Magnolia x soulangeana 'Alexandrina'

Alexandrina Saucer Magnolia

Saucer magnolia Alexandrina produces large fragrant velvety flowers featuring tepals that are reddish purple on the outside and white on the inside. This cultivar was first selected in 1831 in France. The flowering display on this earlier flowering cultivar is sometimes cut short by late spring freezes.

Members of the genus Magnolia are known for the stunning beauty of their usually large flowers, which emerge prior to the foliage in spring, and are often fragrant. While shades of pink are the most common bloom color, the Magnolia palette also includes white, yellows and purples. Another dominant feature is a prominent fruiting body of small follicles forming a cone-like shape. The species range from small trees to very large trees and shrubs.

Magnolias are an ancient genus that appeared before bees; early pollinators are believed to have been beetles. They are native to eastern and southeastern Asia and eastern North America, Central and South America; most are not hardy in the Chicago region. Buds and blooms of the magnolias that do thrive here are often subject to damage from cold spring nights. The genus includes of 300 species and numerous hybrids and cultivars. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes almost 60 varieties of magnolia and more than 150 plants.

Magnolia stellata 'Centennial'

Centennial Star Magnolia

Centennial star magnolia was introduced in 1972 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Arnold Arboretum. It is a hardy early spring bloomer. The fragrant white flowers feature 28-33 tepals.

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Delft Blue'

Delft Blue Dutch Hyacinth

Delft Blue hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis 'Delft Blue') is a beautiful, soft lilac-blue flowered, short-lived perennial for Chicago-area gardens that flowers in early spring. The dozens of florets clustered around the central flower stalk are all wonderfully fragrant. A favorite for forcing indoors for winter bloom, this cultivar was introduced in the waning years of World War II by the noted Dutch flower breeder J.W.A. Lefeber. Plants survive outdoors in the Chicago area for four to five seasons, with the flowers in years two through five less densely packed on the flower spike, which looks more graceful in the garden.

Narcissus 'Fortissimo'

Fortissimo Large-cupped Daffodil

Large bright yellow petals surround the deep orange to red, slightly frilly cup on this large cup narcissus that naturalizes well. Plant in full sun in moderately fertile soils in among perennials, trees and shrubs that will keep the soils during the dormant period in mid-summer from staying too wet. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators but is disliked by deer, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks.

Mertensia virginica

Virginia Bluebells

This native woodland perennial, which has blue-green leaves that appear in early spring, grows up to 18 inches tall in partial shade. Use it as a spring native plant or in the naturalistic garden. Clusters of pink flower buds turn to bluish purple and open to reveal true blue flowers in late April. By midsummer, its leaves turn yellow and disappear. One of the earliest perennials, Virginia bluebells bloom along with narcissus and other spring bulbs. This perennial naturalizes well under deciduous trees. Virginia bluebells is in the borage family, along with forget-me-nots and heliotrope.

This is a Budburst featured plant at the Garden.