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We are lucky to have so many late winter and early spring bloomers in the Northwest. I’ve had a request to identify some of the flowers popping out, so here we go:
| There are lots of great big mature Camellia shrubs blooming. They’ve been used in landscapes for a long time and Wallingford’s older homes have a number of really large ones |  |
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Vinca minor (periwinkle) is widely sold and used as a groundcover, but it is becoming invasive and is on several states’ noxious weed lists. |
| Evergreen candytuft (Iberis) was used for rockeries extensively in the past. many have more flowers than this one. |  |
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Lots of Hellebore, aka Christmas rose or Lenten rose was sold at the Flower and Garden show this year. Seems there are always new cultivars on the market. It’s great for winter and spring interest. |
| The small flowers of Daphne odora exude a surprisingly strong fragrance, and you may search a long time before you find the low shrub. |  |
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Another fragrance of late winter is Sarcoccoca – a nice evergreen shrub or groundcover. There are several species available of various heights. This photo is from the OSU Landscape Plants site. |
| Here are some very early azaleas. | 
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Purple or white heath (Erica sp.) with tiny needle-like leaves is everywhere. Heather (Calluna sp.) is similar, and it’s in the same family, but has tightly packed, scaly leaves and usually blooms in the fall, although it will provide spring interest because the new growth on branch tips can be brightly colored. |
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Pieris japonica – yet another evergreen shrub with bell shaped flowers in the Ericaceae or heath family (azaleas and rhododendrons included). There are many large specimens in old Wallingford landscapes. It would be hard to top this enormous one in a rockery. There are diverse variegated varieties available in nurseries, and some have colorful new leaves as well. |
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Lastly, a pretty good looking Forsythia – common yellow flowering shrub of spring that can become unmanageable rather easily when pruned incorrectly. |
Thanks, Jeanie! I’ve long wanted to know the name of my favorite neighborhood flower (I’m a Texas transplant & didn’t grow up here). Now I know: Evergreen candytuft.
Wow! Great post. As another transplant, I did not grow up with all of these spring flowers, but I do love them all. It’s great to know the names of flowers I see in the ‘hood.
Glad to oblige – I just took a turn around Greenlake and saw a whole new crop of flowers. I may do some more i.d. through the seasons if there is interest.
Thanks so much! Please add more pictures. And just an FYI — forsythia does tend to get pretty unruly (although I saw a pretty great stand in Woodlawn as I was stuck in traffic on 50th yesterday), but some years ago, I was able to find a dwarf, spreading version (from White Flower Farms, I think). It’s only slightly unruly, and is mostly only 2.5′ high and 3′ wide after about 10 years.
I love the idea of adding a garden channel on this blog. There are some very cool plants in Wallyhood!
Oops — that should have been in Woodland Park!
I started noticing the Camellia bushes last year, and we have a theory that, sometime in the 30s, an aggressive plant salesman was roaming Seattle’s established neighborhoods, convincing residents that a Camellia by the front door was the “in” thing to plant. Now those Camellias are gorgeous, but completely blocking the houses’ doors!
It almost seems worth it, though, when they’re in bloom.
That is nice forsythia – a testament to good pruning! And the right placement.
Which leads to meganc’s comment on the Camellias.
I could be wrong about this, not having recently researched it, but the repeating plant choices we see in the various neighborhoods are sometimes the result of what developers and landscapers were putting in when the homes were built, (or-as you say maybe when the homeowners were looking for new plants) and also because of fashions in landscape design. This still happens – everyone likes the “new” uncommon plants. Often that’s what is available in nurseries, so you might not have too much choice. I’m sure someone has written a book on trends in landscape plants over the decades – probably the Miller Library folks know just where it is.
In order to make a raw new landscape look good, people put them close to each other so it won’t look empty. Then when they mature – oops wrong place, and too close. I know what you mean about blocking the front door – sure sign of a need to renovate the shrubbery!
I like the flowering currents blooming now, as well as the witch hazel that blooms in February. We have Keeria blooming in our yard, and it’s bright and beautiful but spreads!
Flowering currants (Ribes sanguineum) blooming now, either red or white are premiere plants and since they are native, extra good for the local fauna. You might see hummingbirds on them. Witch hazels (Hamamelis) are also great for the winter garden – several kinds on view in the Arboretum. Kerria (Kerria japonica) – as you say, it spreads, AND I’ve seen it in at least one greenbelt park in Seattle. Might be good to keep an eye on this one for invasive tendencies.
Thanks so much for this delightful post! I too am new to the Pacific NW and love learning the names of the gorgeous flowering plants in the neighborhood. Thanks also to Wallingford’s many gardeners! I feel so lucky to walk around in what could be mistaken for a botanical garden. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy so many birds and beautiful plants in the heart of a city.
More of this, please! I’ve been wondering about some of those names…
I’ve been coveting hellebore since moving here three years ago, and feel like a *true* Seattleite now that I’ve put some in the garden
My Mom grew up in the southwest and always was amazed at the lush growth in the Northwest. And now that you mention it, Hellebore was one of my first favorites too – I still prefer the color of the first one I had in my yard.
The mild maritime climate here does let us grow plants from all over the world, which gardeners do with a vengeance! Our area is known for its gardens and enthusiastic and skilled gardeners and the diversity of plants we have. I will try to slip in some more i.d. now and then.