Amenity Collection - Denver Botanic Gardens

AMENITY COLLECTION
Prepared by horticulturist Ann Montague, 2010 & updated by Leesly Leon, docent program coordinator, 2013
Description
The Amenity Collection is more a theme that showcases Rocky Mountain and Plains horticulture with the express
purpose of serving our local community. This collection provides “take-home” messages about local plant palettes that
visitors can use in their own gardens. The plants in this collection include new cultivars and hybrids as well as old
favorites. The common factor is that they are all suitable for growing in the Rocky Mountain and Plains region, a semiarid steppe climate. The collection does not only serve the first part of the Gardens’ mission of “connecting people with
plants” it also “delights and inspires visitors” with relevant, take-home ideas and information.
Some of the most notable plants included in the collection include: daylilies, iris, peonies, roses, lilacs and viburnums.
By definition, plants from the Plant Select® and the Champion Tree programs also fall under this collection’s umbrella.
History of the Collection
This has been an ongoing collection (not as a named collection but as a concept) since the inception of the Gardens.
It has changed and evolved with changes and improvements in cultural practices as well as with the introduction of
new cultivars and new plant discoveries.
Role of the Collection in Fulfilling our Mission
This is first and foremost a collection aimed to serve and benefit our visitors, many of whom reside in our semi-arid
steppe climate. There is no more direct way to connect people with plants than to demonstrate how plants can work
for them in a variety of situations.
- adapted from Denver Botanic Gardens’ Collections Plan
Collection Facts
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This collection is unique in that it does not have a location or a defined number of plants.
Because of its nature, this is an ever-changing collection
Note: Plants from the Amenity Collection can be found in virtually every garden with Denver Botanic Gardens. For that
reason, this document focuses on some of the more important Genera and gardens.
IRISES, Iris
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Family: Iridacea (Iris)
Documented as far back as 1500 BC
In the Middle Ages the Fleur-de-lis (a stylized Iris) represented the French
monarchy. Today it can be seen in the flag of Quebec and the logo for the
New Orleans Saints football team.
200+ different species of irises & thousands of cultivars worldwide
63 species & 404 taxa of irises at DBG
Irises grow from rhizomes or bulbs
Irises are available in every color except black
Grow in diverse habitats – arid deserts to streambeds
Bearded iris can still be found on abandoned homesteads and fit well into
today’s low maintenance and/or water wise landscapes.
Iris ‘Phantom Ship’
Bloom Time
Iris Type
Bulb Iris
MDB – Miniature Dwarf Bearded
SDB – Standard Dwarf Bearded
IB – Intermediate Bearded
MTB – Miniature Tall Bearded
BB – Border Bearded
TB – Tall Bearded
Siberian
Spuria
Height
4-8”
6-8”
12-18”
16-27”
16-24”
16-27”
27”+
20-30”
40”
Typical Bloom time
March
Early April to early May
Late April to late May
Late April to late May
Late April to late May
Late April to late May
Mid May to mid-June
Early June
Mid June
Bearded Iris Classification
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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Iris Information
Labels for iris in the Lilac Garden include the standard information about the Genus, species and family, but they also
include the type of iris, the hybridizer’s name, the year the variety was introduced and any medals that it has won.
Where do new varieties come from?
Plant explorers are always looking for new species, but hundreds of new cultivars are created by hybridizers every
year. In fact, several of these hybridizers are local to the Denver area. The Lilac Garden has a section devoted to iris
developed by local hybridizers. 12 metro area hybridizers and more than 35 of their cultivars are represented in the
Lilac Garden. One of the most notable is the Ruth Porter Waring Iris. Introduced by John Durrance in 1988, it is a tall
bearded iris, rose-red in color and named for a beloved benefactor of Denver Botanic Gardens, Ruth Porter Waring.
Red is said to have been her favorite color.
Irises are found in these gardens:
▪ O’Fallon Perennial Walk
▪ Lilac Garden
▪ Lannie’s Cutting Garden
▪ Romantic Garden
▪ Rock Alpine Garden (species iris)
▪ WaterSmart
Irises of Particular Interest
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Bulb Iris – Iris reticulata and Iris danfordiae, some of the first blooms of spring, often blooming in the snow – look
for them in Dwarf Conifer Berm, WaterSmart, and the Lilac Garden
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Iris developed by local hybridizers found in the Lilac Garden
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Our regional native iris species – Iris missouriensis, specimen located in Bristlecone border, enjoys wet springs and
dry summers
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“Space Age” iris with beards that turn up, several planted at north end of the center section of the Lilac Garden
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Reblooming iris, a lovely fall surprise. Several are scattered throughout the Lilac Garden; look for Fall Rerun, a
reliably blooming blue along the north walk by the Lilac Garden.
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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ROSES,
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Rosa sp.
Family: Rosaceae (Rose)
The three main geographic regions roses are native to are
Eastern Asia (including China and the Himalayas); North
America and Europe. About 50 genera are native to the
United States.
The Rose family includes trees, shrubs and herbaceous
plants.
Leaves are usually alternate and pinnately compound with
sharply toothed oval leaflets. Sepals and petals are in
rings of five with many stamens surrounding the stigmas.
Roses with hooked spines are likely to be climbers or have climbing species in their parentage but they don’t have
tendrils, suckers or twining ability.
The edible fruit of the rose is called a roe hip.
Modern roses are the product of combining wild species with natural hybrids.
Propagation from seed yields an uncertain outcome so most roses are propagated vegetatively.
The genus Rosa is represented by 31 species & 346 taxa at DBG
Most roses are found in the Perennial Border, the Romantic Garden, and the Rose Garden.
Genetic History of Rose Varieties
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Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
gallica Apothecary or French Rose – Temperate Asia, Europe
canina Dog Rose – N Africa, Temperate Asia, Europe
foetida Austrian Copper Rose – Temperate Asia
sempervirens Evergreen Rose – Mediterranean
setigera Prairie Rose – E Canada, E United States
chinensis China Rose – China
rugosa Japanese or Rugosa Rose – Russian Federation, China, Japan
Rose Classifications
Some recognize four main groupings of roses: species, old garden, shrub and modern.
Roses of Particular Interest
Old Garden or Antique roses
• Several antique roses are displayed in the Herb and Knot gardens.
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Main characteristics of antique roses:
Bloom only once (usually from June to July)
Good for the back of flower beds because they can get quite large
Tough and can tolerate dryness
Very fragrant
Roses whose class or type was introduced prior to 1867.
Culture the same as the shrub rose.
Rosa ‘Ispahan’
Require minimum care
Old Garden/Antique roses found in the Herb Garden: Rosa alba, White Rose of New York; Rosa ‘Ispahan’
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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Redleaf Rose
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Scientific name: Rosa glauca
Plant Select® selection found in Rock Alpine Garden and O’Fallon Perennial
Border
Grown as much for its dark purple-red foliage and its abundance of red hips
that persist for much of the year
5-petaled blossoms are pastel pink to white
6-8’ tall by 4-6’ wide
Austrian Copper Rose
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Scientific name: Rosa foetida
Found in the Plains Garden
Large – up to 8’ - loose growing shrub, falls into Old Garden Rose category
Often found growing on abandoned farmsteads
Endures poor soil, drought, no maintenance
5-petaled flowers, buds open yellow, underside remains yellow, face of
flower takes on an orange hue
Rosa ‘Golden Wings’
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Found west of the fence in the Romantic Garden and at the east end of
Shady Lane
A hybrid pimpinellifolia shrub rose
4-6’ tall and as wide
Fragrant, single, pale yellow flowers (to 5” across) with golden brown
stamens bloom singly and in small clusters in May/June
large orange hips in the fall that remain attractive in winter
David Austin Roses
David Austin is a British hybridizer specializing in crossing old roses with modern roses.
The old roses - gallicas, damasks, albas, etc. - had all but died out at that time. His objective was to create new roses
in the style of old roses, thus combining the charm and fragrance of old roses with the wide color range and repeatflowering qualities of modern roses. He was also particularly interested in producing well formed shrubs that would
make good garden plants. He has introduced over two hundred varieties.
David Austin was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2003 for his services to
horticulture and the Dean Hole Medal by the Royal National Rose Society. He has received an Honorary MSc from
the University of East London for his work on rose breeding. He received the lifetime achievement award from the
Garden Centre Association in 2004.
- www.davidaustinroses.com
David Austin roses are located primarily in the center section of the Rose Garden.
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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DAYLILIES, Hemerocallis
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sp.
Family: Hemerocallidaceae (Daylily)
Native to Asia
The word Hemerocallis is derived from two Greek words meaning "beauty" and "day," referring to the fact that
each flower lasts only one day
20 species worldwide
Represented by 12 species & 209 taxa at DBG
Much of our current Hemerocallis collection dates back to 1972
The American Hemerocallis Society lists 66,363 different registered cultivars as of the end of 2009. Only a
handful are scented
Not a true lily, not in the Liliaceae family
The flowers are edible and are used in Chinese cuisine. You might find them in soups or stews. Also used fresh,
flowers and buds have a nondescript, sweetish flavor.
Sometimes called “The Perfect Perennial”
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Carefree, tough, reliable
Very few diseases or insect pests
Blooms during heat of summer – peak bloom mid-June to mid-August
Adapts to wide variety of growing conditions
Wide variety of colors, sizes & shapes
Best grown in full sun, but will tolerate light shade
Daylily hybrids are categorized by
‘Condilla’, a double form
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‘Kindly Light’, a spider form
Flower shape or form
Flower color
Pattern of color on the flower
Plant height
Flowering season
‘Moonlit Masquarade’,
with eyezone coloration
Many daylilies are found in these gardens:
▪ O’Fallon Perennial Walk
▪ Lilac Garden
▪ Lannie’s Cutting Garden
▪ Romantic Garden
▪ Rock Alpine Garden
▪ Japanese Garden
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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PEONIES,
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Paeonia sp.
Family: Paeoniaceae
Peonies originated in the Mediterranean, Central Asia, the Western Himalayas, Eastern
Asia, and Pacific North America
A traditional floral symbol and national emblem in China where it is called “flower of
riches and honor”
Peonies tend to attract ants to the flower buds due to the nectar that forms on the outside
of the buds.
Most are herbaceous perennial plants 1.5 – 3’ tall
Some are woody shrubs called tree peonies about 5’ tall
At DBG some plants date back to 1975
18 of the 30+ species are represented at DBG
Over 100 different cultivars of herbaceous peonies at DBG
20 different cultivars of tree peonies
Sticker Shock! Prices can range from $20 to $200
Herbaceous Peonies
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Typically bloom in May
Classified by flower type and by flowering time
Require cold during dormancy, thus do not do well south of zone 7
Valued as a medicinal plant
Tree Peonies
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Not actually trees
Woody shrubs that grow to about 5’ tall
Native to mountainous areas
Prefer partial shade locations
Rarely need any pruning
Cultivated as far back as 700 AD
At DBG most tree peonies are found in PlantAsia
Itoh Hybrid Peonies
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An Itoh Hybrid peony is a cross between the tree peony and the common herbaceous peony.
Itoh (pronounced (Ee-toe)
Wider range of colors
Very robust plants
Usually an extended flowering time
Many peonies are found in these gardens:
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O’Fallon Perennial Walk
Rose Garden
PlantAsia – tree peonies and herbaceous varieties with single type blossoms
Lilac Garden – mostly double type blossoms
Rock Alpine Garden – species peonies
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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Japanese Garden
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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Peonies of Particular Interest
Fernleaf Peony
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Scientific name: Paeonia tenuifolia
Can be found in PlantAsia Garden
Herbaceous peony
Species peony
Paeonia tenuifolia
Mlokosewitch's Peony/Molly the Witch
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Scientific name: Paeonia mlokosewitschii
Can be found in the Rock Alpine Garden
Herbaceous peony
Species peony
Paeonia mlokosewitschii
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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Tree Peony
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Scientific name: Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Rocks’
Tree Peony
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Scientific name: Paeonia lutea ‘Linda B #1’
Paeonia lutea ‘Linda B #1’
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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VIBURNUM
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Over 150 species worldwide
Can be small shrubs to large shrubs or small trees
Mostly deciduous, some semi-evergreen, leaves can be rough and veiny
Low maintenance/easy care
Attracts wildlife
Year round appeal – flowers, foliage & fruit
Wide range of landscape use
Viburnum are represented by 22 species and 39 taxa at DBG
Many viburnums are found in these gardens:
▪ Woodland Mosiac
▪ Birds and Bees Walk
▪ Japanese Garden
▪ PlantAsia
▪ Rock Alpine Garden
▪ Waring House Garden
Viburnums of Interest:
Alleghany/the Leatherleaf Viburnum
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Scientific name: Viburnum x rhytidophylloides ‘
It is a Plant Select® selection
Located in Woodland Mosaic, Perennial Walk & Plant Select Garden
6-8’ tall x 6-8’ wide
tolerates sunny or shady locations
white flowers in late spring, red berries in fall
dark green leathery leaves, evergreen most winters
provides an effect similar to evergreen rhododendrons in the landscape but is
much more widely adaptable
Alleghany Viburnum
Korean Spice Viburnum
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Scientific name: Viburnum carlesii
Located in Woodland Mosaic along sidewalk
4-6’ tall x 4-6’ wide
Pink buds open to spicy, fragrant flowers in spring
Leaves turn wine-red in fall
Red berries in the fall
Tolerates full sun to partial shade
Korean Spice Viburnum
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
AMENITY COLLECTION
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LILACS,
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Syringa sp.
Family: Oleaceae (Olive)
In cultivation for the past 500 years
30 species & numerous subspecies, 2 species from Eastern Europe, the remainder native to mountainous regions
of Asia
Lilacs originated in Asia and were introduced to Europeans in the 1500s by the Ottoman Turks.
Early European settlers brought with them some of their favorite flowers to the New World in the 1800s.
You can find some lone lilacs in the Colorado backcountry, remnants of now-vanished homestead gardens.
Most are shrubs, but there are also tree forms
There are 23 species & 104 taxa represented at DBG
More than 75 different cultivars are represented at DBG
Why we love lilacs
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Fragrance
Easy to grow
Full sun
Well-drained soil
Require 1,000 hours of below 50° temperatures for best bloom
Tolerate drought & heat
Dependable
Variety of colors & sizes
Most of our lilac collection can be seen in PlantAsia, the Lilac Garden, and the Japanese Garden but you will find
them tucked away in several gardens on the grounds.
Lilac trivia
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The lilacs on the west hillside in the Lilac Garden bloom first, followed by those on the east hillside
Most of the shrubs in the Lilac Garden were planted in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Additional information:
Don’t be fooled by the leaves. Not all species look like Syringa vulgaris with which most people are familiar. All the
shrubs on the hillsides in the Lilac Garden are lilacs.
Syringa vulgaris
Syringa laciniata
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
Syringa prestoniae
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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American Rose Society ~ www.ars.org
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Rocky Mountain District of the American Rose Society ~ www.rockymountainrose.org
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Denver Rose Society ~ www.denverrosesociety.org
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The History of the Rose by Allen Paterson
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David Austin Roses ~ www.davidaustinroses.com
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American Iris Society ~ www.irises.org
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American Hemerocallis Society ~ www.daylilies.org
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International Lilac Society ~ www.internationallilacsociety.org
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Lilacs, The Genus Syringa by Fr. John L. Fiala
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Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season by Michael Dirr
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Fine Gardening article: Viburnums are Versatile Shrubs ~ www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/viburnums-areversatile-shrubs
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Heartland Peony Society ~ www.peonies.org
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Plant Select® ~ www.plantselect.org
These materials are for Denver Botanic Gardens use only.
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