1) Acer circinatum (Vine maple)
- Taken for granted around here, this time of year our vine maple is most eye-catching in flower.
- Located throughout our native matrix as a deciduous forest understory tree.
- Vine maple is native to the North American west coast from British Columbia to California.
2) Acer cissifolium (Vine-leaf maple)
- Despite their similar common names, vine maple and vine-leaf maple could hardly be more different. The Acer cissifolium leaf is compound, composed of three leaflets; Acer circinatum has almost round leaves. The flowers of Acer cissifolium have four petals (unusual for a maple) and are arranged in racemes while those of Acer circinatum are five-petaled and in panicles.
- Acer cissifolium is native to Japan. In the Arboretum, it is located in Rhododendron Glen (12-3E) and in the Asiatic Maples (27-B).
3) Broussonetia kazinoki
- The inner bark is prized in Japan for making high-quality paper.
- A related species Broussonetia paperifera (paper mulberry) is used for paper from Myanmar to Japan and in Polynesia for the paper-like “tapa cloth”.
- The fruit begin to develop before the flowers produce pollen.
- Our Broussonetia is north of the Winter Garden in 35-3E and 36-2E.
4) Rhododendron augustinii
- Provides the mauve backdrop for the beds along Azalea Way and in Rhododendron Glen.
- One of many plants discovered by and named for Augustine Henry in western China.
5) Viburnum macrocephalum
- A China native introduced by Robert Fortune in 1844.
- Located in the Pacific Connections China Entry Garden.