Background
Fun Facts
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The process of scientific inquiry at the Arnold Arboretum has led to the development of well-known introductions. Former director and scientist, Professor Karl Sax’s plant breeding research, which spanned the 1930s through the 1950s, resulted in Forsythia ‘Arnold Giant’ and Forsythia ‘Arnold Dwarf’. His work in the crabapple collection yielded Malus ‘Mary Potter’ and numerous other excellent crabapples, some of which are yet to have been fully evaluated and named.
In this 1959 photo by Heman Howard, Karl Sax is seen with a grafted dwarf apple tree, one of his many research interests at the Arboretum. Archives of the Arnold Arboretum Introductions of the Arnold Arboretum would not have been so successful and numerous without the keen observations and enthusiastic promotion by the Arboretum’s agents. Cultivars Malus ‘Dorothea’, found by arboretum horticulturist Donald Wyman, and Stewartia ‘Scarlet Sentinel’, found by director of the living collections and researcher Peter Del Tredici, were discovered as chance seedlings growing among the living collections. Wyman was a champion of Arboretum introductions, promoting and distributing plants far and wide. Del Tredici oversaw the Arboretum’s first formal Plant Introduction Promotion and Distribution program (PIPD) between 1996 – 2001.
Many introductions were developed in collaboration with Arnold Arboretum’s friends and neighbors, who observed plants with unique traits in their gardens. Magnolia × thompsoniana ‘Cairn Croft’, a cultivar of the first described hybrid magnolia, is a product of such a partnership. It was brought to the Arboretum in 1998 by Kevin Doyle, a horticulturist on an estate in nearby Westwood, Massachusetts. It was introduced by Peter Del Tredici, then senior research scientist at the Arboretum, in 2006.
William (Ned) Friedman Throughout the Arboretum’s history, expeditions have led to the introduction of many valuable ornamental plants, though sometimes the process of identifying a plant with potential and the importation of viable seeds can span decades. The original specimens of the seven-son flower, Heptacodium miconiodes, were sent as herbarium specimens by explorer Ernest Henry Wilson in 1907. During the 1980 Sino-American Expedition Stephen Spongberg, then director of the Arboretum, collaborated with a team of scientists and returned with viable seed from the Hangzhou Botanical Garden in China. Softwood cuttings from these seedlings were distributed throughout North America by the Arboretum in 1986.
Jon Hetman Arnold Introductions
Since the founding of the Arnold Arboretum in 1872, the institution has contributed to the expansion of the horticultural palette for American gardens, bringing to cultivation plants that have now become familiar and beloved. This mission of plant introduction has taken many forms over the past 150 years: Arboretum plant explorers have brought back species that had never been grown in North America, while horticultural researchers have bred, selected, and named novel forms originating at the Arboretum. Arnold Selects, the Arboretum’s new plant introduction program, blends the art and science of horticulture to share storied plants from the living collections.Magnolia stellata 'Centennial' (170-2002*A). Tiffany Enzenbacher Introductions
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1977-present
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Scientific Name Common Name Introduction Date
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Viburnum bracteatum ‘Crimson Gem’‘Crimson Gem’ Bracted Viburnum2022
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Ilex glabra 'Peggy's Cove''Peggy's Cove' inkberry2008
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Syringa 'Foxey Lady''Foxey Lady' lilac2008
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Magnolia x thompsoniana 'Cairn Croft''Cairn Croft' magnolia2006
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Syringa ‘Purple Haze’‘Purple Haze’ Lilac2005
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Indigofera bungeana 'Rose Carpet''Rose Carpet' indigo2003
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Tsuga canadensis 'Livingston''Livingston' hemlock2003
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Stewartia x 'Scarlet Sentinel''Scarlet Sentinel' stewartia2002
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Prunus pumila var. depressa ‘Gus Mehlquist’‘Gus Mehlquist’ Sprawling Sand Cherry2002
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Fothergilla gardenii 'Harold Epstein''Harold Epstein' witch alder2001
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Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Fenway Park''Fenway Park' Boston ivy1999
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Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Morioka Weeping''Morioka Weeping' katsura1998
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Syringa × chinensis ‘Lilac Sunday’‘Lilac Sunday’ Lilac1997
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Cladrastis kentukea 'Perkins Pink''Perkins Pink' American yellow wood1997
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Halesia 'Arnold Pink''Arnold Pink' Carolina silverbell1997
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Koelreuteria paniculata 'Rose Lantern''Rose Lantern' goldenrain tree1996
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Weigela subsessilis 'Harlequin''Harlequin' Korean weigela1993
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Magnolia grandiflora 'Tulsa''Tulsa' magnolia1989
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Forysthia 'Meadowlark''Meadowlark' forsythia1984
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Magnolia virginiana 'Milton''Milton' sweet bay magnolia1984
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Pinus nigra 'Arnold Sentinel''Arnold Sentinel' Austrian pine1984
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Cedrus deodara 'Shalimar''Shalimar' Deodar cedar1982
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1928-1976
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Scientific Name Common Name Introduction Date
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Magnolia stellata 'Centennial''Centennial' star magnolia1972
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Malus ‘Donald Wyman’‘Donald Wyman’ Flowering Crabapple1970
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Abies koreana ‘Prostrate Beauty’‘Prostrate Beauty’ Korean Fir1968
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Albizia julibrissin 'Ernest Wilson''Ernest Wilson' mimosa1968
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Prunus 'Karl Sax''Karl Sax' cherry1967
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Forsythia x intermedia 'Tremonia''Tremonia' forsythia1966
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Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Giant'Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Giant'1965
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Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Glow'Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Glow'1965
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Malus 'Barbara Ann''Barbara Ann' crabapple1964
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Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise''Arnold Promise' witch hazel1963
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Tilia cordata 'Swedish Upright''Swedish Upright' littleleaf linden1963
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Forsythia 'Karl Sax''Karl Sax' forsythia1960
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Forsythia 'Beatrix Farrand''Beatrix Farrand' forsythia1959
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Rhododendron 'Smoky Mountaineer''Smoky Mountaineer' flame azalea1958
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Malus 'Pretty Marjory'Malus 'Pretty Marjory'1958
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Malus 'Van Houttei'Malus 'Van Houttei'1958
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Malus 'Blanche Ames''Blanche Ames' crabapple1955
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Malus 'Henrietta Crosby''Henrietta Crosby' crabapple1955
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Malus 'Henry F. du Pont''Henry F. du Pont' crabapple1955
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Malus 'Upton Pyne'Malus 'Upton Pyne'1955
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Malus 'Wisley'Malus 'Wisley'1955
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Cornus florida 'Fastigiata''Fastigiata' flowering dogwood1954
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Larix decidua 'Pendula''Pendula' larch1954
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Lonicera x amoena 'Alba''Alba' honeysuckle1954
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Philadelphus x cymosus 'Bouquet Blanc''Boquet Blanc' mock orange1952
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Philadelphus x virginalis 'Argentine''Argentine' mock orange1952
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Pyracantha coccinea 'Kasan''Kasan' firethorn1951
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Lonicera japonica 'Aureoreticulata''Aureoreticulata' honeysuckle1950
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Prunus maritima 'Premier'Prunus maritima 'Premier'1950
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Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’‘Merrill’ Loebner Magnolia1950
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Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red''Arnold Red' honeysuckle1949
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Malus 'Bob White''Bob White' crabapple1949
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Malus 'Katherine''Katherine' crabapple1949
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Malus 'Prince Georges''Prince Georges' crabapple1949
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Forsythia 'Arnold Dwarf''Arnold Dwarf' forsythia1947
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Forsythia 'Arnold Giant''Arnold Giant' forsythia1947
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Malus ‘Mary Potter’‘Mary Potter’ Crabapple1947
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Juglans nigra 'Laciniata''Laciniata' black walnut1945
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Symphoricarpos orbiculatus 'Leucocarpus''Leucocarpus' coralberry1945
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Prunus 'Hally Jolivette''Hally Jolivette' cherry1944
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Acer campestre 'Nanum'/Acer campestre 'Compactum''Compactum' hedge maple1943
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Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum''Atropurpureum' Japanese maple1943
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Deutzia x rosea 'Eximia''Eximia' deutzia1943
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Malus 'Dorothea''Dorothea' crabapple1943
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Syringa 'Evangeline''Evangeline' lilac1942
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Syringa prestoniae 'Heela''Heela' lilac1942
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Lonicera x amoena 'Arnoldiana''Arnoldiana' honeysuckle1941
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Syringa 'Mrs. W. E. Marshall''Mrs. W. E. Marshall' lilac1941
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Malus baccata 'Columnaris''Columnaris' crabapple1940
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Syringa prestoniae 'Paulina''Paulina' lilac1938
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Syringa 'Hedin''Hedin' lilac1935
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Deutzia x hybrida 'Contraste''Contraste' deutzia1932
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Deutzia x hybrida 'Magician''Magician' deutzia1932
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Syringa prestoniae 'Handel''Handel' lilac1932
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Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens''Aurescenns' Japanese yew1929
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Syringa prestoniae 'Nerissa''Nerissa' lilac1928
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Syringa prestoniae 'Octavia''Octavia' lilac1928
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1874-1927
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Scientific Name Common Name Introduction Date
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Syringa prestoniae 'Isabella''Isabella' lilac1927
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Malus 'John Downie'Malus 'John Downie'1927
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Syringa josiflexa 'Guinevere''Guinevere' lilac1925
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Ligustrum vulgare 'Pyramidale''Pyramidale' privet1922
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Virburnum setigerum 'Aurantiacum' (Viburnum)Virburnum setigerum 'Aurantiacum' (Viburnum)1922
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Malus baccata 'Jackii''Jackii' crabapple1921
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Malus sargentii 'Rosea''Rosea' Sargent crabapple1921
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Malus x robusta 'Erecta''Erecta' crabapple1920
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Picea glauca 'Conica'Picea glauca 'Conica'1919
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Rosa 'Cynthia E. Hollis''Cynthia E. Hollis' rose1916
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Rosa 'Jennie Dawson''Jennie Dawson' rose1916
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Rosa 'Pauline Dawson''Pauline Dawson' rose1916
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Rosa 'Seashell''Seashell' rose1916
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Hydrangea paniculata 'Praecox''Praecox' hydrangea1915
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Forsythia 'Primulina''Primulina' forsythia1913
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Weigela 'Bouquet Rose''Bouquet Rose' weigela1913
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Rosa 'Sargent''Sargent' rose1912
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Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis 'Maxima''Maxima' elderberry1912
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Rosa 'Daybreak'Rosa 'Daybreak'1909
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Forsythia suspensa 'Atrocaulis''Atrocaulis' forsythia1908
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Forsythia x intermedia 'Spectabilis''Spectabilis' forsythia1906
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Weigela 'Gracieux''Graceaux' weigela1905
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Virburnum sargentii 'Flavum'Virburnum sargentii 'Flavum'1904
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Rosa 'Farquhar'Rosa 'Farquhar'1903
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Rosa 'Little Tot''Little Tot' rose1900
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Rosa 'William C. Egan''William C. Egan' rose1900
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Syringa vulgaris 'Congo''Congo' lilac1900
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Rosa 'Betty Blossom'Rosa 'Betty Blossom'1900
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Acer rubrum 'Columnare''Columnare' red maple1899
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Rosa 'Royal Cluster''Royal Cluster' rose1899
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Rosa 'White Dawson''White Dawson' rose1899
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Rosa 'Lady Duncan'Rosa 'Lady Duncan'1897
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Acer rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’‘Schlesingeri’ Red Maple1896
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Rosa 'Minnie Dawson''Minnie Dawson' rose1896
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Rosa 'Arnold''Arnold' rose1893
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Rosa 'Ida'Rosa 'Ida'1892
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Rosa 'Apple Blossom'Rosa 'Apple Blossom'1890
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Rosa x dawsoniana 'Dawson''Dawson' rose1888
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Scientific Name Common Name Introduction Date
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Abies koreana ‘Prostrate Beauty’‘Prostrate Beauty’ Korean Fir1968
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Acer campestre 'Nanum'/Acer campestre 'Compactum''Compactum' hedge maple1943
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Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum''Atropurpureum' Japanese maple1943
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Acer rubrum 'Columnare''Columnare' red maple1899
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Acer rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’‘Schlesingeri’ Red Maple1896
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Albizia julibrissin 'Ernest Wilson''Ernest Wilson' mimosa1968
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Cedrus deodara 'Shalimar''Shalimar' Deodar cedar1982
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Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Morioka Weeping''Morioka Weeping' katsura1998
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Cladrastis kentukea 'Perkins Pink''Perkins Pink' American yellow wood1997
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Cornus florida 'Fastigiata''Fastigiata' flowering dogwood1954
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Deutzia x hybrida 'Contraste''Contraste' deutzia1932
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Deutzia x hybrida 'Magician''Magician' deutzia1932
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Deutzia x rosea 'Eximia''Eximia' deutzia1943
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Forsythia suspensa 'Atrocaulis''Atrocaulis' forsythia1908
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Forsythia 'Arnold Dwarf''Arnold Dwarf' forsythia1947
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Forsythia 'Arnold Giant''Arnold Giant' forsythia1947
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Forsythia 'Beatrix Farrand''Beatrix Farrand' forsythia1959
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Forsythia 'Karl Sax''Karl Sax' forsythia1960
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Forsythia 'Primulina''Primulina' forsythia1913
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Forsythia x intermedia 'Spectabilis''Spectabilis' forsythia1906
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Forsythia x intermedia 'Tremonia''Tremonia' forsythia1966
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Forysthia 'Meadowlark''Meadowlark' forsythia1984
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Fothergilla gardenii 'Harold Epstein''Harold Epstein' witch alder2001
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Halesia 'Arnold Pink''Arnold Pink' Carolina silverbell1997
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Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise''Arnold Promise' witch hazel1963
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Hydrangea paniculata 'Praecox''Praecox' hydrangea1915
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Ilex glabra 'Peggy's Cove''Peggy's Cove' inkberry2008
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Indigofera bungeana 'Rose Carpet''Rose Carpet' indigo2003
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Juglans nigra 'Laciniata''Laciniata' black walnut1945
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Koelreuteria paniculata 'Rose Lantern''Rose Lantern' goldenrain tree1996
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Larix decidua 'Pendula''Pendula' larch1954
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Ligustrum vulgare 'Pyramidale''Pyramidale' privet1922
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Lonicera japonica 'Aureoreticulata''Aureoreticulata' honeysuckle1950
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Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red''Arnold Red' honeysuckle1949
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Lonicera x amoena 'Alba''Alba' honeysuckle1954
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Lonicera x amoena 'Arnoldiana''Arnoldiana' honeysuckle1941
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Magnolia grandiflora 'Tulsa''Tulsa' magnolia1989
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Magnolia stellata 'Centennial''Centennial' star magnolia1972
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Magnolia virginiana 'Milton''Milton' sweet bay magnolia1984
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Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’‘Merrill’ Loebner Magnolia1950
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Magnolia x thompsoniana 'Cairn Croft''Cairn Croft' magnolia2006
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Malus baccata 'Columnaris''Columnaris' crabapple1940
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Malus baccata 'Jackii''Jackii' crabapple1921
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Malus sargentii 'Rosea''Rosea' Sargent crabapple1921
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Malus 'Barbara Ann''Barbara Ann' crabapple1964
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Malus 'Blanche Ames''Blanche Ames' crabapple1955
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Malus 'Bob White''Bob White' crabapple1949
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Malus 'Dorothea''Dorothea' crabapple1943
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Malus 'Henrietta Crosby''Henrietta Crosby' crabapple1955
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Malus 'Henry F. du Pont''Henry F. du Pont' crabapple1955
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Malus 'John Downie'Malus 'John Downie'1927
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Malus 'Katherine''Katherine' crabapple1949
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Malus 'Pretty Marjory'Malus 'Pretty Marjory'1958
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Malus 'Prince Georges''Prince Georges' crabapple1949
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Malus 'Upton Pyne'Malus 'Upton Pyne'1955
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Malus 'Van Houttei'Malus 'Van Houttei'1958
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Malus 'Wisley'Malus 'Wisley'1955
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Malus ‘Donald Wyman’‘Donald Wyman’ Flowering Crabapple1970
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Malus ‘Mary Potter’‘Mary Potter’ Crabapple1947
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Malus x robusta 'Erecta''Erecta' crabapple1920
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Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Fenway Park''Fenway Park' Boston ivy1999
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Philadelphus x cymosus 'Bouquet Blanc''Boquet Blanc' mock orange1952
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Philadelphus x virginalis 'Argentine''Argentine' mock orange1952
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Picea glauca 'Conica'Picea glauca 'Conica'1919
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Pinus nigra 'Arnold Sentinel''Arnold Sentinel' Austrian pine1984
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Prunus maritima 'Premier'Prunus maritima 'Premier'1950
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Prunus pumila var. depressa ‘Gus Mehlquist’‘Gus Mehlquist’ Sprawling Sand Cherry2002
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Prunus 'Hally Jolivette''Hally Jolivette' cherry1944
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Prunus 'Karl Sax''Karl Sax' cherry1967
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Pyracantha coccinea 'Kasan''Kasan' firethorn1951
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Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Giant'Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Giant'1965
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Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Glow'Pyracantha coccinea 'Orange Glow'1965
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Rhododendron 'Smoky Mountaineer''Smoky Mountaineer' flame azalea1958
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Rosa 'Apple Blossom'Rosa 'Apple Blossom'1890
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Rosa 'Arnold''Arnold' rose1893
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Rosa 'Betty Blossom'Rosa 'Betty Blossom'1900
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Rosa 'Cynthia E. Hollis''Cynthia E. Hollis' rose1916
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Rosa 'Daybreak'Rosa 'Daybreak'1909
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Rosa 'Farquhar'Rosa 'Farquhar'1903
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Rosa 'Ida'Rosa 'Ida'1892
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Rosa 'Jennie Dawson''Jennie Dawson' rose1916
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Rosa 'Lady Duncan'Rosa 'Lady Duncan'1897
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Rosa 'Little Tot''Little Tot' rose1900
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Rosa 'Minnie Dawson''Minnie Dawson' rose1896
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Rosa 'Pauline Dawson''Pauline Dawson' rose1916
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Rosa 'Royal Cluster''Royal Cluster' rose1899
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Rosa 'Sargent''Sargent' rose1912
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Rosa 'Seashell''Seashell' rose1916
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Rosa 'White Dawson''White Dawson' rose1899
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Rosa 'William C. Egan''William C. Egan' rose1900
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Rosa x dawsoniana 'Dawson''Dawson' rose1888
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Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis 'Maxima''Maxima' elderberry1912
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Stewartia x 'Scarlet Sentinel''Scarlet Sentinel' stewartia2002
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Symphoricarpos orbiculatus 'Leucocarpus''Leucocarpus' coralberry1945
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Syringa josiflexa 'Guinevere''Guinevere' lilac1925
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Syringa prestoniae 'Handel''Handel' lilac1932
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Syringa prestoniae 'Heela''Heela' lilac1942
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Syringa prestoniae 'Isabella''Isabella' lilac1927
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Syringa prestoniae 'Nerissa''Nerissa' lilac1928
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Syringa prestoniae 'Octavia''Octavia' lilac1928
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Syringa prestoniae 'Paulina''Paulina' lilac1938
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Syringa vulgaris 'Congo''Congo' lilac1900
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Syringa 'Evangeline''Evangeline' lilac1942
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Syringa 'Foxey Lady''Foxey Lady' lilac2008
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Syringa 'Hedin''Hedin' lilac1935
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Syringa 'Mrs. W. E. Marshall''Mrs. W. E. Marshall' lilac1941
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Syringa ‘Purple Haze’‘Purple Haze’ Lilac2005
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Syringa × chinensis ‘Lilac Sunday’‘Lilac Sunday’ Lilac1997
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Taxus cuspidata 'Aurescens''Aurescenns' Japanese yew1929
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Tilia cordata 'Swedish Upright''Swedish Upright' littleleaf linden1963
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Tsuga canadensis 'Livingston''Livingston' hemlock2003
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Viburnum bracteatum ‘Crimson Gem’‘Crimson Gem’ Bracted Viburnum2022
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Virburnum sargentii 'Flavum'Virburnum sargentii 'Flavum'1904
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Virburnum setigerum 'Aurantiacum' (Viburnum)Virburnum setigerum 'Aurantiacum' (Viburnum)1922
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Weigela subsessilis 'Harlequin''Harlequin' Korean weigela1993
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Weigela 'Bouquet Rose''Bouquet Rose' weigela1913
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Weigela 'Gracieux''Graceaux' weigela1905
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