English language

How to pronounce malus coronaria in English?

Full Transcript

[Colleen] Without further ado, I'd like to let
Elaine and Kathie take it from here and welcome to our presentation.
[Elaine] Thank you very much, Colleen, and thank you also to Julie and Cheryl who are helping us behind
the scenes. Welcome, everyone, to our first presentation on sustainable landscaping for
2022. As Colleen mentioned, I've enjoyed giving quite a few talks on native plants over the past
two years when we switched to our Zoom format, and today I'm really excited
that I will be sharing the stage with fellow Master Gardener Kathie Clements.
We'll be sharing information about plants that environmentalists have
referred to as the "keystone species." These are a special subset of those native plants.
To give you a quick overview, we'll briefly review the general benefits of using native plants
and then talk about the specific characteristics of the keystone species. I will be going on to
introduce you to the top-rated woody keystone plants, and then Kathie will take over and talk
about the top-rated herbaceous plants. Then I will return at the end to quickly give you a recap
with some important resources. There is a handout and the link for that was sent out along with
the Zoom link so you'll be able to follow along when we get to talking about the specific plants.
We generally recommend using native plants because they are suited to our local soil, the
hydrology system, and the climate. They've been here locally and adapting, evolving over
all this time. Very importantly, these plants have evolved with our local fauna so they provide
pollen and nectar for our pollinators, they provide fruit and seeds for wildlife, and they offer
cover for a wide variety of animals. Now the keystone species are referred to in that manner
because like the keystone of the arch, they are critical to the survival of other species in the
ecosystem. These serve as host plants for Lepidoptera. They provide nectar for adult butterflies,
skippers, and moths, and then, additionally, these same plants, the foliage of those plants, provides
nourishment for the larval or caterpillar stage of these insects. In other words, the keystone
species support the entire lifecycle of the Lepidoptera. You may be concerned hearing that
the caterpillars are feeding on the foliage. We tend to think of that as a destructive
behavior that we associate with insect pests. But these are native plants and native insects
that have evolved together over many, many years and they have worked out a balance. You'll
find that, especially the trees, when they're being fed on, you won't even see the effects.
Why are we interested specifically in supporting Lepidoptera? Well, they are
critical components in a food web. They are able, more than any other insects, to take the energy
that is converted by plants, saved up through the process of photosynthesis, and then to pass it
on to other animals in the food web. Among the animals that benefit the most from these
caterpillars are our local populations of birds. 96% of birds feed their young caterpillars exclusively,
and caterpillars are the perfect food for baby birds. Their bodies are soft and easy to digest,
and they have high concentrations of carotenoids. These are essential nutrients that really help
fuel the growth of the baby birds, and they help give color to their feathers.
In a study that was conducted about four years ago right here locally in our region, up in Baltimore
as well, this was a study conducted by entomologist Doug Tallamy, a professor at the University of
Delaware, his doctoral student Desirée Narango, and Peter Marra of the Smithsonian Institution's
Migratory Bird Center They were looking at landscapes of different types:
those that had a higher percentage of native plants and those that maybe had a greater number
of non-native species. They discovered that the yards with native plants, especially the keystone
plants, were the most effective at sustaining the food web. They would produce the greatest number of
caterpillars, and then, in turn, the birds would be able to use those for sustaining their young. It
takes six to nine thousand caterpillars a day for these chickadees -- the
particular bird that they were studying -- to feed their young. As a result of the study, they
came up with this "ideal landscape." They said that landscapes with a 70% biomass of native
plants were going to be able to sustain both the caterpillars and then, in turn, the populations of
birds. Now it turns out that the greatest number of these butterfly and moth caterpillars are supported
by just a few plant genera. So which ones are they? Well, Doug Tallamy [through his studies] has come up
with lists of native plants, both woody plants and herbaceous plants, and these he publishes in
his books, especially "Bringing Nature Home." He's come up with 20 woody plants and 20 herbaceous
plants that he considers the top ones, and we'll be introducing you to some of those
momentarily. I also wanted to mention that the term "keystone" can also refer to plants that support
other species of animals. For example, the National Wildlife Federation has a list of the plants that
give the greatest support to our native specialist bees, and of course these bees are highly important
to us as pollinators. Let's move on and begin talking about the woody plants first. Those
are going to be especially good at giving you that large percentage of biomass in your gardens.
It turns out that formerly the American Chestnut was among the top
species as far as supporting our Lepidoptera, but the number one spot these days goes to the oaks,
the Quercus genus. They support, according to his chart, 534 species. Interestingly, during
a webinar that Tallamy gave recently, he upped that number to 557 species,
at least for the Mid-Atlantic region. Whichever number we go with, the oaks support by far the
greatest number of Lepidoptera. Among those are the Imperial Moth, hairstreaks, and duskywings.
Let's look at an example, the White Oak (Quercus alba). This is a majestic deciduous
tree with a massive trunk and strong horizontal branches. Quite tall with an even wider spread
of its crown. It's a slow-growing tree, but long- lived with a deep taproot. It prefers full sun
and dry to moist conditions, and it's fairly well suited to our region. It tolerates Black Walnut,
clay, and dry soil. But note that it is intolerant of flooding. This has been a
particular problem with some of our extreme storm events, and it's some of the waterlogging of the
roots of these trees that has been one of the factors contributing to oak tree decline.
You also want to note, for those of you who are concerned about deer, that the young saplings
could be vulnerable. Oak trees, of course, provide in other ways for our wildlife.
Acorns are a primary food for many birds, and they also offer cover and nesting sites.
White Oak has four-season interest. You'll see these subtle flowers from March to May. The
characteristic leaves with rounded lobes and these very deep sinuses, the
the cutting into the leaves on the sides. They have acorns with bumpy
caps and then this lovely red fall foliage that lingers on through the winter.
You'll notice that White Oaks are generally considered to be a forest canopy tree
because of their large size, but they can also be used as ornamental lawn trees in a large landscape.
This particular oak is right in my neighborhood, not a huge landscape. Luckily,
it has not had to be drastically trimmed because the power lines are on the opposite side of the street.
Because the Quercus genus, the oaks, are so supportive of wildlife,
particularly our Lepidoptera, I'm going to mention just a few other species quickly.
The Red Oak (Quercus rubra) is somewhat shorter. It has a more irregular crown, also prefers dry to
moist soil, and has a brownish-red fall color. The leaves, of course, have more pointed tips.
A shorter species is Willow Oak (Quercus phellos). It has a rounded crown, and this one prefers moist
to wet soil. It's great in that it tolerates pollution so that makes it a great street tree.
This is a look at the lovely willow-like leaves. Doug Tallamy recognizes that all of these
first three oak species I've mentioned may be too large for people's smaller yards,
so he recommends the Dwarf Chinquapin Oak (Quercus prinoides). This is much shorter at 12 to 25 feet.
It grows in dry to moist soil and actually tolerates poor soil.
In addition to its small size, it actually begins producing its acorns at about 3 to 5 years.
Most of these larger oaks will only begin producing acorns when they've matured and reached
about 20 years in age. Then they'll reach the peak of production between 50 and 80 years.
Moving on to our next species -- we're going down in order from the top to the [lower-rated] species --
the next are the cherries. They are in the Prunus genus, and they support 456 species,
including the Coral Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and Viceroy.
Our example here is the tallest of our native cherries, Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), a medium to
large deciduous tree anywhere from 50 to 80 feet tall. It has a dense crown and pendulous branches.
You don't really see that so much here, but you'll notice that on one of the slides coming up.
Like the oaks, it has a deep taproot. It can grow in sun to part shade and dry to moist soil
and tolerates a range of conditions: drought, salt spray, and Black Walnut. Note that it can
be allelopathic. That means that its roots may exude a chemical that somewhat suppresses the
growth of other nearby plants. Again, deer may cause some damage. Cherries are wonderful in that
they provide nectar and pollen for insects and, of course, fruit for birds and mammals.
Black Cherry has glossy, lightly serrated leaves, and they will turn yellow and orange in the fall.
This is a look at the lovely spires of showy, fragrant flowers. They will be blooming from
April to May. When they are pollinated, you will see these drooping clusters of fruit.
As they ripen in the summer, they will turn dark. The fruit is edible, but the seeds are toxic.
Young cherry trees have a very smooth bark with these lenticels. Like stomata,
the openings on leaves, lenticels allow for the exchange of gases with the atmosphere.
The bark of mature trees becomes somewhat rough. It's said to look
like burnt potato chips. You can use Black Cherry
as a shade tree or a flowering tree. Here's a look at those drooping branches.
Our next species are the willows, and they are closely tied with the cherries.
Tallamy points out that the willows tend to have more of a northern range and the cherries
a little bit more to the south. 455 species, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail,
Morning Cloak, Red-spotted Purple, Viceroy, and Eastern Comma. The first and the tallest
of the willows we'll look at is Salix nigra, a medium, fast-growing, deciduous tree, a bit shorter
than the others at 30 to 60 feet. It can appear either with single or multiple trunks, and unlike
the previous trees, has a shallow, spreading root system. It grows in sun to part shade and
definitely prefers moist to constantly wet soil. In fact, it will tolerate erosion and flooding.
Deer may browse on the bark and twigs. Another great wildlife support tree, offering nectar and pollen
for our specialist bees. Birds will eat the buds and the catkins and also enjoy the seasonal cover.
Unfortunately, Black Willow has somewhat soft and weak wood.
Here's a look at its narrow, tapering leaves. This is a dioecious species. That
means that you'll see these inconspicuous catkins on separate male and female trees.
Black Willow is actually not recommended for use close to our homes. This is due to
several reasons: the weak wood and breakage that I mentioned a moment ago,
its need for consistently moist soil, and the fact that it has shallow roots. But if you have a larger
property, let's say with a pond or along stream banks, this is the perfect tree for erosion control.
There are two native species locally that are somewhat smaller, Silky Willow (Salix sericea),
six to twelve feet tall. It prefers those same moisture, wet conditions and Pussy Willow
(Salix discolor), 6 to 20 feet tall. Here are the familiar charming flowers of that species.
Next in line are the birches which support 413 [Lepidoptera] species. They include
Morning cloak, the Dreamy Duskywing, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
Our example is the native River Birch (Betula nigra). This is a deciduous tree with multiple
trunks, and I personally find that the trees with three trunks have the most balanced look.
This tree grows 50 to 70 feet, very fast-growing with an irregular crown. It can grow in sun to part
shade and is another species that prefers moist to wet soil, especially humus-rich, acidic soil.
It can tolerate a range of our local conditions: clay, compacted soil, heat, and air pollution;
but note that it's intolerant of shade. This particular tree is rarely damaged by deer.
Like the previous species, it supports other wildlife.
Birds and squirrels will eat the male catkins, and birds are attracted to its seeds.
River Birch is really a beautiful tree for all four seasons of the year. You'll see these charming
catkins in April, and then the leaves that surround them will develop an oval and triangular shape.
Its most interesting characteristic, of course, is the exfoliating bark that peels away in all these
multiple pastel colors in papery layers and look absolutely stunning set against snow in the winter.
River Birch can be used as a specimen or in small groups for lawns. I would recommend using it
as shown here in the center of the lawn. You want to keep it away from your sidewalks and pathways.
I made the mistake of siting mine a little too close to a pathway, and I found that I was
constantly having to sweep away small twiglets that were dropping down; it does have a little bit
of branch litter. River Birch is also perfect if you have a large rain garden; it could be
the central specimen plant. It's also great, like the willows, for use along ponds or stream
banks to control erosion. This is a great look at the beautiful winter silhouette of the tree.
If you don't have room for the straight species,
you might consider 'Little King,' which is considerably shorter at eight to ten feet.
Next is the crabapple genus. They support 311 species, including the Red-spotted Purple. Our
example here is the native Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria). It's a small deciduous tree, so if you
have a smaller yard this might be more acceptable for you. It grows only 15 to 30 feet. It has a short
trunk and a broad crown. It grows in sun to part shade. I took this photograph at a woodland edge
at the National Arboretum. It likes moist soil. Unfortunately, it's susceptible to a number
of pests and diseases. The most notable of those is cedar-apple rust. That will cause
some disfiguration of the fruit. It won't kill the tree, but it's just rather unsightly.
Deer may severely damage the tree. Crabapples attract many insects to their flowers, and
they also provide nesting, cover, and food for birds. Sweet Crabapple has a variable bark, sometimes
can be very rough-textured. These are the lovely pink-tinged flowers that you'll see in the spring.
And here's the fruit. It's referred to as "pomes." That means a fruit like apples
that have a tough central core that carries the seeds. These will mature to yellow in the fall.
Sweet Crabapple can be used either as a specimen or grouped as a screen, and this
tree is especially effective when grown as an espalier. You can either soften a wall or
a fence, or if you have a small yard, you could use it in this manner to make use of a shallow space.
This is not a tree but another woody plant, a shrub. The blueberries support 288 species,
among them the Brown Elfin. Highbush Blueberry is the familiar fruit-bearing shrub (Vaccinium
corymbosum). It's deciduous, upright, and spreading, only six to 12 feet in height. It grows
in sun to part shade, another species that prefers wetter soil, and it's most important to note that
it requires acidic soil. This is a species for which you'd really want to be doing a soil test.
It prefers soil in the range 4.5 pH to 5.5, so definitely well on the acidic side of the range.
It tolerates wet soil, and note that deer and rabbits may occasionally damage it. Blueberries
attract specialist bees to their nectar and pollen, and of course, many songbirds will enjoy
any berries that we don't harvest for ourselves. Highbush Blueberry has ornamental value
with these lovely bell-shaped flowers from April to June, the familiar edible fruit
set against these glossy oval leaves. Then they take on spectacular, brilliant colors in the fall.
Highbush Blueberry can be planted in a shrub border, combined with perennials and ground covers.
You could group it as a hedge or use it at the edge of a woodland garden.
Next, a familiar plant: Red Maple. This is so popular that people may not even
realize that it is, in fact, one of our native species. Maples as a group support 285 species,
including the Imperial Moth. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a medium-sized, deciduous tree,
about 40 to 80 feet, fast-growing with a rounded crown. It can grow in sun to part shade and moist
to wet soil. It's one of the most adaptable of our trees. It tolerates a wide range of soil,
wet soil, and air pollution and also is relatively safe from predation by deer.
The flowers of this particular tree are an important early nectar source for bees, and
as it matures, it can provide not only food but nesting cavities for birds. Red Maple is another
tree with multi-season interest. Here are those beautiful flowers you'll see in early March.
Then those develop into this fruit. It's referred to as "samaras." The fruit has paired, rather
papery wings. These catch the wind and allow for the distribution of seeds well away from the tree.
Here are the familiar lobed leaves and the beautiful color that they can take on in the fall.
We can see why this is such a popular tree to use as a specimen tree.
Next are the pines. They support 203 species, among them the Imperial Moth.
Our example here is Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus). Unlike the other trees we've been
looking at, this is an evergreen tree. It has a conical to somewhat irregular shape as it
grows taller, 50 to 80 feet. It's both fast-growing and long-lived. It grows
in sun to part shade and dry to moist soil. You'll want to protect any saplings from deer.
Its seed cones provide food for wildlife, and its dense foliage provides wonderful cover.
Here are the feathery clusters of blue-green needles
in clusters of five. This particular tree will add one row of horizontal branches each year.
Here's a look at the ridged and furrowed bark.
Because of its size, this is generally considered to be an ornamental tree for large landscapes.
Next are the hickories. They support 200 species. The Banded Hairstreak is one of the butterflies;
it also supports many moths, including the Luna Moth. Among several native local hickories is
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata). This is a large deciduous tree about 60 to 80 feet in height,
another of the long-lived species. It grows in sun to part shade and moist soil and even
tolerates occasional flooding, or, on the other end, drought. Deer will rarely severely damage it.
It's wonderful for providing nesting and cover for birds,
and of course the animals will enjoy its nuts.
Like the River Birch, it has very interesting exfoliating bark that peels off in long strips.
And among other animals that
enjoy hiding underneath the bark are bats. They can find little crevices that protect them underneath.
Shagbark Hickory has smooth leaves. They're described as pinnately compound. That means
that there are pairs of leaflets on either side of that central leaf stalk
and then a fifth leaf at the end.
The hickory will develop the sweet, edible nuts that are encased in thick, four-part husks.
It takes on a lovely yellow to golden-brown fall color.
Another species that, because of its large size, is best used as a shade tree on large properties.
Here's a smaller tree, the hawthorns. They support 159 species, including the Gray Hairstreak,
Red-spotted Purple, Viceroy, and many moths, including the Eggar Moth. Our example here is the Cockspur
Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli). This is another deciduous tree, characteristically has a
short trunk and horizontal thorny branches. It reaches 20 to 35 feet in height. It prefers full
sun and moist soil and is great for our urban conditions as it tolerates drought and pollution.
Even with its thorny branches, deer may occasionally browse its twigs.
This is a wonderful tree for wildlife support. Bees seek its nectar, it provides
protective cover of course with those thorny branches, and then it offers winter fruit.
Here's a look at those branches and leaves. It's absolutely covered with flat clusters of
these fragrant flowers in the springtime. These fruits, like the crabapples, are referred to as
pomes. They initially develop as green. Then they take on
this lovely red-orange color, and they will persist into the winter. This photo was taken in February.
Cockspur Hawthorn is one of the trees that can spread through through its roots [offshoots],
so you could allow it to naturalize and use it as a barrier hedge. If you retain it just
as an individual tree, you could use it for erosion control on slopes. This lovely
photo was taken at the home of a fellow Master Gardener. She uses the tree as an ornamental accent.
Our final woody plants are the honeysuckles. They support 36 species.
In the chart that Tallamy produced that I showed you earlier, he lists this
as an herbaceous plant. Because of its woody structure, I'm actually describing it here.
It supports the Spring Azure and the Snowberry Clearwing Moth.
Trumpet Honeysuckle is Lonicera sempervirens. It's a twining, semi-evergreen vine 8 to 20
feet in height. It grows in sun to part shade, moist soil, and it tolerates clay and Black Walnut.
Just be alert that deer may browse its leaves and stems.
This plant is very attractive to a wide range of animals. It will attract
hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees for its nectar, and then birds will consume its berries.
It has pairs of ovate leaves with these interesting rolled edges, and they are fused
beneath the flowers. Unlike the invasive Japanese Honeysuckle, these flowers are not
fragrant, but they more than make up for that with their fabulous color in these whorled flower
clusters. They will appear initially from April on into June and then continue intermittently
to frost. My vine was actually still blooming in January before we had our snowstorm locally.
Then this fruit will develop. It will remain on the vine from August to
March, providing wonderful nutrition both to migrating birds and our overwintering birds.
Honeysuckle is excellent for trellises and arbors. This interesting [trellis] was
handcrafted by a Master Gardener colleague. It releases at the top to bend away from
the facade of the house to allow her to do some maintenance and then fastens back on. The vine can
decorate fences, or it can be allowed to sprawl as a ground cover. The yellow-flowering plant
that's shown here in the center is the 'John Clayton' cultivar. A lot of people enjoy that both
for the alternate color and its somewhat smaller size, only 6 to 12 feet in height and
three to five feet wide. I'll just briefly mention a few other woody keystone species: poplars, ashes
several of our roses, filberts, walnuts, and beeches.
Do we have any questions at this point, Colleen? [Colleen] We certainly do. We have lots. First of
all, does the keystone Highbush Blueberry produce edible fruit? [Elaine] Yes, that is the familiar
blueberry that produces the fruit that we enjoy. [C] Okay, great. They wanted to know if it was
just ornamental or if it was was edible. So that's good. Another participant had a question
about the lifespan of the White Oak. They're concerned because they think theirs is about 150
years old. Do they have to start to worry about it failing? [E] I think, in ideal conditions, they
can live considerably longer than that. As I mentioned, there can be certain conditions
if they're not sited properly that could be problematic. If they are in a
location that tends to collect water, where the water's really going to bog down on their roots
(because they really prefer dry root conditions) that's going to set them up for stress.
You also want to be sure to water your large trees during periods of extended drought.
If you do that, you can help your trees, even the mature trees that have
generally done well over the years, you can help them be assured that they will
be less stressed during those challenging periods.
[C] Great. Do you know if Black Cherry fruit is toxic for dogs? [E] I'm not sure about dogs.
I can look into that and respond to that when I create an addendum document that will be posted
along with the recording of this on our website. Generally, of course
you want to check on that before letting any animals consume fruits. I know
that fruits of some of our vines are definitely toxic for dogs. [C] Someone mentioned they
would like to get the new American Chestnut hybrid. Do you know anywhere they could get one?
[E] That will be another question for me to look into. At the end of the presentation
under resources, I'll be giving you a website that you can refer to with native-only
plant sellers, and it could be good to check with them. It's exciting that
some of these resistant cultivars are being discovered and encouraged.
[C] A questioner mentioned that their homeowners association, which is part of a golf community,
is opposed to oaks because the leaves apparently litter the golf course and have to be cleaned up.
Do you have any advice for them on changing the mind of the HOA?
[E] Yes, that's a challenge. I guess if you could just
somehow indicate to them that these are just outstanding canopy trees.
We really want to be building up our tree canopy for so many reasons.
Those taller trees are going to provide us really important shade. They
offer so many ecosystem services, not just for animals, but for us as well. Those larger trees
of course produce oxygen. The root systems of the larger trees are going to be able to absorb
more water from the storm events and prevent erosion. They are really fabulous for
our wildlife and we need to to be looking out for them, not just thinking about
landscaping for ourselves these days. If we want to think sustainably, they're outstanding.
[C] Do you have any recommendations for someone with coastal exposure and high winds?
[E] Let me think. I'm not sure any of these trees are especially good,
but that can be another question I can look into and respond to that.
I think there are probably some evergreen trees. I think maybe the
[Morella] species (Bayberries] --
the common name is escaping me at the moment -- those are particularly good for
for coastal locations. They're not among the most supportive as far as Lepidoptera, but
they are good native species. [See addendum document for corrected information.]
[C] Another person asked how far do you plant trees apart?
[E] Good question. We have a wonderful pre-recorded presentation
done by Amy Crumpton, the head of our Public Education committee. She has done another
program specifically on trees that you can find on our website. Generally, as I recall, the smaller
trees can be planted maybe about 15 feet away. The taller trees at least 20 feet away from your
house and the trees should be spaced maybe um 20 to 30 feet apart to allow room for the crown.
Those taller trees of course can eventually have smaller understory trees beneath them.
[C] Someone else asked -- I know you mentioned
the Eastern White Pine and someone asked are there other evergreens
that are keystone and particularly mentioned the Shortleaf Pine. [E] The Plant NOVA Trees
website has just become active in our Northern Virginia area.
They are excited about establishing a five-year campaign to share lots of information about trees,
and I believe they have several other pine species that are mentioned on that site. So that would
be a great one to look at to see other native species. [C] Okay, great.
Let's see. Someone asked how to tell a native Red Maple from a Japanese maple.
[E] The Japanese maples tend to be considerably smaller, and I think of them as having
more palmate leaves, more like the fingers of a hand, much more deeply cut and very finely
serrated. If you if you happen to have the tag of the plant when you acquired it from
a nursery, you could tell by the name. [The scientific name is] Acer palmatum.
I can double-check. Another question I can elaborate on. [C] Elaine, I think you've talked
about this before, but someone asked how you sort out cultivars that aren't as good
as the original native. I mean, how do you keep from buying the wrong cultivar?
[E] Well, as was mentioned with the chestnuts, the straight species has had so many problems
[with blight] that some of these cultivars that are found in the wild and then are
reproduced, they are allowed to multiply, and they become the new source of more
resistant plants. That's an example where the cultivar would really be a good choice.
I tend to go with the straight species. With some of the shrubs
where the color of the foliage is manipulated or the perennials where the color and the shape
of the blossoms are manipulated, that's when it becomes more problematic.
What I've been mentioning here with the trees, the only distinction would be
with some of the shorter species like the example I gave of the 'Little King'
as a much shorter [cultivar] of the River Birch. When Doug Tallamy did testing, looking at
different characteristics of plants, he found that the height of the plant when that was adjusted in
a cultivar didn't particularly matter. That did not affect its beneficial qualities.
When the foliage color has been changed from green in some of the shrubs -- I'm thinking of,
let's say, Ninebark, which is a very, very popular shrub -- the color is often changed to
red, and burgundy, and yellow, and golden, not just in the fall color but in the spring foliage.
When that's been changed that means the chemistry has been altered, and the Lepidoptera, the moths, the
butterflies, the skippers that rely on that plant for feeding, their caterpillars will
not be able to feed. They will be repulsed, repelled away from those plants. So that's
problematic. Then with some of the species that Kathie will be talking about, the herbaceous
plants, if the color of the blossom has changed, and especially if the flower shape has changed,
there won't be the nectar and the pollen produced in the center part of that flower,
and therefore it won't be supportive of our bees and other pollinators. [C] Okay, thank
you, Elaine. Do you have a favorite reference to ID native woody plants that you could share?
[E] I've actually been lucky enough just to have the plants that I've
taken photographs of pretty well [identified], so I don't tend to use the plant ID
applications, but I've provided information on that before, and I will be happy to share that
again in my addendum document. [C] Okay thank you. A question about hawthorns. If they get cedar rust
will the fruit still be edible for wildlife? [E] I believe it will. It just gets a kind of
unsightly orange tinge to it, a little extra formation on the fruit. It's challenging
with these trees, any of them that are in the Rose and Apple Family. If they're close
to cedar plants, which are fairly prevalent in our landscape, both trees and shrubs and even
ground covers, that's when the disease can pass between these alternate hosts.
I think generally that the fruit could be consumed; it's just
somewhat unsightly. [C] Okay. There were several questions on the Trumpet Honeysuckle.
One, are they aggressive and make lots of little suckers? Two, do they get aphids, and if they do
how to take care of those. And three, there's a cultivar named 'Major Wheeler'
and is that still a keystone species or is it a cultivar? [E] Any of the plants that have a name
like 'Major Wheeler' or 'John Clayton' [are cultivars. The name in single quotations distinguishes them
from the straight species.] The straight species will just have the two-part scientific
name, the genus and the species. In the case of the honeysuckle species, [the cultivar name
would be Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler.'] I believe that 'Major Wheeler'
is still pretty highly regarded. It's still a red-flowering plant that's going to be
recognized by the hummingbirds, for example, that are particularly attracted to red flowers.
So that's not going to be problematic. As far as the growth habit of the honeysuckle, I have
not found it overly aggressive. Occasionally, if I haven't been careful --
I had it pictured on an arbor next to my garage -- and when I wasn't paying attention, I had it
grow up into the gutter, but it was very easy just to trim that back. Occasionally, long
branches will reach down to the ground and then they may root there, and you could get a
second plant. But they're very easy to uproot, and it's not as though they're going to be sending
seedlings out all over your yard or sprawling uncontrollably. I find it one of the
nicer vines in that regard. [C] Okay. Do you have an opinion about Honey Locusts?
[E] I don't; I'm not particularly familiar with them, but I can add some comments on that.
Did the person inquiring raise a particular issue with the flowers
or some kind of litter? [C] They just asked straight: do you have an opinion about that?
[E] I'm pretty sure those are a native species. They're certainly not high up on this
keystone list, but I can add some comments on that in my addendum document. [C] Elaine, could you
give someone advice on how far apart to plant River Birches if you plant a cluster of three?
[E] A neighbor of mine has planted them, and I would say that they're about 20 feet apart. He has
three of them in a row, and I would say they're about 20 feet apart. The tall
part of their branches is maybe intermingling a little bit. He has them with what
I described as the three-part trunks, and the bases of the trunks are about 20 or 25 feet apart.
[C] Okay, and final question: Do you know if honeysuckle is toxic to dogs?
[E] I do not, but I will look into that. [C] There was a question about
perennials, but I think we'll be talking about our herbaceous plants
in the next section. [E] Okay, and if there are any questions that
Kathie doesn't cover then I can come back on and help with that. But for right now I'll be
happy to turn things over to Kathie to tell you about herbaceous keystone plants. [C] Thanks, Elaine.
[Kathie] Hello, everyone. It is so good to have you you here today to talk about these herbaceous
keystone plants. The old saying that "Pretty is, as pretty does" really does apply to these plants as
they are beautiful plants in the garden, but also provide important support for wildlife.
Goldenrod is the first of our plants that we're going to explore today.
Doug Tallamy says that they are nature's greatest gift to animal life. Goldenrod provides the finale
for the growing season and supplies the bulk of floral resources for wildlife in autumn.
Goldenrod is host to 115 caterpillar species that feed breeding birds and avian travelers that pass
through our area during fall migration. They are hosts to Silvery Checkerspot and Baltimore Checkerspot
butterflies, Wavy-lined Emerald Moth, and others. Many specialist bee species rely on goldenrod.
The range of goldenrod plants that bloom from mid-July to October provide for the needs of
several different generations of bees during the season. It's a host plant for many beneficials,
and even after the yellow blossoms have faded, goldenrods continue to be a source
of nourishment and overwintering habitat for wildlife. The seeds provide food for birds
as well as voles and mice. These small mammals then become food for hawks, owls, and fox.
Wildlife are not the only ones that are served by the goldenrods for they are
able, through their thick, intertwining roots, to control erosion and help build topsoil.
They do this by filtering the rainwater that comes through and allowing important nutrients to stay
in the soil rather than ending up in the streams and rivers. Now goldenrod gets a bad rap. People
think that it makes them sneeze. Actually it's ragweed that is the guilty culprit. A weedy-looking
plant, ragweed spreads its wind-borne pollen at the same time that goldenrod blooms.
Now goldenrod's pollen is large and sticky and just does not float in the wind. Let's talk about
some of the goldenrod species that you might want to include in your garden to extend the season.
Rough-stemmed goldenrod is a sturdy, clumping perennial with erect, arching stems. 'Fireworks,'
a top-rated cultivar, is two feet to three feet wide and tall and is considered to be a very
well-behaved plant. It appreciates being placed in full sun but can also handle part shade. While it
grows best in moist soil, it is tolerant of drought and deals with wet soil once it's established.
It manages clay and light shade, and this is one plant that is usually not favored by deer.
This goldenrod emerges in late spring from slowly spreading rhizomes to produce numerous stalks
covered with narrow, dark green leaves.
In mid-summer, arching stems radiate out and explode into these vibrant-colored
little, tiny, yellow flowers that grace the garden from August
to November. In the fall, seeds appear on the plant, providing food for birds and small mammals.
'Fireworks' offers good color and contrast for the late season garden.
It can be massed for dramatic effect or grown as a specimen plant. It enhances meadows and is a
lovely addition to mixed borders, best placed at the back. Also consider using 'Fireworks' in butterfly,
pollinator, or native gardens where the stunning display of yellow flowers will attract garden
beneficials. Now it may lean to the side sometimes when it's in a border, but it doesn't really need
to be staked, and you encourage re-blooming by just removing some of the spent flowers.
Now let's go on to Blue-stemmed Goldenrod. Many consider Blue-stemmed Goldenrod to be the
truly golden of the goldenrods. It is beautiful and one of the most useful of native plants.
This deciduous plant has a clumping habit, growing about one and a half to three feet tall and wide.
It's a very adaptable plant, growing well in sun or part shade but needing at least three hours of
sun for ample flowering. It handles clay or loamy soil, but the plant
prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates dry or wet conditions as well.
This may be the answer for those of you with dry shade, and deer seldom damage it.
Lance-shaped, tapered leaves grow along the slender, blue stems. Clusters of
lovely, delicate yellow flowers bloom in leaf axils along the graceful, arching stems from August
to October. Blue-stemmed Goldenrod doesn't spread as rapidly or aggressively as some of its
other cousins. It is at home in woodlands or meadows. Also consider placing this plant
in a cottage or pollinator garden. This beauty can make a statement in mixed borders as well.
Now let's talk about Gray Goldenrod. Gray Goldenrod presents as a clump of upright,
gray stems filled with yellow flowers. It is one of the showiest of the goldenrods and smallest, too,
only about six to 24 inches tall and wide. This perennial prefers
full sun but can also grow in part shade. It thrives in medium to dry, well-drained soil.
Hale and hardy, this plant does well where other plants can't. It grows in clay, rocky and
sandy areas, shallow soils and manages drought. Another plus is that deer seldom damage it.
This plant features a clump of gray, downy, arching stems clad with alternate, tapered
leaves that become progressively smaller as they move up the stem.
Flowers grow from the ends of stems, gracefully nodding in the wind. The plant displays a mass
of yellow flowers from August to November, lasting about a month. The yellow plumes
of flowers four to ten inches long sometimes have a lovely but slight fragrance.
Gray Goldenrod is easy to grow, low-maintenance, and performs well in challenging areas. It's
interesting to note that this particular species has individual plants that bloom at various times,
extending the season. Its small size also makes it a versatile choice for a variety of spaces.
The plant colonizes through rhizomes and self-seeding, making it a great plant for a wildflower meadow,
rock or cottage garden where it can naturalize. You can contain the growth by removing the
flower heads before they go to seed. Also consider this plant for waterwise landscapes
or in areas with poor soil. The showy blossoms are lovely in arrangements. Now don't be
too quick to cut these plants down after they've blossomed. Their beauty and utility
continues during the winter as resident birds enjoy feasting on the remaining seeds.
These tough and adaptable plants are worthy additions to a sunny, dry site. Now we'll talk
about the asters. Asters are the larval hosts for 112 butterfly and moth species.
They include Pearl Crescent, Silvery Checkerspot,
American Lady butterflies as well as Wavy-lined Emerald and Isabella Tiger Moths, plus others.
They are an essential food source for bees, including 33 specialist bees.
Late-season pollinators and butterflies bank on asters. According to Doug Tallamy, they are
often the only food plant available for late traveling Monarchs on their way to Mexico.
Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. There are garden-worthasters for a range of light and
soil conditions to provide end-of-season beauty to your landscape and a wildlife resource. Let's
explore a few of them. New England Aster is one of the most splendid of the fall-blooming asters. This
robust, upright perennial grows one to six feet tall and about two to three feet wide.
These beautiful, tough plants adapt to sun or part shade and prefer moist, well-drained sites.
They are also tolerant of clay or dry soil. Deer usually leave them alone.
New England Aster is a sturdy, clump-forming plant with stiff, hairy, lance-shaped, gray-green stems.
Sprays of large, flashy purple flowers bloom from August to October. These beautiful composite
flowers grow on the tips of leafy branches. The flowers range from pink to lavender to purple.
In the fall, seed heads form after the flowers have faded, providing another food source for wildlife.
One interesting aspect is that the central yellow disk of the flower changes
color from yellow to brown, signaling that it has already been visited by a pollinator
and for the guests to move on to another flower.
New England Aster is a popular, welcome addition to any sunny location. 'Purple Dome' is
a popular cultivar for smaller gardens due to its low bushy appearance and large display of
bright purple flowers. This is a stunning plant at home in borders, meadows, butterfly or rain gardens.
You can control their height and develop stronger stems by cutting plants back early in the season.
Another lovely aster is Aromatic Aster, a superb perennial that grows one to three feet tall and
wide, creating dazzling purple mounds in the fall. This hardy plant prospers in sun and part shade.
It manages dry to moist conditions and tolerates drought and dry, rocky soil.
The plant is so adaptable that it can grow on disturbed sites and can be used for wildlife
habitat restoration. It is largely deer- resistant, but some nibbling is possible.
The plant's name comes from the balsamic- like fragrance that it gives off when the
leaves and stems are disturbed or crushed. The rigid, branched stems create a bushy, mounding
shape. When in bloom, the plant is teeming with flowers. The one and a half
inch, violet-blue, daisy-like flowers have yellow centers. The profusion of
blooms lasts from August to November. Two favorite cultivars are 'Raydon's Favorite' and 'October Skies.'
An easy-to-grow ground cover, Aromatic Aster slowly colonizes by stolons.
It is very effective planted in a group or massed on slopes.
It is particularly impressive to use in a rock garden or in the front of a mixed border. Also
consider adding this plant to cottage, pollinator, or butterfly gardens or waterwise gardens.
This easy-care plant is splendid in tricky areas and provides lovely cut flowers.
Now let's explore Blue Wood Aster, an upright perennial with branched stems and small daisy-like
flowers that cover the plant. It grows two to three feet tall and wide. This aster prospers in sun
and part shade, flowering best with at least three hours of sun. The plant can adapt to dry
or moist conditions, preferring well-drained soil. It can also handle drought, and fortunately
it's also tolerant of rabbits and deer. I don't know about you all, but I have
lots of rabbits and deer in my yard. And it's also a magnet for pollinators and Lepidoptera.
The upper leaves of the plant are smaller and ovate
and grow at ground level to form a lovely ground cover in spring. From August to October,
small, daisy-like asters cover the plant. The composite flowers are blue
with yellow centers, and an abundance of the dainty, half-inch flower heads bloom on the plant.
Blue Wood Aster colonizes by rhizomes and seeds. This is a plus in naturalized settings, however
in smaller more manicured gardens, removing the spent flowers can prevent
seed formation and make them welcome additions to those settings.
It is beautiful in naturalized areas, in open shade and woodland gardens. It
is also a lovely addition to dry meadows, banks, shade, butterfly, cottage, or pollinator gardens.
Blue Wood Aster's delicate blue flowers step up in the garden when blossoms of other
plants are waning and provide a beautiful visual display and a banquet for pollinators.
Next we're going to look at White Wood Aster.
If you are looking for a plant to grow in shade, White Wood Aster is one to consider.
I have had very good luck with mine. White Wood Aster is a loose-clumping perennial that grows
6 to 36 inches tall and spreads 18 to 30 inches. It grows in part shade and shade. A tough plant, it
succeeds in dry or moist conditions. This aster tolerates shallow soil, drought, and dense shade.
I have found that my plants that get three hours of sun have been more generous in their flowering.
It's also somewhat deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant. The heart-shaped leaves
occur at ground level. Lance-like leaves grow higher on the zigzag stems. Abundant
flat-topped flower clusters appear from July to October. The fragrant, white flowers have a yellow
or rose center. Seed heads appear in the fall after the flowers have faded, and they're very attractive.
White Wood Asters self-seed and are great for naturalizing. They can be massed or grouped. It's
a good plant for erosion control on shady banks. White Wood Aster forms a dense ground
cover under trees and shrubs and is a handsome edging for woodland paths and steps.
It's an attractive addition for cottage, butterfly, shade, or waterwise gardens. In
the late summer, the White Wood Asters brighten the garden with their
starry, delicate flowers, and they seem to glisten in the shade. I really like this plant.
Let's talk about sunflowers. Oh, my goodness!
These sunflowers are host to 73 moth and butterfly species, including Silvery Checkerspot,
American Lady butterflies and Isabella Tiger Moths. They're a nectar source for many butterflies,
including Monarchs, Cloudless Sulfurs, and Pipevine Swallowtails, as well as other moths. They are
host to 50 specialist bees, and the flower nectar they have serves many other pollinators.
The seeds are relished by birds and mammals, and the mature colonies of the plant provide
cover for many kinds of wildlife. Now let's look at two beautiful species.
Woodland Sunflower is an eye-catching perennial. It is a shrubby, erect plant that grows two to six
feet tall and one to three feet wide. These easy-to-grow plants thrive in average
or dry soil in part sun or part shade. They tolerate drought and will grow in loamy, sandy, or
rocky soil. This species is usually pest-resistant, but deer and rabbits may sometimes nibble.
The long, lance-shaped leaves are arranged in opposite pairs. Buds appear on the ends of stems
and then emerge as clear yellow two- to three-inch blossoms. The stems terminate
in numerous flower heads that are held on rigid, slender stalks blooming from July to September.
Tan clusters of seeds appear when the flowering has
finished. This low-maintenance plant takes a starring role, adding summer and fall color
to partially shaded mixed borders, bird, butterfly, or cottage gardens.
Woodland Sunflower brightens woodland edges, natural settings, and waterwise gardens.
Be aware that the plants can spread vigorously, forming colonies from rhizomes and may be
too aggressive for small gardens. The cut flowers are long-lasting in arrangements,
allowing you to bring the beauty of these flowers into your home. If you want a showy,
high-value native to illuminate your part shade garden, this may be the plant for you.
Now let's look at Narrowleaf Sunflower.
This is a large, multi-stemmed, clump-forming, hardy plant that never fails to dazzle when in
flower. It grows to a stately five to eight feet tall and two to four feet wide in sun
or part shade. The plants tolerate part shade but really do flower more profusely in full sun.
It thrives in moist conditions, growing in clay, loam, or sandy soil but will also tolerate
wet and poor soil. Tender spring growth may be nipped by deer, but they seem to leave it alone
once the plants get tougher later in the season. Narrowleaf Sunflower has thin, lance-shaped leaves.
Each stem terminates in two- to three-inch bright yellow daisy flower heads. This
plant blooms from July to frost, and these large ensembles of showy golden daisies appear to
command your attention from afar. But, oh my, they entice you to come closer for a better look!
Narrowleaf Sunflower is a striking plant for naturalistic gardens, for meadows,
planted near ponds, streams, or wet areas. Use it as an accent for cottage, rain, waterwise,
or pollinator gardens. Consider placing in the back of a mixed border. Wherever you put it, try
to allow space for this plant to spread and you will have a show-stopping display in the garden.
Next we're going to talk about Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed. There is much to love about Joe Pye Weed.
This handsome yet tough species is the compact version of his taller cousin.
It's an upright perennial about two to five feet tall and two to four feet wide with multiple
unbranched stems. The plant grows in sun or part shade and moist or wet, humus-rich soil. Likes it
well-drained, though, and it does tolerate clay and wet soil,
but you have to be careful because
full shade and dry soil can be a problem.
Deer rarely damage it. Coastal Joe Pye Weed serves as a host for 42 moths and butterflies,
including the Wavy-lined Emerald and Camouflage Looper. Lepidoptera enjoy the nectar. It attracts
specialists and native bees. Songbirds also enjoy the seeds.
The plant has broad, ovate leaves that create green whorls of bright green
around stiff, purple-speckled stems.
A profusion of fragrant, large, dome-shaped flower clusters top out of these plants July to October.
The flower heads range from about 3 to 10 inches. The blossoms mature into soft, fluffy, buff-colored
seed heads in October and November. The plant provides shelter and beauty in the winter garden.
Coastal Joe Pye Weed is great for naturalizing in damp areas such as meadows,
wetlands, pond edges, and rain gardens but will also grow well in average conditions.
It is attractive at the back of a border, in a butterfly garden, or a cottage garden.
Our next plants are sedges.
Now sedges are becoming recognized for their understated beauty, adaptability, and wildlife value.
They are larval hosts for 36 butterfly and moth species. Pollinators use sedges as a food source.
They provide cover and nesting material for birds that also feed on the seed. Small mammals
benefit from food and shelter, and the plants provide good erosion control. The first species
we're going to look at is Pennsylvania Sedge, and it's one of the most popular of the sedges.
A slow grower, it develops into loose colonies 6 to 12 inches tall and wide.
While it prefers part shade to full shade, it can handle full sun once it's established. This
versatile plant thrives in dry as well as moist, well-drained soils, and it manages heavy shade
and drought. It is semi-evergreen, and deer rarely damage it.
It has a low-growing, fountaining habit and soft, delicate leaves.
Insignificant flowers appear at the top of the rough stems from
April to July, providing an early seed source for wildlife
followed by tiny fruit held in sack-like bracts. The foliage turns sandy-brown in the fall.
This green darling is well suited to naturalized woodland gardens and dry situations. It's also
a great addition to rain gardens. It has a non-invasive creeping foliage that spreads
by rhizomes to form dense mats, making it a fine ground cover or lawn alternative particularly
for dry soils and shady areas. However, it is not tolerant of foot traffic.
Plantainleaf Sedge is another sedge but a little different. It is a clump-forming perennial that
forms six to 12 inches tall and one to two feet wide. It prefers shade and partial
shade but is adaptable to moist and dry soil. soil. It is evergreen and largely deer-resistant.
New leaves appear on the plant in the spring. The striking lime-green leaves are one inch wide
with three prominent veins and a puckered surface, leading to its alternate common name
Seersucker Sedge. In March, striped maroon and green flower spikes rise above the foliage and look
particularly attractive against those lime-green leaves. The plant produces seeds that are important
to the birds. This sedge colonizes through rhizomes. When grouped, they
make an effective ground cover or a low-growing broad-textured complement to woodland settings.
Plantainleaf Sedge makes a graceful edging for paths and entryways, allowing for a closer look
at that lovely dimpled foliage. It is a delightful addition to rock, pollinator, and butterfly gardens.
The evergreen foliage provides wonderful texture in your shade garden, and you might
want to consider letting those puckered leaves add interesting contrast to your container gardens.
Now when you see violets in your yard do you see weeds? Or do you see powerhouse plants? Let's put
the spotlight on these wonderful plants that serve as the host to 29 species of larvae,
including Meadow Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, the Great Spangled Fritillary, and
Great Leopard Moth, among others. These beautiful little jewels also support many specialized bees.
They serve as nectar and pollen sources for bees and butterflies. Birds and small mammals rely on
their seed fruits, and they are deer-resistant. Let's look at three specific species. Common Blue
Violet is such a popular violet that it's actually the state flower of, I believe, four states. It is
the most adaptable of these three different violets, blooming from March
to June. It happily grows in sun, part shade, and shade and manages dry to moist conditions.
Happy in most soils, too. The dainty purple flowers with white throats rise above glossy
heart-shaped leaves. The Confederate Violet is a variant. It sports white and lavender [petals].
Yellow Violet relishes part shade and shady spots. They like moist to wet conditions and bloom from
May to June. Striped Violets prefer dappled sun and light shade, also preferring moist conditions.
Their creamy white blossoms are long-lasting from April to June.
Blue Violet is a very good candidate as a lawn substitute. It is so hardy that it can take
foot traffic and mowing. All three of these plants
are lovely ground covers when massed in woodlands, along path edges and walls.
They are also great for use under woody plants and are attractive candidates for shade, rock, or
pollinator gardens. Also consider them for dry shaded areas. Keep all three of these violets
in mind for wet areas of your yard. They're underrated flowers and should be considered
more carefully than they have been. Wild Geranium was named the 2020 Wildflower of
the Year by the Virginia Native Plant Society, and this geranium lives up to this honor.
The enticing perennial is easy to grow and one of the showiest of the native geraniums.
The clump-forming plant grows from about one and a half to two feet tall and again as wide.
Preferring light shade to partial sunlight, it can manage full sun if provided with enough moisture.
It is a resilient plant. Wild Geranium tolerates poor soil, drought conditions,
rabbits and deer. It serves as a larval host for 23 Lepidoptera. Its flowers are visited by
bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and mourning doves, quail, and deer eat the seeds. Wild Geranium
plants have a loose cluster of deeply lobed, palmate leaves. The delicate, one-inch flowers
are typically rose-pink to lavender and have fine darker-colored little lines that serve as
nectar guides. It blooms for about a month from April to July. Now Wild Geranium has a
unique way of spreading its seeds. Each seed is packed into pods attached to a structure
that resembles a crane's bill, another common name for the plant. As the bill dries,
seeds are catapulted away from the plant. You can create stunning plantings by massing these
geraniums in woodland, meadow, or naturalized areas, and they are attractive additions
for borders, shade, fern, or pollinator gardens. It's a great ground cover to consider for slopes.
Let's move on to the Orange Coneflower, a very popular perennial favorite.
The compact, upright, clumping plants grow one to three feet tall and two feet wide,
spreading by rhizomes. These beauties bloom in sunny sites but also can grow in part shade.
This easy-to-grow plant appreciates any conditions but soggy soil.
Another plus is that they are not picky about growing in clay or shallow, rocky soil although they
are happiest in fertile, well-drained soil. Additionally, they handle our hot, humid summers
and tolerate drought once they're established. I have been delighted by the plants in my yard and
how well they have dealt with the weather extremes we have experienced during the past few summers.
Now we're not the only ones that are attracted to Coneflowers. Hungry deer may occasionally nibble
on them. Orange Coneflower serves as the larval host for 17 species. The flower provides pollen and
nectar for pollinators. 29 specialist bees rely on them, and goldfinches, along with other birds,
enjoy the seeds. In my yard, the goldfinches seem to dance with the flowers as they're gathering seeds.
The ovate leaves grow on hairy stems. Tight buds form, and then profuse blooms of the plant
almost cover all of the leaves. Each flower head is one to two inches [wide].
They put on their colorful show from July to October.
In the fall, they have these lovely dark-brown seeds. They are very
attractive massed in borders, cutting gardens, and meadows. Consider these low-maintenance plants
for pollinator, cottage, or waterwise landscapes, and consider grouping them because
it increases their visual impact in the garden. It makes it easier for the pollinators to find them.
'Goldsturm' is a very popular cultivar that many folks enjoy growing in their gardens.
Here are some more keystone plants that you may want to consider:
Lupine, Iris, Evening Primrose, Milkweed, Verbena, Beardtongue,
Phlox, Beebalm, Little Bluestem, and Cardinal Flower.
The end of January is a time when many of us dream about what we want our spring and summer
and fall gardens to look like. We hope that you have been inspired to consider some of these
keystone herbaceous plants to add to your gardens. Cheryl, are there any questions?
[C] Yes, many questions. First, do you have any recommendations for shady areas? I know
throughout the presentation you mentioned certain plants are good for shady areas.
[K] I can give you a few ideas from the ones that we talked about. Certainly
the Blue-stemmed Goldenrod does tolerate shady areas, and it even can
put up with some of the dry shady areas. Another one to consider for sure is the White Wood Aster.
It's a good plant to use because it will deal with either wet or dry soil. Oh, goodness.
The sedges work very well in shade. The violets are good. The geraniums I have
really need part shade; they aren't quite so good in full shade. I hope that helps.
[C] One question is about the Solidago ['Fireworks'] you mentioned. It's a cultivar, and
they're wondering if it's good for insects since it's a cultivar. [K] Going back to what Elaine was
saying, my understanding -- Elaine, if you want to get in on this one, you're welcome -- that it's very
important if you can keep the color the same as the native plant and the shape and size
of the blossoms because we want to make sure that the plants
are going to be able to look like the ones that the native specialist bees and butterflies
that are searching for those plants are able to find.
[C] Are there any resources for identifying the different species of
goldenrod? [K] Later on, we're going to provide some information about good resource books that you
might find very useful in helping you with determining what goldenrod you have.
After seeing that information, if you have more questions put it in
the chat box, and we'll be sure to provide more sources with the other
documents that we'll be providing after the presentation. [C] Do you have any recommendations
on evergreen herbaceous keystone plants? [K] One of the evergreen plants we talked about was the sedge
and in particular, the Plantainleaf Sedge. A lot of these plants are deciduous.
Let me do some more looking into that, and we'll add that to the addendum.
[C] One person wants to get some goldenrods in their yard and is wondering if they
could just get seeds from the catalog. [K] I don't know. Check into that. I have gotten most of mine
as young plants, but it does self-seed. But I'm not aware of that. [C] Can you grow
asters from seed? [K] Again, I have not had experience growing it from seed.
I have started most of mine from plants that were already established. [C] The next question is:
Asters tend to have the bottom very bare. Are there any plants you would recommend to plant
to keep the bottom from looking too bare? [K] The different asters we suggested today
are good ones. I'm not sure if this person has tried any of these individual species, but I
would suggest that you go look at that. Sometimes you can also cut plants back a bit. That will help
them with their branching and their structure so that they look better longer.
[C considering next question to pose] The next question is do
Blue Wood Asters spread by seed? [K] Yes, that is my understanding. [C] Next,
is there [a source of] free seeds that some people can get for these keystone plants?
[K] I know that the Master Gardeners are getting seeds to be able to be used
by and distributed free to people. You'll want to keep an eye out for that.
Elaine, are you familiar with this? [E] I don't know of any sources of free seeds
for keystone plants. The free seeds that Master Gardeners tend to
acquire to distribute are more likely to be vegetable and herb seeds. We do occasionally
get some flowers. Most of the packs I've seen have been non-native flowers, maybe annuals.
With regard to that question on when to cut back the taller plants, you can pinch them back even
several times, starting maybe in May all the way up to early July. The 4th of July is often given as
the cut-off point for pinching back your plants. The New England Asters do get tall, but I pinch
mine back several times. Every time you pinch them, they become wider and wider. They will branch
and they will stay much shorter. You could use some of the other shorter plants that Kathie mentioned
in front of those New England Asters as another way of covering up any bare stems. [K] That's great.
[C] In the next question, the person asks do insects overwinter in these plants, in dead
plants, and what is the best way to keep the yard neat? Should this person
cut the plants back and keep them in a brush pile or whatever? [K] Elaine, you may want to weigh in on
this also, but my understanding is that it's best not to cut back too much too soon because it is
a good habitat for overwintering critters, whether they're insects or small mammals. What do you think,
Elaine? [E] Yes, that's my general recommendation. When spring comes and the animals [emerged] --
any of the overwintering insects in the stems, like the stems, for example, that Kathie showed
of the Joe Pye Weed. Those thicker stems can be trimmed back to maybe about 15 inches high.
Then the new growth will come up and mask that. It will be those older stems
from the previous year that are, in turn, used by the next year's wintering insects.
[C] Which sunflower is the shortest? [K] Which is the shortest? Let me think
about that. They both are pretty tall. The Narrowleaf is pretty tall; it's five to
eight feet. But again, you can help regulate the height of these plants by cutting them
back earlier in the season. I'm not sure that that's much help, but they're both tall.
Let me look into that a bit more. I don't have those numbers right in front of me.
[C] Can you divide sedges to help them spread and when is the
best time to divide them? [K] Dividing sedges, I think, can be done to spread them out. I'm not
sure exactly of the best time -- Elaine, would you suggest that in the spring? [E] I would suggest that
in the spring, yes, Kathie. Good point. [C] Do you have any recommendations for sedges
as a replacement for Liriope? [K] Both of them are good for Liriope. Anything to get the Liriope gone!
I think both of the sedges I mentioned would work very well for that, depending upon
your situation. The Plantainleaf Sedge, Seersucker Sedge, is able to deal with shade a bit more than
the other, the Pennsylvania Sedge. [C] Are the blue violets that
people see in their yard native? [K] They are. [C] There are several questions
regarding where is the best place to find these native plants. [K] Just hang
tight, folks, because we will have a list of these different vendors that you can get plants from.
[C] Are there other Rudbeckias that are good?
[K] There are. One that we didn't talk about is the Black-eyed Susan which so many
of us have seen. It's [Rudbeckia] hirta, a biennial. It also is a really wonderful plant for
all the different insects, all the butterflies, and bees, and birds as well.
[C] Do these Rubeckias reseed themselves? [K] Yes, they do.
[C] I believe those are all the questions. [Colleen] I'm going to pipe in, Kathie. Someone asked
[what plant] is that your question slide shows? [K] Oh, that's that lovely Blue-stemmed Goldenrod.
[C] Thank you and just one other little question. Is Plantainleaf Sedge walkable? [K] Yes. [No!]
[C] Well, listen, it's getting late. I want to thank both of you. We've already had many, many thanks in
the chat box for this wonderful presentation. We all learn so much from these, and we want to
thank you both so much for a beautiful presentation. Lots of information and we all learned a lot.
[E] If you like, I can very quickly go through the resources. [C] Yes, that would be great.
[E] I'd like to just mention several books of Doug Tallamy's that discuss the importance of
keystone plants. The National Wildlife Federation has a "Native Plant Finder" where you can enter
your area zip code and get personalized lists of the specific native plants that will support
the Lepidoptera in your area. There are links from the plants listed in your [handout]
that go to these Tried and True very detailed fact sheets on our MGNV website so you can learn a lot
more and review what we've been talking about. For many of [the plants], there will be attractive videos
of the pollinators in action. There are many pre-recorded programs that you can look at
discovering all different aspects of native plants. You can see native plants in our
Master Gardener demonstration gardens, and the locations of those are given on the website.
There are great places to see them in Arlington at The Nature Conservancy garden;
in Alexandria, Virginia, at Greenspring Garden; and Meadowlark. In Washington, DC, the
U. S. National [Arboretum] and the U.S. Botanic Garden. Brookside Gardens in Maryland
is absolutely lovely with native plants. Finally www.plantnovannatives.org
is a website that has very detailed listings of great native-only plant sellers.
We hope that's a helpful source of them for you. Thank you, again, everyone, for signing in
and hope to see you the next time we give another talk on native plants.

[Colleen] Without further ado, I'd like to let

Toggle Transcript

malus coronaria::noun | Spocien Dictionary

malus coronaria

noun

medium-sized tree of the eastern United States having pink blossoms and small yellow fruit

Type	Words
Synonyms	american crab apple, garland crab
Type of	crab apple, crabapple, wild apple

How to pronounce malus coronaria in English?

malus coronaria::noun | Spocien Dictionary

abandonment

Related words

Related

Subscribe to our Newslatter