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Eleanor Cabot Bradley Collection of Rosaceous Plants

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1. Rosa 'Duchesse de Montebello'
2. Rubus cockburnianus, Ghost Bramble
3. Rosa Scarlet Meidiland^TM
4. Neviusia alabamensis, Alabama Snow-wreath
5. Rosa primula, Primrose Rose
6. Malus sieboldii
7. Chaenomeles x superba 'Mandarin', Mandarin Flowering Quince
8. Sorbus yuana, Mountainash
9. Spiraea virginiana
10. Amelanchier nantucketensis, Nantucket Juneberry
11. Sorbaria sorbifolia, Ural Falsespirea
12. Prunus sargentii, Sargent's Cherry

Located in the southeastern corner of the Arnold Arboretum, the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Collection of Rosaceous Plants provides both an opportunity for scientific study and a welcoming space for visitors. The three-acre site had previously been used for a nursery as well as for the first shrub and vine garden at the Arboretum. The collection was formally dedicated to Eleanor Cabot Bradley (1893-1990) in June 1985, in honor of her generous gift of endowment.

Rosaceae, or the rose family, contains 3,000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Although diverse in habit, each of the 3,000 bear flowers with five petals and numerous stamens at the center. Other attributes shared by some, though not all, of the species include thorns or prickles along the stem and edible fruits.

Featured Rosaceous Plants

The following twelve plants exhibit the diverse features found in the rose family and illustrate the Arboretum's role in plant conservation and distribution. These twelve can serve as a starting point for exploration of the entire garden. Each of the plants below bears a gold label rather than the typical copper label found on most Arboretum plants. It tells how and when the plant was incorporated into the Arboretum's collection.

Rosa 'Duchesse de Montebello'
Mrs. Bradley, the rosaceous collection's benefactor, donated these specimens of her favorite rose from her own garden in Canton, Massachusetts. An old garden rose, Mrs. Bradley's rose has a fragrant, rosy pink flower that matures to a flesh-pink. Unlike most roses, the stems of 'Duchesse de Montebello' are almost completely thornless.

Rubus cockburnianus
During the growing season, visitors might wonder about the common name of this plant—Ghost Bramble. However, once winter's cold arrives, its derivation becomes apparent. After leaf drop, the stems become bright white and seem to glow. Yet this extraordinary trait fades in spring and summer, as the plant blends quietly into anonymity. Though its flowers are an attractive rose-purple, they are not showy and commonly go unnoticed.

Rosa Scarlet Meidiland^TM
The Meidiland series of roses was developed for its resistance to black spot and mildew. For about four weeks in early summer, Scarlet Meidiland^TM is draped with double, scarlet-red blossoms, after which it will flower sporadically until frost. Its glossy green foliage and low growing habit (about three to four feet) make Scarlet Meidiland^TM a good choice for any garden.

Neviusia alabamensis
An unusual shrub that is unknown to many plantspeople, the alabama snow-wreath occurs naturally only in Alabama (along the Black Warrior River near Tuscaloosa), Arkansas, and Missouri. In mid May, it is covered in feathery, white flowers that lack petals. The showy part of the flower is its pollen-producing stamens—a collection of long, white filaments tipped with yellow pollen. The snow-wreath has lovely arching branches, but without regular pruning it may appear unkempt.

Rosa primula
The first true rose to bloom in our rosaceous collection, the primrose rose is remarkable for its very finely textured foliage. The leaves are light blue-green and shiny; on a sunny, breezy day, they literally glisten. The peak of bloom is in late May, when its single, pale yellow flowers exude a wonderful fragrance. In fact, the blossoms are not the only part of the plant that releases scent; its foliage gives off a distinctive, fruity aroma. Even in winter, Rosa primula is a sight to see: its red hips and bright red-purple branches and thorns add color to an otherwise dull landscape.

Malus sieboldii
Charles Sprague Sargent, the Arboretum's first director, collected seed for Malus sieboldii in Honshu, Japan, and introduced the plant to North America in 1892. The tree is considered rare in its native habitat. The fragrant, white to pale pink flowers emerge from pink buds. The fruit of the species persists well into winter and can range in color from yellow to red; this individual displays crabapples of an eye-catching yellow-orange. The shape of the tree is particularly attractive; in youth its dense branching is relatively ascending. As the tree matures, it develops a more mounded habit.

Chaenomeles x superba 'Mandarin'
The mandarin flowering quince is distinguished from its relatives by its disease-resistant foliage. Other flowering quinces are often infected with unsightly leaf maladies that cause early defoliation. 'Mandarin', however, holds its lustrous, green leaves untainted until frost. Its single flowers are bright red-orange, emerging prior to the leaves. The yellow-green fruits, though not highly ornamental, are lightly fragrant and edible; they are sometimes used to make jams. This tough plant has the added benefit of tolerance to pollution and salt spray.

Sorbus yuana
A relatively new introduction by the Arnold Arboretum, this mountainash was collected in China by Stephen Spongberg, the Arboretum's taxonomist from 1970 to 1998. Spongberg represented the Arboretum on the 1980 Sino-American Botanical Expedition, which included both Chinese and American botanists who worked in cooperation to collect and distribute plant material. The tree produces large clusters of white flowers in spring, followed in fall by cherry-red, ovoid fruits and golden yellow foliage. Its ultimate size and habit are not yet known, but it shows promise as an ornamental for North American landscapes. Nearby this individual is another specimen with more upright branches.

Amelanchier nantucketensis
Historically found growing naturally only on the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, the nantucket juneberry has the dubious distinction of being a rare and endangered plant. It grows here as a part of the Arboretum's conservation efforts as a member of the Center for Plant Conservation.* As a CPC plant, it is protected from future extinction through study of cultural needs, maintenance of live specimens, and storage of seeds. It reaches about four feet in height and, through suckering, forms colonies of about six feet across. The five-petaled, white flowers develop into blue, berry-like fruits in mid June. The fruit is sweet and relished by birds (and people). Taxonomically the genus Amelanchier is confused; with advances in molecular studies of plants, we may find that the nantucket juneberry is more widespread than currently believed. If you look closely around this area, you will find other individuals of this species.

Spiraea virginiana
Another Center for Plant Conservation plant, Spiraea virginiana is threatened in its native habitat by fast-growing herbaceous plants and vines that outcompete the species. It grows naturally in the southern Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Plateau provinces on the banks of rocky streams and moist bottomlands. The plant's fibrous root system with heavy lateral branches helps it to survive floods, which may occur regularly in its natural habitat. If the top of the plant is swept away by heavy flood waters, the strong root system will regenerate it. Though its flowers are not particularly showy, the yellowish green to white blooms are evident in mid summer. Several other plants of this species grow in this same area.

Sorbaria sorbifolia
Though the flowers of the ural falsespirea are quite similar to those of spirea (as the common name suggests), its compound-leaved foliage suggests its membersh in the genus Sorbus. One of the first shrubs to leaf out in spring, the new foliage emerges with a reddish tint and turns deep green at maturity. The white flowers are held in large, feathery panicles at the branch tips, making an excellent floral show in early to mid summer. This fast-growing plant spreads quickly by suckers to form large colonies.

Prunus sargentii
These very desirable plants with four seasons of interest can be hard to come by. Sargent's cherry—named for the Arboretum's first director, C.S. Sargent—is one of them. With its shiny, reddish-brown bark, the tree is truly outstanding in winter, especially when dusted with snow. Its single, pink flowers bloom from late April into May, giving way soon after to the new leaves, which emerge with a reddish tint. In fall the leaves turn bronze to red making an exceptional display. Three plants of variety with a more upright form, 'Columnaris', are planted across from the species. It is easy to see why Sargent considered this to be a spectacular discovery as he traveled through Japan.

*The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is a coalition of organizations that develops and undertakes programs to conserve and recover the rare native plants of the United States. CPC institutions act as rare native plant repositories, as well as local and regional centers for rare native plant research, education, and restoration.