Formal Garden
Seasonal Color Changes
Every spring the Oklahoma State campus comes to life during the seasonal color change. The winter plants are replaced with hundreds of plants and flowers from the OSU greenhouses. The first step is our design, which is planned months in advance. During the fall we start looking for the plants that will best fit into the color and textural patterns we have planned. The plants arrive in very tiny plugs, and the greenhouse management team pots them and grows them to be ready to plant in the spring. We spend several days each spring planting the Formal Garden, along with our other seasonal color pots and beds. Daily care is required to keep everything looking lush and colorful.
Landscape Plant List
Common Name: Westmont Arborvitae
Botanical Name: Thuja orientalis
Cultivar/Selection: 'Westmont'
Plant Patent: No
Common Name: Angelonia AngelMist Dark Purple
Botanical Name: Angelonia angustifolia
Common Name: Angelonia Archangel Cherry Red
Botanical Name: Angelonia Archangel Cherry Red
Common Name: Angelonia Archangel Raspberry
Botanical Name: Angelonia Archangel Raspberry
Common Name: Canna Phasion
Botanical Name: Canna
Common Name: Canna South Pacific Rose
Botanical Name: Canna
Common Name: Canna South Pacific Scarlet
Botanical Name: Canna
Common Name: Canna South Pacific Orange
Botanical Name: Canna
Common Name: Celosia First Flame Purple
Botanical Name: Celosia plumosa
Common Name: Celosia Flamma Bright Red
Botanical Name: Celosia plumosa
Common Name: Celosia Flamma Orange
Botanical Name: Celosia plumosa
Common Name: Celosia Flamma Red
Botanical Name: Celosia plumosa
Common Name: Celosia Flamma Rose
Botanical Name: Celosia plumosa
Common Name: Celosia Golden
Botanical Name: Celosia plumosa
Common Name: Crossandra Orange Marmalade
Botanical Name: Crossandra infundibuliformis
Common Name: Crossandra Watermelon
Botanical Name: Crossandra infundibuliformis
Common Name: Crossandra Yellow
Botanical Name: Crossandra infundibuliformis
Common Name: Cuphea Batface Torpedo
Botanical Name: Cuphea llavea
Common Name: Kaleidoscope Abelia
Botanical Name: Abelia x grandiflora
Cultivar/Selection: 'Kaleidoscope'
Plant Patent: Yes *USPPAF*
Common Name: Mexican Heather
Botanical Name: Cuphea hyssopifolia FloriGlory Corazon Purple
Common Name: Mexican Heather
Botanical Name: Cuphea hyssopifolia FloriGlory Diana Pink
Common Name: Firecracker Plant Honeybells
Botanical Name: Cuphea Honeybells
Common Name: Firebush Lime Sizzler
Botanical Name: Hamelia patens ‘Grelmsiz’ PP26247
Common Name: Gomphrena QIS Orange
Botanical Name: Gomphrena haageana
Common Name: Gomphrena Truffula Pink
Botanical Name: Gomphrena pulchella
Common Name: Gomphrena Very Purple
Botanical Name: Gomphrena Globosa
Common Name: Lantana Lucky Flame
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Common Name: Lantana Lucky Pink
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Common Name: Lantana Lucky Red
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Common Name: Lantana Lucky Sunrise Rose
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Common Name: Pennisetum Fireworks
Botanical Name: Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Common Name: Pentas Lucky Star Lavender
Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata
Common Name: Pentas Lucky Star Lipstick
Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata
Common Name: Pentas Lucky Star Pink
Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolata
Common Name: Saliva Skyscraper Orange
Botanical Name: Salvia
Common Name: Salvia Rockin Playing the Blues
Botanical Name: Salvia
Common Name: Firepower Heavenly Bamboo
Botanical Name: Nandina domestica
Cultivar/Selection: 'Firepower'
Plant Patent: No
Common Name: Salvia Skyscraper Dark Purple
Botanical Name: Salvia
Common Name: Salvia Skyscraper Pink
Botanical Name: Salvia
Common Name: Tecoma Bells of Fire
Botanical Name: Tecoma stans 'TEC6010916' PP24170
Common Name: Tecoma Lydia
Botanical Name: Tecoma stans 'TEC60109105' PP24169
Common Name: Vinca Soiree Kawaii Blueberry Kiss
Botanical Name: Catharanthus hybrid
Common Name: Vinca Soiree Kawaii Light Purple
Botanical Name: Catharanthus hybrid
Common Name: Vinca Soiree Kawaii Pink
Botanical Name: Catharanthus hybrid
Common Name: Vinca Soiree Kawaii Red Shades
Botanical Name: Catharanthus hybrid
Common Name: Vinca Tatoo Blueberry
Botanical Name: Catharanthus roseus
Common Name: Vinca Tatoo Orange
Botanical Name: Catharanthus roseus
Common Name: Vinca Tatoo Papaya
Botanical Name: Catharanthus roseus
Common Name: Vinca Tatoo Raspberry
Botanical Name: Catharanthus roseus
Common Name: Zinnia Zesty Purple
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
Common Name: Zinnia Zesty Scarlet
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
Common Name: Zinnia Zydeco Cherry
Botanical Name: Zinnia marylandica
Common Name: Zinnia Zydeco Fire (Orange)
Botanical Name: Zinnia marylandica
Donate a Brick
Oklahoma State University 100 Year Monument & Time Capsule
This granite monument holds two time capsules and is located on the east side of the Formal Gardens. The garden has colorful flowerbeds, dedicated bricks, and benches.
This monument is dedicated to the alumni and students who have attended Oklahoma State University during it's first 100 Years
Dedicated 14 December 1990
This monument houses two time capsules sealed during the Centennial Celebration
One Capsule is to be opened during the University's Sesquicentennial
One Capsule is to be opened during the University's Bicentennial
Designed and built by the OSU Construction Management Society
Formal Garden Plaque for the 1998 Reconstruction
The Formal Gardens had their beginnings in 1947. Mr. Bryan Thompson began remaking the area north of College Avenue (University) in conjunction with the plans for the new Student Union Building. Much of Mr. Thompson's initial work on the Formal Gardens was completed during the 1947 and 1948 school years.
The Formal Gardens were originally located according to the plans for the new Student Union Building. When the building was moved north to avoid conflict with the Chemistry Building (now Paul Miller Journalism and Broadcasting), the result was that the Gardens were constructed off-center with the Union tower.
The resulting asymmetry has been corrected with this restoration. The Gardens before you are the result of a cooperative effort between the Student Government Association and Physical Plant Services in recapturing the essence of the dream. We are thankful to the many donors that have freely given to bring about this restoration.
Student Government Association
Physical Plant Services
October 31, 1998
Oklahoma State University Bicentennial/tricentennial Time Capsule
1976
With strong faith in a glorious future for our Nation and our University, the OSU Bicentennial Minutemen have established a trust fund in this our Country's Bicentennial year in the enclosed time capsule shall be opened and the trust used to insure continued freedom and prosperity for the Oklahoma State University.
2076