Flora of the Secret Garden

Flora of the Secret Garden
Spannocchia Foundation, Chiusdino Italia
“The Secret Garden is a woodland designed in the natural English Style sometime in the mid- 1800’s. It offers endless opportunities to discover flora and fauna in uncontaminated nature.”
– The Spannocchia Foundation
Carpino Nero/ Hop Hornbeam/ Ostrya
Carpinifolia
Hop Hornbeam is native to southern Europe,
southwest and eastern Asia, and North and Central
America. Ostrya is derived from the Greek word
'ostrua', meaning bone-like, and refers to its
durable, hard wood. It has a conical crown,
alternate and double-toothed leaves, and flowers in
the spring. Larvae of Winter Moth use Ostrya
Carpinifolia as a main food source.
Cipresso Commmune/ Italian Cypress/
Cupressus Sempervirens
Italian Cypress, also known as Tuscan, or
Graveyard Cypress or Pencil Pine, is a species of
cypress native to the eastern Mediterranean region.
Interestingly, while it is known as "Italian" or
"Tuscan Cypress" it is not native to the region. The
species name sempervirens comes from the Latin
for 'evergreen'. It has been cultivated for hard,
durable wood (used most famously for the doors of
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City) and as an
ornamental tree for over 1000 years. It grows to a
height of roughly 100feet, has a conic crown with
level branches It is very long-lived, with some trees
reported to be over 1,000 years old.
Ciavardello/ Wild Service Tree/ Sorbus
Torminalis
This species is native to Europe from England and
Wales east to Denmark and Poland, and south to
northwest Africa. This tree is now relatively rare in
Europe and is usually confined to pockets of
ancient woodland, growing in hedgerows, or in
areas with clay and lime based soil. It grows to
50feet tall, with smooth, peeling bark. Its large with
flowers bloom in the spring to early summer.
Edible fruit known as "chequers" is produced in
late fall and taste similar to dates. Before the
introduction of hops, the fruit were used to flavor
beer which is thought to have inspired the popular
English pub name “The Chequers”.
Orniello/ Manna-ash/ Fraxinus Ornus
This species native to southern Europe and
southwestern Asia. It is frequently grown as an
ornamental tree and for its decorative flowers. It
grows to 75feet tall and has smooth, dark grey bark.
Small white flowers are produced in late spring, after
the arrival of new leaves. The tree fruits in mid fall,
producing green pods that ripen to brown. Since midevil times, the trees bark was cut to retrieve its
sugary sap.
Berretta del Prete/ Spindle Tree/ Euonymus
Europaeus
This species is native to western Europe and North
America. It is typical cultivated for ornamental use.
It grows in most soil types in areas that are sunny
and dry. It is a deciduous tree or shrub that grows
to 20feet tall. White flowers bloom in late spring and
bright orange fruit are produced in the fall.
Biancospino/ Hawthorn/ Crataegus
This species is native to temperate regions of
Europe, Asia and North America. It is cultivated for
as ornamental and street uses, as a hedge plant
and for their pink or red flowers. These shrub like
trees grow to 30feet, have smooth, grey bark,
thorny branches and are characterized by their
small pomme fruit and thorny branches. Small
fruits known as ‘Haw’ arrive in mid fall. Hawthorns
are also used as food plants by the larvae of a
large number of Lepidoptera species.
Pungitopo/ Butcher’s Broom/ Ruscus Aculeatus
this a low evergreen Eurasian shrub of the lily family,
with flat shoots known as cladodes that give the
appearance of stiff, spine-tipped leaves. Small
greenish flowers appear in spring, and are borne
singly in the centre of the cladodes. The female
flowers are followed by a red berry, and the seeds are
bird-distributed, but the plant also spreads by means
of rhizomes. Ruscus aculeatus occurs in woodlands
and hedgerows, where it is tolerant of deep shade,
and also on coastal cliffs. It is also widely planted in
gardens, and has spread as a garden escape in
many areas outside its native range.
Corbezzolo/Strawberry Tree/Arbutus Unedo
This species is native to the Mediterranean
region and western Europe. The Strawberry
Tree is naturally adapted to dry summers, and
useful for planting in areas with a dry-summer
climate. The Strawberry Tree grows to 30feet
tall, grows best in protected areas, and can
grow as either a tree or a multi-stemmed
shrub. The strawberry tree’s large white, bell
shaped flowers bloom in early fall and its
edible fruit is red with a bumpy surface, and is
used to make jam and brandy. This species is
prone to pests and diseases such as Scales
and root rot.
Corniolo/ Cornel Tree/ Cornus Mas
This species which is part of the Dogwood family,
is native to Western Europe, Mediterranean
region, North America and parts of East Asia. It is
often found in riparian zones, along the banks of
streams and rivers. Historically, Cornell trees
were used as ornamentals or for their flowers.
They are deciduous and grow as shrubs and
trees. They flower in spring to early summer their
edible fruit is available in late summer. Dogwoods
are used as food plants by the larvae of some
Lepidoptera species including Emperor Moth and
the Small Angle Shade.
Ginestra dei Conbonai/ Scotch Broom/
Cytisus scoparius
Scotch Broom is a perennial shrub native to
western and central Europe. It is commonly
found in low altitudes, in sunny areas that have
dry sandy soils. It grows to be up to 9feet tall and
is commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Vibrant golden yellow flowers are produced in
spring and early summer. In late summer, its seed
pods mature black and burst open, spreading
seed from the parent plant. It widely exists in
regions where it is not native, and is considered
an ecologically damaging invasive species.
Sources: Flora of Europe, http://www.macmerik.nl/indexflora.html, Accessed 10/30/08. Il Giardino Segreto: Self-guided tour at Spannocchia, www.spannocchia.org. Mabey, R. 1993. A Nature Journal. Chatto & Windous. London. Mabey, R. 1991. Flora Britannica. Sinclair- Stevenson, London. Polunin, O and Walters, M. 1986. A guide to the vegetation of Britain and Europe.
Oxford University Press, New York, NY. Rackham, O. 1994. The History of the Countryside. JM Dent & Sons, Ltd. London. Image Source: Wikipedia.com, Sarah Horn personal collection
Sarah Horn
Summer 2008
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