Some Plants Love Winter

By Orlando Dos Reis
November 20, 2008

Plants that can live for thousands of years, and plants that can survive catastrophic avalanches--these are only some of the plants raised in Virginia Tech's back yard.  Literally.

The Department of Horticulture at Virginia Tech hosted a special walk through the garden this week, profiling plants that survive better in winter than any other time of year.

"When most people think of plants," said Ted Foyer, a local plant enthusiast in attendance, "they immediately think of sunshine and warm weather.  Not all plants need that--some may not even survive like that."

Dr. Alex Niemiera led a group of plant lovers and students, young and old, through Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech.  The appropriately named Dr. Holly Scoggins assisted.

Many of the winter plants shown were conifers (pines, firs, junipers, spruces and yews), any plant that produces needles and cones.  Some were brought to the university from far away lands.

"It's like walking into a tiny German forest," said Scoggins, as Niemiera brought the group to a conifer at least 20 feet tall.

"If you believe the books," said Niemiera, introducing the towering Alberta White Spruce, "they'll say these get to be about 5 feet tall."

Another enormous specimen shown was the Limber Pine, which gets its name from its long, durable needles that can be twisted and tied into a knot without breaking.

"I hesitate to tell my students the origin of the name," said Niemiera, twisting the needles into a knot.  "They have to identify 10 different pines, and they'll try to tie knots on all of them.  We have a lot of broken needles as a result.

Near the garden's iconic gazebo was a massive Ginkgo tree at least 50 feet tall.  Ginkgo is known for its seed, which is often used for food; the seed is an Asian delicacy, and can cost up to $25 per pound, says Niemiera.

"When they dropped the bomb on Hiroshima," said Niemiera, "the first living organism to be hit by the blast was a Ginkgo tree."

Opposite the Ginkgo was a Southern Magnolia tree, with leaves as large as a grown man's forearm.  "On the Pain-in-the-Butt-O-Meter," joked Niemiera, "its leaves are about a 10 to clean up."

Separating the garden from the outside world was a ray of yew trees.  "Deer love them," said Niemiera, "but watch out:  they're highly toxic to humans."

Perhaps one of the most notable plants in the garden was the bristlecone pine, which is believed to be the oldest living organism on Earth, said Niemiera.  Although the particular pine raised at Virginia Tech is only about 8 years old, these pines can grow to be 5,000 years old.

Niemiera helped plant several of the specimens in the garden including the Alaskan Fall Cypress, native to Washington and Alaska.  The leaves seem to dangle from the tree's curved branches, a natural defense to harsh winds and avalanches, said Niemiera.

The final stop in the hour-long presentation was the Sweet Birch tree.  Niemiera cut several small segments of its branches and handed the pieces out to each of the group members.

"Smell them," said Niemiera.  "Taste them, too, if you'd like."

"The Sweet Birch produces wintergreen," said Niemiera as he bit into the twig.  Not surprisingly, everyone else followed suit.

After walking through the garden and seeing the various different species of plants that defy popular belief, one can only imagine what the garden looks like during springtime, when all of these plants are in full bloom.