My first introduction to Stephanie Cohen was at the OFA Short Course( now known as Cultivate) several years ago. I had gone to a talk by noted plantsman Allan Armitage and there was this woman up on the stage with him. At first, I thought it was Dr. Ruth Westheimer because I could hear this accent and this undeniable attitude with him. I was definitely confused by why she would be among all these growers. After a couple of minutes I realized that it wasn’ t Dr. Ruth, but a woman named Stephanie Cohen. I since learned that many of her friends call her“ The Dr. Root of Perennials,” as a nod to resemblance in voice and stature to Dr. Ruth. While many of us call her friend, mentor, and fellow communicator, she is so much more to so many others.

A PROFESSIONAL ON MANY LEVELS

In the 1960s, Stephanie developed an interest in houseplants, which led her to learning more about horticulture. Although she already had an undergraduate degree in English and was teaching high school, she decided to get a degree in horticulture. Stephanie kept on her educational journey by obtaining a master’ s degree in environmental studies.

Like so many of us, she had various jobs within the industry, including working in and selling greenhouses. She then started teaching a perennials class. By chance, Stephanie was asked to fill in at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as an adjunct professor for a semester. More than 20 years later, she retired after changing the face of horticulture at Temple. Stephanie helped establish the Landscape Arboretum of Temple University at Ambler and became its founding director.

Stephanie is a garden lecturer, writer, and a contributor to many trade and consumer magazines and is a best-selling author with books focusing on perennials and design. She was recognized by the Perennial Plant Association as Educator of the Year in 2003. The PPA has given her the Honor Award for Design and the Special Service Award. She also received the Garden Communicator of the Year Award for 2000 and

Stephanie Cohen takes a break in her garden.

2001 by the American Nursery and Landscape Association. In 2014 she became a GWA Fellow.

GIVING BACK

Stephanie has even been on QVC as“ The Perennial Diva.” There are plants named after her including Hemerocallis‘ Stephanie Returns’( daylily), Tiarella cordifolia‘ Stephanie Cohen’( foamflower) and Phlox paniculata‘ Shortwood Gardens’( garden phlox), which is named after her garden.

She is a regular benefactor to the Camden( New Jersey) Children’ s Garden. This unique garden is designed for children and families to explore and discover nature. Any money that is collected from tours of her personal garden is donated to the Camden Children’ s Garden.

Stephanie is a firm believer in mentoring. I asked her what she got out of it.“ Not money, nor even respect, not love,” she said.“ I have a tendency to want to help people, give them a gentle, firm push off a cliff. The joy of someone coming back and saying that they enjoy it. It’ s something I like to do.”

She can name dozens of former students and others who she has mentored— from nursery and garden center owners to curators at the Morris and Scott arboreta, and one other person, our current GWA President Kirk Brown. She gave him and his alter ego, John Bartram, their first keynote speaking engagement at the now defunct Waterloo Gardens in Exton, Pennsylvania.

What are Stephanie’ s favorite plants? Here are a few:

• Thalia daffodil, because it is small and fragrant

• Fothergilla, a plant for every season with shades gold and orange

• Elizabeth, a yellow magnolia

• Dahlias

• Zinnia angustifolia( narrowleaf zinnia) in an herb garden

HOPE FOR HORTICULTURE I asked Stephanie what her hope was for the future of horticulture.“ Numbers are finally getting higher, how much interest there is in organics, in farm to table. Carve out niche for yourself! There will always be a use for horticulture but esthetically, it is beautiful. Everything evolves.”

What does she consider her greatest gardening achievements? Establishing the arboretum at Temple University, Ambler Campus, becoming a Fellow at GWA, all the other awards but most of all, is inspiring her students.

Stephanie lives in Collegeville, Pennsylvania with her husband Dick. She is busy this summer in her garden, which is the site of her daughter Rachel’ s September wedding.

Denise Schreiber is the author of Eat Your Roses, Pansies Lavender and 49 Other Delicious Flowers. She has been the greenhouse manager and horticulturist for Allegheny County Parks Department for more than 25 years and is a certified ISA arborist. Denise won a 2016 Silver Media Award for her column“ Ask the Expert” in Pennsylvania Gardener.

PHOTO COURTESY DENISE SCHREIBER

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