2008 Cary Awards

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Worcester Horticultural Society Names 

2008 Cary Award Winners

BOYLSTON, Mass.¾The Worcester County Horticultural Society is pleased to announce the 2007 Cary Award winning plants. These plants are selected for their suitability for the New England climate, including their multiple seasons of interest and ease of care. The 2008 winners are: Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro Low'), Three Flowered Maple (Acer triflorum), and Golden Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii').

PLANT DESCRIPTIONS:

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro Low') is a wonderful, large-scale ground cover with pest and disease resistance, fruit for birds, and fabulous fall color. In leaf it looks similar to Poison Ivy with its glossy trifoliate leaves, but it is non-vining and (fortunately!) without the irritating oil that causes blistering and itching. Mature plants grow 18-24" high and up to 8' across. Spreading by rooting suckers, it eventually forms large colonies making it suitable for holding steep slopes. Fragrant Sumac is native to eastern North America and hardy to Zone 3. The cultivar 'Gro Low' was introduced by Synnesvedt Nursery, Glenview, Illinois. Yellowish flowers occur in May. In the species, male catkins and female flower clusters may occur on the same or separate plants and unfurl  before the shrub leafs out. 'Gro low' is a female cultivar and so is graced with clusters of red berries which may hold well into the winter if not devoured by birds and small mammals. Plant 'Gro Low' in full sun and well drained soil to bring about the best growth. 

Three Flowered Maple (Acer triflorum) is a small tree well suited to modern landscapes. Among its fine attributes are outstanding bark, disease & pest resistance and intense fall color. Hailing from Manchuria and Korea, this compact tree makes a distinctive rounded specimen growing 20-30' tall and wide. It is hardy to Zone 4. Its common name comes from the clusters of three greenish-yellow flowers which occur in spring. The flowers, which are inconspicuous, are followed by typical maple-like winged samaras. The clean green foliage, in leaflets of three, is pest and disease free and casts a dense shade beneath the tree. Autumn and winter bring on the attributes for which the tree is usually grown - leaves turn brilliant hues of orange, red, yellow and purple. Unlike most trees and shrubs, Three Flowered Maple will exhibit beautiful, though slightly subdued, autumn color even in the shade. In the winter months the warm glowing tan and umber bark flakes and peels in vertical strips, providing an interesting winter aspect. Full sun and rich, well-drained soil will contribute to the best growth and fall color; plant in full sun or filtered shade. Avoid excessively wet conditions. First introduced into cultivation in 1923, this unusual maple is still underused, perhaps because propagation is challenging. 

Golden Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii') is a beacon in the winter landscape. It is an elegant, colorful evergreen tree reaching 15' tall and 5' wide in 10-15 years. Hardy in Zones 4-8, this moderate to slow growing evergreen prefers to be planted in full sun to partial shade in rich soil. Frond-like sprays of foliage are bright gold at the tips and on the upper surface, shading from chartreuse to deeper green in the interior portion op the plant. This Hinoki Cypress is beautiful all year, but especially in winter, when planted in front of a darker background so that the golden foliage stands out. Prunings are also enticing in winter wreaths and floral arrangements. The plant was introduced by Cripps and Sons in England in 1901.

AWARD HISTORY and PURPOSE:

      Now in its 11th year, The Cary Award program is a collaborative effort with several horitucltural organizations in New England. Distinguished horticulturists from each of the New England states, professionals and amateur gardeners alike, serve on the Selection Committee for the award.

      Each year, up to three plants are selected that are proven outstanding performers in New England gardens. The criteria are simple: the plant must be a tree, shrub, or vine; it must be hardy within at least two of the four USDA hardiness zones present in New England (Zones 3-6), the plant must be suitable for home landscape use, and it must be an exceptional, season-extending plant for New England.  Any plant to receive the award must also be readily available in the year it is recognized.

      The goal of the program is educational: by highlighting under-used plants that are proven performers, home gardeners can be assured that the plants they choose will not only be successful, but outstanding in every aspect. It is hoped that this will also help to increase the diversity of home and commercial landscape plantings.

      The Worcester County Horticultural Society was founded in 1842 "for the purpose of advancing the science and encouraging and improving the practice of horticulture." The Society owns and operates Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts, where all Cary Award winners to date are displayed.

      To nominate a plant for consideration, or for more information, log on to www.caryaward.org, or call 508-869-6111 x 111. To receive a 2008 brochure, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Cary Award, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, PO Box 598, Boylston, Massachusetts 01505-0598.

Michael Arnum
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
508.869.6111 x 111
fax: 508.869.0314
www.towerhillbg.org 
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