March Highlights

Wildwood Trail

Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry)

The Cornelian Cherry can be said to have multi-season interest. Blooming March-early April, the small numerous round clusters of yellow flowers are quite showy against the darker green and glossy foliage. Following the flowers, dark red fruit, which are edible after turning red, form. In the winter time, you are able to notice its exfoliating bark. Most definitely, a multi-season plant!

Throughout the Arboretum

Oemleria cerasiformis (Oregon Plum)

Oregon Plum makes for an excellent understory plant! Native to the Pacific Northwest, you can see its pendant racemes of white bell-shaped flowers on late winter/early spring morning. In the summer, the plant is covered in green lance-shaped leaves, that when crushed, have a cucumber/watermelon scent. The flowers also have a slight fragrance, but it does not carry in the air.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Hamamelis mollis ‘Pallida’ – Witch Hazel

Reaching a size of 12 feet tall and wide, this vase-shaped shrub is great for group plantings at home! It has ascending branches of bright green leaves that fade to yellow in the fall, and with clusters of sulfur-yellow flowers appearing in mid-late winter, the Witch Hazel is an all-season shrub!

Visitors Center

Garrya elliptica (Silktassel, or Tassell Bush)

A native to Oregon, California, this is a reliable evergreen shrub that can reach 15 ft. The leaves are opposite, leathery, dark green to gray-green. This plant has been in bloom for the last two weeks and continues to be stunning, though not showy the profusion of blooms. The male catkins are the showiest and cultivar ‘James Roof’ displays the best long blooms some exceeding 6 inches. The female plants have shorter less showy catkins. Check out the male plants in the visitor center beds along Fairview Blvd.

What's in Bloom?

Ribes sanguineum

Red Flowering Currant

This Pacific Northwest native is an early bloomer with gorgeous pink, red, and sometimes white blooms. They can be found throughout the Arboretum as they are a common understory shrub. They provide very valuable habitat for many little critters that rely on their nectar for food. A great compliment to any home garden, because of its habitat qualities and drought tolerance, this species is widely available at nurseries in the Portland Metro area.

Monthly Highlights