictured) and pink-flowered ‘Pink Velour’, are currently flowering. Watch also for the red flowering ‘Red Rocket’ and purple-flowering ‘Zuni’ which should be following shortly.

Laegerstroemia indica 'Burgundy Cotton'

Gateway Hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’)

A US native plant, Joe-Pye Weed can grow to be very tall, upwards of seven feet in desirable conditions. Though it has been hinting of flowering for nearly four weeks now, the subtle purple flowers have finally emerged in both the North End Parks and Fort Point Channel Parks. In the latter region, it can be seen flowering along with smaller-growing relative Phantom Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium ‘Phantom’)

Eupatorium maculatum 'gateway

Also in Bloom:

  • North End Parks: Daylilies (Hemerocallis) including cultivars ‘Prairie Blue Eyes’, ‘Caprician Fiesta’, and ‘Ruffled Apricot’
  • Wharf District Parks: Pink Tickseed (Coreopsis rosea), Black Baneberry (Actaea racemosa), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Urban Arboretum: Pink Velour Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit III’)
  • Fort Point Channel Parks: Great Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima), Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster (Stokesia laevis ‘Color Wheel’),
  • Dewey Square Park: Goldsturm Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’), Purple Hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Atropurpureum’), Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)