Phygelius 'Lemon Spritzer' - Variegated Cape Fuchsia  

We planted out our first specimens of variegated cape fuchsia in spring of 2013 and we've been thrilled with them ever since. Cape fuchsia or Phygelius is a genus native to South Africa where it forms evergreen to semi-evergreen shrubs on damp hillsides. In North Carolina, they act more as herbaceous perennials, dying back to the ground in winter but popping back up in spring.

'Lemon Spritzer' is a new twist on this favorite with chartreuse to lemon-yellow leaves sprinkled liberally with darker green for a bright pop in the landscape. If happy, a mature plant will reach 30" tall and wide with flowers held another foot above the foliage in summer and fall. The flowers are long, coral-pink tubes which are absolutely adored by hummingbirds. If spent flowers are removed regularly, they will continue to put out new flower stalks sporadically through the summer.

Grow variegated Cape fuchsia in full sun or part shade in average to moist well-drained, loose soil. In very sunny spots, moisture is especially necessary. Phygelius is often touted as a drought tolerant plant, but in the heat of the Southeast, it is much happier commingling with hosta and ferns than baking next to sages and agave.

We grow this lovely perennial in beds between the Boxwood Collection and our giant Japanese crepe myrtles near the Pedestrian Entrance from Beryl Road, in our Perennial Border, and near the Color Trials in the Oak Grove. We will be offering 'Lemon Spritzer' this fall in our Members-only Plants Sale. Look for the sale catalog to be online in early September. If you aren't already a member, join now to have access to our members-only fall sale!

Our members are using the Reciprocal Admissions Program to visit gardens across the nation. So happy to hear how many of you remember to pack you JCRA membership card and take advantage of this popular member benefit.

The following gardens have joined mid-year, remember to check the RAP member directories for the most up-to-date listing.

Miami Beach Botanical Garden - Miami Beach, Florida
Ormond Beach Memorial Art Museum and Gardens - Ormond Beach, Florida
The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park-Traverse City, Michigan

Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park - Binghamton, New York
Mercer Botanic Gardens - Humble, Texas
The East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society - Athens, Texas
Thanksgiving Point Gardens - Lehi, Utah
PowellsWood Garden - Federal Way, Washington
W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory - Tacoma, Washington

Be sure and share any photographs you take on your next visit. And of course tell them hello from everyone here at the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Your wish list has been passed along to Mark. A big thank you to all those who took the time to let us know which plants are on their list. Selections are being finalized and descriptions are being written. Keep watch for the catalog in early September, perfect timing for fall planting.

A Rare Opportunity to Discover Where New Plants Come

Friday, October 2, 2015 - 5:30 PM-10:00 PM

Go behind the scenes with nationally recognized plant breeders who create, promote, and grow the hottest new ornamental varieties. Enjoy their stories and discover the criteria and methods they're using to introduce beautiful, noninvasive, stress-tolerant, pest-tolerant, and adaptable plants. One of the nation's top plant promoters and growers will also be there making this a perfect evening for any plant lover or collector to earn what new plants could be coming soon to a nursery near you and how they got there. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and more including a auction featuring many rare plants.

For more information or to register, please call Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005. Space is limited. 

Knowing the art and science of plant identification and plant nomenclature (names) makes all kinds of gardeners (novice all the way to hard core) more successful in their gardening endeavors. This class will equip you with the basics of plant identification, allowing you to expand and enhance your plant identification skills and abilities. By knowing some basic plant anatomy and morphology you will be able to tell the difference between all kinds of plants that at first glance appear to be very similar and therefore confusing ("is that a boxwood or a Japanese holly?") We will spend lots of time every week in the "outdoor classroom" called the JC Raulston Arboretum looking at, and identifying plants. Don't worry, you will learn a lot plus it'll be lots of fun!

This six-week course is designed for all gardeners who want to learn, and/or improve their plant identification skills. Whether you are just a beginner, a novice, just moved to this area, or an advanced gardener, this course is designed to help us all become better gardeners!

For more information or to register, please call Chris Glenn at (919) 513-7005. Space is limited.  

One new video was recorded in July. Look for it in our YouTube Channel or click the link below.

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The JC Raulston Arboretum needs a new video camera to replace our eight-year-old and recently broken camera. If you've enjoyed watching the videos or if you'd like to support the recording of our Friends of the Arboretum Lectures, Plantsmen's Tours, and other special happenings, please make a contribution to the JCRA's Special Gifts fund. To ensure we know what your donation is for, please check the "This gift is in honor or memory of someone, in support of a program or department, or for payment of my membership dues" radio button and then change the pull down menu to "support" and write "digital camera" in the text field. If the funds received for this request exceed the purchase price of the camera, we'll purchase an external microphone for improved sound capture.