Golden Currant
Den. Love Memory ‘Fizz’
“The outdoor garden plants are on pause this weekend with the extreme cold temperatures, but come inside the Botanical Center to see displays from several regional orchid societies and vendors from St. Louis and Kansas City. Orchids are a fascinating plant genus, found on every continent and almost every habitat around the world, including the artic! The diversity of blooms, forms and intensity of colors are worth a look. Expert growers and hobbyists will be here to answer questions from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (March 18-19). The fragrance of some orchids can be intoxicating and overwhelming. Speaking of fragrance, two of our most fragrant landscape shrubs should start blooming within the week.
Koreanspice Viburnum
Golden currant, located in the Caterpillar Café and English Garden has small yellow blooms with spicy, clove-like fragrance. In fact, it might take minute to locate the source of the sweet smell as it can be detected more than 20 feet away from the plant. It is native, drought tolerant, produces edible fruit and could be a useful alternative plant to forsythia.
Koreanspice Viburnum, located at the Botanical Center east entrance, Master Gardener Demonstration Garden Mosaic and Founders Garden. Pink buds open to whitish clusters of blooms. I think the blooms smell like bubblegum. After the blooms fade, the soft, seafoam colored leaves will persist through summer and turn a rich wine color in fall.
It is an exciting time with new blooms opening daily!”
Katie Keith
Botanical Center Coordinator
Springfield-Greene County Park Board
