MSU Horticulture Garden Preview

1

Liberty Hyde Bailey Statue

Liberty Hyde Bailey is known as the father of American Horticulture. You will often find flowers placed in his hand by students, staff and visitors.

2

Elephant Ears around the Reflecting Pool

These massive plants are commonly called Elephant Ears (Colocasia). They are planted outdoors in the annual garden for the summer, then dug up, potted and kept in the greenhouses during the colder months.

3

Secret Garden

The secret garden is tucked away in between buildings, the perfect place to study or read a book!

4

Cypress trees by Annual Garden Gazebo

The Cypress trees (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula") create an epic background for the Annual Garden Gazebo.

5

Dahlia 'Strawberry Ice'

This cultivar of Dahlia is one of many unofficial trial Dahlias featured in the Sunken Gardens.

6

Apple Tree Espalier

Espalier is the practice of pruning and tying branches to a frame or trellis, in formal or informal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis.

7

Trumpet Vine Arbor

The Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) creates a beautiful arbor that is popularly used for the aisle in wedding ceremonies. Although beautiful, this vine is commonly called the Trumpet Creeper because of its tendency to spread uncontrollably underground.

8

Echinacea 'Sweet Sandia' perennial trial

This cultivar of Echinacea is one of many perennial trial plots. In the summer, trial plots are evaluated biweekly and are given scores based on uniformity, wow factor, vigor and resistance to environment (pests, draught, etc). The scores, any important notes, and pictures are sent as a report to each respective plant breeder.

9

Hosta 'Little Treasure"

Hosta 'Little Treasure' is a favorite among the Hosta Garden.

10

Rose Garden

Frank’s Nursery and Crafts Rose Garden displays over 700 roses. The roses are sprayed weekly for black spot and powdery mildew and are pruned as needed.

11

Scaevola Scala Summer Breeze

Some trials include various plant combinations in containers. The purpose of this is to test what looks good together and what performs well in a container. This Scaevola combination is especially stunning! Scaevola are also commonly called fan flowers because of their unique shape.

12

Lady Fern

This Lady Fern (Athyrium 'Ghost') is one of many ferns on display in the Woodland Garden. Ferns reproduce by spores that are located on the underside of the fronds. Take a peek!

13

Porcupine Grass

The Porcupine Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus') has beautiful striped foliage. This ornamental grass is a featured plant and not easily ignored!

14

Waterfall

The waterfall and perennial pond is a favorite scenic spot. This area is constantly improved with new features and plants. This summer (2023) a bog garden was added toward the front of the pond and includes a handful of carnivorous plants!

15

Pavillion

The entrance pavilion was completed in 1992 and forms the entrance to the Perennial Gardens. It is a circular, open-air structure with a central planter with a purple-leafed beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea) surrounded by two rows of classical columns that support an overhead wooden trellis. In May, the spectacular wisterias burst into bloom! In the summer, hyacinth beans (Dolichos lablab) climb up the many trellises.

16

Wilbir

Just outside and north of the Entrance Pavilion is Wilbir the Floral Peacock. Wilbir is 14 feet tall and 35 feet wide and is planted with more than 3,000 plants each year - mostly begonias because of their ease of care and floriferous nature. He is made up of a metal wire form that is filled in the middle with styrofoam and then soil, held in by landscape fabric. Holes are then cut in the fabric to allow a plant to be placed.

17

Dawn Redwood

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) in the Children's Garden is in the top ten largest redwood trees in Michigan!

18

Pizza Garden

The Pizza Garden is one of the 60+ themed garden beds in the Children's Garden. The Pizza Garden includes plants used as pizza toppings such as peppers, chives, basil and pineapple!

19

Willow tree & pond

The willow tree, pond and bridge is a magical space that was inspired by Claude Monet paintings.

21

Hydrangea

You won't be able to miss the group of vibrantly colored Hydrangea macrophylla just past the Michigan Garden. Did you know that the color of hydrangea flowers are dependent on the PH of the soil?

22

Lotus

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) are perennial plants that send out shoots in the spring, flower in the summer, and go dormant during the winter. Lotus flowers rise above the water, while Water Lillies and their leaves float on top of the water.

23

Torch Lily

The Torch Lily (Kniphofia) is a perennial plant surrounding the bird bath in the Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds Garden.

24

Paw Paw Tree

The Paw Paw tree (Asimina triloba) produces fruit that tastes like a mix between a mango and a banana. Paw Paws are considered to be North America's version of tropical fruit.

25

Red Currant

The Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) is displayed as a part of the Mawby Fruit Collection. The red berries are edible, but are often made into jams because they can be quite tart!

26

Japanese White Pine

The Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora) is featured in the Jane L. Smith Conifer Garden. Conifers are popularly used in landscaping because they look fantastic all year round.