Rule of Three - Let it Be?

They came buzzing in fast for the members only sale at the US National Arboretum last Friday ... quickly scarfing up whatever unusual plant they spied first.  One young gentleman was lucky enough to get the last of just a few available Fiveleaf Aralias -- (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegatus') and a lot of people were following him around, asking if he'd reconsider and give it up for something else.  This plant, a PA Horticultural Society gold medal winner, of course is showy enough to be a single specimen in the garden ... that is, if you place it right.  Most designers adhere to the rule of three: three of anything looks better than two or one.   But plant aficionados are a different breed.

Working as a volunteer "plant expert," I asked one woman if she wouldn't like to add a few more of the same plants she already had in her grocery basket. She replied that she knew all about the "three plants" rule, but she wanted one of everything. She then opted for a new China Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca') and when I told her that Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a conifer that drops its needles in winter, she had to have one of those, too.  At least she has a big property.

There was one family -- a Japanese group -- that had three or five of everything in their cart, including three Hardy Oranges (Poncirus trifoliata).  They were totally dumfounded when they discovered that someone else had already bought the rest of the Weigela 'Wine & Roses.'  There was one left ... they pondered the situation for a long while over much discussion ... and then decided that one would do.  To plant collectors, rules are there to break. 

(photo: PA Horticultural Society)