What’s in Bloom

As Fall approaches, weather hardy blooms persist in the parks. Crapemyrtle, Stonecrop and Anemone are currently flowering on the Greenway.

Robust Grapeleaf Anemone (Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’)

The Anemone are still blooming throughout the parks, with beautifully flowering Anemone x hybrida ‘Whirlwind’ and ‘Pamina’ highlighting the Dewey Square and Fort Point Channel Parks and Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ and Anemone ‘Max Vogel’ putting out a flush of blooms in the North End Parks. The Grapeleaf Anemone (Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’) are looking especially bountiful this week, producing a plethora of gracefully cascading globe-like buds atop wiry stems that open to reveal light pink flowers. These will continue to flower into the fall. This windflower is among the most adaptable of its genus and is quick to naturalize an area. It does well in full sun, but is best in a protected, partially shady environment.

Robust Grapeleaf Anemone

Lady Stonecrop (Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’)

The Lady Stonecrops are looking lovely in the Fort Point Channel Parks along with related Neon Showy Stonecrops. Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ has long-blooming pink flowers and grayish-green leaves, and can stand at up to two feet tall. The stonecrop’s thick succulent water-storing foliage makes these plants much more drought-tolerant than other hardy perennials in New England, and thus has boosted their popularity amongst gardeners.

Lady Stonecrop

Red Rocket Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit IV’ Red Rocket)

Four selections of Crapemyrtle are blooming in the Urban Arboretum. Previously highlighted Lagerstroemia indica ‘Pink Velour’ is still flush with bright pink blooms, along with white and burgundy-flowered ‘Burgundy Cotton’ and late-flowering ‘Zuni’ and ‘Red Rocket’. Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit IV’ Red Rocket has beautiful bright red flower clusters that will bloom until the frost.

Red Rocket Crapemyrtle