San Francisco Botanical Garden - Gardens

Curator Don Mahoney
In cooperation with San Francisco Recreation & Parks staff, Mr. Mahoney has been responsible for operations of the SFBG nursery since 1984. He supervises the propagation of rare and unusual plants both for the Garden and the Society's monthly plant sales. He also teaches classes in horticulture and botany at the Garden and has given numerous talks to plant societies and garden clubs throughout the Bay Area. He has served on many boards of plant societies and non-profits, and holds a PhD in wild-lands resource science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sneak Peak: Trees, Ferns & Rhododendrons Sale

Many gardens in San Francisco have an abundance of shade, while in other parts of the Bay Area, often large trees provide shade in the landscape. Gardening in these situations can be a challenge. Two groups of plants that can help are rhododendrons and ferns, both featured at our October Plant Sale, along with trees.

Rhododendrons are known for their spectacular spring displays of flower color, but there are other features of rhododendrons that can make them attractive year round. The lower leaf surface of some rhododendrons, especially those related to R. yakusianum from Japan, are covered with a russet, silvery, or white indumentum or fur, which is quite conspicuous and present year round. We will have a good supply of these at our sale.

Other rhododendrons have a bronze or red new growth which adds color to the shade garden for another month. There are rhododendrons with exceptionally large leaves to give a tropical look. Many rhododendrons are fragrant, especially the subtropical group called vireyas that bloom off and on all year. Our nursery specializes in these species and hybrids.

The perfect companion plants are ferns. Ferns also are very diverse and come in many sizes and forms. We will have evergreen ferns and deciduous ones bred for their bright verdant spring displays. We'll also have ferns that grow in stately clumps and others that are running groundcovers. We'll even have some that have bright pink or red new growth.

Of course, if you do not have shade and want some, fall is the best time to select and plant a tree. We will have unusual trees for sale, including dawn redwoods, incense cedars, and western hemlocks. We will also have low-growing trees like seedling Japanese maples and Parrotia persica. Come check out the October 8th sale or our new plant sale arbor behind the bookstore, open seven days a week.

From the Curator

Sneak Peak: Trees, Ferns & Rhododendrons Sale