Spring flora on campus
Quinnipiac University has an abundance of beautiful plants on its Mount Carmel campus
April 27, 2021
The biggest draw to Quinnipiac University is the beauty of our campus.
Beyond the lush green grass, springtime brings colorful flowers and lingering sweet scents to our home away from home.
I took pictures of various plants and gathered their names, genus, species, and treatments using the PictureThis app. In cross-referencing with Google, I was able to make sure this plant tour was an accurate representation of our campus. I explored the variety of nature we have here at QU and share what I learned. Our first stop is Pine Grove.
On the walk down Pine Grove on the way to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), we see towering eastern white pines. Also known as white pine, soft pine and trees of peace, this species is one of the tallest trees in the native area. It thrives in full sun and partial shade, white pines are spring perennials. They are the largest conifer in the Northeast.
Dispersed around campus is this beautiful yellow flower. The wild daffodil, otherwise called the lent lily or trumpet narcissus, is a spring perennial that grows in bulbs. It is commonly found in forests, grasslands and rocky terrains. If ingested, the wild daffodil can be fatal for small children and pets. They symbolize regard, unrequited love and respect. These flowers grow in full to partial sun, which is why you see them happy in the CAS parking lot.
On the walk to CAS or down Bobcat Way, there are beautiful pink and white trees lining the sidewalks. Japanese cherry blossoms, also known as oriental cherries, are native to Japan. In East Asia, there’s an annual tradition to view the blossoming of these beautiful plants. The Japanese cherry blossom is one of the most popular perfume scents across the world and is a symbol of love and divination. They are spring perennials that thrive in full sun.
The weeping forsythia can be found by Larson Hall. Also known as the golden bell, this bush is a part of the Easter tree species. Native to Asia, the forsythia is commonly used in Chinese medicine and is the national flower of Seoul, South Korea. This yellow plant is happiest in full sun. It requires a lot of upkeep, as the plant naturally grows in large tangled arches.
This purple plant lines the Arnold Bernhard Library and Ledges residence hall. The catawba rhododendron, also known as the mountain rosebay, is an ornamental plant native to North America and Europe. They can grow up to 16 feet tall and are known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. They symbolize danger and require full sun to partial shade.
The Canadian serviceberry, also called the Juneberry, is a plant native to North America, specifically in the United States. It is used both ornamentally and for medicinal purposes. It is a perennial that blooms in spring under full sun and partial shade. Serviceberries were a significant part of Native American diets, popular primarily with the Blackfoot and the Okanagan tribes.
In full bloom next to the Bobcat Den, the saucer magnolia thrives in full sun. Also known as the Chinese magnolia and tulip magnolia, this plant is a hybrid tree native to Europe. Magnolias are easy to cultivate and are believed to be one of the earliest flowering plants, with fossil evidence going back over 100 million years. They are very easy to take care of and can resist attacks from disease and pests without difficulty.
Planted beneath Boomer the Bobcat statue is the blue fescue. The Latin name of this plant translates to “pale blue-grey.” Thriving in full sun, the blue fescue is highly tolerant to drought. This makes it an easy plant to care for. The PictureThis app indicates that the state of this fescue is poor. With more regular watering, the cyan blue shades of the fescue will start to reveal themselves.
The next time you’re heading to class, take a look around to see how many plants you can spot.
