Clemson’s Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden

Clemson’s Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden

Clemson’s Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden is a multidisciplinary effort to create something that is both beautiful and beneficial. The garden consists of almost entirely native plants, making it low-maintenance and drought tolerant. It is cared for by Clemson students and is often used for research on the benefits of nature on human health using voluntary surveys on people visiting the garden.

In September, Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast, Clemson included. Thankfully, due to the stress tolerance of the plants in the Demo Garden, the garden is looking good.

The Demo Garden strives to be as sustainable as possible, so its maintenance must reflect that. With fall just around the corner, the plants in the garden must be pruned back, and withered plants need to be removed. Seedheads are left on the plants after blooming is over to ensure that birds and small mammals can eat them, and plants can re-seed for next year.

A Purple Coneflower seedhead that has been left for the wildlife. <br/> Abigail Taylor, ©2024, Clemson University

A Purple Coneflower seedhead that has been left for the wildlife.
Abigail Taylor, ©2024, Clemson University

Even though summer has passed and it’s getting cooler, the garden is still full of color and interesting textures that provide ornamental value to campus. The most notable blooms right now are the swamp sunflowers that bloom regularly in the late summer to early fall. The fothergilla are starting to get their first flushes of fall color, typically a rusty red or burgundy. The feathery plumes from the muhly grass continue to add color and texture to the garden.

 

Swamp Sunflowers bloom all over the garden (Helianthus angustifolius). <br/> Abigail Taylor, ©2024, Clemson University

Swamp Sunflowers bloom all over the garden (Helianthus angustifolius).
Abigail Taylor, ©2024, Clemson University

 

Fothergilla (Fothergilla major ‘Mount Airy’) is in the witch hazel family and has similar leaves but lacks that citrusy smell of witch hazel. <br/> Abigail Taylor, ©2024, Clemson University

Fothergilla (Fothergilla major ‘Mount Airy’) is in the witch hazel family and has similar leaves but lacks that citrusy smell of witch hazel.
Abigail Taylor, ©2024, Clemson University

As fall sets in, we can expect shrubs and trees to continue to change color and more herbaceous plants to start to die back. The American beautyberry is heavy-set with fruit and will stay that way throughout the fall before dropping its leaves in winter. The shagbark hickory’s leaves will begin to turn a stunning yellow color. With the diversity of native plants in the Demo Garden, there will be lots of interesting changes to observe well into the fall as the garden gets ready to rest for the winter.

If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988.

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