Plant of the Month
Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana - May 2012
 ©K. Keeton |
Since the last ‘plant of the month’ bulletin was posted, time has almost stood still
in the Botanical Gardens. Possibly April 2012 will be the wettest and coldest month
on record, but with the long awaited rain everything in the Garden is looking fresh
and beautiful. One of the most spectacular flowering trees is appearing in ‘flower’, and will be looking lovely once we have some warm sunshine. It is the handkerchief tree, Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana. We have two trees of this genus in the Gardens. One may be found in the Asia garden (area N), and the other, much younger specimen may be found in the Marnock garden (area K). It is fascinating to think that the Botanical Gardens had already been opened for 70 years when this tree was introduced to the United Kingdom. It was originally discovered in China by the French missionary Pére David in 1869, but unfortunately at that time no seed was collected, so it wasn’t until Ernest Wilson sent seed back to Veitch’s nursery in 1903 that this tree became commercially available. What appear to be flowers are, in fact, large white bracts. Wilson considered it to be ‘the most interesting and beautiful of all trees of the north-temperate flora’ and likened the white bracts to ‘huge butterflies hovering among the trees’. Another exotic, botanic specimen may be found growing on the roots of the poplar tree opposite the South Lodge (area V). Lathrea clandestina, (purple toothwort), is growing at ground level. It is a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of poplars, willows and hazels, and making brilliant patches of large purple flower clusters with hooded upper lips. There are no leaves, and the plants feed entirely on the roots of the host. It was introduced from Western Europe in the 19th century, but can now be seen growing in the wild. Springtime in the Gardens always brings an enormous variety of rhododendrons into flower. They enjoy the moist, slightly acidic, fertile soil with a degree of shelter. The genus rhododendron is one of the largest, numbering over five hundred species, and an enormous number of hybrids. Although when first introduced to England in the early 19th century, they were thought to be tender, they were soon hybridized by the expert nurserymen of the time giving us an enormous variety. Visit throughout the month to see a succession of rhododendrons come into bloom. |
 Lathrea clandestina, near South Lodge ©K. Keeton |
 Rhododendron rex subsp. fictolacteum, Asia Garden ©K. Keeton |
 Rhododendron niveum, Woodland Garden ©K. Keeton |
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