Plant Descriptions of Accessions Offered in 1993
Ampelopsis glandulosa (Wallich) Momiy. var. brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Momiy. Porcelain vine. This vine requires support and should be used on a fence or as a cover for unsightly objects. It is a vigorous, rapid grower with wrapping tendrils. The leaves are dark green and variable in shape, with some plants nearly as loved as var. heterophylla. In fact, these plants are very similar to grapevine in appearance. Though this accession has no fall leaf color, there is fall color interest in its showy fruits which begin ivory in color and change to steel blue at maturity. This vine does well on moist soils, especially on moist sites.
Please note: Porcelain vines have become a serious weed problem in many eastern woodlands. This selection should be used with caution and sited in areas isolated from natural plant communities. Plants should be monitored closely for seedling spread.
PI 596373 (Ames 14431) was started from seed collected from uncultivated plants growing in trees along Lake LaVerne at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Probable hardiness USDA Zone 4b.
Berberis koreana Palib. x thunbergii DC. Thunb. 'Emerald Carousel' Hybrid Barberry. This selection is an attractive hybrid between two widely grown barberries. The selection is expected to be about as hardy as B. koreana, but its form is not as rank. New spring foliage is yellow edged in red, darkening to bright green as the season progresses. The inflorescences are morphologically intermediate between the parental species and the plants are fertile, producing many short racemes of attractive, red fruits. The shrubs have compact form with a mature height of approximately 1 meter.
Callicarpa dichotoma (Lour.) K. Koch. Purple Beautyberry. Named for magnificent fruiting in September to October, not many other fruiting shrubs come close to being as spectacular. When used in massing, this shrub provides interest throughout the growing season. Leaves are medium green and borne in one plane along the stem. Branches are long, slender, and arching. Flowering may extend from June to August, providing a pleasing display of pinkish lavender cymes. Several accessions of Callicarpa have been grown at the Ames Station; but this one, set in the field in 1985, exhibits the best survival and fruit display.
PI 564827 (
Caragana frutex (L.) K. Koch. Russian
peashrub. Russian peashrub, native from southern
Ceanothus velutinus
Lonicera L. hybrid Selection #14. Lonicera #14 is a selection from progeny of a cross between 'Zabel' and 'Arnold Red' honeysuckle. It has dark, rosy red flowers and is resistant to the honeysuckle witches broom aphid. Plant form is compact, round-oval in form. Mature size is about 2 meters. Late season foliage quality is better than average for honeysuckle.
Please note: Tatarian honeysuckles have become a serious weed problem in many eastern and midwestern woodlands. The witches broom aphid, a pest of cultivated honeysuckles, has helped reduce the uncontrolled spread of these shrubs. Resistant varieties, such as this selection, should be used with caution. Such accessions should be sited in areas isolated from natural plant communities and monitored closely for seedling spread.
Ames 20062 was supplied by Dr. Harold Pellet of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum . Probable hardiness USDA Zone 3.
Rhus trilobata Nutt. Ex Torrey and A. Gray. 'Bighorn' Skunkbush Sumac. R. trilobata, a western counterpart to R. aromatica, has soft, shiny, green leaves. They should provide good orange and red fall color. Mature height and form vary with location: compact and heavily branched at southern sites, while taller and more open at northern sites. Mature height may approach 4 meters. It is ideal for conservation plantings along roadsides, windbreaks, covers for mined soils and tailings, or home landscapes. It is adapted to a wide variety of soils, especially those with good drainage. Plants are dioecious.
PI 483445 was started from seed collected at Basin, Bighorn County, Wyoming and donated to the National Plant Germplasm System by Los Lunas Plant Materials Center , USDA-NRCS, Los Lunas, New Mexico. Probable hardiness USDA Zone 3.
Staphylea bumalda DC. Bumalda Bladdernut. Native to Japan, this attractive medium sized shrub deserves more consideration and use in the home landscape. We have found this accession to be virtually pest free in Ames. Compared to other Staphylea, this species is finer textured with smaller leaves, and thinner, more numerous branches. At maturity, this pln\ant should be approximately 2 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide. S. bumalda also produces a better floral show than most other bladdernuts. White blooms appear just as the leaves come out. The inflorescences are erect as opposed to those of other species which hang down. Blossoms are sweetly scented, like Mock Orange, but now overwhelming. Unlike the fruit of Bladdernuts native to the U.S., several 2-lobed capsules hang together on short racemes.
PI 545683 was started from seed donated by Norges Landbrukshogskole, As, Norway. Probable hardiness USDA Zone 4b.
Weigela florida (Bunge) A. DC. 'White Knight' Hybrid Weigela originated from the crossing of two unpatented weigela varieties. 'White Knight' most closely resembles Weigela 'Red Prince' in leaf and Weigela 'Bristol Snowflake' in flower. However, its mild fragrance and winter hardiness distinguish it from all other common, white flowered Weigela. Flowers are funnel-shaped, borne the length of upright stems, and begin as pinkish-white buds opening to pure white flowers in late May or early June. Foliage is a medium green and virtually free of insects and diseases.
'White Knight' can withstand judicious pruning to alleviate any unsightly appearance after a rigorous winter. It is recommended for hedging, massing, or as an accent around building foundations. Growth habit is upright, spreading, and 150 cm tall and 180 cm wide at maturity.
Ames 20128 was developed by Dr. Jack Weigle of Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa. Plants were supplied by Sjulin Nurseries, Hamberg, Iowa. Probable hardiness USDA Zone 4b.
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All Accessions Evaluated from 1984-Present
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Please send questions or comments to Mark Widrlechner at nc7mw@ars-grin.gov