1)  Chamaecyparis pisifera  ‘Plumosa Compressa’                      Dwarf Sawara Cypress

Roy Farrow

• This cultivar of the Japanese native, Sawara Cypress, has soft blue-green foliage.
• Growing only one to six inches per year, this 50 year-old specimen can be seen just at the entrance to the Graham Visitors Center along Arboretum Drive.

2)  Corylus maxima  ‘Atropurpurea Superba’                                   Purple Giant Filbert

Roy Farrow

• This cultivar of the Giant Filbert, or Hazel, produces long red male catkins in winter before the bright red young leaves emerge.
• This species is native to southeastern Europe into western Asia and is one parent of the hybrid filbert (Corylus maxima x avellana) that is commercially grown for nuts.
• The Purple Giant Filbert can be seen along Azalea Way in the lilac bed and in the Witt Winter Garden.

3)  Cotoneaster conspicuus                                                                Tibetan Cotoneaster

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• This species of Cotoneaster is native to Tibet and grows in a stiffly arching habit.
• The bright orange-red pommes are not attractive to birds and so persist through the winter.
• View several of these plants along the northern border of the Graham Visitors Center parking lot.

4)  Daphne bholua                                                                                Nepalese Paper Daphne

Roy Farrow

• In its native range, the fiber from the bark of this Daphne is used in making paper and rope.
• Though collected in the Himalayan Mountains, this Daphne is on its edge of hardiness in Seattle.
• This upright shrub is covered in pinkish-white flowers pouring out sweet fragrance in the Witt Winter Garden.

5)   Schefflera alpina                                                                             Alpine Schefflera

Roy Farrow

• This species of Schefflera is native to northern Vietnam and may grow into a small tree.
• The palmate leaves are red to maroon in color when young and though tropical-looking, will persist all winter in Seattle.
• Find young examples of this species in the Rhododendron Glen along the Ridgetop Trail as well as in a container on the south courtyard of the Graham Visitors Center.