June into July 2014: The Calycanthus Collection

 A couple years ago we realized we were losing two large maples from the woodland edge at a relatively moist part of the woodland edge along the driveway. We had been determined to bring no new land under cultivation: not to expand an already demanding garden. With the trees cut, though, we had a chance at some gardening with partial shade and a little moisture. How could we pass that up? There's quite a bit out there now at that busy deer crossing. The largest woodies, apart from an earlier planting of Clethra acuminata, are a group of sweetshrubs-- calycanthus species and hybrids. Three are pictured here, with their bold leaves and fragrant flowers like small magnoilias over a long late spring through early summer season. The leaves and stems are aromatic when broken, offering some protection against deer. (I'm spraying repellents, too.)

Calycanthus 'Aphrodite'

Calycanthus 'Venus'

Calycanthus floridus 'Katherine' (aka Calycanthus 'Athens')



Coming soon...

Vining Clematis 

Non-vining Clematis