What’s in bloom in Forsyth County? 

N.C. Cooperative Extension mantains two public gardens in Forsyth County with the assistance of NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Forsyth County:

• Forsyth County Demonstration Garden, located at the Forsyth County Agriculture Building, 1450 Fairchild Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
• Arboretum and Gardens at Tanglewood Park, 4200 Manor House Circle, Clemmons, NC 27012

These gardens are open year-round for visitors.

If you want to learn more about one of the plants you see here, check out the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox at plants.ces.ncsu.edu.

Week of April 11, 2024

Spring is here! There are lots of flowers blooming our gardens. The weather is still getting cool overnight, and we are not yet out of the threat of frost. Our average last frost occurs around April 15, so it is recommended to wait until after that date to plant your summer annuals. If you planted early and see that a frost is approaching, this video tells you what you can do to protect tender plants from a late spring frost.

If you are looking for basic gardening information, visit our Gardening in the Piedmont website for recordings of past webinars and other great garden resources!

Thank you to NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Forsyth County, for assistance compiling this week’s photos and information.

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) gets its name from the white blooms which appear during the spring. This native perennial is a spring ephemeral, but its lobed leaves will stick around through summer, adding interest to the garden as a groundcover.

Foamflower is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Foamflower is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Native to southeastern US,  Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a vigorous twining vine that reaches 10-20 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide. It prefers medium moisture, well-drained, neutral to acidic soils in full sun. It is a good addition to a butterfly, native, or pollinator garden.

Coral honeysuckle is now blooming at the Demonstration Garden.

Viburnum macrocephalum, or Chinese snowball viburnum, shrub can grow to 25 ft. high and 20 ft. across in zone 6-9. This plant is a showstopper with its large white blooms that can sometimes be confused for hydrangea flowers.

Chinese snowball viburnum is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Chinese snowball viburnum is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Pulmonaria longifolia, or Lungwort, is a perennial plant that loves the shade. It spreads slowly and adds a unique burst of color to the shade garden.

Lungwort is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park and at the Demonstration Garden.

Lungwort is now blooming at the Demonstration Garden and at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Ajuga reptans is a perennial ground cover from the mint family. It blooms in spring and cultivars are available in several colors. It spreads by rhizomes; left unattended, it can spread into nearby beds and lawns. This plant is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits and can be planted near black walnut trees.

Bugleweed is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park and at the Demonstration Garden.

Iberis sempervirens, commonly known as Candytuft, is a low-growing, flowering perennial plant. Its showy white flowers provide early to mid-spring color that contrasts well with spring bulb flowers. Candytuft prefers full sun and moist to slightly dry soil that has good drainage.

Candytuft is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Candytuft is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park

Stylophorum diphyllum, or Celandine-poppy, is a perennial wildflower in the poppy family that is native to the Eastern U.S., where it grows along streams and ravines in deciduous forests. It is not native to NC, but it readily naturalizes in the mountains and Piedmont areas. It has showy, yellow, cuplike flowers that can be planted in shady areas.

Celadine poppy is now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Mertensia virginica, or Virginia bluebells, is a native, perennial wildflower. It attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and moths. Virginia Bluebells are stunning when grown in mass plantings around trees, shrubs, or woodland settings. These plants grow best in deep to partial shade.

Virginia bluebells are now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park.

Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinensis) is an evergreen shrub in our area. The shrub features striking fuchsia flower petals in spring, and some cultivars have dark purple-black leaves. It flowers best in full sun but needs some afternoon shade. This is an attractive and versatile shrub that is often used for borders, screens, and foundation plantings.

Loropetalum is now blooming at the Demonstration Garden and at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park

Narcissus, often called Jonquil or daffodil, is a perennial bulb. There are countless cultivars available, ranging in height from a few inches to 18”, and bloom times that appear from early to late spring. Daffodils are good for naturalizing and easy to grow as long as conditions are not wet. After flowers fade, remove the seed heads, but do not remove the straplike leaves until they have died, since they provide food to the bulbs for next year’s blooms. Plant in the fall to a depth of three times the diameter of the bulb for spring flowering.

Daffodils are now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park and at the Demonstration Garden.

Daffodils are now blooming at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park and at the Demonstration Garden.

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a perennial plant that blooms early in the spring. This plant works as a great ground cover, staying low to the ground and spreading to cover areas several feet wide. Different varieties of this plant will have various flower colors, including pink, lavender, purple, and white.

Creeping phlox is now blooming in the Demonstration Garden.