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Actaea Racemosa Asclepias Tuberosa The tall, slim flower wands of bugbane (Actaea racemosa) can reach 5 to 6 feet tall and make a dramatic statement in the garden. ooking at the lineup of speak­ plants in the genus Cimicifuga have been seed that will feed the birds and ensure ers for plant related conferences and trade transferred to the genus Actaea.) Bugbane, future generations. shows this year, I'm pleased to see such a as it is commonly called, is native to east­ high percentage covering gardening that ern North America from southern Ontario Asclepias tuberosa supports our environment and wildlife. to central Georgia and west to Missouri Also known as butterfly weed, milk­ Sustainable landscaping really has be­ and Arkansas. It is considered endangered weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is native in 41 come mainstream, and native plants are in Illinois and Massachusetts. of the lower 48 United States. That is an getting the attention they deserve. What's not to love about this statu­ incredibly large range and attests to its I advocate incorporating natives into esque beauty? It's nonaggressive, nonin­ versatility. Here at our home in the mid­ your garden not out of some nostalgic vasive, deer-resistant and blooms in the Atlantic region, we grow it in our meadow, ideal but simply because they are great shade in mid-summer. Actaea is both plants. I hope we're finally getting past the shade- and drought-tolerant, but it will outdated notion that all native plants are l?erform best in evenly moist soil. The weedy or invasive. The fact is, if you look large, Astilbe-like foliage malces it excel­ at all the different plant awards around lent for massing in naturalistic designs. :i) the country, you'll see that many- if not Having said that, I often use just one in § most-of the winners are either native smaller areas as a specimen plant. Most ~ plants or their cultivars. It makes sense: of the foliage is near the base of the plant, "' Plants that have evolved to survive and so despite its impressive height, it remains ·~ z thrive in a particular area will naturally be see-through and doesn't need staking. great garden performers. Here are just a The tall, slim flower wands can reach j c few that I'd hate to be without. 5 to 6 feet tall. The tiny, creamy white blos­ m 2' soms malce a big impact and are an excel­ 1! Colorful milkweed or butterfly weed (Asclepias "' Actaea racemosa lent source of nectar and pollen. When 0 Most of us know this next plant as butterflies brush against the blossoms, tuberosa) is native in 41 of the lower 48 states. It is a butterfly magnet, playing host to declining popula- Cimicifuga but the name has recently they move pollen from one flower to an­ r tions of Monarchs. .98 changed to Actaea racemosa. (In fact, all other, thus encouraging fertilization and 0 -& 6 I AUGUST 2012 I American Nurseryman www.amerinursery.com Silvery white, thistle-like flowers of rattlesnake a bit like honey. The flowers bloom in mid­ master (Eryngium yuccifollium) top the nearly 6-foot­ summer but remain effective into fall, and tall native plant. Blue-green basal foliage resembles I occasionally use them in dried ·flower ar­ the native yucca. rangements. I think this plant looks best planted as a single specimen or in a small group of three. It works well to combine the ridged form of this plant with softer textures of Muhlenbergia, Amsonia and Symphyotri­ chum. Whatever you combine this with, it will definitely draw attention. Eryngium serves as the host plant for Eastern Black Swallowtails and provides nectar for a variety of butterflies. Sporobolus hetero/epis Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus hetero­ lepis) is my favorite grass, native or not. Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, Penn., has large stand of prairie dropseed and one very early morning with the mist still in the air, I saw the field in bloom. Continued on page 8 in a hot, dry, gravel garden and in the pe­ In bloom, prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) displays a virtual cloud of soft pink that seems to hover above rennial border where it is a well-behaved the slender foliage. addition with spectacular, bright orange blossoms. It flowers for weeks on end in mid-summer. As the name suggests this plant is a butterfly magnet- and who wouldn't want more butterflies in the garden? In fact, milkweeds are the host plant for Monarch butterflies. Their entire lifecycle, from cat­ erpillars to adults, revolves around these plants. Some research indicates that mon­ arch populations are declining, making it even more imperative to be planting Ascle­ pias in public and private gardens. It looks beautiful planted with other native prairie plants like Echinacea, Heliopsis and Soli­ dago. And, it's a natural with grasses like Panicum and Schizachyrium. My favorite selection is A. tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'. It blooms with bright, golden yellow flowers starting in early June. I've even had suc­ cess getting it to bloom a second time by deadheading the first flush of flowers. Eryngium yuccifolium Commonly called rattlesnake mas­ ter, Eryngium yuccifolium is a dramatic accent plant. It is found in moist and dry soils in open woods, fields and tall grass prairies from southern Minnesota to Texas and from Nebraska to Virginia. The name Eryngium comes from the Greek war? for "prickly plant," and yuccifolium obVI­ ously comes from the fact that the foliage resembles yucca leaves. Native Americans are said to have used the roots as an anti­ dote for rattlesnake bites. This stunner can grow up to 6 feet tall with bluish green basal foliage topped with thistle-like silvery flowers that smell American Nurseryman I AUGUST 2012 I 7 www.amerinursery.com tial Nattv~s Continued from page 7 It looked like a soft pink cloud had set­ tled on the >grass, and it took my breath away. The blossoms have a spicy, cori­ ander scent that fills the air far and wide. Even when it isn't in bloom the arching, fine-textured blades move like waves in the slightest breeze. It's mesmerizing to watch. Sporobolus is native to dry, open grasslands from Massachusetts west to Montana, south to New Mexico and east to North Carolina. It's a tough plant that's easy to grow and at home in nearly every garden situation. The nectar attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Later, the copious amount of seed produced feeds the birds, and the plant itself offers them shelter. 'Tara' is a dwarf selection of prairie dropseed. It tends to be more upright and less arching than the species. The orange­ red fall color is an extra bonus. Drought- and heat-tolerant Vernonia-also known as ironweed- boasts bright purple flowers when Vernonia many other perennials are past their peak. Last but certainly not least is Verno­ nia or ironweed. I know that the 7-foot­ And a tree to grow on tall Vernonia noveboracensis is a little It's hard to resist native perenni­ too much of a good thing for some als, but let's not leave out an excep­ people. Personally, I love it and it looks tional native tree. Allegheny service­ I love these plants because they are fabulous in our small meadow along with berry (Ame!anchier laevis) has always Silphium and other prairie giants. How­ tough and they are beautiful. To be perfect­ been one of my favorites because of its ever, if you have less space to work with, ly honest, I don't have the time or inclina­ plant the compact version, Vernonia tion to grow plants that are fussy or need a graceful form and three-season inter­ lettermannii. lot of extra attention. What I do make time est. Native to Eastern North America, 'Iron Butterfly' is a great selection for is enjoying all the wildlife these plants this small tree (1 5 to 30 feet tall) is bring to our home. People who come to that reaches about 3 feet in height. For found in open woods and moist mead­ me, it's all about the late summer color. stay always comment on how much bird ows across zones 4 to 8. Each spring When most of the other perennials are a song there is in the morning. And, right bit past their peak, ironweed shines with now I can see seven butterflies out of my the tree is covered with delicate white its bright purple flowers. It really extends window. I do occasionally take issue with flowers that have a mild fragrance and the season of interest in your border. the groundhog that eats my flowers, but provide nectar for bees and butterflies. frankly, we have enough to share. The attractive foliage looks much like Its foliage is an occasional host to the Amsonia hubrechtii. This really is a low larvae of viceroy, striped hairstreak and maintenance plant that will attract but­ Canadian tiger swallowtail butterflies. terflies like crazy. It's called ironweed for Peggy Anne Montgomery is the Brand By mid-summer the violet berries the rusty color of its spent blooms and Manager for American Beauties Native mature to deep purple They taste so its overall strength. It's native to Arkansas Plants. She is a horticultural professional and Oklahoma where it is found in rocky with over 30 year of sales and marketing good I almost hate to share them with soils, so it goes without saying that this experience here and abroad. She gardens the birds. The delicious fruit attracts drought- and heat-tolerant.
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