Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a species of milkweed that has both extremely attractive flowers as well as important ecological values. As a larval host for the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and Queen (Danbaus gilippus) butterflies, this plant is vital for their life cycle. Butterflyweed also serves as a great nectar source for honeybees and a variety…
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is more than a popular perennial. This prominent member of the Aster family inhabits meadows across a majority of the eastern half of the United States. Being native from New York south to Florida and west to Colorado and Texas, this perennial is hardy in zones 3-8. The genus Echinacea comes from…
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is an attractive multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that maintains great horticultural interest throughout the seasons. Beautiful corymbs of showy white flowers appear in April, and the leaves change to a bright red color as fall arrives. The glossy red fruits ripen in the fall and persist well into winter. These fruits are…
March 1, 2015 – Over 20 years ago, Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens Executive Director, Harold Sweetman, germinated seed from special hand-pollinated hybrid crosses and open pollinated evergreen azaleas. When seed is collected from open pollinated flowers, the insects do all the work. With over 1,000 different named cultivars of evergreen azaleas in the gardens at…