JC Raulston Arboretum

Uruguay has long intrigued me as an unlikely spot where hardy plants might be found. The country which is sandwiched on the east coast of South America between Brazil and Argentina looks small on a map but is actually almost as large as the state of Washington. Uruguay’s flora is well known in specialty bulb circles as it is home to rain lilies (Zephyranthes), goblet flowers (Cypella) and other geophytes and iris relatives. It is also home to one of my all-time favorite plants, pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana), a gorgeous evergreen shrub in the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family with silver-blue backed, dark green leaves; delicate pink flowers and sweet, edible fruit. The cold hardiness of this woody plant led me to think about what other plants we might be able to grow from Uruguay despite its mild winter temperatures.

Among the plants we grow from that part of the world are a couple of vigorous salvias: the Argentine sage (Salvia guaranitica) and the bog sage (S. uliginosa). The latter of which is so vigorous that it was recently banished from the Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden here at the JCRA. Beyond pineapple guava there are a few other woody plants which have proven to grow in our conditions. Noteworthy selections include the jelly palm (Butia odorata), the odd and mostly leafless (and lethal) anchor plant (Colletia paradoxa), the uber-tropical looking hardy bird-of-paradise tree (Caesalpinia gilliesii), and the scrambling, vining redwing (Heteropterys glabra)

whose golden flowers are followed by brilliant red samaras (winged seeds) which are identical to whirligig maple seeds but held in threes rather than pairs.

Above: One of the many flat-topped hills

Below: The dark cherry-looking fruit of Vitex megapotamica

With these successes in mind, and with Adam Black from the Bartlett Research Arboretum and Roderick Cameron, a mutual Uruguayan friend ready and willing to help, we set out for an April expedition south of the equator. Since I arrived in country a day early, Roderick had arranged for me to meet with the plant breeders at the Estacion Experimental INIA in Las Brujas where work is underway to breed superior forms of Uruguayan native fruits including pineapple guava. I think we all left the confab contemplating the prospect of a collaboration in the near future.

Our itinerary for the next week and a half took us around the entire country of Uruguay. From the capital Montevideo in the south, we headed up the western border to Salta where we could literally peek into Argentina. Then we headed across the northern half of the country and back to the south along the Brazilian border. The country is predominantly grasslands, both native and ranched, but everywhere we stopped a new delight greeted us. It would be hard to name them all, but I was constantly surprised at what I didn’t know about the flora.

One thing I did know going in was that I would likely see Eryngium which is a major part of the native flora. The spiky rosettes of strappy leaves topped by 2-foot to 10-foot tall flower stalks were ubiquitous. If it was a sunny spot, they were there. Grasslands? Check. Windswept hilltops? Check. Mowed roadsides? Check. Dry, sheer cliff faces? Check. Bogs? Check.

Pink-lavender flowers of Bignonia callistegioides

Although healthy and abundant where we did find it, we never saw a hint of it anywhere else. Finding this population made driving across tooth-rattling washboard roads, hiking through a non-stop downpour and nearly losing one of our companions (no worries, she was tracked down before we left) absolutely worth it.

Now I expected the Eryngium and the bulbs to be ubiquitous, but I didn't think the palms would be so easy to find. Both the eastern Butia yatay coming in from Argentina and the western B. odorata were widespread wherever they were found (we can argue about whether B. capitata occurs in Uruguay or not over drinks, pick a side because I have no idea). B. paraguayensis is only found in a few spots in Uruguay; however, we did find a very healthy population at the top of one of a series of 11 fascinatingly flat-topped hills. Where the Paraguayan jelly palm grew, it was surrounded by a riot of orchids just popping up, Sisyrinchium, Eryngium (of course) and a host of other herbaceous plants. The other hills we climbed were almost barren in comparison for some reason.

Among my favorite things to see in the wild on these plant collecting expeditions are the close relatives of plants I know and love. I left home determined to see the Uruguayan native snowbell (Styrax leprosus) before I came back; luckily, it was quite widespread although we were too late to see flowers and too early for fruit. A plant not on my radar at all was a South American buttonbush (Cephalanthus glabratus) which is a first cousin to our own native C. occidentalis. Another exciting find was the pink-lavender flowers of Bignonia callistegioides, the relatively restrained relative of our own crossvine (B. capreolata). I’ve been growing this species for a couple of years at my home and am hoping to have it in flower this summer myself.

It’s hard to beat the brand new though. Growing in company with the very familiar Salvia guaranitica was a new sage for me, Salvia procurens. This plant was growing in a semi-shady, nearly boggy spot. It had small, blue flowers and round, scalloped leaves on a ground-covering, vining plant. It was quite unlike any other sage I’ve encountered.

The one plant that nothing prepared me to see was Vitex megapotamica. You’ve probably encountered the Asian V. agnus-castus or chaste tree before with its spikes of blue flowers followed by small, dry seed capsules. When this Uruguayan species was shown to me, I was pretty certain our colleagues had the name wrong. Yes, it had the palmate foliage I would expect, but there was no way the cherry-looking, fleshy fruit dangling

from the branches belonged to a Vitex. We were even told they were edible but "not to eat too many." I’m still not certain if "too many" was 10 or 100, or what I could have expected if I had overindulged. Opting for restraint, I just had a few and they were tasty. Sure enough, this good-sized tree is indeed a Vitex. Will it be hardy? Who knows, but we aim to find out.

This region of Uruguay, along with neighboring regions including the landlocked Paraguay, definitely deserves more attention. I look forward to learning more about this fascinating flora, collaborating with its researchers, and trialing its plants. Don’t be surprised if you see a few Eryngium and other plants offered in coming sales, auctions and giveaways!

Planera aquatica, or water elm, as the name suggests, is an obligate wetland tree in the wild, which means that it thrives only in places that are frequently moist. It can even survive in several feet of water, so it is usually found growing wild in wetlands, swamps and along stream banks where it grows alongside bald cypress and tupelo. It is monotypic (the only species in its genus) and is a cousin of Ulmus (elm), Celtis (hackberry) and Zelkova. The family resemblance can be seen in the attractive leaves which are very similar in shape with a toothy margin, but are smaller.

Planera, named for J. J. Planer, a German physician, is native to the southeast United States. North Carolina is at the northern edge of its distribution and here it is only found wild in the southern part of the state along the Waccamaw and Lumber Rivers.

Small green leaves of Planera aquatica 'Falling Waters.'

Planera has attractive bark which sometimes exfoliates in large scales or strips. The flowers are not showy and appear in late winter/early spring in small, monoecious (separate male and female) clusters. Water elm has a distinctive fruit which is not a samara like other elms but is instead a small drupe — fleshy with a single nut-like seed, and a thin, irregular, curiously warty skin. The fruit matures early in the season, just six weeks after flowering.

Historically, this tree was important to the Miami Tribe who used the wood to make canoes as it is light, easy to de-bark, and easy to work. They also made tables, shingles and boxes from it, but it is not an important timber species today.

In the landscape, Planera aquatica prefers sandy or gravelly soils that stay moist. It can also be grown in dryish soils as evidenced by the 40-foot-tall wild-type specimen growing in the Xeric Garden here at the JCRA.

Bark of Planera aquatica

Memory Making in the White Garden

Inspired by the White Garden at Sissinghurst Gardens in Kent, England, the White Garden first served as the original entrance when Dr. Raulston founded the arboretum in 1976. Generous philanthropic gifts have enabled the White Garden infrastructure to be improved over time including the installation of two recent western red cedar wood arbors. Exclusively showcasing plants with white flowers or foliage, this garden area invites visitors to create their own special memories at the JCRA. Seventy outdoor events happened in the White Garden in 2023, and 44 events have already been scheduled for 2024. Partial shade and several benches offer respite to remember loved ones and a peaceful setting for picnics to reconnect with friends and family. It’s always exciting to see families hiding in the garden, waiting to watch a proposal, or coming together to take their annual holiday picture under the arbors.

The new arbor in the White Garden

The JC Raulston Arboretum 2024 summer interns. Left to Right: Jonathon Neunke, Ava Knusden, Willam Newman, Anthony Mills, John Carter, Erica Wallace, Amelia Holdstock, Eileen Gahan

2024 Summer Interns

We’re thrilled to welcome nine outstanding students as summer interns at the JC Raulston Arboretum! These remarkable students will gain relevant, hands-on and life-changing experiences in one of the nation’s premier public gardens.

We hosted a Howling Cow ice cream social with the interns on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, and we got to know the students as they shared their academic and professional ambitions and answered questions from Mark and the audience.

Day of Giving

Thank you for supporting the mission of the JC Raulston Arboretum on NC State’s Day of Giving, March 20, 2024. Your generosity allowed us to surpass our goal of 250 gifts before 6 p.m., securing more than $103,000 in funding for the JCRA. We are overwhelmingly grateful for this passionate community of plant enthusiasts who eagerly invest in growing the future of the JCRA for future generations.

The 267 gifts allow the JCRA to welcome the next cohort of student interns, expand the brick columns and iron fencing along Beryl Road and further enhance beauty and accessibility throughout the gardens. We deeply appreciate each and every contribution to help amplify the JCRA mission as we share our passion, knowledge and plants to inspire everyone to plan and plant for a better world.

True to his word, Mark with new (temporary) tattoos after donors reached the goal of 250 gifts before 6 p.m

Alexander and Carol Lawerence, JC Raulston Arboretum volunteers.

Dora Zia Student Internship Endowment

Dora Zia is fondly remembered as a devoted volunteer by the JC Raulston Arboretum community. Dora invested nearly 2,000 volunteer hours helping with labeling, mapping, measuring, data entry, map review and special projects as needed. Dora and her family have enthusiastically provided support to invest in students by establishing the Dora Zia JCRA Student Internship Endowment. This commitment to fostering student growth through internships at the JCRA will not only provide invaluable experiences for our students but also contribute significantly to the JCRA's mission.

Alexander and Carol Lawrence Volunteering Award

Alexander and Carol Lawrence have been honored with the North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for their exceptional teamwork and dedication to advancing the mission of the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Since the inception of the weekly online "Midweek Program," Alexander has been instrumental in helping staff with the technical aspects of the garden's education program, researching and acquiring equipment, and providing training. His meticulous research and testing of equipment, along with the creation of comprehensive how-to guides, have ensured engaging and informative sessions.

In 2023, these efforts resulted in creating and producing over 108 public educational videos. These videos find a wider and larger audience on our YouTube Channel. In 2023, we had over 162,000 video views and increased our subscriber base 20%.

Carol contributed innovative ideas to content creation and led a project to recruit and train new JCRA volunteer tour guides, enhancing visitor experiences. Her curriculum not only educates but also inspires enthusiasm and community among the tour guides.

Together, Alexander's technical skills and Carol's creativity make them a dynamic team, significantly impacting the success of the garden's educational initiatives.

Native Plant Legislation Meeting

Recently the North Carolina legislature passed a law mandating the use of native plants on some parts of state property such as highway right of ways and state parks. There was some understandable pushback from the nursery industry around the original language of the bill, but thanks to information from the JCRA and others, a reasonable law was passed. This winter, NC Farm Bureau and the JCRA welcomed a meeting of the minds including NCDOT landscape architects, native plant professionals and enthusiasts, North Carolina nurserymen, designers, Audubon Society members, our fellow botanic gardens and NC State University faculty among others to discuss the law.

Our aim was to provide a place where positive ideas could be exchanged between groups who often don’t interact, potential hurdles could be overcome, and some plans could be laid to help accomplish the goals of all involved. It was tremendously successful and everyone gained a better appreciation for the viewpoints and realities from which all sides were approaching the issue.

The Necessary at McNeel Corner, now topped with a stunning (and hopefully squirrel-proof) copper roof, recently underwent remodeling to renovate the interior and to provide an accessible entrance pathway.

The t-shirt tradition started with J. C. back when the JC Raulston Arboretum was known as The NCSU Arboretum. The first shirt was printed in 1985 and as you may expect included the Japanese maple leaf. It was a colorful design that appears to depict the many variations of leaf color available on a very noteworthy tree in our history. The shirt was printed for the garden tour guides and made available to them only after they completed their third group tour. The shirt didn't include the complete genus list printed on the back as is now standard on most of our shirts, but the subject, the Acer palmatum leaf, solidified its position in the Arboretum identity and has found its way onto nearly every shirt printed since.

The 2018 design featuring Illicium was illustrated by Sue Aldworth

The tradition is holding fast, and we love how excited everyone gets with each release. This year, various plants were suggested and discarded before Greg Paige, our director of horticulture and a noted "magnoliaphile", piped up with Magnolia 'Serendipity'. When you’ve hit the bulls-eye, you know it. 'Serendipity' has a bit of a strange history with the JCRA. We received it in 2012 from Bobby Green in Alabama as Magnolia (05-004) along with some other magnolias to try. It was planted that same year in front of the newly rebuilt Lath House where it thrived while the other magnolias either died or were culled as not terribly good landscape plants. We tried to get Bobby to put a name on the plant, but he insisted it wasn't worth naming.

During that time the Johnston County Nursery Association and the JCRA had joined forces for a plant promotion program called Choice Plants.

The Cornus collection, drawn by Sue Aldworth, was the focus of the 2015 t-shirt design.

Drawing inspiration from the intricate patterns found in nature, the 2024 Ephemeral Art Committee proudly presents "Leafing Out" at the JC Raulston Arboretum. This display features over 60 delicately crafted fabric leaves that sway gently in the breeze, adorning the garden with their beauty. Each leaf stands as a testament to the dedication and skill of the many volunteers and artists who poured their hearts into their creation. Rustic twig and rebar sculptures along with brightly colored cast leaves further enhance the landscape, welcoming visitors with their textures and shapes.

Among the highlights is a stunning stained glass "Tree of Life," catching the sunlight and captivating viewers with its array of leaf shapes and colors. Adding a touch of whimsy is the "Selfie Circle," inviting visitors to capture special memories in the garden.

Yet "Leafing Out" is more than just an exhibition — it's a celebration of impermanence. Like the changing seasons, the artworks on display are ephemeral, destined to evolve over time as nature takes its course.

Behind the scenes, the dedicated efforts of Becky Glass and her team of volunteers shine through. Jenny Mullinax and Sonya Fox meticulously worked on fabric leaf prototypes, while Sonya and Becky organized workshops and fine-tuned instructions with Jenny's experimentation. This project expanded beyond our traditional volunteers — the husbands got involved. Mark Glass provided invaluable support with tools and logistics, and Charlie Mullinax contributed innovative ideas for hanging the fabric leaves. Feedback from neighbors further enriched the process, making leaf-making a topic of many dinner conversations.

A banana leaf was used to create this 5 foot cast concrete leaf sculpture on the Lath House

Art in the Garden Endowment

Douglas Chapman and Emily Reece recently created a new endowment supporting art in the garden at JC Raulston Arboretum. Douglas, founder of Plantworks Nursery, is a respected leader in the North Carolina nursery industry and former president of the JC Raulston Arboretum Board of Advisors. Emily is a retired art teacher and a talented artist whose work has been exhibited and sold across several states. Their combined passion for horticulture and art is the driving force behind this endowment. Motivated by the creativity and legacy of our founder, Dr. J. C. Raulston, this endowment aims to celebrate his unconventional approach and his ability to inspire a generation of young horticulturists to challenge industry norms and seek creative solutions. The endowment hopes to foster a space where art and horticulture intersect, enriching the JC Raulston Arboretum and continuing to inspire students, professionals and the public.

Currently on display in the gardens, Phil Hathcock’s sculpture "Core" reveals the interior colors and textures of stones from across the state.