What makes a plant “water smart”? There are plenty of plants that tolerate periodic drought, and many of them are old favorites that your grandmother probably grew: shrub roses, lilacs, oriental poppies, bearded iris and even hostas. These were classic mainstays of the traditional garden for a reason. While they may get a little stressed during dry stretches of weather, it doesn’t take much to get them through until the next good rain comes along, and they usually multiply enough to pass along to friends and neighbors as well.</p> But some plants just like</em> it dry, thriving in that spot that you thought was hopeless precisely because</em> it has lean soil and never stays wet for long. These are plants that would actually resent the frequent watering that most gardens rely on. The Roads Water-Smart Garden can go for weeks or months without any supplemental water, and this is in a hot, south-facing location against a building! It is never watered more than once a week during hot, dry weather and never more than a dozen times a year—often less.</p> There are dozens of real gems in this garden from arid regions around the world. Here are some of the stars:</p> Salvias</strong>: S. microphylla</em>, S. coahuilensis</em> and S. greggii</em> (hybrids and cultivars include ‘Wild Thing’, ‘Mes Azur’, ‘Furman’s Red’). These are loosely referred to as “autumn sage” and many other species and cultivars exist. Hailing from central Texas and throughout the Southwest and Mexico, these like plenty of sun and good drainage. Trim down to about 4 inches each spring and they will do the rest. Their vibrant colors will attract hummingbirds for months!</p> Wild buckwheats: </strong>The genus Eriogonum</em> is especially abundant in the western U.S., often favoring dry slopes and poor soils that other species find less appealing. Eriogonum umbellatum</em> is a variable native species. Its vast range (Alaska to Mexico!) results in many regional forms, and one of the best is from right here in western Colorado. The Plant Select®-honored ‘Psdowns’ KANNAH CREEK® grows as a short, wiry shrub with glowing lemon-yellow clusters of flowers in late spring into summer. Its dried rusty-hued flowers persist into fall and winter.</p> Penstemon</em>: </strong>This could be a long list, as this genus is at its best in the Southwest. A short “you must grow” list would include P. barbatus, P. pinifolius, P. grandiflorus, P. eatonii, P. pseudospectabilis, P. palmeri </em>– okay, there is no such thing as a “short” list of good penstemons! Using multiple species from the high, dry Southwest can extend your flowering season from May to October, in heights from 6 inches to 6 feet, and all these tubular flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds!</p> Delosperma</em>: </strong>Commonly known as ice plants, the hardy Delosperma</em> were unknown in cultivation until our own Panayoti Kelaidis began to experiment in the 1990s with an obscure purple species (D. cooperi</em>) from South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains. Superbly adapted to Colorado conditions, they now come in a rainbow of colors and are a mainstay of xeric gardens across the nation. Several are scattered through the Roads Water-Smart Garden, but be sure to see the dazzling carpets of them in the Steppe Garden, Plant Select Garden and elsewhere. Standouts include Lavender Ice, GRANITA® Raspberry, and MESA VERDE®, all with shimmering flowers that nearly obscure the plants when in bloom.</p> Bulbs: </strong>This is a broad category, but so many are perfectly adapted to Colorado conditions that a few have to be highlighted. Those that thrive have a few things in common: They take advantage of abundant seasonal moisture, producing their leaves and flowers during our wettest season (April-early June). Their foliage dries out and disappears as our season gets warmer and drier. They all tolerate long periods of cold, dry conditions. Bold and colorful choices include foxtail lilies (Eremurus</em>), ornamental onions (Allium</em>) and the smaller “species tulips” and crocus—these are the original forms that most hybrids were developed from, and they are especially durable and resilient for many years in the right conditions.</p> Keep in mind that the Roads Water-Smart Garden alone has hundreds</em> of other species that create a year-round progression of color and texture, drawing on plants from similar climates around the world. The extended list would be very long indeed: Yucca</em>, Agastache</em>, Dianthus</em>, Acantholimon</em>, Ericameria</em>, Opuntia</em>, Hesperaloe</em>, Iris</em>, Arctostaphylos</em>, Sedum</em>, Lavandula</em>, Thymus, Papaver, Crambe</em> . . . you get the idea. This theme is echoed in the Steppe Garden, Dryland Mesa, Sacred Earth, the Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden, Plant Select Garden and parts of the Rock Alpine Garden. Visit us often to see what each changing season brings!</p> </p> Note: </em></strong>Not everything featured in this blog post or gallery is in bloom now, but should be throughout the month.</em></p> </p>
For most, the word “evergreen” evokes the thought of a pine, spruce or fir tree. These are the trees that give year-round structure to our gardens and provide points to hold our attention and direct our focus. They are the forests that we cut for timber, paper and fuel. Without the dominance of the evergreen in the boreal kingdom we would surely have much poorer and colder lives.</p> While these giants provide much for us there are many other plants that share the designation and description of evergreen. To simplify and to broaden the term, evergreen means something that holds on to its photosynthetic tissue for at least a full year. Given this broader definition we can walk the garden in a new light of appreciation for evergreen plants.</p> From the moment you enter the Gardens you are greeted by a long hedge of our native Juniperus</em> </em>scopulorum </em>(Rocky Mountain juniper).</em> This scale-forming evergreen is many things to the O’Fallon Perennial Walk. It is the greenscreen before which a yearlong ballet of color and form dance. Its sheer height creates the illusion of a much larger, grander space. The rather formal specimens that comprise this hedge are nothing like what you would find growing tortured and wild in our adjacent foothills.</p> Moving past the perennial garden we encounter another structural wonder, but this time there is a splash of color and sense of delight and movement. The Romantic Gardens’ allée is created with Thuja</em> </em>occidentalis</em> </em>‘Yellow Ribbon’. Here in front of these glowing spires hundreds of couples have sworn sacred oaths.</p> Some sort or form of evergreen plant can be found in every garden on our campus but there is one garden that is themed just to showcase unique mutations in traditional evergreens. This is the Dwarf Conifer Collection. Most trees in this garden have some form of mutated, stunted or deviant growth habit and are clustered together to highlight how special and different these variants can be. Many of these plants have been collected in the Rocky Mountains and are grafted onto a “normal” root stock. Finding and propagating “dwarf conifers” is an entire industry in and of itself. Collectors from around the world come to study and evaluate these fascinating plants.</p> Up till now we have talked about mostly coniferous plants and how we associate them as having evergreen foliage. But another important group of plants can be seen on the east face of Dryland Mesa. The plants here are what we term broadleaf evergreens and their scientific name is Arctostaphylos.</em> These shrubs are very important members of our western flora and represent examples of species from Colorado and neighboring states. Most have round, thick, almost leathery leaves that have a soft green glow and are possibly best appreciated with a background of snow to accentuate the exfoliating rust-colored bark and the dancing green leaves. Wild and beautiful, these are specimens that are left largely untouched and allowed to grow to whatever form the local climate dictates.</p> The broadleaved evergreen Arctostaphylos</em> x coloradensis</em> has so many attractive qualities that staff member Larry Jackel has turned a rooted cutting of one into a bonsai. This selection blooms quite early and often goes on display in Marnie's Pavilion while in full flower in February.</p> A little farther on there is another example of a broadleaf evergreen. Used as a foundation planting and sculpted as a hedge, garden boxwoods (Buxus </em>‘Green Velvet’) are grown to create separation in the garden beds of Le Potager.</p>
With very few exceptions, January flowers are hard to come by in a Colorado landscape. Not so in the tropical plant collections at Denver Botanic Gardens. The Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, Marnie’s Pavilion and the Orangery are a perfect venue for your winter floral fix.</p> Clerodendrum </em>× speciosum</em> is a sterile natural hybrid that can be found in tropical regions of Africa. It’s hard to miss the bright orange flowers on this sprawling vine. Look closely and you’ll see that once the flowers have dropped, a bright purple calyx is left behind giving the impression that this plant is almost always in bloom. Look for this vine about halfway through the Tropical Conservatory on the south side.</p> A little further along the south path is a beautiful specimen of Dombeya elegans</em> – a hibiscus relative from southeast Africa. This plant is prized in tropical landscapes for its profuse winter blooms and it drought tolerance.</p> Cross to the north side of the Tropical Conservatory for a beautiful display from Heliconia orthotricha.</em> This species is native to Ecuador and naturally has many color variations. Ours is a bright mix of orange, red and yellow. You can’t miss it.</p> Exiting into Marnie’s Pavilion, take a moment to appreciate the powder-puff-like blossoms of Calliandra surinamensis</em>. In the wild, members of this genus cover a wide range. But as the name implies, Calliandra surinamensis</em> can be found growing wild in Surinam as well as other parts of northern South America. The colorful flowers of the legume attract nectar-feeding birds and butterflies.</p> You can finish your tour of blossoms in the Orangery where you can relax and enjoy the display of orchids in our annual Orchid Showcase, Jan. 10 – Feb. 17, 2019. Hundreds of blossoms will help you forget the worries of the day and plenty of benches are available for you to sit and decompress.</p>
From the moment your lungs take in that first breath of warm, comforting and humid air you know you have entered the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. The Tropical Conservatory is home to over 550 species of plants spanning 306 genera from 87 plant families from all over the world. You have probably seen many epiphytes on previous visits but maybe didn’t know what they were. Read on and I shall cast some light on these wonderful oddities!</p> Epiphytes are organisms that grow on the surface of host plants, often attaching themselves with strong roots. They obtain moisture from the air and nutrients from debris around them. A common example of this would be Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides</em>) growing off of a tree branch. Epiphytes differ from parasites in that they attach only for physical support, not for food or water. They are found in every major group of the plant kingdom, including some species of algae growing under water. The Tropical Conservatory is host to many epiphytes, and they come in many different forms.</p> As you enter the Tropical Conservatory from the east end, take a few steps in and look up to the right. In a planter pocket of the rock ledge grows an exciting epiphytic orchid, Grammatophyllum speciosum</em>. Native to Indonesia, it is also known as the sugar cane orchid, because of the appearance of the pseudobulbs. The largest plant was recorded as weighing more than a ton and each raceme can bear up to 80 scented flowers. It can remain in bloom for up to 2 months.</p> Continue down the path, past the duck pond and up the stairs to the main level. From the top of the stairs turn right and look at the wall. Here you will see Platycerium bifurcatum</em>, or staghorn fern, mounted here. It is native to Java, New Guinea and southeastern Australia. They require consistent moisture and shady locations. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Its common name comes from the appearance of the dissected fronds.</p> The final plant on our epiphytic journey is an amazing silvery plant called Tillandsia tectorum</em>. It is found at the top of the treehouse, the highest point you can get to in the Tropical Conservatory. It has many thin, very silvery leaves and loves high light and heat. This plant is native to Peru and Ecuador. In late summer it gets a lovely light purple/pink bloom that can last for several months. This species is well suited to Colorado because of its love of low humidity and intense sunlight and makes a great plant for you to try at home.</p>
When we think about late-season garden interest, fall asters and tawny grass textures might come to mind, or perhaps the smoldering reds and oranges of autumn foliage. But plants can also offer ornamental value through their fruit whether they are berries, drupes or pommes (yes, they are all unique!).</p> Here are five plants that have distinct fruits that add to their ornamental value, especially in the autumn and winter:</p> Berberis haematocarpa</strong></em> (Red Barberry)</strong></h2> One of the toughest broadleaf evergreen shrubs available for Colorado’s Front Range, red barberry opens the year with yellow nectar-rich flowers that give way to large red berries</strong> that ripen in late summer. Haematocarpa</em> literally means “red fruit,” and like others in the family, this barberry’s fruits are true berries. Berries are distinct from other fruits because they are produced from a single flower that contains one ovary and the seeds are usually embedded in the fleshy part of the fruit rather than contained within a hard pit or papery core. The best examples of Berberis haematocarpa</em> are located on the western edge of Dryland Mesa</strong> just across from the Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden.</p> Crataegus ambigua </strong></em>(Russian Hawthorn)</strong></h2> Introduced through the Plant Select® program in 2011, Russian hawthorn is an adaptable small tree that flowers profusely in the spring and develops clusters of bright red pommes</strong> that persist even after its leaves have fallen for the winter. Pommes are unlike berries and drupes in that they have a distinct core that contains multiple seeds. Found only among members of the rose family (in the apple subtribe of Rosaceae to be exact), pears and apples are some of the most common edible examples of pommes. You can find three excellent specimens of Crataegus ambigua </em>just east of Monet Pool </strong>on the northernmost edge of the Darlene Radichel Plant Select Garden. Check out the crabapple trees lining either side of Shady Lane </strong>for more examples of ornamental pommes.</p> Berberis repens</strong></em> (Creeping Oregon Grape)</strong></h2> If you have dry shade in your garden, this is the plant for you. A sprawling, low-growing native shrub that is xeric, evergreen and produces large clusters of dark blue berries </strong>in the autumn. The berries are edible, though they are quite bitter and best with added sugar in a jam. Even if you don’t use the berries, songbirds will appreciate the food during the winter months. You can find large stands of Berberis repens</em> forming a ground cover around the Ella Mullen Weckbaugh Tea House in the Japanese Garden</strong> and sprinkled throughout the understory of the Gates Montane Garden</strong>.</p> Prunus</strong></em> × </strong>virginiana </strong></em>SUCKER PUNCH® (Choke Cherry)</strong></h2> Choke cherries are some of the very best plants you can grow to support wildlife across the entire food chain. They are a larval host plant to a least 300 species of butterflies and moths and their dark purple drupes </strong>are a favorite food of songbirds. Drupes are distinguished from other fleshy fruits by the hard stone, or pit, at their center. Plums, peaches and apricots are classic examples of edible drupes. SUCKER PUNCH is a non-suckering hybrid form of Prunus virginiana</em> with the upright growth habit of a small tree. You can find two examples on the east side of the Darlene Radichel Plant Select Garden</strong>.</p> Symphoricarpos albus</strong></em> (Snowberry)</strong></h2> Featuring clustered white berries</strong> that remain on the stems all winter long, snowberries provide a unique form of winter interest in the garden. During the growing season, the arching stems of this rounded shrub hold small oval-shaped leaves. Snowberries are not edible by humans, but birds and small mammals utilize the fruit throughout the winter months, which adds to this plant’s considerable wildlife value. You can find a large colony of Symphoricarpos albus</em> across from the Nexus Garden</strong> and several other specimens scattered along the south edge of the Bill Hosokawa Bonsai Pavilion</strong>. </p>
This is less of a walking tour and more of a destination exploration. The striking installation on the eastern end of the boardwalk in Denver Botanic Gardens' Birds and Bees Walk was designed to showcase the intricate relationships between natural materials and wildlife. This sculptural and organic installation combines artistry with ecological functionality, emphasizing the essential role of natural elements in fostering biodiversity. Let’s dive into the intricacies together:</p> 1. Dead Wood and Bark</h3> The primary layer is built from reclaimed dead wood and large expanses of bark, reflecting the vital role decaying trees play in ecosystems. These natural materials create a lattice of crevices and cavities that mimic the shelter provided by tree trunks. Birds, insects and other small animals find refuge here.</p> 2. Insect Hotels</h3> Nestled within are clusters of small sticks and hollow plant stems. These provide solitary bees, such as mason and leafcutter bees, with safe nesting sites. The carefully arranged hotels demonstrate how simple interventions can support pollinators, whose activities are crucial for plant reproduction and ecosystem health.</p> 3. Material Pockets</h3> This installation was designed as an extensive material library; a place where any creature can take or borrow what it might need. Often overlooked as mere waste or mulch, these materials are carefully arranged in woolen pockets that hang throughout the structure, holding leaves, pine needles, duff and fibers for nest-building and shelter.</p> 4. The Tapestry of Fibers</h3> Woven into the design are strands of natural fibers like grass, cotton, wool, silk and flax. These fibers provide birds with vital nesting materials and insects with safe hiding spots. Can you spot fibers from this structure repurposed in nearby trees or bushes to form intricate nests? </p> 5. Bird Houses</h3> Each birdhouse varies in size and shape, accommodating different species like chickadees, wrens or bluebirds, with tailored entryways and internal dimensions. Beyond their practical function, these havens demonstrate the importance of intentional design in supporting wildlife through offering safe spaces for birds to nest, rest and raise their young.</p> More than an installation, this is a living example of how human creativity and natural processes can merge to foster biodiversity. How can you create more space for other creatures in your own life?</p> To explore the structures of the Birds and Bees Walk further, read Bring Out Your Dead! Complex Spaces in the Habitat Gardens</a>. </p> </p>
When I was in art school, Spiderwoman Theater, an Indigenous women’s performance troupe, performed at the school. During the Q&A, one of my classmates asked the artists what their tribe thought of them doing modern performance art. Their answer: Many Indigenous people view art as a part of life – just as music, food and nature are a part of life. Everything is connected. This reply has always stuck with me, and this interconnection is always apparent here at Denver Botanic Gardens. Art, music, food and nature are intertwined. Follow this walking tour to explore some of these connections. </p> The gardens that surround the UMB Bank Amphitheater</strong> represent our Colorado landscapes. Although the Summer Concert Series has passed us by, the musical sounds of the plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides</em> ssp. monilifera</em>) leaves fluttering in the wind can be heard in the Grant Family Cottonwood Border.</strong> Don’t forget about the zipping of the hummingbirds moving from Roads Water-Smart Garden</strong> to the Ponderosa Border</strong> in search of a snack and a place to rest. Once Blossoms of Light®</strong> opens for the holiday season, you will get to hear new music that accompanies the synchronized light show in the amphitheater. </li> Meander over toward the Science Pyramid</strong>, and you will find the artwork “Feature Fountain” by Wright McLaughlin. This four-tower fountain is a popular spot to sit and have a bite to eat, listen to the rushing waters and look out onto many of our aquatic gems of waterlilies and cannas (Nymphaea</em> and Canna</em>). Don’t leave until you walk through the annual display of gorgeous blooms of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta</em>), dahlias (Dahlia</em>) and more in the Fountain Bed Garden.</strong></li> Now, head down the path past the Ornamental Grasses Garden</strong>, making sure to take in the beauty of the sculpture “So Proud of My Children” by Nicholas Kadzungura, which is surrounded by the soft colors of Kudos Mandarin Hyssop (Agastache</em> ‘Kudos Mandarin’), and make your way through June’s PlantAsia</strong>. </li> You will notice some exciting renovations on the southside of June’s PlantAsia</strong>, as well as within the Birds and Bees Walk</strong>. Here you will find many places to sit and enjoy mature trees like lacebark pines (Pinus bungeana</em>) or walk along the boardwalk to see our brand-new “habitat hotel district” (artistic walls for insects to nest and overwinter). We couldn’t be more excited to share this habitat paradise with our visitors!</li> Getting tired? Head over to the Hive Garden Bistro</strong> for a bite to eat and a cool drink (I recommend an agua fresca). There’s never a bad time of year to sit on the deck and enjoy the views of Monet Pool</strong>. As we move closer to fall and winter, the view from the deck will transition from a sea of blooms in the pool and the creative, artistic kitchen garden, Le Potager Garden</strong>, to pumpkin displays for Glow at the Gardens™</strong> and then Blossoms of Light</strong>. </li> </ul> The coming months still offer musical soundscapes for our fall and holiday events, delicious food and drinks from our restaurants, and artwork throughout the grounds (explore the galleries in the Freyer – Newman Center </strong>during your visit) and nature. So. much. nature. Enjoy what life has to offer: art, music, food, nature. Everything is connected. </p>
