Swarthmore in Delaware County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
An Original Landscape
Magnolia virginiana var. australis 'Henry Hicks' is a cultivar selected by John Wister, the first director of the Scott Arboretum. It is named after Long Island nurseryman Henry Hicks and was selected for its tendency to remain evergreen in winter. The species is one of the few magnolias that grow well in marshy and poorly drained soils. It is native to the coastal plains and can be identified by its single, white, spring-to-summer blooms; its dark-green, glossy upper leaf; and its pale, glaucous underside. It thrives in full sun.
Magnolias
Of the world's 304 wild magnolia species, over half are threatened with extinction. A beloved ornamental group of shrubs and trees that emit sweet fragrances from blossoms of white, yellow, pink, red, and purple, magnolias can be found in North America, Central America, South America, and eastern Asia. Among the oldest flowering plants, magnolias are used in various cultures for medicinal purposes.
Here and scattered around campus, the Scott Arboretum's magnolia collection contains close to 150 types of magnolias and is recognized by the Plant Collections Network as a Nationally Accredited Plant Collection. Species include M. denudata, M. stellata, M. grandiflora and M. virginiana.
Erected by Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1738.
Location. 39° 54.304′ N, 75° 21.076′ W. Marker is in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County. Marker can be reached from Visitor's Center Road west of North Chester Road (Pennsylvania Route 320), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the Swarthmore College Campus, directly in front of the Benjamin West House, which now houses the Swarthmore Visitor Information Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore PA 19081, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Benjamin West (within shouting distance of this marker); World War II Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Korean War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Swarthmore in the World War (approx. ¼ mile away); J. Edgar Thompson (approx. one mile away); Rose Valley Historic District (approx. 2 miles away); Minquas' Path (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Swarthmore.
Regarding An Original Landscape. National Historic Landmark (1965). National Register of Historic Places #66000662 (1966).
Also see . . . Benjamin West Birthplace. Benjamin West was born in this house in 1738. He was one of the first American-born artists to be trained in Italy, and settled in England in 1763, where he embarked on a successful career as a painter. (Submitted on September 1, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 1, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.