Annual Benefit Plant Sale 2018 Become Fluent in Wildflowers At our free annual Wildflower Celebration, you’ll experience the gardens at their peak and enjoy live music, food trucks, family programming, and more. Sunday, April 29 10 am–4 pm The first 1,000 families take home a free native plant. mtcubacenter.org/UDBG 3120 Barley Mill Rd. Hockessin, Delaware to the 26th annual UDBG benefit plant WELCOME ENEFIT LANT ALE ATALOG sale. The entire staff and many volunteers work very hard to 2018 B P S C provide you an educational and enjoyable plant sale with great plant diversity. The sale is the single largest educational event that we host every year and the catalog is something many participants keep as a plant reference. It is also our major source of revenue to operate the garden. Your plant purchases support the garden and its educational mission. You take home a fabulous selection of plants and support the operation of the garden; a win-win relationship. We greatly appreciate your patronage and could not operate the garden without you. In particular, I wish to thank all of those who step up and contribute to the Patron solicitation each year. Each and every one of you are champions of the gardens and its educational programs, particularly the students. UDBG could not sponsor the graduate student and interns, their educational experience, Rhododendron arborescens projects, field trips and hands-on involvement, without your Photo: Rick Darke support. After all, the garden is a laboratory for all university students. Each year we strive to improve upon their participation Contents through mentoring and instruction, providing an opportunity Welcome .........................................................4 to explore new skills and techniques. This is core to UDBG’s mission. Contents .........................................................4 And what a list of plants it is this year. Some are consistent Plant Sale Patron Donors ................................5 favorites, some new variations on a proven theme, while Event Dates .....................................................6 others are shockingly new and offer an opportunity to explore General Information .......................................6 uncharted territory. We work hard to bring you a mix of plants Featured Shrub/Tree: Cornus .....................6–9 that will satisfy all your gardening needs while offering you ways to push the limits on your gardening interests. Quick Reference Key for Cultural Symbols ....9 This year our featured shrub is the large flowered dogwoods. Featured Perennial: Hosta .......................10–11 A very popular group of plants in the landscape with so many Plant Sale Advertisers ....................................12 qualities of which most gardeners are unaware. Distinct, clear and Plant Descriptions intense flower color, unusual fruit color, and exceptional plant forms, foliage color and even fall color are part of our offerings. Conifers .................................................13 Several of these plants are hybrids between our native dogwood, Trees ................................................13–15 the Pacific dogwood, and the Chinese dogwood. Many of these Shrubs ..............................................15–21 hybrids were created at Rutgers University, a long-time leader in Perennials ........................................22–26 dogwood breeding. Tenders, Annuals ....................................26 Our featured herbaceous plant is hosta. The plethora of cultivars is overwhelming, so we have searched the nurseries to offer a unique selection of the best cultivars available to simplify your Mission choice. Big and little, green and blue, solid and variegated, they The University of Delaware Botanic Gardens are all here. It is the standard perennial for shady locations in contributes to an understanding of the changing any garden setting. Typically bold foliage remains throughout relationships between plants and people through the summer and fall, then disappears until the following late education, research, outreach, and community spring. You will not find a more consistent, easily grown, reliable perennial. support. This understanding instills an appreciation of plants in the landscape and natural environments. John Frett, Ph.D. UDBG Director and Professor Cover photo: Cornus ×elwinortonii ‘KN144–2’ Rosy Teacups® Dogwood Photo: Tom Molnar 4 2017 SPRING PLANT SALE CATALOG WEBSITE: http://ag.udel.edu/udbg/events/annualsale.html Unique opportunity at Patron sale: the PATRONS highly esteemed OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION to the individuals listed below Clivia miniata ‘Sir John Thouron.’ for their generosity in support of UDBG’s Student Program. Photo: Rick Darke These gifts provide student summer and school year interns an opportunity to gain practical experience and training, and learn new skills. At the graduate level, UDBG students can earn a M.S. in Plant Curation. The year-long student interns combine diverse experiences in botanic garden management with graduate level coursework. These individuals help UDBG train, educate, and inspire another generation of horticultural professionals. Up to $99 Page Nelson and Anne P. Canby Jane E. Adams Barbara Carrig Nancy J. Balogh Theo Corroon Chirnside Family Joseph Paesani and Jacquelyn Cusumano Michael and Connie Cox Joanne Bahr Cushman $500–$999 Laneita Dunphy Sarah D’Alonzo Michelle Capron Richard and Lorraine Fleming Judy Duffy Steve and Peg Castorani Sylvia G. Green Roseann H. Harkins Hugh and Sian Frick Kevin Mulrooney Mary Lou Hawkins Patrick and Frances Hart Carla Pastore Marilyn Hayward Caroline Golt Al and Gail Randolph John and Judy Herdeg Robert and Betsy McCoy Joseph and Rebecca Rendeiro David and Lauri Herman Michael and Diana Pontti Roxann Rich Gordon and Susan Lipscy Deborah Roberts John and Linda Stapleford Carol Long Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Silliman, Jr. Scott and Donna Swain David and RoseLynn Malarek William E. Trescott, Jr. Jim Damewood and Robin Morgan 1 Anonymous Donor $100–$184 Jack and Laura Nystrom Vikram Krishnamurthy and Kate Bailey JoAnn Payne $1,000–$2,499 Carmine and Laura Balascio Dana M. Parker Ellen Barrosse Gary Burcham Kristine Qualls Ann A. Biggs Ann Claiburne Case James Resch Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Russell L. Crook Wendy Mahoney Russell Ross and Evelyn Burnam Jo Anne Debes Ken and Geri Schilling Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Davis Dominic and Marilyn DiToro Thomas and Elizabeth Schmoyer David Mull and Denise Dunlap John and Anne Marie Fletcher Bill and Judith Spruance Delaware Nursery and Landscape Frances Pendleton and Judith Franks Mark and Barbara Starrett Association Gary and Kathryn Gerlach Bob and Patricia Uniatowski Dr. Kent St. Pierre and Dr. Andrea Everard Steven and Frances Klein Natalie Weymouth Richard T. Jolly and Charles L. Ingersoll Nina Lord Mary Jane Wrenn Fred and Pat Mann Richard and Elena Miller 1 Anonymous Donor S. Ismat Shah and Cynthia Morgan Bob and Tamar Mulrooney Alice Reilly Beth Pantuliano $250–$499 Dr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Townsend Mark and Judith Pilnick Doug and Sue Barton Mary Pritchard Catherine Buckminster $5,000–$7,499 Nathaniel H. Puffer Michael and Valann Budischak Robert E. Lyons Timothy and Eleanor Sabo Dottie Foster Elizabeth A. Sharp Jean Simpson Mary L. Gotsch P. Coleman and Susan Townsend Mac and Sande Taylor Ann Holloway Ronald and Carol Vukelich Margaret L. Laird $10,000+ Anita A. Wellner Ron Sullivan and Fran Levinson Glenn Hardcastle and Donna L. Gerst Kathleen D. Wilhere John ‘Jack’ Pikulski Bill and Melissa Lafferty Ron and Gerry Zuka Paul Meyer and Debra Rodgers Roy and Jacqueline Perry Ron and Patti Roman Bob and Betty Shellenbarger **$185–$249 Walter and Beverley Rowland Shipley and Mary Allinson Paul Dennison and Sue Schaefer **Gifts at this level and above are able to attend Pat and Alistair Arnott Mary Ellen Stachnik the Patron Plant Sale and Reception on Wednesday, Phil and Pat Boyd Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Sutton April 25, 4:30–6 pm. Tom Brockenbrough Jim and Sue Swasey Virginia Lee Butters Barbara Wallace 2018 SPRING PLANT SALE CATALOG: www.canr.udel.edu/udbg 5 PLANT SALE EVENT DATES Wednesday, April 4, 7–9 pm • Spring Plant Sale Preview Lecture. UDBG members: $5; Nonmembers: $10 Location: The Commons, Townsend Hall. Illustrated talk about plants featured at the plant sale. Wednesday, April 11, 4:30–6:00 pm • Guided Walk of 2018 Plant Sale Highlights. UDBG Friends Members: $5; DOGWOODS Nonmembers: $10; Minimum: 10; Maximum: 25. Location: Meet inside brick wall around South (CORNUS) Greenhouse, outside UDBG office John Frett Wednesday, April 25, 4:30–6:00 pm • Patron Plant Sale DOGWOODS are garden aristocrats that and Reception, RSVP required. An evening to thank are recognized by all, at least the large- those who have contributed $185 and above to support flowered types, like our native flowering UDBG’s Student Programs, vital to our functioning. dogwood, Cornus florida. The name Evening includes knowledgeable plant people, dogwood is thought to derive from the refreshments, private plant sale this evening only, and hardwood that was used as a dagger, first crack at all other plant offerings. Call302-831-0153 or skewer, for cooking. Thus, the name or email [email protected] to attend. dagwood later became dogwood. (And I thought it was because of the “bark” of the tree; sorry, I could not resist). The Thursday, April 26, 3–6 pm • UDBG Members only, small trees are easily recognized by the large inflorescence, discount this day only (see below for details) or flower cluster, with four large, petal-like structures, which Friday, April 27, 3–6 pm • General Public are most commonly white. These structures are actually bracts Saturday, April 28, 9:30 am–4 pm • General Public and not petals at all. The bracts serve to highlight the cluster of 15–20 small flowers at the center, which attract pollinators. To register for lecture or walk, please email Each of these true flowers has the potential to produce one [email protected] or phone 302-831-2531. fruit, typically bright red in the fall. The attractive red fruit is edible by wildlife. The fruit of our native C. florida is a major GENERAL INFORMATION food source for migrating birds on their trek south in the fall.