Holden’s Plants and Gardens
Which Plants Why
Holden acquires plants and places them into gardens and themed plant collections. We collect and display a diversity of plants for evaluation, enjoyment and educational purposes, in order to convey sustainable plant choices recommended for our region. By sustainable, we mean plants that are:
- adapted to our soils and climatic extremes, e.g. are winter hardy
- free from chronic diseases and significant pests
- non-invasive of natural areas
Which Plants Where
Gardens
Display Garden
A short walk from the Warren H. Corning Visitor Center, the Display Garden presents a succession of groupings of trees and shrubs with an underpinning of herbaceous perennials and groundcovers. Fragrant displays of lilacs and viburnums add color during their season, while a diverse selection of additional
plants provide continuing beauty and interest through the year. Stroll through this beautifully designed garden, enjoying the highlights of the season, and find inspiration for plants and plant combinations for home gardens.
A popular area within the Display Garden is the Arthur S. Holden Sr. Hedge Collection. Featuring hedges made from over 25 different trees and shrubs – including a mix of evergreen and deciduous selections -- it’s a great place to survey when planning a new hedge for home, or for learning the best way to plant, shape and maintain your existing hedges.
Butterfly Garden
Plants in the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden, adjacent to the Corning Visitor Center, attract butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as Holden
visitors. This garden shines in July, August and September, when colorful masses of black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, bee-balm, catmint and flowering sage are further ornamented by flying “flowers” attracted by their nectar and pollen. Strolling along the garden paths permits close-up appreciation of the flowers, and the garden can also be enjoyed while taking a break on the overlooking patio.
Wildflower Gardens
Holden’s Wildflower Gardens display herbaceous wildflowers and woody plants that are native to our region. These are arranged in habitat plantings, in which plants are placed together with those plants that they grow with in the wild. In addition to the original woodland wildflower garden, Holden’s Wildflower Gardens have been enhanced over the years by the addition of sand dune, rockeries, flood plain, bog and prairie gardens.
Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden
The Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden encompasses 25 acres of groupings of rhododendrons, azaleas and related plants under a canopy of mature
oaks, beeches and maples. While the bulk of flowering occurs in April, May and early June, the sheltering tree canopy makes this area a favorite destination for peaceful walks throughout the summer and fall.
Blueberry Pond Area Gardens
The informal gardens in the Blueberry Pond area present a variety of site conditions. Blueberry Pond is surrounded by an intensive planting of trees and shrubs that are adapted to a waterside habitat. The neighboring Ponderosa Pines originated as a forestry-style planting in Holden’s early years and now are a high-crowned plantation of mature trees. They provide an ideal location for ornamental trees that are benefited by the partial shade and shelter the pines provide. Both areas are ringed by walking paths connected to the Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden and are only a short walk from the Corning Visitor Center.
Themed Plant Collections
Holden’s themed plant collections present a larger selection of species and varieties within the scope of a single plant genus, family or functional group. They
are intended to highlight diversity within each group and provide locations where the performance of uncommon species or new selections can be evaluated
alongside familiar species and standard varieties. Most of these plant collections are located away from Holden’s core and require a longer walk or a car ride to access. They will be of interest to the visitor who is eager to examine or enjoy the diversity within a particular collection. Holden’s themed plant collections include:
Alders
Arbor Vitae and False Cypress
Ashes
Conifers
Flowering CrabapplesHollies
Lindens
Magnolias
Nut-Bearing Trees
Specimen TreesDetailed records are kept concerning all plants in Holden’s gardens and themed plant collections. You can search a database to find out whether a particular plant can be found at Holden. Begin by clicking on Learn on the left side of this page, then on Plant Database in the dropdown box.
Links of interest for gardeners:
Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association http://www.BuckeyeGardening.com
Ohio State University WebGarden http://webgarden.osu.edu/
Ohioline Yard and Garden http://ohioline.osu.edu/lines/hygs.html
American Society of Consulting Arborists: http://www.asca-consultants.org/index.html
Data on the collection is maintained using
, the collections management software co-developed at The Holden Arboretum and at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Computerized mapping is facilitated using the software BG-Map.
