Boston Blossoms

Boston Blossoms

Photos by Jenn Bakos & Ashley Herrin

Spring in Boston means an explosion of vibrant colors. The soft pinks and bright whites of the magnolias and cherry blossoms are complimented by amazing yellows from the forsythia and daffodils. Boston comes alive as these flowers paint the city. Here's a look at some of the common blossoms found in and around the city when the season comes alive.

Sargent’s Cherry

Prunus sargentii

Also referred to as North Japanese Hill Cherry. Native to Japan, Korea and Russia, it was introduced to the United States in 1908.

The Sargent Cherry tree is named after Charles Sprague Sargent, a botanist who was appointed the first director of Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum in Boston, MA.

Border Forsythia

Forsythia × intermedia

A hybrid cross between Forsythia viridissima and F. suspensa var. fortunei. Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the Oleaceae family (Olive family).

Border Forsythia was introduced in the United States to the Arnold Arboretum in 1889. The Arnold Arboretum is located in Boston, MA.

Daffodil

Narcissus

The daffodils found in New England are a cultivated variety of the wild daffodil, commonly referred to as Lent Lily and native to Western Europe. The wild daffodil can be found growing in wooded areas, grasslands, rocky terrain and gardens.

Daffodils, like all narcissus species, contain lycorine, an alkaloid poison,  and should not be consumed.

P.J.M. Rhododendron

Rhododendron P.J.M.

P.J.M. is a group of hybrid species, derived from a cross between R. carolinianum and R. dauricum var. sempervirens

Some common P.J.M. cultivars are Elite, Regal, Northern Starburst and Victor. The P.J.M. hybrids are amongst the hardiest evergreen Rhododendrons.