UBC Botanical Garden

Do you dream of a fulfilling career in horticulture or working with plants? Are you a landscaper seeking to add skills and develop credentials? If you've answered "yes", then UBC Botanical Garden's Horticulture Training Program is your gateway to a vibrant and satisfying career. Join us on February 22nd, 2024 for an online information session led by our Principal Instructor, Allison Luke. During this session, Allison will introduce you to the breadth of our highly-regarded program and offer a sneak peek into what you can expect. Don't miss the chance to get your queries answered during the Q&A session at the end! https://lnkd.in/gR-NXYjr

All smiles while our Horticulture Training Program students learn basic landscaping carpentry skills and how to construct cedar planters - this was led by our former HTP student, Sage ( @kindred.gardens ) 🪵🌿 #htp #education #ubcgarden #green #vancouver

#WildPlantWednesdays : Well look at what we have here! This beauty is Asimina trilobal, or more commonly known as the paw-paw. This deciduous tree or multi-stemmed shrub holds a native range along the mid west & eastern North America, as far north as southern Ontario, to the southern parts of the Florida panhandle where it thrives along slopes of floodplains and rich bottomlands. The epithet ‘triloba’ refers to the 3 lobed calyx and corolla of the flower which gives off a yeasty smell, one of several identifiers that it’s pollinated by beetles. But what about the fruit you ask? The large 2”-6”, heavy fruit somewhat resembles that of the tropical mango, and its sweet taste is often compared to that of the banana, mango, cantaloupe or pineapple. It is the largest edible fruit native to the United States, and is snacked on by opossums, squirrels, raccoons, and various birds. Fun fact: Due to the increased foraging during the Covid 19 pandemic this tree/fruit has been referred to as the “hipster banana” The plant pictured here was grown from seed collected in Essex County, Ontario in the northern extent of the range for this species, and sent to UBC Botanical Garden by The Essex Region Conservation Authority in 2008. You can find the paw-paw in the Carolinian Forest Garden. 📸: Randy Kolaluk, Horticulturist

#WildPlantWednesdays : Not many plants bloom while also in fall colour, but this Bistorta affinis does. Also known as Himalayan fleeceflower, it starts blooming in late summer and continues all through fall. However, the later flowers are outshone by the brilliant red foliage. As the common name suggests, this species is native to the Himalayas where it is reported to be common in the subalpine and alpine zone. The plant pictured here can be found growing in the Asian section of the Alpine Garden. 📸: Laura Caddy Learn more: https://ow.ly/mKEF50Q8uKv #ubcgarden #ubcbotanicalgarden #research #wildplants

#WildPlantWednesday : Eumorphia sericea is a shrub native to the Drakensberg Mountains in Southern Africa. The epithet sericea mean silky and references hairs found on the leaves giving them a grey and silky appearance. However, in the subspecies pictured here the hairs are less noticeable with the naked eye and therefore the leaves appear green. The hairs are apparent upon close inspection, though. This plant was collected in South Africa as seed and shared with us with by our colleagues at Denver Botanic Gardens. It can be found growing in the African section of the Alpine Garden. 📸: Laura Caddy Learn more: https://ow.ly/Pb8N50Q8uAs #ubcgarden #ubcbotanicalgarden #wildplants #research

#WildPlantWednesdays : Coprosma petriei (also called turfy coprosma) is often mistaken for a type of moss. This is understandable, with its small leaves, compressed and mounding form, and inconspicuous apetalous (without petals) flowers. But it is not a moss – in fact it is in the coffee family! This family tie is most apparent in fall. Even though it doesn’t look much like a coffee ‘cherry’, they both have what is botanical classified as a drupe (also known as stone fruits). These beautiful pale blue fruits can be admired in the Australasian section of the Alpine Garden, late summer through fall. The accession was collected in 1977 in the Southland District in New Zealand, where the species is endemic to. 📸: Laura Caddy Learn more: https://ow.ly/6WCo50Q8uv3 #wildplants #ubcgarden #research #ubcbotanicalgarden

#WildPlantWednesday : Mentzelia laevicaulis or Giant Blazingstar is a rock-star plant that likes to party all night. Its large yellow flowers open at dusk and don’t close until the sun comes out the next morning. They are thought to primarily be pollinated by hawkmoths which would explain this nocturnal behavior. It grows in loose rock substrate without any organic soil (also very rock and roll), so you will often find them along roadsides in western North America. However, it is a biennial (or short-lived perennial), so you won’t see these stunning flowers until its second year as it spends the first year as a rosette of foliage to save energy. Watch out, though, because it has clingy leaves that are like Velcro and will stick to clothes! This specimen was collected by curator Ben Stormes last year on a trip to the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest. 📸: Scott Ferguson #wildplants #ubcgarden #ubcbotanicalgarden

Learn about how Ambrosia apples were discovered right here in BC after a chance seedling started producing a unique apple! 🍎 The discovery of this variety took a lot of work from farmers and the Summerland Varieties Corporation to make a name out of this new variety. Watch the video below to learn about how new species come to life and how farmers and industry professionals add to its success! https://ow.ly/9R2A50PVT3f

#WildPlantWednesday : Ceanothus cordulatus (Mountain whitethorn) is a sprawling shrub in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), native to California and surrounding areas. Heat is necessary for germination, and it is heavily dependent on fire in the wild. It is considered a pioneer species, being one of the first plants to establish after fire. Like other Ceanothus species, it is nitrogen fixing, potentially playing an important role in reestablishing forests by providing nutrients for trees. This pictured specimen was grown from seed collected in the San Bernardino Mountains of California and can be found in the Pacific Slope Garden. While it usually blooms in July and August, the dusky blue foliage and stems provide year-round interest. 📸: Leah Harrison #wildplants #ubcgarden #ubcbotanicalgarden

#WildPlantWednesdays : Clarkia rhomboidea is native to Western North America, and is part of the evening primrose family, Onagraceae. It is commonly known as diamond clarkia because of its diamond-shaped, bright pink petals.  This plant happily grows with little water, making it a great addition to xeriscape gardens. In the wild, it is usually found growing on the edges of dry conifer forests and is a host plant to the Ridings' Forester caterpillar. It is also an important pollinator plant for the "clarkia bee" (Hesperapis regularis), which only visits flowers in the genus Clarkia. These annual plants were grown from seed collected by curator Ben Stormes, while on a collecting trip near Flounce Rock in Oregon. This clarkia will now self-sow and pop up annually, providing bursts of colour from May through August, and can be seen in our Pacific Slope Garden. 📸: Sarah Hipwell #wildplants #ubcgarden #ubcbotanicalgarden