Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Revised). 9781493038800, 149303880X

Table of contents :
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION TO 2020 EDITION
INTRODUCTION TO 1994 EDITION
1 CREATING HABITATS
2 PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN
3 PLANT PROFILES: HOW TO USE THEM
4 TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL
EVERGREEN TREES OVER 50 FEET TALL
DECIDUOUS TREES OVER 50 FEET TALL
5 SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL
EVERGREEN TREES OVER 15 FEET TALL
FLOWERING AND FRUITING TREES OVER 15 FEET TALL
6 TALL SHRUBS5 TO 15 FEET TALL
EVERGREEN SCREENING SHRUBS, USUALLY UNDER 15 FEET
FLOWERING AND FRUITING SHRUBS, USUALLY UNDER 15 FEET
7 ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS
LOW EVERGREEN MASSING SHRUBS AND ACCENTS
LOW FLOWERING AND FRUITING SHRUBS
8 VINES
EVERGREEN VINES
DECIDUOUS VINES
9 SHADY GROUNDCOVERS
EVERGREEN SHADY GROUNDCOVERS
DECIDUOUS SHADY GROUNDCOVERS
10 FERNS
EVERGREEN FERNS
DECIDUOUS FERNS
11 WOODLAND FLOWERS
SPRING-BLOOMINGWOODLAND FLOWERS
SUMMER- AND FALL-BLOOMING WOODLAND FLOWERS
12 SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS
SPRING-BLOOMINGGARDEN FLOWERS
SUMMER-BLOOMINGGARDEN FLOWERS
FALL-BLOOMINGGARDEN FLOWERS
13 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES
14 WATER PLANTS
RESOURCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Citation preview

REVISED EDITION

GAR DENIN G with NATIVE PLANTS

SOUT H of the

SA LLY WASOWSK I with Andy Wasowski

GUILFORD, CONNEC T ICU T

Also by Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski: Requiem for a Lawnmower Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region Native Texas Gardens Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. Gardening with Prairie Plants

An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. 4501 Forbes Blvd., Ste. 200 Lanham, MD 20706 www​.rowman​.com Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK Copyright © 1994, 2010, 2020 by Sally and Andy Wasowski All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available Library of Congress Control Number Available ISBN 978-1-4930-3880-0 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-4930-3881-7 (e-­book) The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

For my cousin, Hazel Cassel. Her knowledge of birds, her generosity, and her marvelous sense of humor have contributed much to this book.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

vi



INTRODUCTION TO 2020 EDITION

ix



INTRODUCTION TO 1994 EDITION

x

CREATING HABITATS Anatomy of a Forest—Life Cycle of a Meadow—Habitats for Wildlife— Examples of Habitat Gardens

1

 1

 2 PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

10

 3 PLANT PROFILES: HOW TO USE THEM

30

Converting Your Present Landscape to a Native Landscape—Mostly Evergreen Courtyard Garden—Spectacular April Shade Garden— Three-­Season Sunny Flower Garden—Fragrance and Herb Garden— Spring Woodland Garden—June Wedding Garden—Early Fall Flower, Fruit, and Foliage Garden—Late Fall Color Garden—Flowery Meadow Garden

 4 TREES OVER 50 FEET TALL Evergreen Trees over 50 Feet Tall Deciduous Trees over 50 Feet Tall

 5 SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL Evergreen Trees over 15 Feet Tall Flowering and Fruiting Trees over 15 Feet Tall

 6 TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

Evergreen Screening Shrubs, Usually under 15 Feet Flowering and Fruiting Shrubs, Usually under 15 Feet

 7 ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

Low Evergreen Massing Shrubs and Accents Low Flowering and Fruiting Shrubs

35 38 45 58 60 66 81 82 86 95 96 102

 8 VINES

Evergreen Vines Deciduous Vines

 9 SHADY GROUNDCOVERS Evergreen Shady Groundcovers Deciduous Shady Groundcovers

10 FERNS

Evergreen Ferns Deciduous Ferns

11 WOODLAND FLOWERS

Spring-­Blooming Woodland Flowers Summer- and Fall-­Blooming Woodland Flowers

12 SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS Spring-­Blooming Garden Flowers Summer-­Blooming Garden Flowers Fall-­Blooming Garden Flowers

108 109 112 118 120 127 132 134 136 142 144 160 167 169 179 190

13 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES

196

14 WATER PLANTS

207

RESOURCES Conferences—National and Multistate Organizations—State Organizations— How to Find Native Plants

215

BIBLIOGRAPHY Online Sources—Print Sources

217

INDEX

223

CONTENTS

v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“Southern hospitality’’ is not a phrase dreamed up by some Dixieland chamber of commerce; it is real and it is alive and well. Andy and I encountered it everywhere we went during our two-­and-­a-half years of traveling, from East Texas across to the Atlantic coast and on up to the Mason-­Dixon line. But before I thank the many people we met along the way who gave us their time, their knowledge, and their friendship, I should acknowledge some people without whom this book would most certainly never have happened—because I would never have happened: my Southern ancestors. My ties to the South go back many centuries; one of my early relations, Joseph Cobb, arrived in Virginia in 1613, and settled for a time in the second Jamestown colony. From there, the family spread out to North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and eventually to Texas. Have you ever visited Rocky Mount, in Piney Flats, Tennessee? This restored farm—now a popular tourist attraction—was built by William Cobb in 1770, and stands today as the oldest original territorial capitol in the United States. Young Andrew Jackson was a family friend, and visited often. But enough name-­dropping . . . The fact is, I’ve probably got long-­lost Cobb, Posey, Hudson, Hill, and Heslep kin throughout the South. And even though I am a Texan, and therefore considered (depending on whom you talk to) either a Westerner or Southwesterner, a good portion of my life was spent in the South. I went to college in Decatur, Georgia, at Agnes Scott, and recall those years fondly. And, at various times, I lived in Maryland, Alabama, and Virginia, where my attraction to native plants—dare I say it?— took root. Even my Yankee husband and coauthor can claim some ties to the South, having spent several childhood years in Fairhope, Alabama. As a result, when we packed up our van for the first of many research and photography trips throughout the Southern states, we did so with a genuine sense of homecoming. We also went with more than a little trepidation. Virtually everyone on our “must-­see”

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list—botanists, landscape architects and designers, nursery owners, as well as knowledgeable weekend gardeners—was a stranger. We were literally at their mercy; if they’d had no time for us, or no interest in our project, we would have been stymied. This book is ample evidence that such was not the case. Andy and I were touched by their willingness to drop whatever they were doing and take us around to favorite gardens, share their experiences and insights, and even, on many occasions, take us into their homes and treat us like favorite relatives. (We’re also very grateful for their numerous tips on local dining; we sampled the best the South has to offer, from Chesapeake crabcakes to Atlanta soul food, from smoked trout in Bucksnort, Tennessee, to Cajun cuisine in Baton Rouge. Clearly, writing a regional gardening book is both fulfilling and filling!) First mentioned must be my dear cousin, Hazel Cassel, of Nashville, to whom this book is dedicated. Aside from being a lot of fun, she’s also one of the most unflappable individuals I know. One autumn day when it was pouring down rain on every garden we’d planned to visit, she provided one of the highlights of our trip by taking us a hundred miles or so ahead of the storm to the Fiery Gizzard hiking trail. A dedicated bird-­ watcher, Hazel gave us wonderfully specific bird information for this book. A big thank you goes to Dr. Ed Clebsch of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, who checked all our slides to make sure we’d shot what we thought we had shot. For the final determinations on which Latin names to honor, I thank him and Barney Lipscomb of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. For reading the early manuscript and catching our goofs, thanks go to Benny J. Simpson of Texas A&M University; Lynn Lowrey of Anderson Nursery in Houston, Texas; Mike and Barbara Bridges, owners of Southern Perennials and Herbs in Tylertown, Mississippi; and Ed Steffek, curator of the H. L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

For help in compiling the plant lists for habitats, thanks go to Bob McCartney of Woodlanders, Inc., a native plant mail-­order nursery in Aiken, South Carolina. Some gardens and gardeners were so helpful that we returned time and again. For the woodland garden, special thanks go to Louise Smith and her gorgeous indigenous garden in Birmingham, Alabama. Other splendid examples of woodland gardens and woodland gardening techniques were provided by Jenny Andrews, curator of the Howe Garden, sponsored by the Garden Club of Nashville, Tennessee, and situated at Cheekwood Gardens; Ed Steffek of the Blomquist Garden at Duke University; both the Mountain Garden and woodland trails at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and the private garden of Margaret Reid in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the perennial garden, our gratitude goes to garden designer Kitty Taylor and her husband, Neil, for their magnificent double border in Collierville, Tennessee. Other outstanding perennial gardeners include Barbara and Mike Bridges with their invaluable demonstration perennial and herb garden in Tylertown, Mississippi; and Edith Eddleman, co-­curator of the perennial border at North Carolina State University in Durham, North Carolina. For Atlantic Coastal Plain garden information, we’re grateful to the Helen Avalynn Tawes Garden in Annapolis, Maryland; Al Hill of Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; and all the staff at Woodlanders in Aiken, South Carolina. For Gulf Coastal Plain gardens, thanks go to Lolly Jackson’s garden, designed by Will Fleming, in Houston, Texas; Robert Poore and his numerous gardens in Jackson, Mississippi; Edward Blake, Bob Bruzek, and Chris Wells at Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi; Johnny Mayronne for his home garden in Covington, Louisiana; Marion Drummond and Neil Odenwald for showing us around lower Mississippi plantation country; and Bill and Lydia Fontenot for sharing Cajun country with us. Others who spent countless hours with us are Gail Barton and Richard Lowery, Gene Cline, Mark Gormel, Kim Hawkes, Carole Cameron, Nell Lewis, Mary Jo Modica, Darryl Morrison, Jim Neal, Carole Otteson, Carl Owens, Tom Pellett, Andrea Sessions, Plato Touliatos, Don and

Sue Williams, Larry Wilson, Louise Wrinkle, and Matthew Dew, a charming sixteen-­year-­old who showed us around his parents’ Tennessee mountain garden—in a steady downpour! Numerous other people also gave generously of their time, talents, and hospitality: Kathy Crye; Richard Evans; John Fairey; Carlene Jones; Lou and Betsy Kellenberger; David Lewis; Julie and Joe Mackintosh; Jane, Larry, and Daniel McGoldrick; Jan Midgley; Ned and Georgene Newland, and their sons Edward and Marc; Elizabeth Newland; Mike Mapstone; Bickie McDonnell; Randy McMullian; Dr. Stephen and Sally Pridgeon; Todd Stephens; James Turner; Pat Wells; Lundy Pridgeon Wilder; and Jim Wilson. Special thanks to the excellent photographers who shared photos we needed for this book and were unable, for various reasons, to get ourselves: Geyata Ajilvsgi, Ritchie Bell, Barbara Bridges, Albert Hill, David A. Laster, Paul Moore, George Pyne, Benny J. Simpson, and Larry T. Williams. Thanks also to Chris Holowiak, whose home was the basis for the landscape plans in this book; and to Jay West, who did such a great job turning my rough sketches into finished plans fit for publication. If, inadvertently, your name is not here and should be, please be as generous with your forgiveness as you were with your time, and blame it on the panic we felt as the publisher’s deadline drew closer. For this new edition, I would like to thank Joe Marcus and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for their generosity in scanning all the old photos and providing new ones. My sincere apologies to Robert Poore and the Robert Legates, Crosby Arboretum, Lee Moomaw, and the North Carolina Botanical Garden at Chapel Hill, as the photos of their beautiful gardens seem to have been mislaid and new technology has made all the old color separations inaccessible. Very special thanks to Becky Bender, beekeeper and authority on gardening for bees, for her extensive and expert help in adding information on pollinators to the book. She is collaborating on a national book on nectar and pollen sources for honeybees and is also coauthoring a book on gardening and habitat conservation for bees which we hope will soon find a publisher. I would also like to thank the generosity of Michael Parkey, Joe ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Pollard, Patty Hankins, Mary Anne Borge, Johnny Mayronne, Charlotte Seidenberg, Marc Pastorek of The Meadowmakers, Neil Diboll of Prairie Nursery, Andy Sessions of Sunlight Gardens, Bob McCartney of Woodlanders, and LilyBlooms. The Internet made everything possible. When I retired because of ill health in 2005, I donated my reference books to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Andy donated his slides and large format transparencies. The Wildflower Center sent a van and two curators, one of whom was Joe Marcus, to pick them up. So when I embarked on this new edition, I had only two of my old books, none of my southern floras, and none of the original slides in my hands. Since scientific names tend to go out of date, I did not ask that my books be returned to me. I relied entirely on the Internet for researching this edition. Thank you, John

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Kartesz, for making BONAP free on the Internet. The maps coordinate information from floras and show county by county actual ranges of all our native plants and what is now rare and endangered, which enabled me to be far more accurate than before. Another real boon to research was the Illinois Wildflowers site. Whoever put that together deserves the highest praise. And thanks to all who put up information and observations and their journal’s articles, and photographs, all of which was extremely helpful in updating old profiles and writing new ones. Best of all, thanks to my agent, Jeanne Fredericks, and to Holly Rubino and Lynn Zelem of Lyons Press and to publishers Rowman and Littlefield for allowing me to add unlimited pages and photographs and fifty-­two new profiles to the book.

INTRODUCTION TO 2020 EDITION

I wrote the first edition of Gardening with Native Plants of the South more than twenty-­five years ago. Since then, a lot has changed besides my 25-inch waist. My beloved husband and coauthor Andy Wasowski died in 2012. I was shattered for three years, but am now married to another writer who is, like Andy, smart, loving, passionately opinionated, and lots of fun. Obviously my taste in men. In the plant world, the biggest change is global warming. It was talked about more than twenty-­ five years ago, and I naively hoped that we would all band together to save our beautiful planet—and our own skins. Now we are past the tipping point and will have to deal with the consequences, as will our native plants and their attendant pollinators and seed dispersers. One way we can help is to plant native plants in our gardens and protect and restore as much habitat as we can. Previous climate changes were slower, and habitat was continuous, so the plants could migrate as needed. Now natural habitats are tiny islands marooned in concrete. Higher temperatures mean that the Zones are no longer quite what they used to be, so many plants originally listed as winter-­hardy to Zone 6 now have literature saying they are hardy to Zone 5 or even 4. Please experiment with this and help the plants establish in higher elevations or farther north. It is up to us to do what Nature used to do on her own. We have one big help in this endeavor, thanks to a splendid array of nurserymen, plant breeders, native plant societies, botanical gardens, universities, and the U.S. government. When the first edition was published, native plants were extremely hard to find and I knew the owner of nearly every nursery supplying them. Now they are everywhere. There are dozens of cultivars bred for compact growth, good manners, and longer bloom times. These are great so long as they have scent to attract pollinators and their sexy centers are not obscured with extra petals. Pollination is necessary to set seed to feed birds, mammals, and hosts of other fauna. Many native plants have been bred with cousinly non-­natives to make hybrids. Again, as

long as you are not doing a scientifically accurate restoration and pollinators can use these hybrids, these plants, too, are increasing valuable habitat. Another aspect of global warming is that plants are beginning to bloom earlier in some places and longer in others, with the result that migrating pollinators are off schedule. Migrating birds are also thrown off schedule and the result is often starvation and the disruption of successive generations. In this and other ways, global warming is putting our native plants at risk, our pollinators at risk, and also all the creatures that depend on plants and pollinators for food. The whole food chain is affected, which puts all our native habitats at risk. Another danger to the health of our natural world is the greatly increased use of agricultural poisons. Herbicides, the newest ones airborne, play havoc with already threatened native plants that can no longer find homes along roadsides or in nearby woodlands. The greater presence of pesticides is destroying all pollinators—even our imported farmed honeybees. Traditionally, birds ate the aphids, for example, and kept populations in balance. Now the birds are getting poisoned by the poisoned aphids. I have found—the hard way— that my garden is healthier in the long run if I use no poisons at all, even when I am sorely tempted. The South is blessed with an exceptionally fine collection of spring woodland ephemerals. I left most of them out of the first edition in order to protect native populations from being dug up. Also, these ephemerals tended to die in suburban gardens, and the reasons were not clear. Now, with research on mycorrhizae and more good work by nurserymen, these luscious beauties can be included, and I hope lots of gardeners start using them successfully. Higher temperatures increase evaporation and so increase the need for moisture, but the new weather is also shifting our rain patterns. The result is a lot of stressed native plants that are unable to fight off infestations. We are a global community daily connected with the rest of the world. Despite careful border inspections, new insects, fungi, and

ix

diseases continue to enter our country, a few of them with devastating results. I’ve added cautions on ash, redbay, and sassafras. Earlier infestations made American chestnut and American elm so sickly that their landscape use was discontinued, but dogged scientific work has made planting these magnificent trees again possible, with the caveat that only their genetically resistant cultivars be used.

Many of our native plants have medicinal value. That means that in too-­large quantities they can cause us bodily harm. So, unless I’ve specifically told you something is edible, assume it is not. Taos, New Mexico Spring 2020

INTRODUCTION TO 1994 EDITION

What’s the hottest news in gardening? Native plants. And high time, too. Natives have been around for many thousands of years, adapting themselves to their habitats—and most of us have only just recently (in the past ten to fifteen years) begun to appreciate and use them. When we talk about native plants, we’re talking about common-­sense gardening. Doing it Mother Nature’s way. Working with her, not against her. Native plant gardening means using the plants that are best adapted to the conditions where you live, and not relying on those non-­native plants that have such a hold on the nursery trade—plants that, in many cases, are totally unsuited to the area where they are sold. Keeping these aliens alive often means putting in far more hours in the garden than the average homeowner would like. And all too often these labors are in vain. I really believe that most folks have lots of other things they’d rather be doing. But they’re trapped. Traditional gardening, the kind practiced by the vast majority of American homeowners, calls for an all-­out effort: weeding, mowing, edging, watering, and pouring on oceans of chemical pesticides and herbicides. Native plants offer us a wonderful alternative. We can reduce our workload because natives are remarkably self-­sufficient; after all, they’ve been taking care of themselves for millennia. Natives are friendly to the environment; when you practice some simple and natural gardening techniques,

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INTRODUCTION TO 2019 EDITION

such as allowing fallen leaves to turn into mulch and controlling garden pests with ladybugs, praying mantises, and other animals, you can stop using toxic chemicals. With native plants, you’ll be able to create natural habitats that welcome desirable wildlife, such as songbirds and butterflies. And with native plants, your property will have a true sense of place, something that is missing from most of our homogenized, look-­alike landscapes. This book is designed to be not just a basic introduction to the wonderful native plants of the South but also a basic primer on how to use them. Selecting the plants that would go into this book, from the vast palette available to the Southern states, was nothing short of a nightmare. The publisher wisely decided that a twelve-­pound tome would not be a best-­seller, so I had to get my plant list down to a manageable number. That list was revised countless times as I agonized over what to keep and what to delete. Just when I thought I’d gotten it right, I’d show the list to various local native plant authorities and listen in horror as they said, “Oh, no, you’re not dropping the so-­and-­so, are you? But you must include it!” The native plants that made the cut are the showiest and easiest to buy and grow or they are so important to the basic Southern habitat that it would have been difficult to garden appropriately without them. As for the plants that had to be omitted, you’ll be happy to know that many of them are covered in other identification books,

with photos and descriptions (see bibliography). And, I understand that many other such reference books are in the works. My aim here is simply to give you a taste of what is out there, and show you new and exciting ways of putting it all together. Gardening from a New Perspective Landscape with native plants and you enter into a wonderful new way of looking at your garden. Instead of trying to make nature conform to rigid rules based, quite often, on what your neighbors think you ought to be doing, you can look at what nature has been doing—successfully—and then modify those concepts to suit your own personal taste. You will come to understand that landscape plants should be looked upon, not as solitary entities unconnected to their surroundings, but as part of a greater community, just as they are in the wild. You’ll see how you can trade in your conventional lawn-­boxhedge-­poodle-­shaped-­shrub landscape for . . . perhaps a bit of woodland, or a meadow, a delightful shade garden, or one of many other lovely possibilities. These can include dramatically reducing the lawn area around your home, or doing away with it all together. Even if you continue to have a lawn as part of your landscape, you will be pleased to learn that it doesn’t have to be a boring expanse of green; it can contain a number of plants—flowers, mosses, violets and other woodland flora, groundcovers— even other types of grasses used as accents. When you go native, you’ll find out that you no longer need toxic herbicides or pre-­emergents that can make your skin itch and your eyes water. If it’s not good for you, it’s not good for your pets or the environment either. You’ll also learn that soil is a living substance that consists of millions of helpful organisms, that wasps eat web worms, that mushrooms help tree roots, that beetles feed baby songbirds, and that mice feed owls. When you copy natural habitats, you are plugging into an ancient system that can cut down on your maintenance considerably. But not completely. Too many pieces of the fabric are already missing, and we, who have disturbed the fabric, now have to do the work of those forces that have been eliminated—fires, grazing animals, and so forth. Still, pruning once a year, weeding two or three times a year, and watering occasionally during the summer

probably don’t amount to anything close to the maintenance you’re doing right now. Of course, you may still opt for the more traditional landscape look, and that’s fine, too. I’m not doctrinaire. In that case, there are a number of plans in this book to help you—one big difference being that you will be using natives instead of the standard nursery stock you’re more familiar with. While these plans concentrate on giving you lots of floral color at particular seasons, there is also an evergreen garden plan for those of you with tiny courtyards, and lots of ideas for making shady areas perk up. I should also make the point that you do not have to turn your back on old favorites that happen to be non-­native. In a beautiful natural habitat, to add non-­natives would be, in my opinion, criminal. But, in a neighborhood where established landscapes are already non-­native, a mixture of natives and non-­natives is often the most sensible approach. There are many perfectly good naturalized plants and some cultivars that do very well in your area. My own landscape is only 60 percent native. The plans that I’ve included in this book do use natives exclusively, but that’s because I’m taking the position that most of you will know little or nothing about the native plants in your area. The idea isn’t to discourage the use of other suitable materials but simply to expose you to as many native possibilities as I can. Besides, I also want to show that going 100 percent native is not only possible, it can also be very attractive. The key to success is to use what works. You want more choices, not fewer. But a word of warning: evaluate those old favorites carefully. Could they threaten to take over the neighborhood? Many naturalized plants can and do. Do they require too much work to keep them looking their best? Are they vulnerable to disease and insects, and therefore need plenty of doctoring with chemicals? Often, when you compare those old favorites to your local natives, you’ll find that the natives look far more attractive. And I don’t just mean visually. I suspect that this book will be a real eye-­ opener for most of you. I still recall when I first learned about native plants; it was nothing less than an epiphany. I wish the same for you. Dallas March 1993 INTRODUCTION TO 1994 EDITION

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Woodlands are not just green. One garden that illustrates this particularly well is the home garden of Louise Smith of Birmingham, Alabama. She has combined an artistic eye and a thorough knowledge of native plants to create an exceptionally diverse and colorful woodland garden. Early spring, before the canopy has leafed out, is a time for wild azaleas and woodland flowers. In this scene in mid-­ April, a bark mulch path leads up to her extensive early spring woodland flower garden. Fire pink, blue phlox, celandine poppy, Piedmont azalea, and yellow azalea provide the color, while Christmas fern and the leaves of flowers not currently in bloom fill the forest floor. Note the thick, natural mulch of last year’s leaves.

1 CREATING HABITATS

T

o make gardening as easy and as enjoyable as possible, you’ll want to make the majority of your landscape a habitat or at least an approximation of one. To do that, you’ll first need some idea of what a habitat is. A habitat is the native environment of a plant or animal. Habitats are actually communities of native plants and animals, and they all interact synergistically, in much the same way that the cells in your body with their attendant microbes work together to keep you alive. The two main types of habitats are woodlands and grasslands. Most of the South is naturally woodland composed of hardwoods (deciduous trees) intermixed with pines. This describes most of the Piedmont. In the Coastal Plain, pines often dominate the hardwoods, and in the mountains, eastern hemlock is added to the mix. Grasslands are found on pockets of untypical soils or in the Mississippi floodplain. Anatomy of a Forest The natural forest—as opposed to a monocultural (one-­species) tree farm—is composed of three

In mid-­June, Louise Smith has a stunning scene near the entrance to her driveway, this time all in yellows. In the shade is golden St. John’s wort, and on the other side of the split-­ rail fence, catching extra sun by the road, are black-­eyed Susans, Queen Anne’s lace (from Europe), and butterflyweed.

1

Charlotte Seidenberg

Cardinal flower blooms in a dappled shade in late summer in Charlotte Seidenberg’s garden.

Woodland fall color

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

basic elements. First, and standing tallest, are the canopy trees, so called because they form a canopy, or umbrella, over the woodland beneath. Most trees that attain heights over 50 feet are classified as canopy trees. Dropping down a bit, we come next to the understory. These are the smaller trees and shrubs that measure about half the height of the canopy trees. And then, at ground level, are the very small shrubs and groundcovers, ferns, and woodland flowers that, along with fallen leaves, nuts, and cones, make up the forest floor. It is these diverse elements that combine to create a viable habitat for a range of wildlife: songbirds, small mammals, butterflies, and a host of friendly insects that actually help to protect this environment. Conversely, in a monoculture, there is sterility; the singing of birds and chirping of cicadas are rarely heard. A woodland garden, once any invasives are weeded out, can be not only easy to care for but visually rewarding all year. Most people think woodland flowers occur only in the spring, but there are woodland flowers and shrubs for summer color also. Early summer is dominated by whites and yellows. Late summer can be an abundance of asters and goldenrods and such beauties as cardinal flower. Fall sees an extention of these flowers plus the reds and purples of ripening fruits and the reds, oranges, and golds of turning leaves. The plans included in this book, such as June Wedding Garden and Late Fall Garden, give you valuable lists and ideas

This beautiful meadow in Folsom, Louisiana, was designed by prairie restorationists Marc and Candi Pastorek on the property of Doug and Mary Green. In this photo, taken in midsummer, eryngo is the predominant flower, accompanied by beebalm, black-­eyed Susan, and narrowleaf mountain mint. The dominant grass is little bluestem.

Marc Pastorek

Life Cycle of a Meadow You might think a grassland is boring—“just a bunch of old grasses and weeds.” But if you stop and spend some time in one, you’ll be amazed at how much there is to see, hear, and smell. There is a myriad of flowers that you simply didn’t notice driving by. You will be astounded and delighted at the activity of birds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Every year, every season, every day, is a little bit different. Gardeners who don’t mind mowing a few times a year or burning once a year or every other year can maintain a meadow. It is certainly a great deal easier than maintaining a lawn. One good place to visit a native meadow is at Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi. It used to be a slash pine plantation. In 1992 when

Marc Pastorek

of how to best achieve this all-­ year-­long glory.

The same site one-­and-­a-half years earlier being burned to rejuvenate the grasses and flowers.

Cattail gayfeather, swamp sunflower, and salt cordgrass along the Gulf coast in October.

we visited, it was a laboratory designed by its director, landscape architect Edward L. Blake, and Andropogon Associates in Philadelphia. One third of the site was being burned to be maintained as savannah—at different times in different years to mimic warm-­season fires that used to be set by lightning— and the rest was being left to develop into woodland. At this time, the Arboretum is maintaining a 104-acre interpretative site and 700 acres of natural areas for scientific study.

Habitats for Wildlife Dr. David Wilcove, senior ecologist for the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C., writes in The Nature Conservancy Magazine: “Early settlers in the eastern United States speculated that a squirrel might travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River without ever touching the ground, so vast was the forest cover. Today, that squirrel could retrace its steps without ever leaving asphalt.” Robert K. Godfrey, in Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of CREATING HABITATS

3

Northern Florida and Adjacent Georgia and Alabama, tells us that it is getting harder and harder to find a habitat that is anywhere close to authentic, because we have messed up our land pretty badly. Godfrey goes on to say that tree farming, clear-­cutting, and site preparing (by which he means bulldozing) “greatly alters the topsoil and drastically changes—in some places virtually obliterates—the native flora and fauna, both of which are integral parts of what constitutes a forest.” Unlike tree roaches and fire ants that thrive in man-­made environments, songbirds and butterflies—beautiful creatures that we all love and appreciate— depend on functional habitats. Both serve as indicators of ecological distress and are harsh critics of damaged environments. Their numbers, or lack of them, are sometimes used to test the authenticity of a restored habitat or the extent to which one has been degraded. Accordingly, where information has been available, I have indicated

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which plants are known to help support these creatures. Numerous studies are documenting major declines in songbird populations. Many species, such as American redstarts and hooded warblers, have disappeared. Others—red-­eyed vireos and ovenbirds—have declined by 60 to 90 percent. These, along with tanagers, orioles, thrushes, and many others, are migratory songbirds that spend the winter in the tropics and raise their babies here. They have a problem: They are losing their tropical forests, their nesting places here, and their roosting and eating places in between. The other 40 percent of our songbirds, the ones that live here all year, are also in trouble. They, too, are losing habitats, and studies have shown that smaller woodlots have more predators per songbird than are found in a large forest. Songbirds’ eggs are being pushed out of the nest by cowbirds. These parasitic birds, which are native to the Midwest, have moved into the Northeast and Southeast, where they find

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

iStock/JackVandenHeuval

Ellen Honeycutt

Mockingbird feasting on American beautyberry in Woodstock, Georgia.

cow pastures and rice fields much to their liking. Both the eggs and nestlings of songbirds are being eaten by squirrels and raccoons, blue jays, grackles, and crows, whose numbers are increasing, ironically, because of the food they steal from bird feeders. Furthermore, when songbirds are raising their young, they need insects for protein, not fruits and nuts, and pesticides are greatly changing the numbers, composition, and dietary value of insects. Butterflies and moths are also in trouble. The larvae are destroyed by fire ants, systemic poisons, and other insecticides. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), touted by many organic gardeners as safe, is especially harmful to both butterflies and ladybugs when they are in the larval stage. So is burning when it is done when the larvae are attached to grass stems. Each kind of butterfly and moth is on a different schedule, so it is important not to burn at the same time every year. Summer burns are often best for butterflies and moths. Besides not actively killing butterflies and moths, it is important to provide food for them if you want them to thrive and multiply. Larval plants are as important as nectar plants, and many butterflies and moths are very picky about where they

Hummingbird clearwing moth pollinating a beebalm.

initiate the attack, even though that might be accidentally. This keystone species—both the European honeybees and our four thousand or so species of native bees—are being dramatically assaulted by herbicides (that poison the nectar) and insecticides (that poison the bees directly). Ninety percent of our native bees do not live in colonies and are called solitary bees, so called because each female constructs and cares for her own nest without help. Leafcutter bees, carpenter bees, mason bees, and some sweat bees build their solitary nests in the ground or in dead trees. Social bees, like honeybees and bumblebees, do live in colonies. Bees are also divided into short-­tongued bees, which pollinate flat flowers like daisies, and long-­tongued bees, which can pollinate tubular flowers like crossvine. The terms “short-­tongued” and “long-­tongued” are not the most modern way of referring to bee species, but they are the most succinct and helpful way for novice bee gardeners to understand the relationship between bee biology and flower shape. Most bees visit many kinds of flowers, but some types of bees, especially honeybees, like to stay on one species for as long as they can. The gardener who provides a generous display of one flower for every week from spring to frost is a bee’s best friend. Use as many native plants as you can, as it has been found that plants growing in their native habitat are typically more vigorous and produce more nectar than plants that struggle in non-­native soils.

Carol Clark

lay their eggs. Be generous with the leaves of your larval plants. Plant scads of nectar flowers, so the butterflies and moths can easily find them—and your garden. Plant scads for every season. For complete information on Southern butterflies and how to attract them, I recommend Geyata Ajilvsgi’s book Butterfly Gardening for the South. In case you are not excited about moths, let me describe two of my favorites. The exquisitely beautiful wavy-­lined emerald moth (yes, it’s a beautiful green with two thin lines of white wavy scallops) lays its eggs on members of the aster family. Plant rudbeckias, coneflowers, gayfeather, asters, and goldenrods to support its larvae. The clever caterpillars stick tiny bits of the flowers to their bodies as camouflage to protect themselves from hungry birds. The hummingbird clearwing moth is a daytime moth, about half the size of a hummingbird. The wings, clear with reddish brown borders, beat so fast they look like a blur. With its long tongue, the hummingbird clearwing moth sips the nectar from flowers, in the process pollinating many of our deep-­throated flowers such as columbine, bluestars, larkspurs, monardas, sundrops, phlox, penstemons, and milkweeds. They are larval on blue phlox and Virginia bluebells. Until recently, wildlife gardening has not encouraged attracting bees. People were afraid of being stung by bees. Not only were they forgetting that almost all our food depends on pollination by bees, but they were not noticing that bees are not aggressive unless you

Leafcutter and cuckoo bees work together on a rudbeckia flower.

Wasps, many beetles, and other pollinators also need to be included in this more generous view of gardening. Examples of Habitat Gardens Along the coast where there are dry soils, salt spray, and constant wind, live oaks have proven to be the toughest trees. Hung with Spanish moss, where it hasn’t been poisoned, they

A southern magnolia and live oaks hung with Spanish moss flank this house in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, facing the Gulf of Mexico.

CREATING HABITATS

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6

Johnny Mayronne

are found, along with southern magnolia, in landscapes all along the Gulf and south Atlantic coasts. The understory is typically made up of more evergreens: yaupon, wax myrtle, and dwarf palmetto. American beautyberry, Turk’s cap, yuccas, and the American crinum lily are other old-­fashioned favorites that have survived for decades in these gardens. Inland on the Coastal Plain, there are pine woods that are flat and poorly drained. There are also floodplain woodlands with bald cypress and no pine (as well as very dry sandy sites). These three areas do not lend themselves to conventional lawns and gardens, but can be both beautiful and healthy with native plants. At the St. Tammany Tourist and Convention Center, Johnny Mayronne retained as much of the natural vegetation as he could, and then added in color and texture to enhance it. The canopy trees are pond cypress, bald cypress, water oak, live oak, laurel oak, blackgum, sweetgum, and swamp red maple. The understory trees are eastern persimmon, yaupon, American snowbell, wax myrtle, and eastern mayhaw. The shrub layer is an eye-­catching dwarf palmetto, mayberry, and a local, low-­spreading version of Southern arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum). The forest floor is American crinum lily, cardinal flower, Texas star hibiscus, swamp goldenrod, longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum), and sensitive fern. Vines are American wisteria, Carolina jessamine, poison ivy, and Virginia creeper.

The St. Tammany Tourist and Convention Center was built on a floodplain in Covington, Louisiana. Although it is usually dry enough to walk in the garden, the building is on pilings and accessed by a boardwalk, as occasionally the garden is flooded several feet deep. Design by Johnny Mayronne.

Johnny Mayronne used to live on a wet piney site with a tiny quarter-­acre bog. We saw it one day in mid-­April and found it exquisite. Blue phlox and yellowtop were nestled in a mixture of ferns by the front path, along with a red amaryllis, a non-­native, old-­fashioned garden favorite. A red Florida anise framed the entrance on the left with a younger white one on the right. Between the far end of the porch and the bog was a Piedmont azalea in almost full sun. Its roots were in the bog, a naturally sunny, wet area filled with native grasses and flowers. In October, this little bog turned golden and purple with swamp sunflower, wild ageratum, and sugarcane plumegrass. Dry longleaf pine areas are the most distinct of the

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

Southern Coastal Plain habitats because they are so dry. Many homeowners buying new houses in such areas are dismayed to have such fast-­draining sand and high water bills. My family used to call this loose sand utterly devoid of nutrition “sugar sand.” In the Carolinas and in Florida also, these habitats are called sandhills. Bracken fern as a groundcover is one way these landscapes can be attractive and drought-­tolerant as well. Other groundcovers you could use are hayscented fern, pussytoes, lyreleaf sage, or evergreen blueberry. For fall color in this habitat, plant turkey oaks under the longleaf pines, along with sparkleberry and lanceleaf sumac. For evergreen screening, use American holly, yaupon, mountain laurel, staggerbush, wild olive, redbay, and sandhill

Johnny Mayronne’s house in pine woods with a tiny bog beyond the porch.

rosemary. For flowers, use bigleaf storax, Georgia basil, dwarf huckleberry, St. Andrew’s cross, passionflower, Texas or sandhill bluestars, vernal iris, butterflyweed, white baptisia, sundrops, and silkgrass. In quantity, silkgrass (really a daisy, not a grass) can be used as a groundcover also, as can splitbeard bluestem, broomsedge, wiregrass, or pink muhly. Hardwood forests have the richest understory and are the most typical Southern woodlands. Because they were

clear-­cut in the last century, most are immature and contain pines as well. This is the main habitat of the Piedmont and is found throughout the rest of the South as well, from hammocks in the Coastal Plain to rich coves in the mountains. Post oak woods are dry and beech woods are moist. Tulip poplar, maples, oaks, and hickories are usually present. The soil is typically red, acid to very acid, and rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and blueberries are common.

Bracken fern makes a drought-­tolerant groundcover in dry sandy woodland.

A scattering of Piedmont azaleas, ranging in colors from rose to white, light up deciduous hardwood forests just as they start to leaf out. At their feet in this photo is blue phlox.

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Nancy Arrinton’s garden in Manassas, Virginia, is large, totaling 3 acres of hardwood forest. Sunny areas, shady areas, and natural areas are joined by mowed paths composed of native and non-­native herbs that arrived on their own and tolerate mowing and moderate foot traffic. Moss and violets dominate the shady paths, and grasses dominate the sunny ones. Woodland left to its own devices is the backdrop. The sunny areas around the house were cleared to allow in enough sun for two ponds and a butterfly garden; the stump of a tulip poplar is visible where five paths meet in the largest open space. This photo was taken from the path between two shady flower gardens. Almost everything visible in this picture is native to northern Virginia, with the exception of the white buddleia.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

The mountains have such cool summers that they get a whole range of gorgeous plants that are not native to most of the rest of the South. Of course, considering all the Coastal Plain goodies that are not winter-­ hardy for them, I guess that’s only fair. Hemlock becomes the signature conifer. Rosebay rhododendron, dwarf rhododendron, mountain stewartia, and large fothergilla are some of the plants that cause envy.

This autumn scene shows the native plant garden at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee, at this time curated by Jenny Andrews. Because limestone underlies the slightly acid soil, the dominant trees are white ash, hickories, and eastern red cedar with an understory of flowering dogwood and redbud.

Limestone occurs throughout the South from the Coastal Plain to the mountains. Because rain is plentiful and leaf mold is too, the surface topsoil is usually acid, not basic, but the underlying lime makes the hardwood forests here rather different. Eastern red cedar is common, not pines. Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, stewartia, and blueberries do not occur except in particularly acid, rich soils. White ash is common

and so are yaupon, wax myrtle, scarlet buckeye, redbud, possumhaw, rusty blackhaw viburnum, bottlebrush buckeye, both hydrangeas, crossvine, wild red columbine, blue phlox, lyreleaf sage, wild ginger, and most ferns. Some special plants are rarely found elsewhere in the South—among them Alabama croton, neviusia, golden St. John’s wort, Allegheny spurge, aromatic aster, Short’s aster, and American smoke tree.

The Whitcomb family has owned this land since before the Revolution. Sitting on their bench, I could admire rosebay rhododendron cascading down the bank above Wolf Creek. A spiderwort bloomed under the hemlock shading the bench, and a lizard’s tail was in bud by the creek. Some of the other native plants in this garden were mountain magnolia, a huge yellow buckeye, American holly, red and sugar maples, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, and New York fern. And for good luck, there was an eastern red cedar on either side of the front door. CREATING HABITATS

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2 PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

T

he plans on the following pages are to give you an idea of how to design a wild garden or how to use native plants in a formal garden. They have grouped plants best suited to conditions of sun, shade, acidity, or drainage. They are also designed to help you plant for color at different seasons, so your garden won’t have a boring lull. The Getting Started plan shows a typical small lot, about 65 feet wide. We saw home lots this size from Maryland to East Texas, mostly in older neighborhoods, with big old trees shading at least half the yard, so that lawn maintenance is a major undertaking. This small lot is the interior portion of the plan—the part around the house. The bigger picture is for those of you on larger properties. It fades out at the edges, so that you can imagine those portions of the plan extending for acres, if that’s how much land you have. The point is, no matter how much acreage you own, it’s the

portions immediately around your house where you will probably do your most ambitious gardening. Beyond that small envelope, you can still have gorgeous gardens, of course, but they’ll need to be modified imitations of native habitats. That way you can save yourself loads of work, not to mention watering. All the plans are based on this one layout. It will quickly be obvious to you that you can have a working area (in back, with the firewood, brush pile, and compost pile), a flower garden, an evergreen courtyard, and a shady spring garden, even on a small lot. Converting Your Present Landscape to a Native Landscape: Your first step is to quit watering, quit spreading lime and replanting grass every spring, quit fertilizing and spraying, and quit raking leaves. In other words, quit doing all those chores you don’t enjoy anyway. (And you thought this would be hard.) After a full spring and summer on this

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regimen, you will notice that some plants have died off—or are in the process. Others are doing just fine. And some will actually be doing better! Cut down and remove all those that have declared themselves unhappy and unhealthy. Now, assess what you have left. You don’t have to keep whatever remains alive. Sometimes a plant you have hated for years is still vigorous and thriving. I give you permission, right now, to get rid of it. If some smaller shrubs and flowers are not where you want them, transplant them—to another spot in your future garden or to a friend’s landscape. If you have plenty of sun, refer to the Sunny Flower Garden, the Fragrance and Herb Garden, the Early Fall Flower, Fruit, and Foliage Garden, and the Flowery Meadow plans for ideas. Where you have shade from one or more huge deciduous trees, look at the other plans. The Basic Plan shows you how all the native plant landscapes can fit together.

Getting Started

The existing trees will be designated by dark, filled-­in circles on the subsequent plans.

Basic Plan

Mostly Evergreen Courtyard Garden Nearly every home has a narrow, dark area that is difficult to landscape but has to look good because everyone can see it. In many ways, this type of area is not unlike those wonderful courtyards so typical of Charleston and New Orleans that many of us would love to imitate. In tiny gardens like this, you usually want plants with the following characteristics: evergreen, pretty, not too big, contrasting textures, healthy, easy to take care of. This plan introduces you to such plants. You’ve probably never heard of them, even though they literally used to live in your own backyard. The garden in this plan is only 10 feet wide. A little brick patio divides up the area, so it doesn’t seem too long and tunnel-­like. The water feature and bench provide a focus and a purpose to the patio, but they don’t block the wheelbarrow path that connects the front and back yards. Moss will probably want to grow on your bricks; don’t fight it—enjoy the soft, restful look it contributes. The top (north) third of the courtyard is sunny. The middle third has morning sun, and the bottom third, where the tiny water garden is, receives shade all day. The temptation for most gardeners, given a narrow, straight bed beside the house, is to plant a line of shrubs along it. This increases the tunnel effect and is extremely boring. Notice how the Christmas fern (your substitute for a short, manicured hedge) is positioned to make curves and clumps. Two are

planted so close to the walk that they cover part of it, softening what would otherwise be straight and rigid. No single kind of plant will perform the same way in a wide range of sunlight conditions. Christmas fern is used only in the shady two thirds of the walk. Where there is afternoon sun, there is an inkberry instead, chosen because it is dark green, like the Christmas fern, naturally well shaped and tidy, and it loves sun. I used only one as a specimen to enclose the open end of the courtyard. It will eventually make a dainty 9-foot-­ tall tree if you prune up the stems to make trunks. Or you can keep it about waist-­high. If you want a more tropical feel and you live on the warm Coastal Plain, choose a dwarf palmetto. To give height to the garden, there are two vines on the fence (or wall). In the shadiest area is crossvine, which is fully evergreen. Where morning sun is received, there is coral honeysuckle. In early spring, it will be a shower of red. The water garden is too shady for water lilies and the usual water-­garden plantings. In the big pot, you might have crinum lily, with its wonderful swordlike leaves and fragrant summer flowers. It is almost evergreen in mild winters. If you live where it is not winter-­hardy, you’ll have to carry it inside. It can tolerate regularly moist pot-­ plant conditions (you don’t have to keep it in the bathtub), and it will remain fully evergreen. Or you can use lizard’s tail, my all-­ time favorite water plant, with its flowers that resemble white

fuzzy tails. For low-­growing softness around the big pot, use netted chain fern in the smaller pots. Keep the pots at one end, so they are set off by a good stretch of water. The crossvine growing on the wall behind the clear water will provide enough ornamentation. The two very large patio pots on either side of the bench contain itea. This shrub has young green stems, gracefully arching branches, and white tails of flowers in May that are similar to lizard’s tails. In fall, a few of its leaves turn yellow, orange, or red, while the rest stay green. For groundcover in the shadiest spots, use partridgeberry—a very dependable evergreen. It is low-­growing; easily makes a solid carpet; and has tiny, fragrant white flowers in spring and summer, and red berries in fall and winter. For an accent, plant one smilacina for midspring blooms of fluffy white followed by red berries in the summer. Where there is more sun, add more flower color. Spigelia’s red and gold blooms repeat those of coral honeysuckle. Butterweed provides yellow daisies as a spring accent. The rest of the year it’s an evergreen groundcover. Use Wherry’s foamflower instead if you prefer white to yellow. These flowers and groundcovers can also take sun, so they are planted right up to the stone terrace. To give height and color in front of the inkberry, plant three New England asters. If you have chosen the palmetto, use low-­growing Stokes’ aster instead; you don’t want to crowd the palmetto leaves.

PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

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Mostly Evergreen Courtyard Garden

Beyond the inkberry (or palmetto) is a planting of pink coreopsis. Its fresh, yellow-­green foliage sends a definite signal that the garden ahead is sunny. Spectacular April Shade Garden Great news! The front of your house doesn’t have to have a mustache of evergreen shrubs around its base. You don’t have to put up with that straight walkway that slices your front yard into two halves. And you don’t have to maintain a lawn; if your front yard is so shady and acid that you have lots of bare dirt and exposed tree roots, then you’re probably fighting a losing battle anyway. So why not have a lovely moss lawn and a shady flower garden instead? It will look a lot prettier, and your neighbors will give you credit for being industrious and talented, when really you’re putting in less work. After the initial investment, it will also cost you less to maintain. The most spectacular time in a shade garden is in April. The flowers on this plan are not dainty and shy. They will knock the socks off anyone just driving by your house. We saw them blooming at the same time just about everywhere we went. The color scheme is white, deep yellow, pure blue, lavender blue, and scarlet, and they are all quite easy to grow. All you need is summer shade under a deciduous tree, soil enriched by years of decomposing leaves or by digging or tilling in 4 to 8 inches of compost, and the ability to water if you’re having a drought. To give height to your shady April flower garden, add some

shrubs and trees. Piedmont azalea, yellow azalea, and their hybrids tend to bloom at the same time as the spectacular shady flowers, as do serviceberry and two-­winged silverbell. Flowering dogwood also often makes the show, so if you have an existing, healthy dogwood, count it into the scheme. Let the azaleas get as big as they want. As you can see from the plan, just three shrubs, allowed to reach their full size, make a very pleasing composition. Don’t be afraid you’ll get burglarized if the shrubs grow up taller than your windowsills; no burglar will want to fight through them. And while these shrubs provide privacy from passersby, your own view out the windows won’t be spoiled; you’ll be able to look out through the branches to the street just fine. The flowers are arranged in drifts or clumps, not in rows or as edging. Leave spaces between them. And don’t be overly fastidious; there’s nothing wrong with seeing decaying leaves and rich earth between their blooms. In those spaces the pink or silver fiddleheads of ferns will be thrusting up, as well as the leaves and buds of smilacina and other flowers that will bloom hard on the heels of this grouping. Foamflower and wild geranium are almost evergreen, so notice that there are no ferns or later-­blooming woodland flowers planted on top of them. Look at the June Wedding Garden to see how June-­blooming white flowers can be worked into this same plan. It and the Spring Woodland Garden are larger versions of this garden.

For the moss lawn, see the instructions under haircap moss. Don’t worry about making this a perfect monoculture. If you look carefully at the ground under the mountain magnolia picture, you will see a lovely mixture of mosses, violets, and other low-­growing groundcovers, all of which are mowed occasionally to keep them at an even smoothness. Three-­Season Sunny Flower Garden If I do say so myself, I rather outdid myself designing this flower garden. Of course, I had some help. Our daughter Melissa came up with the brilliant idea of putting the lattice on an angle. She also drew in the snaking path of flagstones. Each bend of the path provides a focal point for a visually delightful scene, and in this small space (approximately 35 feet by 35 feet) there are no less than thirteen focal points—the dream of any garden photographer. The upper left corner, with the eryngo and the grasses, is stunning in its textures, and I have Edith Eddleman, co-­ curator of the perennial border at the arboretum at North Carolina State University, to thank for her good eye and inspiration. Enter the garden from the stone terrace at the bottom of the page. In April, early for a perennial border, there is action at the far end, where two tall gate posts, joined by a rope swag, are entwined with coral honeysuckle. The scarlet trumpets with golden yellow throats are echoed in the copper iris. Deep blue iris and green-­and-­ gold make this a vivid sight.

PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

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Spectacular April Shade Garden

Then, there will be a lull while the rest of the garden gears up for the big spring bash. This occurs in May—early May in the Deep South and late May in the upper South—and continues on until the first part of June. Coming from the swagged archway, along the path toward the house, there is a new scene, now dominated by leaves. The dark green swords of the irises provide a striking contrast to the new growth of grasses; the silvery grasslike leaves of silkgrass; and the fat, pale, cabbagelike leaves of giant rudbeckia. Turn the corner, and this subtle beauty is replaced by a crisp scene of dark blue baptisia, bright blue phlox, pale bluestar, and lavender blue Stokes’ aster, contrasted with the clean white of thimbleweed and the deep yellow of eared coreopsis and sundrops. Turn the corner again, and the orange of butterflyweed accents a scene of whites and the pastel yellows of Carolina bushpea and yellow rudbeckia. The chartreuse of spikerush blends with this color scheme. As you turn the corner again, that chartreuse is repeated by two plantings of feathery-­leafed pink coreopsis, which will not be in bloom until summer. The flowers in this portion of the path are white Mississippi penstemon; white baptisia with its dark, steely gray stems; and the delicate pink of downy phlox and Small’s penstemon. Turn to the home stretch, and the pale pinks have changed to a variety of deeper pinks provided by beebalm. Masses of them are planted on either side of the path, filling the air with their minty sweetness. A spider

lily, with its bold, glossy, straplike foliage and tropical-­looking white, fragrant flowers, marks where the stepping stones meet the terrace. Midsummer—July and August—is dominated by pinks, whites, and yellows. There is not really a clear time line between one set of flowers and the other. Each has its own schedule, and there is considerable overlapping. Furthermore, each year the weather is a little bit different, which also causes bloom times to vary. Starting from the terrace this time, Barbara’s buttons, with its almost evergreen foliage, and redroot both provide white flowers. Threadleaf coreopsis and orange rudbeckia are both yellow daisies, although the latter has dark centers and is sometimes called perennial black-­eyed Susan. To the left are three very tall flowers. Seashore mallow is pink, three-­lobed rudbeckia is yellow, and Joepyeweed is a soft pinkish purple. These three dominate the summer garden. But on closer inspection, there is a second focus—the lattice. The lattice is covered with large, fancy passionflowers. On its left is a six-­foot-­tall cutleaf rudbeckia. This plant blooms well into the fall, and its large yellow daisy flowers are unusual in that they have green centers. That green is picked up by the foliage of pink coreopsis, now dotted with tiny pink daisies. Cattail gayfeather with its purply pink spikes provides a vertical accent. Nearby, but deserving individual appreciation, is pineland hibiscus, with its creamy,

scalloped trumpets, which have velvety red centers. There is also pine lily, its orange flowers placed next to the coral honeysuckle, which blooms intermittently all summer. The silvery lightness of narrowleaf mountain mint pulls together both the white flowers and the grassy textures. Fall is often considered the season when the perennial garden shuts down. Not so. September and October are the heyday of grasses and the sunflower family. Swamp sunflower, goldenrods, wild ageratum, and asters are featured here, but in some parts of the South, other members of the family, such as gayfeather, Joepyeweed, and the rudbeckias, are also part of the fall scene. The lower right corner, next to the terrace, is dominated by a trio often found blooming together on the Coastal Plain. The plumes of sugarcane plumegrass reach well over our heads; they start off dark red, turn to Indian red, then salmon pink, and finally silver, as all the flowers ripen to seed. Swamp sunflower, half its height, carries a profusion of yellow daisies. At its feet is knee-­high wild ageratum—always blue to the eye but pink in photographs. The upper left corner is all yellows, creams, and silvers. Brushy bluestem has showy, white, fluffy seed heads. Indiangrass has golden plumes of flowers. Both have pale bluish foliage, which contrasts well with the dark green spears of eryngo, iris, and redroot. That pale color is echoed by the canna-­like leaves of giant rudbeckia. Silkgrass pulls

PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

17

Three-­Season Sunny Flower Garden

everything together. Its silvery leaves are topped by yellow daisies. Other fall-­flowering grasses in the plan are pink muhly and switchgrass. Beyond the back fence, there is a mass planting of inland seaoats. This is an easy grass to use where it is semishady and you don’t want to weed. It has lovely lime-­ green seed heads in the summer, which are great in flower arrangements. In autumn, those seed heads turn either gold, rust, or ivory. This is a garden for those who love to bring flowers into the house. Most of the flowers and the grasses last well as cut flowers, and cutting makes them bloom more, as they have to try again to make seed. This is also a great garden for butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as native bees and wasps and our endangered non-­native honeybees. Fragrance and Herb Garden Imagine yourself sitting in your garden on a balmy evening, surrounded by marvelous scents. Or picture yourself going out into your garden and gathering spicy leaves and pungent flowers for potpourri, wreaths, garnish, or tea. These are two excellent reasons to consider having a fragrance and herb garden. Many of the South’s most fragrant plants are trees and shrubs, and many have a strong preference for very acid soil, shade, and lots of moisture. Others need lots of sun and super drainage. To have this garden in its entirety and keep everything happy, you’d have to keep it moist but very well

drained, and have a pH of 5.0 to 6.0. If this is not your normal condition, for a less labor-­ intensive plan, choose whichever quadrant best fits your needs. To the left of the path are those plants that require very acid soil, pH 4.5 to 6. To the right are those that prefer moderately acid soil, 5 to 6.5, and the few, like Alabama croton and Allegheny spurge, that seem actually to like limestone. Near the back fence are plants that will take poor drainage at least once in a while, and near the terrace are those that tolerate or prefer drought. Sourwood, witchhazel, sweetshrub, fothergilla, and Alabama croton like moderate moisture best. Those that are under the two ornamental trees require shade, and those that are not require sun. And some, like downy phlox, are extremely adaptable. Witchhazel is the only fragrance you will get in the winter. It really prefers some shade, but will take full sun if you keep it watered. Wild ginger underneath has gingery roots, so it is fragrant only when you disturb the roots by weeding. Reading from the top of the page to the bottom, those plants that have fragrant flowers are southern magnolia, swamp honeysuckle azalea, vernal iris, Barbara’s buttons, downy phlox, American wisteria, curly clematis, swamp rose, spider lily, crinum lily, clethra, sourwood, fothergilla, sweetshrub, Allegheny spurge, summer phlox, witchhazel, beebalm, and prairie rose. Those that have herblike aromatic leaves are lyreleaf sage

(smells great when you walk on it), sweetshrub, Alabama croton, Georgia basil, conradina, Cumberland rosemary, narrowleaf mountain mint, Oswego tea, beebalm, and red basil. Other plants with sweetly scented flowers not on this plan but described in the book are gordonia, basswood, sweetbay magnolia, buckwheat tree, sweetleaf, fringe tree, yellowwood, titi, eastern persimmon, any of the bigleaf magnolias, sparkleberry, agarista, sandhill rosemary, spicebush, yellow azalea, Piedmont azalea, Alabama azalea, roseshell azalea, Carolina rose, storax, partridgeberry, and fragrant water lily. They are listed in the order in which they appear in the book. Other plants with aromatic leaves are eastern red cedar, pines, wax myrtle, redbay, swamp bay, sweetleaf, pawpaw, spicebush, aromatic aster, and sweet goldenrod. Spring Woodland Garden If you have an eighth acre or more of front yard—or backyard—and you want to make your life a lot easier, then you definitely need to convert at least one of these areas into a woodland garden. The choices on this plan are indigenous for most Southerners, but not for all of you. To make this garden really work for you, use only plants that are native to your specific area. If you are lucky, you will have enough existing canopy trees to provide dappled shade everywhere. Deciduous hardwood trees are best, but a few old pines with tiny, thin heads won’t hurt a bit. You just don’t want pine straw so thick underneath

PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

19

Fragrance and Herb Garden

that the woodland flowers are smothered, or evergreen leaves so dense overhead that no sunlight can get through to warm the spring buds so they can become flowers. The canopy trees should average about 50 feet apart where you want to make a graceful woodland garden. If you have too many, cut some down. Leave those that are the most desirable species, or the healthiest, or the best-­placed, or those that are providing the most critical shade. If these criteria haven’t narrowed down your choices, observe your trees for a whole season and, with flagging tape, mark those individuals that have the prettiest spring flowers (yes, some canopy trees do have spring flowers) or the most vivid fall color. If you presently have no canopy trees or not enough, plant only indigenous trees that will be self-­supporting. You will need at least one evergreen tree. If you have a southern magnolia, plant around it and let it stand as the backdrop for the other colors to play off of. If you don’t, plant spruce pine or American holly or some other shade-­loving evergreen tree native to your area. Be sure to choose one that will not need watering in your woods after you have gotten it established. This whole garden should be drought-­tolerant. As you plan your woodland garden, realize that although you are planting on a scale quite different from a flower garden, the principles are the same. Where you would plant a cluster of three to five phlox to get a good show in a perennial

border, plant a cluster of three to five understory trees to make your woodland garden look its prettiest. They should be spaced from 30 to 50 feet apart. If by any wild chance you have some existing native flowering understory trees, fit them into your scheme. If you or a previous owner already planted a number of healthy flowering dogwoods, use them as your basic understory tree, and add to them if you need to improve the shape of the cluster they make. If your dogwoods are getting some disease or you have no understory trees, use two-­winged silverbell or serviceberry instead, as long as they are native to your area. Two-­winged silverbell is better for the Coastal Plain, and serviceberry for the mountains. The Piedmont can use either. After you have planned where your trees go, make a drift of shrubs about 15 to 25 feet apart. The Piedmont azalea is the easiest for most Southern gardeners, and, when massed in varying shades of palest pink to rose pink, it is hard to beat. If you live over limestone and have light shade, choose neviusia. If you have heavier shade, forget early spring color and go for the late spring/early summer color with oakleaf hydrangea or bottlebrush buckeye. For the flowers underneath, start off with lavender-­blue-­ flowered spotted phacelia and white-­flowered isopyrum, as they spread quickly and give you a lot for your money. Southern lady fern, rather aggressive for a small garden, is perfect in this unwatered situation and gives you a fine ferny look for

summer. After you have things started, gradually add mayapples, smilacina, Solomon’s seal, and other woodland flowers native to your area. They’ll multiply slowly, gradually turning your spring woodland into a very complex and satisfying garden. June Wedding Garden I suppose we could have called this plan May Wedding. The flowers in this plan bloom the last week in May in the Deep South and the first week in June in the upper South. We went with June because this is the month traditionally associated with weddings. These flowers are all white, but sometimes have flushes of pink. I don’t know why white is so prevalent this time of year. White flowers normally attract moths and bats, and it could be that these flowers are all pollinated by these creatures. However, being more of a day person, I know I’ve seen bees and hummingbirds on many of them. Certainly, white shows up best against the dark green of the forest fully leafed out for summer, which is why this makes such a wonderful and romantic garden for balmy June—or May—evenings. To have white-­flowered shrubs up near the house, use bottlebrush buckeye, itea, and oakleaf hydrangea. The idea is to be able to stand on the moss lawn or sit on the porch and be surrounded by delicate white blooms floating in the woods. This plan is designed mainly for the Piedmont. Three of the woodland flowers—goat’s beard, black cohosh, and bowman’s PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

21

Spring Woodland Garden

June Wedding Garden

root—are native to the upper Piedmont and mountains. Plant them in drifts as shown on the plan, and then let them self-­sow and spread themselves wherever they want. The more the better. Where there is a little more sun, use American ipecac and Mississippi penstemon instead, or the palest Small’s penstemons you can find. For the magnolia, choose bigleaf magnolia or umbrella tree, both of which have sweetly scented blossoms. The cooler your summers are, the more easily you can have ferns scattered all through this garden. If you live in or near the mountains and your winters are so cold that oakleaf hydrangea and bottlebrush buckeye are not winter-­hardy for you, use more mountain laurels or an early-­blooming rosebay rhododendron. You can also use the mountain magnolia. To make this garden accommodate itself to the Coastal Plain, use southern magnolia. The other magnolias will have finished blooming for you by this time of year. Anyway, one southern magnolia can perfume this whole garden. For the three mountain flowers, which wouldn’t dream of enduring your summers, plant even more fly poison, or substitute masses of itea in moist areas and wild hydrangea where it is drier. Early Fall Flower, Fruit, and Foliage Garden Most gardeners ignore early fall. They’re aware of spring and summer, and they know when the maples turn, but everything in between somehow escapes their notice. This is amazing when you start listing all the

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flowers that bloom and the trees and shrubs whose leaves or fruits turn red or orange in the early fall. Fact is, this is a very active and often even gaudy time of year for the garden. Another plus for these early fall plants is that they love sun, tolerate poor soil, and are drought-­tolerant. Owners of new homes with scraped yards and no topsoil, first-­time gardeners, and hopeless black-­ thumb gardeners can easily find success with these plants. If you have one or two pines or eastern red cedars in your yard and nothing else, that is also a perfect start for this garden. Plus, if you are a bird-­ watcher, these plants and the habitat you create by planting them are worlds better for your feathered friends than store-­ bought bird feeders. This entire garden measures 90 feet by 40 feet, but the most intense color is in the lower area that is only 40 feet by 40 feet—typical size for a small front yard. At the bottom right corner is a possumhaw. Its dry, fleshy red berries are not a treat to most fall-­migrating birds. They’ll ignore it and eat the juicy blue huckleberries, the orange persimmons, the blackgum drupes, and the purple fruits of American beautyberry. Small birds will pick the seeds out of the papery ornaments of the hophornbeam. But when the birds return the following spring, they won’t pass by possumhaw this time, especially not the cedar waxwings. Over the winter, what with freezing and thawing, the haws have fermented, making your possumhaw the bird equivalent of a

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

neighborhood tavern. And now you know why they keep flying into your windows. There are other wildlife opportunities in this garden as well. Warblers and other songbirds eat red maple seeds in the spring. Winter birds will enjoy the seeds of silkgrass, goldenrod, and aster. Butterflies sip the nectar of these flowers. The hophornbeam hosts several insects vital to the health of songbird nestlings. And raccoons and opossums, as well as humans, are exceedingly fond of persimmons. Visually, this garden is quite a treat. The red maple usually turns red early, although it might wait and join the late fall garden planted in back of it. Either green or red, it is the backdrop. Hophornbeam has yellow leaves, blackgum has red, eastern persimmon has both leaves and fruit in shades of orange and mauve, and possumhaw is bright red with fruit. Underneath this glory are the tiny green leaves of dwarf huckleberry, setting off yellow goldenrod, blue or white asters, and yellow and silver silkgrass. American beautyberry, a favorite of mockingbirds, provides an accent of bright purple. If you want to keep grasses out of this garden, you’ll have to weed until the silkgrass and huckleberry have formed a solid groundcover. For a larger and really natural version of this garden, refer to the Flowery Meadow Garden. Late Fall Color Garden If you have a sweetgum that turns color late in the fall (some turn in early fall) or you’ve

Early Fall Flower, Fruit, and Foliage Garden

Late Fall Color Garden

already planted a sugar maple, use it as the starting point for your late fall color garden. By the time these trees turn color, there have already been several frosts and most branches are bare. The flower garden has been cut back and put to bed under a blanket of leaves. This is the last stand in your garden until spring, unless you have a winter-­ blooming witchhazel. Most plants that give pleasure in late fall are woodland trees and shrubs that are used to good soil and are able to develop under existing hardwood trees. The viewing angle is from the driveway or terrace. In front is a small, low thicket of shrubbery. Behind that are two small trees, then a canopy tree and an accent shrub. To the left of the thicket is an evergreen shrub for contrast and to block off visibility to the utility yard behind the garage. To get a beauteous picture, you want to alternate red, yellow, orange, and pink, so that there is always a good contrast. For the lower South, this is the best combination: Mapleleaf viburnum—the thicket shrub— might be pink, apricot, red, or purple. The musclewood to its right might be orange or scarlet or even yellow. Behind them is a chalk maple, again orange, scarlet, or yellow, with a dark red highbush blueberry down below and a dark red white oak or swamp chestnut oak up above. Fall color is a matter of genetics, and to choose the shade you want, buy these plants at the nursery when they are in color. You can’t always choose the timing of when they color, because nursery stock often colors early.

For gardeners in Tennessee, North Carolina, and northward, the musclewood and highbush blueberry remain the same. But although you can still have mapleleaf viburnum, you could also have fothergilla, which is sometimes red, orange, yellow, and green, all on the same leaf. In back of it, you could have that wonderful tree the sourwood in front of a southern sugar maple or, in really cold areas, the northern sugar maple. Flowery Meadow Garden It was on the Coastal Plain that we frequently saw natural grasslands on private property. Almost always, the grasslands were wet in winter and spring and dry in the summer. Where the water table was high, wet areas and pitcher plant bogs were found. Where there were springs, sometimes a narrow channel of water had cut into the soft soil only to spread out into a bog in flat areas and resume its course where the land became rolling again. The stream banks were wooded and shady, but the bog areas were often grassy, sunny, and flowery, especially if they had been maintained by fire. On this plan, imagine the stream, narrow enough to step across, coming out of woodland in the top right-­hand corner. At the meadow, it fans out into a bog on one side and grassland on the other. Then it reenters woodland. In early spring, this landscape is abloom in yellow and white. The meadow itself is golden with yellowtop, an annual that blooms from midwinter to midspring. Surrounding it are some of the

South’s most beautiful ornamental trees. These trees need to live on the edge of sunlight to be loaded with flowers and fruit. Many of you without a meadow will want to plant these trees around a lawn, patio, parking area, or some other kind of open space. Starting from the bottom right corner is a fringe tree, which is loaded with fragrant white ribbons of flowers just before the leaves emerge. The males of this species might be a tiny bit showier, but I have chosen a female here, because birds love the blue fruits in the fall. Next to it is a sassafras, dotted with tufts of bright yellow, again female for the same reason. The small tree/shrub is spicebush, with flowers similar to those on the sassafras, but intensely fragrant. Then a sparkleberry hung with fragrant white bells; a parsley hawthorn with white flowers and lime-­green trunks; a Walter’s viburnum with dusters of white flowers set amid dark leaves; three very fragrant yellow azaleas; a cucumbertree with creamy, pale yellow magnolia blooms; and sweetleaf whose fluffy yellow flowers smell like not-­quite-­ripe peaches. Flowering in the bog are white, fragrant spider lilies and copper iris set amid a short fuzz of lime-­green spike-­grass. In summer, the bog is white with whitetop sedge. If you would like a tree blooming at this time, substitute titi for Walter’s viburnum. It has 6-inch spikes of fragrant white flowers in midsummer. In the shade are masses of inland seaoats with their dangling green seeds. The meadow is green and grassy, but

PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

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Flowery Meadow Garden

you could have creamy pineland hibiscus and redroot blooming. In early fall, the scene is again full of color. Sassafras is golden and orange, spicebush is red with fruit, sparkleberry has red leaves, and pink muhly makes the meadow look like it is covered with a soft pink mist. Arising out of this mist are the golden daisies of swamp sunflower, the blue of wild ageratum, and the tall coppery plumes of sugarcane plumegrass. Not so showy but well noticed by the birds are the dark blue fruits of fringe tree, sassafras, and Walter’s viburnum, and the yummy red haws of

parsley hawthorn. Butterflies, bees, songbirds, game birds, and mammals all see this kind of habitat as prime. There is shade, sun, trees, grasses, fruits, water— everything these critters want for sleeping, eating, nesting, and drinking. For those of you in the piedmont and mountains, substitute bluestems, switchgrass, and Indiangrass for the pink muhly. Choose flowers native to your area from the section on sunny garden flowers. Use alder instead of Walter’s viburnum. Realize that you will have damp banks covered with moss and ferns—not a bog. Plant

wild hydrangea, wild geranium, loosestrife, and other beautiful woodland plants. To maintain a meadow, you must plan to mow, burn, or have an animal graze it in order to keep the woody plants from turning it into a forest. If you choose a grazing animal, be aware that whatever it has eaten in the past week will be planted in your meadow. With fertilizer. If it has been grazing on a local pristine prairie, your meadow will be enhanced. If it has been in a typical barnyard or vacant lot, you will be importing noxious weeds that will ruin your meadow.

PLANNING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN

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3 PLANT PROFILES: HOW TO USE THEM

T

he whole point of these profiles is to help you select the right plant for your growing conditions. You may be attracted by the pretty photo and want that native in your garden, but only by consulting the headings in its profiles will you be able to determine if that plant is going to work for you. Before I tell you what these headings mean, let’s look at the order I put the profiles in. I started off with a chapter on tall trees because landscapes are usually designed from top to bottom; the first element we decide on is the tall, or canopy, trees. Then we get to the chapters on understory trees, then tall shrubs, then very short shrubs, and then vines. The evergreen members of each category of plant come first. After you’ve made your decisions on these larger, more durable landscape plants, move on to the chapters that cover those low-­growing plants that can be used in the shade: groundcovers, ferns, and woodland flowers.

These first chapters constitute the easy-­care portion of the book. The next three chapters are for sunnier, more human-­ contrived growing, and describe garden flowers, grasses, and water plants. True, these plants do occur in the wild, but normally only in situations where they are maintained by burning and grazing. The profile headings are designed to give you all the basic information you’ll need to make good selections for your area. Additional information, as well as personal observations and insights, can be found in the text that follows the headings. What follows are definitions of those headings, as well as certain other terms you will run across in the book. Latin Name This is usually the most intimidating aspect of gardening for most people. But it’s really not all that tough, and it is very important in making certain you get the exact plant you had in mind. For instance, let’s say

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you want Rhododendron austrinum, which is a deciduous azalea with yellow-­to-­orange spring blooms that tolerates heat and high humidity. When you get to the nursery, all you remember is Rhododendron something-­or-­other, and you buy Rhododendron maximum. Close enough? Not really. The latter is a taller evergreen shrub with pale pink summer flowers, and it doesn’t like hot weather at all. Plants have been given double Latin names since 1753, when the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus first employed the system. The first name signifies the genus, while the second name signifies the species. These names may change from time to time, but having Latin names is still the most accurate method devised for universal identification. When a botanist from Latvia meets a botanist from Botswana, they can always talk plants. The Latin names can more accurately be called scientific names. They are mostly Latin,

but are sometimes Greek, sometimes a Latinized version of a botanist’s name, and occasionally from another origin. One last comment: don’t worry about pronunciation. Even the pros disagree, as most pronounce English Latin but some know classical Latin, plus there are regional accents. Just treat every vowel as a separate syllable and pronounce the name with authority. Common Name Most plants have at least one. I’ve listed only the ones most typically used. Occasionally a common name is used for more than one plant, so knowing the Latin name can help tremendously. Usual Height This refers to the height the plant is most likely to reach in your garden. A tree might take thirty years or more to reach that height, a flower only one or two seasons. A woodland plant that reaches for the light might get much taller in a woods than it would get in full sun, where it has no reason to stretch. Spacing This measure gives the width of the plant at maturity or how far apart individual plants should be placed in a mass planting or for screening. Sun or Shade Dappled shade all day. This is not the same as the absolute shade cast by a house, but the plants that have this symbol have the best chance of surviving there.

Direct morning sun from one to four hours and dappled or absolute shade the rest of the day. This is usually slanting sun and the plant is protected from midday sun. Afternoon sun, which is hotter than morning sun, for four to six hours. There is often direct, overhead sun for some of this period. Over six hours of direct sun or full sun all day. Bloom This heading gives you the normal bloom period (which can vary depending on the temperatures in a given year and also on whether you are in Zone 6 or Zone 9), color, size of blooms, and fragrance (if any). Fiddleheads See fern chapter introduction for definition. Fruit If a plant’s landscape value is enhanced by seasonal fruits, I tell you the time of year to expect them, as well as their color and size. If the fruits are not a visual treat but are important for wildlife, sometimes I just give the time of ripening. Leaves Evergreen is green for at least a year. Some evergreens, such as live oak and sweetleaf, change leaves all at once in early spring. A few do this in August. Many evergreens lose and gain a few leaves off and on or at set times during the year, but always have enough leaves to look full.

Deciduous trees and most herbaceous flowers, groundcovers, and grasses lose their leaves in the fall and get new ones in the spring. Often these plants have wonderful fall color or lovely new spring growth. Glossiness, summer shades of green, and size are included in this area when aesthetically relevant. Trunk Low- or high-­branching— although almost all canopy trees are high-­branching in a woodland setting. Color and texture are given where visually significant. Attachment See vines chapter introduction for definition. Native Range Where the plant evolved or arrived on its own and grows without interference from us. Choose plants that are native to the habitat where you live, and your gardening experience will be more pleasurable and less hard work. Zones are based on the 1990 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Coastal Plain is the comparatively flat area by the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Piedmont is the rolling area that makes up the foothills for the Blue Ridge Mountains. Mountains are the Appalachians, which include the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great

PLANT PROFILES: HOW TO USE THEM

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Smoky Mountains. The Ozarks and Ouachitas, which have many of the same plants, are not specifically covered in this book. Mississippi River Basin includes the rich, dense, alluvial soils that you find for miles on either side of the Mississippi River. Habitats A bluff is a slightly drier hammock in the Coastal Plain, often kin to post oak woodland in the Piedmont. A bog is wet all year, but is flooded only part of the year. Usually a bog is a small area around a seep. Trees and shrubs are rare; grasses, herbs, or sphagnum moss are common. Sometimes in the Coastal Plain the wet area is very large and spreads over claypan. In this case, it becomes a grassland dotted with trees, and is called a savannah. Coves are sheltered areas in the Great Smoky Mountains where the hardwood forests are unusually rich in diversity. Some botanists speculate that they are similar to the very ancient forests that once covered most of the northern hemisphere before the last ice age. Cypress swamps are wet all year and are dominated by trees. Pond cypress is in acid, peaty swamps. Bald cypress is usually in soil that is just slightly acid or almost alkaline, such as is found in river floodplains. Flatwoods are pine savannahs that have not been burned for so long that the grasses have been shaded out by trees and shrubs. Flatwoods, like the savannahs, are flooded winter

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and spring because hardpan is dose to the surface. A hammock (also called hummock) is a moist area that is well-­enough drained so that it is never wet. A Piedmont-­style hardwood forest can grow in the Coastal Plain if it is on a hammock. A calcareous hammock has limestone for its bedrock, but the topsoil is generally acid in pH. A coastal hammock is alkaline, because its elevation is composed of limestone or shell middens left by Native Americans. Live oak, cabbage palm, and southern red cedar, along with yuccas, are typical vegetation. A hardwood forest usually has some pines present—at least nowadays—but it is primarily composed of the most enduring deciduous trees, called hardwoods, and a great variety of beautiful woodland flowers and ferns. A marsh is wet all year, but is composed of grasses instead of trees. Marshes might be fresh water, salt water, or in between, that is, brackish. Meadows are grasslands, with flowers and no trees, that exist on soil that is moist or dry but not marshy. With few exceptions, meadows seem to be artificial to the forested southeastern United States. Most are maintained by the highway or parks departments by mowing or burning. Some people like to give meadows more dignity by calling them prairies. An old field is recently abandoned farmland or other land that was denuded and then ignored. First annuals, then broomsedge and perennial flowers, appear to make a meadow.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

Then, very quickly, pines and sweetgum start to grow to make a secondary woods. Pinelands include savannahs, flatwoods, and secondary woods. Pocosins are wet places where the water table intersects the surface in the sandhills. Where dependably wet, sphagnum peat bogs or pitcher plant bogs develop, or sometimes there is even enough water for water lilies. Post oak woodland is dry woodland. Most of it today is mixed with loblolly, shortleaf, Virginia, or longleaf pines. The soil is usually sterile and highly acid with little ability to retain water, although a fair amount of water-­retaining clay sometimes exists. Sandhills is longleaf pineland that is very dry with an understory of turkey oak. These are very old plant communities dating from the Cretaceous period. The soil is usually sterile and highly acid. Water runs through unless it hits a clay subsoil or hardpan that holds water close to the surface. In the Carolinas, Sandhills is a proper name for those communities at the fall line where Piedmont and Coastal Plain meet. Savannah means grassland dotted with trees. In the southeastern United States, savannahs are usually flooded, or at least squishy-­wet, in winter and spring and are very dry in summer and early fall. West of the Mississippi, this wet period becomes greatly reduced or nonexistent. Savannahs are dependent on fire to survive. Without fire, the grasses are shaded out and a forest, called flatwoods, forms.

Secondary woods were once old fields that have turned into forest. These woods are pinelands and quite different from the hardwood forests that the Native Americans managed, the early European explorers described, and the European settlers cut down to make into fields, because they consist of a few dominant pioneer species and lack rich diversity. Swamp is forested wetland bordering a bog or pond and often bordered itself by flatwoods. Swamps are usually very acid and peaty. Titi, pond pine, sweetbay, slash pine, and gordonia are the principal trees in a southern Coastal Plain swamp. Bald cypress swamps are common along the Mississippi River and other major rivers where the soil is less acid. Soil Where there is sufficient humus and leaf mold, all soils in the South are acid, even those that are over limestone. Acidity and its opposite, alkalinity, are measured in pH on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Mycorrhizae or soil fungi are necessary for root systems to work properly. In turn, mycorrhizae need nonpolluted and nonpoisoned soil in which to live. Fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides all end up in the soil and hurt mycorrhizae. The poisons (cide means “to kill”) don’t seem to go away over time. Very acid, pH 4 to 5. Sphagnum moss, hemlock, heaths (azaleas, mountain laurel, blueberries, etc.), and most pines require acid soil. Bogs, titi swamps, and sandhills are usually very acid

habitats. The high acidity makes iron readily available and easy to assimilate. Acid, pH 5 to 6. Most soils in the South fall in this range, and nearly all Southern native plants will grow in this pH. Acid to neutral, pH 6 to 7. This pH is found most often in alluvial soils—that is, soils left by river flooding. Subsurface lime OK. When conditions are just right, acid or even very acid surface soil might exist over a substrate of limestone or beside limestone rocks. Many very acid-­loving plants can grow on a marble or limestone hillside if their roots are in pockets of soil sufficiently deep, rich, and acidic for the plants to absorb the iron they need or where drainage is good enough for them to get sufficient oxygen. Lime OK, pH 6.5 to 8. A few Southern plants show a preference for limestone areas, although most prefer rich, acid surface soil. Clay OK. Some plants are moderately tolerant of a heavy soil consisting of clay loam or silt. Drainage Many gardeners think that drainage is more important than pH. How wet or dry a soil is has a lot to do with how much oxygen is available to the roots. Even wet soils must have some oxygen. Coarse, sandy soils have lots of spaces for oxygen. Silty or clay soils are denser and have less room for air.

Wet means the soil can be soggy at all times, but it has to be wet with well-­oxygenated water. Water needs to be moving to pick up oxygen, although a brisk, running stream is not necessary. Even swamps move, and you can see them do it if you look long and patiently. However, a sour, muddy spot in your yard can be entirely devoid of oxygen, and no plant will live in such a spot. Moist is ideal for most plants. Dry in the South is a term reserved for coarse sugar sand such as is found in post oak woods or in the sandhills or in coastal dunes. Yuccas grow there, as do other relatives of desert plants. However, if you live outside the South, be warned that “dry” to a Southerner does not mean what it does to a Western gardener or even to a Midwesterner. Rainfall averages 40 to 60 inches a year or more in the South. Furthermore, it usually falls at least twice a month, even in the summer, which is the driest season. Seasonal Flooding usually occurs in winter or spring in the South, although it might occur any time of year. Many Southern plants can tolerate being wet during a flood, although they can’t survive being wet all the time. Root System Shallow roots are within the top 6 inches of soil. Plants with shallow, fibrous roots are usually easy to transplant and easy to get established.

PLANT PROFILES: HOW TO USE THEM

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A taproot usually signifies a deeper root system. These plants need more babying to get established, but then are more drought-­resistant. Colonizing is discussed extensively in the pertinent chapters. Companion Plants Decide which is the happiest native tree, shrub, or flower in your garden. Turn to the profile of that plant in the book, and under the heading Companion Plants, you will see which plants love the same conditions. Each plant evolved as part of a community, a cell in a larger organism. There are benefits to wildlife in imitating plant communities. Grouping plants according to their needs makes gardening a lot easier and the plants much healthier. This heading lists a few of the plants

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that are most simpatico with the plant being profiled. Usually they are often found together in the wild. Sometimes I’ve made suggestions for garden groupings that will give three seasons of color or a brilliant one-­season show. If you want a groundcover to go under your tree, browse the Shady Groundcovers until you see your tree listed as one of the Companion Plants. Propagation This is a very complicated subject, and can only be touched on here. The serious amateur grower will want to consult more-­detailed manuals. Wildlife Almost all native plants are important to native animals. Conversely, native animals are important to the plants; they aid in pollination and distribution

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

of seed, and they even divide roots when they dig up bulbs to eat or churn up muddy soil with their hooves. Generally, the most common plants are the ones used by the greatest number of species, or by species that are present in very large numbers. Because our songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are declining in numbers, I have concentrated on information to help you attract them. There is more information on this in the chapter on attracting wildlife. Related Species Sometimes there is a closely (or distantly) related species that is also desirable in the landscape and might be more appropriate or available in your area. If it is not profiled elsewhere in the book, it will be listed under this heading.

4 TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

I

had considered labeling this category “Canopy Trees,” rather than going by height. But the over-50-feet category doesn’t include only canopy trees in much of the southeastern United States. Here the soils are often loose and deep, rainfall is usually ample all year round, and forests are created with canopy trees that grow to well over 100 feet tall. As a result, you can find some understory trees that reach over 50 feet high—southern magnolia being a prime example. I’m writing this not from nature’s perspective but from the perspective of you, the homeowner. I figured that you’d be most interested in knowing just how big that tree you’re planting is going to get. So, all the trees in this category are likely to exceed 50 feet and have a commensurately large trunk of at least 1½ feet in diameter. For most of you, these trees will get a good deal taller, although probably not for forty years. These large trees have the ability to live at least a century, and many species normally live two to three times that long. If you are creating a woodland landscape and you plant

your trees no more than 50 feet apart, they will grow tall and slender and join at the top to form a continuous canopy of leaves. But if you plant just one tree—a specimen tree—and it gets all the sunlight and elbow room it needs to reach to its full potential, then it will not become as tall, but it will become broader and fuller. Either way, you’ll eventually get lots of shade. It’s just that the woodland will cover over in twenty-­five years or less, while the solitary specimen will take fifty to seventy-­five years to deliver maximum shade. Soil is a major factor in how tall a tree will grow. If you live on the kind of rich, tight clay where corn and other grasses grow better than trees, or if you live on very thin soil over rock, your canopy trees may reach only 50 or 60 feet—even though these same species get up to 120 feet tall over in the next county. One place where you can see a dramatic example of this is on the Natchez Trace, where the Chickasaw Indian Village once existed. Here you’ll find rich prairie clay—and scrubby

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trees. Sweetgum and white oak grow shorter here than they do a few miles down the road, and pines are replaced by smaller eastern red cedars. You see a lot of sky here, and redbuds bloom passionately in the spring sunshine. Wildflowers and grasses provide nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies from spring to October. But on either side of the village site, the Natchez Trace runs like a tunnel through a forest of sweetgums, oaks, and pines that are so tall, the sky is almost hidden, and big-­leafed magnolias and hydrangeas (understory) line the road, jostling for a bit of sun. In early spring, before the deciduous canopy trees have leafed out, there are carpets of woodland flowers, replaced in the summer by ferns or, more often, a rich duff of fallen leaves. The trees in this chapter are the basic building blocks for either scene. The canopy trees are what set the tone for the entire landscape. They determine the height and scale, their leaf fall rebuilds the soil so that the most desirable of the woodland species can

Spigelia and sundrops, backed by a non-­native astilbe, bloom under the shade of hardwood trees in this Memphis garden owned by Bickie and Michael McDonnell and designed by Tom Pellett.

eventually be planted, and the spread and density of their crowns determine the amount of shade. They are also the least flexible members of your landscape. Because their root systems are so wide and deep, and because they are so long-­lived, they must be perfectly adapted to the soil, rainfall, temperature swings, and other quirks of nature that can occur over their one- to three-­ century life spans. Select your canopy trees wisely. The trees that would most likely be growing natively on your site are the ones you want. Check these headings in the profiles: native range, hardiness zones, soil types, amount of moisture, and companion trees should tell you what you’ll need to know to match the tree to the site successfully. If you plant a canopy tree that is ill-­suited to its environment, it will become stressed, sickly, and a target for unwanted insects and diseases that will affect your entire landscape. If it requires more water than normal rainfall can provide, making it necessary for you to make up the difference, then all the plants underneath will be overwatered and unhealthy. Once established, a canopy tree must be able to exist on what nature alone provides. (This is something I wish members of those plant-­a-tree organizations would understand; too often they encourage the planting of trees that are not

adapted to the areas where they are distributed.) The canopy trees that I’ve elected to include had to meet one or more of these three criteria: (1) they had to be the important element of their habitat, the linchpin without which the plant community would fall apart or be drastically changed; (2) they had to be beautiful; or (3) they had to be easily obtained in the nursery trade. The hickories have been slighted in comparison to the oaks, because they are, unfortunately, so rarely grown commercially. In the first edition, I left out what used to be one of the most important trees in our eastern forests, American chestnut, because it is almost extinct due to a chestnut blight that arrived in New York in 1904. I also left out American elm, as it has been attacked by another imported fungus, Dutch elm disease. I have added both of these very important trees, as genetic engineering is close to restoring them to us. In 2002, another non-­native tree scourge came to the United States— the emerald ash borer. If you have an ash tree already, don’t attempt to save it with sprays. Let it die, and don’t plant ashes until resistant stock has been developed. Planting It’s much better to plant a native tree in native soil. Use organic matter only as a top

mulch, renewing it periodically. Eventually your tree will produce enough leaves of its own to provide sufficient top mulch, which will decompose into rich humus, just the way nature does it in the forest. If your soil is too poisoned to be able to break down leaves and mulch, sprinkle on compost starter or apply one of the newer types of microbial soil additive to get microorganisms growing again in your soil. This is like restoring the flora in your digestive system after taking antibiotics. Your soil needs to be living, not dead, to support healthy plants. After placing the tree in the hole and backfilling with the soil you dug out, water the tree thoroughly to remove all air pockets from the soil around the root ball. Then give the tree a long, slow drink, leaving the hose on overnight at a bare trickle. During the first summer, if you don’t get rain for two weeks, repeat this watering process. At other times during the first year, repeat when there is no rain for a month. Use good sense here. Actually feel the ground with your fingers. If the soil is moist, don’t water. If your tree is looking thirsty and the soil is dry more than an inch down, do water. After two summers, your tree should be home free and able to survive without any more help from you. Unless, of course, you planted the wrong tree for your site.

TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

37

EVERGREEN TREES OVER 50 FEET TALL

Southern magnolia trees, with their glossy big leaves and their lemon-­scented flowers, epitomize a Southern garden to most people. Plant collector Mark Catesby first brought seed to Britain in 1726. Now southern magnolias are grown all over the world where they can be kept warm enough. I’ve seen one proudly espaliered two stories up a south-­facing stone wall on a house in the Cotswolds, England.

Evergreen trees, because they stay green all winter, are the backbone of a garden’s design. They serve as a backdrop for the flowers of spring and summer and as a foil for the colorful

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leaves of fall. But they are not just aesthetically important. They provide essential shelter from wind and cold for birds and butterflies that are wintering over, as well as other insects

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

and small mammals. The seeds and sap of pines and other conifers withstand the rigors of winter to provide food for many of these creatures.

1. Latin Name Gordonia lasianthus Common Name Gordonia, loblolly bay Usual Height 30 to 60 feet, champion at 84 feet Spacing 30 feet, a narrow crown Sun or Shade Bloom White, 2 to 3 inches across, fragrant, July (May to September) Fruit Tan, hard and dry, fall Leaves Evergreen, 3 to 6 inches, dark, glossy, leathery, with a few turning red and dropping now and then during the year Trunk Dark brown or gray, furrowed Native Range Wet habitats, flatwoods, low hardwoods, cypress swamps, coastal North Carolina to Mississippi, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Acid, rich preferred Drainage Wet to moist Root System Shallow Companion Plants Longleaf, slash or pond pines, bald or pond cypresses, sweetbay, swamp bay, sassafras, wax myrtle, sweetleaf, staggerbush, highbush blueberry, fetterbush, inkberry, saw palmetto Propagation Seed or greenwood cuttings Wildlife Benefits bees; browsed by deer; host insects important for feeding songbirds and their babies Gordonia can be used as a canopy tree, doing very well with full to partial sun, or as an understory tree, tolerating a fair amount of shade. If you plant it as understory, you’ll find that it does best under those trees that are open enough to allow in lots of light. Gordonia starts blooming while it is still very small. Instead of bursting into bloom all at once, the gordonia’s flowers open one at a time, giving you an extended bloom period of two to three months.

2. Latin Name Ilex opaca Common Name American holly Usual Height 40 to 50 feet, occasionally 100 feet Spacing Needs 30 to 45 feet at base; top is pyramidal and fits under canopy trees Sun or Shade Bloom Yellowish white, tiny, spring Fruit Red, sometimes orange or yellow, opaque, on female trees only, late fall to spring Leaves Evergreen, glossy, dark green, spiny Trunk Single or multitrunked, light gray, mostly smooth, pale with lichens Native Range Floodplains and uplands, with hardwoods and pines, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid, rich or poor Drainage Wet, moist, or dry Root System Shallow Companion Plants Under any canopy trees with musclewood, pawpaw, flowering dogwood, sour gum, rhododendrons, blueberries, huckleberries, titi, redbay, sweetbay, hawthorns Propagation Stratified seed or cuttings taken in late summer; sex of seedlings cannot be determined for five to twelve years Wildlife Fruit eaten by bluebird, robin, catbird, flicker, thrush, cedar waxwing, mockingbird, woodpecker, brown thrasher; larval plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly; benefits native bees and honeybees American holly is one of the South’s most versatile evergreens. It grows in almost every habitat from sandhills to swamps to mountain coves. It’s the female that has the lovely red berries, so that is the one you’ll want in your landscape. But you’d better plant a male as well to ensure a good berry crop—unless, of course, there are plenty of males in the immediate neighborhood. The males are good landscape trees, too, being tall and evergreen, with pretty pale trunks; they just won’t provide bright red fruits to attract birds and cheer up the winter scene. TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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3.

Latin Name Juniperus virginiana Common Name Eastern red cedar Usual Height 40 to 50 feet, maximum of 90 feet Spacing 10 feet for screening, 30 feet for specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Male and female on separate plants, winter Fruit Female has blue “berries” in winter for wildlife Leaves Evergreen, blue-­green to yellow-­green Trunk Straight, silvery or reddish Native Range Well-­drained, sunny sites, all over South except in high mountains, eastern half of North America, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Any, but neutral to alkaline preferred Drainage Dry Root System Taproot Companion Plants Post oak, black oak, white ash, persimmon, redbud, sparkleberry, sourwood, loblolly pine, shortleaf pine Propagation Seed sown outdoors in fall, or scarified and stratified Wildlife Fruit eaten by cedar waxwing, purple finch, bluebird, other songbirds, squirrel and opossum; provides nesting for hummingbirds, juncos, myrtle warblers, mourning doves, and small mammals; a larval plant for great purple and olive hairstreak butterflies Related Species Some recognize the coastal J. silicicola, southern red cedar, as different

Eastern red cedar is tolerant of alkalinity, salt, and urban pollution. European settlers planted cedars on either side of their front doors as a good-­luck charm— possibly because they are so long-­lived. Many cultivars of eastern red cedar are available, but they are mostly northern forms. The South needs to develop its own cultivars with blue-­green foliage, lacy weeping foliage, and other lovely attributes. However, the winter color of even the most ordinary cedar is extraordinarily rich in the depths and highlights of its greens.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

4. Latin Name Magnolia grandiflora Common Name Southern magnolia, bull bay Usual Height 60 feet, may get over 100 feet tall Spacing 50 feet for specimen, 20 feet for woodland, 10 feet for screening Sun or Shade Bloom Late May and June, creamy white, 6 to 9 inches, fragrant Fruit Shiny red seeds in cone, early fall Leaves Evergreen, heavy, shiny; old leaves fall as new ones appear in spring Trunk Smooth, gray, knobby if branches cut off when mature Native Range Lowland woods, swamp margins, dunes, Coastal Plain from East Texas to North Carolina, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Any, but deep, rich preferred Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, prefers 2- to 4-inch leaf mulch to groundcover Companion Plants Beech/maple, or live oak/ palmetto, or pine/hardwood forest Propagation Fresh seed sown in fall, stratified seed Wildlife Good nesting and shelter for many animals; seeds eaten by yellow-­bellied sapsucker, red-­cockaded woodpecker, and red-­ eyed vireo; benefits native bees and honeybees This stately, fragrant southern magnolia symbolizes the plantations of the Deep South. When a magnolia grows in shade, the lower branches shed and a smooth, pale gray trunk is exposed. If yours grows in full sun, allow its lower branches to remain as protection for the root system. That’s why most homeowners plant their southern magnolia away from the house, where it can dominate one corner of the yard. To screen high utility wires, plant your southern magnolias 10 feet apart so they’ll grow tall and narrow. For a magnolia woods, plant them about 20 feet apart with beeches or live oaks.

5. Latin Name Pinus echinata Common Name Shortleaf pine Usual Height 50 to 100 feet, occasionally 120 feet Spacing 30 feet for a specimen, 15 feet for a cluster Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender male flower, pink female flowers, early spring Fruit Small, 1- to 2½-inch cones remain for years Leaves Evergreen, blue-­green, 2- to 5-inch tufts of needles, two to three per bundle Trunk Straight, red-­brown plates Native Range Upland sites and old fields, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid, sandy Drainage Dry Root System Taproot Companion Plants Post oak, black oak, southern red oak, eastern persimmon, sassafras, sparkleberry, flowering dogwood Propagation Fresh untreated seed sown in fall Wildlife Seed eaten by ground dove, quail, wild turkey; pine needles eaten by grouse and used for nests by songbirds

6. Latin Name Pinus glabra Common Name Spruce pine Usual Height 60 to 100 feet, occasionally 120 feet Spacing 20 to 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Male flowers yellow, early spring Fruit Tiny, ½- to 2-inch pinecones, often holding three to four years Leaves Evergreen, dark green, pairs of 3- to 4-inch needles, slightly twisted Trunk Pale to dark gray, ridged Native Range Rich woods and hammocks, Coastal Plain from eastern Louisiana to South Carolina, Zone 8 Soil Acid, rich, sandy loam preferred Drainage Moist to dry, shallow flooding for a short duration Root System Taproot Companion Plants Beech, southern sugar maple, white oak, tulip poplar, basswood Propagation Fresh seed sown in fall Wildlife Seeds eaten by birds and mammals; needles used to build nests; branches used for nesting and cover

Shortleaf pine is ideal for sugar sand and other dry sites where many Southern trees cannot grow without lots of extra watering and care. It has a somewhat open texture, with short tufts of needles and a profusion of tiny cones high up in the branches. This allows plenty of sunlight down below so you can have a colorful garden of ornamental grasses and flowers, such as pink muhly, lyreleaf sage, fire pink, Virginia spiderwort, Texas bluestar, downy phlox, threadleaf coreopsis, and silkgrass.

A gloriously dark and lustrous green, spruce pine is a wonderful backdrop for the pinks and whites of spring-­ flowering understory trees—or the golds and scarlets of fall foliage. Most pines grow only on raw, abused land. They are pioneers. Spruce pine likes to grow in a rich, established woodland under the shade of old oaks and other hardwoods.

TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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7. Latin Name Pinus palustris Common Name Longleaf pine, Georgia pine Usual Height 80 to 125 feet Spacing 50 feet for woodland, 20 feet for a cluster Sun or Shade Bloom Male and female flowers purple, early spring Fruit Big cones, 6 to 10 inches long Leaves Evergreen, medium to dark green needles 8 to 18 inches long Trunk Tall, straight, high-­branching, with thick, fire-­resistant bark Native Range Sandhills, scrub oak, flatwoods, savannahs, Coastal Plain from North Carolina to eastern Texas, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, sandy, some clay mixed in OK Drainage Wet in winter-­spring, dry in summer Root System Taproot, plant one-­year-­old seedlings Companion Plants Turkey oak, post oak, wiregrass, little bluestem, Ogeechee lime, wax myrtle, yaupon, blueberry, staggerbush, Carolina jessamine Propagation Fresh seed sown in fall Wildlife Extensively used by wildlife; especially important to the red-­cockaded woodpecker Longleaf pine is the linchpin of sandhill, flatwood, and similar plant communities found in the Southern Coastal Plain. For a small home landscape, plant plenty of bracken fern beneath these trees, along with yaupon, wax myrtle, staggerbush, and other flatwoods evergreens. For a large property, you can use fire to maintain a longleaf pine savannah. Fire keeps the evergreens out so there is plenty of sunlight under the pines for scrub oaks, grasses, wildflowers, and longleaf pine seedlings. Seedlings spend their youth looking like large clumps of fine-­leafed grass. After developing a giant root system, they shoot up 6 feet in one season.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

8. Latin Name Pinus taeda Common Name Loblolly pine, old field pine Usual Height 60 to 100 feet Spacing 10 to 50 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Male and female flowers yellow, early spring Fruit 3- to 6-inch cones Leaves Evergreen, 6- to 9-inch needles in bundles of three Trunk Reddish, short with low branches if in sun Native Range Widespread under 2000 feet elevation, eastern U.S., Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid Drainage Wet to moist Root System Taproot Companion Plants Sweetgum Propagation Fresh, untreated seed sown in fall Wildlife Seeds eaten by cardinal, goldfinch, Florida jay, nuthatch, tufted titmouse, brown thrasher, and meadowlark; nesting by mourning doves and roosting for migrating robins Loblolly pine is the fastest-­growing and most widely used of the southern pines. On old abandoned farmland or vacant lots, it will usually team up with sweetgum, and together these two pioneer species will, in three to five years, begin the process of reforestation. A loblolly can live to be more than two hundred years old. It is often found in old forests where the trunk can be a yard across and tower high into the sky with a scrawny tuft of sun-­seeking branches at the very top. When you see an old, solitary loblolly in full sun, the look is quite different; it is broad and handsome with a short trunk. If you want a windbreak or screen of loblollies, don’t just line them up like soldiers; scatter and cluster them as if they’d been planted naturally by birds and squirrels, and allow hardwoods to grow up among them.

9. Latin Name Pinus virginiana Common Name Virginia pine, Jersey pine Usual Height 30 to 40 feet high, can reach 100 feet Spacing 30 feet for a specimen, 15 feet for screening Sun or Shade Bloom Cinnamon male flowers, pale green female flowers, spring Fruit Small 2-inch cones that cling tightly for years Leaves Evergreen, dark, yellow-­green, 1½- to 3-inch needles in bundles of two Trunk Dark brown with orange tints Native Range Old fields, burned land, dry sites, New Jersey along Appalachians to Alabama, Zones 6 to 8, usually under 3000 feet elevation Soil Acid, poor, deep Drainage Dry Root System Taproot Companion Plants Post oak, hickories, tulip poplar, red maple, blackgum, sourwood, sassafras, flowering dogwood, mountain laurel Propagation Fresh seed sown outside in fall Wildlife Seeds eaten by towhee, pine siskin, red-­bellied woodpecker; nesting and cover for many birds and mammals Very slow-­growing and somewhat small, Virginia pine is a good choice for small home landscapes in the upper Piedmont and the Appalachian Mountains. The short, dark needles and low, drooping branches create a somewhat sheltering feeling. This pine must be planted in full sun in conjunction with trees of similar height; it just hates standing under another tree’s branches. Along with the companion plants listed above, you might consider using blueberries, vernal iris, and bracken fern. With a little water, it is easy to also use galax or partridgeberry as groundcovers. Virginia pine is often a pioneer species for a tulip poplar forest, and sometimes it blends with shortleaf pine and loblolly in a post oak/hickory forest.

  10. Latin Name Quercus virginiana Common Name Live oak Usual Height 40 to 50 feet, rarely 60 to 80 feet Spacing 100 to 150 feet for a specimen, 50 feet for a woodland Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow, 2 to 3 inches long, spring Fruit Acorns Leaves Evergreen, small, firm, shiny Trunk Short, dark gray-­brown, rough Native Range Dry sites, dunes, areas where fire doesn’t occur, Coastal Plain from Virginia to Texas, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Any, including saline Drainage Dry Root System Shallow and spreading Companion Plants Southern magnolia, wild olive, cabbage palmetto, dwarf palmetto, redbay, American beautyberry, wax myrtle Propagation Fresh acorns planted as soon as ripe in fall Wildlife Warblers in spring migration; acorns stashed by squirrels and blue jays and eaten by wild turkey, grackle, nuthatch, woodpeckers, and tufted titmouse; larval for white M hairstreak butterfly Draped in Spanish moss or wreathed with resurrection fern, this is the majestic live oak that you see along the streets of New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah. In many old Southern gardens, it has grown so large that its branches rest on the ground a full 50 feet distant from the trunk. To show off this graceful form to best advantage, I’d suggest surrounding the trees with a mowed area of moss, violets, grasses, and wildflowers such as spiderworts, butterweed, and lyreleaf sage. In a natural landscape, this live oak is found growing in a fringe alongside beachfronts with other salt spray–­ resistant plants, or in a very dense forest.

TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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  11. Latin Name Sabal palmetto Common Name Cabbage palmetto, palmetto Usual Height 40 to 50 feet, rarely 80 to 90 feet Spacing 10 to 20 feet apart for dusters, 30 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom White, 2-foot cluster on long stem, June Fruit Black, ½ inch, in huge clusters, late fall Leaves Evergreen, 5 feet long and 7 feet broad on 2- to 7-foot spineless stems, about forty leaves per tree Trunk Columnar, up to 2 feet in diameter, shaggy with discarded-­leaf bases unless pruned Native Range Dunes, hammocks, flatwoods, brackish areas, within 75 miles of the coast from the Florida Panhandle to islands off southern North Carolina, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Acid, sand preferred, saline OK, lime OK Drainage Wet to dry Root System Stem grows underground 5 to 6 feet before turning upward; roots are orange, tough, and can be 6 inches thick Companion Plants Live oak, dwarf palmetto, slash pine, wax myrtle, yaupon Propagation Fresh or stratified seed Wildlife Fruit eaten by robins, fish crow, raccoon; larval for monk butterfly; a major honey plant for beekeepers and of benefit to native bees Cabbage palmetto used to be popular in home landscapes and along public boulevards in towns by the seashore. It is smaller, friendlier (that is, spineless), and far more winter-­hardy than the foreign, faster-­growing Washingtonia that has largely replaced it in planned landscapes. If you buy a nursery-­grown cabbage palmetto, it will look much like Sabal minor for a number of years. The more nutrients and water it gets, the faster it grows. If its growing tip is damaged, it will branch. If you buy an adult tree, chances are it was not grown in a nursery, but was dug up in the wild—a practice that can be damaging to the environment.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

 12. Latin Name Tsuga canadensis Common Name Eastern hemlock Usual Height 60 to 70 feet, rarely 100 feet high Spacing 30 feet for a cluster, 50 to 100 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow male flowers, pale green female flowers, early spring Fruit Tiny, ½-inch cones, fall to winter Leaves Evergreen, dark, yellow-­green, ½ inch long, glossy Trunk Cinnamon to dark gray, furrowed Native Range Moist woodlands, occasionally dry, open places, southern Appalachians to Canada, Zones 3b to 7 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, fibrous Companion Plants Tulip poplar, sugar maple, red maple, basswood, umbrella tree, cucumbertree, rosebay rhododendron, mountain laurel, leucothoe, wild hydrangea Propagation Stratified seed, cuttings with hormones Wildlife Fruit eaten by pine siskin, chickadee Related Species T. caroliniana, Carolina hemlock, Zones 6 to 7 Eastern hemlock is one of our loveliest conifers, with a pyramidal form and graceful, drooping branches. In Southern states, it feels most at home in the mountains, liking cool, moist, wind-­sheltered, and unpolluted conditions. Unlike most conifers, this one is really happy to find itself tucked away in a woodland or under a mature shade tree. The shorter Carolina hemlock, on the other hand, will tolerate a little more sun and summer heat, drier soil, and a small amount of air pollution, which makes it useful in urban settings. Folks who live in the upper Piedmont can use hemlocks, provided these trees get lots of shade from sheltering trees and a rich soil spongy with leaf mold. There are many cultivars available, but it looks to me like they are all of northern stock.

DECIDUOUS TREES OVER 50 FEET TALL

Oaks are as beautiful in spring, glowing with the pastel colors of their catkins, as they are in the fall when their leaves turn red and gold. From a distance, this oak looks like it is wrapped in gold mist.

Deciduous shade trees, those that lose their leaves in the winter, such as oaks and maples, are called hardwoods, and they give you a lot more color throughout the year than you probably realize. Everyone appreciates the

golds and reds of autumn, but not many have taken the time to notice the pinks, silvers, limes, and yellows of spring. A cloud of strange little flowers or the unfurling leaves turn the woods into a misty luminescence of

pastels. Winter, unexpectedly, has its beauty. Often the twigs are purple or orange, and the entire tree takes on these soft shades.

TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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  13. Latin Name Acer floridanum (formerly A. barbatum) Common Name Southern sugar maple, Florida maple Usual Height 25 to 50 feet, occasionally 100 feet Spacing Half as wide as tall Sun or Shade Bloom Pale green with new leaves Fruit Two-­winged, brown, ripening in late summer Leaves Scarlet to orange to salmon to gold to cream in late fall, even deep in the woods Trunk Gray, smooth to lightly furrowed Native Range Rich, well-­drained woods, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, rich or poor; acid over lime OK Drainage Moist Root System Shallow and fibrous Companion Plants Tulip poplar, white oak, willow oak, white ash, shagbark hickory Propagation Fresh seed sown when ripe, one seed to each pair of wings Wildlife Sap used by yellow-­bellied sapsucker and bees; early spring pollen and nectar for native bees and honeybees; seeds eaten by oriole, song sparrow For great fall color, the southern sugar maple is the one to use throughout the South (except in the mountains, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Maryland). It prefers a northern exposure on a slight slope with soil rich in fallen and partially decomposed leaves. It doesn’t care for flooding, dry compacted soils, salt, or chlorine. To keep it happy, use a leaf mulch beneath the tree. If you must have groundcovers, ferns, or woodland flowers growing there, establish a regimen of regular applications of compost and watering.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

  14. Latin Name Acer rubrum Common Name Red maple Usual Height 50 to 120 feet high Spacing 50 to 100 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Red flowers on males, early spring Fruit Red winged seeds on females, midspring Leaves Color in early fall, generally orange-­ red to purplish red, but often pure yellow in Mississippi Trunk Gray, furrowed Native Range Wet to dry, woodlands or fields, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid, rock, mud, or dry sand; acid topsoil over lime OK Drainage Wet to dry Root System Shallow, fibrous, easy to transplant Companion Plants Hemlock or river birch or post oak or bald cypress Propagation Seed fresh off tree Wildlife Nesting and food for warblers, chickadee, purple finch, goldfinch, bobwhite, grosbeak, vireo, and squirrels Related Species Sometimes A. rubrum var. drummondii is considered to be separate As you can see from its companion plants, red maple can be happy just about anywhere: with hemlock on fertile moist sites in the mountains; along stream banks wherever you find river birch; with post oak on dry, difficult sites; and in cypress-­tupelo swamps. It can be one of the first to reforest a site or part of the climax community. And it can withstand moderate amounts of modern urban pollution. The only other tree with this range of adaptability is sweetgum. Red maple is cleaner, healthier, and prettier than its better-­known cousin, silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and grows almost as fast. It colors early in the fall, so to get a great show, combine it with blackgum, sassafras, fringe tree, and eastern persimmon.

  15. Latin Name Aesculus flava Common Name Yellow buckeye Usual Height 50 to 75 feet, can reach 100 feet Spacing 30 to 50 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow to chartreuse upright panicles, 6 to 8 inches high and half as wide Fruit Tan, pear-­shaped, 2 inches long, bears two seeds Leaves Hand-­shaped, lustrous dark green, fall color pumpkin yellow to red-­orange Trunk Warm gray, furrowed when young, large smooth plates when mature Native Range Moist woodlands, upland coves, mountains, and piedmont from Pennsylvania to Georgia west to Ohio, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Slightly acid preferred Drainage Deep, moist, well drained Root System Taproot Companion Plants Eastern hemlock, tulip poplar, mountain magnolia, cucumbertree, basswood, rosebay rhododendron, mountain laurel Propagation Seed fresh off the tree planted 2 inches deep or stratified four months Wildlife Squirrels, alas Yellow buckeye is a beautiful, stately tree from sapling to maturity. Unlike the better known Ohio buckeye (A. glabra), it is mostly resistant to the diseases that defoliate buckeyes, so at the end of summer it still has green leaves ready to turn luscious fall colors. Yellow buckeye forms showy, colorful hybrids with the much smaller scarlet buckeye. We saw this tree growing with eastern hemlock, mountain magnolia, and rosebay rhododendron by Wolf Creek in the mountains of Tennessee. At the base of its trunk were jack-­in-­the-­pulpit and New York fern. The trunk was so enormous and surprising in a buckeye, this is the picture we took.

  16. Latin Name Betula nigra Common Name River birch Usual Height 50 to 90 feet Spacing 80 feet for specimen, 30 feet for grove Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow-­green before leaves Fruit Brown catkins in summer, messy over a patio Leaves Light green, drooping, briefly yellow in fall Trunk Beautiful, salmon to peach exposed under peeling silver, multitrunked or often branching about 20 feet up Native Range River and pond banks, floodplains, lowlands, eastern U.S. except mountains and Maine, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, clay OK Drainage Wet to moist, but can be dry in summer Root System Shallow, fibrous, easy to transplant Companion Plants Bald cypress, sweetgum, swamp chestnut oak Propagation Seed sown in fall, tissue culture, softwood cuttings Wildlife Seeds eaten by chickadee, goldfinch, purple finch, pine siskin, redpoll, tanager, titmouse, vireo, grouse, and nuthatch When you think of river birch, you think mostly about its beautiful bark. But it has other virtues. It can tolerate compacted clay (within reason) and the kind of overwatering it can get on a typical sprinkler-­systemed landscape. The one thing it can’t handle well is reflected heat off a parking lot or building. Put one under a bright streetlight, and you can confuse it; it won’t know when to go dormant for the winter. River birch grows very quickly for its first fifty years, then starts a gentle decline. It rarely makes it to its hundredth birthday. The big mistake gardeners make is planting it too close to a house. The trunk gets to be 3 feet wide sooner than you think. In a natural landscape, river birch should go into a sunny spot next to a stream, river, or pond. TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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Stephanie Brundage

  17. Latin Name Carya ovata Common Name Shagbark hickory Usual Height 70 to 90 feet, occasionally 120 feet Spacing 50 feet for specimen or in a woodland Sun or Shade Bloom Pale green catkins as leaves emerge Fruit Hickory nuts in fall, edible Leaves Palest green velvet in spring, old gold in fall Trunk Tall, straight; shaggy with huge, thick plates, branches often black Native Range Mostly well-­drained woods, eastern U.S., Zones 4 to 9 Soil Slightly acid, rich, silt and clay OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Taproot grows 3 feet in first year Companion Plants White, black, Shumard, and willow oaks; tulip poplar; white ash; basswood; beech; red and sugar maples Propagation Fresh seed sown in fall or stratified seed in spring Wildlife Nuts eaten by humans, squirrels, turkey, wood duck, nuthatch; wood used by woodpecker Related Species C. cordiformis, bitternut hickory; C. aquatica, water hickory; C. myristiciformis, nutmeg hickory; C. laciniosa, shellbark hickory; C. tomentosa, mockernut hickory; C. glabra, pignut hickory; and others Hickories are fine, long-­lived trees that are almost totally neglected in Southern landscapes. Shagbark hickory has sweet nuts, ruggedly attractive bark, and a dramatic way of unfolding its leaves each spring. You can use it in most normally moist home landscapes. Another hickory for moist sites is the bitternut hickory. On wet sites in the Coastal Plain, use water hickory or nutmeg hickory. For wet sites in the piedmont and mountains, pick shellbark hickory. And for dry sites all over the Southeast, go with the mockernut hickory and pignut hickory.

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  18. Latin Name Castanea dentata Common Name American chestnut Usual Height 50 to 75 feet, sometimes over 100 feet Spacing 50 to 75 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Male catkins are 6 to 8 inches long, creamy white, fragrant Fruit Tan spiny burrs 2 inches across, containing three delicious small chestnuts the size of hazelnuts; drop and break open at first frost Leaves 5 to 8 inches long, coarsely toothed, fall color ochre to brown Trunk Light gray, 2 to 5 feet in diameter Native Range Mostly in Appalachians from Maine to Mississippi, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Very acid to slightly acid over hard limestone Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Taproot Companion Plants Sugar maple, bitternut hickory, white oak, black oak, basswood Propagation Buy immune stock only Wildlife Pollinated by bees; larval plant for 125 species of butterflies and moths; seeds eaten by wild turkey Before 1900 when it was attacked by an Asian airborne blight, there were an estimated three to four billion American chestnut. Their nuts fed people and livestock, their bark tanned leather, and their straight-­grained hardwood was highly valued for building and tools. Now there are still a few stumps surviving that sprout for a few years before succumbing to chestnut blight fungus. Ongoing projects to attack the fungus and to strengthen the genetic immunity of these majestic trees inspire hope that by 2020 there will be sufficient success for us to again plant American chestnuts. For further reading, I recommend Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver.

  19. Latin Name Diospyros virginiana Common Name Eastern persimmon, common persimmon Usual Height 50 to 60 feet in post oak or other dry woodland, occasionally 100 to 130 feet in primeval forest, 15 to 25 feet when in a thicket on abused land Spacing 30 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny, pale yellow, extremely fragrant flowers on both male and female trees, in spring when leaves half grown Fruit Orange persimmons on female trees in fall, often hard and sour until first frost, sweetness varies from tree to tree Leaves Glossy, golden orange to mauve, early fall Trunk Dark brown, straight, fissured, up to 3 feet in diameter Native Range Fields, thin woodland, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 10 Soil Acid or alkaline, deep, clay, silt, clay loam Drainage Dry, but tolerates flooding for a week Root System Taproot, thicket forming if trunk is cut or burned Companion Plants Longleaf pine, live oak, tulip poplar, willow oak, bald cypress, sourwood, eastern red cedar, blackgum, redbay Propagation Fresh seed stratified immediately, root cuttings Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, bumblebees, and other long-­tongued bees; fruit eaten by cedar waxwing, catbird, robin, mockingbird, opossum, raccoon, deer, bear, humans; larval for butterflies and moths Old specimens of eastern persimmon I’ve seen are always straight-­trunked, high-­branching, and free of suckers. This tree can be loaded with fragrant flowers in the shade, but if you want fruit and vivid fall color, place yours where it receives plenty of sun. Growing as a thicket on a hot, dry slope, eastern persimmon is ideal for erosion control.

  20. Latin Name Fagus grandifolia Common Name Beech, American beech Usual Height 70 to 80 feet, rarely 120 feet Spacing 75 to 100 feet for a specimen, 50 feet apart in woodland Sun or Shade Bloom Small, yellow-­green clusters in spring Fruit Beech nuts in fall, spiny outer coat Leaves Glossy, dark green in summer; yellow, then copper in fall; brown in winter Trunk Smooth, pale gray bark; fat trunk with low branches in sun Native Range Rich, moist, well-­drained woodlands, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, fibrous, might colonize Companion Plants Southern magnolia, tulip poplar, most fine hardwoods Propagation Stratified seed Wildlife Nuts eaten by blue jay, chickadee, tufted titmouse, squirrels, and chipmunks; nesting for wood thrush and pileated woodpecker I’d describe American beech as elegant—and picky. It prefers a loose soil, rich with decomposing leaves, and well shaded from the hot summer sun. If you plant a beech seedling in the abused soil found in most home landscapes, and give it full sun to boot, you probably won’t get it to thrive—even with regular watering. Once established, however, it does beautifully even in full sun. I’ve heard it said that the European beech is better adapted to the South; not true. Michael Dirr, in his Manual, says that he has seen the two species planted side by side in the Southeast (Zones 7 through 9), and the native American beech is clearly superior. It handles urban pollutants (ozone and sulfur dioxide) pretty well.

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  21. Latin Name Fraxinus americana Common Name White ash Usual Height 50 to 120 feet Spacing 50 to 75 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Purple, before leaves Fruit Pale green, then tan, winged seed like fringe on female tree Leaves Seven (five to nine) leaflets, gold, orange, and purple in early fall Trunk Dark gray-­brown, fissured, tall and straight Native Range Bluffs, riverbanks, better-­drained floodplains, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, deep preferred, lime OK Drainage Moist, tolerates brief flooding Root System Shallow, easy to transplant Companion Plants Southern sugar maple, shagbark hickory, beech, tulip poplar, basswood Propagation Fresh or doubly stratified seed Wildlife Great for nesting songbirds; larval for tiger swallowtail and mourning cloak butterflies; seed eaten by purple finch and pine grosbeak; browsed on by porcupine, rabbit, and deer White ash is named for its white wood that was formerly used to make baseball bats. In the fall, on sunny limestone slopes around Nashville, the whole tree glows like a candle flame. White ash turns from the inside out, first yellow, which deepens to orange, then rosy purple. At some point you get all three colors on the tree at once. In a woods, the top turns first, with the color working its way down, until, finally, the bright leaflets carpet the forest floor with shades of gold, pumpkin, and mauve. It is my favorite tree for fall color. Alas, it is now being murdered by the emerald ash borer. We hope that a resistant cultivar will be available soon.

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  22. Latin Name Liquidambar styraciflua Common Name Sweetgum Usual Height 60 to 120 feet, can reach 140 feet Spacing 75 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Chartreuse, in 3-inch clusters Fruit Spiny sweetgum ball in fall Leaves Star-­shaped, glossy; fall color in yellow, orange, red, and burgundy, often all on the same tree Trunk Straight, dark gray, ridged and furrowed Native Range Old fields, floodplains, uplands, southeastern U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala, Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, deep Drainage Moist to wet Root System Fleshy rather than fibrous, taproot turns sideways in wet soil, and the whole root system is shallow, might sucker Companion Plants Pines, willow oak, blackgum, white ash, red maple, river birch, alder, and post oak Propagation Fresh or stratified seed Wildlife Seeds eaten by cardinal, chickadee, goldfinch, purple finch, junco, mourning dove, towhee, white-­throated sparrow, chipmunk, and squirrel Sweetgum comes up everywhere in Southern lawns and gardens, driving the tidy gardener mad. But sweetgum’s purpose in life is to turn bare earth or grassland into forest. Take advantage of this if you would like to start a woodland garden on the cheap. Select a number of your sweetgum seedlings. Use a tomato cage or some other device to protect them from the mower until they get large enough to shade out your lawn. From seedling to shade can take as little as five years. The other great landscape advantage of sweetgum is that, being a swamp tree, it tolerates compacted, low-­oxygen soil.

  23. Latin Name Liriodendron tulipifera Common Name Tulip poplar, tulip tree Usual Height 75 to 100 feet, occasionally 200 feet Spacing Half the height Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow-­green “tulip” with orange center, after leaves mature in late spring or early summer Fruit 3-inch “cone” in fall Leaves Glossy, bright green, white undersides, yellow in late fall Trunk Tall, straight, pale to dark furrowed bark Native Range Moist woodlands, hammocks, stream banks, bottomland woods, fields, eastern U.S. except East Texas, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid to neutral, deep, rich Drainage Moist, but never flooded Root System Fibrous, fleshy, and poorly branched Companion Plants Hemlock, yellow buckeye, musclewood, sourwood, basswood, umbrella tree, cucumbertree, white oak, beech, hickory, red maple, sugar maple, gordonia, spruce pine Propagation Softwood cuttings, root cuttings, stratified seed Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, honeybees, native bees, and butterflies; honey plant; seeds eaten by cardinal, purple finch, and squirrel; larval for tiger and spicebush swallowtails The stately tulip poplar is a deciduous member of the magnolia family and, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful trees in the South. If you’d like to add one to your landscape, be sure that its roots are not in soggy ground. They also get distressed if the ground is too hard and dry in the summer. This will cause your tree to defoliate as early as July or August. Put in your tulip poplar only after you have rebuilt your soil with several years’ worth of decomposing leaves. This will keep your soil moisture fairly even all year round.

  24. Latin Name Magnolia acuminata Common Name Cucumbertree Usual Height 60 feet, might get 90 feet tall Spacing As broad as tall for a mature specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Creamy or greenish yellow, mildly fragrant, 2 to 4 inches long, never fully open, April, as leaves half out Fruit Cucumber-­looking while green in June, turning red by August Leaves Dark green, sometimes silky silver underneath, 4 to 10 inches long Trunk Straight, gray, roughly furrowed Native Range Upland coves, stream banks, hammocks, Piedmont and adjacent Coastal Plain near Gulf of Mexico up to southern Ontario and west to Ohio, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Acid, deep, rich Drainage Moist Root System Broad, deep, and fleshy Companion Plants Tulip poplar, yellow buckeye, basswood, mountain magnolia, umbrella tree Propagation Stratified seed Wildlife Seeds eaten by yellow-­bellied sapsucker, towhee, red-­eyed vireo, red-­cockaded woodpecker, and eastern kingbird, who takes them on the fly; leaves used in nests Cucumbertree is a high-­quality, long-­lived ornamental that comes in two universally recognized versions. The tall one with greenish yellow flowers is found more often in cooler climates in the mountains, north, and westward. The shorter one, once called M. acuminata var. subcordata, is more commonly found in the warmer Piedmont and Coastal Plain. And in Southern gardens. Slow-­growing and often multitrunked, it is rarely over 30 feet tall. Its flowers tend to be creamy yellow and its leaves silver on the undersides. Popular hybrids of cucumbertree with M. denudata (from China) and with M. stellata (from Japan) are short with showy yellow flowers. TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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  25. Latin Name Magnolia virginiana Common Name Sweetbay Usual Height 60 feet, occasionally 100 feet Spacing Half the height Sun or Shade Bloom Creamy white, fragrant, 3 to 6 inches across, spring to early summer Fruit Dark red cone with bright red seeds Leaves Medium green with flashing white undersides Trunk Straight, might get 3 feet in diameter, or multitrunked, smooth, pale gray bark Native Range Flatwoods, swamps, coastal sloughs, mostly Coastal Plain and outer Piedmont from Delaware to Texas, Zones 6 to 10 Soil Acid, poor to rich Drainage Wet to moist Root System Shallow Companion Plants Gordonia, swamp bay, bald cypress, red maple, American holly Propagation Stratified seed, semihardwood cuttings in summer Wildlife Benefits native bees and honeybees; seeds eaten by yellow-­bellied sapsucker, towhee, red-­eyed vireo, red-­cockaded woodpecker, eastern kingbird; larval plant for swallowtails Sweetbay is unique among the southern magnolias in that it will not only tolerate soggy soil, it actually likes it. Since it’s always found in swamps or along streams and other wet places, it can handle full sun, even in the wild. The silvery white undersides to the leaves make the tree seem to sparkle in a breeze. In Zone 9, sweetbay is evergreen most winters. Some nursery people recognize two varieties: M. virginiana var. australis, the more dependably evergreen; and M. virginiana var. ludoviciana, which has a straighter trunk and larger, more numerous flowers.

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  26. Latin Name Nyssa sylvatica Common Name Blackgum, black tupelo, sour gum Usual Height 50 to 75 feet, rarely 140 feet high Spacing Half the height Sun or Shade Bloom Greenish, with new leaves Fruit Shiny, dark blue, rather dry Leaves Glossy, brilliant red in early fall Trunk Straight, corky Native Range Thin woods or fields, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid Drainage Dry, cannot endure prolonged flooding or overwatering Root System Thick, hard roots with few rootlets, hard to transplant Companion Plants Longleaf pine, post oak, sourwood, sassafras, fringe tree, flowering dogwood, sweetgum, willow oak, white oak, red maple, post oak, eastern persimmon, white ash, mockernut and pignut hickories, serviceberry Propagation Fresh or stratified seed Wildlife A bee tree and honey plant; fruits eaten by wood duck, bluebird, purple finch, yellow-­ shafted flicker, hermit thrush, red-­eyed vireo, woodpeckers, opossum, gray squirrel, and white-­tailed deer Related Species N. biflora, swamp tupelo; N. aquatica, water tupelo; N. ogeche, Ogeechee lime Blackgum dependably turns red early in the autumn, at the same time eastern persimmon is golden orange. It is a nice size for small landscapes, and a very fast grower when given a little fertilizer. As long as it gets fairly good sun and the soil isn’t so soggy, your blackgum should do very well. It is more resistant than most trees to air pollution, so plant it along parkways. In a woodland, it colors best when planted at the edge so it gets plenty of light. The Ogeechee lime (Zones 8 to 9) has red fruits and yellow to purple fall foliage.

  27. Latin Name Quercus alba Common Name White oak Usual Height 50 to 100 feet high Spacing Grows wider than tall when uncrowded Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow catkins, as leaves unfold Fruit Large, sweet acorns in fall Leaves Unfold rose to peach and then silver, green and glossy with rounded lobes in summer, orange-­red to deep red in late fall, sometimes brown in winter Trunk Whitish bark, straight, single trunk Native Range Moist, well-­drained woodlands, eastern U.S., Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, deep rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Taproot and strong laterals Companion Plants Red maple, basswood, hickory, tulip poplar, beech, white ash, hemlock, sugar maple, willow oak, eastern red cedar, post oak, red oak, black oak; loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pines Propagation Fresh seed sown immediately Wildlife Acorns a favorite winter staple for white-­breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, blue jay, turkey, deer, squirrels, grackle, woodpeckers, bobwhite; also provides cover and nesting materials White oak has lovely pale bark, expansive branching, and rich red fall color. You can plant a white oak fairly close to your house—about 6 feet out—because the roots go very deep and shouldn’t present a problem to your foundation. And it’s unlikely the branches would ever fall on your roof; they’re very strong and hold up well to wind and ice. However, white oak is sensitive to concentrated levels of ozone and wet, compacted soil. If you have any construction going on, make very sure the builder gives it a wide berth.

  28. Latin Name Quercus falcata Common Name Southern red oak Usual Height 70 to 80 feet, occasionally 125 feet Spacing 50 to 150 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Reddish catkins, 3 to 5 inches long in spring Fruit Small acorns in fall Leaves 4 to 10 inches long with three to thirteen lobes, usually tawny and fuzzy undersides, drooping, brown fall color Trunk Straight, fissured bark, gray to brown Native Range Dry upland fields and woodlands, southeastern U.S. from New Jersey to Texas, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, sand, or clay, rich to poor Drainage Dry to moist Root System Deep Companion Plants Post oak, black oak, live oak, hickory, eastern persimmon, longleaf or shortleaf pines, willow oak, beech Propagation Fresh or stratified seed that has never dried out Wildlife Used extensively for nesting, cover, and food by birds and mammals Related Species Q. pagoda, cherrybark oak, is on the Coastal Plains from southeastern Virginia to northwestern Florida westward to the Mississippi Valley, Zones 6 to 9 Southern red oak is very common, especially on dry sites in the Piedmont. The leaf shapes vary quite a bit. What the leaves usually have in common are spiky edges, a drooping habit, and a tendency to show their light-­colored undersides. This is an easy, fairly fast-­ growing oak for the beginning gardener who is working with soil that is less than ideal. Cherrybark oak used to be considered a variety of southern red oak, but it requires far more moisture. It is considered to be the more desirable tree—strong, straight-­trunked, fast-­ growing, long-­lived. The bark resembles that of the black cherry, and the 7- to 10-inch leaves reminded someone of a pagoda. TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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  29. Latin Name Quercus michauxii Common Name Swamp chestnut oak, basket oak Usual Height 60 to 100 feet, occasionally 130 feet Spacing 50 to 100 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow-­green, in spring Fruit Large, sweet acorns in fall Leaves Yellow in spring; in summer, chestnut-­ shaped, large (6 to 9 inches long), dark green, glossy with pale undersides; rich red in late fall Trunk Straight, tall, silvery, thin plates or shaggy Native Range Floodplains, hammocks, southeastern U.S. except West Virginia, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, subsurface limestone OK Drainage Moist, winter flooding OK, but flooding during the growing season must be of short duration Root System Shallow Companion Plants Willow oak, blackgum, white oak, Shumard oak, beech, red maple, arrowwood viburnum, ferns, dwarf palmetto Propagation Fresh acorns sown in fall Wildlife Acorns eaten by woodpeckers, yellow-­ bellied sapsucker, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, deer, and small mammals; larval for Juvenal’s duskywing butterfly It’s easy to spot a swamp chestnut oak, even deep in the woods. Its pale, silvery gray trunk stands out handsomely. In late fall—usually after Thanksgiving—you’ll be attracted to its vivid red foliage. Placed in a parklike setting, this tree can become huge and spreading. When it grows in moist—but not flooded—places, the ground beneath is especially rich in ferns and spring woodland flowers.

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  30. Latin Name Quercus phellos Common Name Willow oak Usual Height 70 to 90 feet, occasionally 120 feet Spacing 30 to 60 feet, old specimens can be 100 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow in early spring Fruit Small acorns in fall Leaves Pink in spring, willowlike, glossy light green in summer; pale yellow to orange in late fall Trunk Straight, grayish brown, smooth when young Native Range Floodplains, rich uplands, southeastern U.S. except West Virginia, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid Drainage Moist to wet, tolerates inundation all year Root System Fibrous, easy to transplant Companion Plants Sweetgum, musclewood, shagbark hickory, pond cypress, pond pine, slash pine, water oak Propagation Fresh or stratified seed, cuttings Wildlife Acorns eaten by pintail, wood duck, mallard, wild turkey, woodpeckers, yellow-­ bellied sapsucker, brown thrasher, blue jay, and small mammals Willow oak doesn’t have the charm of either white oak or swamp chestnut oak, but it is an extremely sensible tree to use. It’s fast-­growing and will take almost any abuse, especially compacted soil and overwatering typical of street-­planting sites. That’s why it is so popular with landscape architects and city planners. Its narrow leaves are easy to sweep up and fast to decompose, so it is a good choice for places where it will hang over pavement or groundcovers. The fine texture and light color of the foliage make it an excellent contrast plant in a woodland garden.

  31. Latin Name Quercus shumardii Common Name Shumard red oak Usual Height 50 to 120 feet Spacing 50 feet in woodland, 100 feet for specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Light brown, 6 to 7 inches long, spring Fruit Medium-­sized acorns in fall Leaves Pink in early spring, glossy green in summer, red in late fall, brown in winter, sharply lobed Trunk Straight, brown, lightly furrowed Native Range Southeastern U.S. except Delaware, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, deep and rich preferred Drainage Moist Root System Taproot Companion Plants Swamp chestnut oak, southern red oak, sweetgum, loblolly Propagation Fresh acorns sown in fall Wildlife Acorns eaten by wild turkey, Carolina wren, woodpeckers, and mammals; larval for white M hairstreak butterfly Related Species Q. coccinea, scarlet oak; Q. texana, Nuttall oak; Q. palustris, pin oak; Q. rubra, northern red oak Shumard red oak is a high-­quality tree that doesn’t get used nearly enough—especially in the Coastal Plain, and in limestone areas where the northern red oak is rarely suitable. Shumard’s kin, scarlet oak, is useful for poor, dry upland areas up to about 5000 feet. Nuttall oak works for those areas in the Mississippi floodplain where soils are soggy and oxygen-­starved; pin oak serves the same function for Zone 6 and northward. The latter two are the ones most often sold in nurseries, because their shallow, fibrous root systems are easy to transplant. But they are water-­guzzlers. Fall color varies in all species, so buy and plant your red oak in late fall when it is in color and you can see what you’re getting.

  32. Latin Name Quercus stellata Common Name Post oak Usual Height 40 to 60 feet, occasionally 90 feet Spacing 50 to 90 feet for a specimen, 50 feet in woodland Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow before leaves, 3 to 4 inches long, quite showy Fruit Small acorns in fall Leaves Rose to red in spring, thick and glossy green in summer with tawny fuzz underneath, brown in fall and winter Trunk Straight, with very thick bark, brown Native Range Dry uplands, rocky slopes, southeastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, poor Drainage Dry Root System Thick, few rootlets, hard to transplant Companion Plants Longleaf, shortleaf, or loblolly pines; persimmon, flowering dogwood, sassafras, blackjack and turkey oaks; pignut, mockernut, and shagbark hickories Propagation Fresh acorns in fall Wildlife Acorns eaten by bobwhite, meadowlark, wild turkey, blue jay, red-­cockaded and other woodpeckers, deer, and small mammals; larval for Juvenal’s duskywing butterfly It’s hard to find a post oak in a nursery, yet it is one of our most common oaks—a vital element in the dryland forests of the southeastern United States. Perhaps the prettiest time of year to see post oak is in very early spring when the tree is covered in a delicate mist of yellow blossoms. Look around. If the timing is right, you’ll see post oak combining with the yellow of sassafras, the whites of flowering dogwood and plum, the dark greens of eastern red cedar and pines, and the light greens of new spring grasses. It’s a truly splendiferous sight.

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  33. Latin Name Quercus velutina Common Name Black oak Usual Height 50 to 80 feet, occasionally 150 feet Spacing 50 feet, more for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow-­green, 4 to 6 inches long in spring after leaves Fruit Medium-­sized acorns in fall Leaves Red to silver in spring; glossy, rich green in summer with velvety undersides; yellow to gold in late fall Trunk Straight, bark nearly black and very thick Native Range Dry uplands, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, coarse, rich or poor, clay subsoil OK Drainage Moist to dry, intolerant of flooding Root System Taproot and deep lateral roots, hard to transplant Companion Plants Pignut and mockernut hickories, tulip poplar, red oak, white oak, blackgum, white ash, red maple, beech, shortleaf pine, eastern persimmon, longleaf pine, post oak, southern red oak, and live oak Propagation Stratified seed, planted in spring Wildlife Acorns eaten by birds and mammals; larval for Juvenal’s duskywing butterfly Black oak is especially pretty in spring. Its new leaves start out a deep rose and fade through shades of pink to silver. Its yellow fall color is fairly marvelous, too. In those moderately dry locales where it grows alongside white oak with its own wonderful wine red foliage, the two form a knockout combination. Black oak is for those of you on dry sites where the soil is too sterile or too contaminated with industrial wastes for most forest trees. It is not a good choice where road graders and bulldozers have compacted the soil. Black oak can survive in rotten conditions, but give yours rich, moist soil on a shady slope, and it will not be ungrateful.

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  34. Latin Name Taxodium distichum Common Name Bald cypress Usual Height 70 to 100 feet, rarely 150 feet Spacing 100 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom 4 to 5 inches long, silvery in winter bud, purple in spring Fruit 1 inch, brown Leaves Feathery needles, yellow-­green, turning coppery in late fall Trunk Straight, buttressed, often hollow at base; thin, reddish bark Native Range Floodplains, swamps, brackish tidewater, Coastal Plain from Maryland to Texas, up the Mississippi River to Illinois, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, brackish OK, clay OK Drainage Wet, can be inundated all year or in an irrigated landscape Root System Shallow, fibrous, conical knees up to 6 feet tall where the soil is soggy and oxygen-­depleted Companion Plants Water tupelo, tupelo gum, red maple, swamp bay, sweetbay, gordonia Propagation Seed (remove resin, then sow in fall or stratify); cannot germinate in water Wildlife Seeds eaten by mallards, gadwalls, sandhill cranes Related Species T. ascendens, pond cypress, Zones 7 to 10 along the coast from southern Virginia to western Mississippi Bald cypress is fast-­growing and can tolerate heavy, soggy, oxygen-­poor soils that many other trees can’t. When young, it is shaped like a pyramid, with drooping branches. As it gets older, it develops middle-­aged spread. Pond cypress, with its ascending branches, looks more delicate and is not as tall. It requires more-­acidic water and blooms later than bald cypress, but the two do form hybrids.

  35. Latin Name Tilia americana Common Name Basswood, American linden Usual Height 30 to 70 feet, rarely 130 feet Spacing 30 to 50 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow to lime, drooping 4-inch cluster, fragrant, late June to early July Fruit Small, fuzzy ball attached to leafy crescent Leaves Heart-­shaped, pale yellow in fall Trunk Tan, furrowed, occasionally multitrunked Native Range Bluffs, hammocks, coves, mixed woodlands, old fields, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist, does not tolerate flooding Root System Deep, spreading, might sucker Companion Plants Hemlock, yellow buckeye, tulip poplar, umbrella tree, cucumbertree, red oak, beech, sugar maple, white oak Propagation Green seed, scarified and stratified seed Wildlife A honey plant; nectar used by native bees, honeybees, and butterflies; larval plant for red-­spotted purple and mourning cloak; seeds eaten by squirrels and chipmunks Related Species T. americana is the only species in the U.S. recognized by most botanists, but some divide it into three to sixteen species Sweet, fragrant basswood will grow quickly if conditions are right. What it likes best is a deep, rich soil on a slight slope that stays moist—not wet. It also likes to have other forest trees nearby, to keep its roots well shaded and the air cool. But if your site happens to be a little drier than ideal, the basswood will make do. The height of this species varies all over the South; some trees are reported to top out at under 50 feet. Perhaps because basswood is less common in the Coastal Plain, it seems to be healthier there than it is up north, where it falls prey to the parasites and diseases that attack the widely used European linden, Tilia × europaea.

  36. Latin Name Ulmus americana Common Name American elm Usual Height 60 to 80 feet, can reach 130 feet Spacing 40 to 70 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Before leaves, insignificant for ornament or wildlife, wind-­pollinated Fruit Small, round wafers, midspring Leaves 3 to 6 inches long, shiny, toothed; fall color varies from a bright clear yellow to old gold Trunk Gray, furrowed, branches form a distinctive vase shape Native Range Floodplains, mixed forest, old fields, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Prefers slightly acid to slightly alkaline, sand OK, clay OK, limestone OK Drainage Moist to dry, seasonal poor drainage OK Root System Taproot in dry soil, shallow and spreading in moist soil Companion Plants Red maple, sweetgum, swamp chestnut oak, bald cypress Propagation Buy only disease-­resistant cultivars Wildlife Larval plant for mourning cloak, question mark, painted lady, and comma butterflies American elm was one of our most popular, long-­lived shade trees until the 1930s, when Dutch elm disease, an Asian elm fungus, swept over Europe and North America. Four cultivars are preferred now—‘Jefferson,’ ‘Valley Forge,’ ‘Princeton,’ and ‘New Harmony’—with even better ones sure to follow. The reason for the American elm’s popularity is that it is fast-­growing, tolerates almost any soil, tolerates the confined spaces of parkways, and arches high over suburban streets to form a cool, shady, green tunnel.

TREES OVER 5O FEET TALL

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5 SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

T

his chapter is devoted to small trees, and some large shrubs, that normally grow 15 to 40 feet tall, although some get over 50 feet tall on rare occasions. Sassafras and redbay, for example, are usually classified as small trees (sometimes as shrubs), but if they live long enough and don’t get shaded out, they can grow well over 50 feet tall. Much of what determines the height a tree attains is simply a matter of the tree’s longevity. Sassafras and wild olive usually live about fifty years, but big old specimens have managed to reach their seventy-­fifth or even hundredth birthdays. The question of whether these small trees are, in fact, trees or shrubs is endlessly debated. Clearly, when a woody plant has a single trunk that is 8 to 14 inches in diameter, it is definitely treelike. But when it is multitrunked or multistemmed, many people want to call it a shrub, even though it may be taller than a two-­story house. Others say that if a woody plant

is large enough for an adult to walk beneath the branches, it’s a tree. Personally, I belong to this latter school, but as far as I’m concerned, the choice is yours to make. The trees discussed here are grown chiefly for their beauty. They’ve been chosen because they put on a big show or because there is such a strong sentimental association with them, as with the pawpaw. All of these trees will grow under canopy trees, but not all of them will bloom, fruit, or get lavish fall color while growing in that kind of dense shade. Redbud, for example, is found by the score in old, many-­layered woodlands where it grows as a small tree with a trunk up to an inch or so in diameter, and with nary a bud or seed to be seen. Obviously, this is not where you’d plant your redbud on purpose. You’d place it in the sun, where it will grow into a tree with a trunk a foot in diameter, and where it will put on an extravagant spring show. The sun signs that you’ll find in the

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tree profiles indicate where the tree will thrive, not just where it will endure. There is another heading called Root System. One comment you may find there is “colonizes to form a thicket.” Another name for this is “suckering,” or “asexual reproduction.” It means that the tree sends out roots, which, in turn, send up shoots that form a copse or thicket of trees that are genetically identical and connected by the roots. Aspen and bamboo do this. Obviously it is a very effective way to reproduce, and there are other advantages. If the tree prefers sunlight, as many of these trees do, then suckering gives it a chance to keep moving out into sunnier spots when larger trees start to shade it out. If some roots have access to water, they can support those trees farther from moisture. Sometimes these suckering trees are fast-­growing and short-­ lived. It’s rare for an individual trunk in a thicket to be over twenty, or thirty, or forty years old, depending on the species.

When you see a huge old sassafras with an 18-inch trunk, straight and solitary, this probably means that it led a charmed life and its trunk was never damaged. I hope you’re not thinking that suckering trees are too much trouble to use in a small garden. First of all, you’re probably already using and enjoying a number of colonizers. Lilacs, crape myrtles, and rose-ofSharon come quickly to mind. Second, using a colonizing tree can be an advantage. Not all the trees in this chapter are colonizers, but those that are give you a choice of four different looks. You can have a single-­trunked tree, a multitrunked tree (my favorite), a grove, or a thicket. The fewer the trunks, the taller the tree can grow.

Gardeners have learned that to keep a single- or multitrunked tree from colonizing, you need to protect the base of the tree from deer or mowers. If your tree is already colonizing, you can cut off each new sucker as it develops until the suckers give up and you have just the one to five trunks you want. This can take two or three years, however, and I must add, sometimes the suckering never ends. My yaupon holly, with its several 5to 7-inch trunks, sends up about six shoots each year. It resides in a bed of groundcover that I don’t want to mow, so each year I cut them back by hand—really, no big deal! We’re talking about only ten minutes or so out of my life each year. In some landscape situations, a thicket is just what

you need. If so, plant your colonizing small tree, give it a year to get a good root system, and then cut the stem in half. The next year, you can mow or whack down the resulting multiple stems to thicken the thicket. Thickets can help hold an eroding bank, fill a boring corner, or screen the garbage cans and the compost pile. To transplant a suckered sapling, the best method is to use a sharp shovel to cut the roots all around to a root ball of a size you think you can manage. It isn’t necessary to cut beneath the original tree; what you are doing is separating the sapling from the parent tree. Then, before you actually move the sapling, wait two or three months for it to establish an independent root system.

A thicket of smooth sumac.

SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

59

EVERGREEN TREES OVER 15 FEET TALL

A wild olive in bloom at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, provides a graceful, see-­through divider between a formal garden and a rough, low meadow.

Medium-­height evergreens are most useful for providing screening and privacy from your neighbors. But when their branches have been beautifully

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pruned, they can also be used as single specimens to ornament the front of your home. Like the evergreen shade trees, they are extremely important for

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

providing shelter for birds, small mammals, and beneficial insects that winter over. Many are also sources of fruits and seeds to feed these critters.

  37. Latin Name Cartrema americana (formerly Osmanthus americanus) Common Name Wild olive, devilwood Usual Height 15 to 25 feet, occasionally 60 to 70 feet Spacing 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Creamy white, early spring Fruit Dark blue, not juicy, early fall to spring Leaves Evergreen, 4 to 5 inches, leathery, olive-­ green, glossy Trunk Often multitrunked; a single trunk can be 18 inches in diameter; bark is thin, pale gray, with cinnamon underbark Native Range Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to southeastern Louisiana, Mexico, Zones 8 to 9 Soil Acid, coarse, poor to rich, saline OK Drainage Dry to moist Root System Shallow, moderately fibrous Companion Plants Live oak, palmetto, beech, pines, redbay, southern magnolia Propagation Seeds come up second year, semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals If pruning isn’t one of your favorite chores, you’ll love wild olive. Mother Nature gave this small evergreen tree a naturally beautiful shape that won’t need much help from you. Which is a good thing, because its wood is very tough. It holds up wonderfully well to gale winds, but it’s a devil to work with for woodworkers and pruners alike. Wild olive has exceptionally attractive bark—smooth, silvery gray with coppery undertones. It does best in light shade or full sun. It tends to get scraggly in heavily shaded spots where buckwheat tree and yaupon are more at home.

  38. Latin Name Cliftonia monophylla Common Name Buckwheat tree, spring titi, black titi Usual Height 30 feet, occasionally 40 to 50 feet Spacing 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, usually fragrant, early spring on current year’s twigs Fruit Buckwheat-­shaped, palest lime until yellow in late summer, almost showy Leaves Evergreen, 2 inches, leathery, glossy Trunk Crooked, branching 12 to 15 feet above the ground, with dark brown scaly bark and red branches Native Range Wet, nonalluvial soils, acid swamps, bogs, flatwood depressions; Coastal Plain, Savannah, Georgia, to Jacksonville, Florida, to the Mississippi River; Zone 8 Soil Very acid, sand, peat preferred, no mud, lime, sulfur, or salt Drainage Moist to wet Root System Usually colonizes to form a thicket Companion Plants Atlantic white cedar, pond cypress, pond pine, redbay, sweetbay, fetterbush, clethra, inkberry, cinnamon fern Propagation Seed and semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Benefits native bees and honeybees In the wild, buckwheat tree’s multiple trunks can get all jammed together. Yet properly pruned, it can be a single-­trunked or multitrunked tree with character and charm. It has a long season of ornamental fruits and flowers. When in full bloom, and again when the seed clusters are about to ripen, the tree takes on a lovely misty look. If you don’t remove the suckers, buckwheat tree will form a thicket, which can be useful for erosion control on stream or pond banks. Although native only to acid swamps along the coast, it seems to be adaptable to gardens along the Mississippi floodplain. SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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Woodlanders, Inc.

  39. Latin Name Ilex cassine Common Name Dahoon holly Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, can reach 40 feet Spacing 8 to 15 feet, a narrow tree Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny white, spring, hardly noticeable Fruit ¼ inch, orange-­red to yellow, showy clusters, female trees only Leaves Evergreen, 2 to 4 inches long, oval to narrow, shiny, almost spineless Trunk Smooth, pale gray Native Range Moist woods, cypress ponds, marshy margins, Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Texas, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Sand, clay, loam, acid, slightly alkaline OK, brackish OK Drainage Wet to moist Root System Might colonize Companion Plants Bald cypress, wax myrtle, inkberry Propagation Fresh seed, cuttings, layering Wildlife Benefits native bees and honeybees; fruit eaten by grosbeaks, robins, and other songbirds Dahoon holly likes best to grow into a beautiful, single-­ trunked, small evergreen tree. The nonprickly leaves are a bonus. The male can be planted in fairly deep shade, but the female should be where she gets plenty of sun to have an impressive fruit crop. Slightly translucent and juicy, the berries attract birds all winter. Some cultivars are airy, some dense, and one has yellow berries. Because this tree is so attractive, it has been planted from Zones 5 to 11, but don’t expect it to be evergreen in the colder zones.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

  40. Latin Name Ilex vomitoria Common Name Yaupon, yaupon holly Usual Height 20 to 25 feet, occasionally 45 feet Spacing 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, tiny, in spring Fruit Red or orange, rarely yellow, translucent, on females, late fall to spring Leaves Evergreen, 1 to 2 inches, dark green, glossy Trunk Usually multitrunked, pale gray, smooth Native Range Dunes, maritime woods, pond margins, swamps, thin upland woods, fencerows, south coastal Virginia to Texas, north to southeastern Oklahoma, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, saline OK Drainage Wet, moist, dry Root System Shallow, easy to transplant, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Live oak, palmetto, southern red cedar, turkey oak, post oak, American holly, wax myrtle, sparkleberry Propagation Fresh seed, scarified (optional) and double-­stratified seed, semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Benefits native bees and honeybees; larval plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly; seed eaten by cedar waxwing, mockingbird, and other songbirds after several freeze-­thaw cycles Yaupon is a first-­rate screening plant; on its own, it forms thick masses of long-­lived, hardy evergreenery. Used as a small specimen tree, pruning once a year maintains its graceful form. Get the female for her outstanding berries. Give her plenty of sun to ensure a bumper crop for winter viewing pleasure. As for the males, put them in dark spots, such as under live oaks where you need some foliage to fill in blank spaces.

  41. Latin Name Lyonia ferruginea Common Name Staggerbush, tree lyonia, rusty lyonia Usual Height 10 to 25 feet, rarely 40 feet Spacing 6 to 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, fragrant, on previous year’s growth, early spring Fruit Small, tan, fall Leaves Evergreen, 1 to 3 inches, pale green, glossy, stiff, new leaves bronze-­colored Trunk Crooked, leaning, smooth red-­brown bark, up to 10 inches in diameter Native Range Post oak and pine/oak scrub, dry hammocks, dunes, coastal South Carolina and Georgia to Florida, Zones 8 to 9 Soil Acid, sandy, rich preferred, shrubby in poor soil Drainage Dry to moist Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Sweetbay, redbay, sassafras, wax myrtle, gordonia, sweetleaf, inkberry, leucothoe, clethra, highbush blueberry, saw palmetto Propagation Fresh seed, division, cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by bees Staggerbush grows in those warm coastal evergreen habitats that can still deliver lots of flowers and color. This particular evergreen in full white flower can be definitely eye-­catching in early spring as long as it gets at least a half day of sun. The dry fruits aren’t very exciting—not even to birds. That’s why they’ll still be on the tree when the flowers appear. If they bother you, don’t let them form; prune off spent blooms in the spring. Staggerbush will eventually develop into a small tree with lots of character, but it takes a few years. To speed up the process, cut off any suckers and encourage all the growth into just one or two trunks.

  42. Latin Name Morella cerifera (formerly Myrica cerifera) Common Name Wax myrtle Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny, before new leaves appear Fruit Pale blue, waxy, on females only, fall and winter, can make bayberry candles Leaves Evergreen, 1 to 4 inches long, olive-­green, aromatic Trunk Up to 10 inches in diameter, usually multitrunked, pale gray, smooth Native Range Outer dune swales, flatwoods, pine savannahs, swamps, bogs, hammocks, southeastern U.S., Zones 7 to 10 Soil Acid to neutral, deep Drainage Wet to dry Root System Might colonize to form a thicket, but unlikely Companion Plants Spruce pine, longleaf pine, live oak, cabbage palmetto, bald cypress, sweetbay, sparkleberry, inkberry, dwarf huckleberry, beautybush, swamp azalea Propagation Stratified seed, softwood or semihardwood cuttings, root cuttings, layering Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees; fruit eaten by tree swallow, bluebird, catbird, red-­bellied woodpecker, brown thrasher, white-­eyed vireo, Carolina chickadee, myrtle warbler, and thirteen other species of birds; deer-­resistant For fast, easy-­care screening, turn to wax myrtle. This shrub or small tree is nonfussy and fast-­growing, and has attractive light olive-­green foliage. Combine it with glossy-­leaved, dark green yaupon or inkberry. To get a soft, natural look, plant the shrubs in a random, nonlinear pattern, and don’t shear them. To maintain wax myrtle as a small tree, give it an annual pruning. Wax myrtle is winter-­hardy but not dependably evergreen. At 0 degrees F the leaves tend to drop off and they don’t come back until the following spring. SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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  43. Latin Name Persea borbonia Common Name Redbay Usual Height 15 to 40 feet, rarely 70 feet Spacing 30 feet, champion is 68 feet broad Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow to white, tiny, May to June Fruit ½ inch, blue to black, not juicy, early fall Leaves Evergreen, 3 to 4 inches long, red in spring, glossy in summer with an orange midrib, a few red or yellow and dropping in spring or summer, wonderfully aromatic when crushed Trunk Brown, furrowed, might get 2 to 3 feet in diameter, single- or multitrunked Native Range Dunes, maritime woods, calcareous hammocks, scrub, Coastal Plain from Delaware to Texas, Zones 7 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, lime OK, sand preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Yellow, fleshy Companion Plants Live oak, longleaf pine, southern magnolia, wild olive, staggerbush, yaupon Propagation Seed in fall Wildlife Larval plant for Palamedes and spicebush swallowtail; fruit eaten by fish crow, songbirds, turkey, and quail; leaves browsed by deer and used in cooking by humans

  44. Latin Name Prunus caroliniana Common Name Cherry laurel Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, can reach 35 feet Spacing 10 feet for a hedge, 30 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom 1- to 2-inch spikes of tiny white flowers, early spring Fruit ½-inch black “cherries,” not edible for humans, fall Leaves Evergreen, dark green, glossy, 5 inches long, an inch wide, full of prussic acid Trunk Pale gray, smooth, up to nearly a foot in diameter Native Range Maritime forests, stream banks, Carolinas to east Texas, Zones 7 to 10 Soil Slightly acid to neutral, sand, loam, clay loam Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Deep, does not sucker Companion Plants Live oak, American holly, wax myrtle, spruce pine, eastern red cedar, southern magnolia Propagation Fresh seed, cuttings Wildlife Flowers pollinated by honeybees, native bees, and butterflies; larval for hummingbird moth; fruits adored by mockingbirds, cedar waxwings, and other winter birds

If I had a redbay in my yard, I’d defoliate it as far up as I could reach. The leaves are so wonderfully aromatic I’d be snatching off a leaf to crush and sniff every time I passed by. As an understory tree, it remains about 15 feet tall and multitrunked. With sun, it grows faster and can attain a good height if it chooses to put all its energy in one trunk. Unfortunately, in 2003 these large specimens started being murdered by the Asian redbay ambrosia beetle in combination with an Asian fungus. Galls on the leaves is not attractive and renders new tender leaves unusable for butterfly larvae, but is not harmful.

A popular, easy, fast-­growing, old-­fashioned plant, cherry laurel has a place either near the back door or as a tall, evergreen screen along one side of the property. I like to plant it in a large curving line at the end of a long backyard where I want privacy up to the second story. I like it best interplanted with yellow-­green wax myrtle and shorter evergreens like palmetto or easy, shade-­tolerant, long-­lived color like turk’s cap. There are several compact cultivars for sale that get about 10 feet high with smaller leaves that can be clipped into box hedges or topiary, but since they are not allowed to bloom and fruit, they are of no use for wildlife.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

R. W. Smith

  45. Latin Name Quercus geminata Common Name Sand live oak Usual Height 10 to 30 feet, one recorded at 95 feet Spacing 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Cream-­colored male catkins, March, a few weeks after the large live oak Fruit Acorns, usually in pairs (Gemini the twins) Leaves Sides roll toward the middle Trunk A single trunk up to 2 feet in diameter with rough, dark brown bark, or a small copse of several trunks, or a shrubby thicket Native Range Sand dunes, sandhills with pine, Coastal Plains from the Carolinas to Louisiana, Zones 8 to 10, usable to Zone 7 Soil Acid, sand preferred, occasional salt OK Drainage Dry, well drained Root System Colonizes, resprouts after a fire Companion Plants Longleaf pine, live oak, cabbage palmetto, wax myrtle, yaupon, dwarf palmetto, Turk’s cap, American beautyberry, conradina, Spanish bayonet, silkgrass Propagation Acorns, those damaged by weevils germinate best; root cuttings Wildlife Acorns eaten by quail, jays, wood duck, sapsucker, wild turkey, raccoon, squirrel, and deer; nesting for Florida scrub jay On a sand dune where it is buffeted by winds and salt spray, sand live oak is a 10-foot-­high thicket. In your garden, it is more likely to be 30 feet with multiple trunks, all connected by the roots, like an aspen grove. The trunks are often leaning and twisty on very old clumps, covered with ferns and mosses. On the far side of a lawn, a grove like this with a groundcover of dwarf palmetto is stunning. If you have a beach house, this is a must, as it gives you more height for privacy and screening than wax myrtle and yaupon. I especially like the contrast of sand live oak’s dark shiny leaves with the pale grayish leaves of wax myrtle.

  46. Latin Name Symplocos tinctoria Common Name Sweetleaf, horsesugar Usual Height 15 to 35 feet, rarely 55 feet Spacing 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow to cream, fuzzy, fragrant like not-­ quite-­ripe peaches, early spring as leaves change Fruit Small, brown, dry, late summer Leaves Evergreen until spring as new leaves appear in Zones 8 and 9, deciduous in Zone 7, 5 to 6 inches, dark green, glossy, drooping, sweet-­tasting, aromatic Trunk Gray, sandpaper smooth with striations, straight, single- or multitrunked, 6 to 14 inches in diameter Native Range Sandhills, flatwoods, post oak woods, stable dunes, stream borders, floodplains, southeastern U.S., Zones 7 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, rich, poor OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Aromatic Companion Plants Shortleaf pine, blackgum, post oak, red maple, sourwood, sassafras, sparkleberry, longleaf pine, redbay, southern magnolia, sweetbay, cabbage palmetto Propagation Seeds probably need to be double-­stratified Wildlife Nectar gathered by bees and other insects; foliage browsed; seeds eaten by phoebe; larval plant for king’s hairstreak butterfly Catch sweetleaf in early spring when the old leaves are mostly off and the new ones are not fully out; it’s a visual treat. The branches will be covered with a cloud of fragrant yellow fuzz. The rest of the year its large, dark, glossy leaves can be counted on to stay healthy and attractive in a wide range of conditions throughout the Deep South. Some authorities state that sweetleaf can grow into a fine, airy tree even in heavy shade, such as you’d find in a southern magnolia-­beech woods. However, don’t expect it to bloom well there. SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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FLOWERING AND FRUITING TREES OVER 15 FEET TALL

Sourwood shows off its outstanding clear red fall foliage, backed up by the gold of a sugar maple. This award-­winning combination was planted by Melba Jones in Nashville, Tennessee.

Small native flowering or fruiting trees are some of the most beautiful plants in the South. Some bloom in early spring before leaves appear, others bloom in late spring, still others

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in summer. Several provide vivid fall color, and the deciduous hollies (the possumhaw is my favorite) glow with red, orange, or yellow fruit all winter. The fruits and seeds on these trees

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

provide food for songbirds, while the flowers—many of which are fragrant—provide nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.

  47. Latin Name Acer leucoderme (A. saccharum subsp. leucoderme) Common Name Chalk maple Usual Height 20 to 25 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing 30 to 40 feet for specimen, 10 to 15 feet for understory Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow in early spring as the leaves appear Fruit Brown-­winged samaras in late summer Leaves Drooping, scarlet, orange, and gold in late fall, brown in winter Trunk Multistemmed, dark gray and furrowed at base of old trees, pale gray and smooth on younger stems Native Range Understory in moist, well-­ drained hardwood forests, North Carolina to southeastern Oklahoma, Zones 7 and 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, fibrous Companion Plants Tulip poplar, beech, southern sugar maple, basswood Propagation Fresh seed Wildlife Pollinated by bees; seed eaten by oriole, grosbeak, cardinal, and vireo; nesting for woodpeckers

  48. Latin Name Aesculus pavia Common Name Scarlet buckeye, red buckeye, dwarf red buckeye Usual Height 15 to 25 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing 25 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 4- to 8-inch spikes of red flowers, early spring after new leaves Fruit Tan husks filled with one or two buckeyes, early fall Leaves Five (sometimes seven) leaflets, dark green, glossy, drop in late summer Trunk Single- or multitrunked, 4 to 10 inches in diameter, smooth bark, sometimes covered with white lichens Native Range Sandhills, shell mounds, bluffs, North Carolina to Texas and up the Mississippi to southern Illinois, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred, but will grow even on shell mounds Drainage Moist, tolerates only very brief flooding Root System Shallow Companion Plants Beside or under deciduous canopy trees or pines Propagation Fresh seed, dormant root cuttings Wildlife Flowers used by hummingbirds and bees; nuts eaten and spread by squirrels

Chalk maple is almost always multitrunked with a broad crown. If you use it as an understory tree, you can get good fall color, although the richest colors appear when it gets at least a half day of sun. In drier conditions than it likes, chalk maple may reach only 15 feet and the leaves might get sunburned. Each maple grows from seed, so you won’t know exactly what shade of fall color you’ll get. Don’t worry. They’re all pretty. And a grouping of several different tints is more interesting.

Folks obviously hold scarlet buckeye in high regard; we found at least one in every native plant garden we visited throughout the Southeast. You need to know, though, that its branches might be bare of leaves from August to April. Being a fairly short-­lived tree and not wanting to waste precious time, scarlet buckeye starts blooming fast, when it is just 3 feet high. It’s easy to grow as long as you don’t overwater it.

SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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Alan Cressler

  49. Latin Name Alnus serrulata Common Name Alder, common alder, hazel alder Usual Height 10 to 20 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing 15 to 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Male catkins, 4 inches long, yellow, winter and early spring Fruit Brown, female cones useful in flower arranging, fall Leaves 2 to 4 inches, dark green, glossy, yellow and orange in fall Trunk Usually multitrunked, dark, smooth bark, up to 1 foot 5 inches in diameter Native Range Banks, swamps, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid to neutral Drainage Wet to moist Root System Likely to colonize to form a thicket, nitrogen-­fixing Companion Plants Black willow, sweetgum, white ash, red maple, river birch, musclewood, buttonbush, possumhaw, lizard’s tail Propagation Seed, root cuttings, tissue culture Wildlife Seeds eaten by swamp sparrow, eastern goldfinch, common redpoll, white-­winged crossbill, and pine siskin Alder is very attractive, with bright yellow catkins in the spring, golden fall color, and female winter fruits that attract a wide array of feathered friends. Still, this tree probably won’t figure in your landscape plans unless you have a creek, stream, river, pond, pocosin, or some other natural water feature. If that’s the case, you’ll definitely want a thicket of alder to help hold your banks. Its roots are the best erosion control you could hope for. Plant it in full sun—that’s where it grows best. Once established, it can handle moderate shade. In the wild, you’ll normally find it in the shade of a river birch or some other taller tree, standing in mucky conditions where it is subjected to periodic floods.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

  50. Latin Name Amelanchier arborea Common Name Downy serviceberry Usual Height 15 to 25 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing As wide as high Sun or Shade Bloom White, or flushed with pink, before leaves appear in spring Fruit ⅓ inch, red, early summer Leaves Silvery and downy as they unfold, 2 to 4 inches, lime in summer, yellow to apricot to mauve in fall Trunk Often multitrunked, up to 18 inches in diameter, gray bark, smooth when young Native Range Rocky slopes, balds, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 8, but rare in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Mississippi River floodplain Soil Acid, slightly alkaline OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep Companion Plants Hemlock, beech, tulip poplar, flowering dogwood, sourwood, blackgum Propagation Stratified seed, cuttings, tissue culture Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees, halictid bees, tachinid bee flies; nectar for butterflies; fruit eaten by bluebird, oriole, yellow-­shafted flicker, scarlet tanager, hermit thrush, eastern kingbird, downy woodpecker, chickadee, and mammals, including us Related Species A. laevis, Allegheny serviceberry Downy serviceberry is fairly common in the South, although it prefers cooler climates to reach full size. It is one of the first understory trees to bloom in the spring. As the blossoms disappear, the silver leaves unfold, giving you an extended period of beauty. Allegheny serviceberry has shiny bronzy-­purple new leaves instead of fuzzy silvery ones, and the fruits are sweeter. Most of the cultivars available in the nursery trade are Amelanchier × grandiflora, reportedly a hybrid of downy and Allegheny serviceberries. The pure A. arborea, if propagated from a Florida colony, should have more heat tolerance.

  51. Latin Name Aralia spinosa Common Name Devil’s walkingstick, Hercules club Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, rarely 50 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White in 3- to 4-foot clusters, midsummer Fruit Blue-­black, juicy, early fall Leaves 3 to 4 feet long with 2- to 3-inch leaflets and prickles, bronze-­green as they unfold and pale yellow to orange or purple in early fall Trunk Straight, up to 6 to 8 inches in diameter, dark brown, armed with orange prickles Native Range Upland and lowland woods, bogs, swamp margins, stable dunes, eastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, poor OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Shallow, likely to colonize Companion Plants Anything that grows streamside with hemlocks in the mountains to woodland on stable dunes by the seashore Propagation Stratified seed, root cuttings Wildlife Flowers used by bees, wasps, tiger swallowtail; foliage browsed by white-­tailed deer; fruit eagerly eaten by cardinal and many other birds and by mammals Devil’s walkingstick has a marvelous way of standing out in a garden and saying, “Hey, look at me!” Huge leaves composed of leaflets and prickles, an enormous mass of white flowers that bees and butterflies really home in on, and large, showy clusters of blue-­black fruits all make it hard to ignore. Plant it in a lawn or along the edge of a mowed area, where the suckers can be mowed off and just one or two trunks can be easily maintained. This tree survives in dense woods, but needs several hours of direct sun each day to flower.

  52. Latin Name Asimina triloba Common Name Pawpaw, Indian banana Usual Height 5 to 20 feet, rarely 40 feet Spacing 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Maroon, 1 to 2 inches, pollinated by flies, before leaves Fruit Pawpaw, 3 to 5 inches long, yellowish green, ripening to a fragrant dark brown in early fall Leaves 6 to 12 inches long, light green in summer, golden yellow in fall, aromatic Trunk Single- or multitrunked, straight, up to 1 foot in diameter, twelve to twenty years being the average life of any one stem Native Range Moist, well-­drained woodlands, eastern U.S., Zones 6 to 8, mostly in piedmont and mountains Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Beech, willow oak, American holly, umbrella tree, musclewood, red maple, strawberry bush, spicebush, sweetshrub, mapleleaf viburnum Propagation Stratified seed Wildlife Larval for zebra swallowtail; fruits eaten by raccoons, humans, and other mammals Related Species A. parviflora, smallflower or dwarf pawpaw, smaller and better adapted to the Coastal Plain, Zones 7 to 9 Born and bred Southerners grew up singing “Pickin’ up pawpaws and puttin’ ’em in a basket.” Visually, pawpaw is not very exciting, but it is adaptable to nearly every moderate habitat of the Southeast. Its foot-­long leaves can give your garden a tropical look. If you are planting one for the fruits, give it at least a half day of sun. Also, choose a cultivar; the sweetness and flavor will be more consistent. Smallflower pawpaw gets only 6 to 8 feet tall, its dark green leaves are extremely fragrant, and its fruits are quite small. It is well adapted to the coastal plain and also to sandy oak–hickory forests. SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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Stephanie Brundage

  53. Latin Name Carpinus caroliniana Common Name Musclewood, ironwood, hornbeam, blue beech Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, rarely 50 feet Spacing 25 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Green, as leaves emerge, in very early spring Fruit 5- to 6-inch ornamental clusters, papery tan Leaves 2 to 4 inches, blue-­green in summer, orange and scarlet in late fall Trunk Single, pale gray, smooth, gently twisting like muscles, up to 1 foot in diameter in the South Native Range Floodplains, bluffs, stream banks, coves, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 9, Mexico to Honduras Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist to occasionally wet Root System Deep Companion Plants Hemlock, red maple, tulip poplar, red oak, Shumard oak, swamp chestnut oak, white ash, river birch, willow oak, shagbark hickory, flowering dogwood, sassafras, pawpaw, American holly, spicewood, strawberry bush, storax Propagation Barely ripe seed, double-­stratified Wildlife Larval for tiger swallowtail and red-­ spotted purple butterflies; seeds eaten by wood duck, myrtle warbler Musclewood’s chief ornamental value is found in its pale, smooth, rippling trunk. With a little imagination you can see “muscles” under the “skin.” The tree’s clusters of tan, papery fruits are also visually interesting and stand out in the understory. Musclewood is found in most of the South’s finest woodlands. It is adaptable, slow-­growing, and therefore long-­lived (150 years). It can also tolerate lots of shade. The wood is so fine-­ grained and strong that it was once highly prized as timber for house foundations.

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  54. Latin Name Catalpa bignonioides Common Name Southern catalpa, Indian bean, cigar tree Usual Height 30 to 40 feet, rarely 60 feet Spacing 20 to 40 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Large, 2-inch fragrant flowers with white ruffled petals, a purple-­dotted throat, and two furry golden bee guides, ten to forty in a panicle, late spring to early summer Fruit 6- to 20-inch slender beans that turn from green to brown, then split to release paper-­thin seeds Leaves Large, 6 to 12 inches, heart-­shaped, showing pale undersides, late to leaf out, no fall color Trunk Tan, furrowed or plated, twisty, up to 3 feet in diameter Native Range Stream banks and floodplains from central East Texas to Georgia and Florida, Zones 7 to 9, naturalized from Vermont to Oregon and Arizona, Zones 5 to 9 Soil Any, except saline, rich appreciated Drainage Moist to dry, seasonal flooding OK Root System Fibrous, might sucker if overly moist Companion Plants Red maple, sweetgum, common persimmon, lyreleaf sage Propagation Fresh seed, cuttings Wildlife Native bees, honeybees; larval for the catalpa sphinx moth (great fishing bait) The Cherokee named this tree and planted it extensively. Early colonists were equally impressed and extended its range from Canada to Mexico and sent it all over Europe and beyond, where it still receives horticultural awards. It fell out of favor here in the 1950s when we embarked on a regimentally tidy landscape style, but I think southern catalpa is due a comeback. It is truly spectacular in full bloom. I was twelve when I saw my first catalpa, and I was excited for a week. Once pollinated, the flowers drop, still gorgeous, to decorate the lawn or patio beneath.

Alan Cressler

  55. Latin Name Cercis canadensis var. canadensis Common Name Redbud, eastern redbud, Judas tree Usual Height 20 to 35 feet, occasionally 50 feet Spacing 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Rosy purple (not red), rarely white, before leaves appear Fruit 2- to 3-inch beans, ripe in summer but brown in fall and winter Leaves Heart-­shaped, sometimes yellow in early fall Trunk Usually single, up to a foot in diameter, brown, rough, branching over a person’s head Native Range Bluffs, hammocks, fields, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Does not colonize Companion Plants Eastern persimmon, eastern red cedar, blackgum, mockernut hickory, sourwood, flowering dogwood, hophornbeam, sassafras, spicebush, wild olive Propagation Scarified and stratified seed Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees, mason bees, halictid bees, and others; larval for Henry’s elfin butterfly; seeds eaten by cardinal and grosbeaks In a dense forest, redbud is a wispy sapling. In a garden, put it on the sunny side of a tall, deciduous tree where it will have plenty of sun to bloom and grow, but it won’t get heat-­stressed in August. Redbud blooms very early, before the canopy tree begins to sprout new leaves. A cluster of three or more redbuds planted 20 to 25 feet apart is effective, especially if the flowers vary from deep purply pink to pale pink to lavender. Mix in yellow-­ blooming spicebush or white-­blooming serviceberry for a real visual treat, and carpet the ground with troutlily, violets, isopyrum, or other early woodland flowers. Don’t plant redbud along major roadways, as it’s sensitive to auto pollutants.

  56. Latin Name Chionanthus virginicus Common Name Fringe tree, old man’s tree, grancy graybeard Usual Height 20 to 30 feet Spacing 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 4- to 10-inch drooping clusters, often fragrant, before leaves appear in spring, male trees showier than females Fruit Dark blue, ½ inch, fleshy but not juicy, on females, September Leaves 4 to 8 inches, dark green, glossy, yellow to gold in fall Trunk Single, 8 to 10 inches in diameter, reddish brown bark Native Range Dry woods, hammocks, floodplains, savannahs, flatwoods, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, rich preferred, but poor OK, rocky granite or sandstone OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep Companion Plants Longleaf pine, red maple, sourwood, flowering dogwood, blackgum, mountain laurel, blueberries, possumhaw, sassafras, blackhaw viburnum Propagation Double-­stratified seed, layering, grafting, budding, softwood cuttings Wildlife Fruits eaten by birds and mammals Fringe tree is one of the South’s most beautiful ornamental trees; it has outstanding spring flowers, lustrous dark green summer leaves, and golden fall color. Both males and females are gorgeous and fragrant in flower, but the male is showier. The female has the fruits, and will attract songbirds; put the male next to patios and pathways because it isn’t messy. Michael Dirr, in his Manual, says fringe tree is resistant to urban air pollution.

SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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Alan Cressler

  57. Latin Name Cladrastis kentukea Common Name Yellowwood, gopherwood Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, one specimen in Georgia 90 feet Spacing 30 to 40 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 12- to 14-inch drooping clusters, fragrant, early summer, not profuse every year Fruit Flattened bean pods, 2 to 4 inches long, ripen in September and stay all winter Leaves Five to eleven leaflets, bright green; yellow to orange in fall Trunk Short, straight, up to 6 feet in diameter, smooth, gray bark, yellow heartwood Native Range Rare, mountain coves, limestone cliffs, rich hardwood forests, piedmont and mountains of southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 8, to 3500 feet elevation, usable to Zone 4 Soil Limestone, but moderately acid OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist Root System Fibrous, deep, hard to transplant Companion Plants White ash, tulip poplar, red maple, musclewood, eastern persimmon, eastern red cedar, American smoke tree, rusty blackhaw viburnum, redbud, possumhaw, flowering dogwood Propagation Scarified or stratified seed, December root cuttings Wildlife Provides nectar and pollen for long-­ tongued bees, honeybees, and butterflies Yellowwood’s natural habitat combines limestone, sun, and moisture. It grows best near Nashville, Tennessee, and in three counties in Missouri. You can grow it elsewhere if the soil is not extremely acid. It has a reputation for having fragile limbs that don’t stand up to high winds or ice storms, yet it’s winter hardy to –30 degrees F. Those who have gardened with it love it and think it ought to be used more. All the handsome specimens we saw were about 30 feet tall in almost full sun, with no canopy trees overhead.

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  58. Latin Name Cornus florida Common Name Flowering dogwood Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, occasionally 50 feet Spacing 20 to 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White bracts, in spring before leaves Fruit ½ inch, shiny red, fall and winter Leaves 3 to 6 inches, bright green, red in early fall Trunk Single- or multitrunked, up to 18 inches in diameter, bark dark, in little squares Native Range Dry to moist woodlands or fields, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid to neutral, rich or poor Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep Companion Plants Tulip poplar, southern sugar maple, shagbark hickory, post oak, American holly, musclewood, farkleberry, sassafras, witchhazel, viburnum, parsley hawthorn, storax Propagation Stratified seed, root and stem cuttings Wildlife Fruit eaten by bluebird, brown thrasher, cardinal, catbird, cedar waxwing, kingbird, purple finch, robin, towhee, vireo, woodpecker, and seventy-­five other species of birds Flowering dogwood is a year-­round delight. In the spring, the white bracts seem to float in air when seen in a leafless woodland. The tree is bright green and elegant in the summer. Autumn produces bright red fruits and red leaves. And winter sees it covered with pale buds. Use it just about anywhere, but don’t drown it. There is some concern about its vulnerability to an anthracnose named Discula. This seems to occur in moist, shady, airless conditions under 95 degrees F—such as a depression in a woods or in an overwatered, shady landscape. To play it safe where dogwoods are being attacked, consider fringe tree, hawthorn, or serviceberry. All three also deliver that lovely burst of white in early spring, great fall color, and songbirds.

  59. Latin Name Cotinus obovatus Common Name American smoke tree Usual Height 15 to 30 feet Spacing 15 to 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 6- to 10-inch clusters of teensy yellow-­ green flowers on pink to purple threadlike stems that give the smoky look, late spring to early summer Fruit An occasional berry on the pinkish stems, early summer, wind-­dispersed Leaves Oval, new pink turning to blue-­green, fall a mixture of orange, red, and mauve Trunk Multitrunked, dark, flaking, attractive Native Range Rare, isolated populations in rocky uplands in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, and central Texas, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Alkaline to neutral, not rich, limestone, sand, loam, clay OK Drainage Well drained to dry Root System Taproot Companion Plants Yellowwood, scarlet buckeye, American persimmon, rusty blackhaw viburnum, lyreleaf sage, pussytoes, wild red columbine, blue phlox, Virginia spiderwort Propagation Root cuttings, layering, fresh seed (might take 2 years to germinate), semihardwood or softwood cuttings right after flowering Wildlife Cover and nesting for birds American smoke tree is a favorite with all nurserymen and gardeners who have had experience with it. Twice as tall as the better-­known Eurasian smoke bush, American smoke tree actually makes a beautiful ornamental tree that lends itself to garden design. As long as your soil is not strongly acid or wet, it is healthy and easy to grow. The smoky appearance keeps its pink color for a few weeks. Then the bluish leaves give visual interest until there is the crowning glory of the fall color. Not only does it dependably color every year in the Deep South, it is especially attractive because all the best fall colors are mixed in a stunning medley.

  60. Latin Name Crataegus marshallii Common Name Parsley hawthorn Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, rarely 35 feet Spacing 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, sometimes with red anthers, as leaves emerge in spring Fruit Cherry red, ⅓ inch, early fall Leaves Parsley-­shaped, scarlet to wine in fall Trunk Usually multitrunked, up to 8 inches, smooth, scaling, lime and pale salmon Native Range Bottomland and floodplain woods, bluffs, southeastern U.S., Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, rich preferred Drainage Moist, short seasonal flooding OK, otherwise well drained Root System Taproot Companion Plants Post oak, loblolly, shortleaf pine, eastern persimmon, sparkleberry, storax, strawberry bush Propagation Stratified seed Wildlife Fruits eaten by cedar waxwing, flicker, mockingbird, cardinal, yellow-­bellied sapsucker; nectar used by hummingbirds, hairstreaks, skippers, and swallowtails; larval plant for gray hairstreak butterfly and hummingbird moths; pollinated by native bees Related Species C. aestivalis, eastern mayhaw; C. opaca, western mayhaw; C. viridis, green hawthorn; many others, often hybrids and hard to identify In full sun or bright dappled shade, parsley hawthorn will reward you with profuse snowy blooms and scarlet fruit. In dense shade its lacy leaves and colorful trunk still make it an outstanding ornamental. The trunk on green hawthorn, Zones 6 to 8, is also wonderful—fluted, twisting, and the color of apple-­cinnamon ice cream. The most drought-­tolerant of these hawthorns, it has purple and scarlet fall color. The mayhaws, Zones 8 to 9, are not quite so ornamental, but are famous for their delicious fruit that ripens in May. The eastern one is centered on Georgia and the western one on Louisiana. Thornless selections of hawthorns are available in the nursery trade. SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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  61. Latin Name Cyrilla racemiflora Common Name Titi, white titi, swamp cyrilla, leatherwood Usual Height 30 feet Spacing 30 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom 4 to 6 inches, white, fragrant, early summer Fruit Yellow to tan, ornamental in fall Leaves 2 to 3 inches, glossy dark green, turning orange and scarlet in early winter; after turning, might drop or might stay on until replaced by new leaves Trunk To 14 inches, divides just above the ground, cinnamon red, scaly Native Range Acid swamps, bogs, stream banks, floodplains, along the coast from southern Virginia to East Texas, to the Caribbean and Brazil, Zones 8 to 11 Soil Very acid, acid Drainage Wet to moist, still or running water Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Sweetgum, willow oak, tulip poplar, gordonia, red maple, sweetbay, swamp bay, wax myrtle, inkberry, fetterbush, swamp azalea, decumaria Propagation Seed or cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees, native bees, and butterflies Titi has a short trunk and wide-­spreading branches, but it’s so slow-­growing, it takes years for these features to become apparent. In the meantime, you’ll need to trim off suckers from time to time to direct all the energy into forming a single trunk. It blooms on the previous year’s growth, so prune only right after flowering or you’ll be cutting off the next year’s blossoms. In a natural, low-­upkeep landscape, titi works well planted as a thicket in wet or boggy ground, or in deep sandy soil with a high subsurface water table, where it can grow alongside flowering dogwood and mountain laurel.

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  62. Latin Name Halesia diptera Common Name Two-­winged silverbell Usual Height 15 to 25 feet, occasionally 55 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White bells, 1 inch, before leaves in spring Fruit 2 inches long, with two corky wings Leaves 3 to 7 inches, dark green, thin, soft Trunk Usually multitrunked, rarely a single trunk up to 16 inches in diameter, brown, fissured Native Range Hammocks, floodplains, swamp margins, South Carolina to Arkansas and Texas, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Deep Companion Plants Swamp chestnut oak, white oak, musclewood, cucumbertree, bigleaf magnolia, storax, arrowwood, sweetshrub, Florida anise, pawpaw, dwarf huckleberry Propagation Double-­stratified seed, layering, root cuttings, greenwood cuttings in spring or fall Wildlife Low use Related Species H. carolina, Carolina silverbell, Zones 6 to 8, has four-­winged fruits Two-­winged silverbell is one of those trees that is best appreciated up close; its blooms are beautifully formed—bell-­shaped, snowy white, and crisp in detail. Be sure to plant yours under a deciduous canopy tree. Swamp chestnut oak, white oak, beech, southern sugar maple, or tulip poplar would be good choices. Any of these can provide the shade that two-­winged silverbell must have in the summer. And they are leafless in the winter, when plenty of sunlight is needed if silverbell is going to produce lots of spring flowers. Its kin, Carolina silverbell, is very similar in its requirements. This is a larger tree with smaller flowers and more cold-­hardiness.

  63. Latin Name Hamamelis virginiana Common Name Witchhazel Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, occasionally 45 feet Spacing 30 to 40 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, September to December, usually after leaves fall, sharply fragrant Fruit ½ inch, brown, fall, explode to release seed Leaves 4 to 6 inches, aromatic, yellow (sometimes orange, purple) in fall Trunk Crooked, usually multitrunked or low-­ branching, with the main trunk up to 14 inches in diameter, pale, smooth Native Range Dry woods, rich woods, floodplains, creek swamps, evergreen bogs, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep laterals Companion Plants Deciduous canopy, with strawberry bush, mapleleaf viburnum, mountain laurel, American holly, flowering dogwood, dwarf huckleberry, aster, goldenrod Propagation Double-­stratified seed, softwood cuttings, layering from new wood Wildlife Seed eaten by ruffed grouse and squirrels Related Species H. vernalis, spring witchhazel, Ozark witchhazel, Zones 6 to 8 Witchhazel is grown mostly for its yellow flowers that blend well with autumnal berries and late fall foliage. Cultivars of witchhazel are usually selected to bloom after their own colorful foliage has fallen, making them much showier in flower. My favorite witchhazel is the vernal witchhazel because I’m partial to its coral color. It is much shorter, growing only to 12 feet, and likely to form a short thicket. Its aromatic orange-­red flowers usually brighten all of February when I am craving garden color.

  64. Latin Name Ilex decidua Common Name Possumhaw Usual Height 20 to 30 feet Spacing 20 feet for a specimen Sun or Shade Bloom White, tiny, in spring Fruit Red, orange, or yellow, early fall to spring, females only Leaves 2 to 3 inches, light green, not glossy Trunk Usually multitrunked, pale gray, smooth Native Range Floodplains, swamps, moist upland woods, eastern half U.S. except West Virginia and most of Kentucky, mostly Coastal Plain and Mississippi basin, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Any except saline Drainage Dry, moist, or wet Root System Fibrous, might colonize, but rarely does so Companion Plants Hardwoods or pines, American holly, musclewood, hawthorns, serviceberry, sassafras, fringe tree, rusty blackhaw viburnum Propagation Fresh seed, scarified (optional) and double-­stratified seed, semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Benefits native bees and honeybees; fruit eaten by forty-­eight species of birds, but only after several freeze-­thaw cycles; a spring favorite of cedar waxwings Related Species I. verticillata, winterberry, Zones 3 to 9 If l had my way, I’d want every gardener in the South to enjoy the winter beauty of possumhaw. A female possumhaw is the showiest of the hollies in the winter because it doesn’t have green leaves to partially hide the vivid red berries. A well-­pruned specimen seems to glow on a cold winter day, even when the sky is drab and gloomy. It looks pretty terrific in a fall foliage garden, too, surrounded by oranges and golds. Plant your specimen female in full sun and give it ample room. Winterberry is less often a tree and requires more water, but its females are also very showy all winter. Some species of male holly has to be around to pollinate the females. SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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  65. Latin Name Magnolia fraseri Common Name Mountain magnolia, Fraser magnolia Usual Height 30 to 40 feet, rarely 80 feet Spacing 50 feet for specimen or woodland planting Sun or Shade Bloom Creamy white to palest yellow, 8 to 10 inches across, fragrant, late spring Fruit Rosy red cone in fall Leaves Very big, 12 to 24 inches long and half as wide, with ears at the stem Trunk Straight, dark brown, smooth bark Native Range Rich woods, southern Appalachians to 4800 feet elevation, Zones 6 to 7 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Shallow Companion Plants Hemlock, yellow buckeye, tulip poplar, basswood, cucumbertree, red oak, beech, black oak, white oak, blackgum, white ash Propagation Stratified seed Wildlife Flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other insects; seeds eaten by yellow-­bellied sapsucker, towhee, red-­eyed vireo, and eastern kingbird Related Species M. macrophylla, bigleaf magnolia; M. ashei, Ashe magnolia, rare; M. tripetala, umbrella tree The mountain magnolia and its more summer-­hardy related species are commonly called the large-­leaf magnolias. While this group of magnolias has long been ignored for landscape use, I’m happy to report the trend is changing. One reason is their huge, pale to medium green leaves, which are very striking. Even when the large-­leaf magnolias are still babies, less than 10 feet tall, they provide a wonderfully bold focus, especially in a woodland setting full of more subtle shades and textures. Umbrella tree and bigleaf magnolia are native to rich woods in Zones 6 to 8. The Ashe magnolia, Zone 8 only, is more in the 15-to-30-foot range—a great size for small gardens.

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  66. Latin Name Ostrya virginiana Common Name Hophornbeam, ironwood Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, rarely 75 feet high Spacing Narrow when young, 50-foot spread when mature Sun or Shade Bloom 2-inch catkins in spring Fruit 1 to 3 inches, whitish, papery, hoplike, ornamental, summer Leaves 3 to 5 inches long, yellow in early fall Trunk Twisting, usually single and 10 inches in diameter, rarely 3 feet in diameter, cinnamon-­ colored shreddy bark Native Range Hammocks, dry upland woods, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry, flooding not tolerated Root System Taproot Companion Plants Pine, post oak, blackgum, sassafras, redbud, musclewood Propagation Double-­stratified seed Wildlife Seeds eaten by purple finch, downy woodpecker, mockingbird, and small mammals; flowers eaten by birds; leaves host insects valuable for nesting songbirds Hophornbeam is grown for its ornamental summer fruits, which are white and dangling, not unlike decorations on a Christmas tree. It is adaptable to different soils, is tolerant of full sun and heavy shade, and grows to a very usable size for most home landscapes. It is closely kin to musclewood and looks similar until you examine the trunks, which are quite different. They also differ in locales of preference; musclewood can do well in wet or flooded sites, while hophornbeam wants excellent drainage.

  67. Latin Name Oxydendrum arboreum Common Name Sourwood, sorrel tree Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, occasionally 60 feet Spacing Narrow crown, 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White bells on 4- to 8-inch-­long curving spikes, fragrant, midsummer Fruit Yellow, then tan, then silver spikes, fall through early winter Leaves 5 to 7 inches long, very firm and glossy, pink in spring, scarlet in early fall, sour-­tasting Trunk Straight, tall, up to 20 inches in diameter, gray, furrowed; if trunk is cut, tree will sprout from stump Native Range Bluffs, thin upland woods, southeastern U.S. to 5500 feet elevation, rare west of the Mississippi, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Very acid, acid, rich; deep, very acid surface soil over subsurface limestone OK Drainage Moist to dry, does not tolerate flooding Root System Shallow, does not colonize Companion Plants Tulip poplar, post oak, red maple, flowering dogwood, eastern persimmon, blackgum, sassafras, mountain laurel Propagation Fresh seed, tissue culture Wildlife Seed eaten by songbirds, turkey, grouse, small mammals; flowers used by native bees, honeybees (famous honey), and butterflies; foliage browsed by deer Of all the trees we saw in our travels throughout the Southeast, sourwood impressed us the most. It is nothing short of outstanding when in flower, even when seen at highway speeds. In the fall, its red foliage is always sure to elicit a reverent “Wow!” Naturally, we asked why we saw sourwood only rarely in home landscapes. Some people told us it was difficult to transplant; an equal number said it was easy. One thing I know for sure—it’s easy to grow from seed, so if you can’t find one at the nursery, grow your own. It is showiest in full sun.

  68. Latin Name Pinckneya bracteata (Pinckneya pubens) Common Name Pinckneya, fever tree, Georgia bark Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, rarely 30 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny greenish flowers surrounded by 2-inch pink sepals, late May and June Fruit 1 inch, brown, fall Leaves 5 to 8 inches, soft Trunk Usually multitrunked, up to 10 inches in diameter, brown Native Range Rare, creek swamps, titi swamps, bogs, south Georgia, Florida Panhandle, south coast of South Carolina, Zones 8 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, sandy Drainage Wet Root System Might colonize, appreciates a mulch Companion Plants Titi, gordonia, sweetbay, redbay, wax myrtle, swamp azalea, inkberry, fetterbush, poison sumac Propagation Untreated seed, softwood cuttings Wildlife No information It’s unusual for a tree to be blooming in June, but Pinckneya is covered with pink at that time of year. It requires lots of moisture, as well as a fair amount of sun, so it’s not always easy to find the perfect spot for it. Which might be one reason it is so rare in the wild now that fires are rare. When you do run across one, it is usually found in the shadow of a taller tree, or along the sunny edge of a swamp or bog. The wood is not very strong, and it is not long-­lived. Still, it is easy to grow, and, I think, a very pretty ornamental.

SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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  69. Latin Name Ptelea trifoliata Common Name Wafer ash, common hoptree Usual Height 15 to 20 feet, can reach 26 feet Spacing 15 to 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 3-inch spheres of small, greenish white flowers, citrus fragrant, late spring Fruit Showy clusters of parchment-­colored, quarter-­sized wafers, late summer to midwinter Leaves Three leaflets, light green and paler beneath, lemony scent when crushed, yellow to gold fall color Trunk Multitrunked, smooth gray, 6 inches or less Native Range Rocky coves, stream banks, open woods, savannahs, prairies, Gulf states to New York and Michigan, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Any, except saline, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Fleshy, does not sucker Companion Plants Beech, post oak, basswood, flowering dogwood, parsley hawthorn, sparkleberry Propagation Seed, midsummer cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by native bees, honeybees, wasps, ants, flies, and butterflies; larval for eastern tiger swallowtail and giant swallowtail; seeds eaten by birds; fairly deer-­proof Wafer ash is a modest little tree, easily outshown by flashy blossoms or brilliant fall color, but once you’ve noticed it, the charms of its easy good health, its extremely good behavior, and its dainty flowers and persistent wafers start to grow on you. Some people, like me, love the scent of the flowers and the lemony fragrance of the leaves. Others pick up a musky odor. I’d seen it mostly in dry sites, although often within sound of a stream, so I was surprised to see it in a lush preserve in Tennessee with Catawba rhododendron. The wafers have been used as a substitute for hops in making beer.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

  70. Latin Name Quercus laevis Common Name Turkey oak Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, occasionally 60 feet Spacing Equivalent to height Sun or Shade Bloom Red flowers, 4 to 5 inches long, in spring Fruit Large acorns Leaves Chartreuse in spring, dark green and glossy in summer, red in late fall Trunk Less than 2 feet in diameter; sometimes shrubby; bark is black and corky Native Range Sandhills, oak scrub, post oak woods, Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to eastern Louisiana, Zones 7 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, sandy, poor Drainage Dry Root System Deep Companion Plants Longleaf pine, sand live oak, Q. incana, Q. margaretta, Q. marilandica, southern red oak, post oak, eastern persimmon, blackgum, sparkleberry, wiregrass, bracken, reindeer moss, sandhill rosemary, trailing arbutus Propagation Fresh acorns in fall Wildlife Acorns eaten by red-­cockaded woodpecker, wild turkey, blue jay Turkey oak is the most common understory tree in a longleaf pine forest. Plant it in your landscape, and each fall you can enjoy its glossy scarlet fall color beneath the delicate canopy of longleaf pine. Compared to most oaks, it is fast-­growing and short-­lived. It’s adapted to cope with extreme drought, and does so in several interesting ways. The large acorns store extra food and moisture, to give the seedlings a fighting chance. Also, those glossy leaves are glossy only on the topsides to reflect heat. On the undersides they are fuzzy to trap moisture. The leaves grow perpendicular to the ground to avoid the full force of the sun when it is at its highest and hottest.

  71. Latin Name Rhus copallinum Common Name Winged sumac Usual Height 10 to 15 feet, rarely 50 feet Spacing 10 to 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 4- to 6-inch pyramids, early summer Fruit Red, in 4- to 6-inch clusters on females, late summer, dry Leaves 8 to 12 inches long with nine to twenty-­ one leaflets, glossy, with wings either side of the midrib, scarlet to dark red in early fall Trunk Multi- or single-­trunked with a diameter up to 10 inches, smooth, pale gray Native Range Fields, roadsides, fencerows, eastern half of North America, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid, sandy Drainage Dry Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, post oak Propagation Scarified seed, semihardwood cuttings in late summer Wildlife Fruits eaten by mockingbird, yellow-­ shafted flicker, fish crow, phoebe, robin, brown thrasher, red-­eyed vireo, cardinal, downy woodpecker, pine warbler; flowers visited by native bees, honeybees, and butterflies; bark eaten by rabbits in winter Related Species R. typhina, staghorn sumac; R. glabra, smooth sumac Winged sumac is useful for new homes where the developer has pretty much denuded the property. Its leaves are extremely acid and help rebuild soil that has been stripped of its organic matter. As soon as canopy trees begin to shade it out, it dies. In an established landscape, plant it on the edge of a lawn or driveway to attract birds. Staghorn sumac is for Yankees and mountaineers. Smooth sumac is more weedy and is suitable mainly for erosion control on large-­scale projects.

  72. Latin Name Sassafras albidum Common Name Sassafras Usual Height 20 feet in a thicket, 40 to 90 feet as a specimen Spacing Half the intended height Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, before leaves, male trees are showier Fruit Dark blue on red stalk, late summer, female trees only Leaves One- or two-­thumbed mittens or plainly shaped, yellow, gold, and orange in early fall, aromatic Trunk Straight, reddish, smooth, aromatic, large trunks recorded from 1 to 5 feet in diameter Native Range Thin woods, old fields, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 and in mountains in southern Mexico and Guatemala Soil Acid, coarse preferred Drainage Dry Root System Deep, often suckering Companion Plants Eastern persimmon, post oak, American holly, pawpaw, white ash, sourwood, musclewood, blackgum, sparkleberry, sweetleaf Propagation Stratified seed, root cuttings Wildlife Fruits a big favorite with robin, eaten by kingbird, crested flycatcher, eastern phoebe, catbird, brown thrasher, sapsucker, thrushes, red- and white-­eyed vireos, pileated woodpecker; larva for of spicebush silkmoth and swallowtails; leaves used as filé in gumbo Sassafras, as a thicket, is useful at the entrance of a country drive or in the corner of a meadow. It can be a well-­mannered, medium to large canopy tree in a small, sunny, urban landscape. It used to be one of the easiest plants to use to demarcate the border between sun and shade, but it is beginning to be attacked by laurel wilt, caused by the Asian redbay ambrosia beetle and its vector fungus.

SMALL TREES 15 TO 40 FEET TALL

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  73. Latin Name Vaccinium arboreum Common Name Sparkleberry, farkleberry Usual Height 20 to 30 feet, occasionally 45 feet Spacing 20 to 30 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White bells, ½ inch, fragrant, in spring after leaves are on Fruit Gritty, nonjuicy blueberries, October, lasting into winter Leaves ½ to 2 inches, stiff, glossy, red in early fall Trunk Crooked, up to 10 inches in diameter, reddish, shreddy Native Range Sandhills, scrub, dunes, coastal hammocks, post oak woodland, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Loam, sand, acid to slightly alkaline, saline OK Drainage Dry to moist, short-­term flooding OK Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Post oak, live oak, longleaf pine, eastern red cedar, blackgum, eastern persimmon, sourwood, parsley hawthorn, sassafras, sweetleaf, wax myrtle, American beautyberry Propagation Softwood cuttings in spring, dormant hardwood cuttings Wildlife Fruits eaten by bluebird, catbird, yellow-­ breasted chat, yellow-­shafted flicker, flycatcher, kingbird, oriole, phoebe, Bachman’s sparrow, thrasher, hermit thrush, tufted titmouse, and mammals; larval plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly; pollinated by native bees, bumblebees, and butterflies Related Species V. corymbosum, highbush blueberry, V. ashei, rabbitberry, and V. elliottii, mayberry Sparkleberry is our only tree-­sized blueberry. Its cousins, the parents of our commercial blueberries, grow to 12 feet, are multistemmed in habit, and have delicious, highly prized fruit and late fall color.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

  74. Latin Name Viburnum obovatum Common Name Walter’s viburnum Usual Height 12 to 20 feet, rarely 30 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1- to 3-inch clusters, in spring as new leaves emerge Fruit ¼ inch, not juicy, red to black in early fall Leaves 1 to 2 inches, aromatic, sometimes evergreen in Zone 9 Trunk Often multitrunked, up to 6 inches in diameter, dark rough bark Native Range Stream banks, floodplains, woodlands or fields, South Carolina to eastern Alabama and Florida, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Acid, sandy or rich Drainage Moist to wet Root System Grows very slowly Companion Plants Sweetbay, swamp bay, titi, gordonia, wax myrtle, inkberry Propagation Semihardwood cuttings in fall; fresh sown seed takes two to three years to germinate Wildlife Flowers a nectar source for butterflies and various bees; larval for hummingbird moths; fruit eaten by birds and small mammals Related Species V. rufidulum, rusty blackhaw viburnum, Zones 7 to 9; V. prunifolium, blackhaw viburnum, Zones 5 to 8 Walter’s viburnum is the one we found most often in Southern gardens—possibly because this small tree is better able to tolerate moist and wet landscapes. However, it’s rusty blackhaw viburnum that is most common in the wild. It’s also, I think, the prettiest, with glossy red fall leaves that look like they’ve been dipped in lacquer. It has a lot of drought tolerance. Blackhaw viburnum is the most cold-­tolerant of the trio. All the southeastern viburnums are slow-­growing and long-­lived. They can be found in dense woods, but they flower, fruit, and color best with about six hours of sun each day.

6 TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

T

he shrubs in this chapter rarely get over 15 feet tall, and then only by a tad. Mountain laurel and rosebay rhododendron are the tallest of this lot, sometimes reaching small-­tree status—up to 40 feet—but this is so rare that it’s not something you could count on happening in your landscape. Many of these shrubs—both evergreen shrubs and flowering shrubs—sucker or colonize. This is an enormous asset when you want a mass planting, which is just a fancy name for a short thicket. Of course, you know the old saw about a watched pot never boiling; that seems to hold true for shrubs. If you want them to form an instant thicket for you, they seem to have other ideas. Or they do it at glacial speed. If this happens, just plant a mass of shrubs as if you never expected them to colonize. The evergreen shrubs and the flowering shrubs are usually used in different ways—one as a screen, the other for permanent displays of color. But you can also combine them in a sunny border around a meadow or pond, or in

Bottlebrush buckeye in Louise Smith’s woodland garden in Birmingham, Alabama.

a shady border around a small lawn or along a neighbor’s fence, where it will give you year-­round pleasure. Unless you are planting

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a hedgerow, don’t line them up. Instead, cluster them in loose curves as though they had grown up naturally.

EVERGREEN SCREENING SHRUBS, USUALLY UNDER 15 FEET

The pink flower clusters of evergreen Catawba rhododendron combine beautifully with white-­flowered Alabama azalea in early June at the University Botanical Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina.

Evergreen shrubs are the main screening plants in a small urban landscape. Agarista, inkberry, and southern bayberry should be mainstays of moist, Southern

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Coastal Plain gardens. They combine well with each other, and the contrast in size, color, and texture of their leaves can make even an evergreen hedge

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

interesting. For colder climate gardens, mountain laurel and rosebay rhododendron give wonderful flowers as well as winter greenery.

  75. Latin Name Agarista populifolia (previously Leucothoe populifolia) Common Name Agarista, Florida leucothoe, tall fetterbush, Florida hobblebush Usual Height 8 to 15 feet Spacing 5 to 8 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White bells, fragrant, late spring, on last year’s wood Fruit Tan, dry, ¼ inch Leaves Evergreen, 2 to 4 inches, glossy, new growth is coppery red Native Range Rare, moist hammocks, wet woodlands, springs, South Carolina to Florida, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, not saline Drainage Very moist but well drained Root System Fibrous, shallow, will colonize Companion Plants Red maple, pine, swamp bay, sweetbay, gordonia, swamp azalea, titi, itea, leucothoe, wax myrtle, star anise, highbush blueberry, clethra, cinnamon fern, sensitive fern Propagation Semihardwood cuttings, seed Wildlife Pollinated by bees; deer-­resistant; fruit eaten by birds All gardeners love agarista for its glossy, evergreen foliage, its tolerance for shade, and its formal, handsome appearance. It is a somewhat stiff shrub with numerous stems that arch over gracefully. Agarista is best used as a specimen in a damp, shady corner or on the bank of a pond or stream, but I have also seen it used as a hedge. It is recommended for informal foundation plantings, and it can also be pruned into a small tree.

  76. Latin Name Ceratiola ericoides Common Name Sandhill rosemary Usual Height 1½ to 8 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Male flowers reddish or yellow, spring Fruit Tiny, red or yellow-­green, on female plants only, winter Leaves Evergreen, aromatic, ½-inch needles, not edible Native Range Rare, sandhills, dunes, scrub, Coastal Plain from South Carolina to Mississippi, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, sterile sand preferred, not saline Drainage Dry, well drained Root System Deep, hard to transplant Companion Plants Longleaf pine, turkey oak, winged sumac, fetterbush, lichens, evergreen blueberry, calamintha, yaupon holly, sweetleaf, bracken, wiregrass, broomsedge Propagation Seed, November cuttings Wildlife Fresh winter fruits eaten by birds, harvester ants, and mice; nesting for many desirable birds, including cardinal and the Florida scrub jay; roots home for the burrowing wolf spider If you live on deep, fast-­draining sugar sand, I don’t have to tell you how tough it is to keep Asian azaleas and St. Augustine lawn alive. In that case, turn to sandhill rosemary. This extremely attractive shrub loves that dry environment and needs very little water to look its best. In fact, if you water it the way you would conventional nursery stock, you’ll do it in. That’s why it’s rarely found in nurseries. Specialty nurseries occasionally carry some, but you might have to grow your own. Sandhill rosemary can be used as a hedge, a screen, or a mass planting. You can periodically whack it in half to make a knee-­high groundcover. It does not need fire to maintain its vigor. In fact, sandhill rosemary does not tolerate fire the way many other of the longleaf pine’s companion plants can. TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

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  77. Latin Name Ilex glabra Common Name Inkberry, gallberry, Appalachian tea Usual Height 7 to 9 feet, occasionally 12 feet high Spacing 8 to 12 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, tiny, spring Fruit Black, rarely red or white, not juicy, fall and winter, on females only Leaves Evergreen, spineless, 1 to 2 inches, dark, glossy, foliage burn below –20 degrees F. Native Range Pine savannahs, flatwoods, bogs, mostly on Coastal Plains from Nova Scotia to Texas, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid, sandy, saline tolerated Drainage Moist, on edges of wet or over a high water table Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Wet winter/dry summer: longleaf pine, turkey oak, mountain laurel, highbush blueberry, dwarf huckleberry, redbay, ebony spleenwort, bracken fern, and wiregrass. Always moist to wet: swamp bay, sweetbay, loblolly, titi, winterberry, wax myrtle, lyonia, clethra, itea, and leucothoe Propagation Cleaned and treated seed, semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Fruit used by at least 50 species of birds, including bluebird, brown thrasher, hermit thrush; honeybees produce the famous gallberry honey When conditions are too wet for most non-­native evergreens, rely on native inkberry. This useful shrub is not prickly and is long-­lived, slow-­growing, and fine-­textured—all characteristics that make it desirable for formal hedges in traditional gardens. But it is also invaluable as screening and as winter bird food in longleaf pine landscapes that are wet in the winter and spring but get dry in the summer. When inkberry gets lots of sun, it will become dense without shearing or pruning, as in the picture. It has a looser structure in light shade. Whatever you do, don’t plant it in heavy shade; in the wild whenever the forest canopy gets multilayered and dense, inkberry dwindles away and dies.

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  78. Latin Name Illicium floridanum Common Name Florida anise, anise tree, stinkbush Usual Height 6 to 10 feet, can reach 15 feet Spacing 6 to 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Maroon to red, 1 to 1½ inches, early spring Fruit Brown, whorled, dry, fall Leaves Evergreen, 3 to 6 inches, leathery, dark green, glossy; they discolor, droop, and fall as new leaves appear in spring Trunk Crooked or multitrunked, dark brown, smooth Native Range Rare, swamps, wooded streams, western Florida Panhandle to southeastern Louisiana, northeastern Mexico, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist to wet Root System Shallow, does not seem to colonize Companion Plants Sweetbay, redbay, swamp azalea, yaupon, American holly, Ogeechee lime, pawpaw, eastern mayhaw Propagation Fresh seed, cuttings Wildlife Foliage and fruit are poisonous to cattle Related Species I. parviflorum, star anise, yellow anise tree, Georgia coast to Florida The red flowers of Florida anise are so dark that you could miss them. As for the fragrance—“wet dog” or “sweaty socks” are common descriptions. Crush the leaves for another aroma—something like fish or turpentine. In spite of all that, or maybe because of it, everybody who has Florida anise in a landscape raves about it. It is glossy, well-­mannered, and doesn’t sucker. One nursery selection has white flowers. Its cousin, star anise (Zones 8b and 9), always has creamy white, nonsmelly flowers, along with lime-­green foliage. More drought-­resistant and inclined to sucker, it grows 15 to 20 feet on sandy ridges in swamps with agarista, cabbage palmetto, dwarf palmetto, needle palm, sweetbay, and redbay.

  79. Latin Name Kalmia latifolia Common Name Mountain laurel, calico bush, spoonwood Usual Height 5 to 15 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing 15 to 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 4- to 5-inch clusters of white to pink flowers, April and May, June in mountains Fruit Tan, dry, fall Leaves Evergreen, 3 to 4 inches, dark green, leathery, glossy Trunk Contorted, up to 20 inches in diameter, exfoliating with a smooth, cinnamon-­colored inner bark Native Range Bluffs, upland woods, sandy stream terraces, New Brunswick to southeastern Louisiana, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Very acid, acid, rich east slopes preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Extensive, hard to transplant, colonizes to form a thicket Companion Plants Yellow buckeye, beech, white oak, tulip poplar, basswood, umbrella tree, cucumbertree, bigleaf magnolia, storax, wild rhododendrons, wild hydrangea, strawberry bush, spicebush, leucothoe, sweetshrub, fringe tree, sweetleaf, sparkleberry, pawpaw Propagation Difficult from seed or cuttings, tissue culture Wildlife Pollinated by butterflies, long-­tongued bees, and hummingbirds; honey is toxic to humans; browsed by deer; poisonous to livestock

  80. Latin Name Rhododendron maximum Common Name Rosebay rhododendron, great laurel, wild rhododendron Usual Height 10 to 15 feet, occasionally 40 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 4- to 5-inch clusters, white, pink, rose, or lavender, June, usually on Fourth of July Fruit ½ inch, brown, dry, splitting open in fall Leaves Evergreen, 4 to 12 inches, dark green, leathery, glossy, pale iridescent underneath, will curl up in severe cold or in drought Trunk Usually multitrunked, crooked, leaning, up to 1 foot in diameter, reddish Native Range Hardwood forests on stream banks, ravines, slopes, or swamps, Appalachians in Georgia north to Nova Scotia, Zones 5 to 7, some say useful in Zone 3 Soil Rich, very acid, iron-­rich surface soil over limestone OK Drainage Moist but never wet, must be well drained Root System Shallow, colonizes to form thickets, needs a mulch to keep cool and moist Companion Plants Hemlock, yellow buckeye, tulip poplar, basswood, umbrella tree, cucumbertree, musclewood, mountain laurel, leucothoe Propagation Layering, seeds need constant moisture Wildlife Flowers used by hummingbirds, butterflies, honeybees, and bumblebees Related Species R. catawbiense, Catawba rhododendron, mountain rosebay, Zones 5 to 7

When it comes to aesthetics, mountain laurel has everything going for it: handsome leaves, beautiful blooms, and terrific bark. It is not finicky about growing conditions as long as the soil is acid and well drained. On a slight slope with shade part of the day is ideal. But I’ve seen it on sunny mountainsides, in fairly dense woods, and even in longleaf pine habitats where water was not far below the surface. Twenty-­five years ago, it could rarely be bought as it was so difficult to propagate. Now there are many beautiful cultivars available.

Rosebay rhododendron captured my heart when I saw it cascading down a wooded slope above a native plant garden in the Smokies. It is the largest and most cold-­ tolerant of our rhododendrons, and there are several cultivars on the market. Its cousin, the Catawba rhododendron, smaller in every way, has often been crossed with non-­native Himalayan species. Both rhododendrons are allergic to walnuts, hickories, and pecans, so don’t plant them under those trees. These beautiful plants can make small, picturesque trees in their old age. TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

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FLOWERING AND FRUITING SHRUBS, USUALLY UNDER 15 FEET

Oakleaf hydrangea, at the end of a path, makes a strong focal point in Bickie McDonnell’s Memphis garden, designed by Tom Pellett. Its late spring/early summer whiteness is echoed by a limestone dry stream bed and two non-­natives (white astilbe and blue-­leaved hosta). Warmer accents are provided by two natives—red-­flowered Indian pink and cinnamon fern.

Flowering shrubs produce blooms on a large scale. Cluster them under canopy trees in the backyard. Cram them into a hedgerow beside your driveway. Arrange them on the edges of woodland to create a three-­ season, easy-­care border around a church or municipal building or even an industrial complex.

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And, by all means, plant them along the fence on the borders of a schoolyard. These attractive shrubs will provide invaluable year-­round teaching opportunities, with all the activity taking place up close and personal. The children can watch winter buds swelling and flowers bursting forth, butterflies and

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

hummingbirds sipping the nectar from blooms, and migrating birds contesting for the choicest of the fall fruits. Birds that winter over will use these shrubs for shelter, some even claiming a specific shrub as a favorite for food and lodging.

  81. Latin Name Aesculus parviflora Common Name Bottlebrush buckeye Usual Height 6 to 8 feet, occasionally 15 feet to 20 feet Spacing 8 to 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 6- to 24-inch spikes, early summer Fruit Buckeyes in 1- to 2-inch yellow shells, hard, poisonous Leaves Star-­shaped, five to seven leaflets, bright yellow in fall Native Range Rare, bluffs, riverbanks, wooded hillsides, Alabama and western Georgia, Zones 7 to 8, possibly winter-­hardy to Zone 4 Soil Acid or basic, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Colonizes, will not transplant from wild Companion Plants Tulip tree, beech, cucumbertree, parsley hawthorn, green hawthorn, oakleaf hydrangea Propagation Fresh seed sown immediately while still moist, root cuttings, softwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterflies Bottlebrush buckeye doesn’t look like any shrub you’ve ever seen. This odd-­shaped shrub sounds awful when you hear it described—large and loose with vertical spikes, big flat leaves, and numerous stems springing up from the ground. In actuality, it is visually very appealing, and enormously popular with all who see it in person. It suckers and tends to get wider rather than taller with age. (Does this sound sadly familiar?) It is slow-­growing and long-­lived. I’d suggest using it in a generously large shady spot by an entrance, as the focus at the end of a lawn area, or, if you have a large property, at a highly visible curve along a woodland path.

  82. Latin Name Callicarpa americana Common Name American beautyberry, French mulberry Usual Height 4 to 6 feet, occasionally 15 feet Spacing 6 to 8 feet, do not crowd Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny, white to pink, spring Fruit Purple (white), glossy, 2-inch bunches, October to winter, not juicy Leaves 3 to 6 inches, soft, coarse, hairy, drop early fall, rarely turning yellow Native Range Live oak woods, post oak woods, dunes, scrub, fencerows, flatwoods, bluffs, eastern North America, Zones 6b to 11 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich or very poor OK Drainage Dry to moist Root System Deep Companion Plants Live oak, post oak, pines, sparkleberry, parsley hawthorn, rusty blackhaw viburnum, flowering dogwood Propagation Seed (stratified or wintered over in ground), softwood or hardwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers attract bees and butterflies; fruits eaten by mockingbird, purple finch (matches the color of the berries), bobwhite, catbird, robin, brown thrasher, towhee, armadillo, raccoon, and white-­tailed deer American beautyberry presents the fullest display of fruit when it gets a half day of sun. But it also does well in the light, dappled shade of a post oak/pine woodland. I’ve seen it in the dense shade of live oaks as the main understory shrub (growing about 8 feet apart) with spiderworts as the groundcover. A single specimen should be given lots of room to spread out its long, arching branches. Prune out dead wood only. If you drastically cut off the ends, it will look awkward instead of graceful. In a severe winter, if it freezes to the ground, you will still have fruit on new growth by fall, according to Larry Lowman, a nurseryman in Wynne, Arkansas. TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

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  83. Latin Name Calycanthus floridus Common Name Sweetshrub, Carolina allspice, strawberry shrub Usual Height 6 to 8 feet, occasionally 12 feet Spacing 4 to 12 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Dark red, 1 to 2 inches, smells like sweet ripe fruit, spring Fruit Green, then brown, 3 inches long, smells of strawberries, poisonous Leaves 2 to 6 inches long, dark green, fuzzy, aromatic, sometimes yellow in fall Native Range Bluffs, floodplains, rich moist woodlands, Pennsylvania to Mississippi, Zones 6 to 8, useful in Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich Drainage Moist, but flooding tolerated Root System Shallow, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Hemlock, spruce pine, oak, hickory, sourwood, leucothoe, green hawthorn, rhododendrons, spicebush, hydrangeas, witchhazel, storax, pawpaw, mountain laurel Propagation Seed, cuttings, layering, divisions Wildlife Flowers attract butterflies and beetles Neil Odenwald, an author and landscape architect in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, describes sweetshrub as a “bosom” plant. He explains that this is because, in earlier times, it was planted by the front door so that the lady of the house could pluck off some of the sweet blossoms to put in her bosom when going out on the town. You can enjoy this fruity fragrant shrub for its aroma most of the year; the leaves and the inedible fruit are as deliciously scented as the flowers. Sweetshrub is for touching and sniffing and seeing up close, so place it where you will pass close by frequently.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

  84. Latin Name Clethra alnifolia Common Name Clethra, sweet pepperbush Usual Height 3 to 6 feet, rarely 12 feet Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White or pink, 3- to 8-inch spikes, very fragrant, in summer on new growth Fruit Tiny, tan, fall, dry Leaves 1 to 4 inches, bronze in spring, cream to gold in early fall Native Range Pine savannah, flatwoods, creek and acid swamps, bogs, eastern North America, Nova Scotia to Texas, mostly coastal, Zones 5 to 9, possibly hardy to Zone 4 Soil Very acid, acid, sand or clay OK Drainage Wet Root System Shallow, colonizes to form thickets Companion Plants Longleaf or loblolly pine, red maple, swamp bay, sweetbay, swamp azalea, fetterbush, inkberry, itea, staggerbush Propagation Seed on sand, softwood cuttings, layering, division Wildlife Flowers visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; fruits eaten by songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, upland game birds, small mammals Related Species C. acuminata, mountain pepperbush, cinnamon clethra, Zones 6 to 8 Even from several feet away, you are aware of clethra’s outstanding fragrance—not unlike fine French perfume. But it is valued for other attributes: It blooms in summer, which is typically the off-­season for shrubs. It tolerates difficult shady spots. It thrives in wet, even soggy conditions, and is stressed only if it gets too dry. And—can you believe there is more?—it has a long season of lovely pale gold fall color. In the mountains above 2500 feet, clethra is replaced by its cousin mountain pepperbush, a 20-foot-­tall shrub or tree that will not tolerate soggy conditions. Its foliage turns gold to orange in the fall.

Andy Wasowski

  85. Latin Name Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis Common Name Alabama croton Usual Height 4 to 10 feet Spacing 3 to 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Insignificant visually, early spring Fruit Silvery capsules, not juicy, spring Leaves Almost evergreen, 2 to 5 inches, aromatic, yellow-­green on top, silver underneath, orange fall color or occasional orange leaves in summer Native Range Rare, thinly wooded river bluffs on shale or limestone, Alabama, Texas, Zone 7, possibly useful in Zones 6 to 8 Soil Rich, slightly acid, lime OK, sand preferred Drainage Moist Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Tulip poplar, basswood, chalk maple, possumhaw, storax, scarlet buckeye Propagation Fresh seed in May, semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Seeds eaten by quail and dove Alabama croton will instantly delight and charm you— especially with its marvelous, spicy, aromatic foliage. In fact, it deserves to be in every fragrance garden. Visually, it makes a graceful, airy understory thicket or a specimen plant in moderate to heavily dappled shade. In dim light, it catches your eye with its intensely silver leaves. These leaves might stay on during a mild winter, with a few turning a pleasant, smooth, clear orange. If the leaves drop, the stems, which are silvery white, become dominant. Alabama croton is highly recommended by Missouri Botanical Garden.

  86. Latin Name Euonymus americanus Common Name Strawberry bush, hearts-­aburstin’, wahoo Usual Height 4 to 8 feet, rarely to 12 feet Spacing 4 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom ½ inch, pale lime, lovely up close, spring Fruit 1 inch, strawberry red, bursts open to show scarlet seeds, early fall to winter Leaves 1 to 4 inches, soft, medium green, fall color is typically red, fuchsia, or salmon, but sometimes cream or white in late fall Native Range Moist woodlands, hammocks, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, sand OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates short-­term flooding Root System Shallow, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Hemlock, tulip poplar, beech, white oak, spruce pine, musclewood, flowering dogwood, storax, wild hydrangea, mapleleaf viburnum, spicebush, sweetshrub, rosebay, mountain laurel, leucothoe, itea, partridgeberry Propagation Stratified seed, semihardwood cuttings in fall rooted in cold frame, layering, grafting, budding Wildlife Pollinated by butterflies and moths; seeds eaten by songbirds and wild turkey; browsed by deer and rabbits Strawberry bush is an open, airy shrub with pale green stems, and it provides a lovely light touch in shady areas. We saw it in numerous gardens, evidence that it is easy to grow. It usually has red fall color, but we saw one with white fall foliage, which we thought was outstanding with the red fruits. We have been told this is typical fall color in very heavy shade. The Asian winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus) has dark red fall color and is the one you see in conventional landscapes everywhere. It is invasive and too dense and heavy-­looking for a native American woodland landscape. TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

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  87. Latin Name Fothergilla major Common Name Large fothergilla, witch alder Usual Height 2 to 5 feet, rarely to 12 feet Spacing 3 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1- to 3-inch-­long fat bottlebrush spikes, fragrant, either before or with emerging leaves in spring, on the previous year’s wood Fruit Tiny, brown, fall, dry Leaves 2 to 5 inches, aromatic, dark blue-­green in summer, yellow to red in late fall Native Range Rare, dry woods, balds, Allegheny Mountains, North Carolina to Alabama, Zones 5 to 8a Soil Acid, rich, over sandstone OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Tulip poplar, basswood, Carolina silverbell, cucumbertree, green hawthorn, pawpaw, witchhazel Propagation Double-­stratified seed, cuttings, root cuttings, division; best to buy nursery-­ propagated plants Wildlife Pollinated by bees; seeds sometimes eaten by songbirds, game birds, small mammals Related Species F. gardenii, dwarf fothergilla, Coastal Plain, Carolinas to Alabama There are two southeastern fothergillas, and both are on the federal endangered list. Large fothergilla is for the mountains and Piedmont. Dwarf fothergilla is for the Coastal Plain; it can handle boggy conditions once in a while and slightly less acid soil. Its height and leaves are half the size of its bigger cousin, but its flowers are just as large. It grows with the sweetbay/swamp bay community and is native only to Zone 8—although I’ve been told that it has been used successfully in Zone 6. Cultivars of both fothergillas are available, as is the very popular ‘Mt. Airy,’ a naturally occurring hybrid of the two. The flowers are showy and fragrant, but it is the glowing, multihued fall color of chartreuse to yellow to gold to orange to red to purple that everyone raves about.

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  88. Latin Name Hydrangea quercifolia Common Name Oakleaf hydrangea Usual Height 6 to 8 feet, occasionally 10 feet Spacing 6 to 8 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 4- to 12-inch pyramidal cluster, late spring, turning rose-­pink, then purple Fruit Tiny, urn-­shaped, tan, dry, tinier seeds Leaves 4 to 12 inches long, oakleaf-­shaped, fuzzy when young, red, wine, and purple in late fall Native Range Bluffs, stream banks, ravines, pine/ hardwood woodlands, eastern U.S., Zones 6b to 8, mostly in limestone areas, now listed as hardy in Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, deep, subsurface limestone OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Might colonize to make a thicket Companion Plants Sparkleberry, sourwood, rusty blackhaw viburnum, flowering dogwood, green hawthorn, leucothoe, bottlebrush buckeye, smilacina Propagation Semihardwood cuttings, root cuttings, layering Wildlife Provides nectar and pollen for honeybees and butterflies; seeds eaten by a few songbirds, game birds, and mammals Most gardens can accommodate only one oakleaf hydrangea—it’s so huge and grand, it becomes the centerpiece of the late spring landscape. This shrub actually has two kinds of flowers in the same cluster: little fluffy seed-­producers, and the larger sterile flowers that put on the show. They stay in color for a long time, starting off pure snowy white, then turning pink, then rose, then purple—especially in the sun. They then dry to a parchment-­like texture and stick around until the leaves turn red to purple in the fall. At that point, I like to bring them in the house for dried arrangements. After the leaves have dropped, the bark claims your attention. It peels off in pale, often peaches-­and-­cream, papery curls. Most cultivars accentuate the sterile flowers, but when you get all sterile flowers, the clusters get too heavy, and the plant looks droopy.

Alan Cressler

  89. Latin Name Lindera benzoin Common Name Spicebush Usual Height 3 to 10 feet Spacing 8 to 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, spicily fragrant, February, before leaves appear Fruit ⅓ inch, scarlet red, glossy, spicy-­scented, not squishy, fall Leaves 2 to 6 inches, lemon-­scented, pale yellow as emerging, dark green, glossy in summer, yellow to gold in early fall Trunk Multitrunked, smooth, greenish, with raised dots, bark and twigs spicily aromatic Native Range Fields, bluffs, floodplains, hammocks, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid, coarse, sandy, rich loam preferred Drainage Moist to dryish Root System Deep, hard to transplant Companion Plants Beech, swamp chestnut oak, mockernut hickory, American holly, storax, cucumbertree, Parsley hawthorn, mapleleaf viburnum, strawberry bush, itea, smilacina Propagation Fresh, stratified seed, softwood cuttings, layering Wildlife Seeds eaten by twenty-­four species of birds, including thrushes, catbird, great crested flycatcher, red-­eyed vireo, and eastern kingbird; larval plant for spicebush and tiger swallowtails and the spicebush silkmoth I have an immense fondness for spicebush. The first spring I lived in Virginia I was overcome with the most wonderful strong, spicy, sweet scent imaginable. I traced it to a lovely little tree. The stems were dotted with fluffy clumps of fragrant yellow flowers. I discovered later that the leaves, twigs, and even the fruits are aromatic also, and can be used for tea or cooking. I have been told that the cultivar currently sold in nurseries (unbelievably) does not have the delightful scent! Place spicebush in full sun to get a good crop of fruit for the birds.

  90. Latin Name Rhododendron austrinum Common Name Yellow azalea, Florida azalea, orange azalea Usual Height 6 to 10 feet, occasionally 20 feet Spacing 6 to 8 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, cream, orange to coral, very sweetly fragrant, 3-inch clusters, early spring before or as leaves emerge Fruit 1 inch long, tan, early fall, dry Leaves 1 to 4 inches, soft Native Range Rare, bluffs, hammocks, floodplains, southern Alabama, Georgia, and Florida Panhandle, Zones 7 to 8, possibly hardy in Zones 6 to 9 Trunk Multitrunked, 3 to 5 inches in diameter Soil Very acid, acid, sandy loam preferred Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Shallow, fibrous, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Sweetgum, two-­winged silverbell, storax, eastern mayhaw, Florida anise, Walter’s viburnum, titi, itea, sensitive fern, partridgeberry Propagation Seed, division and layering in spring Wildlife Flowers used by swallowtails, gulf fritillaries, monarchs, hairstreaks, skippers, hummingbirds, and bees; nesting for songbirds Related Species R. flammeum, Oconee azalea, Zones 7 to 8; R. cumberlandense, Cumberland azalea Zones 6 to 8; R. calendulaceum, flame azalea Zones 5 to 8; R. prunifolium, plumleaf azalea, Zones 7 to 8 We saw yellow azalea in nearly every coastal and lower Piedmont native plant garden we visited. Its bloom time coincides with Piedmont azalea, and while the two look fine together, yellow azalea is loveliest when combined with itself. Then its range of pastel yellows and oranges are quite delicious together. Plant blue woodland flowers beneath for a spectacular display. The other yellow to orange (to scarlet) azaleas bloom in later spring or summer. They aren’t as fragrant as yellow azalea, but compensate by having larger flowers. TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

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  91. Latin Name Rhododendron canescens Common Name Piedmont azalea, southern pinxter flower, hoary azalea Usual Height 8 feet, occasionally 16 feet Spacing 6 to 12 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pink to white, long-­tubed, 3-inch clusters, very sweetly fragrant, early spring before leaves Fruit ½ inch long, rust red, dry Leaves 1 to 4 inches long, with soft white hairs Trunk Multitrunked, 3 to 5 inches in diameter Native Range Flatwoods, creek swamps, bluffs, hammocks, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9, possibly hardy to Zone 5 Soil Very acid, acid, rich, sand Drainage Wet to moist, but never soggy all year in stagnant water Root System Shallow, might colonize Companion Plants Swamp bay, sweetbay, willow oak, swamp chestnut oak, white oak, ferns, lizard’s tail, partridgeberry, mayapple Propagation Seed, division, layering in spring Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds Related Species R. periclymenoides (formerly R. nudiflorum), pinxter flower; R. alabamense, Alabama azalea; R. prinophyllum (formerly R. roseum), roseshell azalea I don’t know why this shrub is called the Piedmont azalea; it is native to the Coastal Plain and Mississippi basin as well. We found it growing successfully in gardens all over the South, even in Memphis, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina. It blooms heavily under deciduous trees or on the edge of a sunny pond. There are three other pink to white spring-­blooming native azaleas. All hybridize with each other and with the yellow to orange azaleas to make luscious shades of warm pastels. Most of the species and many hybrids, both man-­made and natural, are now available in the nursery trade. In general, the natives differ from the Asian azaleas in that they are deciduous and their colors are not as garish.

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  92. Latin Name Rhododendron viscosum Common Name Swamp azalea, clammy azalea Usual Height 5 to 7 feet, occasionally 15 feet Spacing 5 to 12 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, sometimes flushed with pink, 2-inch clusters, sticky, musky sweet, summer Fruit ½ inch long, dry Leaves 1 to 3 inches Trunk Multitrunked, 3 to 5 inches in diameter Native Range Flatwoods, titi swamps, creek swamps, extreme eastern U.S., mostly Coastal Plain, Zones 5 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, rich Drainage Wet, but not sour and soggy Root System Shallow, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Sweetgum, pond pine, red maple, sweetbay, clethra, titi, wax myrtle, fetterbush, itea, inkberry Propagation Seed, division, layering in spring Wildlife A favorite of hummingbirds and bumblebees Related Species R. serrulatum, swamp honeysuckle; R. oblongifolium, Texas azalea; R. coryi, Cory azalea; R. arborescens, smooth azalea In full sun, swamp azalea is covered with fragrant blossoms for about two weeks, usually in July. It and the other azaleas listed here are white summer-­blooming azaleas. In heavy shade, their limbs will get spindly and they might show, at best, one or two flower clusters. Better to plant them in light shade or in full sun over a high water table or on the edge of water. If you’ re on the Gulf coast, where summer heat and humidity are extreme, swamp honeysuckle will work best. Its winter buds are a beautiful pale red with white edging. Texas azalea does not sucker. Cory azalea, probably not a true species but a dwarf form of swamp azalea, gets only 2 to 3 feet tall. Some botanists lump all the above species into swamp azalea, but I’ve kept them separate for horticultural purposes. Smooth azalea, with its showy red style and stamens, is winter-­hardy to Zone 4.

  93. Latin Name Rosa palustris Common Name Swamp rose Usual Height 3 to 8 feet Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pink, 2 to 3 inches, midspring for about 6 weeks, fragrant Fruit Rose hip, red, ½ inch, fall Leaves Five to nine leaflets, sometimes prickly Native Range Floodplains, margins of swamps, ponds, springs, or streams, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid to slightly alkaline Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Wild swamp iris, spider lily, thalia, pickerelweed, switchgrass Propagation Stratified seed, softwood or hardwood cuttings, root division, layering Wildlife Flowers visited by native bees, bumblebees, butterflies; nesting for birds; rose hips eaten by bobwhite, Philadelphia vireo Related Species R. carolina, Carolina rose; R. setigera, prairie rose

  94. Latin Name Stewartia malachodendron Common Name Virginia stewartia, silky camellia Usual Height 10 to 15 feet, occasionally 20 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 2 to 4 inches across, with purple stamens, late spring Fruit ½ inch, woody Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, dark green, glossy Native Range Rare, moist, rich hardwood forests, southeastern U.S. to East Texas, Zones 7 to 8 Soil Very acid, rich, sandy loam preferred Drainage Moist to dryish Root System Deep, do not transplant from wild Companion Plants Tulip tree, umbrella tree, bigleaf magnolia, large fothergilla, bigleaf storax, fringe tree, strawberry bush, bottlebrush buckeye, Piedmont azalea Propagation Fresh seed sown as soon as ripe, double-­stratified seed, semihardwood cuttings, layering Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued and short-­ tongued native bees and honeybees Related Species S. ovata, mountain stewartia

While roses are normally very picky about good drainage, swamp rose is a welcome exception. As long as you don’t plant it in a soggy, sour mudhole that doesn’t dry out for weeks, it will do fine. The canes are arching and give the plant a nice shape with a minimum of pruning. A thornless, double-­flowered selection is available. Carolina rose is more fragrant, but it colonizes very aggressively. It blooms in the light shade of dry open woodland composed of pine, oak, and hickory. Prairie rose is the last to bloom of the trio. It can make a 15-by-15-foot shrub or be trained on a trellis or arbor. It is pink or white, thornless or barely thorny, and is extremely clean and well-­behaved. All species roses are generally healthier than hybrids.

Virginia stewartia is slow-­growing and rare. It’s also unusually gorgeous, which explains why dedicated nurserymen go to the trouble of offering it. Expect this member of the tea family to remain waist-­high for a number of years, which is really OK, because it makes it easy to enjoy the flowers up close. However, don’t keep it pruned to this height; it will ultimately become even prettier when it develops the character of a small tree. Stewartia is famous for its cream and brown flaking bark. Mountain stewartia is native to the upper Piedmont and mountains, so it has cold-­hardiness to Zone 5. They look very similar, except that mountain stewartia often has conventional yellow stamens instead of the exquisite purple ones. To make up for this lapse, it displays orange to red fall color.

TALL SHRUBS 5 TO 15 FEET TALL

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  95. Latin Name Styrax americanus Common Name Storax, American snowbell Usual Height 6 to 10 feet, rarely a 15-foot tree Spacing 8 to 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White bells, ½ inch, five petals per flower, two to four flowers per cluster, late spring after leaves emerge, sweetly fragrant Fruit Small, round, dry, gray Leaves 2 to 3 inches Native Range Hammocks, flatwoods, titi swamps, bald cypress swamps, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9, one population in Zone 5, mostly Coastal Plain and Mississippi floodplain Soil Very acid, acid, subsurface limestone OK Drainage Moist to wet Root System Seems not to colonize Companion Plants Bald cypress, sweetgum, beech, musclewood, American holly, fetterbush, itea, lizard’s tail, ferns Propagation Fresh seed, softwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers attract butterflies and a variety of bees; larval for promethea moth Related Species S. grandifolius, bigleaf storax Use storax in shady spots where you want lots of midspring flowers. It usually blooms hard on the heels of flowering dogwood. With time, storax will become a small tree with a smooth, dark, 3-inch trunk. A friend claims his favorite way to enjoy the flowers is to lean back against the trunk and look straight up at the bell-­like flowers hanging beneath the fresh, new leaves. Bigleaf storax likes better drainage and is the one found more often in the Piedmont under deciduous canopy trees, along with mountain laurel and wild rhododendrons. The sprays of crisp, pure white bells against the large, round to oval leaves is very dramatic. Bigleaf storax is still not available in the nursery trade, but a few specialty nurseries carry storax under the name American snowbell.

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  96. Latin Name Viburnum dentatum Common Name Arrowwood, southern arrowwood Usual Height 5 to 15 feet Spacing 15 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 2- to 4-inch clusters, late spring, not fragrant Fruit ½ inch, 2- to 4-inch clusters, blue-­black Leaves 4 to 6 inches, yellow to orange in fall Native Range Floodplains, bluffs, titi swamps, pine woods, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9, mostly Coastal Plain Soil Very acid to slightly acid, rich Drainage Moist to wet, prefers well-­drained Root System Might colonize Companion Plants Pines, swamp chestnut oak, red maple, titi, possumhaw viburnum, inkberry, itea, sensitive fern, royal fern Propagation Softwood cutting, two to three years from seed Wildlife Flowers attract native bees, bumblebees, honeybees, and butterflies; larval for hummingbird moths and spring azure butterfly; fruit eaten by fox, chipmunk, eastern bluebird, cardinal, cedar waxwing, white-­ throated sparrow, mockingbird, robin, and some game birds; useful for nesting sites Related Species V. nudum, possumhaw viburnum; V. recognitum, northern arrowwood, hardy to Zone 3, is the northern version of the V. dentatum complex Arrowwood has arrow-­straight stems that might be red, yellow, or gray. It makes a handsome specimen when its stems are pruned up like a small multitrunked tree. It also makes a dependable hedge for screening in parking lots, along back fences, on the edge where grass and woodland meet, or as filler understory deep in the woods. As with most viburnums, if you want lots of flowers and fruit and a good show of fall color, give it at least a half day of sun. Possumhaw viburnum is a favorite with many gardeners because of its ornamental fruit. The berries start out an eye-­catching chartreuse in the summer. As the season progresses, they turn white, then pink, and finally a pretty dark blue.

7 ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

W

hile some of the plants I mention in this book can be termed old-­fashioned, for example, pawpaw, sweetshrub, or Turk’s cap, the accent plants I cover in this chapter are literally ancient. Needle palm, dwarf palmetto, saw palmetto, and the various yuccas all have roots back in those steamy, tropical days when dinosaurs stomped and slithered across the earth. For some reason, these plants bring out the hedonist in me, and make me think of long, lazy afternoons with nothing to do but sip iced tea and listen to arias by Puccini. These accent shrubs normally provide greenery from 2 to 6 feet tall, but they can, and often do, get much larger. The saw palmetto, although usually under waist-­high and often used as a groundcover, can sometimes reach 10 feet. In the wild, I always see dwarf palmetto as a low-­growing groundcover, but in a garden setting it is usually a 6- to 7-foot specimen. The other shrubs in this chapter are normally under 5 feet in height. Their uses range from foundation evergreens to flowers to herbs.

Moundlily yucca, beargrass, coral honeysuckle, and purple coneflower flank the garden path at Alma Plantation, owned by Iris and David Stewart, in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.

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LOW EVERGREEN MASSING SHRUBS AND ACCENTS

Coastal leucothoe makes an excellent evergreen knee-­high groundcover or foundation planting.

Except for the needle palm and the yuccas, all the evergreen shrubs in this section can make those wonderful low massings of

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evergreenery that are so important for foundation plantings and the newer, more sophisticated home landscapes. There is at

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

least one for every setting, from sand dunes to mountain slopes to swamplands.

  97. Latin Name Conradina canescens Common Name Conradina, wild rosemary Usual Height 1½ to 3 feet Spacing 3 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender, white or purple, minty-­ smelling, spring Fruit Tiny, dry Leaves Evergreen, gray, needlelike, ¼ to ½ inch, aromatic, used in essential oil Native Range Rare, sandhills, dunes, scrub, thin live oak woods, Alabama to western Florida, mostly near the coast, Zone 8b, usable to Zone 11b Soil Sand, beach dunes Drainage Dry, well drained Root System Deep Companion Plants Longleaf pine, live oak, sand live oak, turkey oak, southern magnolia, saw palmetto, dwarf palmetto Propagation Fresh seed, softwood or semihardwood tip cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds Related Species C. verticillata, Cumberland rosemary, Zone 6, usable to Zone 8 Conradina loves sun and sandy, well-­drained soil—the drier the better. It should prove to be an extremely popular groundcover shrub for those of you living in longleaf pine, scrub oak, Florida scrub, or seacoast conditions. Its gray foliage contrasts beautifully with the yellow-­green of sandhill rosemary. It secretes a terpene that discourages grasses from growing near it. For those living on inland and further north, use the green-­leaved (not gray) Cumberland rosemary. It, too, prefers sand and good drainage, but can handle more moisture, even short-­term flooding. Both conradinas are charming additions to a herb or flower garden. Unlike many Mediterranean herbs, they are tolerant of high humidity. Both do well in a 12-inch terra-­cotta pot; forget the saucer.

  98. Latin Name Leucothoe axillaris Common Name Coastal leucothoe, doghobble Usual Height 2 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet high, can be cut back severely after blooming Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, or flushed with pink, 1- to 3-inch spires on previous year’s growth, early spring Fruit Dark brown, dry, early fall Leaves Evergreen, 2 to 5 inches, glossy, bronze when new and in winter, on green zigzag branches Native Range Floodplains, creek swamps, bogs, Coastal Plain from Virginia to Louisiana, Zones 7 to 8, usable in Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, rich preferred Drainage Moist to wet Root System Might colonize to form a short groundcover thicket Companion Plants Sweetbay, swamp bay, gordonia, clethra, fetterbush, itea, wax myrtle, staggerbush, highbush blueberry, wild pink azalea Propagation Fresh seed sown on peat moss, hardwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers used by bees, butterflies Related Species L. fontanesiana, mountain doghobble, drooping laurel, native to Zones 6 to 8, naturalized in Zone 5 Pronounced “loo-­KO-­tho-­wee,” this native is useful for creating masses of soft, graceful shrubbery at the feet of taller plants. It can also be used as a foundation planting. Coastal leucothoe withstands heat and humidity, but needs shade, dependable moisture (but not overwatering), and good air circulation to resist leaf spot. I suspect it doesn’t much like automatic lawn sprinklers. We saw it in a number of gardens. In one, it effectively filled a large, rectangular planter beside a patio entrance. There, it arched gracefully over the brick edges and was kept about 2 feet high. In another garden, leucothoe made a huge bed of very attractive knee-­high groundcover bordering a shady path. Mountain doghobble is marketed as rainbow drooping fetterbush. ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

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Alan Cressler

  99. Latin Name Lyonia lucida Common Name Fetterbush, pink fetterbush, shining fetterbush Usual Height 2 to 6 feet, rarely 15 feet Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Palest shell pink (white to red), little bells, early spring before new growth, fragrant Fruit Dark brown, dry, remains on through new flowers Leaves Evergreen, 1 to 3 inches long, dark, glossy Native Range Bogs, pine savannahs, flatwoods, acid swamps, creek swamps, Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to southeastern Louisiana, Cuba, Zones 7 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, sand OK Drainage Moist to dry, seasonal flooding OK, but not constantly wet Root System Colonizes to form a groundcover Companion Plants Sweetbay, gordonia, titi, clethra, inkberry, itea, leucothoe, cinnamon fern, crossvine, decumaria, saw palmetto Propagation Fresh seed, cuttings, divisions or root cuttings Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies; attracts dragonflies Fetterbush is very showy when in flower and makes thickets so dense that if you were to try to walk through, you would feel “fettered”—and now you know how some plants get their common names. Fetterbush is invaluable to Coastal Plain gardeners, because it provides easy-­care masses of knee- to waist-­high evergreenery. Its low sweep of shiny foliage is great for separating lawn from woodland, or bordering a path, or softening the edge of a house. Cut it back right after blooming, as next year’s blooms will need year-­old wood. Fussing and overwatering tends to make fetterbush unhealthy.

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100. Latin Name Piloblephis rigida (formerly Satureja rigida, Pychothymus rigidus) Common Name Florida pennyroyal, redneck rosemary Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender, with purple spots, ½-inch flowers in rounded clusters, all year, but mostly November to April Fruit Tiny, tan, dry Leaves Evergreen, tiny, linear, fuzzy, fragrant Native Range Longleaf pine savannahs, flatwoods, palmetto flats, oak hammocks, dunes, Florida and southern Georgia, Zones 9 to 10. Woodlanders says usable in Zone 8 Soil Acid, rich OK, sand preferred Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Taproot, colonizes a little, short-­lived Companion Plants Longleaf pine, turkey oak, sand live oak, sandhill rosemary, conradina, dwarf palmetto, evergreen blueberry Propagation Seed, cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by bees, butterflies Florida pennyroyal looks a lot more like rosemary than pennyroyal. Its rigid stems make a short, rounded, rather open bush topped with clusters of mint-­like flowers. It is in the mint family, and the foliage is aromatic, especially when crushed between your fingers. However, “pennyroyal” originally meant “fleabane,” and the Florida Native Americans used it for that purpose. Because it is short, evergreen, non-­spiny, blooms in cool weather, and seems tolerant of dryish garden conditions, it seems to me that Florida pennyroyal is worth experimenting with. I’ve read that it does well in a patio pot.

101. Latin Name Rhapidophyllum hystrix Common Name Needle palm, porcupine palm Usual Height 3 to 8 feet Spacing 10 to 15 feet, do not crowd it Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny, but in a large, open, foot-­long cluster, palm-­like, May Fruit Wine red, juicy, ½ inch, in an open cluster, on female plants Leaves Evergreen, dark, 2½ feet wide, 18 inches long, star-­shaped with soft tips, glossy Native Range Bluffs, hammocks, Coastal Plain from southeastern South Carolina to southeastern Mississippi, Zones 8 to 9, hardy with protection to Zone 6b Soil Acid, rich, subsurface limestone OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Shallow, fibrous, suckers Companion Plants Tulip poplar, American holly, southern magnolia, Ashe magnolia, red buckeye, musclewood, star anise, wild hydrangea, oakleaf hydrangea, Christmas fern Propagation Germinates easily from seed; transplants easily from suckers; do not buy a specimen collected from the wild Wildlife Pollinated by beetles Needle palm is very rare and is considered to be threatened in Florida. It’s named for the 10-inch black needles that extrude from its trunk, which is not actually a trunk but an extended crown. It grows excruciatingly slowly, and it is estimated that some of the large specimens are at least fifty years old and may be much older. To give a wonderfully tropical note to the Southern coastal garden, plant one as an accent in a courtyard. Or plant several on a gentle or steep slope in the dappled shade of hardwoods, guarding the seedlings with chicken wire for the first three years or so. Then, be patient. It is attractive at all phases.

102. Latin Name Rhododendron minus var. minus (including R. carolinianum) Common Name Dwarf rhododendron, Carolina rhododendron Usual Height 2 to 6 feet, occasionally 10 feet Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White to pale pink, fragrant, in 3- to 4-inch clusters, early spring as new growth begins Fruit ½ inch, rusty brown, fall Leaves Evergreen, 1 to 5 inches long, dark, not glossy, aromatic, purplish in winter Native Range Stream banks, wooded slopes, southern Appalachians, Zones 6 to 8, hardy in Zone 5 Soil Very acid, acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Will colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Tulip poplar, white oak, basswood, umbrella tree, cucumbertree, bigleaf storax, rosebay, leucothoe, mountain laurel Propagation Seeds need constant moisture to germinate; August cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by azalea miner bee (a beautiful metallic green) and bumblebees Related Species R. chapmanii, Chapman’s rhododendron, native only to Florida, hardy in Zones 7 to 9 Dwarf rhododendron is usually found as understory on rocky slopes. This plant is a good choice for people living in the mountains or the upper Piedmont. If dwarf rhododendron is unhappy, it is prey to a multitude of beetles and diseases. To keep it happy, tuck it under deciduous canopy trees on a slight to steep slope in rich organic soil that is strongly acid. It’s a knockout when massed in front of taller shrubs and trees. It seems to take a long time for it to get much above 3 feet tall, and it can be easily maintained at that height. Its white to palest pink flowers stand out boldly in a shady spot. Chapman’s rhododendron’s flowers are not so pale, being pink to rose, or peachy pink, and its leaves are half the size. ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

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103. Latin Name Sabal minor Common Name Dwarf palmetto, bush palmetto Usual Height 3 to 6 feet, occasionally 10 feet Spacing 8 feet for specimen, 3 feet for groundcover Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1- to 6-foot clusters, May or June Fruit Black, in 1- to 6-foot drooping clusters, fall Leaves Evergreen, yellow-­green, 2 to 8 feet in diameter, fanlike, sharp-­edged Native Range Floodplains, wet hammocks, northeastern North Carolina to central Florida to central Texas, Zones 7 to 9, chiefly on Coastal Plain Soil Acid to alkaline, rich preferred, salt spray tolerated Drainage Seasonally wet to moist Root System Trunk is usually submerged; might tiller to form a groundcover Companion Plants Live oak, cabbage palmetto, bald cypress, star anise, passionflower, curly clematis, Turk’s cap Propagation Stratified seed sown in mud Wildlife Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other nectar-­eating insects; fruit eaten by yellow-­rumped warbler and woodpeckers Dwarf palmetto makes a dramatic accent for that moist spot in your garden. For a completely different look, cut these palmettos back once a year at knee height to make a visually exotic evergreen groundcover—yes, a groundcover—beneath coastal live oaks or bald cypresses. If you want a path through the palmettos, keep it wide; the leaves are sharp! The best groundcover dwarf palmettos grow in Brazoria County, Texas. They are perfect with absolutely no maintenance. I know because my Aunt Ann had a quarter acre of them.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

104. Latin Name Serenoa repens Common Name Saw palmetto Usual Height 2 feet, can reach 7 to 10 feet Spacing 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Ivory white, tiny, several thousand in 1- to 2-foot clusters, mildly fragrant, early to midspring for a month Fruit Dark red, datelike, in 1- to 2-foot clusters, summer Leaves Blue-­green, palm-­shaped, 1½ to 3 feet across, consisting of about twenty spikes, on spiny 2- to 3-foot-­long stems Native Range Seasonally flooded pine forests, coastal dunes, and inland scrub, Georgia to Louisiana, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Acid, sand preferred Drainage Dry, well drained, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Tillers to colonize Companion Plants Longleaf pine, turkey oak, live oak, sand live oak, cabbage palmetto, American beautyberry, Turk’s cap Propagation Root division Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees (saw palmetto honey is famous), halictid bees, and ants; larval for a small, feathery white moth called Batrachedra decoctor; fruits eaten by birds and mammals, including humans, and the gopher tortoise Saw palmetto is a very small fan palm that can be used as an accent or a groundcover. Its leaves have spiny stems (toothed, like saws), giving it its common name. It can live to be over five hundred years old, and its slender trunks might grow to be 25 feet long—long, not tall, because the trunks are almost always horizontal. As shown in the picture, the plant forms a low thicket in dry places under longleaf pines and turkey oaks, or in Florida scrub. A few populations have upright trunks, and these can be used as an accent plant.

105. Latin Name Vaccinium darrowii Common Name Evergreen blueberry Usual Height ½ to 2 feet Spacing 1 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White to pink, ¼ inch, clustered along branches, spring Fruit Blueberry, ¼ inch, dark blue with a “bloom,” a pale, dusty substance that rubs off, edible Leaves Evergreen, ¼ to 1 inch long, blue to gray-­ green, glossy Native Range Sandhills, flatwoods, coastal swales, stable dunes, Coastal Plain, Mississippi to western Florida, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, sandy preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Might colonize to form a groundcover Companion Plants Longleaf pine, titi, sweetbay, gordonia, viburnum, inkberry, blackgum, mountain laurel, redbay possumhaw, parsley hawthorn Propagation Softwood cuttings in spring Wildlife Pollinated by native bees; fruits eaten by bluebird, catbird, grouse, oriole, tanager, thrush, towhee, turkey, cedar waxwing, woodpeckers, great crested flycatcher Related Species V. myrsinites, shiny evergreen blueberry

106. Latin Name Yucca aloifolia Common Name Spanish bayonet, aloe yucca Usual Height 5 to 12 feet Spacing 3 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 3 inches wide, sometimes purple at base, 1- to 2-foot clusters on a short upright stalk, barely emerging from the leaves, summer Fruit 1 to 2 inches, red to purple, on pendant stalk Leaves Evergreen, 8 to 24 inches long, spine at tip, sharp tiny teeth on edges Trunk Single, often branched, topples when it gets top-­heavy Native Range Dunes, sandhills, coasts from North Carolina to Louisiana, Mexico and West Indies, Zones 7 to 11 Soil Slightly acid to alkaline, brackish OK, sand, shell mounds Drainage Dry Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Southern red cedar, turkey oak, longleaf pine, live oak, cabbage palmetto Propagation Untreated seed, sprouts, root or stem cuttings Wildlife Flowers fertilized by moths; larval plant for yucca giant skipper butterfly; fruits eaten by birds and mammals Related Species Y. flaccida, beargrass; Y. gloriosa, moundlily yucca, Y. filamentosa, Adam‘s needle

These two evergreen blueberries are very similar in appearance. The chief difference, as far as landscapers are concerned, is that V. darrowii tolerates more moisture, while V. myrsinites tolerates more drought. Use them wherever you need a small evergreen shrub. They can border a flower bed or substitute for a boxwood hedge in a colonial-­style garden. Or you could plant masses of them as a groundcover to eliminate expanses of lawn—both for aesthetic and environmental reasons. A groundcover of blueberries will prevent runoff, hold moisture in the soil, and provide a feast of berries for songbirds. Prune or cut back evergreen blueberries only during the winter, or you’ll be destroying the fruit.

Need a strong garden accent? Spanish bayonet is an excellent choice. Use it singly or in a giant clump; either way, this yucca lends a tropical feel to your garden. For a tidier appearance, cut spent bloom stalks and keep the old leaves trimmed off. Beargrass is the smallest of these yuccas, usually trunkless with arching leaves less than 2 feet high. The flower stalk is slender and rises far above the leaves, sometimes to 12 feet. It’s the one we saw most commonly used, being very showy and cold-­ hardy to Zone 4. Adam’s needle is also trunkless, but its leaves are rigid and have white threads on the borders. Moundlily yucca has wider leaves than beargrass and may develop several short trunks. ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

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LOW FLOWERING AND FRUITING SHRUBS

Mapleleaf viburnum on the Fiery Gizzard nature trail in Tennessee shows off its famous pink fall color.

Each of these ten shrubs has some distinctive characteristic that makes it outstanding. Most homeowners will use these low shrubs in front of

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taller evergreen shrubs; there they will provide years of dependable flowers or fall color. But there are other uses. All are exceptionally attractive in patio

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

pots and planters. On properties that are at least a half acre in size, these shrubs can be used in huge masses as tall groundcover.

New Jersey tea is an extremely well-­behaved and dependable small shrub. Nicely rounded, drought-­ tolerant, and adaptable to most gardens as well as to difficult ones, it is surprisingly little used outside of the prairie states. It can fit into a sunny flower garden with beebalms, coneflowers, spiked gayfeather, asters, and spotted phlox. There it can hide the legginess of some of the really tall flowers like Joepyeweed or giant rudbeckia. Or it can be massed to look like a thicket on either side of a driveway or around the water meter, but it won’t ever go wandering off on its own accord.

Alan Cressler

Andy Wasowski

107. Latin Name Ceanothus americanus Common Name New Jersey tea Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, can get to 4 feet Spacing 3 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, panicles 2 to 5 inches long, fragrant, about a month from early to midsummer Fruit Brown, ¼ inch Leaves 3 inches long, ovate with a long tip, sometimes a little rough-­textured, no fall color Native Range Meadows, prairies, savannahs, sunny stream banks, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich OK, sand OK, limestone OK Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Stout taproot Companion Plants Longleaf pine, post oak, redbay, serviceberry, sparkleberry, redbud, flowering dogwood, bluestems, Indiangrass, wiregrass, sunny garden flowers Propagation Seed is difficult Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, many species of native bees, wasps, bee flies, tachinid flies, beetles, and hairstreak butterflies; larval for the red-­fronted emerald moth and spring azure butterfly; attracts hummingbirds

108. Latin Name Clinopodium coccineum Common Name Scarlet calamint, red basil Usual Height ½ to 2½ feet, can reach 4 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Orange-­red to red, late summer to fall Fruit Tiny, tan, dry Leaves Evergreen, ½ to 1 inch, soft, aromatic Native Range Sandhills, dry open woods, Georgia to Mississippi, mostly Coastal Plain, Zones 8 to 9 Soil Acid, deep sand, rocky Drainage Dry, well drained Root System Deep Companion Plants Longleaf pine, sweetleaf, conradina, sandhill rosemary, yuccas, palmettos Propagation Fresh seed, softwood or semihardwood tip cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies Related Species C. georgianum (Calamintha georgiana, Satureja georgiana), Georgia basil, North Carolina to Louisiana, Zones 7 to 9 Most herbs grow in hot, dry, well-­drained sites. It’s these fiercely evaporative conditions that cause the plant to manufacture oils in an attempt to retain moisture in its leaves, and it is the oils that produce the distinctive herbal aromas and flavors. For most Southern gardeners, the chief use for both scarlet calamint and Georgia basil is in the herb garden or the flower bed. If your soil is not sandy and fast-­draining, use them in a raised bed or as a pot plant on a sunny porch. If you live where these basils are native, use them in mass plantings for summer color and to feed hummingbirds. They typically live about five years, so let them seed out. Scarlet calamint has an airy habit that contrasts well with yuccas and needle palm. Georgia basil will tolerate a little more shade and has flowers that are pale pink, lavender, or white. ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

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109. Latin Name Gaylussacia dumosa Common Name Dwarf huckleberry Usual Height 4 to 12 inches tall, might reach 20 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White or pale pink, small bells, spring Fruit Huckleberries, black, ¼ inch, early summer to fall Leaves ½- to 1-inch leaves, glossy, might remain green in winter Native Range Sandhills, flatwoods, dry, thin woods, eastern North America to the Mississippi, Zones 5 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, sandy, poor OK Drainage Wet in spring to dry in summer Root System Rhizomatous, should colonize to form a groundcover Companion Plants Pines, post oak, turkey oak, inkberry, wild azaleas and wild rhododendrons, blueberries, sphagnum moss Propagation Stratified seed, cuttings Wildlife Fruits eaten by cedar waxwing, bobwhite, prairie chicken, wild turkey, mourning dove, grouse; flowers and young fruits eaten by larvae of Henry’s elfin butterfly Related Species G. baccata, black huckleberry Dwarf huckleberry makes either a fine knee-­high groundcover or a low mass of shrubbery. In Zones 8b and 9, it is often evergreen, especially in protected locations. The leaves are teeny-­tiny, giving dwarf huckleberry an extremely fine texture. We ran across it often in home landscapes, especially in those dry, shady spots where ferns cannot survive. It can be used as a substitute for bracken in longleaf pine landscapes, even in those maintained by fire. Black huckleberry (Zones 4 to 8, but more common farther north) is 1 to 2 feet tall and notable for its red to gold fall coloration. It can be bought in sod form.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

110. Latin Name Hydrangea arborescens Common Name Wild hydrangea, sevenbark, smooth hydrangea Usual Height 3 to 5 feet, occasionally 10 feet Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 3- to 6-inch cluster, usually with fertile flowers in the middle and showy sterile flowers on the edges, on new wood, early summer, mildly fragrant Fruit Small, tan, ribbed and horned, tiny seeds, late fall Leaves 4 to 8 inches, soft green Native Range Rich woodlands, stream banks, bluffs, limestone or shale outcrops, eastern U.S., now Zones 4 to 8, moving steadily northward, thanks to gardeners Soil Very acid, acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist, does not tolerate flooding Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Tulip poplar, sourwood, musclewood, American holly, strawberry bush, mountain laurel, sweetshrub, Carolina silverbell, spicebush, leucothoe Propagation Stratified seed, softwood cuttings Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees, halictid bees, and masked bees; flowers and seeds eaten by wild turkey and the hydrangea leaf-­tier moth Wild hydrangea has been a favorite with gardeners since 1736. Some of the cultivars on the market have too many sterile flowers and overly big heads. The wild version is a lot daintier with flower heads held high and available for pollinators. Use wild hydrangea in shady spots where you want softness and summer color. For a tidier look in winter, you can cut the old stems down to about 4 inches; fresh new growth will appear in the spring and will be in full bloom by June. ‘Annabelle’ is considered to be a naturally occurring cultivar.

111. Latin Name Hypericum densiflorum Common Name Bushy St. John’s wort Usual Height 18 inches to 4 feet, can reach 6 feet Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow flowers less than 1 inch, in clusters of five to twenty-­five, showy, summer Fruit Small, tan, dry Leaves Very narrow, 2 inches, evergreen in Zones 8 to 9, yellow fall color Native Range Wet meadows, hillside seeps, lake edges, moist pinelands, New Jersey to Georgia west to Alabama, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, Zones 6 to 8, usable in Zone 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, sand, clay OK Drainage Moist to wet, well drained Root System Rhizomatous, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Loblolly pine, sweetgum, sweetbay, willow oak, alder, pinckneya, Walter’s viburnum, inkberry, American beautyberry, Piedmont azalea, swamp azalea, storax, arrowwood Propagation Root cuttings Wildlife Flowers attract butterflies; seed eaten by songbirds Bushy St. John’s wort looks best massed on the sunny edge of shade or even as a sunny, waist-­high foundation planting. Or you could plant just one in a semishady corner and let it spread as it likes. It is also perfect for an overly moist swale or ditch, a leach field, or on a sunny stream bank or lake shore. In the Deep South, it is evergreen and covered with yellow blossoms in June, giving welcome color in the after-­spring lull. Farther north it doesn’t flower until midsummer or even late summer, followed by yellow or orange fall foliage. After the leaves drop, it shows off its coppery stems, giving ornamental value in all seasons.

112. Latin Name Hypericum frondosum Common Name Golden St. John’s wort Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, rarely to 9 feet Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow to gold, 1 to 2 inches across, numerous, early summer Fruit ½ inch, tan, dry Leaves 1 to 2 inches, soft, blue-­green, evergreen in a mild winter or turning chartreuse in fall Native Range Cedar glades, river bluffs, rock outcrops, rich woodlands, southern Indiana to East Texas and South Carolina, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rocky or sandy OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates flooding of short duration Root System Shallow Companion Plants Eastern red cedar, post oak, other oaks and hickories Propagation Untreated seed, cuttings Wildlife Seeds eaten mostly by songbirds, also upland game birds Related Species H. hypericoides (Ascyrum hypericoides), St. Andrew’s cross, Zones 5 to 10 Golden St. John’s wort is a handsome shrub with coppery, exfoliating bark. In June, when little else is blooming, it delivers a welcome shower of golden flowers to the shady garden. Bright dappled shade or a half day of slanting sun give the best results. If you’ve got denser shade or a very dry woodland setting, use St. Andrew’s cross. It has tiny leaves and tiny, cross-­ shaped yellow flowers that bloom in September. The flowers aren’t especially showy, but there is something about the dainty way the whole plant floats that makes it especially appealing. You’ll find it growing wild in dry, difficult habitats with sandhill rosemary, sparkleberry, post oak, turkey oak, and pines. It is shorter and shorter-­lived than St. John’s wort, but seeds out to keep a population going for you. ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

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113. Latin Name Itea virginica Common Name ltea, Virginia willow, Virginia sweetspire Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet, rarely 12 feet Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 4-inch spires, late spring Fruit Tan, dry, fall Leaves 2 to 4 inches, narrow, soft; yellow, red, or purple in late fall Native Range Swamps, floodplains, hammocks, eastern U.S., Zones 6 to 10, usable in Zone 5 Soil Very acid, acid, lime OK, rich Drainage Moist to wet Root System Will likely colonize to form a groundcover or thicket Companion Plants Alder, bald cypress, swamp bay, swamp chestnut oak, beech, clethra, swamp azalea, coastal leucothoe, wax myrtle, highbush blueberry, fetterbush, strawberry bush Propagation Seed, cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by bees and butterflies; seed eaten by birds ltea is an extremely useful landscape plant. I’ve used it successfully in those deadly brick planters that builders like to stick under the eaves. Rain doesn’t get in there. There’s no air circulation and no drainage. Plastic plants seem to be the only hope. But with moisture from a sprinkler system or soaker hose, itea drapes itself over the box and even blooms for you. Naturally, it is happier where its roots are free to roam a little to make a small, mass planting. Put it by a deck, on the edge of the lawn, or on the fringe of a wooded area. If you have a creek, itea provides invaluable erosion control. There, or pondside, with its feet practically in the water, it will gladly tolerate a half day of sun—even afternoon sun—and produce better fall color for it.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

114. Latin Name Malvaviscus arboreus (formerly M. arboreus var. drummondii) Common Name Turk’s cap, sleeping hibiscus, Drummond wax mallow Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, occasionally 9 feet Spacing 4 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Red, 1 to 3 inches long, midsummer to midfall Fruit ½-inch red berries, slightly juicy, fall Leaves 4 to 7 inches, dormant in winter Native Range Live oak woods, pinelands, Gulf Coastal Plain from Florida to Texas, Mexico, and Cuba, Zones 8 to 10, now naturalized to Zone 7 in North Carolina Soil Acid, lime OK, clay OK, poor OK, saline OK Drainage Dry to moist Root System Clump-­forming, might colonize Companion Plants Dwarf palmetto, saw palmetto, yucca, yaupon holly, Carolina jessamine, ebony spleenwort, bracken, spiderwort, passionflower, wild ageratum, American beautyberry Propagation Fresh, untreated seed, softwood cuttings, root division Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, cloudless giant sulphur, dogface butterfly, and other butterflies I love Turk’s cap. It blooms all summer and is a great hummingbird attractor. We found this old-­fashioned, long-­lived garden perennial tucked under live oaks and southern magnolias, along fences, and in dark corners of many old, undisturbed gardens of nineteenth-­ century Gulf coast houses. I first met it in my great-­ grandmother’s garden in East Texas. In the wild, it’s found among the plants listed above. In a flower garden, use it where you want waist-­high height and color in partial shade. It can take full sun, but the leaves get puckered. Turk’s cap is very effective when planted in masses under a huge old live oak, even in an existing groundcover of English ivy. To keep it waist-­high and compact, cut it back to 4 or 5 inches after frost every year.

115. Latin Name Neviusia alabamensis Common Name Neviusia, snow wreath Usual Height 3 to 6 feet, occasionally 8 feet high Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1 inch, in clusters of three to eight, yellow in bud, fluffy, faintly fragrant, early spring, on last year’s wood Fruit Small, dry, may not be viable Leaves 1 to 3½ inches long, soft, prominent veins underneath Native Range Rare and endangered, thin woods, shale or limestone cliffs, isolated populations in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri, Zones 7 to 8, listed hardy in Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK Drainage Moist, alkaline preferred, rich OK, well drained Root System Shallow, fibrous, might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Red maple, pawpaw, rusty blackhaw viburnum, scarlet buckeye, spicebush, itea, silverbell, storax, atamasco lily, Solomon’s seal, Louisiana phlox Propagation Softwood cuttings, root division Wildlife Deer-­resistant I’ve talked to many of you who live on limestone and heard your frustration at not being able to use acid-­ loving shrubs such as azalea. Well, here’s good news. Sweet, creamy-­flowered neviusia blooms at the same time as azaleas, but it loves limestone. It’s also versatile enough to do well in non-­limy soils. Louise Wrinkle in Birmingham, Alabama, says she has found it easy to use, and that its cascading character looks especially lovely on a moist stream bank. Its arching stems are also effective hanging over a wooden fence or a stone wall. This beauty might perhaps be a relic from as much as twenty-­four million years ago, according to M. Godfrey. Its only relative, N. cliftonii, also rare, is in Shasta County, California.

116. Latin Name Viburnum acerifolium Common Name Mapleleaf viburnum Usual Height 4 to 5 feet, occasionally 8 feet Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Creamy white, 2- to 3-inch clusters, spring after leaves Fruit ⅓ inch, purply black, juicy, late fall Leaves Maple-­shaped, 3 inches; pink apricot, red, or purple in late fall Native Range Bluffs, wooded ravines, rich hardwoods in mountain and piedmont, live oak woods, eastern U.S., Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Might colonize to form a thicket Companion Plants Spicebush, strawberry bush, itea, Christmas fern, green-­and-­gold, partridgeberry, mayapple, fringed loosestrife, zigzag goldenrod, threadleaf bluestar Propagation Semihardwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers attract bees and butterflies; fruit eaten by wild turkey, bluebird, cardinal, great crested flycatcher, brown thrasher, hermit thrush, cedar waxwing, pileated woodpecker, red squirrel, white-­tailed deer; flowers and immature fruit eaten by larvae of Henry’s elfin butterfly; larval for spring azure butterfly Mapleleaf viburnum is one of the best shrubs to use in the kind of deep, dappled shade found under a layer of canopy and then a layer of deciduous understory trees. Unlike most understory shrubs, it blooms well in the spring without direct sunlight. With as little as one hour of sun, it produces fine fruits, making it a favorite stopping-­off place for woodland birds. But its chief asset is that it colors extravagantly well in the fall, even in the shade. (See photo at the start of this section.) To make a glorious autumn scene, plant zigzag goldenrod at its feet and threadleaf bluestar on the edge of sunlight. This attractive native shrub forms gentle thickets, but it is a bit slow to do so. You might want to plant a cluster yourself to get a good start. ACCENTS AND LOW SHRUBS

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8 VINES

V

ines can range in size from ropes as big around as your arm to fragile little plants that produce barely 6 feet of skinny stem, every inch of which dies back at first frost and has to be regrown the next year. Some vines have to be climbing upward to bloom. Others flower when they are horizontal, or even draping themselves over a wall or the rim of a planter. The methods of climbing also differ. Virginia creeper and crossvine can scale the side of your house with no help from you at all. You just have to cut them back periodically where they get a little too enthusiastic. Others, such as passionflower, clematis, wisteria, smilax, Carolina jessamine, and coral honeysuckle, can climb only when they are given a tree, a shrub, a structure like an arbor, or wires to cling to. They also need pruning to keep them from getting too heavy for their support system. Don’t let the delicate look of a vine fool you; you don’t ever want one to grow on your roof. If the stems insinuate

Virginia creeper has dependable, brilliant red fall color. The blue fruits on red stems are showy also, but don’t last long, as songbirds adore them.

themselves between the shingles and then grow fat, they can exert an amazing amount of pressure, leaving you with a potentially staggering bill for roof repairs and water damage. Trim them off in a neat line under the eaves once a year, or more often if needed. All vines like to have their roots damp and cool, but they bloom best up in the sun. So if you have a choice, always plant your vines on the shady north or

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east side of a fence or freestanding wall. They’ll grow up and over toward the sun by themselves. If you’re trying to get a vine established where the soil is hot and sunny, mulch the roots and then place a stepping stone or a few bricks, or even a piece of wood, over the mulch to keep the roots cool and moist. This is, by no means, a definitive collection of Southern vines. I feel guilty about not including even one grapevine. Trouble is, they vary so much from vine to vine, with regard to rambunctiousness, flavor, and fall color, that I’ve never been able to settle on just one to extol. If you have a grapevine, or access to one, by all means use it and enjoy it. Native grapes make popular food for wildlife and, of course, marvelous jelly for humans. I have expanded this chapter greatly, but there is still a prominent native vine I left out—happily. Yes, it has superb fall color, and yes, it provides superior food for wildlife. And, yes, it is very easy to grow, thriving under any conditions. But somehow I can’t make myself feel at all guilty for omitting poison ivy.

EVERGREEN VINES

Lonicera sempervirens var. sulphurea—the yellow form of coral honeysuckle.

Evergreen vines are especially useful in those narrow spaces between houses where you want something green—not just a bare fence—but there is no room for shrubs because you need room to walk. They are also

useful on a wall or fence that you want to act as an attractive backdrop all year, especially in the winter. In the Deep South, the following four vines are dependably evergreen. Further north or at

higher elevations, the dependability of their greenery will vary with the severity or mildness of your winters. In a really hard winter, they might go deciduous or turn purplish, but they will return to fresh, new green in the spring. VINES

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117. Latin Name Bignonia capreolata Common Name Crossvine Usual Height High-­climbing Spacing 4 feet for groundcover, 8 to 29 feet on a wall or fence Sun or Shade Bloom 2-inch trumpet, red and yellow or all red, early spring Fruit 4- to 8-inch pod, tan, dry Leaves Evergreen, dark, five to fifteen leaflets, royal purple stems and veins in winter Attachment Thready, three-­pronged holdfasts or twining Native Range Floodplains, hammocks, fencerows, upland woods, limestone cliffs, eastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry, brief flooding OK Root System Deep, might colonize Companion Plants Bald cypress, swamp bay, post oak, eastern red cedar Propagation Fresh seed, softwood cuttings, root cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds and butterflies; winter foliage browsed by deer Talk about versatility: crossvine can climb to the top of the highest tree or it can form an attractive groundcover. Either way, you’ll have to do some pruning because it’s a fast grower, sending out 10- to 20-foot shoots each year. It’s ideal for a masonry wall or the side of your house, because (1) it doesn’t require a trellis or support wires and (2) its holdfasts are delicate and undamaging, unlike those on English ivy or trumpet creeper. Used this way, it needs to be trimmed back from windows, doors, and eaves as needed, normally once or twice a year. Used as a groundcover—in large shady areas with few big trees and no understory shrubbery—it should be mown regularly to keep it from climbing or mounding up.

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118. Latin Name Gelsemium sempervirens Common Name Carolina jessamine, poor man’s rope Usual Height High-­climbing Spacing 8 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 1- to 1½-inch trumpets, fragrant, early spring, often around Christmas also Fruit Tiny, tan, dry Leaves Evergreen, 2 to 3 inches long, light green, glossy Attachment Twining Native Range Upland woods, hedgerows, pine savannahs, hammocks, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist, brief flooding OK Root System Deep, might colonize Companion Plants White oak, black oak, post oak, live oak, pines Propagation Seed, semihardwood or hardwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds and spicebush swallowtail butterfly Related Species G. rankinii, swamp jessamine, Zones 8 to 9 Carolina jessamine is so useful and dependable that many adventurous gardeners get bored with it. But for black-­thumb gardeners like me, dependable has it all over challenging. My Carolina jessamine drapes itself over half our balcony and gives off a sharp, sweet fragrance. It can also be used on a fence, trellis, arbor, telephone pole, or a dead tree that you’re leaving for the wildlife to inhabit. For those who tend to overwater and drown their plants, the swamp jessamine might do better. It doesn’t have the sweet smell, but it tolerates much longer periods of sogginess. Its golden blossoms appear in midspring, after the Carolina jessamine is done.

119. Latin Name Lonicera sempervirens (including L. s. var. sulphurea) Common Name Coral honeysuckle Usual Height 15 feet Spacing 8 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 2-inch-­long-­by-3-inch-­wide clusters of narrow scarlet (or golden yellow) trumpets with orange tips, midspring and intermittently until frost Fruit Red berries, late summer, fall Leaves Usually evergreen in Zones 8 and 9, 1 to 3 inches long, blue-­green, smooth (not fuzzy like Japanese honeysuckle), and the flowers emerge from a fused oval leaf Attachment Twining Native Range Floodplains, pine woods, thickets, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred, clay loam OK Drainage Moist, short flooding OK Root System Deep, might colonize Companion Plants Oaks, hickories, serviceberry, possumhaw, viburnums, fringe tree, ebony spleenwort, Christmas fern, green-­and-­gold, partridgeberry, smilacina, spigelia Propagation Softwood or semihardwood cuttings in summer, layering Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bumblebees and long-­tongued bees, and butterflies; fruits eaten by quail, purple finch, goldfinch, hermit thrush, robin; larval for spring azure butterfly and hummingbird moth Our pretty, native coral honeysuckle is neither invasive nor aggressive. It can be used in any of the ways vines are used, but I think it is the premier choice for an arbor because it never makes a mess with drippy, juicy fruits. It is almost always blooming, and attracts hummingbirds right to where you are sitting. It provides cooling shade in the summer, but loses enough leaves to allow warming sunshine down into the sitting area in the winter. There is a beautiful golden-­yellow variety, pictured at the head of this section, that is marketed under the cultivar names of ‘Sulphurea’ or ‘John Clayton.’

120. Latin Name Smilax smallii Common Name Jacksonvine, jacksonbrier Usual Height High-­climbing Spacing One is enough Sun or Shade Bloom Greenish, tiny, late spring Fruit Dark red to black, juicy, on female plants Leaves Evergreen, 2 to 4 inches, glossy, oval, except root sprouts might have arrowhead-­ shaped leaves Attachment Tendrils, twining, only very old canes and root sprouts have spines Native Range Floodplains, upland woods, hammocks, bluffs, dunes, southeastern U.S., Zones 7 to 9, mostly Coastal Plain Soil Acid Drainage Dry to moist, brief flooding OK Root System 1- to 2-foot tubers, will colonize Companion Plants Pine, post oak, hickory, live oak, willow oak Propagation Cuttings, root division Wildlife Flowers attract bees; fruits eaten by fish crow, mockingbird, catbird, robin, wild turkey, hermit thrush, thrasher, pileated woodpecker, and mammals; fruit and foliage eaten by white-­tailed deer; thickets provide cover for birds and rabbits Both evergreen and deciduous smilaxes are found in virtually every habitat. Your task with any smilax is not to coddle and nurture it, but to keep it cut back—it can make a formidable thicket. But that’s really all the attention it needs. On the aesthetic side, it sports very attractive glossy leaves. Louise Wrinkle in Birmingham, Alabama, trained one of hers on a wire over a formal fountain, while another one forms an arch over one of the doorways to her elegant home. Because the new canes of jacksonvine are not spiny, they are easy to handle. As they grow, they harden into self-­supporting canes. After about three years, if the canes get too big and woody, cut the vine to the ground and start over. Do this in early spring.

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Mary Anne Borge, the-­natural-­web​.org

DECIDUOUS VINES

If you grow Dutchman’s pipe, you will get an abundance of gorgeous pipevine swallowtail butterflies. They are so named because they lay their eggs on pipevines, like Dutchman’s pipe. The eggs hatch, the caterpillars feast on the leaves, which are so abundant you won’t mind, and then the chrysalises get attached to the stems, and pretty soon you have more butterflies.

These vines are all exceptionally valuable to wildlife. Heartleaf peppervine, American bittersweet, curly clematis, and Virginia creeper have fruits that are especially attractive to our favorite songbirds. Groundnut, trumpet vine, American bittersweet, curly clematis, both of the

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Dutchman’s pipes, and passionflower have flowers with sweet nectar that bring hummingbirds, butterflies, and the delightful hummingbird moths to our gardens, as well as many species of native bees. To attract even more butterflies, never use poisons and rejoice in sacrificing a few

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

leaves to butterfly and sphinx moth larvae. If I had a fenced backyard or a walled courtyard, I would want to use as wide a variety of these vines as possible because they would provide color and attract wildlife at every season, from spring until well after frost.

W.D. and Dolphia Bransford, PCD

Brenda K. Loveless

121. Latin Name Ampelopsis cordata Common Name Heartleaf peppervine, raccoon grape Usual Height 25 feet, can climb higher Spacing 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Inconspicuous, greenish, spring or summer Fruit Clusters of small grapes, inedible, fall Leaves Heart-­shaped, 5 inches long and 4 inches wide with coarsely toothed edges Attachment Tendrils Native Range Stream banks, open woodlands, floodplains, southeastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Alkaline OK, sandy OK, clay OK Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Easy to transplant, may not be rhizomatous Companion Plants White ash, sweetgum, Shumard red oak, American persimmon, yellow buckeye Propagation Seed Wildlife Pollinated by short-­tongued bees and other insects; fruits eaten by mockingbirds, bluebirds, catbirds, cedar waxwings, and, I presume, raccoons There are three reasons to grow heartleaf peppervine. One, the fruit is showy for months. The loose clusters of grapes (yes, it is a cousin to grapes) ripen from late summer to midfall, slowly turning from green to orange to rose to purple to dark blue. The second reason is that it seems to be well-­behaved. The third reason is that it grows well in dry or limestone gardens where there aren’t so many choices. Since the fruit is the object, give heartleaf peppervine plenty of sun, rich soil, and supplemental water to get the best show. At its feet plant sunny fall-­blooming flowers, such as zigzag goldenrod, bluestem goldenrod, Short’s aster, calico aster, wild ageratum, or fall obedient plant, to make a stunning early autumn photo opportunity.

122. Latin Name Apios americana (A. tuberosa) Common Name Groundnut, potato bean Usual Height 10 to 20 feet Spacing 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 2- to 6-inch clusters of dusty-­rose to purple flowers, early to late summer, fragrant Fruit 2- to 4-inch string bean, yellow-­green, edible Leaves 6 to 9 inches long, comprising three to seven leaflets Attachment Twining Native Range Stream banks, sunny edges of moist woods, thickets, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Slightly acid to slightly alkaline, rich, sand preferred Drainage Moist, well drained Root System A string of tubers, some as big as potatoes, aggressive, nitrogen-­fixing Companion Plants Southern sugar maple, southern red oak, sweetgum, pawpaw, butterweed, pale coneflower, sundrops, Stokes’ aster, threadleaf coreopsis Propagation Seeds planted in the spring, tubers planted in the fall Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees, bumblebees, and other native bees; visited by butterflies and hummingbirds; larval for silver-­spotted skipper and southern cloudywing I’ve seen groundnut in gardens and loved the shiny, dark green leaves and the sweetpea-­like, very fragrant flowers. It does well on a sturdy trellis or arbor. Its roots are rather aggressive and need regular control. Although it is a handsome landscape plant, all the literature is on eating groundnut, a favorite of Amerinds and now becoming a major crop in Japan. The plant is infused with a milky sap that is mildly toxic, so if you decide to control your groundnut by regularly eating the tubers, first peel them. If you boil them, throw off the water. VINES

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123. Latin Name Campsis radicans Common Name Trumpet vine, trumpet creeper Usual Height 25 to 40 feet Spacing 5 to 20 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Orange, 3- to 4-inch trumpets in large clusters, very showy, late spring and all summer Fruit 5- to 6-inch fat curved beans, sticky, split open to release papery wafers of seed Leaves 5 to 9 inches long, consisting of seven to eleven leaflets, light green Attachment Aerial rootlets, can be rough on soft brick or crumbling mortar Native Range Floodplain forests, eastern half of the U.S., Zones 6 to 10, naturalized to Zone 4 Soil Any Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Woody taproot, but definitely will colonize Companion Plants Any, but trumpet vine needs its own space Propagation Seed, root cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by hummingbirds, ants, orioles, hummingbird moth, sphinx moth, and long-­tongued bees; larval for the trumpet vine sphinx moth Trumpet vine sends out slender, smooth woody branches 3 to 5 feet long each year in a halo around its old woody head, so it grows only that high above its support, whether that’s a waist-­high pillar or a telephone pole. If you cut off the branches each winter and cut off the suckers each spring, you can easily keep trumpet vine just where you want it in your garden. Otherwise, it will gallop all over. It is too strong for a wood arbor, but is excellent on a metal one or on a sturdy fence or masonry wall. I would not let it grow up my house. Most trumpet vines for sale are hybridized with the Chinese trumpet vine. The golden yellow cultivar is native to Texas.

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124. Latin Name Celastrus scandens Common Name American bittersweet Usual Height 20 feet, but can get higher Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Greenish, inconspicuous, early summer Fruit Panicles of five to sixty orange capsules that open to reveal red seeds, very showy, female vines only, October Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, dark green or yellowish green, glossy Attachment Twining stems that can get over an inch thick at base Native Range Woodlands, thickets, rocky slopes, bluffs, and fencerows, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 8, rare and scattered in Zone 8 Soil Any, poor recommended, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Rhizomatous, will colonize Companion Plants No woody plants, as it strangles trees and shrubs Propagation Softwood cuttings, layering, root cuttings, suckers Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, halictid and mason bees, and butterflies; fruits eaten by robin, eastern bluebird, and wild turkey Everyone knows that Oriental bittersweet is as invasive as kudzu. American bittersweet is far from wimpy, but worth growing if you love cutting the colorful branches of bittersweet each fall for decorating the house or for art projects. Plant it on an arbor or an outbuilding in full sun and poor soil, and don’t water it. Don’t plant it near valuable trees and shrubs. Andy’s pretty picture shows it climbing up a shrubby dogwood with white berries, Cornus sericea. In the spring, be ruthless with suckers and seedlings. It used to be that you had to plant several bittersweets to be sure of getting a female to fruit and a male to pollinate, but a new cultivar called ‘Autumn Revolution’ has both male and female flowers, so you can buy just one vine.

125. Latin Name Clematis crispa Common Name Curly clematis, blue jasmine Usual Height 6 to 10 feet Spacing 2 feet apart to cover a wall or trellis Sun or Shade Bloom 1 to 2 inches; blue, pink, lavender, or white; often two-­tone, beautiful detailing, delicately fragrant, Easter and again in early fall, sometimes from spring to fall Fruit Tiny, dry Leaves 1- to 4-inch leaflets Attachment Twining Native Range Floodplains, eastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9, mostly Coastal Plain and Mississippi floodplain Soil Acid, clay OK Drainage Moist to wet Root System Might colonize Companion Plants Musclewood, mayhaw, possumhaw, Kansas gayfeather, goldenrod, salt cordgrass Propagation Seed, softwood cuttings in summer, root cuttings Wildlife Flowers attract butterflies; provides pollen and nectar for honeybees; seed eaten by finches, sparrow, juncos, redpolls, buntings, grosbeaks Related Species C. viorna, leatherflower, Zones 5 to 8 Curly clematis usually dies to the roots after frost and doesn’t reappear until the following spring. Sometimes, if the winter is very mild, it becomes deciduous with the stems remaining alive. It is useful on a small trellis or a picket fence, and can also be used in sunny but moist planters or draped over a wall; unlike most vines, it doesn’t have to climb to bloom. I would never have thought of planting it in grass, but I once saw a lovely display of two dozen plants showing an immense array of colors in a roughly mowed swale. Leatherflower is the better choice for the piedmont and the mountains. It blooms late, usually in early summer, and the flowers are more closed, and range from rust to a soft purple.

126. Latin Name Decumaria barbara Common Name Decumaria, climbing hydrangea, woodvamp Usual Height High-­climbing Spacing One per tree or each 10 feet of wall Sun or Shade Bloom White, fragrant clusters 2 to 4 inches across, on new wood, late spring to midsummer Fruit Clusters of ¼-inch fancy ribbed urns, tan, dry, fall and winter Leaves 3 to 5 inches, dark green glossy, fall color is half ecru, half green Attachment Rootlets Native Range Hammocks, low woods, southeastern U.S. east of Mississippi River, Zones 7 to 9, probably hardy in Zone 6 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist, seasonal flooding OK Root System Does not colonize Companion Plants Beech, tulip tree, spruce pine, magnolias, American persimmon, titi, redbud, Florida anise, wax myrtle, swamp azalea Propagation Softwood cuttings; slow (seven to seventeen years) to bloom from seed Wildlife Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators Decumaria is sometimes found sprawling on the ground, but it won’t bloom there; it must climb to produce flowers. Most people plant it beneath a tree, allowing it to grow up the trunk. Unlike other vines that just have thick stems down low in the shade, decumaria encircles the trunk evenly in an airy fringe of beautiful shining greenery with white flowers 1 to 2 feet out from the trunk, and up as far as you can see. We also saw one trained on a long brick wall, where it was very handsome. This vine is close kin to hydrangea, but it isn’t the same as the three Asian “climbing hydrangeas” sold in many nurseries and catalogs, one being Hydrangea petiolaris anomala, one Decumaria sinensis, and one Schizophragma hydrangeoides. Check your Latin names carefully when buying. VINES

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George H. Bruso

Alan Cressler

127. Latin Name Isotrema macrophyllum (formerly Aristolochia macrophylla) Common Name Largeleaf Dutchman’s pipe Usual Height 20 to 30 feet Spacing 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 2-inch curved trumpets, greenish with a showy purple lip, early summer, oddly scented Fruit 3 to 4 inches long, looks like a cucumber until it turns tan and splits open, early fall Leaves Heart-­shaped, overlapping, glossy, 4 to 12 inches long, no good fall color Attachment Twining Native Range Moist woodlands and stream banks, mostly southern Appalachians, Pennsylvania to Georgia, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Slightly acid to alkaline, rich loams preferred, sand OK, clay OK Drainage Moist, well drained, but don’t let it dry out Root System Non-­rhizomatous Companion Plants River birch, white oak, marginal fern, Christmas fern Propagation Seed, division, cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by flies and gnats; larval for pipevine swallowtail butterfly; attracts many species of butterflies Related Species I. tomentosa, woolly Dutchman’s pipe, sometimes lumped with A. macrophylla, native to Kentucky south to Florida Panhandle and west to central Texas and Kansas, naturalized to Great Lakes, Zones 5 to 9 Largeleaf Dutchman’s pipe is an old-­fashioned favorite in Southern gardens. Because the large, heart-­shaped leaves overlap like shingles, they provide dense shade on a trellis. Traditionally, this vine has been used at one end of a sunporch, on an arbor, or to hide an ugly chain-­link fence. The unusual flowers, usually hidden under the leaves so you have to hunt for them, attract the large iridescent blue pipevine swallowtail butterfly. Dutchman’s pipe is fast-­growing and can be whacked back every year. Woolly Dutchman’s pipe, the more southerly westerly version with smaller, woolly leaves, should have more drought tolerance, but is often found in wetlands.

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128. Latin Name Parthenocissus quinquefolia Common Name Virginia creeper Usual Height High-­climbing Spacing 3 to 5 feet for groundcover, 20 feet for wall Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny, inconspicuous, late spring Fruit ¼ inch, blue, on red stems, early fall, in showy 3-inch clusters Leaves Leaves of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets, 2 to 8 inches long, mauve to red in early fall Attachment Tendrils that turn adhesive Native Range Upland woods, bottomlands, hedgerows, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 11 Soil Any, saline OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep, branches can root at nodes to form groundcover Companion Plants Pines, post oak, live oak, beech, tulip poplar, eastern red cedar, white ash Propagation Fresh seed, semihardwood cuttings, layering Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees and leaf-­cutting and other native bees; fruits eaten by chickadee, white-­breasted nuthatch, mockingbird, catbird, finch, flycatcher, scarlet tanager, tree swallow, vireo, warbler, downy woodpecker, robin; larval for sphinx moths Perhaps the most important thing to know about Virginia creeper is that it has five leaflets. That’s how you can tell it from poison ivy, which has three leaflets but otherwise looks very similar. The stems’ aerial rootlets have disks that fasten onto wood or masonry. This vine is lushly green all spring and summer, brilliantly red in fall, and covered with black berries for songbirds during fall and winter. But it’s a vigorous climber, so keep it trimmed away from windows and roofs. Another important use is as groundcover, especially in post oak woods. There, upkeep consists of pulling it off the tree trunks once a year. In this shady environment, its fall color is mauve and pink instead of red.

129. Latin Name Passiflora incarnata Common Name Passionflower, maypop Usual Height 6 feet, occasionally 15 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender (white), 3 inches across, summer Fruit Pale yellow, 2 inches long, edible, early fall Leaves 3 to 6 inches long, three-­lobed, soft, green until first hard frost Attachment Tendrils Native Range Fields, pine woods, thin live oak woods, thin scrub, fencerows, southeastern U.S. and Bermuda, Zones 6 to 10 Soil Any except saline, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Deep, might colonize to form a groundcover Companion Plants Live oak, palmetto, loblolly, sweetgum, eastern red cedar Propagation Seed, cuttings Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and Gulf fritillary butterfly; larval plant for zebra longwing, Julia, Gulf fritillary, and variegated fritillary butterflies Passionflower has large lavender flowers that are arranged in unbelievably intricate and fantastical layers. This is one of those vines that gets a fresh start each year, so it never gets too big or ungainly. It has tendrils for climbing, but it is often found sprawling along the ground, where it seems to bloom just as—well—passionately as if it were on a fence. For several years now, a friend has used passionflower as a groundcover underneath a live oak. His only maintenance is, from time to time, to discourage it from climbing up the tree. I let mine clamber up a small tree in the courtyard outside my office window; I love to watch the Gulf fritillary life cycle take place as orange caterpillars turn into orange butterflies.

130. Latin Name Wisteria frutescens (includes W. macrostachya) Common Name American wisteria, Kentucky wisteria Usual Height Low-­climbing to 30 feet Spacing 6 to 8 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender blue (white), 4- to 6-inch clusters, late spring, on new wood, after leaves emerge, fragrant Fruit 2- to 4-inch pod, tan, not velvety Leaves Five to nineteen leaflets, dark green, glossy Attachment Twining Native Range Floodplains, gum swamps, upland thickets, stream banks, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Slightly acid to neutral, rich preferred Drainage Moist, tolerant of seasonal flooding Root System Deep, might colonize, stems might root at nodes Companion Plants Sweetbay, river birch, alder, possumhaw, blackgum, inkberry, viburnums Propagation Cuttings (takes too many years to bloom from seed) Wildlife Provides pollen and nectar for eastern carpenter bees; larval for Zarucco duskywing and long-­tailed skipper butterflies American wisteria has the potential to be far superior to the commonly used Asian species. First, its leaves are prettier—a dark, shiny green. It’s also much better behaved. All that is needed is for a few innovative nurseries to select the most outstanding specimens and make them available to the public. Qualities to choose for are rich color, outstanding fragrance, and highly glossy leaves. A white selection, ‘Nivea,’ has already been made. American wisteria blooms after the leaves come out instead of on bare wood. Use it on an arbor, pergola, garden house, fence, or lattice. That’s what I wrote twenty-­five years ago. Some genius did just what I’d hoped. American wisteria is now sold by the giant wholesaler Monrovia, and that means you can get it from your local hardware store. VINES

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9 SHADY GROUNDCOVERS

T

he southeastern United States is blessed with a rich array of low-­ growing evergreen and flowering groundcovers—only a small sampling of which could be included in this book. Most of those I did include where ones we’d seen thriving—not merely surviving—in at least three gardens. This told me that (1) they were available from at least some nurseries, (2) they could be transplanted and established successfully, and (3) they were not terribly hard to grow in a home landscape. You’ll notice as you read about these groundcovers that most are rare and endangered in the wild, especially the evergreens. When you go to buy them at a nursery, you’ll discover that they are not easy to find and, if you should come across them, chances are they won’t be available in large quantities. Why? Because there hasn’t been a great demand for them by the gardening public. The typical home gardener has never even heard of them. Or, if they have heard of them and have tried to grow them, they probably got discouraged. Most modern

home landscapes are too harsh for these groundcovers. First, you have to understand that most groundcovers and woodland flowers are native only to stable hardwood forests where conditions are predictable. In the spring, while the deciduous trees are still leafless, these natives get ample sunlight to warm up the soil and help them bloom. Later, in the summer, the fully leafed-­out trees provide filtered shade to keep these natives from becoming sunburned. The soil is even more important. If you’ve ever walked through a hardwood forest, you must have noticed that wonderful bounciness underfoot. That’s because the soil is rich in leaf mold, well aerated by earthworms, and covered with a loose mulch of decomposing leaves. On a typical forest floor, there are three years of leaves visible at all times. The top 1 to 2 inches is recognizably leaves. Beneath that is an inch of half-­ decomposed leaves, and then an inch or so of compost. Below all that, the compost is mixed with the soil. If the soil is basically sandy or sterile, all the nutrients, except for some minerals, come

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from the composted leaves. This mulch is doing all the work of enabling the soil to capture rainfall, retard evaporation, and modulate temperatures. Now, let’s look at the typical urban or suburban landscape—especially yours. You, or the folks who owned the house before you, have probably been compacting the soil for years simply by walking on it and watering it. You’ve probably been using herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides, which, among other things, have killed or seriously wounded your earthworms and other necessary soil organisms. And, I’ll bet, you rake and bag your leaves in the fall, so there’s no leaf mulch. You no doubt have lots of pines because they are fast-­ growing and evergreen. But, being evergreen, they don’t let light and warmth in during March and April the way deciduous trees do. If you have hardwood trees, you have pruned them up high to get as much sun on your lawn as possible. And, very likely, you don’t have a single understory tree to help make up the shade.

This hard, sterile, overcontrolled environment is not what a woodland groundcover wants. Neither are other modern land uses, such as parking lots, schoolyards, shopping centers, or pine plantations. So, it’s obvious why native groundcovers are becoming scarce—they are losing their habitats. Providing a safe haven in your landscape for threatened groundcovers can be a noble act. But please use good sense. If you know of plants that are destined to be bulldozed, then by all means rescue them, and give them a home if you can. And if your home environment is not suitable, call your local arboretum or nature preserve, or a friend whose landscape is suitable where the groundcovers will thrive and multiply. If you’d like to use a native groundcover but have a lawn now, can you convert? Yes, but it will take two to five years. This is what must happen: 1. The trees on or bordering your property will have to grow to a size that will provide sufficient shade. If you don’t have deciduous trees, plant some. No need to poison your lawn; when enough shade develops, it will kill off the grass. To speed things along, you can spread about 4 inches of pine needles, shredded bark, or compost on top of the grass. 2. Allow your soil to reconstitute itself. Stop using pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and

Newly planted commercial landscape at Martin Marietta Aggregates in Raleigh, North Carolina, imitates a forest floor. Design by LA Carole Cameron and native plant expert Margaret Reid using rescued woodland groundcover and flowers.

anything else that kills off microorganisms in the soil. Stop raking and bagging leaves. Let them decompose to renew and aerate the soil. In other words, be lazy. If the leaves don’t decompose, add compost starter. As your soil starts developing sponginess, buy and add mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae are fungi that grow at the ends of the plant’s roots and negotiate the acquisition of food and water for the plant. Compost unpoisoned grass cuttings to use as additional mulch. Do not use poisoned grass cuttings. If you use herbicides on your lawn, the poisons will not disappear

with composting and will harm or downright kill your woodland groundcovers. 3. When your conditions are right, do not go into the wilds and dig up groundcovers. Remember, they are endangered. Find the ones you want in local nurseries or mail order. If you own a wooded property and already have native groundcovers, protect them and help them multiply. If deer, rabbits, or other critters are nibbling at them and your supply is small, protect them with a chicken-­wire barrier until you have a population large enough to share with the wildlife.

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EVERGREEN SHADY GROUNDCOVERS

This moss lawn (Thuidium delicatulum) was once a grass lawn for children to play on. After they grew up, Louise Smith quit fighting the moss and let it take over. The result is this lovely, smooth patch of velvet. Maintenance consists of mowing in spring and fall to cut down the delicate flowers that germinate in the moss.

Evergreen groundcovers are mostly suitable for small areas, as they are currently rare and in short supply. Cherish them in

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a home garden. Protect them in the wild. The ones that are easiest for the average gardener are pussytoes, running cedar,

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partridgeberry, butterweed, lyreleaf sage, and moss.

Neil Diboll

131. Latin Name Antennaria plantaginifolia Common Name Pussytoes, plantainleaf, everlasting, mouse ear, ladies’ tobacco Usual Height 2-inch mat when not in flower Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom White, ¼-inch clusters, fuzzy like pussy toes, female flowers flushed with pink, on slender stalks, early spring Fruit Small, ripe soon after flowering Leaves Evergreen, 2 inches long, silvery beneath Native Range Dry woodlands, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid, poor, sandy or rocky preferred Drainage Dry, super well drained Root System Shallow, colonizes by stolons to form a groundcover Companion Plants Dry pines, beech, white oak, post oak, umbrella tree, fringe tree, serviceberry, mountain laurel, ebony spleenwort, bracken, galax, whorled loosestrife Propagation Root division in spring Wildlife Flowers pollinated by short-­tongued bees; larval for painted lady butterflies; browsed by deer and rabbits in winter Since most groundcovers require steady moisture to stay dense, pussytoes fills a much needed niche; it does very well in lightly shaded, dry landscapes. Some gardeners recommend sun, but I’ve found it to prefer a half day of shade, and that’s always where I’ve found it in the wild. Perhaps in a watered garden, it requires more sun. The whitish, fuzzy flowers, each the size of a kitty’s toe, are not to everyone’s taste. Personally, I find them as adorable as kittens. Because the leaf texture is so fine, pussytoes looks best in a rock garden or other small space. That fine texture and grayish color are perfect to set in front of bold-­leaved plants. Male and female plants are separate, equally attractive, although the males seem to flower infrequently and the females might self-­pollinate. There are several species of pussytoes, and I love all of them.

132. Latin Name Carex pensylvanica Common Name Pennsylvania sedge, oak sedge Usual Height 6 to 12 inches Spacing 6 to 12 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Whiteish spikelets, inconspicuous, May Fruit Brown, tiny, cone-­looking Leaves Evergreen in southern zones, narrow, grasslike Native Range Hardwood forests and thickets, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 7, now rare in Zone 8 Soil Any, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Rhizomatous, shallow Companion Plants White oak, southern red oak, Shumard red oak, post oak, black oak, wild red columbine, alumroot, dwarf iris, smilacina, fire pink, woodmint, zigzag goldenrod, southern green-­and-­gold, foamflower Propagation Division in early spring or fall, not dependable from seed but might self-­sow Wildlife Bumblebees and ground bees nest at the base; larval for butterflies; deer-­resistant Related Species C. texensis, Texas sedge, Zones 5 to 9 There are woodland sedges all over, and all of them are desirable in the garden. Pennsylvania sedge is a fine-­textured groundcover sedge available in the nursery trade. It can be used as a lawn substitute in light to heavy shade. It can be mowed (3 inches is best), but since I find lawns boring, I’d leave it unmown and plant ephemerals and shade-­loving flowers in it to give a shady meadow effect. Its growth habit is a gentle fountain, so it is also attractive as a specimen, and you could experiment with three and then let them spread as they wish. If you live where Pennsylvania sedge isn’t evergreen, cut it back in early spring. Texas sedge, also attractively fine-­textured, evergreen, short, rhizomatous, and commercially available, is the better choice for Zones 7 to 9. SHADY GROUNDCOVERS

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133. Latin Name Carex plantaginea Common Name Seersucker sedge, plantainleaf sedge Usual Height 1 foot Spacing 1 to 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Small, reddish, male and female separate, on 2-foot stalks, midspring Fruit Small, brown, midsummer Leaves Evergreen, semi-­evergreen, dark green or lime green, over an inch wide, puckered Native Range Deciduous woodlands, Appalachians and Great Lakes areas, Zones 3 to 7 Soil Slightly acid to alkaline, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Fibrous, short rhizomes, colonizes very slowly Companion Plants Ferns, woodland flowers Propagation Seed, division in early spring Wildlife Wind-­pollinated; larval for the Appalachian brown butterfly; seeds eaten by birds Related Species C. laxiculmis, spreading sedge, Zones 4 to 7

134. Latin Name Diphasiastrum digitatum (formerly Lycopodium flabelliforme or L. digitatum) Common Name Running cedar, ground pine, fan clubmoss Usual Height 5 to 10 inches, usually a 6-inch cover Spacing 3 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow spikes on forked stems, summer Fruit Spores, no seeds Leaves Evergreen, dark green, cedarlike Native Range Dry woods, well-­drained pinelands, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich or poor OK Drainage Dry to slightly moist, well drained Root System Shallow, spreading by stems barely above ground, mulch and leaf litter welcome Companion Plants Upland pines, post oak, Christmas fern, ebony spleenwort, mayapple, pussytoes, foamflower, spiderwort, fire pink Propagation From spores or stem cuttings Wildlife Provides nesting for the Nashville warbler and other ground-­nesting songbirds

Seersucker sedge is showy and dramatic because of its very wide leaves, crinkled like seersucker. It does not make a smooth groundcover. If planted close together, it fills in, but has a somewhat lumpy effect. I think it is most stunning planted with a few inches between each plant where you can tuck in either ferns or woodland flowers. The contrasting colors and textures are beautiful, but in winter you have sufficient evergreen (in the South) to hold your space attractively. If you cut back the old foliage in very early spring, you’ll get all new fresh leaves. Spreading sedge (what a misnomer!) is also basically clumping. It has leaves a half-­inch wide that are pale silvery blue. Very pretty. There is a cultivar that is easy to buy. Spreading sedge is tolerant of wetter soils and more heat.

Look at running cedar and you’d think it was kin to pine, cedar, or some other conifer. It’s actually a clubmoss and related to ferns. It lost so much habitat and was so often gathered for Christmas decorations that for many years it was rare. But as old fields are returning to woodlands, it is starting to make a comeback. Many groundcovers, like galax, prefer old, well-­established hardwood forest conditions. But running cedar isn’t that picky, making it a good choice for ordinary gardeners to experiment with. It may be hard to get established, but once it is firmly rooted, it can spread over large areas fairly quickly. After all, it is four hundred million years old and has picked up some skills.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

135. Latin Name Galax urceolata Common Name Galax, beetleweed, coltsfoot, wand flower Usual Height 3- to 6-inch mat when not in flower Spacing 6 to 12 inches apart Sun or Shade Bloom White, 2- to 5-inch spikes on 1- to 2-foot leafless stems, late spring or early summer Fruit Dustlike tiny seeds, early fall Leaves Evergreen, round or heart-­shaped with shallowly scalloped edges, 2 to 6 inches wide, bright green, glossy, leathery, burgundy to bronze in fall and winter Native Range Rare, rocky woodlands, southern Appalachians and Atlantic Coastal Plain, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Very acid, rich, loose, sandy preferred, mycorrhizae required, mulch required Drainage Moist to dry, but must be continually moist until established for many years Root System Colonizes by red rhizomes to form a groundcover Companion Plants Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, vernal iris Propagation Fresh seed in cold frame, seed thirty days at 45 degrees F, rhizomes soaked overnight in water Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bees and flies; winter browse for white-­tailed deer Once galax was very plentiful in the wild, covering large areas with its fresh, glossy leaves. Today it is rare and still being exploited by the florist trade. I still know of no nursery that propagates galax, although North Carolina State University is working hard on making it commercially available. Whenever I saw galax in a garden, I was told that it had been rescued from the path of a bulldozer. Don’t try galax unless you can give it rich acid loam—the kind where wild rhododendrons and mountain laurel grow with ease. In the right conditions, galax should spread quickly and make a fine groundcover, but in the typically impoverished soil of the average home landscape, its progress will be very slow.

136. Latin Name Hexastylis arifolia (Asarum arifolium) Common Name Heartleaf, evergreen wild ginger, little brown jug Usual Height 2 to 4 inches, not matlike Spacing 2 to 4 feet apart, they don’t like to be crowded Sun or Shade Bloom Half-­hidden, purply brown, urn-­shaped, spring Fruit Fleshy, soon after flowering Leaves Evergreen, very glossy, triangular, 5 to 8 inches long, whitish green with dark green along the veins Native Range Pine woods, hardwoods, swamp forests, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 8, rare Zone 9 in Florida Soil Very acid, acid, rich, pH 5 to 6 preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Slow-­growing to form 18-inch clumps, ginger-­smelling Companion Plants Southern magnolia, spruce pine, wild azaleas and rhododendrons, sourwood, mountain laurel, Christmas fern, broad beech fern, troutlily, fly poison, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, dwarf iris, foamflower, hepatica, black cohosh, partridgeberry Propagation Fall division, slow from seed Wildlife Pollinated by ants; winter browse Related Species H. shuttleworthii, Shuttleworth’s ginger, Zones 6 to 8 If you want a thick carpet of groundcover, don’t set your heart on heartleaf. However, it is perfect for small, jewel-­like gardens. Its elegant, completely evergreen leaves are so glossy, and bear such unusual markings, that they are as attention-­getting as colorful flowers. Plant scattered clumps of heartleaf for winter color, and interplant with woodland flowers and small, polite ferns that won’t overrun it. Shuttleworth’s ginger is very similar, except that its leaves are colored just the opposite—dark green with light green veins. SHADY GROUNDCOVERS

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137. Latin Name Mitchella repens Common Name Partridgeberry, twinberry, running box Usual Height 1- to 2-inch mat Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom White, ½ inch, in pairs, late spring to fall, fragrant Fruit Red (white), round, ½ inch, dry, in pairs, fall and winter Leaves Evergreen, round, ½ inch, dark glossy, in pairs Native Range Rich hardwood forests, pine-­oak-­ hickory woods, stream banks, hammocks, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, sandy loam preferred Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, stems root when they touch the ground, but not aggressive Companion Plants Hemlock, pine, tulip poplar, post oak, mountain laurel, leucothoe, decumaria, foamflower, green-­and-­gold, smilacina, vernal iris, spigelia, heartleaf Propagation Stratified seed, softwood cuttings in spring or summer, layering, division Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bumblebees; fruits eaten by ruffed grouse, bobwhite, wild turkey, skunk, and white-­footed mouse Partridgeberry is one of the most adaptable and easy-­ to-­grow groundcovers for the home gardener in the Southeast. I’ve seen acres of it in the woods, proving that in rich, dappled shade, it doesn’t need supplemental water to form a dense cover. If you do have a bout of drought and it wants water, it will tell you in no uncertain terms, wilting dramatically. You’ll generally have a couple of days to react before parts of it begin to die.

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138. Latin Name Packera aurea (formerly Senecio aureus) Common Name Golden ragwort, golden groundsel Usual Height 2- to 4-inch mat, 2 to 3 feet when in bloom Spacing 18 inches apart Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, daisy-­like, 1 inch across, very numerous, early spring to summer Fruit White, fluffy, late spring Leaves Evergreen in Zones 7 to 9, heart-­shaped, 1 to 4 inches long, green above, purple underneath Native Range Bogs, meadows, pastures, wet woods, floodplains, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich preferred Drainage Moist, seasonal flooding OK, tolerates dryish shade Root System Colonizes to form a groundcover Companion Plants Alder, sweetgum, eastern persimmon, white ash, river birch, musclewood, shagbark hickory, willow oak, partridgeberry, wild violets, lyreleaf sage Propagation Seed, divisions in spring, self-­sows Wildlife Pollinated by carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, halictid bees, butterflies Related Species P. obovata, spoonleaf ragwort, roundleaf ragwort, squaw weed, Zones 5 to 8; P. glabella, butterweed, yellowtop, Zones 5 to 10 This little flower illustrates how, often, loveliness and usefulness can go unnoticed. The packeras, sometimes still called senecios in the nursery trade, are normally considered to be weeds. You’ve probably pulled out or poisoned many of them in your life. Yet golden ragwort can be an evergreen groundcover with flowers that rival any popular garden flower. Spoonleaf ragwort is a good alternative for those of you living in limestone areas. Butterweed, although an annual, seeds itself so thickly on wet sites in the Deep South that it forms a winter groundcover from October until February. Then, for nearly three months, it flowers so profusely that it makes a field of gold in either shade or sun. Scythe or mow it down after it has sown its seeds for next year.

139. Latin Name Polytrichum commune Common Name Haircap moss, pigeonwheat moss Usual Height ½-inch carpet Spacing Can get 100 feet across Sun or Shade Bloom None Fruit Spores, not seeds, on stems 2 to 4 inches tall, can reach 12 inches, can be mown off Leaves Evergreen, ½ inch long, yellow-­green Native Range Moist woodland, stream banks, all over the world, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, poor preferred Drainage Moist to wet Root System Threadlike roots called rhizoids, colonizes Companion Plants Pines, hardwoods, ferns, woodland flowers Propagation Spores Wildlife Sometimes used by songbirds to build nests Related Species Thuidium delicatulum, fern moss There are, on average, one hundred different kinds of moss in each county in the South, with haircap moss being an especially common one. The moss lawn shown at the beginning of this chapter is composed of fern moss. You usually don’t have to go to a lot of trouble to acquire moss; if you have shade and moisture, it will magically appear. A daily one-­minute misting with the hose on a stone terrace, a stone wall, or a bare, shady piece of ground can often encourage a bumper crop. If you have the right conditions, and moss doesn’t appear for you, try this recipe, courtesy of my friend Lorine Gibson. Collect some moss from your neighborhood and mix it in a blender with buttermilk. A bit of manure is optional. Rub this moss batter onto bare ground or into the cracks and fissures of your rocks and walkways where it tends to be damp. Then, mist frequently until your moss is off to a good start. Or you can go online and order either of these mosses as sod.

140. Latin Name Salvia lyrata Common Name Lyreleaf sage Usual Height 2- to 4-inch mat, 1- to 2-foot flowers Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom Pale blue to lavender to white, early spring Fruit Small, tan, dry, shortly after blooming Leaves Evergreen, 4 to 8 inches long, dark green in sun, some turn maroon when stressed, aromatic Native Range Roadsides, meadows, thin woodlands, stable dunes, eastern half of U.S., Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid, poor, lime OK, clay OK, sand OK Drainage Dry to seasonally wet Root System Clump-­forming, self-­sows vigorously Companion Plants White ash, live oak, post oak, golden ragwort, butterweed, eared coreopsis, lanceleaf coreopsis, black-­eyed Susan, purple coneflower Propagation Seed, division Wildlife Pollinated by large carpenter bees, leaf-­cutting bees, and mason bees; visited by hummingbirds and butterflies; deer-­resistant Lyreleaf sage is a cinch to grow, making it a great plant for beginners or laissez-­faire gardeners. It is especially useful for those on clay or on dry soils overlying limestone, where so many plants are difficult. It can form a groundcover in a dry, bare, shady spot. When in bloom, the flowers blend together visually to make a pale blue haze that seems to float off the ground. Mow lyreleaf sage after it has set seed, and mow it anytime afterwards up until March. It can also be used in a sunny lawn for spring color, as it can tolerate a small amount of foot traffic. The rosettes and grass can coexist peacefully.

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141. Latin Name Smilax pumila Common Name Dwarf smilax, wild sarsaparilla Usual Height 6 inches, can get to 18 inches by climbing with tendrils Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom Yellowish green, summer Fruit Red to orange, glossy, in 1- to 2-inch clusters, winter to spring, showy Leaves Evergreen, 2 to 4 inches long, reddish in winter, first fuzzy, then glossy, always fuzzy and pale underneath Native Range Maritime woods, live oak woods, flatwoods, sandhills, bluffs, hammocks, pine woods, Coastal Plain, South Carolina to Texas, Zones 7b to 9 Soil Acid, sandy, poor Drainage Dry Root System Deep, wide-­spreading Companion Plants Live oak, cabbage palmetto, longleaf pine, post oak, spruce pine, pawpaw, American beautyberry, Turk’s cap Propagation Softwood cuttings Wildlife Fruits eaten by many birds and mammals Dwarf smilax is an excellent groundcover for those of you who live in the kind of dry, difficult sandy soil that supports live oaks, post oaks, and longleaf pines. It has a big enough leaf and sufficient height to be a suitable groundcover on large sites. It’s also pretty enough to be in a small, refined courtyard area where you see it up close all the time. Unlike most smilaxes, dwarf smilax is essentially thornless. If the red fruits don’t get eaten, they are quite showy all winter.

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142. Latin Name Viola walteri Common Name Walter’s violet, prostrate blue violet Usual Height 3 to 6 inches Spacing 10 to 15 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Violet-­blue, 1 inch, nestled in the foliage Fruit Tiny brown seeds Leaves Evergreen to semi-­evergreen, heart-­ shaped, silvery-­green with darker green veins and purple undersides Native Range Moist deciduous woodlands from Pennsylvania to Florida to East Texas and Arkansas, Zones 5 to 9 Soil Slightly acid OK, prefers slightly alkaline Drainage Moist (to dry after well established), well drained Root System Rhizomes and stolons, will colonize Companion Plants Southern magnolia, rhododendrons, blue phlox, great white trillium, alumroot, southern green-­and-­ gold, dwarf iris, fire pink, spigelia, mayapple, Solomon’s seal, white troutlily, round-­lobed hepatica Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Larval for fritillary butterflies Walter’s violet colonizes by both slender underground rhizomes and reddish above-­ground stolons that can root at the nodes. This gives it the ability to make a dense groundcover if it is kept sufficiently moist and happy. Otherwise, it will scatter into individual plants. That’s how it is usually found in the wild. I find the texture too fine for large areas, but as a delicate cover around a patio or near the front door at the base of taller plants, it is ideal. It is dependably evergreen only in Zones 8 and 9. A cultivar of Walter’s violet is being sold as prostrate blue violet ‘Silver Gem.’ The original plant was collected by Georgia botanist Jim Allison in Bibb County, Alabama, in 2003. It has been developed to accentuate its silvery leaves and dense cover by Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware and was introduced for sale in 2010.

DECIDUOUS SHADY GROUNDCOVERS

In August, long after creeping phlox has finished blooming, it still makes a lovely green groundcover. Around it are merrybells, Fraser’s sedge, dwarf iris, wood fern, and hosta, the one non-­native. Nancy Arrinton’s garden in Manassas, Virginia.

Deciduous groundcovers can sometimes be evergreen in a mild winter, but you can’t count on their staying that

way. They will, however, be a dependable groundcover for you from spring to frost. In the winter, don’t plant pansies on

top of them; let their roots stay unharmed under a comforter of leaves.

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143. Latin Name Anemone americana (Hepatica americana, Hepatica nobilis) Common Name Round-­lobed hepatica, liverleaf Usual Height 3- to 4-inch mat when not in flower Spacing 9 to 12 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Sky blue, pale blue, lavender, pale pink, white, ½ to 1 inch across, on fuzzy, 4- to 6-inch stems, early spring with winter-­red leaves Fruit Small, ripe soon after flowering Leaves Sometimes evergreen, 1 to 3 inches wide, glossy, three-­lobed and liverish-­looking when wine red in fall and winter Native Range Rich wooded slopes, bluffs, stream banks, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Very acid, acid, subsurface limestone OK, rich Drainage Moist to dry Root System Might colonize a little Companion Plants Pines, hardwoods, maidenhair fern, fly poison, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, dwarf iris, heartleaf, black cohosh, foamflower Propagation Fresh seed sown in fall produces best result, slow from divisions, can be rescued anytime with a good root ball Wildlife Flowers’ pollen attracts solitary bees and flies; seeds dispersed by ants; leaves are toxic Related Species A. acutiloba, sharp-­lobed hepatica, mountain hepatica Hepatica is one of the earliest plants to bloom in the spring. After the flowers have set seed, the previous year’s leaves disappear and the plant rests for a week before new, green, shiny leaves develop. Always let it go to seed. Use hepatica as a monoculture groundcover only in a very small space because its texture is too fine to sustain visual interest over a larger area. When used as the unifying mulch under an extensive shady flower garden, you get a gorgeous swathe of early pale blue blossoms and then those glossy leaves tying everything together through the rest of the season. Some gardeners believe that round-lobed hepatica prefers very acid soil and sharp-lobed hepatica prefers slightly neutral, moister soil and is more heat-tolerant. Many botanists and nurserymen have not switched from Hepatica to Anemone.

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144. Latin Name Asarum canadense Common Name Wild ginger Usual Height 3 to 5 inch carpet, can get 8 inches Spacing Spreads about 1 foot a year Sun or Shade Bloom Strange, half-­hidden, purply brown, spring Fruit Large, fleshy, late spring Leaves 3 to 6 inches across, medium green, heart-­shaped, fuzzy, appear in early spring and remain until a hard frost Native Range Rich woods, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, pH 6 to 7 preferred, rich Drainage Moist Root System Will colonize to form a groundcover, ginger-­smelling roots Companion Plants Beech and other hardwoods, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, smilacina, Solomon’s seal, celandine poppy, spotted phacelia, goat’s beard, black cohosh, bottle gentian, zigzag goldenrod Propagation Slow from seed, summer cuttings, root divisions in fall Wildlife Pollinated by flies and beetles; flowers attract butterflies; larval for pipevine swallowtail; seeds dispersed by ants; deer-­resistant Wild ginger is the easiest of the gingers to grow. We saw it frequently in Piedmont and mountain gardens, where its vigor was obvious; it had always grown faster and covered more territory than the other woodland groundcovers. Its biggish leaves make a rich texture that works well for large areas, yet its low height is smooth enough to provide a stage for ferns or taller woodland flowers, such as jack-­in-­the-­pulpit. For some reason, probably summer heat, wild ginger seems to be neither native nor adaptable to most of the Coastal Plain. Although edible and smelling like gingerroot, wild ginger is not related to the culinary tropical ginger.

145. Latin Name Chrysogonum virginianum var. australe Common Name Southern green-­and-­gold, golden star Usual Height 2- to 6-inch mat Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 1 inch across, early spring, held above the foliage Fruit Dark seeds, late spring Leaves 1 to 3 inches long, soft, rounded Native Range Dry woodlands, pine woods, eastern U.S., Zones 7 to 8, usable in Zone 9 Soil Slightly acid, rich preferred, sandy or rocky OK Drainage Dry to moist, not tolerant of flooding Root System Stems root to form a groundcover Companion Plants Tulip poplar, post oak, ebony spleenwort, Christmas fern, partridgeberry, smilacina, spigelia Propagation Seed, division, layering, may self-­sow Wildlife Pollinated by native bees; deer-­resistant Related Species C. v. var. virginianum, northern green-­and-­gold, Zones 6 to 7, usable in Zone 5 Southern green-­and-­gold always blooms in the spring, lightly and sporadically during the summer, and often in the fall. In too much shade, it starts straining toward the sun. With too much water, it gets sick. Bright, dappled shade or a half day of sun on well-­drained ground seems to be just right. The southern variety is best for a groundcover, and is the one we saw over and over in gardens we visited. The northern green-­and-­gold is clump-­forming and gets taller—about 16 inches high. It also grows under hardwoods and is often found with Solomon’s seal, smilacina, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, foamflower, Christmas fern, New York fern, and northern maidenhair fern.

146. Latin Name Hydrastis canadensis Common Name Goldenseal Usual Height 6 to 15 inches Spacing 8 to 12 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1 inch, no petals, midspring for two to three weeks Fruit Red, raspberry-­sized, in the heart of the leaf, midsummer, inedible Leaves Three to five lobes, maple-­shaped, hairy, wrinkled, up to 10 inches across, yellow to orange fall color Native Range Rich woods, Ohio River drainage and Appalachians, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Slightly acid to slightly alkaline, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Rhizomatous, fibrous, yellow, medicinal and poisonous, will colonize Companion Plants Yellow buckeye, sweetgum, tulip poplar, basswood, Solomon’s seal, goat’s beard, American spikenard, Short’s aster, bowman’s root, bluestem goldenrod, spigelia Propagation Fresh seed, division in winter, root cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by halictid bees, masked bees, and syrphid flies; fruits probably eaten by birds and small mammals Goldenseal is easy to grow in moist, dappled shade and can spread quickly. It is rare in the wild, not because it is fussy and hard to grow but because several million plants are dug up each year to supply the health food stores and the pharmaceutical trade. Its coarse leaves provide a strong texture for large spaces and woodland edges. I’d interplant taller woodland flowers to give interest in late summer and fall.

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W.D. and Dolphia Bransford

147. Latin Name Pachysandra procumbens Common Name Allegheny spurge Usual Height 4 to 9 inches Spacing 1 to 2 feet for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom White to pink, 2- to 4-inch spikes, fragrant, early spring, before new leaves Fruit Dry capsule with six seeds Leaves Evergreen (with protection) until after the plant flowers in the spring, 2 to 4 inches long, dark green mottled with pale green, on pale coral stems Native Range Rare, rich woods, calcareous bluffs and ravines, northwestern South Carolina to northwestern Florida to eastern Louisiana north to Kentucky, Zones 6 to 8, naturalized in Missouri and Massachusetts Soil Slightly acid, lime OK, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Colonizes by rhizomes to form a groundcover Companion Plants Needle palm, red buckeye, Carolina silverbell, storax, itea, mayapple, Solomon’s seal, royal fern, spigelia, bloodroot, blue phlox Propagation Softwood cuttings, division in fall Wildlife Pollinated by bees; foliage is toxic Gardeners who have used Allegheny spurge, our native pachysandra, claim that it is both prettier and healthier than the better-­known Japanese version (P. terminalis). Plus, ours grows slowly and is never aggressive. It is completely evergreen in Zone 8, but in severe winters farther north it might go deciduous if it isn’t protected from the wind. It seems to adapt to any acid soil, although in the wild, Allegheny spurge is found only in rich soils over limestone. Because it has so few native habitats left, it is rare in most states and is considered endangered in Florida. Be sure to buy yours from a nursery that propagates its material and does not dig from the wild.

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148. Latin Name Phlox stolonifera Common Name Creeping phlox Usual Height 2 to 3 inches, 8 to 12 inches when in flower Spacing 1 to 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender, pink, or white, 3- to 6-inch clusters, fragrant, early summer Fruit Tan, inconspicuous Leaves Semi-­evergreen, 2 to 3 inches long, oval Native Range Rich woodlands, stream banks, moist savannahs, Zones 6 to 9, naturalized in Zone 5 Soil Acid to neutral, rich Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Shallow, colonizes to form a mat Companion Plants Deciduous trees, eastern red columbine, alumroot, isopyrum, spotted phacelia, woodland sedges, marginal fern, Christmas fern Propagation Seed, stolon cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by bees, bee flies, butterflies, hummingbird moth, sphinx moth, and skippers Creeping phlox quickly makes a shallowly rooted mat of leaves. It blooms after many of the early spring ephemerals are done. Those ephemerals can be planted right in the phlox, and all the spent stems and seeds cut back midsummer. Then it provides a green carpet to set off later-­blooming shade flowers that can be planted in or around it. It’s not dependably evergreen. In a harsh winter, it might go dormant, and even in a mild one, it might look thin, especially if it gets grazed by rabbits and deer. Like the tall phloxes, it can also be attacked by powdery mildew, so don’t plant it in an airless corner. There are many cultivars out there in different colors from almost blue to hot pink to white. The bluer flowers are from P. d. var. laphamii.

149. Latin Name Tiarella cordifolia var. collina Common Name Wherry’s foamflower, heartleaf foamflower Usual Height 6 inches, 12 to 20 inches in flower, midspring Spacing 9 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1- to 6-inch spike, midspring Fruit Tiny, dry Leaves Evergreen (if protected), 2 to 4 inches long and wide, fuzzy, with purple markings, wine red in winter Native Range Rich woods, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8, possibly hardy in Zones 3 to 9 Soil Very acid to acid, rich, moist cracks in granite cliffs Drainage Moist, not tolerant of flooding Root System Crowns Companion Plants Eastern hemlock, beech, Fraser’s magnolia, southern lady fern, Christmas fern, bellwort, troutlily, fly poison, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, dwarf iris, jack-­in-­ the-­pulpit, heartleaf, black cohosh, mayapple, hepatica, partridgeberry, green-­and-­gold Propagation Seed, division of dormant runners Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bees and other insects Related Species Tiarella cordifolia var. cordifolia, mountain foamflower The basic and widespread mountain foamflower forms an attractive and natural groundcover, but it likes things relatively cool, so it is confined to the mountains. The one we saw in gardens, and the one that is available in the nursery trade, is Wherry’s foamflower, a native variety that handles heat much better, even in Zone 8. This one is not a natural groundcover, so to use it that way, plant yours close together. Or, since it is so well-­ behaved and the blooms are pretty enough to stand on their own, use it in your shady flower garden.

150. Latin Name Uvularia sessilifolia Common Name Spreading bellwort, straw lily Usual Height 6 to 8 inches, rarely 15 inches tall Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Bloom Pale yellow, narrow bells, under the leaves, midspring Fruit Three-­cornered, 1 inch, green in summer, ripe early fall Leaves Light, yellow-­green Native Range Hardwood slopes, bluffs, coves, eastern North America, sketchy on the Coastal Plain, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist, does not tolerate flooding Root System Colonizes to form a groundcover Companion Plants Under hardwoods with ferns and woodland flowers Propagation Seed, division Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees, mason bees, halictid bees, and andrenid bees; seeds dispersed by ants; grazed by deer Related Species U. perfoliata, merrybells, Zones 5 to 8 Bellworts are lovely and popular woodland plants. Two of them—spreading bellwort and merrybells—colonize to form groundcovers. Use them in shady gardens where there is rich soil, good drainage, and lots of composting leaf mulch. The April flowers are lovely, slender bells that require up-­close viewing to be appreciated. The rest of the year, until frost, you have a groundcover, as shown in the picture. Let the flowers go to seed the first few years, until you have an area covered as densely as you desire. Merrybells and the giant bellwort, U. grandiflora (a flower, not a groundcover), are unusual because both the blooms and the seeds are borne on a short stem that comes out of the center of the leaf.

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10 FERNS

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here you find woodland flowers and groundcovers, you are also very likely to find ferns, as they all like shade; dependable moisture year-­round; and a rich, loose, friable soil that is acid to neutral in pH. Ferns do their growing during spring and fall; during summer, they just try to outlast the heat. When ferns are happy, they get aggressive, making them ideal as groundcovers. Some ferns are clump-­forming, so they can be used as accents in flower beds or among other forms of groundcover. Ferns look like they belong in some prehistoric landscape. In fact, that’s where these ancient plants started out eons ago. Some parts of a fern are, well, odd-­looking. Which is not to say they aren’t attractive in a wonderfully primeval way. Come spring, the first sign you see of ferns are fiddleheads. These are the fern’s leaves, but at this stage they are so tightly furled and rolled up that they look like fuzzy shepherd’s crooks. Fiddleheads are often pink, yellow-­green, or silver, and are as ornamental as those early

woodland flowers that appear at the same time. It usually takes the fern’s leaves about six weeks to unfurl and develop, giving later-­blooming woodland flowers time to show off before the ferns reach full size and dominate the scene. Ferns have two kinds of leaves: sterile leaves, which are ordinary leaves, and fertile leaves, which bear spores, what ferns have instead of seeds. The spores are as teensy as dust. The only way they’re visible is in little groups called fruit dots, which are arranged in patterns on the back side of the fertile leaves or clustered in three-­ dimensional packages called spore cases. Spores do not turn directly into ferns. First they become an intermediate plant called a gametophyte, which in turn produces a sporophyte, which finally becomes a fern. This process is a little like how frogs develop, from eggs to tadpoles to croakers. Most ferns you buy at the nursery didn’t go through this exotic process; they were propagated by root division. Those with a crown, the hard mass at the top of the roots, are best

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divided in spring with a sharp knife. Ferns with colonizing roots can be chopped up just about any time. This is fine for growing individual ferns. But if you need a large quantity for a landscape, only a few species are available in sod form. For the others, you’ll need to grow them from spores. These easy directions are from a lecture given by Roger Boyles at the 1992 Cullowhee Native Plant Conference: Pick one fern leaf covered with fruit dots or, in the case of sensitive fern, one stalk full of spore cases. Place in a paper sack (not plastic) and put it in the refrigerator for two or three days. As the leaf withers, it will release the dustlike spores. Now, half-­fill ten mason jars with soil, and sterilize both soil and jars in your canner. Next, plant the spores very sparingly, spritz the top with sterilized water, and cover the tops with plastic wrap. Place the jars under a fluorescent light for twelve hours a day for twenty-­ three to thirty-­seven days until you have a green mist in the jars. Spritz again and cover for another two weeks. Then divide

Broad beech fern and three other kinds of ferns are visible in this picture of the Mountain Garden at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill.

the gametophytes with tweezers and place them farther apart on more sterile soil. Six weeks later, they will be sporophytes and ready to be transplanted again, this time to rich, organic soil. By the end of one year, you should have many tiny ferns in

4-inch pots ready to be transplanted one last time into your fern garden. The three Dryopteris ferns and Christmas fern are evergreen. The others are more interesting and versatile, ranging from ultra-­dry to ultra-­wet.

They can be used as groundcovers, as accents in shady flower gardens, in either sunny or shady water gardens, in hanging baskets, tucked into stone walls, or naturalized in the correct habitat and allowed to do as they please. FERNS

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EVERGREEN FERNS

Florida shield fern makes a glossy, evergreen, fast-­growing groundcover for the Deep South.

Evergreen ferns stay green all winter, but their leaves—or more accurately their fronds— are not indestructible and immortal. They might look a little rough by winter’s end. Fresh

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new leaves will appear in the spring, and old brown-at-theedges or damaged leaves need to be removed if you desire your fern bed to look pristine. I don’t like the fussy process of cutting

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old leaves out from amongst new leaves, so I’ve found it easier to remove the old fronds just before the fiddleheads appear in the spring.

151. Latin Name Dryopteris marginalis Common Name Marginal fern, marginal shield fern, marginal wood fern Usual Height 20 inches, rarely 3 feet high Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Golden brown, furry, spring Fruit Spores, clustered in visible fruit dots along margins of the leaflets, dark brown, late summer Leaves Evergreen, upright, dark, leathery Native Range Moist woods and clearings, banks, ravines, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich and rocky preferred Drainage Moist Root System 1- to 4-inch-­high crown with shallow radiating roots, clump-­forming, not a colonizer Companion Plants Tulip poplar, beech, other hardwoods, Christmas fern, ebony spleenwort, southern lady fern, merrybells, troutlily, fly poison, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, dwarf iris Propagation Spores, crown divisions in spring Wildlife Shelter for toads and lizards Related Species D. celsa, log fern, Zones 5 to 8; D. ludoviciana, Florida shield fern, Zones 8 to 10, possibly hardy to Zone 6 The Dryopteris family is mostly evergreen and is extremely popular with landscapers. The three mentioned here are the ones I found being grown and used in the South. Marginal fern, like Christmas fern, is very polite; it makes a larger clump each year, but it never goes galloping all over your garden. Of course, if you want a groundcover, then you do want one that gallops—and that would be log fern, so named because it often grows on fallen logs. Both of these ferns are somewhat heat-­sensitive. For those of you on the Coastal Plain who have to endure really hot summers and heavy, wet soil, try Florida shield fern, another groundcover fern. Both groundcover ferns might get to be 4 feet tall.

152. Latin Name Polystichum acrostichoides Common Name Christmas fern Usual Height 18 to 24 inches, rarely to 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Silvery, early spring Fruit Spores in masses of fruit dots, summer Leaves Evergreen, narrow, dark, upright Native Range Rocky woods, stream banks, hammocks in swamps, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich, rocky or sandy preferred Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, clump-­forming, no crown Companion Plants Hemlock, spruce pine, tulip poplar, beech, post oak, foamflower, smilacina, partridgeberry, heartleaf, green-­and-­gold, broad beech fern, southern lady fern, ebony spleenwort Propagation Spores, root divisions Wildlife Used by ruffed grouse Christmas fern is evergreen, smallish, and well-­ behaved, making it the premier fern for Southern gardens. It got its name because it is green at Christmas time. We saw it everywhere, used as edging, planted close together as groundcover, and, most effectively, as accents in shady flower gardens. Usually knee-­high and planted in clumps of two or three, it gives continuity there without being overpowering. My least favorite use of it is as a groundcover. Planted en masse, Christmas fern looks to me like a lumpy collection of individuals. Obviously I’m in the minority on this, as it is now sold as sod. I’ve been told that if Christmas fern gets too much sun, it will look short and pale; it should be an unusually dark shade of green.

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DECIDUOUS FERNS

In summer, ferns and shade-­loving flowers replace the spring ephemerals. Here are northern maidenhair fern, green-­and-­gold, and goat’s beard in the garden of Margaret Reid, near Raleigh, North Carolina.

Ferns are ancient plants that have had millions of years to evolve a strategy for nearly every habitat on Earth. I’ve seen ferns in the Atacama Desert of Peru where it often doesn’t rain for twenty years or more. They go dormant and look like small gray-brown balls of detritus dotting the sand dunes. But with a breath of moisture or a few raindrops, they green up and quickly set seed before going dormant again. I’ve seen similar ferns in our own southwestern deserts, usually with their roots deeply anchored in a crevice of rock.

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For this section, I’ve chosen a variety of ferns so that every gardener has at least one choice. For those dealing with drought, bracken is the most drought-tolerant of these southern deciduous ferns and can thrive in nutrient-poor sand. Hayscented fern is the more suitable drought-tolerant fern for landscape use. Those of you who live on alkaline soil are most likely to have success with southern maidenhair fern, ebony spleenwort, and royal fern. These three have very different water

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preferences, but all three will settle for evenly moist. If you have super acidic soil, try netted chain fern. Those with occasional poor drainage can use southern lady fern, sensitive fern, cinnamon fern, and netted chain fern. If you have a rocky fountain, both the maidenhair ferns, New York fern, and southern shield fern can be tucked into crevices. You lucky ones who have slightly acidic, moist, rich garden soil can enjoy almost all of them, except for the two drought-tolerant ones.

153. Latin Name Adiantum pedatum Common Name Northern maidenhair fern Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 feet for quick cover, 4 feet for clump Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Wine red, early spring Fruit Spores Leaves Lacy, on whorled black stems Native Range Rich woods, North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich Drainage Moist, cannot dry out, but cannot be wet Root System Shallow, black, wiry, colonizing to form a groundcover Companion Plants Maples, tulip poplar, most ferns and woodland flowers Propagation Spores, division of roots easy in fiddlehead stage Wildlife Shelter for toads and lizards Related Species A. capillus-­veneris, southern maidenhair fern, North America and Europe, Zones 6 to 11 Maidenhair fern, with its black stems, is distinctive and elegant. It isn’t hard to grow as long as its needs are met. It likes to be evenly moist all year—not drippy wet and, most definitely, not dry. It doesn’t bounce back at all well after being subjected to even a brief dry spell. It is not a plant for naturalizing, unless you have a cool, moist woods, a seep, a rocky spring, or some other very special site. Plant it close to your house where you will remember to water it. And, because of its exacting requirements, it’s best not to depend on it to fill too large an area. The northern maidenhair fern takes more cold and a more acid soil. The southern maidenhair fern tolerates more alkalinity, even growing in limestone walls, and more heat and humidity. It has the beautiful rue-­shaped leaflets and makes a handsome patio pot.

154. Latin Name Asplenium platyneuron Common Name Ebony spleenwort Usual Height 12 to 18 inches Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Especially small, early spring Fruit Spores, fruit dots like ribs along the spine of the vein Leaves Fertile leaves upright, narrow, dark green; sterile leaves prostrate at base, smaller, paler, might be evergreen Native Range Well-­drained woods, moist fields, floodplains, eastern North America to Rocky Mountains, Zones 4 to 10 Soil Acid or alkaline, sandy, rocky poor soils OK Drainage Moist to dry, not tolerant of flooding at all Root System Clump-­forming, with spreading, wiry, black rootlets Companion Plants Tulip poplar, post oak, shortleaf pine, dwarf huckleberry, Christmas fern, troutlily, mayapple, pussytoes, galax, green-­and-­gold, partridgeberry Propagation Spores, division Wildlife Might be browsed by woodland jumping mouse Ebony spleenwort is small, well mannered, and ideal for areas that are too dry for most other ferns, except bracken. If you use it as a groundcover, plan on watering it regularly all summer to keep it thick. But don’t expect it to make a smooth cover. Like Christmas fern, it is too individualistic to make a dense, even blanket. It takes a lot more sun than most ferns, and can even be used as an accent in a half-­sunny flower garden. Plant it between boulders or in the cracks of an unmortared stone wall; its light, airy appearance looks graceful there, where other ferns would look too bulky. FERNS

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155. Latin Name Athyrium asplenioides (formerly A. filix-­femina var. asplenioides) Common Name Southern lady fern Usual Height 18 to 36 inches Spacing 4 feet apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Usually lime green, spring, and then summer and fall Fruit Spores, curving fruit dots Leaves Lacy, large, broad, light green Native Range Moist semishade, bluffs, riverbanks, eastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Colonizes aggressively Companion Plants Hemlock, southern magnolia, swamp chestnut oak, spruce pine, American holly, possumhaw viburnum, sensitive fern, Christmas fern, broad beech fern, northern maidenhair fern, marginal fern, most early woodland flowers Propagation Root division, spores Wildlife Shelter for woodhouse toad, anoles Southern lady fern is just what most folks imagine when they hear the word “fern.” It is waist-­high, lacy, delicate-­looking, and easy to grow. Even black-­thumbs have no trouble, as long as they remember to water it (not drown it) whenever it starts getting a little dry in the summer. Unlike maidenhair fern, it is very forgiving; if the foliage starts turning brown and crispy, water it and it will spring back with fresh new fronds. While some gardeners consider it a nuisance because it’s aggressive and can overwhelm more-­timid ferns and woodland flowers, it’s a good choice for those who have the room to let it go and don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort in the garden.

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156. Latin Name Dennstaedtia punctilobula Common Name Hayscented fern Usual Height 18 inches, can reach 3 feet Spacing 2 feet apart Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Green, spring Fruit Spores, round golden dots, late summer Leaves Light green, twice divided, elongated triangles, fragrant, yellow to bronze fall color Native Range Rocky open woods, damp slopes, northeastern North America down the Appalachians into Georgia, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid to neutral, rich preferred, poor tolerated, sandy OK, rocky OK Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Rhizomatous Companion Plants Oaks, hickories, troutlily, mayapple, lyreleaf sage, fire pink, spiderwort, bowman’s root, downy skullcap, coreopsis Propagation Spores, root division Wildlife Rabbit-­resistant, deer-­resistant Hayscented fern is so named because when you brush or crush its super-­soft fronds, it releases the scent of newly mown hay. It is adaptable to well-­drained soils and spreads moderately quickly, even with a little bit of sun. Of all the ferns in this chapter, it will take the most sun without having its roots in moving water. In shade, it will take the most drought except for bracken. In just the right conditions, as under post oaks or black oaks, it can be aggressive, even helping out a gardener by reducing the number of tree seedlings and restraining aggressive perennials. But where conditions are not so dry, it is outcompeted by moisture-­loving ferns like New York fern.

157. Latin Name Onoclea sensibilis Common Name Sensitive fern, bead fern Usual Height 1 to 2 feet, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 1 to 2 feet for quick cover Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Pale red, early spring Fruit Spores, in beads on fertile stalks, early summer Leaves Sterile, broad, simple, light green Native Range Woodlands, hammocks, stream banks, floodplains, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Wet to moist Root System Colonizes, shallow brown, thick Companion Plants Loblolly pine, swamp chestnut oak, sweetbay, wax myrtle, musclewood, clethra, fetterbush, swamp azalea, crossvine, decumaria, cinnamon fern, netted chain fern, lizard’s tail Propagation Root division, spores Wildlife Shelter for salamanders, frogs Sensitive fern usually grows knee-­high and makes a fine groundcover in wet places. It can even be aggressive in locations most other plants wouldn’t even consider. It grows in very soggy sites, as long as it gets oxygen; sour clay and stagnant water are too extreme. In the wild, it is usually seen with cinnamon fern. The two look great together. Cinnamon fern provides a tall, lacy counterpoint to low, smooth sensitive fern. Lizard’s tail is also usually present, providing flowers in early summer. The beaded stalks of sensitive fern are decorative in the winter garden, but I prefer to cut them and use them in dried arrangements indoors. For an even shorter ferny groundcover in these same conditions, see netted chain fern.

158. Latin Name Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (formerly Osmunda cinnamomea) Common Name Cinnamon fern Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, rarely 6 feet in Southeast Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Silvery, woolly, turning to cinnamon brown, early spring Fruit Cinnamon-­colored spore cases on fertile stalks, late spring Leaves Sterile, lacy, broad, bright green, woolly in early spring, yellow fall color Native Range Swamps, ponds, stream banks, eastern North and Central America, Zones 3 to 11 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Wet to moist, tolerates shallow water all year Root System Bristly crown of osmunda fiber, shallow black roots, clump-­forming in Southeast Companion Plants Red maple, redbay, itea, highbush blueberry, sensitive fern, netted chain fern, royal fern, lizard’s tail, golden club Propagation Fresh green spores, crown division Wildlife Spring wool on leaves used for nests You’ll want to use cinnamon fern as an accent plant rather than as a groundcover. Team it up with sensitive fern, netted chain fern, and lizard’s tail along a creek bank; on the shady side of your house where drainage is seasonally poor; or in a rich, moist bed in your garden. Cinnamon fern is found in full sun, but only when it is sitting in shallow, barely moving water. There, it can be combined with tuckahoe, pickerelweed, and other water plants. Unless you have a natural bog, spring, or dependable seep on your property, plan to use it only in the shade. The fossil record shows cinnamon fern was living 180 million years ago. FERNS

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159. Latin Name Osmunda spectabilis (formerly O. regalis) Common Name Royal fern Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, rarely 6 feet in Southeast Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Wine red, smooth, stout, early spring Fruit Golden clusters of spore cases on fertile stalks, midsummer Leaves Sterile, large, simple, pale green Native Range Bogs, wet meadows, western hemisphere and Europe, Zones 3 to 11 Soil Acid, limestone OK, rich preferred Drainage Wet to moist, tolerates shallow water all year Root System Elevated 1- to 6-inch crown of osmunda fiber, deep, black roots, clump-­ forming in Southeast Companion Plants Moist woodlands, most ferns and woodland flowers Propagation Spores, division of crown Wildlife Colonies provide cover Although royal fern is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, I’ve seen it most often in lightly shaded moist—not wet—sites. It seems to be able to thrive with less consistent water than cinnamon fern. Royal fern is an accent fern, tall and stately, and its relatively simple leaves make it stand out in contrast to more lacy ferns. Use it in shady flower gardens where you want height, in coastal gardens that have a tropical flavor, and in mountain gardens where you want a softening touch.

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160. Latin Name Parathelypteris noveboracensis (formerly Thelypteris noveboracensis) Common Name New York fern Usual Height 12 to 18 inches, occasionally 2 feet Spacing 1 foot apart for quick cover in the Southeast Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Light green, early spring Fruit Spores, in round or kidney-­shaped fruit dots Leaves Chartreuse, lacy Native Range Moist woods, hammocks, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, rocky crevices OK Drainage Moist Root System Shallow, black, wiry, colonizes more slowly in the South Companion Plants Hemlock, beech, rosebay rhododendron, red maple, fringe tree, Solomon’s seal, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, smilacina, Christmas fern, broad beech fern, northern maidenhair fern Propagation Spores, root division Wildlife Shelter for garden toads Related Species Phegopteris hexagonoptera (formerly Thelypteris hexagonoptera), broad beech fern, Zones 4 to 8; Thelypteris kunthii, southern shield fern, Zones 8 to 11 Many erstwhile species of Thelypteris make fine garden ferns. New York fern, in spite of its name, is a good choice for Southern gardens, being less aggressive here than it is in colder climates. It is valuable primarily for its bright yellow-­green color, which makes a pleasant groundcover. It is available in sod form. The broad beech fern has distinctive triangular leaves, is a little taller and a little more heat-­tolerant than New York fern, and is darker green in color. The two are often found growing together under hardwoods with a variety of woodland flowers. Southern shield fern, still a Thelypteris for now, tolerates alkaline clay and is a very dependable fern for the Deep South. These ferns are mostly sold under their former names.

161. Latin Name Pteridium aquilinum Common Name Bracken Usual Height 1 to 4 feet in Southeast Spacing 2 to 3 feet apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Three-­clawed, silvery, furry, early spring Fruit Spores in fruit dots on margins of leaflets Leaves Three-­parted, large, broad, airy, light green, bronze in fall Native Range Dry woods, burned areas, thickets, Zones 3 to 10, almost worldwide Soil Acid, poor, sterile sand preferred Drainage Dry to moist, does not tolerate flooding Root System Very deep, colonizes aggressively if not kept dry Companion Plants Longleaf pine, turkey oak, post oak, sparkleberry, sassafras, wiregrass, splitbeard bluestem, sandhill rosemary, conradina Propagation Root division Wildlife Shelter for many small animals Bracken is your fern of last resort. Extremely aggressive, it’s often called the weed of the fern family and shouldn’t be used where any other ferns can be used. But if even hayscented fern has let you down, bracken is your buddy. It is absolutely invaluable in dry, thin woodland, where it is your only choice for an extensive, ferny, drought-­tolerant groundcover. Its roots have been reported to go as deep as 10 feet in search of water. If there is no rain for several weeks in the summer, it will go dormant. It is only after three months of drought that parts of it will start to die. In a landscape, you can mow the edges to give it shape, the same way you would do contour mowing in a meadow, or for mayapple. Each year, cut it back after the fall color has faded, so that the new spring growth will not be intermixed with dead leaves. It also tolerates being burned.

162. Latin Name Woodwardia areolata Common Name Netted chain fern Usual Height 12 inches, occasionally 30 inches Spacing 18 inches apart for quick cover Sun or Shade Fiddleheads Bronze, early spring Fruit Spores in chained fruit dots on fertile leaves Leaves Sterile, glossy green, thin, wavy Native Range Swamps, wet woods, floodplains, lime sinks, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Very acid, rich, over lime OK, brackish OK Drainage Moist to wet Root System Shallow, brown, slender, colonizing Companion Plants Bald cypress, red maple, redbay, sweetbay, itea, highbush blueberry, cinnamon fern, sensitive fern, lizard’s tail Propagation Spores, root division Wildlife Shelter for frogs, toads, and newts Netted chain fern looks a lot like sensitive fern, the chief difference being that it grows closer to the ground. But, they are not related. In the wild, I see netted chain fern most often in fairly dark woods that are so wet they are squishy underfoot. It also grows in the sandhills and in post oak woods where the water table intersects the surface, making a pocosin or bog. The leaves are simple, giving a feeling of calm and continuity so important to a groundcover. It would be my first choice for a mass planting under titi, sweetbay, or wax myrtle. On the edge of a shady pond, use it with lizard’s tail, cinnamon fern, and tuckahoe.

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11 WOODLAND FLOWERS

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oodland flowers, along with groundcovers, ferns, and leaf mulch, are the normal cover for the forest floor in southeastern deciduous woodlands. In winter and spring, the forest floor receives dappled sunlight, but in summer and fall, the light is very dim. For that reason, most woodland flowers bloom in very early spring while branches are still bare or just beginning to flower or leaf out. These flowers occur commonly in hardwood forests; when you find them in pine/oak forests, they are usually under the oaks, not the pines. While some of these flowers maintain green leaves all year, most of them put all their energy into spring blooming and go dormant the rest of the year. These flowers are called spring ephemerals because they stay around such a short time. Treat them as you would daffodils or other long-­lived spring bulbs. Allow the foliage to die back on its own before cutting it back. This feeds the roots so they are ready to go again the next year. Some of the foliage is so delicate that it dies back without your ever noticing, especially

We came across this dazzling sight of black cohosh with Turk’s cap lily under tulip poplars on the Blue Ridge Parkway in late July.

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if ferns and summer woodland flowers are planted adjacent to quickly fill in the spaces vacated by the ephemerals. Not all the spring flower foliage dies in the spring. Some looks good until seed is set in late summer or fall. Some stay green until frost. And some have tall, leafy stems that die back at frost, but then grow basal rosettes, sunbursts of fresh greenery that hug the ground or arrange themselves above the leaf mulch to get sun all winter. (All that information is in the profiles under the heading on leaves.) Some woodland flowers are bulbs, or have a special shallow type of flattened bulb called a corm. Most, however, have rhizomes, thickened horizontal roots like iris roots. Some of these colonize to make extensive masses. Others colonize very slowly to make clumps that get a little bit bigger every year. Then, there are some woodland flowers—normally the shorter-­ lived perennials—that self-­sow, or reseed themselves, to expand their territory. Spotted phacelia is the only flower in this chapter that is not a perennial. Woodland flowers can be used in shady flower gardens just the way you’d use most other flowers. Or they can be planted in drifts under trees and allowed to wander wherever they wish. Margaret Reid, a skilled native-­plant gardener in Raleigh, North Carolina, has developed what she calls the “playhouse” technique for planting a woodland garden. She doesn’t try to do too much—no more than 6 feet by 6 feet—at any one time. This tiny area

Trilliums are some of the best-­known spring ephemerals. This clump of nodding wake-­ robin, Trillium flexipes, was blooming in April in Louise Smith’s garden in Birmingham, Alabama. She got these when the local native plant society was given a chance to rescue rare and valuable plants before the land was bulldozed for a building project.

becomes her playhouse and in it she develops a composition with rocks, logs, bird bath, ferns, flowers, and groundcovers that reminds her of some particularly beautiful spot she has seen in the woods. For a year she weeds, waters, and perfects it. Then, the next year, she starts another playhouse. After many years, this technique has resulted in an exquisite shady dell on one side of her house. Only a few nurseries bother to carry woodland flowers, because most are slow-­growing. Many of them take two to three years to reach blooming size. For a nursery to be able to offer them to you, a lot of time, energy, dedication, and money has to be invested. So be appreciative when you come across them, and understand why these beautiful flowers cost more than run-­of-­the-­mill flora. Also, be sure they’ve been nursery propagated. And be aware that this does not mean the same as “nursery grown,” a tag some unscrupulous nurseries use to fudge the fact that the plants were “grown’’ only a month or so in the nursery after being dug from the wild.

“Nursery propagated” means that the plants were grown from seed or cuttings, or that the nursery maintains stock plants and divides them each year, and leaves the ones in the wild alone. Finally, bloodroot, trilliums, and lady’s slippers were not originally included in this book, even though they are very well-­known. They were rarely propagated by nurseries because they are the most difficult and slowest-­growing of all, and they rarely survived in a herbicided, pesticided home landscape. Science has now let us know that these woodland flowers must have mycorrhizae to survive, and the “cides” kill mycorrhizae. These are organisms that live on the ends of the plant’s roots and negotiate the complicated business of acquiring food and water for the flowers. Thanks to the commercial production of at least a few important mycorrhizae and thanks to the diligence and dedication of a few honorable nurserymen, I have been able to add ten fabulous woodland flowers to this chapter. It’s up to you to forgo the poisons if you want to grow these botanical treasures. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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SPRING-­B LOOMING WOODLAND FLOWERS

Blue phlox, alumroot, foamflower, moss, and ferns have been allowed to find a home on these shady stone steps in Louise Smith’s garden in Birmingham, Alabama.

Spring-­blooming woodland flowers grow mostly under deciduous trees, so they have the benefit of spring sunlight

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penetrating the bare branches and reaching the forest floor. Because they have no competition for the available sunlight,

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

they generally grow quite short, usually below knee high.

163. Latin Name Amsonia tabernaemontana Common Name Woodland bluestar Usual Height 1 to 2 feet, but can reach 4 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale blue, ¾ inch across, in 3- to 8-inch clusters, two weeks sometime from early spring to early summer, sometimes fragrant Fruit Green, a cluster of upright stick-­like capsules, up to 5 inches long Leaves Lance-­shaped, mostly 4 to 6 inches long by 2 inches broad, but some have willow-­thin leaves; pale yellow fall color Native Range Woodlands, stream banks, limestone glades, Virginia to Florida westward to Illinois and East Texas, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to alkaline, rich, sand OK, clay OK Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Taproot, does not colonize Companion Plants Oaks, hickories, yellow buckeye, basswood, yellowwood, fringe tree, sourwood, wild geranium, spotted phacelia, blue phlox, short’s aster, woodmint Propagation Seed Wildlife Flowers attract hummingbirds, long-­tongued bees, large carpenter bee, hummingbird moth, butterflies; larval for hummingbird moth; deer-­resistant The leaves are usually broad and bold, giving a texture contrast. The flowers are pretty, but half buried in the top leaves, so not as showy as Arkansas bluestar or Texas bluestar. Woodland bluestar is the more common bluestar in the South, since it is best adapted to moist semishade. Too much shade and it can get floppy, Too much sun and it can get scalded. In the right place, it is very easy to grow. I find it a little coarse for the woodland ephemerals, but with lyreleaf sage, woodland sedges, and other sturdy flowers, it gives long-­term, easy-­care pleasure. Cultivars of woodland bluestar are usually sold under the name ‘Amsonia montana.’ They are short and have bluer flowers. One has the willow-­shaped leaves.

164. Latin Name Aquilegia canadensis Common Name Eastern red columbine Usual Height 20 to 30 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Red and yellow, 2 inches long, nodding, early spring and whenever the weather is cool Fruit Tan, dry, self-­sows easily, two weeks after bloom Leaves Often evergreen, dainty, floating effect Native Range Calcareous woods, most of North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rocky, sandy, not too rich Drainage Dry to moist, not tolerant of flooding Root System Deep, thick rootstocks, does not colonize Companion Plants Flowering dogwood, strawberry bush, sweetshrub, partridgeberry, foamflower, smilacina, Christmas fern, bloodroot, violets, toothwort, celandine poppy, atamasco lily, black cohosh, Small’s penstemon, broad-­leaved goldenrod, Short’s aster Propagation Seed (sown uncovered and lightly tamped into the soil) Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, long-­tongued bees, hummingbird moths, and butterflies; seeds eaten by finches, buntings Ironically, the better you treat eastern red columbine, the shorter its life span. In a well-­tended garden, with rich, overly moist soil, it will grow too fast and expire in a year or less. It reseeds, so it’s easy to keep a broad patch of it going. You can transplant seedlings in the fall and put them where you want them. On the other hand, it is naturally long-­lived in not-­too-­dense, dryish woodland, on the edge of moist woodland, or in limestone walls. I’ve had one specimen in a terra-­cotta pot with no saucer for about ten years. Wild red columbine is essentially evergreen (it goes dormant at 110 degrees F or –10 degrees F, but puts out new leaves immediately after the crisis) and blooms twice in the spring and once in the fall. It will hybridize with other columbines—especially the Texas yellows and the western red columbines. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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165. Latin Name Anemonella thalictroides (Thalictrum thalictroides) Common Name Rue anemone Usual Height 9 to 12 inches Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom White, sometimes flushed with pink, 1-inch pinwheels of six to nine petal-­looking sepals, early spring, close at night Fruit 1/3-inch capsules holding four to fifteen seeds, May, wind-­dispersed Leaves Ephemeral, 1½- by 1-inch lobed leaflets, three to a leaf, two leaves opposite just below one to six flowers, die back in early summer Native Range Old growth deciduous woods, pine and hardwood forests, thickets, banks, eastern half of U.S., Zones 4 to 8 Soil Slightly acid to slightly alkaline, rich Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Small black tubers Companion Plants Tulip poplar, white oak, basswood, yellowwood, hophornbeam, sourwood, oakleaf hydrangea, Solomon’s seal, goat’s beard, black cohosh, bowman’s root, zigzag goldenrod, spigelia Propagation Fresh seed, takes three years to bloom, self-­sows Wildlife Pollen used by syrphid bees, bee flies, honeybees, carpenter bees, mason bees, etc. Rue anemone has flowers that look like anemones and leaves that look like meadowrue. Some botanists keep it in the meadowrue family, but the flowers and growth habit are so different, I sided with the Anemonella botanists. Plant it with nonaggressive woodland flowers or in a very low groundcover like wild ginger or heartleaf. It blooms under deciduous trees before they are fully leafed out. Since the showy flowers are composed of sepal, they last a long time. After the plant sets and disperses its seed, it disappears until next spring. A giant drift of it would not be too much, so hope yours seeds out liberally. The sap can cause dermatitis.

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166. Latin Name Arisaema triphyllum Common Name Jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, Indian turnip Usual Height 12 to 18 inches, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Pale green, purple markings, 1 to 3 inches, late spring Fruit Red berries clustered on the stalk, showy, mid to late summer Leaves Ephemeral, one or two, 12 to 16 inches across, three (to five) leaflets, held like an umbrella over the flower, dormant late summer to the next spring Native Range Rich bluffs, floodplains, hammocks, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist to wet Root System Corm, up to 2 inches thick Companion Plants Tulip poplar, magnolias, storax, heartleaf, foamflower, partridgeberry, ferns, green dragon, smilacina Propagation Fresh or stratified seed, root division Wildlife Fruit eaten by wild turkey, wood thrush, and mammals; all parts caustic to most animals Related Species A. dracontium, green dragon, Zones 4 to 9 Everywhere we saw jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, it had seeded out and spread far from its original site in the garden. But nobody considered this a problem; this is one popular flower. For one thing, its colorful fruits provide welcome color in the middle of a stifling summer. It does have a somewhat sinister-­looking blue, fleshy stalk and large leaves, but these just give it a tropical feeling. It mixes well with large-­leafed magnolias and assorted ferns. Surrounded by more sedate woodland flowers, it makes a dramatic accent. Green dragon is almost equally well liked. It has seven to fifteen leaflets, slender green flowers in late spring or early summer, and orange berries. The two are often found growing together, but if you live over limestone, you might have better luck with green dragon.

Cutleaf toothwort is a spring ephemeral, which is to say it is delicate and dainty and visible only during that season. It blooms very early when none of the trees have started to leaf out. Each clump is quite vivid and is used effectively when tucked into various spots throughout a shady spring garden. Wild bleeding heart, twoleaf miterwort, and ferns are good candidates to fill its place during the rest of the year. Allegheny spurge is a thin enough groundcover in the spring for toothwort to find room to grow right up through it and bloom. Slender toothwort has similar spring flowers, but forms large, attractive patches of green leaves in the winter. It, too, vanishes by late spring. Two-­leaved toothwort is usually the earliest to bloom.

Alan Cressler

Alan Cressler

167. Latin Name Cardamine concatenata (formerly Dentaria laciniata) Common Name Cutleaf toothwort, pepper root Usual Height 6 to 8 inches, rarely 15 inches high Spacing 6- to 10-inch clumps Sun or Shade Bloom White, four-­petaled, often flushed with pink, ¾ inch, in a loose cluster, early spring Fruit 1 inch long, dry, slender, late spring Leaves Ephemeral, three leaves, on the stem under the flowers, deeply cut and toothed; spring only Native Range Floodplains, rich woods, stream banks, limestone outcrops, southeastern U.S., Zones 3 to 8, rare in Coastal Plain Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist, seasonal flooding OK Root System Shallow, long, thin rhizome, colonizes very slowly Companion Plants Hardwoods, hepatica, bloodroot, merrybells, troutlily, trillium, green dragon, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, Allegheny spurge Propagation Fresh seed, root division when dormant Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued and short-­ tongued bees, butterflies, and the giant bee fly; larval for the West Virginia white butterfly Related Species C. augustata (formerly Dentaria heterophylla), slender toothwort, Zones 5 to 8; C. diphylla, two-­leaved toothwort, Zones 3 to 8

168. Latin Name Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens Common Name Large yellow lady’s slipper Usual Height 12 to 18 inches, can get to 30 inches Spacing 12 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Green and brown long twisted petals and sepals, 3 inches long over a 2-inch inflated buttery yellow lip (pouch), late spring, rose fragrance Fruit Brown capsule, egg-­shaped, early summer Leaves Ephemeral, light green, 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, ribbed Native Range Moist, deciduous woodlands and wet sunny meadows, Newfoundland to Alabama and Oklahoma, and also down the Rockies, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Slightly acid to neutral, sand OK, over limestone OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Fibrous, short rhizomes, shallow Companion Plants Sweetbay, yellow buckeye, mountain magnolia, sourwood, storax, toothwort, isopyrum, woodmint, bottle gentian, American spikenard, zigzag goldenrod Propagation Division in early fall, once every five years at most Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees, little carpenter bees, mason bees, halictid bees, andrenid bees Related Species C. kentuckiense, Kentucky lady’s slipper, paler yellow, rare, drier locations, Virginia to East Texas, Zones 7 to 8 These two yellow orchids (large yellow lady’s slipper and Kentucky lady’s slipper) were previously considered one species. Both are large-­flowered, showy, and easy to grow—as orchids go. Both are available commercially. Because it takes four to five years to grow one from seed, they are expensive, but well worth the investment. Plant them under a healthy deciduous tree where they get good light in the winter and early spring. Choose soil that is rich in mycorrhizae. Mulch them well and let autumn leaves accumulate. Never let them dry out; the roots are too shallow. Then watch them slowly colonize into your favorite late spring show. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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Moccasin flower is the pink lady’s slipper most prevalent in the South. It loves granite grit and leaf humus. Do not water with chlorinated tap water. From seed, moccasin flower might take more than ten years to bloom. It can live twenty to fifty years and eventually have more than one hundred flowering stems. Showy pink lady’s slipper is not as prevalent in the South. It prefers slightly acid to neutral soil, even growing in limestone areas, and tolerates swampy woodlands and sunny fens. Because these orchids are so showy, they are increasingly available in the legitimate and propagated nursery trade. If you buy younger plants, expect to wait several years for them to gain enough stamina to flower.

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R. W. Smith

Alan Cressler

169. Latin Name Cypripedium acaule Common Name Moccasin flower, pink lady’s slipper Usual Height 6 to 18 inches Spacing 12 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Deep to pale pink (white), 3 to 5 inches, one flower to each pair of leaves, late spring to early summer Fruit Brown Leaves Ephemeral, two basal leaves, lettuce green, 3 to 12 inches long Native Range Pine woodlands, hemlock forests, birch woods, Canada to Georgia and Alabama, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Very acid to acid, a pH of 5 or less is needed or the plants rot Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Tuberous rhizome, symbiotic with a Rhizoctonia fungus, colonizes Companion Plants Eastern hemlock, pines, hickories, oaks, maples, rhododendrons, galax, heartleaf, moss, round-­lobed hepatica, foamflower, mayapple, smilacina, fly poison Propagation Seeds, division, extremely difficult Wildlife Pollinated by miner and leafcutter bees and a native beetle Related Species C. reginae, showy pink lady’s slipper, Zones 2 to 7

170. Latin Name Delphinium tricorne Common Name Dwarf larkspur Usual Height 8 to 12 inches, can reach 30 inches Spacing 6 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Blue to purple to white, eight to twenty-­ four 1-inch flowers on an airy 3- to 8-inch spike, three weeks midspring Fruit Tan, small, three horns (tricorne) Leaves Ephemeral, gray-­green, 4 inches wide, twice-­divided palmate Native Range Moist rich woods, rocky wooded slopes, Piedmont westward to Oklahoma, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Slightly acid to slightly alkaline, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Tuberous, can form clonal offshoots Companion Plants Tulip poplar, basswood, redbud, trillium, blue phlox, fire pink, goat’s beard, woodmint, black cohosh, gentians, goldenrods, asters, deciduous ferns Propagation Seed, self-­sows Wildlife Pollinated by hummingbirds and bumblebees; attracts ruby-­throated hummingbird, giant bee fly, swallowtail butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moth, and miner bees Dwarf larkspur is a woodland ephemeral. It greens up as earlier spring ephemerals like trilliums are blooming, makes a spectacular drift of sky-­blue to dark purple flowers amongst the tree trunks, and then dies back, to be covered up by mayapples, ferns, or summer-­blooming woodland flowers. Each plant has only one rather weak, fleshy flowering stem, so you want masses of them crowded together for wind protection and mutual support, as well as the stunning look of so much knee-­high blueness. Be sure to let them die back on their own, hidden under summer flowers, so that they can self-­sow as much as possible.

Doug Sherman

171. Latin Name Dicentra eximia Common Name Wild bleeding heart Usual Height 9 to 12 inches, rarely 2 feet Spacing 12- to 18-inch clumps Sun or Shade Bloom White to pale pink, dark pink, or purple, ½ inch, spurred, clustered, early spring to frost Fruit 1 inch long, peapod-­shaped, dry, late summer, self-­sows Leaves Sometimes evergreen, 2 to 10 inches long and wide, very fancy and ferny, can cause dermatitis Native Range Rich, rare, mountain woods from Tennessee and Georgia to New York, Zones 5 to 8, naturalized in New England and Great Lakes areas Soil Acid, rich, rocky Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Rhizome, colonizes very slowly Companion Plants Beech, umbrella tree, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, violets, foamflower, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, green-­and-­gold, alumroot, wild ginger, Christmas fern, New York fern, northern maidenhair fern Propagation Fresh seed, stratified seed Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, bumble­ bees, hummingbirds; seed dispersed by ants Related Species D. canadensis, squirrel corn, Zones 4 to 8; D. cucullaria, Dutchman’s breeches, Zones 3 to 7 Wild bleeding heart is one of those plants that gardeners dream of. It is small, neat, evergreen, and long-­blooming—about eight months. Though native only in the mountains, it can easily handle the heat of the Piedmont, provided you plant it under a shade tree where the soil is rich and moist. Plant several individual plant clumps where you’d like them to naturalize, then let them seed out and go where they want to. Squirrel corn and Dutchman’s breeches are spring ephemerals. Both can naturalize to cover large patches of forest floor in a deciduous woodland in the upper Piedmont or in the mountains, and both can grow in rich soils over limestone. The bleeding heart most commonly found in nurseries, D. spectabilis, also an ephemeral, is from Asia.

172. Latin Name Dodecatheon meadia Common Name Eastern shooting star Usual Height 10 to 20 inches Spacing 10 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Fuchsia to pink to lavender to white, 1 inch, a starburst cluster of a dozen or more nodding flowers on 2-inch arching stems, no nectar or scent, late spring Fruit Reddish brown seed pods, ½ inch long Leaves Ephemeral, dormant by midsummer, rosette of leaves 3 to 12 inches long, smooth Native Range Moist to dry deciduous woods, limestone slopes, Piedmont and Appalachians westward to tallgrass prairie, rare in the Coastal Plain, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, rocky OK, limestone OK, sand OK, clay OK Drainage Moist until it goes dormant, then dry OK, always well drained Root System Fibrous, woody at base of stem, offsets might develop Companion Plants Yellow buckeye, post oak, black oak, eastern redbud, sparkleberry, sharp-­ lobed hepatica, Pennsylvania sedge, merrybells, ebony spleenwort, white troutlily, vernal iris, bluestem goldenrod, Short’s aster Propagation Fresh seed, takes three years to bloom, will self-­sow Wildlife Pollinated by queen bumblebees, green metallic bees, long-­horned bees Eastern shooting star is one of those excitingly distinctive flowers that doesn’t really look like anything else in the woodland garden. Use it where you can see it up close, or plant a tight drift of it where it will give bold color. Because it will grow in somewhat drier, sandier conditions than most ephemerals, it is a boon to those gardeners who live in such soils. Interplant it with the companion plants listed above or similar choices that don’t need much water in the summer. It must have its roots protected, so if you don’t overplant it, give it a mulch of pine needles. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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R. W. Smith

173. Latin Name Enemion biternatum (formerly Isopyrum biternatum) Common Name Isopyrum, eastern false rue anemone Usual Height 5 to 6 inches, rarely 20 inches Spacing 1 foot apart Sun or Shade Bloom White, ¾ inch across, usually in large clusters, long bloom period in early spring and sometimes all winter Fruit ¼ inch, dry, late spring Leaves Winter greenery, rue-­shaped leaflets, late fall to spring, dormant in summer Native Range Rich woods, limestone ledges, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Slender, fibrous, colonizes Companion Plants Hardwoods, toothwort, troutlily, dwarf iris, mayapple, wild ginger, green-­and-­gold, fragrant phlox, blue phlox, northern maidenhair fern Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by small insects, including halictid bees, andrenid bees, and honeybees; probably deer-­resistant Isopyrum, pronounced “eye-­so-­PYE-­rum,” quickly forms large patches of lemony-­green foliage that are visually delightful all through the winter. When late March or earliest April rolls around, it blooms extravagantly for a whole month—an unusually long time. The little white flowers are so delicate that they ruffle in the breeze. By May, the leaves and flowers begin to fade. Jenny Andrews of Cheekwood Gardens in Nashville recommends planting a patch of them about 4 feet by 5 feet and planting maidenhair fern on one edge of the patch. The lacy green fronds of the fern then take over for summer and fall without hurting the isopyrum.

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174. Latin Name Erythronium albidum Common Name White troutlily, dogtooth violet, adder’s tongue Usual Height 6 inches, occasionally 10 inches Spacing 8 inches apart in a drift Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1 inch, solitary, nodding, very early spring Fruit Dry, late spring Leaves Ephemeral, two (one on immature plants), green, mottled with purple, 4 to 8 inches long, glossy, from February to May Native Range Woods and prairies, Great Lakes to Maryland to Kansas to the Gulf states, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Corm, the size of a dog’s tooth, produces offsets via stolons Companion Plants Under hardwoods; blooms with redbud, flowering dogwood, violets, hepatica; interplant with later woodland flowers and ferns Propagation Offsets from corms, untreated seed sown in fall produces flowers the third or fourth spring Wildlife Pollen source for bees; browsed by deer; beneficial to the soil Related Species E. americanum, yellow troutlily, Zones 3 to 8 Trout lilies are among the very earliest of the woodland flowers to bloom. They are also called dogtooth violets, although they are lilies, not violets. Plant the corms (flattened bulbs) about 3 inches deep in loose leaf mold and humus. You won’t find them easily in nurseries, and when you do, you won’t find a lot available. So get what you can, plant them, and then let them seed out and colonize to form the large swath you envisioned. Trout lilies are a must for woodland landscapes, where, if given half a chance, they can cover acres. White troutlily has the showier bloom, while yellow troutlily is the more widespread in the eastern United States.

175. Latin Name Geranium maculatum Common Name Wild geranium, spotted cranesbill Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 feet in drifts Sun or Shade Bloom Pink, white, lavender, 1 to 1½ inches across, in large, showy clusters, early spring, sometimes into early summer Fruit 1-inch “cranesbill,” dry, late spring Leaves Almost evergreen, fancy, 2 to 6 inches across, might turn coral, red, or burgundy in fall Native Range Rich woods, meadows, eastern half of U.S., Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Short, thick rhizomes, shallow Companion Plants Hardwoods, broad beech fern, trillium, hepatica, closed gentian Propagation Fresh seeds, root division Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees and other native bees; flowers attract butterflies; seeds eaten by mourning dove, bobwhite, and white-­ tailed deer If you’re a novice gardener, wild geranium is one of the best woodland flowers to start out with. It’s easy to grow, and not at all delicate, rare, or hard to find. In a relatively short time, it can cover a large area. Plant three or five up-­slope from where you want to have the big show. The roots will spread and the seeds will scatter downhill, and in just a few years you will have an impressive display. It’s also effective with mosses and ferns on the banks of a small stream or in a tiny, shady flower bed. The above information reflects the wild plant and its original habitat and behavior. Since the first edition of this book, wild geranium has become a mainstay in sunny flower gardens from coast to coast and overseas. Some of its wonderful cultivars have larger flowers, bluer flowers, white flowers, or chocolate leaves, and the plants spread 3 feet wide.

176. Latin Name Heuchera americana Common Name Alumroot Usual Height 18 inches, rarely 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale greeny yellow or purplish, tiny, lacy cluster on stalk, early spring for three weeks Fruit Dark red seeds, late spring Leaves Almost evergreen, 4 to 6 inches, maple-­ shaped, fuzzy; red, yellow-­green, bronze, and purple in fall Native Range Rich or rocky woods, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich, rocky Drainage Moist to dry Root System Crown with fibrous roots Companion Plants Whorled loosestrife, galax, troutlily, wild red columbine Propagation Seeds sown in spring, division of crown spring or fall every three to four years Wildlife The plasterer bee is a specialist pollinator of alumroots; nectar and pollen attract even smaller bees such as the halictid bees; deer-­resistant Related Species H. villosa, mountain alumroot, hairy alumroot, Zones 5 to 8 The appeal of alumroot’s flowers is very subjective; some gardeners don’t think much of them, while I, for one, find their subtle mistiness very attractive. Everybody likes the leaves. They’re large, distinctive, and very colorful in the autumn. Because alumroot is almost evergreen, it is sometimes used as a groundcover. However, I like it best as a solitary plant nestled into rocks or growing out of an unmortared rock wall—granite, sandstone, or limestone—it makes no difference. I’m told that it makes an excellent pot plant. Mountain alumroot is very similar.

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George H. Bruso

177. Latin Name Iris cristata Common Name Dwarf iris, crested iris Usual Height 6 inches Spacing 1 foot, 10 feet apart for naturalizing in the woods Sun or Shade Bloom Pale blue to deep blue (rarely white in the wild), 2½ inches across, early spring Fruit Tan, dry, midsummer Leaves Ephemeral, 4-inch iris leaves, sometimes 8 inches, dormant from fall to April Native Range Rich woods, southeastern U.S., Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Narrow rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Hardwoods, rhododendrons, magnolias, Christmas fern, ebony spleenwort, marginal fern, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, trillium, fly poison, merrybells Propagation Division of clumps, seed Wildlife Flowers used by hummingbirds and bees Related Species I. verna, vernal iris, Zones 6 to 8, intensely fragrant The flowers of dwarf iris are surprisingly huge in relation to the overall plant, and all bloom at once. It is easy to grow and very popular. We saw both blue- and white-­flowered forms in nearly every Piedmont garden we visited. Vernal iris blooms early on a 2-inch stalk and is intensely fragrant. It prefers very acid soil and is found under pine trees with galax and wild azaleas, or in dryish woods under post oaks. Its foliage grows after it blooms and is taller and narrower than the foliage of dwarf iris. The Coastal Plain variety, I. verna var. verna, sometimes looks grassy. The mountain variety, I. verna var. smalliana, looks more like the dwarf iris. Both vernal irises have been reported to be evergreen in some locations.

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178. Latin Name Jeffersonia diphylla Common Name Twinleaf Usual Height 4 to 18 inches Spacing 9 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1½ inches across, seven to nine petals, on 8-inch stems, late March or early April Fruit 1-inch-­tall pod, an urn with a lid, seeds dispersed by ants Leaves Ephemeral, 7 inches broad, deeply divided into two lobes that look like two leaves, pinkish when they unfold, turning rich green, dormant after midsummer Native Range Moist hardwood forests on limestone, Appalachians and Virginia Piedmont, Zones 4 to 7 Soil Rich, slightly acid to slightly alkaline Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Clump-­forming, rhizome behaves rather like bearded iris roots Companion Plants Hardwoods, understory trees, lady’s slippers, dwarf larkspur, eastern shooting star, wild bleeding heart, white troutlily, Solomon’s seal, alumroot, northern maidenhair fern, black cohosh, bottle gentian, bowman’s root Propagation Fresh seed, roots hate to be disturbed Wildlife Pollinated by both long-­tongued and short-­tongued bees, honeybees I love a plant with something so distinct about it that I can easily identify it. The leaves of twinleaf are split almost in two, held together by a tiny curved waist. The lovely flowers last only a short time, but are preceded by pink emerging leaves and succeeded by elegant seed pods, giving this high-­quality ephemeral a place up front in an exquisitely small shade garden. I’d be sure to plant nonaggressive, non-­rhizomatous ephemerals and later-­blooming flowers with it, like dwarf larkspur and black cohosh. I read somewhere that it got the name Jeffersonia because Thomas Jefferson was so fond of it.

179. Latin Name Maianthemum racemosum (formerly Smilacina racemosa) Common Name Smilacina, false Solomon’s seal, false spikenard Usual Height 14 inches, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet apart, stalks will end up 9 to 12 inches apart Sun or Shade Bloom White, tiny, in a 4-inch-­by-2-inch panicle, mid-­to late spring Fruit Red to maroon, speckled while ripening, 1to 4-inch cluster, mid to late summer Leaves 3 to 6 inches long on arching stalk, dormant in winter Native Range Rich woods, bluffs, Canada and eastern half of U.S., Zones 3 to 8 Soil Very acid to acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Under hardwoods with most ferns and woodland flowers Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by small bees and beetles; fruits occasionally eaten by ruffed grouse and veery; foliage browsed by deer Smilacina’s common names make me angry. Calling it “false” this or that makes this lovely native sound so . . . well, deceptive and second-­rate, like a poor imitation. It’s nothing of the sort! Smilacina has leaves that look similar to those of Solomon’s seal, and it is also a member of the lily family—but it has much showier flowers and fruits. It’s a very handsome woodland flower that is easy to grow and is a good size for the garden. It blooms later in the spring than most of the woodland flowers, so it is great to plant under mountain laurel or arrowwood along with mouse ear coreopsis. It’s a superior shade-­garden plant, so you can use it there or naturalized in a woodland area.

180. Latin Name Mertensia virginica Common Name Virginia bluebells Usual Height 18 to 24 inches Spacing 12 to 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Sky blue to lavender (white, pink) 1-inch bells, pink buds, in pendulous clusters, showy, early spring Fruit Tan, small, ripe in June Leaves Ephemeral, gray-­green, smooth, oval, up to 4 inches long, die back by midsummer Native Range Deciduous woodlands, stream banks, floodplains, Appalachians and Virginia Piedmont, Zones 4 to 7 Soil Acid to slightly alkaline, rich Drainage Moist, well drained, brief seasonal flooding tolerated Root System Taproot, colonizes Companion Plants Christmas fern, celandine poppy, blue phlox Propagation Fresh seed, division while plant is dormant Wildlife Flowers pollinated by female bumblebees, butterflies, skippers, hummingbird and sphinx moths, long-­tongued bees, the giant bee fly, ruby-­throated hummingbirds, and honeybees; larval for the hummingbird moth Like dwarf larkspur, Virginia bluebells can make a sea of bright blue flowers in the spring. They bloom earlier than dwarf larkspur and make a good show for about three weeks. They like bright, dappled sun when they bloom, but then need shade while they set seed. Plant them under a deciduous tree and interplant them with companion plants like the suggestions above.

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R. W. Smith

181. Latin Name Mitella diphylla Common Name Twoleaf miterwort, two-­leaved bishop’s cap Usual Height 8 to 16 inches Spacing 6 to 12 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1/8-inch snowflakes sparsely alternating up a very straight stem, mid to late spring Fruit Open capsules hold numerous tiny seeds, dispersed by raindrops, June Leaves Nearly evergreen; two leaves, often three-­ lobed, opposite each other midway up the stalk, overlapping to form a 4-inch-­long doily Native Range High-­quality woodlands, stream banks, Appalachians, foothills, and westward (misses the Coastal Plain), Zones 3 to 7 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, rocky OK, either limestone or sandstone Drainage Moist to dry Root System Rhizomes, pinkish, can colonize, but usually clump-­forming Companion Plants Mountain laurel, rosebay rhododendron, Catawba rhododendron, foam­ flower, hepatica, great white trillium, bloodroot Propagation Fresh seed might bloom the first year, root division in fall Wildlife Pollinated by small short-­tongued bees and syrphid flies With such sparse, tiny flowers, you’d think twoleaf miterwort would be a nothing-­looking plant, but it is utterly charming. Each year its well-­behaved clump gets bigger and it sends up more straight stalks dotted with little white stars. The effect is airy yet compelling. It’s great for a small shade garden up close to the house. Or start a dozen seedlings, keep them in a sunny windowsill all winter, and plant them out in early spring in a drift at the top of a shady slope. They will seed out and eventually cascade down the slope to give an almost evergreen cover with the addition of those delicate white spring blossoms—an especially effective contrast with great white trillium.

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182. Latin Name Phacelia bipinnatifida Common Name Spotted phacelia, loose-­flowered phacelia Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Violet-­blue, ½ inch, cupped, in loose clusters, early to midspring Fruit Dry, June Leaves Biennial, fuzzy, 2 to 3 inches, dies back and new plants start in midsummer, some foliage always present Native Range Rich woods, Blue Ridge and west, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, rocky, lime OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System No special structure because short-­lived Companion Plants Pines, hardwoods, leaf mulch Propagation Fresh seed, self-­sows Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued and short-­ tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers; produce nectar for honeybees Related Species P. fimbriata, white fringed phacelia, Zones 6 to 7 Spotted phacelia is a biennial, which means it is leafy for a year and a half, then blooms the second spring and dies after setting seed. When you maintain a patch of spotted phacelia, you’ll always have leafy plants present (although not in the abundance necessary for a groundcover) and only about half the plants will bloom each spring. Also, your patch will travel around a bit. But that’s okay, because spotted phacelia will never bore you. In a woodland area, especially on a rich slope, it will treat you to different layouts every year. If you are maintaining phacelia in a well-­ordered, shady flower bed, transplant the seedlings each fall to the exact spot you want them. Lazy gardeners and beginning gardeners will love this woodland flower—it’s easy. White fringed phacelia can be used in much the same way. It is white, an annual, and is native in the Smoky Mountains, where it blooms with great white trillium.

183. Latin Name Phlox divaricata Common Name Blue phlox, blue woodland phlox, Louisiana phlox Usual Height 8 to 18 inches Spacing 12 to 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Blue to lavender, white, ¾ inch, fragrant, early spring Fruit Dry, late spring Leaves Ephemeral, 1 inch long, narrow, present only in spring, or thin in winter and dormant in summer, or evergreen groundcover—big genetic differences Native Range Rich hardwood forests, bluffs, calcareous hammocks, eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK, clay OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Colonizes Companion Plants Pines and hardwoods, Solomon’s seal, Allegheny spurge, spigelia, wild red columbine, scarlet sage, goldenrods, asters, ferns, Pennsylvania sedge Propagation Fresh seed, root division in fall or winter, layering, cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, hummingbirds, swallowtails, gray hairstreak, western pygmy blue and other butterflies, moths, and skippers; larval for hummingbird moth; roots eaten by voles and rabbits Blue phlox is an extremely popular garden flower. It blooms at the same time as wild azaleas, atamasco lily, celandine poppy, and wild geranium. Most of the blue phlox available in Southern nurseries goes dormant after flowering. If you have a carpet of it, interplant it with aster or goldenrod, and mow everything at a 4-inch setting in June. That green mowed area will look nice all summer and gradually grow up to be purple and yellow with asters and goldenrod in late summer or fall. In your shady garden, keep blue phlox in small clumps so that as it disappears or gets thin, ferns, gentians, bowman’s root, or other summer flowers that are planted around it can fill in for it.

184. Latin Name Podophyllum peltatum Common Name Mayapple Usual Height 12 to 18 inches Spacing 2 feet apart in a drift Sun or Shade Bloom One, white, sometimes flushed with pink, 2 inches across, waxy Fruit 1 to 2 inches, lemon-­shaped, juicy, greenish or pale yellow Leaves Ephemeral, two leaves, 9 to 12 inches, held over the flower like twin umbrellas, appear in early spring and disappear by June Native Range Rich woods, moist meadows, calcareous hammocks, bluffs, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Very acid to acid, rich preferred, sand OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Colonizes Companion Plants Post oak, maple, and other hardwoods, leaf mulch, lawn Propagation Seed (blooms third year), root division while dormant Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees and other long-­tongued bees; berries likely eaten by opossums, raccoons, and skunks Mayapple is an easy plant that’s ideal for beginning gardeners. But it’s not for an intricate, well-­planned, shady flower garden. It likes to form large colonies, and it doesn’t give other spring woodland flowers much of a chance. I know one gardener who, for years, has maintained a thriving colony as part of his lawn. Each spring, he does contour mowing to make a tiny patch of lawn surrounded by mayapples, which make a beautiful groundcover that extends into his evergreen shrub beds and summer flower gardens on one side and into woodland on the other. Then, after the mayapple leaves turn yellow and shrivel—usually by the end of June—he mows them and has lawn to the borders of his beds.

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Julie Makin

185. Latin Name Polygonatum biflorum Common Name Solomon’s seal Usual Height 2 feet, rarely over 3 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale green to white bells, ½ inch long, hanging in pairs under the leaves, mid to late spring Fruit Blue, fleshy, ¼ to ½ inch, hanging in pairs, late summer Leaves Semi-­ephemeral, yellow-­green, smooth, 2 to 8 inches long, on long, arching stems, go dormant after the fruit ripens Native Range Rich woods, bluffs, calcareous hammocks, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich Drainage Moist to slightly dry, well drained Root System Stout, knobby rhizomes, can colonize Companion Plants Beech, tulip poplar, most woodland flowers and ferns Propagation Stratified seed, division when dormant Wildlife Flowers attract bumblebees, halictid bees, hummingbirds; roots eaten by mammals; berries eaten by woodland birds and chickens; definitely not deer-­resistant Solomon’s seal makes a dramatic accent in the shady woodland garden. It is grown chiefly for the arching stems and the bright yellow-­green leaves, in other words, for its texture. It blends in nicely with almost all of the choicest woodland flowers and ferns and stays green into August in Zone 8 and into the fall farther north. A tall, 4- to 5-foot variety called great Solomon’s seal is popular with many gardeners. Nurseries usually market it under the label of P. commutatum or P. canalicutum, names usually recognized only as varieties of P. biflorum.

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186. Latin Name Sanguinaria canadensis Common Name Bloodroot Usual Height 3 to 12 inches Spacing 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White (pale pink), 3 inches across, eight to sixteen petals, showy golden yellow stamens, fragrant, two weeks early spring Fruit Yellow upright seed capsule, 1 inch long, ripe a month after bloom, usually early June Leaves Ephemeral, pale green, fancy-­lobed, 3 to 5 inches across, basal, wrapped around the flowering stem, die back by midsummer Native Range Deciduous woodlands, shady stream banks, floodplains, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist Root System Thick red rhizomes that ooze a “bloody” and toxic red juice; colonizes Companion Plants Deciduous trees, southern lady fern, sensitive fern, netted chain fern, goat’s beard, black cohosh, fringed loosestrife Propagation Fresh seed, division in fall or in spring before blooms Wildlife Pollen attracts honeybees, bumblebees, and other native bees; seed dispersed by ants The buds of bloodroot, one to a stalk, are wrapped up in the leaves. As the pale pink bud feels sunshine, it and the leaf unfold together. The pure white flowers close at night and will not open at all if too shaded. After a couple of days, the flowers are pollinated and turn their attention to making seeds, but the leaves remain handsome until midsummer. Bloodroot has the huge advantage of spreading rapidly. If you decide to divide your patch to extend it, or to share with a friend, use gloves, as the acrid red juice is toxic. I’d interplant it with sensitive fern or netted chain fern and add a single goat’s beard to rise above the fern as an accent. There is a showy double-­flowered cultivar on the market, variety ‘Flore Pleno,’ whose flowers last a little longer.

187. Latin Name Silene virginica Common Name Fire pink, scarlet catchfly Usual Height 1 foot, rarely 2 feet, because stems recline as they get long Spacing 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Red, 1½ inches across, midspring (to midsummer), showy Fruit ½ inch long, narrow, tan, dry, summer Leaves Basal evergreen rosette, reddish green in winter Native Range Thin woods, slopes, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid, poor preferred, rocky OK, sand OK, clay OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Taproot, does not colonize, short-­lived Companion Plants Post oak, black oak, green-­ and-­gold, spigelia, vernal iris, eared coreopsis, ebony spleenwort, Christmas fern Propagation Seed, softwood cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds and butterflies; seeds eaten by junco, pine siskin, sparrows, water pipit, horned lark Related Species S. polypetala, fringed campion, will colonize Fire pink, a short-­lived perennial, likes a little more sun than most of the woodland plants, but the only place where it can do without any shade at all is up in the mountains where it doesn’t get so hot and evaporation is not so intense. Fire pink usually blooms in April, along with blue phlox, wild geranium, foamflower, wild bleeding heart, and celandine poppy. Since it is short-­ lived, continually refresh it with seedlings. Its relative fringed campion is native only to Georgia and Florida. A rhizomatous, shade-­loving perennial, it has large, showy pink flowers in April, and when it’s not in bloom, it colonizes to form an attractive groundcover.

188. Latin Name Stylophorum diphyllum Common Name Celandine poppy, yellow wood poppy Usual Height 1 foot, occasionally 2 feet Spacing 18 to 24 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow to orange, four petals, 1 to 2 inches across, several to a cluster, early spring Fruit 1 inch, fat, bristly, nodding, dry Leaves Ephemeral in the wild; 4 to 10 inches, blue-­green, hairy, deeply lobed, dormant mid to late summer, but if kept moist can last until frost; orange-­yellow sap may cause dermatitis Native Range Endangered, rich woods, eastern half of North America, spotty distribution, rare, Zones 6 to 7, possibly usable to Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Woody caudex, clump-­forming, short-­lived Companion Plants White oak, beech, bloodroot, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, New York fern, broad beech fern, spotted phacelia, wild geranium Propagation Fresh seed, self-­sows, divide rhizomes with many eyes, leaving two eyes in each division Wildlife Pollinators unknown; seed dispersed by ants, chipmunks; deer-­resistant Despite the fact that celandine poppy is very easy to grow, it is a rarity, both in the wild and in home gardens. A shame, because it is so vivid in appearance that it makes more delicate and subtle woodland flowers seem almost invisible. That’s why you’ll want to team it up with other flowers that are showy enough to hold their own: spotted phacelia, wild geranium, atamasco lily, dwarf iris, and fire pink. For ideas on how to put all these flowers together effectively, refer to the plan entitled Spectacular April Shade Garden. The sap can be used as a yellow dye. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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The foliage is reminiscent of columbine and is so attractive that it makes early meadowrue worth growing, even without the large panicles of dainty white tassels. Male and female flowers are on separate plants, so you’ll need to buy several plants to make sure you have a goodly number of both males and females. Although the males are showier, the females are far from shabby, and you will want to have viable seed.

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Stephanie Brundage

Bennie Bengston

189. Latin Name Thalictrum dioicum Common Name Early meadowrue Usual Height 1 to 2 feet, can reach 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Male flowers, white and gold drooping fringe, showy; female flowers, white with purplish tinge, not so showy, mid to late spring Fruit Tan, ribbed achenes, early to midsummer Leaves Pale bluish green, compound leaves of scalloped leaflets that go dormant in summer, fall and winter rosettes Native Range Moist deciduous woodlands, stream banks, Maine to Great Lakes to Georgia and Mississippi, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, clay loam OK, lime OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Fibrous, yellow, clumping Companion Plants Pussytoes, partridgeberry, wild red columbine, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, goat’s beard, black cohosh, zigzag goldenrod Propagation Seed, division Wildlife Wind-­pollinated, larval for moths

190. Latin Name Tradescantia viriginiana Common Name Virginia spiderwort Usual Height 2 feet, can reach 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Blue to lavender (white), 1 to 2 inches across, loose cluster, early spring to summer, mornings only Fruit Small, dry, soon after blooming Leaves Grasslike, evergreen, unless they die back briefly in August Native Range Thin woods, roadsides, stable dunes, eastern half of North America, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich OK Drainage Dry to moist Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Black oak, post oak, live oak, American beautyberry, lyreleaf sage, smilacina, fire pink, sundrops, spigelia Propagation Seed, division of clumps Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees, honeybees, little carpenter bees, halictine bees Related Species All the spiderworts make good garden plants; T. ohiensis, Ohio spiderwort, Zones 4 to 10 There are lots of very attractive spiderworts to choose from—pink ones, fuchsia ones, very short ones, and some with fat, fuzzy leaves. I’ve seen spiderworts growing in profusion under the deep shade of live oaks; on a sandy bank that gets scorching afternoon sun; in moist, peaty soil near a seep with mayapples and maidenhair fern . . . clearly, a very adaptable genus, and since T. ohiensis (Ohio spiderwort) and T. virginiana both grow through most of the South, I was probably seeing some of each. Spiderworts are long-­lived. If they do seed out, they are easy to remove if you don’t want more. Use them in the shady or sunny flower garden, or in masses as a transition from a sunny area to woodland shade. Virginia spiderwort is the one most commonly found in nurseries. It’s easy to grow nearly everywhere, even far outside its native range.

Julie Makin

191. Latin Name Trillium grandiflorum Common Name Great white trillium, wake-­robin Usual Height 12 to 18 inches Spacing 20 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White, 4 inches across, three white petals per stem, pinken as they age, three weeks, mid to late spring Fruit Dark, six-­sided seed capsule, ½ inch Leaves Ephemeral, three large leaves (5 to 8 inches) in a whorl beneath the flower, die back by midsummer Native Range High-­quality deciduous woods, shady stream banks, thickets, Piedmont, Appalachians and westward, Zones 3 to 7 Soil Acid, rich, loose Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Vertical rootstock, sometimes colonizes by rhizomes Companion Plants Celandine poppy, vernal iris, twoleaf miterwort, Solomon’s seal, Dutchman’s breeches, green dragon, white fringed phacelia Propagation Very slow from seed, difficult from root division, won’t transplant; propagated plants are expensive to buy but worth it Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees; seed dispersed by ants; beloved by deer I was living just south of D.C. when I saw my first great white trillium, and I was instantly in love. Enraptured, for as long as I lived in their range I would plan an expedition to the woods to see the annual spring show. Often on a mossy bank there would be scads of these trilliums, the newest ones in their original pure white, slowly fading to palest pink, then deeper pink, and finishing up rose pink. I feel exhilarated just remembering them. These trilliums are rapidly losing habitat and being destroyed by those who love them, dig them, and then don’t know how to keep them alive. Please buy only nursery-­propagated plants, plant them in rich clean soil, mulch them, keep them moist but not wet, and leave them undisturbed for many, many years. With the right mycorrhizae, they will colonize to make a stunning colony.

192. Latin Name Zephyranthes atamasca Common Name Atamasco lily Usual Height 8 to 15 inches Spacing 12 to 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom White (pink), 3- to 4-inch trumpet, early spring to June, usually around Easter, fragrant Fruit Black seeds, soon after blooming Leaves Ephemeral, grasslike, 4 to 8 inches tall, dormant after setting seed Native Range River swamps, flatwoods, bluffs, limestone outcrops, roadsides, Virginia to Mississippi, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Bulb, 1 inch, clump-­forming Companion Plants Gordonia, sabal palmetto, spruce pine, sweetbay, bald cypress, saw palmetto, royal fern, cinnamon fern, spigelia, crinum lily, fringed campion, Stokes’ aster, Celandine poppy Propagation Seed, two to three years before flowering, division of clumps Wildlife Poisonous, pollination probably by small bees and butterflies, possibly self-­pollinating Related Species All the zephyranthes make handsome garden plants Every time I see atamasco lily, I am bowled over by its flashy good looks. I still relish the memory of one gorgeous drift wedged into the crack of a huge boulder at the Birmingham Botanical Garden. Atamasco lily is a small, neat plant, but it has outsize flowers that bloom in great numbers. It definitely does not take a back seat to the likes of celandine poppy, blue phlox, and other gaudy native flowers. Use it in a shady flower garden, or let it naturalize in a moist to wet woodland that is not too dense. To get maximum color, give it an hour or so of direct sunlight or several hours of bright, dappled sun. Many hybrids are available with non-­natives, so be careful if you are planting a restoration, not just a garden.

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SUMMER- AND FALL-­B LOOMING WOODLAND FLOWERS

Spigelia provides a spot of summer color in Lolly Jackson’s wooded front yard in Houston, Texas. Two-­leaved toothwort bloomed earlier with wild ginger; Georgia basil will flower later. Broad beech fern, normal shield fern, and Christmas fern mingle with the woodland flowers. This garden was designed by Will Fleming.

Summer-­ and fall-­blooming woodland flowers often reach waist-­high. It is sometimes quite dark on the woodland floor in the summer, when every leaf in the canopy and

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understory overhead is carefully angled to catch each available ray of sun. If your woodland is thin, open, or short, more light will get in, and your plants will have more blooms. If your

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

shade is dense, place these plants within 10 feet of the patio or driveway—or whatever constitutes your clearing in the woods.

193. Latin Name Actaea racemosa (formerly Cimicifuga racemosa) Common Name Black cohosh, black snakeroot, fairy candles, bugbane Usual Height 3 to 6 feet, can be 10 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, one or more 6- to 24-inch “candles,” blooming from the bottom up, early to midsummer Fruit Dry, tan, winged, ripe shortly after blooming Leaves Ephemeral, large, coarsely lacy, below the flowers, dormant after seeds ripen until spring Native Range Rich woods, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 8, Coastal Plain up to 4000 feet in the mountains Soil Acid, rich, acid over lime OK Drainage Moist Root System Clump-­forming, woody crown Companion Plants Tulip poplar, sugar maples, wild ginger, creeping phlox, ferns, merrybells, troutlily, fly poison, Dutchman’s breeches, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, dwarf iris, vernal iris, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, heartleaf, mayapple, foamflower, fire pink, spiderwort Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Larval plant for spring azure and Appalachian azure butterflies Black cohosh is a magnificent plant that is a must for woodland gardens in those parts of the South where it is summer-­hardy. Plant it deep in a woodland, or where it will get just an hour or two of direct morning sun. In a smallish shady flower garden, plant one where you want height and width as an accent or an anchor. If you have more space, plant three to five together in an elongated triangle. It stays small while the spring ephemerals are blooming. As they die back, its lacy, spreading leaves will give them the shade and camouflage they need. Black cohosh blooms for two to three weeks, beginning in late May in the Coastal Plains and in late June in the mountains. Native Americans considered this plant to be an excellent bug repellent, as well as an antidote to snakebite.

194. Latin Name Amianthium muscitoxicum (Zigadenus muscaetoxicus) Common Name Fly poison Usual Height 1 to 2 feet, rarely 5 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, turning greenish, 2- to 6-inch cluster, blooms from bottom up, midspring to early summer Fruit Small, bright orange, late summer to early fall Leaves Ephemeral, appear in March, grasslike, narrow (lily family), shorter than the flower stems, go dormant after fruit is ripe Native Range Rich woodland edges, sandhills, flatwoods, bluffs, meadows, savannahs, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, rich or poor Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Bulb Companion Plants Longleaf pine, willow oak, mountain laurel, blueberries, galax, heartleaf, foamflower, smilacina, Solomon’s seal, dwarf iris, jack-­in-­the-­pulpit, black cohosh, grasses Propagation Seed Wildlife Pollinated mostly by beetles; really is poisonous to flies Related Species Veratrum virginicum (Melanthium virginicum), Virginia bunchflower, Zones 5 to 9 The waxy blooms of fly poison glisten with a clear, sticky substance. Naturally, I assumed that this secretion enticed flies to their doom, but it seems that pioneers crushed the bulb in a bowl of honey to attract and kill flies. Fly poison is well-­behaved in a flower garden that is either moist and sunny or lightly shaded. It is also effective when planted in drifts in low groundcover under a big old tree. We saw the best flowering where it received at least one or two hours of direct sunlight. Virginia bunchflower, a related native lily of the Southeast, looks very similar, but prefers more sun, more moisture, blooms in early to late summer, and has short rhizomes. It is pollinated by tachinid bee flies and beetles. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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Albert F. W. Vick

195. Latin Name Aralia racemosa Common Name American spikenard Usual Height 3 to 5 feet Spacing 3 to 5 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny greenish-­white flowers in showy, upright, 12- to 18-inch panicles, for a month in summer Fruit Dark red to purple berries in showy, dangling, 12- to 18-inch panicles Leaves 2½ feet long, made up of paired, oval leaflets 7 inches long, die back at frost Native Range Edges of moist, rich upland woods, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Rich loams, over clay or rock OK Drainage Well drained, moist to slightly dry Root System Rhizomatous, aromatic, edible and medicinal Companion Plants Beech, hemlock, sensitive fern, wild red columbine, alumroot, mayapple, smilacina, goat’s beard, black cohosh Propagation Seed (may require cool, moist stratification), root division, root cuttings Wildlife Birds love the fruit; flowers may attract small bees and wasps Related Species A. nudicaulis, wild sarsaparilla, Zones 3 to 7 The enormous leaves of American spikenard give an exotic, tropical accent and contrast well with small-­leaved, airy plants. The overall look is shrubby, but the soft maroon stems, also dramatic, die to the ground at frost. With water and care, American spikenard can be grown in full sun if given wind protection; the huge leaves are easily torn. Wild sarsaparilla has a more northerly distribution. It is almost woody and half the size of American spikenard. Its 2-foot leaves form an umbrella over a modest spike of flowers. It is not as dramatic or showy, but a beloved member of the ginseng family.

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196. Latin Name Aruncus dioicus Common Name Goat’s beard, bride’s feathers Usual Height 3 to 6 feet Spacing 4 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 6- to 24-inch cluster, male plants showier, late spring or early summer Fruit Seed, dry, ripe one month after flowering, female plants Leaves 8- to 20-inch leaves, 2- to 5-inch leaflets, dormant in winter Native Range Rich woods, eastern half of U.S., Zones 5 to 8, Piedmont and mountains, northern Europe, usable in Zone 4 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Woody crown, clump-­forming Companion Plants Hemlock, basswood, wild ginger, hepatica, toothwort, smilacina, jack-­in-­ the-pulpit, black cohosh Propagation Seed, division Wildlife Larval plant for dusky blue butterfly You can find goat’s beard blooming deep in the woods, its white flowers leaping out at you from a backdrop of dark green summer leaves. It blends well with black cohosh, another tall woodland flower that sports white summer blooms. Together they represent “theme and variation,” which always make for good design—or good music for that matter. Given more sun and ample water, such as by a pond, goat’s beard can get massive and bushy, displaying giant plumes of white. Because goat’s beard is big, it makes a good accent that will be visible from a distance. If you have a large property and a shady slope that can be viewed from more than 50 feet away, masses of it coming down the slope can be as visually exciting in summer as wild azalea is in spring.

197. Latin Name Blephilia ciliata Common Name Downy pagoda plant, sunny woodmint Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 1 foot apart or scattered in a woodland Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender to purple, 2- to 3-inch clusters, two to four weeks in summer Fruit Flower heads turn taupe-­colored, dry, tiny shiny seed, early fall Leaves Evergreen rosettes, but small in summer, leaves 3 inches long, fuzzy Native Range Dry open woods, savannahs, meadows, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid to slightly alkaline, rich, clay OK, lime OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Taproot, short rhizomes, might colonize a little Companion Plants White ash, blue phlox, spotted phacelia, Mississippi penstemon, bluestem goldenrod Propagation Seed, division Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued and short-­ tongued bees, wasps, bee flies, butterflies, and skippers; seed is wind-­dispersed Related Species B. hirsuta, woodmint, Zones 3 to 8 Downy pagoda plant has short, straight stems punctuated by pincushions of flowers, similar to the horsemint in so many wildflower mixes. But this is a high-­quality perennial that will light up the edges of your shade garden for several weeks. For deeper shade, use woodmint. It prefers moist woodlands and has much paler flowers, the better to be visible to pollinators in a shady environment. The woodmint we saw at Cheekwood Gardens in Nashville was about knee-­high. The rosettes had clustered themselves about 6 inches apart, making an almost evergreen groundcover, which is reason enough to use it. But its six-­week-­long summer bloom period is its chief asset. Even though both woodmints are in the mint family, their leaves and flowers are not minty enough to qualify for herb status.

198. Latin Name Gillenia trifoliata (formerly Poteranthus trifoliatus) Common Name Bowman’s root, Indian physic Usual Height 1 to 4 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White (pink), 1 inch, loose clusters, early summer Fruit Dry, fuzzy, early fall Leaves 1½- to 3-inch oval leaves in threes, dormant in winter Native Range Rich woods, wooded slopes, eastern North America, up to 4500 feet, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, rocky, acid over lime OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Woody crown Companion Plants White oak, sourwood, serviceberry, fringe tree, pussytoes, galax, whorled loosestrife, bracken fern, ebony spleenwort Propagation Seed, division, self-­sows Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bees, butterflies, skippers, and bee flies; deer-­resistant Related Species G. stipulata, American ipecac, Zones 5 to 8 For a plant with small, distantly spaced flowers and light, open foliage on sparse, slender stems, bowman’s root is surprisingly showy. The overall effect is, in fact, dramatic because the flowers are such a crisp, pure white. In a shady setting, it really jumps out. Bowman’s root blooms on the same schedule as Small’s penstemon, goat’s beard, black cohosh, and oakleaf hydrangea—all good candidates for a white theme garden. (See the plan entitled June Wedding.) American ipecac, native from Mississippi to Maryland, has fancier leaves and is more heat-­tolerant. Although still a woodland plant, it is more likely to be found in disturbed habitats where it can get more sun.

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199. Latin Name Lysimachia ciliata Common Name Fringed loosestrife Usual Height 18 to 30 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 1 inch, summer Fruit Dry capsule of seeds, ripe two months after blooming Leaves 2 to 6 inches long, dormant in winter Native Range Moist woods, floodplains, shady stream banks, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Wet to moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Taproot and rhizomes, colonizes Companion Plants Royal fern, cinnamon fern, New York fern, sensitive fern, cardinal flower, inland seaoats Propagation Cuttings, root division Wildlife Flowers pollinated by melittid bee Related Species L. lanceolata, lanceleaf loosestrife, Zones 3 to 8 Fringed loosestrife can be a knee-­high groundcover or, in slightly drier conditions, a slowly spreading clump. The prettiest planting we saw was in a fern garden in North Carolina, just where the Coastal Plain and Piedmont meet. Fringed loosestrife is similar in height and density to the ferns, so it blended in well and provided a welcome and subtle change of texture. Its scattered, bright yellow flowers were a bonus. It doesn’t squander everything it’s got in one showy week, but instead puts forth a few blooms at a time for about six weeks. The narrow-­ leaved lanceleaf loosestrife, 1 to 2 feet tall, has entered the nursery trade with purple stems as L. lanceolata var. pupurea. The loosestrifes can take more dryness if they are given a half day or more of shade.

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200. Latin Name Scutellaria incana Common Name Downy skullcap Usual Height 18 to 40 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Blue to purple, in 6-inch spikes, summer Fruit Dark, dry, early fall Leaves 2 to 5 inches long, soft, basal rosette in winter Native Range Sandhills, dry bluffs, pine woods, eastern U.S. to Kansas, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich Drainage Dry to moist Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Post oak, tulip poplar, partridgeberry, green-­and-­gold, spigelia, foamflower, alumroot Propagation Seed, cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees; browsed by deer Related Species S. integrifolia, tall skullcap, Zones 6 to 9; and S. elliptica, hairy skullcap, Zones 5 to 9, are spring skullcaps used in Southeast gardens We saw a lot of skullcap in a lot of gardens, but by far the most handsome was downy skullcap. You don’t see a lot of it in the wild, even where it is indigenous. Still, it seems to be the skullcap with the greatest ability to fit in well just about anywhere. Another advantage is that it blooms later than the other garden skullcaps, and steady, dependable summer color in a shady garden is valuable indeed. Use it where you need height in the shady flower garden, or use it in drifts in a woodland garden. It has the same density and height as many ferns, but it is more drought-­tolerant than all but bracken.

Stefan Bloodworth

201. Latin Name Solidago caesia Common Name Bluestem goldenrod, wreath goldenrod Usual Height 1 to 3 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 1- to 2-inch yellow clumps of flowers along a 1- to 3-foot low arching stem, with a 3-inch clump at the end, showy, late summer to early fall Fruit Small, bullet-­shaped brown seeds with a tuft of pale hair to aid in wind dispersal Leaves 2 to 5 inches long, less than 1 inch wide, shiny, pointed, winter rosette Native Range Rich deciduous woodlands, bluffs, and clearings, eastern half of North America, Zones 4 to 9 Soil Rich loam preferred, clay loam OK Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Short rhizomes form clumps Companion Plants Deciduous oaks, white troutlily, alumroot, mayapple, fire pink, smilacina, Virginia spiderwort Propagation Seed, division of large clumps Wildlife Important fall source of nectar and pollen for short-­tongued bees, honeybees, wasps, and butterflies; larval plant for moths; seeds eaten by indigo bunting, slate-­colored junco, tree sparrow, and eastern goldfinch Bluestem goldenrod is so named because the stems on mature plants get a silvery, waxy coating that gives them a bluish tinge. They also have a slight zigzag, but not so pronounced as zigzag goldenrod. Although bluestem goldenrod prefers woodland edges in the wild, it needs just a little regular watering to adapt to a sunny flower garden. It is shorter, more heat-­tolerant, and more drought-­tolerant than zigzag goldenrod, and blooms earlier.

202. Latin Name Solidago flexicaulis Common Name Zigzag goldenrod Usual Height 2 feet, occasionally 4 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, scattered, late summer to frost Fruit Fluffy, white, shortly after blooming Leaves 3 to 8 inches, soft, die back after setting seed, winter rosette appears in January, starts growing tall in July Native Range Rich woods, cool slopes, eastern U.S, Zones 3 to 8, mostly in mountains Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist Root System Clump-­forming, might colonize Companion Plants Tulip poplar, troutlily, mayapple, Solomon’s seal, smilacina, threadleaf bluestar, summer phlox, Short’s aster Propagation Fresh seed, root division Wildlife Important fall source of nectar and pollen for honeybees, long-­tongued bees, short-­tongued bees, wasps, and butterflies; seeds eaten by swamp sparrow, pine siskin, woodland songbirds, and meadow mouse The stems of zigzag goldenrod have a slight zig and zag to them instead of the usual smooth arch. It is the perfect goldenrod to finish off the woodland garden with a burst of flowers to complement the fall color of threadleaf bluestar, fothergilla, mapleleaf viburnum, and maples. All through the winter, zigzag goldenrod appears as a green rosette hugging the ground. It continues to be a low-­profile inhabitant of the garden while, all about it, the spring woodland flowers burst forth. But in midsummer, as the ephemerals die back, it starts to grow and makes a neat, leafy mound. Then, as October approaches, it starts to bloom, its lovely yellow flowers lasting until first frost. WOODLAND FLOWERS

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203. Latin Name Spigelia marilandica Common Name Spigelia, Indianpink, pinkroot Usual Height 18 to 24 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Red trumpets with yellow mouths, 1 to 2 inches long, early summer, two to six weeks Fruit Small, dry, midsummer Leaves Ephemeral, 2 to 4 inches, dark glossy, mounded foliage, dormant in fall and winter Native Range Rich woods, bluffs, calcareous hammocks, stream banks, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9, usable in Zones 4 and 5 Soil Acid, rich preferred, sandy, lime OK Drainage Moist Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Post oak, tulip poplar, Christmas fern, ebony spleenwort, partridge­ berry, green-­and-­gold, smilacina, blue phlox Propagation Fresh seed, untreated seed kept dry over winter and sown in spring, stem cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by hummingbirds

204. Latin Name Symphyotrichum shortii (formerly Aster shortii) Common Name Short’s aster Usual Height 1 to 3 feet Spacing 2 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Light purple, 1 inch, profuse, early fall Fruit Dry, small, mid to late fall Leaves 2 to 6 inches, basal rosette in winter Native Range Rocky woods, thin woods, wood­ land edges, southeastern U.S., Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, rocky, lime OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Clump-­forming, short-­lived Companion Plants White ash, maple, blue phlox, Solomon’s seal, spigelia, spiderwort, wild red columbine, Allegheny spurge, butterweed Propagation Seed, division, self-­sows Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, bees; seeds eaten by cardinal, finch, grosbeak, sparrows, thrasher, towhee, chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, wild turkey

Spigelia makes a nicely rounded, knee-­high clump in the garden. When it’s in bloom, it can be quite eye-­catching and very photogenic. It mixes nicely with ferns and low groundcovers. Flowers that should bloom at the same time are oakleaf hydrangea, sundrops, downy phlox, and wild penstemons. If your spigelia is a little late, then it can have butterflyweed, stokesia, black-­eyed Susans, and summer phlox as garden companions. The flowers bloom from the bottom upwards, and if you remove the lower spent flowers before they make seed, you can extend the bloom time. Then let the upper ones make seed.

I first saw Short’s aster used in the wildflower garden at Cheekwood, in Nashville, and I was instantly captivated. White ash was just beginning to turn overhead, and most of the woodland flowers (except for zigzag goldenrod) were through blooming. But Jenny Andrews, the curator, ingeniously allowed this aster to spread itself thinly throughout the garden, creating a soft purple haze beneath the reds and golds of autumn.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

12 SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

T

he shady flower garden—the focus of the last few chapters—is really the recreation of a natural woodland floor, a copy of a native southeastern habitat. It is so beautiful that it cannot be improved on by us. In contrast, a sunny flower garden is a human contrivance—a human conceit—that depends entirely on our own labor and ingenuity. Mother Nature never designed a formal, weeded, carefully arranged flower garden. Many home gardeners assume that any flower not sold in a nursery must be a low-­class weed. Native wildflowers, they believe, have no place in their “civilized” gardens. This misconception has, for far too long, deprived us of much beauty. The fact is, those common garden flowers (shasta daisies, hybrid day lilies, dianthus, etc.) were once wildflowers themselves, and have become “acceptable” only after generations of selections. But this selection process has made these flowers more demanding of us; they must be pampered. If you have gobs of

spare time and love to spend it this way, fine. But for the rest of us, introducing native flowers into gardens can give us all the exciting color and diversity we want, at a fraction of the work. True, some tending will be necessary—invading weeds plucked, rambunctious plants tamed, and room made from time to time for favorites that are themselves not very pushy. However, the more native flowers you use, the easier your job will be. They need little or no help from you. And, when you aren’t constantly replacing plants and having to overwater, overfertilize, and doctor unhappy flowers, you can concentrate on your design. But don’t forget that native plants grow in many diverse habitats. Group your plants according to their individual tastes in soil and moisture. If one plant is native to boggy areas, don’t place it next to a plant that is native to well-­ drained, sandy soils with high acidity. One of them will be very unhappy. Design your garden to accommodate several habitats. Assign those plants that need

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more water to the lower places. On the more elevated areas, use plants that must have good drainage. Aerate the soil and dig in sand and mulch if the soil is too compacted. To make this easier for you, in the plant profiles, after Companion Plants, I’ve listed flowers that like the same conditions. They’re often found growing with the featured plant in the wild, so chances are excellent that they’ll get along in your garden. I’ve also limited the list to those of equal vigor that would be complementary with regard to growth rate and color scheme. The first ones listed are those that are likely to bloom in the spring and early summer, followed by those that bloom in the late summer or fall. The chief pleasure of a flower garden is its color, with the best blooms occurring in full sun. But many of you don’t get full sun; you may get only a half day in the morning or afternoon. If you put a sun-­loving flower in too much shade, it will usually seek out the sun. It may get the “leans,” become too tall and flop over, or travel to a more agreeable spot.

This classic double border, designed and maintained by Kitty and Neil Taylor in Collierville, Tennessee, is made possible by using flowers that are either native or naturalized in the Memphis area. Andy took this picture from under the grape arbor on the last day of May. At the opposite end of the garden is a stone patio nestled under a huge old post oak.

To know if a plant travels or stays put, you need to know about the Root System. An annual has a thin, small root system, because it doesn’t plan to be around very long; it flowers, sets seed, and then dies. But most flowers in your garden will be perennials, meaning that they will live for at least two years (some make it for fifty years or more). Perennials need big, strong root systems to help them withstand freezes, droughts, and the encroachments of other plants. Some perennials have bulbs; they tend to stay put and not expand. Bulbs usually make baby bulbs (bulblets) that are attached to the mama bulb. To get them to spread, wait until they’re dormant, dig them up, gently detach the new bulbs, and place them where you want them. Most perennials have rhizomes, short, fat roots that grow horizontally. These are the

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travelers. If you’ve ever seen an iris root, you’ve seen a rhizome. Some plants never stray off These are called clump-­formers. Every year, the clump gets bigger and bigger until the center becomes hollow. At that point, gardeners do something called “lift-­and-­divide.” They dig up the whole clump and replant the youngest, most vigorous roots from the edges back into the center of the space where the clump came from. The best time to plant a flower garden is in the fall. New plants have a chance to grow roots, and seeds can sprout without getting burned up by the summer sun. In the winter, the flower garden appears to be sleeping, although many of the flowers show winter rosettes—sunbursts of green leaves from just a couple of inches wide to over a foot across. A rosette often vanishes in the spring or

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

summer when the flower grows tall and blooms. The leaves are on the stem, instead. As the flowers set seed and the stem leaves start to look ragged, a new rosette forms. At this point, cutting off the old stem won’t harm the plant. If a rosette has not appeared, don’t eliminate the bottom two green leaves. Mulch your garden in the winter to protect the roots from winter freezes. I simply rake on a blanket of leaves. Be sure not to cover over the rosettes. Old leaf mulch starts decomposing with the warmth of spring, and by the time the flowers begin to bloom, it should have all but disappeared. When this happens, I lay down another inch of compost to protect the roots from the summer sun. In this chapter, I’ve grouped the flowers according to most likely bloom time. This should make figuring out color schemes much easier.

SPRING-­B LOOMING GARDEN FLOWERS

A view of the east side of the Taylor double border shows Carolina bushpea, sundrops, downy phlox, and a pink Carolina phlox mixed in with an assortment of old roses, naturalized plants, and a few well-­adapted cultivars. A week later, a white Carolina phlox and Mississippi penstemon will be blooming along with blue Stokes’ aster, and the bushpea and roses will serve as green backdrop.

The sunny flower garden doesn’t get geared up until the end of May and into June. Sometimes these late spring

flowers continue to bloom to midsummer and even into fall. But if they do, the blooms are sporadic. Most gardeners cut

these flowers back to rosettes after blooming, unless they want ripe seed, or the seed head is ornamental. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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R. W. Smith

205. Latin Name Amsonia hubrichtii Common Name Threadleaf bluestar, Hubricht’s bluestar, Arkansas bluestar Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, can reach 5 feet under cultivation Spacing 3 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Sky-­blue to pale blue stars in 4-inch upright clusters, late spring, three weeks Fruit Dry, narrow, fall Leaves Threadlike, 3 inches long, giving a feathery appearance, golden fall color Native Range Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas and Oklahoma, Zones 6 to 8, usable in Zones 5 to 9 Soil Slightly acid to slightly alkaline, rich OK, sand OK, clay OK, limestone OK Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Blue false indigo, wiregrass, broomsedge, pink muhly Propagation Fresh seed, division when dormant, cuttings Wildlife Flowers attract hummingbirds, long-­ tongued bees, hummingbird moths, and butterflies; larval for hummingbird moth Related Species A. ciliata, Texas bluestar, Zones 6 to 10, usable in Zone 5 Since threadleaf bluestar appeared in the nursery trade, everybody wants it. It can send up to fifty stems, each covered in those feathery leaves that give the whole plant a cloudlike look. There are pale blue flowers in spring, the refreshing billowy green of those thready leaves all summer, and then stunning golden fall color with amber and rust overtones. In a rich, moist garden, it can get very large, so some gardeners recommend cutting it back to 6 inches after flowering. Texas bluestar, native to sandhills and post oak woods, is very drought-­ tolerant, well-­behaved, and only 2 feet high. It displays the showiest of bluestar flowers, because they are held high above its threadlike leaves. Its cultivar ‘Georgia Pancake’ is only 5 inches tall and has amber fall foliage.

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206. Latin Name Anemone virginiana Common Name Thimbleweed Usual Height 18 to 36 inches Spacing 1 to 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1½ inches across, late spring to early summer Fruit 1-inch green capsule in summer; fluffy seed, very ornamental, in fall and winter Leaves 3 inches long, divided into leaflets, winter rosette Native Range Rich woods, post oak woods, pineland, woodland edges, eastern half of North America, Zones 2 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Woody crown, clump-­forming Companion Plants Butterflyweed, pale coneflower, beebalm, downy phlox, smooth phlox, spotted phlox, atamasco lily, silkgrass, aromatic aster, little bluestem Propagation Seed Wildlife Pollinated by short-­tongued bees, flower flies; deer-­resistant Even though thimbleweed’s flowers are spaced somewhat far apart, it still manages to stand out in a flower garden—its white makes a stronger impression than yellow, pink, or blue. For that reason, I don’t recommend bunching it up in one place; it is so vibrant it can throw everything out of balance. On the other hand, interspersed with other whites—white forms of smooth or spotted phlox, coneflower, atamasco lily, and Mississippi penstemon—it can produce a marvelously showy effect. Don’t cut back its flowers after blooming; you’ll want to enjoy its equally ornamental, fluffy white seed heads. Flowers and seed heads combine to give you about two months of color.

207. Latin Name Asclepias tuberosa Common Name Butterflyweed Usual Height 18 to 30 inches Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Orange (yellow to red), in flat-­topped clusters, late spring to early summer Fruit 3- to 5-inch pod, splits open to release white, silky parachutes with one seed each Leaves Narrow, dormant in winter Native Range Sandhills, flatwoods, post oak woods, meadows, pinelands, eastern two thirds of North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, poor or rich OK Drainage Dry, moist OK, does not tolerate wet for even a short time Root System Very deep taproot, clump-­forming Companion Plants Thimbleweed, downy phlox, white baptisia, silkgrass, little bluestem, broomsedge Propagation Fresh seed, root cuttings Wildlife Flowers a source of nectar for tiger, spicebush, eastern black, and pipevine swallowtails, cloudless giant sulphur and monarch butterflies, honeybees, digger bees, wasps, and hummingbirds; larval for monarch butterfly and unexpected cycnia moth Related Species A. incarnata, swamp milkweed, Zones 3 to 10; A. lanceolata, red milkweed, coastal, New Jersey to Texas, Zones 7 to 10 Butterflyweed has a lot going for it: it’s long-­lived and very well-­mannered, it attracts butterflies like crazy, and it’s extremely showy. You can get it to bloom twice, thereby attracting even more butterflies, by cutting off the old flower heads and not letting them go to seed. Swamp milkweed grows to 5 feet—a good thing, because its pink- to rose-­colored flowers bloom in late summer along with other tall fall flowers, such as Joepyeweed, saltmarsh mallow, cardinal flower, and swamp sunflower. Red milkweed is really more of a dark orange and, although narrow, can be showy in a cluster. It grows in both fresh and brackish wet soils along the coast with saltmarsh mallow.

208. Latin Name Baptisia alba (includes B. leucantha, B. pendula, and B. lactea; old B. alba is now B. albescens) Common Name White baptisia, white wild indigo Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, rarely 6 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, 1-inch pea-­flowers in 6- to 9-inch spikes, midspring in Deep South, early summer farther north Fruit ½ to 1 inch, black or green, nodding, ripe four to six weeks after blooming Leaves Three leaflets, top half of stems under flowers, bright green or pale blue, turn black in fall, dormant in winter Native Range Sandhills, post oak woods, flatwoods, eastern half of North America, Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid, sand preferred, poor OK, clay OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Deep, clump-­forming, long-­lived Companion Plants Spiderwort, Texas or threadleaf bluestar, mouse ear coreopsis, downy phlox, mountain mint, silkgrass, little bluestem, wiregrass, splitbeard bluestem, pink muhly Propagation Scarified seed, root division, cuttings Wildlife Flowers are pollinated by bumblebees uniquely adapted to access their pollen and nectar; larval for wild indigo duskywing, southern dogface, and orange sulphur butterflies; deer-­resistant Related Species B. australis, blue false indigo, Zones 4 to 8, naturalized in Zone 3 The most striking thing about white baptisia is the dark blue-­gray stems and other trim that set off its white flowers. This gives the plant an unusual, even sophisticated appearance. To best show off the stems while white baptisia is in bloom, silhouette it against a wall. In a perennial bed, plant low-­growing downy phlox or pink coreopsis at its feet. Blue false indigo is larger—3 to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide—and has blue flowers and blue foliage. Its requirements are similar to those of white baptisia, except that it will tolerate lime. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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Prairie Nursery/Neil Diboll

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209. Latin Name Coreopsis auriculata Common Name Mouse ear coreopsis, lobed coreopsis, eared coreopsis, dwarf tickseed Usual Height 2- to 4-inch mat of leaves, 6 inches to 2 feet in bloom Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow to gold, 1 to 2 inches across, early to midspring Fruit Dry, ripe shortly after blooming Leaves Almost evergreen rosettes, might go dormant in summer Native Range Rich woods and openings, eastern red cedar habitats, southeastern U.S., east of the Mississippi, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Stolons, colonizes Companion Plants Eastern red columbine, Small’s penstemon, Stokes’ aster, spigelia, Short’s aster Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Flowers visited by butterflies; seed eaten by songbirds Related Species C. lanceolata, lanceleaf coreopsis; C. grandiflora, large-­flowered tickseed

210. Latin Name Delphinium exaltatum Common Name Tall larkspur Usual Height 3 to 5 feet, can reach 6 feet Spacing 1 to 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Bright blue to royal purple, eight to thirty spurred, 1-inch flowers up the stem, mid to late summer Fruit 1-inch tan seed pods, downy Leaves Palmate, three- to five-­lobed, 3 inches across, abundant Native Range Rare, savannahs, woodland glades, barrens, Appalachians and Ozarks, Zones 5 to 7, naturalized in Zone 4 Soil Slightly acid to alkaline, rich, limestone OK, shale OK Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Fibrous, deep, woody, will not colonize Companion Plants Bluestars, thimbleweed, Mississippi penstemon, narrowleaf mountain mint Propagation Fresh seed, late fall Wildlife Pollinated by bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths

When we talked about coreopsis to Southern gardeners, most of them favored this one. Mouse ear coreopsis is short and dainty, and the ones we saw were invariably in a shade garden. But the flowers seemed to be straining toward the sun so hard that their stems were almost horizontal. The ones we encountered in full sun looked a lot happier. Given lots of sun, mouse ear coreopsis is likely to bloom in early spring rather than midspring. If you allow the shade of neighboring tall flowers to protect mouse ear coreopsis rosettes during the summer, it might bloom for you again in the fall. Cultivars and hybrids abound. Lanceleaf coreopsis and large-­flowered tickseed are more aggressive, but useful for black-­thumb gardeners or those who live on dry or clay soil.

Because tall larkspur is so tall and narrow, it will show to best advantage planted three in a triangle. Eventually it will grow itself several stems and fill in the triangle to make a showy clump. That way you have a bold accent of that heavenly blue, and the stems give each other some protection and mutual support from wind. I’ve put it in the flower garden section because it will take full sun, but it can also be used on the sunny edge of a shade garden.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

211. Latin Name Echinacea pallida Common Name Pale coneflower Usual Height 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 3 to 5 inches, pale pink to rose drooping petals, globular centers in green, red, purple, or brown, late spring to early summer Fruit Centers turn dark and fill with prickly seed Leaves Rosette, almost evergreen, renews in fall Native Range Thin woods, rocky glades, prairies, eastern U.S., Zones 4 to 9, rare east of Mississippi River, naturalized in Zone 3 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry Root System Thick, fleshy, clump-­forming Companion Plants Beebalm, Small’s penstemon, giant rudbeckia, cutleaf rudbeckia, smooth phlox, spotted phlox, Indiangrass, switchgrass Propagation Seed sown in fall or spring, division Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bumblebees, visited by green metallic bees; larval for checkerspot butterflies and the wavy-­lined emerald moth; seeds eaten by goldfinches Related Species E. paradoxa, yellow coneflower, Zones 8 to 9; E. purpurea, purple coneflower, Zones 5 to 8, naturalized to Zone 4 We took this picture of pale coneflower, with its hula skirt of petals, in May in Knoxville, Tennessee. Small’s penstemon was still in its glory, and butterflyweed was just thinking of starting. Pale coneflower is likely to bloom into early summer. If you think all coneflowers are a shade of pink or purple, meet yellow coneflower, seen in the background. It usually starts flowering a tiny bit earlier than pale coneflower, and then their bloom times overlap. The petals of both droop, but yellow coneflower’s short leaves are more upright and grasslike. Purple coneflower is the one most gardeners are familiar with. It also has a white form on the market. It begins to bloom in midspring in Texas, but I am told it is definitely a summer bloomer in the Southeast.

212. Latin Name Iris fulva Common Name Copper iris Usual Height 18 inches to 5 feet Spacing 12 to 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom 2 to 3 inches, brick-­red to orange, rarely yellow, early spring with wild azaleas Fruit 2- to 3-inch dry capsule Leaves 2 to 3 feet, swordlike, evergreen in shallow water or a flower bed, dormant in summer and early fall in a swamp that goes dry Native Range Pine savannahs, bald cypress swamps, Mississippi River basin and along coast to Florida, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist, seasonally flooded Root System Usual iris rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Yellow azalea, other swamp irises, spider lily, yellowtop, spiderwort, eleocharis, whitetop sedge Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Flowers used by hummingbirds and bees Related Species I. virginica, I. brevicaulis, I. giganticaerulea, I. hexagona, I. X nelsonii, swamp irises Copper iris is popular with many Southern gardeners because of its vivid coppery red color and its small, crisp, elegant appearance. It grows naturally in swamps and bogs that are wet in winter and spring, but dry out during the summer—yet it’s perfectly happy in a flower bed. Where it doesn’t get overly wet or dry, it tends to be evergreen. In Louisiana, copper iris and all the other Southern swamp irises meet. The resulting natural hybrids inspired those gorgeous cultivars known as Louisiana iris.

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213. Latin Name Monarda didyma Common Name Oswego tea, beebalm, red bergamot Usual Height 2 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Red, 2- to 4-inch cluster, late spring to early summer in most Southeast gardens, midsummer to fall in its native habitat Fruit Brown, dry, aromatic, ripe two months after blooming Leaves 3 to 6 inches long, smooth, aromatic, winter rosette Native Range Rich woods, stream banks, meadows, mountains in Georgia to Vermont, up to 6500 feet, Zones 4 to 8, naturalized to Maine and Missouri Soil Acid to neutral, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Rhizomes, might colonize, lift and divide every three years Companion Plants Wild hydrangea, lobelias, Joepyeweed, spiked gayfeather, cutleaf rudbeckia Propagation Root division, seed Wildlife Flowers visited by swallowtail butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees Oswego tea has been a favorite garden flower in the South for several generations, and not just because of its brilliant red blooms. It is a delightful herb, too. It’s a member of the mint family (check out the square stems), and all parts of the plant are aromatic. You can make a tisane of the leaves. A poultice of the crushed leaves is supposed to alleviate bee stings. I came close to leaving this wonderful plant out of the book because it has always had a problem with powdery mildew, but Gene Cline, a grower in Georgia, is marketing a selection called ‘Jacob Cline,’ which seems to be mildew-­ resistant. Twenty-­five years on, ‘Jacob Cline’ has done extremely well, although it now has some competition.

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214. Latin Name Monarda fistulosa Common Name Beebalm, wild bergamot Usual Height 2 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pink, white to purple, 2- to 4-inch heads, minty aromatic, late spring to early summer or early to midsummer Fruit Brown, dry, aromatic, seeds ripe two months after blooming Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, fuzzy, pale, strongly mint-­flavored Native Range Meadows, post oak woodlands, North America east of the Rockies, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred, but poor sand OK, clay OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates short spells of winter wet Root System Rhizomes, might colonize, lift and divide every three years Companion Plants Pale coneflower, giant rudbeckia, white baptisia, mountain mint, prairie gayfeather, aromatic aster, little bluestem, Indiangrass Propagation Root division, seed, cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, long-­ tongued bees, a small black bee that specializes in monardas, bee flies, hummingbird moth, pipevine swallowtail and other butterflies; larval for hummingbird moth; foliage browsed by deer Beebalm is a superb garden flower, well adapted all over the South. It is long-­lived and easygoing, thriving under almost any conditions, even extreme heat. Some of you may have had mildew on your beebalm. The selection pictured, ‘Claire Grace,’ from Southern Perennials and Herbs in Tylertown, Mississippi, is touted as having more mildew resistance and exceptional purple color. Most beebalms are pink or lavender. Like Oswego tea, beebalm makes a tasty herbal tea and flavoring and is reputed to be good for respiratory ailments.

Joseph A. Marcus

215. Latin Name Oenothera fruticosa (O. tetragona, O. glauca, O. fraseri) Common Name Sundrops Usual Height 1 to 2 feet, rarely 5½ feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 2 inches across, daytime, midspring to early summer Fruit ½ inch long, dry, summer Leaves 1 to 5 inches long, toothed, dark green, bronze fall color, winter rosette is often reddish Native Range Sunny rocky places or thin woods, North America east of the Mississippi River basin and in the Ozarks, Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid to alkaline, rich, clay OK, sandy, rocky OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Colonizes by stolons or runners Companion Plants Butterflyweed, Mississippi penstemon, threadleaf bluestar, Texas bluestar, spiderwort, orange rudbeckia, mountain mint, switchgrass, Indiangrass Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Flowers used by hummingbirds, sphinx moths, bumblebees, honeybees Wait long enough and everything comes back into style; this time it’s old-­fashioned sundrops. It was one of the pass-­alongs—those marvelous and rewarding perennials that are easy for everyone to grow and so got passed from one garden to another. Sundrops is usually 2 feet tall in the garden and might bloom for two months straight. The one in the photo is a seven-­year-­old clump. The flowers stay open all day and close up at dusk. There is a lot of variation within the species, with flowers pale yellow or gold, leaves bluish or not, plus the amount of red tinting on the stems, buds, and foliage.

216. Latin Name Oenothera lindheimeri (formerly Gaura lindheimeri) Common Name White gaura Usual Height 2 to 5 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White to dark pink, 1 inch, lines up on wiry, arching stems Fruit Small, brown Leaves 1 to 3 inches, narrow, may be spotted with purple, sometimes get fall colors of red, gold, and purple Native Range Prairies, pinelands, and pond edges in Texas and Louisiana east to Florida, Zones 8 to 9, reportedly usable to Zone 5 Soil Any except saline Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Pink muhly, pussytoes Propagation Seed, will self-­sow, division of clumps in spring Wildlife Long-­tongued bees, bumblebees, butterflies White gaura is one of those airy, see-­through flowers that dances in your garden at the slightest breeze. The pink buds open to white flowers at dawn and the flowers gradually turn pink during the day to drop at sunset, so there is an ongoing effect of pink-­and-­white. The cultivars tend to be pink to rose, shorter, and less airy to fit better in a small garden. If you have space, a drift of white gaura is very effective. It is quite capable of blooming from May to frost if you deadhead it regularly, but if it takes a lull in midsummer, whack the stems back below the knee and let it start afresh. White gaura is dependably winter-­hardy only in its native range of Zones 8 to 9, so mulch it heavily or treat it as an annual in Zones 5 to 7. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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217. Latin Name Penstemon digitalis complex Common Name Mississippi penstemon, smooth white beardtongue Usual Height 18 inches, rarely 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, with purple guidelines for bees, 1-inch trumpets, clustered, late spring to early summer, about four weeks Fruit Tan, dry, ripe a month after blooming Leaves Winter rosette Native Range Meadows, thin woodlands, ditches, eastern half of North America, Zones 4 to 9; probably native only to the Mississippi River basin and naturalized elsewhere (Pennell), now further naturalized to Zone 3 and Canada Soil Acid, lime OK, rich, sand or clay loam Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Woody crown, taproot, clump-­forming Companion Plants Beebalm, obedient plant, hibiscus, boltonia, Indiangrass, switchgrass Propagation Seed, cuttings, division Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees; flowers visited by halictid bees, butterflies, sphinx moths, and hummingbirds; larval for common buckeye butterfly Related Species P. laevigatus, eastern smooth penstemon, hairy beardtongue, Zones 5 to 8 Do you live in the Coastal Plains or along the Mississippi River, where clay loam and poor drainage make it difficult to grow many flowers? Well, that’s where we found Mississippi penstemon blooming profusely—and not in raised beds, either. One memorable sight was masses of it in front of blooming agarista. To ensure a permanent supply and a very tidy garden, harvest the ripe seed. Cut off the bloom stalks as they turn brown—they aren’t at all decorative—and sow the seed where you want. The rosettes will be low and green throughout the summer and will renew themselves in the fall. Eastern smooth penstemon is very similar but palest pink. Personally, I’d plant the two together in a rough triangle and let them seed out everywhere.

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218. Latin Name Penstemon smallii Common Name Small’s penstemon Usual Height 18 to 30 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender, 1½ inches long, clustered, late spring to early summer, about four weeks Fruit Tan, dry, a month after flowering Leaves 2 to 6 inches, toothed, 6- to 14-inch winter rosette Native Range Rare, edges of woodland, cliffs, mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, Zones 6 to 8 Soil Very acid to acid, rich, sandy or rocky OK Drainage Moist, intolerant of wet Root System Taproot, short-­lived perennial Companion Plants Carolina bushpea, blue false indigo, bowman’s root, spiderwort, fire pink, Oswego tea, cutleaf rudbeckia, little bluestem Propagation Seed, cuttings, division Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees; flowers visited by hummingbirds, hummingbird moths Related Species P. tenuis, Gulf coast penstemon, Zones 7 to 9 Small’s penstemon looks similar to Mississippi penstemon, and we saw it used frequently in gardens, especially in the mountains and Piedmont. The picture shows it with inland seaoats under a sugar maple at Native Gardens in Greenback, Tennessee. Edith Eddleman, in Durham, North Carolina, likes to use Small’s penstemon with sundrops and spiderwort in the sun, and with heartleaf and lady fern in the shade. It is a short-­lived perennial, so save seed and replant it every two or three years. Gulf coast penstemon is another of the richly colored penstemons that is fairly easy to buy. It is lavender to light purple, and I’d bet it is more cold-­ tolerant than its range would suggest. There are several more penstemons native to the South, and they are all garden-­worthy.

219. Latin Name Phlox pilosa Common Name Downy phlox, prairie phlox Usual Height 8 to 20 inches Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Pink to purple (white), 3- to 4-inch clusters, early spring to early summer, about four weeks, fragrant Fruit Dry, ripe a month after blooming Leaves Ephemeral, 2 to 3 inches long, very narrow, downy, dormant after blooming Native Range Sandhills, post oak woods, clearings, roadsides, eastern half of U.S., Zones 3 to 9, rare in mountains Soil Acid, rich or poor, sand preferred, lime OK, clay OK Drainage Dry, tolerates brief winter flooding Root System Clump-­forming, taproot, some colonize by tillers Companion Plants Mississippi penstemon, Texas and sandhill bluestar, blue false indigo, white baptisia, lanceleaf coreopsis, butterflyweed, beebalm, sundrops, major coreopsis, rudbeckias, aromatic aster, wiregrass, little bluestem, broomsedge Propagation Root division, root cuttings, stem cuttings, seed Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, painted lady and swallowtail butterflies, cloudywing skippers, moths, and beeflies Downy phlox might make a tidy, low-­growing clump, or it might sprawl and colonize and make a lovely, low drift of color. Either way, it will be a delight in your flower bed. Its leaves appear in early spring, and before you know it, it is a froth of blossoms, which last for about a month. Then it dies back and remains dormant until the next spring. Because it is low-­growing, and because its roots don’t interfere with the health of any other flower, I let mine (a traveler) go wherever it wants to. When sun strikes the flowers, they release a sweet spring fragrance that you can pick up 10 to 15 feet away.

220. Latin Name Stokesia laevis Common Name Stokes’ aster Usual Height 12 to 18 inches, rarely 30 inches Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Blue, lavender to white, 2 to 4 inches across, late spring to early summer, occasionally early fall, closes at dusk Fruit Seed ripe two months after flowering Leaves Almost evergreen, 1- to 2-foot-­wide rosettes Native Range Pine savannah, flatwoods, Coastal Plain east of the Mississippi River, Zone 8, naturalized in Zone 7, useful in Zones 5 to 9 Soil Very acid to acid, sandy, rich Drainage Moist Root System Colonizes to form a groundcover of rosettes, lift and divide every three to four years Companion Plants Pitcher plant, curly clematis, fragrant phlox, spider lily, swamp iris, lanceleaf coreopsis, spikerush, pine lily, redroot, pineland hibiscus, tall skullcap, fall obedient plant, wild ageratum, cardinal flower, swamp sunflower, whitetop sedge, sugarcane plumegrass, pink muhly Propagation Seed, root division, root cuttings, self-­sows Wildlife Pollinated by butterflies, bumblebees and other long-­tongued bees Growing Stokes’ aster is a snap. It blooms best in full sun in a flower garden where you can team it up with purple coneflower, butterflyweed, lanceleaf coreopsis, and other easy and popular perennials. In the wild, it is usually in a spot where it gets a half day of shade, or is near water, or in a longleaf pine savannah that stays soggy half the year. You’ll find it there with the companion plants listed above. Stokes’ aster blooms big in late spring and then continues to bloom into summer— but only if you cut off the flower heads before they go to seed. It rests during the hottest part of the summer. There are now many cultivars out, and it seems that as a cut flower, it lasts for a week. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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R. W. Smith

221. Latin Name Thalictrum revolutum Common Name Waxyleaf meadowrue Usual Height 3 to 7 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, ½ inch, in 2-foot panicles, about three weeks late spring to early summer, male and female flowers on separate plants Fruit Fat, ornamental clusters of ribbed achenes Leaves Bright green above, waxy white-­green beneath, skunky-­smelling if crushed, winter rosette Native Range Meadows, savannahs, woodland borders, stream banks, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich Drainage Moist, well drained Root System Short rhizomes, might colonize, but not aggressively Companion Plants Downy skullcap, bluestars, thimbleweed, butterflyweed, blue false indigo, mouse ear coreopsis, pale coneflower, Mississippi penstemon Propagation Seed cold-­stratified over winter, root division in fall, self-­sows Wildlife Wind-­pollinated; long-­tongued bees and butterflies eat the pollen on the male flowers, but they do not fertilize the female flowers that have no nectar; deer-­resistant Related Species T. pubescens, king of the meadow, tall meadowrue, Zones 3 to 8 Waxyleaf meadowrue prefers full sun, but will still bloom well on the edge of shade. Tall, stately, and somewhat see-­through, it makes a beautiful accent in the flower garden. The flowers pictured are females. The showier male flowers have white tops flushed with pink and a hula skirt of white, dangling stamens, each of which ends in a long anther of yellow-­green pollen. King of the meadow can get even taller and has no odd odor. A swamp plant, its sturdy, hollow green stems don’t need staking in full sun with ample water. With less than ample water, it will go dormant after setting seed. In too much shade, it will fall over. If cut back, a well-­established plant will soon put out a new rosette.

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222. Latin Name Thermopsis villosa (T. caroliniana) Common Name Carolina bushpea, Aaron’s rod Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, can reach 5 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow to pale cream pea-­flowers, on 4to 12-inch (sometimes 18-inch) spikes, late spring to early summer Fruit 1- to 2-inch peapods, velvety, pressed to the flower stalk, late summer Leaves Three leaflets, 2 to 4 inches long, dormant in winter Native Range Rare, clearings in southern Appalachians, Zones 6 to 8, naturalized to Zone 4 Soil Acid, rich OK, poor OK, clay OK Drainage Moist to dryish, well drained Root System Woody rootstock, clump-­forming Companion Plants Oswego tea, butterflyweed, Small’s penstemon, bowman’s root, spiderwort, lobelia, cutleaf rudbeckia, southern lady fern Propagation Seed planted in the fall, stratified seed; division of rootstock with a hatchet Wildlife Flowers visited by bumblebees and butterflies Carolina bushpea grows naturally in forest clearings in the mountains. If you don’t happen to live there, no problem. It accommodates itself to gardens all over the South, even in the Coastal Plain, and it has naturalized itself up into Maine. It just needs watering in the summer, but because the whole plant is velvety, it doesn’t like heavy humidity with no air circulation. Its height makes it a dominant member of the garden; only blue false indigo is as tall this early in the year. Complementary plants are white baptisia, sundrops, and suitable blue flowers. Orange-­flowered butterflyweed makes a wonderful counterpoint. Give Carolina bushpea ample room as it doesn’t look its best when it’s crowded. And be patient. It’s a slow starter and might take two to three years to get established. It’s well worth the wait.

SUMMER-­B LOOMING GARDEN FLOWERS

This midsummer flower and herb garden in hot, humid Tylertown, Mississippi, was designed by Barbara and Mike Bridges to both test and demonstrate the Southern perennials and herbs they sell in their wholesale nursery. In this picture you can see redroot, ‘Claire Grace’ beebalm, major coreopsis, an unnamed beebalm, black-­eyed Susan, and a yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), as well as non-­native vitex and patrinia.

Midsummer, the period from mid-­June to early August, is the most important time for the flower garden. This is when it is most likely to lag because of

intense heat. For the most part, the midsummer bloomers are tall and can shade their own roots adequately. This is the time of year when you should be able

to sit back and just enjoy your garden, watch the butterflies and hummingbirds, and, in the evening, stroll around and inhale its floral scents. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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223. Latin Name Asclepias incarnata Common Name Swamp milkweed Usual Height 2 to 4 feet Spacing 2 to 5 feet Sun or Shade sun best Bloom Deep pink to pale pink to mauve, or white, 2-inch clusters, fragrant, midsummer Fruit Pods, 4 inches long, split open to release seed, each with its own silky white parachute Leaves Narrow, 3 to 6 inches long Native Range Wet meadows, prairies, streamsides, swamps, eastern U.S., Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid to neutral, clay OK Drainage Moist to wet, well aerated Root System Deep, thick, white, does not transplant well Companion Plants Thimbleweed, pale coneflower, yellow coneflower, Louisiana iris, pink coreopsis, eryngo, pineland hibiscus, cattail gayfeather, pine lily, Turk’s cap lily, cardinal flower, big blue lobelia, smooth phlox, spotted phlox Propagation Seed Wildlife Pollinated by hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, native bees, bumblebees, honeybees, and swallowtail, fritillary, and many other butterflies; larval for monarch and queen butterflies; deer-­resistant Swamp milkweed has stout, upright stems. It takes several years for it to develop enough stems to give a good show. Plant yours in the right place and never move it. It prefers full sun and very moist feet. It can even be grown in a shallow pond or on a septic field. It makes a beautiful cut flower, and tying the fragrant stems and hanging them gives pleasure all winter. But I once killed a plant doing this; all or most of the stems and leaves need to remain until frost to renourish the roots.

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224. Latin Name Coreopsis rosea Common Name Pink coreopsis, pink tickweed Usual Height 10 to 12 inches, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 1 to 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pink (white), 1 inch across, yellow centers, late summer Fruit Dry, tiny, ripe soon after blooming Leaves Thready, 1 to 2 inches long, light green, chief attraction Native Range Rare, grassy swamps, damp, peaty soils, East Coast from Nova Scotia to Georgia, Zones 6 to 8, reportedly usable to Zone 3 Soil Very acid to acid, sand preferred Drainage Moist to wet, well aerated Root System Rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Seashore mallow, hibiscus, cardinal flower, swamp sunflower, boltonia, Joepyeweed, switchgrass, spikerush Propagation Root division, seed, self-­sows Wildlife Pollinated by short-­tongued bees, bee flies, butterflies, moths, and skippers; seed eaten by songbirds Related Species C. nudata, Georgia tickseed, swamp coreopsis, Zones 8 to 9, Georgia to Louisiana The foliage of pink coreopsis resembles, for most of the growing season, a delicate green mist about 9 inches tall. To enjoy this foliage, place pink coreopsis up front in your garden, or around a taller flower that is leafless at its base, such as hibiscus or boltonia. The natives we saw in the Deep South didn’t have lots of flowers, but the cultivars are very floriferous, and plantings farther north are showing that pink coreopsis prefers a cooler summer. Georgia tickseed takes lots of heat. It has cosmos-­like, 2-inch pink flowers, nude stems, and takes conditions so wet, you could used it in a water garden. It gets 4 feet tall and blooms in the spring.

225. Latin Name Coreopsis verticillata Common Name Threadleaf coreopsis Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 1 to 1½ inches across, yellow centers, early summer Fruit Dry, black, ripe soon after blooming Leaves 2 inches long, divided into thread segments Native Range Dry pines or post oak woods, Maryland to South Carolina to West Virginia, Zones 4 to 8, usable in Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, poor OK, sandy preferred Drainage Dry Root System Rhizome, colonizes slowly, lift and divide every three to four years Companion Plants Black-­eyed Susan, silkgrass, both mountain mints, splitbeard bluestem, pink muhly Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by bees and butterflies, moths, and skippers; seed eaten by songbirds Related Species C. major, major coreopsis, Zones 6 to 8 Threadleaf coreopsis was a popular perennial in the early part of the century. Then, for some reason, it fell out of favor. Today, it’s making a welcome comeback. Many nurseries carry threadleaf coreopsis, and most carry ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis, which is probably a hybrid of threadleaf and some other undetermined flower. Threadleaf coreopsis has dark yellow blooms for the first half of the summer, then provides soft, ferny foliage until frost. For midsummer yellow flowers, go with major coreopsis. It gets 2 to 3 feet tall, and the flowers can be as large as 3 inches across. It is native on sandhills and on sunny, rocky mountain slopes throughout most of the South.

226. Latin Name Crinum americanum Common Name American crinum lily, southern swamp lily Usual Height 2 to 3 feet Spacing 2 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White, sometimes flushed with pink, red stamens, 3 to 4 inches across, in clusters of four, May to November, very fragrant Fruit Capsules burst to release large green seeds Leaves Almost evergreen, 3 to 4 feet long, strap-­ shaped, firm, glossy, dormant a short time in winter after a hard freeze Native Range Cabbage palmetto swamps, marshes, coastal hammocks, coastal South from the Carolinas to Texas, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred, will not tolerate salt Drainage Wet to moist Root System 1- to 4-inch bulb, colonizes Companion Plants Spider lily, copper and other swamp iris, lizard’s tails, tuckahoe, cardinal flower Propagation Separation of bulblets Wildlife No information Nearly everyone is familiar with the old-­fashioned crinum lilies. They come from South Africa and Asia, and you see them in dry, abandoned ground around old homesites. They bear romantic names, such as “milk-­ and-­wine.” Our native crinum lily is much prettier. Its glossy, erect leaves and its upright and extremely fragrant flowers are two features that make it superior to those droopy foreign varieties. Although found naturally in or at the edge of swamps, inundated up to 6 inches, crinum lily feels right at home in a flower garden—either sunny or shady—as long as it gets a little summer watering. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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227. Latin Name Eryngium yuccifolium Common Name Eryngo, rattlesnake master, button snakeroot Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Whitish or pale green, 1-inch globe, midsummer (or as early as May) Fruit Seed in heads, ripe in late summer Leaves 1 to 2 feet long, yucca-­like, dormant in winter Native Range Post oak woods, meadows, tallgrass prairie, bogs, marshes, coastal flatwoods, floodplains, eastern half of U.S., Zones 4 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK Drainage Dry to moist, seasonal flooding OK Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Butterflyweed, black-­eyed Susan, orange rudbeckia, cutleaf rudbeckia, seashore mallow, redroot, wild ageratum, pineland hibiscus, pink muhly, bluestems Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, short-­ tongued bees, butterflies, skippers, moths, and beetles; larval for the rare rattlesnake master borer moth Eryngo is grown for its leaves, not its pale flowers, which are more interesting than beautiful. Use it where you want a strong vertical accent in your garden. But it needs to be a solitary focal point; several of them scattered up and down a border would be too overpowering. Where your scale is much larger, say in a corporate landscape or a meadow, a cluster would be very dramatic. Eryngo is tolerant of a wide range of habitats. It can be in dry soil with a clump of bluestem, butterflyweed, coneflowers, and black-­eyed Susans, where it will usually remain relatively short. Or it can be in an almost wet habitat with seashore mallow, redroot, wild ageratum, and pineland hibiscus, where it will always grow tall.

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228. Latin Name Eutrochium fistulosum (formerly Eupatorium fistulosum) Common Name Joepyeweed, queen of the meadow, trumpetweed Usual Height 5 to 7 feet, rarely 12 feet Spacing 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Soft violet-­purple, 6- to 14-inch heads, mid to late summer, fragrant Fruit Dry, fluffy, fall Leaves 4 to 12 inches long, four to seven whorled around purple, hollow stem in tiers, dormant in winter Native Range Stream banks, wet hammocks, eastern U.S., Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid, rich OK Drainage Moist Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Stokes’ aster, Mississippi penstemon, pink coreopsis, seashore mallow, hibiscus, wild ageratum, boltonia, fall obedient plant, New England aster Propagation Seed, root division, softwood cuttings Wildlife Known as a honey plant; flowers visited by honeybees, spicebush and other swallowtails, buckeye, gulf fritillary, monarch, painted lady, red admiral, and sulphur butterflies; seeds eaten by swamp sparrow Related Species E. purpureum, purple Joepyeweed, takes more shade and less wet, Zones 3 to 8; E. dubium, Coastal Plain Joepyeweed, is only 3 to 5 feet tall, Zones 6 to 8 When I saw Joepyeweed in a friend’s garden outside Memphis, it got my attention, even though there were scads of other blooms all around. It’s majestic, and, when it’s in flower, it can be the star of your garden. If your clump gets too large, wait until fall or early spring and then divide it for replanting. All the Joepyeweeds are fragrant and showy. Just choose which one works best for you.

Thomas L. Muller

229. Latin Name Heliopsis helianthoides Common Name Oxeye sunflower, false sunflower Usual Height 3 to 6 feet Spacing 2 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 2- to 3-inch golden yellow daisies, June to August Fruit Spiky heads of brown seed Leaves 6 inches long, toothed Native Range Prairies, savannahs, open woodlands, stream banks, eastern two thirds of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Any Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Rhizomatous, not aggressive Companion Plants Indiangrass, beebalm, purple coneflower Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by honeybees, bumblebees, halictid bees, wasps, bee flies, painted lady and other butterflies, skippers, and hummingbirds Oxeye sunflower is long-­blooming and showy. Cultivars of oxeye sunflower have increased an already long bloom time from May to September. As with so many flowers that spend their energy recklessly on blooms, it is a short-­lived perennial. That also means it grows easily from seed and its rhizomatous roots don’t have time to take over the garden. The eastern varieties have smooth leaves and the western ones have rough leaves to make them more drought-­tolerant.

230. Latin Name Hibiscus aculeatus Common Name Pineland hibiscus, comfort root Usual Height 2 feet, rarely 6 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Cream cup, 2 to 4 inches across, fluted, with a dark red center, summer into early fall Fruit Tan, dry, hard capsule, hairy, 1 inch, seeds ripen quickly Leaves Three- or five-­lobed, dormant in winter Native Range Pine savannahs, marsh edges, coastal North Carolina to Texas, Zones 8 to 9, possibly useful in Zone 7 Soil Acid, sand preferred Drainage Moist, well drained, but tolerates winter flooding Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Stokes’ aster, redroot, other hibiscus, tall skullcap, swamp sunflower, cardinal flower, wild ageratum, pink muhly Propagation Seed, self-­sows Wildlife Pollinated by the rose mallow bee, bumblebees, and hummingbirds; larval for gray hairstreak and painted lady butterflies and the delightful bird-­dropping moth Related Species H. coccineus, Texas star hibiscus, Zones 8 to 10; H. moscheutos, rose mallow, Zones 6 to 10; H. laevis (formerly H. militaris), halberdleafhibiscus, Zones 5 to 9 Pineland hibiscus is largely unknown, but once gardeners see it, they rave about its gorgeous flowers, which range from palest yellow to rich cream with an unusual pleated texture, scalloped edges, and velvety red centers. This short hibiscus lives five or six years and gets bushier and more full of flowers every year. Give it full sun and moist but not soggy soil in the summer. Cut it back to the ground after frost. The taller hibiscuses are more tolerant of oxygen-­poor clay. Texas star hibiscus has 8-inch, flat red flowers and marijuana-­looking leaves. Rose mallow and halberdleaf hibiscus are white with maroon centers, but have hybridized with Texas star to form pink or rose selections that are dependably winter-­hardy. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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231. Latin Name Kosteletzkya pentacarpos (formerly K. virginica) Common Name Seashore mallow, saltmarsh mallow Usual Height 4 to 6 feet Spacing 4 to 6 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pink (white to lavender), 2 inches across, hibiscus-­shaped, summer to early fall, three weeks to four months Fruit Tan, dry, ring-­shaped, seeds ripen very quickly Leaves 2 to 6 inches long, grayish green, dormant in winter Native Range Coastal marshes, New York to Texas to Cuba, Zones 7 to 10, usable in Zone 6 Soil Acid to alkaline, sand preferred, clay OK, saline OK Drainage Wet to moist, winter flooding OK Root System Woody crown, clump-­forming Companion Plants Stokes’ aster, wild ageratum, cardinal flower, swamp sunflower, New England aster, Joepyeweed Propagation Seed (soak the night before sowing), self-­sows, cuttings Wildlife Nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds You shouldn’t have any trouble growing seashore mallow as long as you keep it moist. We saw it everywhere. It’s popular because it adds such cheery color to the garden throughout August and into the fall. The blossoms close up at night, but during the day when they open for business, they’ll draw all the butterflies and hummingbirds in the immediate vicinity. Seashore mallow reaches maximum size in about five years—the age of the one in the picture. Then it declines and dies. So be sure to gather plenty of seed while it’s still in its prime, and allow a seedling or two to establish so you’ll have a replacement for the parent plant. The name change from K. virginica to K. pentacarpos reflects that our native seashore mallow seems to be identical to the Italian one.

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232. Latin Name Lachnanthes caroliniana Common Name Redroot Usual Height 12 to 18 inches, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Creamy yellow, 2- to 4-inch clusters, mid to late summer Fruit Irislike, seed ripe in late fall, red juice might be used as a dye Leaves Grasslike, 12 inches high Native Range Longleaf pine savannahs, flatwoods, bogs, coastal swales, Coastal Plain from Nova Scotia to Louisiana, with a few sites inland to Tennessee, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, sand preferred Drainage Moist, tolerates flooding Root System Rhizome and fibrous roots, both red, colonizes Companion Plants Barbara’s buttons, pitcher plant, grasspink, pickerelweed, wiregrass, whitetop sedge, broomsedge, spikerush Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Seed adored by sandhill cranes Redroot can be grown in any garden soil as long as it’s kept moist during the summer. It looks somewhat grasslike when not in bloom. To repeat that grasslike texture in your flower garden, plant it with eryngo, iris, and native ornamental grasses. Redroot is relatively short, so place it up front. But sometimes it will fool you and the flowers will appear on 3-foot stems above the foliage. If you live near where sandhill cranes come to feed, plant masses of redroot in a bog garden or beside a sunny water feature, and you’re sure to attract these magnificent birds.

Alan Cressler

233. Latin Name Liatris pycnostachya Common Name Cattail gayfeather, Kansas gayfeather, prairie blazingstar Usual Height 2 to 5 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Purply pink spikes, 1 to 3 feet long, two weeks sometime between June and October, start blooming at the top Fruit Silvery fluff on spikes Leaves 1 to 12 inches long, thready Native Range Marshes, bogs, Mississippi River basin to the 100th meridian, Zones 3 to 9, naturalized eastward to Maine Soil Acid to neutral, poor preferred Drainage Moist to wet Root System Cormlike, clump-­forming Companion Plants Mississippi penstemon, curly clematis, Joepyeweed, goldenrod, swamp sunflower, wild ageratum, cardinal flower, salt cordgrass, sugarcane plumegrass Propagation Seed in fall or spring, division of corms Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, swallowtails, monarchs, painted ladies, sulphurs, whites, and other butterflies, and skippers; larval for the glorious flower moth (pink); vulnerable to rabbits, voles, and deer Related Species L. spicata, spiked gayfeather, eastern third of U.S., Zones 4 to 10 There are many gayfeathers worth your attention. Most of those native to the Deep South have grasslike leaves and don’t bloom until September and October. They grow in sandhills or other poor, dry soils. Give them rich organic matter and too much water, and their upright posture becomes floppy. One exception is cattail gayfeather. Despite its western native habitat, it does fine in well-­watered Southern gardens. Its cluster of stems, each ending in a long, narrow spike of flowers, stands up tall and proud. Spiked gayfeather, which also tolerates moisture, has shorter, fatter spikes and comes in white as well as a strong violet-­pink. Gayfeather cultivars available in nurseries usually bloom in midsummer.

234. Latin Name Lilium catesbaei Common Name Pine lily, southern red lily Usual Height 2 feet, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Scarlet to orange, 5 to 6 inches across, one bloom to each plant, usually late summer Fruit 2 inches, upright pod, ripe two to three months after flowering Leaves Grasslike, 5 inches long, dormant in winter Native Range Rare, longleaf pine savannahs, bogs, Coastal Plain from Virginia to Louisiana, Zones 8 to 10, possibly usable in Zone 7 Soil Very acid to acid, rich Drainage Moist, tolerates winter flooding Root System Bulb, 1 inch in diameter Companion Plants Louisiana iris, pink coreopsis, Barbara’s buttons, Stokes’ aster, redroot, pineland hibiscus, wild ageratum, tall skullcap, boltonia, whitetop sedge, pink muhly Propagation Seed, scales of bulbs Wildlife Flowers a source of nectar for butterflies Related Species L. superbum, Turk’s cap lily, Zones 5 to 8; L. michauxii, Carolina lily, Zones 6 to 8 Most lilies take a long time to reach nursery size from seed, causing some unscrupulous nursery owners to dig these endangered flowers out in the wild. However, the three that I’ve listed here are being propagated by individually owned Southern nurseries. Pine lily is the shortest and the most suitable for Coastal Plain gardens. Turk’s cap lily, rare in the South, requires moisture and good drainage at all times. While I’ve never seen one over 4 feet tall, the books say it might get to 11 feet. It is loaded with dark orange, nodding flowers and, if you’re lucky, will form a colony for you. Carolina lily is a shorter, more drought-­tolerant version of Turk’s cap lily. All three lilies are native to the Florida Panhandle.

SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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235. Latin Name Lobelia cardinalis Common Name Cardinal flower Usual Height 2 to 4 feet, occasionally 6 feet Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Red (white, rose), 1 to 2 inches long on 8-inch spikes, late summer to October Fruit Round, tan, dry, seed ripe in fall Leaves 2 to 10 inches, usually a winter rosette, but short-­lived Native Range Marshes, stream banks, most of North America, Zones 4 to 9, up to 3500 feet in the Appalachians Soil Acid, lime OK, sand OK, rich preferred Drainage Moist to wet Root System Clump-­forming taproot Companion Plants Swamp bluestar, crinum lily, beebalm, redroot, Barbara’s buttons, boltonia, cutleaf rudbeckia, big blue lobelia Propagation Seed, root division, cuttings, layering Wildlife Flowers a source of nectar to hummingbirds and swallowtail butterflies; seed dispersed by wind; deer-­resistant Related Species L. siphilitica, big blue lobelia, Zones 3 to 9 Cardinal flower blooms whenever the hummingbirds come to town. It grows taller in rich soil with lots of water, and shorter when conditions are not so lush. But no matter how tall it gets, there is only one bloom per stalk, so you’ll want to cluster three to five close together. Or you can force it to branch by cutting it to 2 feet in early summer. Cardinal flower is short-­lived, so let it self-­sow and then transplant the seedlings in the fall or early spring to wherever you want them. Big blue lobelia is an even bigger favorite with hummingbirds. It is not as heat-­tolerant as cardinal flower, but otherwise likes similar growing conditions.

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236. Latin Name Marshallia graminifolia Common Name Grassleaf Barbara’s buttons Usual Height 18 inches, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom White to pale pink, 1-inch ball, late summer to early fall, fragrant Fruit Brown, dry, ripe in early fall Leaves Evergreen in a mild winter, grasslike, 8 inches high, always a winter rosette Native Range Pine savannahs, flatwoods, swamps, bogs, ditches, Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Georgia, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, rich or poor Drainage Moist to wet, well aerated Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Redroot, Stokes’ aster, pineland hibiscus, swamp sunflower, cardinal flower, wild ageratum, wiregrass, whitetop sedge Propagation Seed sown in fall, root division Wildlife Flowers visited by butterflies Related Species M. trinervia, broadleaf Barbara’s buttons, rare, Zones 7 to 8; M. grandiflora, Monongahela Barbara’s buttons, rare, Zones 5 to 7; M. caespitosa, Texas Barbara’s buttons, Zones 7 to 9 During the hottest part of the summer, grassleaf Barbara’s buttons will give you a refreshing two weeks’ worth of fragrant white to pink flowers. If placed toward the front of the bed, its tidy low-­growing foliage can provide dependable greenery the rest of the year. It doesn’t like to dry out completely, but, as with most bog plants, it also does not like being so overwatered that the soggy soil has no oxygen in it. Monongahela Barbara’s buttons also blooms in midsummer. It has less heat tolerance but more cold tolerance. Broadleaf Barbara’s buttons, slightly rhizomatous, and Texas Barbara’s buttons, with 4-inch-­high foliage, both bloom in the spring and have more drought tolerance.

Andy Sessions, Sunlight Gardens

237. Latin Name Monarda bradburiana Common Name Bradbury’s beebalm, eastern beebalm Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 to 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Pale pink to lavender, minty fragrance, June to September Fruit Tan seed heads Leaves 4 inches long, narrow, gray-­green, mint aroma when crushed Native Range Prairies and the edges of dry rocky woods in the Mississippi watershed from Iowa and Kentucky to Alabama and Texas, Zones 4 to 8 Soil Acid to neutral, rich to poor, rocky OK, clay OK Drainage Well drained, dry to moist Root System Clump-­forming, slightly rhizomatous Companion Plants Post oak, black oak, eastern red cedar, shortleaf pine, Texas bluestar, three-­lobed rudbeckia, aromatic aster, wild ageratum, fall obedient plant, golden fleece, little bluestem Propagation Seed, self-­sows Wildlife Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, native bees, bumblebees, and bee flies; larval for tiny orange or raspberry-­colored moths Bradbury’s beebalm is shorter and has less aggressive roots than Oswego tea or beebalm (the one also called wild bergamot), plus it has better resistance to powdery mildew. It also differs in that it blooms in late summer as opposed to early summer. This is making it a winner in the nursery trade. The name “eastern beebalm” is a misnomer, as it is native quite a bit west of Oswego tea and right in the middle of beebalm’s range.

238. Latin Name Phlox glaberrima Common Name Smooth phlox, marsh phlox Usual Height 1 to 3 feet, rarely 5 feet Spacing 18 inches Sun or Shade Bloom Pink, white, lavender, or rose, three to twenty flowers in a dome-­shaped cluster, early summer to midsummer, often until frost, fragrant Fruit Dry, ripe shortly after flowering Leaves 2 to 5 inches long, smooth, hairless, winter rosette Native Range Prairies, floodplain woodlands, eastern U.S., Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, lime OK, clay OK, sand OK Drainage Moist preferred, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Clump-­forming, taproot Companion Plants Stokes’ aster, spiderwort, Mississippi penstemon, downy phlox, beebalm, giant rudbeckia, wild ageratum, fall obedient plant, swamp sunflower, aromatic aster Propagation Seed, self-­sows Wildlife Flowers visited by butterflies, skippers, moths, and hummingbirds; foliage beloved by rabbits and deer Related Species P. maculata, spotted phlox, Zones 4 to 8 Smooth phlox is the most southern of the summer phloxes. These are a staple in every Southern flower garden with good reason. Nothing else has such a long bloom period, especially during the hottest part of the summer. Spotted phlox has purple spots on the stems. It is native from the Appalachians to the Great Lakes. Its tall, narrow clusters of flowers bloom a tad earlier than smooth phlox and it prefers a little shade in the Deep South. It can even be successfully scattered in a woodland garden, where it may get only two to three hours of bright, dappled sun. The familiar fall phlox, Phlox paniculata, is slightly more northern in its native range and so blooms a little later and is less heat-­tolerant. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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239. Latin Name Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Common Name Narrowleaf mountain mint, common horsemint Usual Height 2 feet, 4 feet in rich soil Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White to pale pink with purple dots, large clusters, early summer to midsummer, mintily fragrant Fruit Dry, black seeds ripe in early fall Leaves Pale green, 2 inches long, thready, extremely minty aromatic, dormant in winter Native Range Meadows, post oak woods, pinelands, eastern half of U.S., Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, poor OK, clay OK, lime OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates brief winter flooding Root System Taproot and short rhizomes, colonizes slowly and densely Companion Plants Black-­eyed Susan, lyreleaf sage, beebalm, gayfeather, Joepyeweed, calico aster, bluestem goldenrod, broomsedge, little bluestem Propagation Cuttings, root division Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, short-­tongued bees, honeybees, bee flies, wasps, butterflies, and skippers; seeds are wind-­dispersed Related Species P. incanum, silverleaf mountain mint, Zones 5 to 9 Narrowleaf mountain mint is a medium-­sized, vase-­ shaped perennial that starts blooming when it is about 1 foot wide. In succeeding years, it gets to be 3 feet wide. If it continues to spread, lift and divide it to keep it vital and under control. It has a long bloom time, eight weeks or so, and is a welcome addition to an herb garden. Use it as a cooking herb or a tea, and rub the fragrant leaves on yourself to repel fleas and mosquitoes. The silverleaf mountain mint is less polite but very showy, as its wide, silvery white leaves are even more eye-­catching than the flowers. It blooms from July to September and is more drought-­tolerant.

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240. Latin Name Rudbeckia fulgida Common Name Orange rudbeckia, perennial black-­eyed Susan Usual Height 2 to 3 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Golden yellow, 1 to 3 inches across, dark purple-­brown center, rarely late spring to midsummer, usually late summer to early fall Fruit Seeds ripen in cone Leaves 2 to 4 inches, toothed, fuzzy, winter rosette Native Range Woodlands, meadows, flatwoods, calcareous hammocks, eastern U.S., Zones 4 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Colonizes, lift and divide to control Companion Plants Blue false indigo, beebalm, sundrops, downy phlox, eryngo, smooth phlox, asters, doll’s daisy, switchgrass, Indiangrass Propagation Seed or root division Wildlife Pollinated by halictid bees, honeybees, small butterflies, skippers, and bee flies; foliage eaten by rabbits and deer Related Species R. hirta, black-­eyed Susan, Zones 3 to 10; R. triloba, three-­lobed rudbeckia, Zones 3 to 9 Common black-­eyed Susan acts like an annual or biennial, seeding out like crazy so you never know where it’ll come up. That’s why, if you want a more orderly flower garden, you might opt for perennial black-­eyed Susan, aka orange rudbeckia. Orange rudbeckia comes in two varieties: R. fulgida var. fulgida, with numerous 1-inch flowers that bloom until frost, and R. fulgida var. sullivantii, which rarely gets over 2 feet tall and has bigger blooms—3 inches across—but fewer of them. It is the parent of the cultivar ‘Goldsturm,’ pictured here. ‘Goldsturm’ is more compact but neon-­vivid. By contrast, the two wild varieties are airier and their color, less fluorescent, blends in better with most perennials. Three-­ lobed rudbeckia, a short-­lived perennial, is also airy but showy, and it will tolerate some shade. At Cheekwood in Nashville, we saw where it had been allowed to self-­sow along the sunny edges of woodland—to great effect.

Julie Makin

241. Latin Name Rudbeckia maxima Common Name Giant rudbeckia, cabbage-­leaf coneflower Usual Height 6 feet, occasionally 10 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 3 inches wide, 2-inch dark cone, early to midsummer Fruit Cone fills with ripe sunflower-­sized seed in mid to late summer Leaves Pale green, 8 inches long, spring rosette 18 inches wide by 12 inches tall, winter rosette smaller Native Range Pinelands, ditches, Louisiana, Arkansas, East Texas and southeastern Oklahoma, Zones 7 to 8, naturalized in Zone 6 Soil Very acid to acid Drainage Moist Root System Woody crown, clump-­forming Companion Plants Black-­eyed Susan, sabatia, lanceleaf coreopsis, downy phlox, beebalm, butterflyweed, spider lily, wild ageratum, swamp sunflower, Joepyeweed, brushy bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass Propagation Seed, division Wildlife Pollinated by bees and butterflies; seeds eaten by goldfinch; deer-­resistant Giant rudbeckia is grown as much for its leaves as its flowers. These leaves are canna-­shaped, huge, and as pale as a luna moth. As summer heats up, tall stalks appear and the pale yellow flowers, with their exaggeratedly tall dark brown cones, start to bloom. The petals droop like a hula skirt. Very charming. After blooming, let the rosette reform and then cut the stalks back.

242. Latin Name Rudbeckia laciniata Common Name Cutleaf rudbeckia, greenhead rudbeckia, wild golden glow Usual Height 3 to 5 feet, can reach 9 feet Spacing 4 to 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lemon yellow, 2 to 3 inches across, light green centers, midsummer to early fall Fruit Center dries to yellow and holds the seeds, which ripen in midfall Leaves Basal leaves up to 12 inches, cut into three to seven fingers, winter rosette in milder zones Native Range Rich, moist woodlands, floodplains, stream banks, most of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, rich preferred, lime or clay OK Drainage Moist, seasonal flooding tolerated Root System Rhizomatous, will colonize Companion Plants Joepyeweed, seashore mallow, cattail gayfeather, narrowleaf mountain mint, sugarcane plumegrass, switchgrass, pink muhly Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by bees, butterflies; larval for silvery checkerspot butterfly and wavy-­lined emerald moth; seeds eaten by goldfinch Related Species R. nitida, shining rudbeckia, Georgia to Louisiana, Zones 8 to 9 Cutleaf rudbeckia will droop dramatically if it gets too dry, and then spring back up with moisture. If you let it go too long, it will shed the basal leaves. It is strongly rhizomatous, able to hold its own with switchgrass or sugarcane plumegrass in a prairie setting. Avoid the cultivars with pom-­pom heads that are too heavy for their stalks and that do not allow pollinators to benefit from their pollen and nectar. Pictured is the best cultivar, “Herbstsonne,” sometimes translated “Autumn Sun.” Always upright and not in need of staking, it used to be sold as R. nitida, and might be a hybrid of shining rudbeckia and cutleaf rudbeckia. Shining rudbeckia has flowers with shorter cones and unlacy leaves. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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FALL-­B LOOMING GARDEN FLOWERS

Many of the midsummer flowers continue to bloom on into the fall. But, in late summer and fall, which is late August to frost, you get a small third group of flowers to keep you from getting bored. Be sure to include grasses in your fall garden also.

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We caught Kitty and Neil Taylor’s garden in Collierville, Tennessee, in mid-­September. Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm,’ with its golden daisies, bottom right, was a week or two past its peak and seeding out. Its taller cousin, rudbeckia ‘Herbstsonne,’ however, was in its second bloom and looking terrific. Also in this section of their border garden are two long-­ blooming purple flowers—spotted phlox and Joepyeweed at the left rear—along with compact holly and the leafy remains of woodland bluestar and Mississippi penstemon in the foreground.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

243. Latin Name Boltonia asteroides Common Name Boltonia, false aster Usual Height 2 to 6 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White (pink, lavender), ¾ to 1½ inches wide, yellow centers, early fall to frost Fruit Seed, ripe mid to late fall Leaves 3 to 6 inches long, narrow, blue-­green, winter rosette Native Range Marshes, pinelands, eastern half of U.S., Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid, rich, clay OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates summer dry and winter wet Root System Stolons, short-­lived perennial Companion Plants Redroot, Stokes’ aster, cardinal flower, wild ageratum, swamp sunflower, New England aster, Joepyeweed, switchgrass, brushy bluestem, pink muhly Propagation Seed, self-­sows, root division, cuttings Wildlife Pollinated by long-­tongued bees, short-­ tongued bees, the long-­horned bee, honeybees, butterflies Related Species B. diffusa, doll’s daisy, Zones 6 to 10 Placed among the busy reds, yellows, and purples of an autumn garden, boltonia looks positively serene; its cool white daisies seem to float airily on slender pale green stems. Two cultivars—‘Snowbank’ and ‘Pink Beauty’— are very popular in Zones 6 and 7. If you live in Zone 8, however, don’t count on these two. They aren’t summer-­ hardy, and until a nursery starts growing one for you, you’ll have to collect your own native boltonia seed out in the wild. Doll’s daisy, with half-­size flowers, is definitely summer-­hardy. Sometimes it is bare-­stemmed up where the flowers are, giving it a strikingly delicate appearance. Other fall white flowers you can use with it are a white version of fall obedient plant, white phlox, roundleaf eupatorium, and white asters.

244. Latin Name Conoclinium coelestinum (formerly Eupatorium coelestinum) Common Name Wild ageratum, mistflower, blue boneset Usual Height 18 to 24 inches, rarely 40 inches Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender-­blue, fuzzy flowers in a flat-­ topped head, late summer to midfall Fruit Dry, gray to tan, shortly after blooming Leaves 1 to 4 inches, rough, dormant in winter Native Range Stream banks, moist meadows, southeastern U.S., Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, lime OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Rhizomes, colonizes, shallow-­rooted Companion Plants Atamasco lily, hibiscus, seashore mallow, boltonia, swamp sunflower, Joepyeweed, blue lobelia, brushy bluestem, little bluestem, pink muhly Propagation Root division Wildlife Pollinated by native bees, butterflies, and skippers; deer-­resistant Wild ageratum doesn’t require a lot of attention. Just be sure to water it in July and August if the rains forget to appear. This native drives green-­thumb gardeners nuts because it spreads aggressively. But the roots are shallow and easy to yank out. As a black-­thumb gardener myself, I would much rather pull out an overly rambunctious plant than have to fret and fuss over keeping a less hardy one alive. Wild ageratum drives photographers nuts, too, because its celestial blue color is virtually impossible to capture accurately on film. This is a relatively low grower, so put it at the feet of any of your tall autumn flowers. If it gets too floppy by June and needs staking, lop it in half instead. You can’t put spring flowers on top of it because it greens up early and makes a dense groundcover wherever you allow it to spread. Cut off the old blooms when they start looking ratty. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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Alan Cressler

245. Latin Name Gentiana saponaria Common Name Soapwort gentian, harvestbells Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Royal purple-­blue to pale blue, rarely white, bells held upright, 1.5 inches long, partially closed, in leaf axils up the stalk, fall Fruit Tan capsule split in two, releasing tiny seeds that are dispersed by wind or water Leaves 3 inches long, narrow, glossy Native Range Endangered, wet woods, meadows, pond banks, moist sandy places, eastern U.S. south of the Great Lakes down to Florida Panhandle and East Texas, Zones 5 to 8 Soil Acid, rich, sandy Drainage Moist to wet, well aerated, well drained Root System Taproot Companion Plants Black oak, native iris, redroot, cattail gayfeather, fall obedient plant, whitetop sedge, pink muhly Propagation Please buy nursery-­propagated plants Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees and hummingbirds Related Species G. catesbaei, Elliot’s gentian, Coastal Plain and Piedmont, Zones 6 to 8; G. villosa, striped gentian, all Southeast, Zones 6 to 8 The gentians are that kind of wildflower that everyone falls in love with the instant they see one. Soapwort gentian, although endangered and highly scattered in its range, seems to be pretty easy to grow in the garden. It has a single stem and does not colonize or expand. Keep it sufficiently moist, and it will reward you each fall for many years. Elliot’s gentian is very similar, but opens its flowers a bit more. Striped gentian is white with long purple stripes. Since soapwort gentian sometimes has slightly opened flowers and stripes, these three gentians might hybridize.

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246. Latin Name Helianthus angustifolius Common Name Swamp sunflower, narrowleaf sunflower Usual Height 1½ to 5 feet, rarely 10 feet Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Gold, 2 to 3 inches across, dark centers, early to midfall Fruit Seeds, ripe in late fall Leaves 4 to 6 inches long, narrow to thready, dormant in winter Native Range Marshes, savannahs, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 10, usable in Zone 5 Soil Acid, rich or poor OK Drainage Moist to wet Root System Colonizes Companion Plants Spider lily, Stokes’ aster, swamp iris, redroot, pineland hibiscus, wild ageratum, brushy bluestem, sugarcane plumegrass Propagation Seed, self-­sows, root division Wildlife Flowers visited by butterflies, native bees, and honeybees; seeds eaten by mourning dove, white-­winged dove, bobwhite, house finch, goldfinch, meadowlark, white-­breasted nuthatch, sparrows, and wood mouse In East Texas, it’s common to see swamp sunflower in magnificent 1½- to 3-foot-­tall golden swaths covering a half acre or more, and accented with the coppery plumes of sugarcane plumegrass and the blue of wild ageratum. This is how landscape architect Johnny Mayronne uses it in the wonderful minibog by his home in lower Louisiana. So, naturally, I was amazed to hear that many of you in the South are using it in flower gardens. And successfully, too. Clearly, it is easy to both grow and control in that moist but well-­drained environment, although it does tend to grow taller there.

Andy Sessions, Sunlight Gardens

247. Latin Name Physostegia virginiana Common Name Fall obedient plant, false dragonhead, Virginia lionsheart Usual Height 2 to 4 feet Spacing 1 foot wide, but spreads Sun or Shade Bloom Lavender (rose, white), 1 inch long, clustered on spikes, late summer to midfall, sometimes much earlier Fruit Tan, dry, seed ripe in fall Leaves 2 to 6 inches long, narrow, toothed, winter rosette Native Range Bogs, pine savannahs, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, lime OK, rich OK, clay OK Drainage Moist to dry Root System Colonizes Companion Plants Swamp bluestar, lanceleaf coreopsis, black-­eyed Susan, beebalm, skullcap, redroot, hibiscus, swamp sunflower Propagation Root division Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees, other long-­ tongued bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds I first knew that fall obedient plant was my kind of flora after I’d seen it umpteen times in old-­fashioned gardens where it had obviously thrived for decades with minimal care. It spreads aggressively by the roots, but they’re shallow and easily pulled out, making it an easy plant to control. In rare cases, blooms might start in June, but in most Southern gardens you can expect it to start blooming in August. Sometimes it continues flowering until frost, although not with the same enthusiasm it showed initially. It is “obedient,” because you can gently tweak the flowers along the bloom stem to face a different angle.

248. Latin Name Pityopsis graminifolia (Chrysopsis graminifolia, Heterotheca graminifolia) Common Name Silkgrass, goldenaster Usual Height 8 to 18 inches of leaves, with 1- to 3-foot bloom stalks Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Dark to light yellow, 1 inch across, yellow centers, late summer to late fall Fruit Fuzzy white, ripe soon after blooming Leaves Silvery, grasslike, 4 to 18 inches long, dormant in winter Native Range Sandhills, post oak woods, stable dunes, pine savannahs, ridges in bogs, southeastern North America, Zones 6 to 11 Soil Very acid, acid, poor and sandy preferred Drainage Dry, moist OK if drainage is excellent Root System Colonizes slowly, shallow, fibrous Companion Plants Pussytoes, threadleaf bluestar, Texas bluestar, baptisia, thimbleweed, spiked gayfeather, splitbeard bluestem, aromatic aster, Maryland goldenaster, pink muhly Propagation Seed, division of clumps Wildlife Pollinated by butterflies; seeds are wind-­dispersed Related Species Chrysopsis mariana, Maryland goldenaster, Zones 5 to 10 Silkgrass is not well-­known yet, but gardeners who make its acquaintance tend to get very excited about its low-­growing, silvery leaves and its very long bloom time in the fall, sometimes until December. It also makes an attractive groundcover; its ornamental foliage is ideal for those dry, semishady spots where you want more height than you’d get from pussytoes and less height than with bracken. But don’t count on many flowers in such a spot. Cut it back in February, just before the new leaves appear, to keep it looking its freshest. The handsome selection pictured was discovered by Sunlight Gardens in Tennessee. Maryland goldenaster has showier flowers and also blooms six to eight weeks, but its foliage is ordinary. It is often used in a sunny, well-­drained flower garden and should be allowed to self-­sow. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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Andy Sessions, Sunlight Gardens

W.D. and Dolphia Bransford

249. Latin Name Solidago odora Common Name Sweet goldenrod, anisescented goldenrod, licorice goldenrod Usual Height 2 to 5 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow to gold, fragrant, one-­sided clusters of tiny flowers in branching plumes, late summer to early fall Fruit Brown seeds with tiny tufts for wind dispersal Leaves 1 to 4 inches long, aromatic of anise or licorice when crushed, often a small winter rosette Native Range Thin post oak woods, turkey oak woods, pine woods, savannahs, New Hampshire to Florida west to Texas and Missouri, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid, poor, clay OK, prefers sand Drainage Moist to dry Root System Short rhizomes, clump-­forming, lift and divide as needed Companion Plants Texas bluestar, blue false indigo, sundrops, eryngo, silkgrass Propagation Seed, root division of mature clumps Wildlife Flowers visited by butterflies, short-­ tongued bees, and honeybees; seeds eaten by American goldfinch and pine siskin Sweet goldenrod, tall and narrow, will get larger every year, but won’t gallop through your garden like most of the tall goldenrods. If your clump gets too large for its designated space, dig it up and divide the roots into smaller clumps, giving away the divisions you don’t want to replant. Because the leaves make an herbal tea and have many medicinal uses, sweet goldenrod can also be in your herb garden. You don’t have to worry about hayfever, because all goldenrods have heavy pollen and are insect-­pollinated.

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GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

250. Latin Name Solidago sphacelata Common Name Golden fleece, short-­pappus goldenrod, autumn goldenrod Usual Height 1 to 4 feet for species, 1 to 1½ feet for the readily available cultivar ‘Golden Fleece’ Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow flowers cover the arching stems, late summer to early fall Fruit Small brown seeds with a tuft of hairs Leaves Basal leaves are heart-­shaped, 5 inches long, stem leaves are small ovals Native Range Open woods, limestone bluffs, Virginia to Illinois south to Georgia and Mississippi, Zones 5 to 8, usable to Zone 4 Soil Any, but rich preferred Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Rhizomatous Companion Plants Butterflyweed, white baptisia, Joepyeweed, threadleaf bluestar, narrowleaf mountain mint, Short’s aster, aromatic aster, little bluestem Propagation Seed, self-­sows; root division for species; buy the dwarf cultivar Wildlife Pollinated by cuckoo bees, bumblebees, short-­tongued bees, honeybees, beetles, digger wasps, and butterflies Golden fleece is a lovely, well-­mannered goldenrod worthy of any flower garden. It can also be naturalized on the sunny edges of a woodland. Its arching wands of golden flowers might get 4 feet tall. It has a dwarf cultivar named ‘Golden Fleece’ that was discovered in Eden, North Carolina, in 1985. Developed by Dick Lighty at Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware, this very short form of the species has become a favorite with gardeners. If you live where the basal leaves are green all winter, masses of golden fleece planted 1 foot apart and allowed to seed out can make a rough groundcover that bursts into yellow in late summer. Deadheading can extend the bloom time into October.

Neil Diboll, Prairie Nursery

251. Latin Name Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (formerly Aster lateriflorus) Common Name Calico aster Usual Height 2 to 3 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom White (lavender), little half-­inch daisies in large, loose, pyramidal panicles, August to November, but September most likely Fruit Tiny, bullet-­shaped seeds with white tufts for wind dispersal Leaves Narrow, up to 6 inches long Native Range Prairies, thickets, woodland edges, stream banks, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Rich preferred, but not fussy Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Short rhizomes form clumps Companion Plants Southern sugar maple, red maple, sweetgum, wild ageratum, cattail gayfeather, goldenrods, pink muhly Propagation Seed, division of clumps in spring Wildlife Pollinated by native bees, honeybees, and butterflies; larval for the tiny pearl crescent butterfly Calico aster is so named because the yellow, red, and purple centers on the white flowers reminded people of a sprigged calico dress. The centers start off yellow, but turn to red and purple as they get pollinated, so all colors are liberally present for the entire bloom period. Reddish stems add to the effect. The most popular cultivar, ‘Lady in Black,’ has black stems and dark purple leaves. To get a shorter, bushier plant by bloom time, pinch back the stems in late May to make them branch. Where summers are not moist, keep it watered if it is planted in full sun, or plant calico aster where it gets afternoon shade.

252. Latin Name Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (formerly Aster oblongifolius) Common Name Aromatic aster, shale aster Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, sometimes 1 foot in wild Spacing 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Blue-­violet to rose, 1 inch, numerous, mid to late fall Fruit Fluffy, late fall Leaves 1 to 3 inches long, aromatic, winter rosette Native Range Shale barrens, limestone outcrops, eastern half of U.S., Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to neutral, lime OK, rich OK, rocky or sandy OK Drainage Dry to moist Root System Woody crown, most colonize Companion Plants Butterflyweed, coneflowers, beebalm, sundrops, Small’s penstemon, downy phlox, fall phlox, mountain mint, rudbeckias, fall obedient plant Propagation Seed, root division, cuttings Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, native bees, and honeybees; seeds eaten by cardinals, finches, grosbeaks, sparrows, thrashers, towhees, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, and wild turkey Related Species S. novae-­angliae, New England aster, and many, many more There is a selection of a blue aromatic aster that we saw over and over in Southern gardens. It often blooms in spring and then again all fall, makes a neat mound of foliage when not in bloom, and is impervious to drought. We saw the New England aster nearly as often. It is usually taller and needs more moisture. It has several cultivars that range from white to pastel to hot pink to purple. Aster species are numerous, and there seems to be one for every imaginable habitat and style. As a general rule, a wild aster that you might dig out of the vacant lot works great in a meadow but would be too aggressive for a flower garden. The ones you find at the nursery have been selected for good behavior and loads of flowers. SUNNY GARDEN FLOWERS

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13 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES

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ur culture has traditionally thought of grasses in only three categories: lawn grasses, forage for domestic livestock . . . and weeds! It is only fairly recently that we’ve learned (or relearned) that grasses have value other than as football fields or pasture. Salt marshes are essential to the life cycles of shrimp and many fish, while prairies and meadows support many land animals. A lot of work is being done in reclamation and restoration of grasslands for wildlife value. But now we are entering into a new phase of grass use. The general public is awakening to the idea that grasses have a place in the small urban or suburban garden. It started during the last generation with the introduction of pampas grass from Argentina, which was acceptable because it was evergreen. In the last few years, the importation of African bunch grasses has taught us that fall color and tan winter color are also acceptable. But, still, few were ready to acknowledge that our native

grasses had any aesthetic value. It wasn’t until we started getting cultivars of our native switchgrass sent back to us from Germany and England that nurserymen and landscapers finally caught on that we possess a treasury of gorgeous ornamental native grasses that are suitable for use in our landscapes. If you garden on a small property, use grasses as you would flowers or shrubs or as an accent like a yucca. The big advantage to the grasses is that you can leave them with their dead foliage in the winter, and they are still ornamental. Little bluestem is good about retaining its rich coppery color all winter long. Switchgrass always looks good because its form is so well balanced. Wiregrass is almost evergreen, and, in some parts of its range, so is pink muhly. Many people use grasses mixed in with the perennial flower garden, so I’ve given you choices as to what flowers will grow well with each grass. Another, more unusual but very effective use is in a total grass

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garden, so I’ve included ideas on which grasses will combine attractively with each other. If you have a sunny property where you want to cut way back on mowing, consider using these tall, ornamental grasses to make a meadow, prairie, savannah, or marsh. Use contour mowing to make lawns or paths where you really need them, and let the rest get tall. It will save you hours and hours of hard work and attract birds like indigo bunting, Henslow sparrow, dickcissel, loggerhead shrikes, yellow-­breasted chat, prairie warbler, white-­eyed vireo, and eastern kingbird. In the wild, grasses are dependent on fire to burn down trees and shrubs that would shade them out of existence. This has resulted in some grasses getting conditioned so that they grow only when they have been burned. If you planted a clump of grass in your flower bed and you know that there is plenty of sun, moisture, drainage, compost, and everything else it could possibly

Sugarcane plumegrass blooms amid swamp sunflower at Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area near Palestine, Texas, in October.

need, but it is still unhappy, it might need a fire. Choose a wet day in the winter when there is no wind, so that the danger of a spark landing somewhere else in the flower bed is minimized.

Light the dry foliage of the chosen grass clump with a match, and then stand by with the water hose until it has burned down to the crown and the thatch near the ground is

all charred. Then wet it down thoroughly to make certain the fire is completely out. Your efforts should be rewarded with an exuberant flush of healthy growth in the spring.

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253. Latin Name Andropogon glomeratus Common Name Brushy bluestem, bushy bluestem, bushy beardgrass Usual Height 2 to 6 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Silky, dense, silvery green to pinkish, early fall Fruit Very showy, white to silver, plumy, early to midfall Leaves Narrow, dense at base, cinnamon to copper in fall and winter Native Range Savannahs, bogs, sunny swales, eastern U.S. to California, Zones 6 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich OK, clay OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Stokes’ aster, pink coreopsis, hibiscus, boltonia, wild ageratum, swamp sunflower, cardinal flower, fall obedient plant, sugarcane plumegrass, switchgrass, woolgrass, salt cordgrass Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Seeds eaten by birds, insects, and mammals

254. Latin Name Andropogon ternarius Common Name Splitbeard bluestem Usual Height 2 to 5 feet Spacing 2 feet for garden accent, ½ to 2 pounds pure live seed per 1000 square feet Sun or Shade Bloom Silvery white, in a vee, late summer to midfall Fruit Plumy white, in a vee, early to midfall Leaves Narrow, reddish brown in fall and winter Native Range Dry, thin woodland and savannahs, sandhills, old fields, stable dunes, southeastern U.S., Zones 5 to 10 Soil Very acid to acid, sand Drainage Dry, tolerates brief winter flooding Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Downy phlox, sundrops, threadleaf bluestar, Texas bluestar, blue or white baptisias, yuccas, conradina, Georgia basil, dry gayfeathers, silkgrass, eryngo, sandhill rosemary, little bluestem, wiregrass, pink muhly Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Seeds eaten by prairie chicken, junco, wild turkey, chipping sparrow, meadow mouse; foliage browsed by white-­tailed deer

Brushy bluestem is an exceptionally handsome and well-­behaved ornamental grass that can be used in any flower garden, as long as it doesn’t get too dry in the summer. Its summer look is a 2-foot-­tall bunch of slender green leaves. In the fall, it usually blooms at the same time as cattail gayfeather, swamp sunflower, goldenrod, sugarcane plumegrass, and wild ageratum. At the first hint of frost, while the white fluffy seeds are still clinging to the stalks, the leaves and stems turn a rich coral color that stays throughout the winter. Cut it to the ground in February or March to make way for the new green leaves that will appear in midspring.

I predict that splitbeard bluestem will become one of your favorite grasses, if it isn’t already. It probably is, if you’ve seen it growing in masses with the autumn sun backlighting its silvery white tufts. Each little feathery seed tuft catches the light and amplifies it tremendously. This would be my first choice for a meadow grass to go along with post oaks or with longleaf pines and turkey oaks in plenty of sun. It would also place high on my list for a flower garden accent, provided my soil was sandy enough to make it happy. The café au lait to copper-­ colored leaves in winter get quite curly, and eventually turn gray and unattractive. That’s the time to cut it down to within 3 inches of the ground. New leaves will appear with spring.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

255. Latin Name Andropogon virginicus Common Name Broomsedge Usual Height 2 to 5 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Not showy, late summer to late fall Fruit Plumy white seeds, fall Leaves Narrow, coppery brown in fall and winter Native Range Old fields, thin woods, pinelands, dunes, marsh margins, eastern North America, Zones 5 to 11 Soil Acid, poor Drainage Dry to moist Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Lanceleaf coreopsis, black-­ eyed Susan, purple coneflower, mountain mint, goldenrod, asters, little bluestem, splitbeard bluestem Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Seeds eaten by field sparrow, junco, chipping sparrow, prairie chicken; foliage browsed by white-­tailed deer; nesting cover for bobwhite quail Broomsedge is the most commonly seen native grass in the South. It is often seen in quantity in old fields, where it is very important for erosion control. That’s why it is the basis for most dryland Southern meadow or prairie restoration projects. Broomsedges require periodic burning to remain vigorous, as the heat stimulates root growth in a way that annual mowing does not.

256. Latin Name Aristida stricta (includes A. beyrichiana) Common Name Wiregrass, pineland threeawn Usual Height 2 feet, 3 to 4 feet when in bloom Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 6 to 20 inches, brownish, airy, anytime Fruit Yellow seed, produced only in the fall after a fire Leaves Semi-­evergreen, 20 inches long, very narrow and folded longways, fuzzy white at the base, tawny gold fall color Native Range Sandhills and longleaf pine savannahs, flatwoods, bogs, Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Mississippi, Zones 7 to 9 Soil Very acid (pH 5.5 to 6.5), very poor, sandy Drainage Dry, but tolerates flooding in winter and spring Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Longleaf pine, turkey oak, sand live oak, dwarf huckleberry, Texas bluestar, baptisias, Barbara’s buttons, redroot, silkgrass, bluestems, toothache grass, whitetop sedge, pink muhly Propagation Fresh seed sown March to August, root division Wildlife Seeds eaten by Bachman’s sparrow, bobwhite quail; foliage browsed by the endangered gopher tortoise Wiregrass is the principal savannah grass that grows alongside longleaf pines in both wet and dry situations from the Carolinas to Mississippi. Its very fine foliage creates a visually soft, year-­round groundcover made up of new green leaves intermixed with old withered ones. It must be burned every two to three years to maintain density, as it sets seed only after a fire. Individual clumps planted in a flower bed remain the same size for years. Hancock Seed Company, Dade City, Florida, recommends 20 pounds an acre. This is not pure live seed, because they harvest real wiregrass prairie and 8 percent of the weight is wildflower seeds and some fine chaff. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES

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Hoffman Nursery, Inc.

257. Latin Name Chasmanthium latifolium Common Name Inland seaoats, upland seaoats, river oats Usual Height 2 to 5 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 4- to 8-inch loose clusters, early summer, not as conspicuous as seeds Fruit Green dangling seed heads in summer, turning gold and palest tan in fall, shatter in winter Leaves 4 to 8 inches long, alternating up the stems, early spring to early fall, fall color is bright to pale gold with purple shadings, dormant in winter Native Range Stream banks, moist woods, eastern half of U.S., Zones 5 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, sand or clay OK, rich OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Clump-­forming, self-­sows vigorously Companion Plants Itea, Turk’s cap, cardinal flower, wild ageratum Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Wind-­pollinated; larval for northern pearly eye-­butterfly and skippers Related Species C. sessiliflorum, longleaf woodoats, Zones 6 to 9 Inland seaoats is ideal under live oaks and post oaks, where you’d like to have the soft, dense, luxurious texture of ferns, but the soil is a little too dry. It also can be very ornamental in a flower bed. In that case, I’d advise you to cut off all the seed heads just as they start to turn color and then use them for indoor flower arrangements. If they go to seed in your flower garden, you’ll have a bonanza of them next year. I’ve also enjoyed inland seaoats in a large patio pot. Longleaf woodoats looks quite different from inland seaoats, having vaselike tufts about knee-­high and airy rather than showy seed heads. But it is almost evergreen and takes even more shade.

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258. Latin Name Deschampsia flexuosa Common Name Wavy hairgrass Usual Height 16 inches, with blooms to 3 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Purplish, tiny on a foot-­tall, airy, nodding panicle, showy, late summer Fruit Gold, might remain attractive all winter Leaves Semi-­evergreen, rolled, wiry, dark green, up to 2 feet long Native Range Dry open woodlands, dry rocky slopes, Appalachians, Great Lakes, rare in Ozarks, Zones 3 to 7 Soil Acid, rich, sandy loam preferred Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Clump-­forming bunch grass Companion Plants Deciduous trees, ferns, shade-­loving flowers Propagation Seed Wildlife Seed eaten by birds This elegant, shade-­loving grass looks good all winter. Just before spring, cut it back so you’ll have all fresh new growth for the next year. Wavy hairgrass grows new leaves very early, at the same time as the early spring ephemerals. Plant it with spring ephemerals and short ferns. In late summer, it will send up its flowering stalks and give a mist of delicate color that will float over the ferns. Or scatter it among late-­summer to fall shade-­loving flowers to tie the whole scene together. It gets its name “wavy” because the tiny stems for the flowers have waves or kinks. “Hairgrass” is because the leaves are so thin. If you have hot, humid summers south of Zone 7, you’ll have to use wiregrass instead. It has similar great semi-­evergreen foliage, but lacks the showy months of flower and seed.

259. Latin Name Eleocharis montevidensis Common Name Sand spikerush Usual Height 6 to 9 inches, occasionally 2 feet Spacing 4-inch-­wide tufts can spread wherever moisture is right Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny reddish cone, spring or summer Fruit Yellow or brown tiny seeds, ripe late summer Leaves Bright yellow-­green, strawlike, stiff, dormant in winter or drought Native Range Brackish marshes, sinks, wet sands, southern North America, mostly east of the Rockies, Zones 6 to 10, and south to Argentina Soil Acid, lime OK, brackish OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Colonizes by dark red rhizomes Companion Plants Copper iris, hibiscus, seashore mallow, redroot, cattail gayfeather, cardinal flower, wild ageratum, whitetop sedge, woolgrass, sugarcane plumegrass, brushy bluestem Propagation Root division Wildlife Seeds, stems, and roots eaten by coot, eleven species of ducks, Canada goose, snow goose, blue goose, purple gallinule, king rail, sora, Virginia rail, yellow rail, common snipe Where you have low, wet places in your lawn, consider using sand spikerush. Its fine-­textured leaves and bright color blend in handsomely with lawn grasses. And because it normally stays quite short, it can also be used as an easy-­care groundcover in poorly drained spots. Want to create a minimarsh? Plant bog flowers in the spikerush. Or take advantage of its soothing yellow-­ green smoothness to show off a sculpture. This plant is popular in freshwater aquariums.

260. Latin Name Elymus villosus (E. canadensis var. villosus) Common Name Silky wild rye, downy wild rye Usual Height 2 to 3 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Greenish white nodding heads 3 to 4 inches long, with straight awns over 1 inch long, showy, summer Fruit Palest tan, summer, showy Leaves Bluish green, 9 inches long, half an inch wide, slightly hairy Native Range Deciduous woodlands, savannahs, stream banks, eastern half of North America, sparse or unreported in Gulf states, Zones 3 to 8 Soil Slightly acid to alkaline, rich, sandy loam OK Drainage Moist, can tolerate seasonal flooding and drought Root System Fibrous, will colonize Companion Plants Deciduous oaks, sweetgum, maple, eastern persimmon Propagation Seed Wildlife Wind-­pollinated Related Species Elymus viriginicus, Virginia wild rye, Zones 3 to 9 Nearly everyone talks about Virginia wild rye, widespread all over the South in oak or pine savannahs, but prettier by far is silky wild rye. The rye head is larger, fatter, paler, and nodding, and is quite showy for many months. This is a cool-­season grass. It is green and growing throughout winter and spring and blooms in the summer. The seed heads continue to be attractive into the fall, but the leaves might go dormant in a hot, dry summer. You can hide them by overplanting with bluestars, goldenrods, asters, boltonia, or wild ageratum, as these flowers will cover up the base of silky wild rye and complement the still-­beautiful seed heads. If the leaves don’t go dormant until frost, cut them back then to make way for fresh, new foliage. I often use the long stems bearing the seed heads to make dried arrangements for the house. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES

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261. Latin Name Glyceria striata Common Name Fowl mannagrass Usual Height 2 to 3 feet, can reach 6 feet Spacing 2 to 3 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny florets on airy, arching panicles 8 to 12 inches long by 5 inches wide, early summer Fruit Tiny seeds, chartreuse, ripening to rosy purple Leaves Light green, like stiff, shiny ribbon 12 inches long Native Range Deciduous woodlands and wetlands, coast to coast in North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Acid to alkaline, rich Drainage Moist to wet, well aerated Root System Clump-­forming, might colonize from short rhizomes Companion Plants Sedges and marsh flowers to cucumber magnolia Propagation Seed, division while dormant Wildlife Despite its name, not an important food source for wild fowl In standing water, fowl mannagrass grows in full sun. In your flower garden, and it is well-­behaved enough to be in a flower garden, it will be grateful for a half day of shade. I find this an elegant grass. Its blooms and seed heads are airy and delicate, perfect for tying together a number of bold, colorful summer flowers like seashore mallow and redroot, or cattail gayfeather and cardinal flower. It can also provide a tall, exquisitely textured backdrop as contrast for a tableau of regal fern and cinnamon fern in a groundcover of netted chain fern.

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262. Latin Name Muhlenbergia capillaris (includes M. expansa and M. filipes) Common Name Pink muhly, hairgrass Usual Height 1½ to 3 feet, can reach 4 feet Spacing 2 feet for a mass planting, 4 feet for a specimen; ½ to 2 pounds pure live seed per 1000 square feet Sun or Shade Bloom 8- to 20-inch filmy cluster of delicate pink flowers, early fall Fruit Purplish, tiny, following flowers Leaves 16 inches long, narrow, rolled lengthwise into an upright, wiry leaf, almost evergreen Native Range Longleaf pine savannahs, sandhills, upland pine woods, bogs, coastal swales, eastern half of North America, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Acid to alkaline, rich OK, poor OK, sand or clay OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Dry: prairie phlox, eryngo, silkgrass, wiregrass, little bluestem; Moist to wet: Stokes’ aster, redroot, pineland hibiscus, boltonia, brushy bluestem Propagation Seed Wildlife Wind-­pollinated; seeds eaten by songbirds and small mammals In its native habitats, pink muhly is a knockout along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Beautiful and easy to grow, it prefers a moist environment and loam, but it can tolerate short periods of wet or drought. Use it in a sunny flower garden, and be sure to place it where it will be backlit by the sun, because that’s how it shows off its rich pink color. If you have the room, plant it in masses, again backlit, and you’ll have a field of pink mist for about ten days every autumn. Some nurseries recognize M. filipes as taller and more purple with a later bloom time, and call it purple muhly or gulf hairawn muhly. Given that the botanists have decided on one species, I’d think of these selections as cultivars. A study in Florida shows that an early spring burn, as opposed to a trim, increases flowering stalks.

263. Latin Name Panicum virgatum Common Name Switchgrass Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, occasionally 7 feet Spacing 4 feet; ½ to 2 pounds pure live seed per 1000 square feet Sun or Shade Bloom 4- to 16-inch cluster, greenish, lacy, midsummer to fall Fruit 4- to 16-inch cluster, grayish, fall and winter Leaves Pale bluish green in summer, rich gold (or red) in fall, tan and dormant in winter Native Range Savannahs, fresh and brackish marshes, dunes, North America except the Pacific coast states, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, clay OK, saline OK, sand OK, rich OK Drainage Moist, tolerates seasonal flooding Root System Clump-­forming, also colonizes by rhizomes Companion Plants Woolgrass, salt cordgrass, pink muhly, spikerush, whitetop sedge, wiregrass, Indiangrass, sugarcane plumegrass, bentawn plumegrass, seashore mallow, redroot, cattail gayfeather, wild ageratum, New York aster Propagation Seed, root division while in active growth Wildlife Seeds eaten by songbirds, rails, teal, and geese; nesting for indigo buntings Switchgrass is ideal for the typically overwatered home flower garden, because it usually doesn’t get top-­heavy and require staking. As with all native species that cover a wide range, there are many varieties to choose from, and for a flower garden, you’d want a cultivar that is known for its good behavior. ‘Alamo,’ for example, is a thug. Switchgrass is very effective when it is planted in masses on large properties. Even its dried winter foliage and bare flower clusters are remarkably delicate and attractive. These can be left until early spring, when the fastidious gardener will want to cut down the old foliage to make way for clean, fresh growth.

264. Latin Name Rhynchospora colorata (formerly Dichromena colorata) Common Name Whitetop sedge, starrush Usual Height 6 to 12 inches, rarely to 2 feet Spacing 1 foot for fast cover Sun or Shade Bloom White (actually the white tops of the leaves around the flowers are the showy part), late spring to fall Fruit Nutlets in late summer or fall Leaves Narrow, glossy, in a grassy rosette, dormant in winter Native Range Savannahs, bogs, coastal swales, eastern North America, Coastal Plain from Virginia to Texas, Zones 7 to 10 Soil Very acid to acid OK, lime OK, saline OK Drainage Wet to moist Root System Colonizes by rhizomes Companion Plants Copper iris, hibiscus, seashore mallow, redroot, pine lily, Barbara’s buttons, wiregrass, spikerush, sugarcane plumegrass Propagation Root division Wildlife Flowers pollinated by bees Related Species R. latifolia, tall whitetop sedge, colorful rush, Zones 7 to 10 The flowers of whitetop sedge are little tufts in the center of long, drooping bracts. One third of each bract around the flower is white, while the lower portion is green. From a distance, a colony of whitetop sedge looks like a cluster of white stars set atop delicate, slender stems. Alone or combined with spikerush, it makes an appealing groundcover for sunny, wet to moist situations—for example, that poorly drained corner of your lawn, the ditch by the road in front of your home, or the banks of a pond. Tall whitetop sedge is found more often in cypress swamps or in creek swamps, and it grows a foot taller than whitetop. Sedges are aggressive. Both of these sedges can be grown in pots in a water garden, the roots 1 to 3 inches below the surface of the water. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES

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265. Latin Name Saccharum giganteum (formerly Erianthus giganteus) Common Name Sugarcane plumegrass Usual Height 5 to 6 feet, occasionally 13 feet Spacing 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 6- to 16-inch plume, rose to copper, early fall Fruit Plume fades to peach and silver within a week of blooming Leaves 20 inches long, narrow at the base and up the stalk, dormant in winter Native Range Savannahs, marshes, coastal swales, southeastern half of North America, Zones 6 to 10 Soil Very acid to acid, poor or rich Drainage Moist Root System Clump-­forming, but might colonize Companion Plants Spikerush, hibiscus, swamp sunflower, wild ageratum, switchgrass Propagation Seed, root division while dormant Wildlife Seeds sometimes eaten by songbirds Related Species Saccharum brevibarbe var. contortum, bentawn plumegrass, Zones 6 to 9 Sugarcane plumegrass blooms with as much color as Joepyeweed. Especially when backlit. The blooms are first red-­coral. They gradually fade to pink or apricot, and end up silvery with seed, giving several weeks of pleasure. Although this is a marsh grass, it does quite well in moist flower gardens. It always blooms in sync with swamp sunflower and wild ageratum, and often at the same time as Joepyeweed, cutleaf rudbeckia, New York aster, and cardinal flower. Besides using it in a flower garden, you can place it on a sunny edge of a pond, in a large bog garden, or in a semiwild swale. This is the American version of the Italian plumegrass, E. ravennae. Bentawn plumegrass, another native American plumegrass with good garden qualities, has white to pink, candle-­shaped plumes, purplish stems, and bronzy fall coloring.

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266. Latin Name Schizachyrium scoparium Common Name Little bluestem Usual Height 2 feet, can reach 4 feet Spacing 1 to 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Tan to reddish spikelets, wind-­pollinated Fruit White, fluffy, showy, fall, holds into winter Leaves Blue-­green, fall color orange-­red to copper Native Range Tallgrass, midgrass, and shortgrass prairies, post oak and black oak savannahs, eastern two thirds of North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Any Drainage Moist to dry, well drained Root System Clumping, short rhizomes, varieties along the Gulf coast might colonize Companion Plants Threadleaf bluestar, Texas bluestar, thimbleweed, butterflyweed, blue false indigo, lanceleaf coreopsis, purple coneflower, beebalm, sundrops, downy phlox, spiked gayfeather, orange rudbeckia, goldenrods, asters, switchgrass, Indiangrass Propagation Seed, root division in winter Wildlife Larval for skippers; seeds eaten by native sparrows, slate-­colored junco, and other small songbirds Little bluestem is vital for erosion control and prairie restoration, especially on clay and limestone. It replaces wiregrass in longleaf pine habitats from Mississippi westward. The companion plants listed above are a recipe for a little bluestem prairie—or for a drought-­tolerant flower garden. In the garden, little bluestem is extremely tidy, seldom needing more than a square foot of space. Its verdigris blue-­green stems and leaves are beautiful from midspring to midfall, when they turn the color of polished copper, sometimes even redder, adorned with silvery-­white fluffs of seed that are magnificent backlit. This display lasts all through the winter, when you’ll want to cut it down in time for new spring growth.

Stephanie Brundage

267. Latin Name Scirpus cyperinus Common Name Woolgrass, marsh bulrush, teddybear paws Usual Height 3 feet, occasionally 5 feet Spacing 2 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 6- to 12-inch cluster, red-­brown, woolly, mid to late summer Fruit Yellow-­brown shortly after blooming Leaves 2-foot-­tall grassy clump, dormant in winter Native Range Freshwater swamps, marshes, wet meadows, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 9 Soil Very acid to neutral, rich OK Drainage Wet to moist Root System Clump-­forming, can colonize by rhizomes Companion Plants Sugarcane plumegrass, spikerush, pickerelweed, swamp sunflower Propagation Root division Wildlife Seeds eaten by ducks and other marsh birds; roots and underwater stems eaten by muskrats and geese; nesting cover for marsh wrens and blackbirds Contrary to what you might assume from reading its range of native habitats, woolgrass is not limited to soggy areas or standing water. It can easily be grown in normally moist flower gardens. The brown flowers are unusual but extremely appealing. They are normally evident in late July, at the height of summer’s heat, when any fresh blooms are very welcome. Woolgrass can be effectively grouped with flowers that bloom about the same time and also like moist conditions. Orange coneflower, Barbara’s buttons, cardinal flower, pineland hibiscus, and Joepyeweed are some of the best. For those of you interested in marsh restoration or erosion control by streams or ponds, woolgrass planted in a mass is both useful and attractive.

268. Latin Name Sorghastrum nutans Common Name Indiangrass, wood grass Usual Height 4 to 5 feet, occasionally 8 feet Spacing 3 to 5 feet, ½ to 2 pounds pure live seed per 1000 square feet Sun or Shade Bloom Bright gold, in clusters 4 to 11 inches long, late summer to early fall, showy for about two weeks Fruit Tawny, seeds ripe midfall, but attractive into winter Leaves Mostly in grassy clump 18 inches tall, pale green to powder blue in summer, orange in fall Native Range Sandhills, dry banks, ditches, meadows, longleaf pine savannahs, post oak or black oak savannahs, eastern two thirds of North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred, clay or sand OK Drainage Moist to dry, tolerates short, seasonal flooding Root System Clump-­forming Companion Plants Beebalm, coneflowers, rudbeckias, aromatic aster, bluestem goldenrod, bluestems, switchgrass, wiregrass, pink muhly Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Flowers visited by bees; seeds eaten by birds; foliage a favorite with grazing animals It’s impossible to single out just one reason why everyone falls in love with Indiangrass. Partly it’s because of its large size and soaring bloom stalks. Then there are the flowers—lustrous, bright, and beautiful, even at a distance. But they’re even better up close, where you get to savor the combined yellow and dark red of each individual bloom. And then there are the leaves. They have a satisfying crispness of texture and a clarity of color—bright blue-­green in summer and shades of pumpkin in autumn. Use this grass in any sunny flower bed, or mass it in a prairie area where you would like to mow (or burn) only once a year. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND SEDGES

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269. Latin Name Spartina alterniflora Common Name Salt cordgrass, saltmarsh cordgrass, smooth cordgrass Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, occasionally 8 feet, 18 inches where very salty Spacing 10 feet Sun or Shade Bloom 4- to 12-inch spike of fringelike flowers, late summer to fall Fruit Seed ripe shortly after flowering Leaves Narrow, silvery on underside Native Range Coastal marsh, live oak beach, coastal from Newfoundland to Texas, also South America, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Sandy, brackish to very salty Drainage Wet to moist Root System Colonizes by rhizomes, very deep Companion Plants Yaupon holly, wax myrtle, sand live oak, winged sumac, eastern red cedar, seashore mallow, yucca, curly clematis, cattail gayfeather, goldenrod, broomsedge Propagation Root division Wildlife Roots eaten by geese in winter; seeds eaten by black duck, clapper rail, Virginia rail, sora, seaside sparrow, sharp-­tailed sparrow; browsed by muskrat and white-­tailed deer; decayed plant parts eaten by small estuarine animals Salt cordgrass is the primary grass along the seashore. The constant sea breezes bend its grass blades over, revealing pretty silver-­white undersides. Where salt cordgrass is established, it makes a solid mat. If you live on the coast, this grass is an important component of the wet sea marsh or a drier beach habitat, and it is invaluable for erosion control and shore wildlife.

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270. Latin Name Tripsacum dactyloides Common Name Eastern gamagrass Usual Height 2 to 6 feet, can reach 10 feet Spacing 5 feet; ½ to 2 pounds pure live seed per 1000 square feet Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny purple (female) and orange (male) flowers along a spike, spring or summer Fruit 4- to 12-inch spike of hard corn kernels, summer or fall Leaves Dark green with a white midvein, 2.5 feet long, 1.5 inches across, sharp-­edged, fall color, dormant at frost Native Range Tallgrass prairies and savannahs, southeastern and south central North America to the tropics, Zones 6 to 10 Soil Any, rich preferred Drainage Moist to wet, seasonal poor drainage OK Root System Deep, robust, dense clumps, rhizomes, colonizes Companion Plants Joepyeweed, cutleaf rudbeckia Propagation Seed (difficult), root division in winter while dormant Wildlife Wind-­pollinated; larval for skippers Eastern gamagrass might once have been native only to the southern tallgrass prairies, but Native Americans grew this relative of corn everywhere they could. People still roast the seeds and make popcorn. I would consider its roots too macho for a flower garden, but maybe someone will prove me wrong on that. One cultivar has cinnamon winter color, but essentially this grass is being bred for agricultural purposes.

14 WATER PLANTS

T

he water plants in this chapter are those with the biggest flowers, or those that are best behaved and therefore the most suitable for a small water garden. None are truly floating; all must be rooted in sand or mud in shallow water. Only two water plants in this chapter—spatterdock and fragrant water lily—have stems that must be supported by at least a foot or two of water at all times. Their leaves and flowers either float on the water or

stand barely above it, so that the overall feel is horizontal. Other native water plants that fall into this category but are not included are the tall yellow American lotus (Nelumbo lutea), the minute white floating heart (Nymphoides cordata and N. aquatica), mosquito fern (Azolla caroliniana, the tiny floating fern that can turn a cypress swamp as green as a lawn), plus many more, such as frogbit (Limnobium spongia), water­shield (Brasenia schreberi), and my

As for as I know, only one water plant—horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)—is evergreen, and I didn’t include it because it is so aggressive that it can climb right out of a pond and take off across the rest of the yard. Horsetail is also sometimes called “scouring rush” because it has silica in its stiff stems. For some strange reason, rabbits love to browse it. Although it can be a nightmare in a natural pond (without a rabbit to curtail it), put it in a pot in a formal well-­contained water garden, and it can be a real pleasure. This elegant water feature in the Logan Young garden in Memphis, Tennessee, shows it put to good use. The horsetail is the upright plant just by the fountain girl’s right knee. This garden was designed by Greg Touliatos, who has also used pots of native tuckahoe, thalia, great bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani), golden canna, iris, and a cyperus from Madagascar.

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favorite, the carnivorous floating bladderwort (Utricularia spp.), which requires very acid water. The other water plants in this chapter have self-­ supporting stems and do not need to be actually in the water, as long as the soil is wet and boggy but filled with oxygen. They grow vertically in very shallow water, such as is found on the edges of a body of water, or they can grow in ground that is just kept moist to wet at all times. In fact, many of these

A tiny water garden, the size of a child’s wading pool, at Flower Place Farm in Meridian, Mississippi, provides summer color and fresh water for visiting and resident birds. Pickerelweed sits in a pot in the pond, while titi hugs the edge where overflow makes a damp spot. An infant butterflyweed (foreground) is part of the adjacent flower garden that is watered, but never wet.

water plants can be grown in a very moist flower garden, and a few of the flower garden plants can be grown in a bog or in shallow water. As a general rule, in standing water, these plants can enjoy full sun, but if you move them into a moist garden, give them more shade. A pond garden, because it is small and shallow, is easily overgrown by water plants—all

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of which are aggressive. These plants shade the water and help keep it the right temperature for fish, but a pond that is so completely covered by vegetation that no water is showing is not attractive. If you have an earth-­bottomed pond, plan to weed once a year. If you have an artificial pond with liner only—18 to 24 inches deep— place the plants in pots to keep

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

them under control. Use very dark containers that will be invisible underwater. Fill them with heavy topsoil topped with a quarter inch of gravel. Don’t use potting soil; it’s too light and will float away. Submerge the tub about 18 to 24 inches deep to keep the roots cool in the summer and unfrozen in the winter. If you want a natural, self-­ supporting pond garden that keeps the water clean nature’s way, you will also need underwater plants, pond water rich in microorganisms, tadpoles, snails, and fish to keep oxygen circulating and mosquitoes under control. If you have to fill your pond with tap water, let the chlorine evaporate before adding plants and animals. You want the water to be murky, not crystal dear. Those with an underground spring or who live on heavy clay can have a natural pond that completely imitates a natural habitat. If you think a pond is too much work but you are enamored with bog plants, you can easily have a bog garden. Unless the place where you want this bog garden is already low and wet all the time, you’ll need to dig a swale or a sunken area— about 4 to 6 inches deep. And make sure the bottom is firm. Then plant your bog plants in the design you want, putting highly aggressive ones in solid containers. Mulch the whole area up almost to normal ground level. Then, very slowly, so the mulch won’t float out, let the hose trickle into your bog garden until it is thoroughly soggy. Repeat once a week or as needed, so that it never quite

This lovely pond, at the H. L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants at Duke University, and designed by curator Ed Steffek, is fed by two springs. In early June, it is brightened by the blooms of fragrant water lily and lizard’s tail. Water plants that bloomed earlier or will flower later are powdery thalia on the right, narrowleaf cattail and iris in front, and tuckahoe to the left of the stepping stones. Out of the water are purple coneflowers in the foreground and, as a backdrop, an oakleaf hydrangea and a portion of woodland.

completely dries out and fresh oxygen has a chance to get into the mulch. Many of the flowers in the flower garden chapter, such as redroot, swamp sunflower, and hibiscus, and many

of the grasses, such as spikerush and sugarcane plumegrass, can be included in a bog garden. Water plants are dormant in winter. The roots are usually safe from being frozen when buried

in the mud of an earthen pond, but are vulnerable in pots if you get weather that is so cold the whole pond might freeze. Lots of oxygen in the soil and water seems to protect the plants. WATER PLANTS

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Alan Cressler

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271. Latin Name Canna flaccida Common Name Golden canna, yellow canna Usual Height 3 to 4 feet, can reach 6 feet Spacing 4 feet Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 3 inches long, showy, lightly fragrant, open at night, June to October Fruit Large, rough capsules, each containing three dark seeds, October Leaves Blue-­green, smooth, firm, up to 2 feet long and 6 inches wide, upright in a spiral around the stem Native Range Rare, edges of marshes, ponds, lakes, wet pine flatwoods, Virginia to Louisiana, Zones 8 to 10 Soil Acid to neutral, rich, sand OK, clay OK, not salt-­tolerant Drainage Shallow water up to 6 inches deep, or wet pond margins Root System Rhizomatous, will colonize Companion Plants Carolina spider lily, pickerelweed, powdery thalia Propagation Seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by bees, moths, bats, butterflies, and hummingbirds; provides shelter for the metamorphosis of dragonflies; larval for skippers

272. Latin Name Hydrolea ovata Common Name Blue waterleaf, blue false fiddleleaf Usual Height 1½ to 2 feet, can reach 3 feet Spacing 1 foot Sun or Shade Bloom Royal blue (white), 1 to 1½ inches across, clustered in short coils at the top of the plant, all summer into October Fruit Brown, ½ inch, fat, fuzzy Leaves Ovate, bright green, fuzzy, 1 to 2½ inches long, each with a flexible spine at its base, dormant in winter Native Range Edges of swamps, ponds, and streams, Georgia to Texas north to Illinois, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Very acid, acid, sand OK, clay OK Drainage Shallow water up to 6 inches deep, or wet pond margins Root System Rhizomatous, can colonize Companion Plants Golden canna, Texas spider lily, golden club, tuckahoe, spoonflower, pickerelweed, lizard’s tail, big blue lobelia Propagation Fresh seed, root division Wildlife Pollinated by metallic green bees; seeds eaten by birds

Golden canna is the pond flower you want for a dinner garden party, because it is the one that blossoms at night, and its large yellow flowers show up well by moon- and candlelight. It is also fragrant, and probably more so at night when it needs to attract its pollinators. In a small pond, plant the rhizomes in a large, shallow tub. For a larger pond, let them colonize to make a gorgeous fringe along the edge. The width of the fringe will depend on how steeply your pond slopes to the middle, as golden canna likes very shallow water. This canna is the parent of many hybrid garden cannas. Discovered by the plant explorer William Bartram in coastal Georgia, golden canna was introduced to England in 1788, and is now naturalized from the Philippines to India to Brazil.

Blue waterleaf is famous for its color. It’s that incredibly exciting blue of blue morning glories that is so hard to find in the plant world and so difficult to photograph without its looking lavender. Not only are the petals that blue, the stamens are also. The flowers open in the morning and close by dusk. The spines look fierce but are actually soft to the touch. Or maybe they are fierce to a beaver’s mouth, because our blue waterleaf survived a dozen beaver that ate every one of our buttonbushes, sweetgums, and maples. Our blue waterleaf seemed to prefer about an inch of water and lived more than thirty years in a small tidy clump, but yours might form a good-­sized colony. Some have had success with it in a very moist flower garden.

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH

273. Latin Name Hymenocallis occidentalis var. occidentalis (also called H. caroliniana) Common Name Carolina spider lily Usual Height 1.5 to 2 feet above water, can reach 4 feet Spacing 1 to 3 feet apart or one per 20- to 30-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom White, 4 to 7 inches across, two to ten flowers per head, fragrant, March to November, but most likely in summer Fruit Green, fleshy seeds Leaves 2 feet long, 2 inches wide, upright from base, glossy, dormant in winter Native Range Swamps, bogs, floodplains, southeastern U.S., Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, sand or clay OK, rich preferred Drainage Shallow fresh water, 0 to 2 feet deep Root System 4- to 5-inch bulb, clump-­forming, plant bulbs with 4 inches of soil above them Companion Plants Copper and other swamp iris, yellowtop, crinum lily, Texas star hibiscus, golden canna, pickerelweed, tuckahoe, powdery thalia, lizard’s tail, spikerush, whitetop sedge Propagation Division of bulblets, seed Wildlife Flowers visited by hummingbirds, swallowtails, and moths Related Species H. liriosme, Texas spider lily, west of the Mississippi River, Zones 7 to 9 Carolina spider lily’s aroma is sweet with the wonderfully rich undertones found in expensive perfumes. Its huge flowers make it a standout member of a water garden community, where I saw it blooming at the same time as Louisiana iris and the yellow and Piedmont azaleas. It can also be grown in a consistently moist flower garden. As with most bulbs, Carolina spider lily is extremely long-­lived. Texas spider lily, also intensely fragrant, blooms extremely early in the spring and its leaves are longer and narrower. It has only two to three blooms per stalk.

274. Latin Name Nuphar lutea (previously N. luteum; N. advena preferred by some botanists) Common Name Spatterdock, yellow pond lily Usual Height 4 to 6 inches above the water Spacing One per 6 to 25 square feet, 20- to 30-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom Yellow, 1 to 3 inches across, on stalks that are 2 to 4 inches above water, early spring to late fall Fruit Green, oval, fleshy, 1 to 2 inches long, underwater, fall Leaves Heart-­shaped, 9 to 16 inches long, wavy edges, usually floating, dormant in winter Native Range Freshwater or tidal sloughs, stream or river edges, ponds, cypress swamps, springs, eastern half of North America, Zones 4 to 11 Soil Underwater mud, acid, lime OK, rich OK, saline OK Drainage Shallow water, preferably barely moving, 1 to 5 feet deep Root System Large rhizomes, colonizes Companion Plants Fragrant water lily, submerged aquatics and other floating flowers Propagation Root division Wildlife Pollinated by the water lily halictid bee, a syrphid fly, and beetles; seeds eaten by ducks, cranes, and Virginia rail; rhizomes eaten by beaver, muskrat, and various turtles The photo shows spatterdock in an earthen pond at the Tawes Garden in Annapolis, Maryland. It was growing at the edges, where the water was about 6 inches deep, and out into the middle, where it looked to be about 4 feet deep. The yellow flowers bloom whenever the water is warm enough. Spatterdock’s roots are husky and like plenty of room. It’s important that any leaves on the newly planted spatterdock not be below water level. You can control this by placing bricks under the tub to keep the leaves at or just above water line. As the plant grows, remove bricks until the tub is at the proper level. WATER PLANTS

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275. Latin Name Nymphaea odorata Common Name Fragrant water lily Usual Height Leaves floating on water, flowers 0 to 6 inches above water Spacing One per 6 to 25 square feet of water, 30-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom White (pink), 4 to 7 inches across, golden centers, fragrant Fruit Green, fleshy flattened, underwater Leaves Round pads, 3 to 10 inches in diameter, with a pie-­slice cut out where the stem attaches, purple beneath, dormant in winter Native Range Freshwater ponds, marshes, swamps, eastern half North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Underwater mud, acid, lime OK Drainage Shallow water, preferably barely moving Root System Large rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Spatterdock, water shield, submerged aquatics and other floating flowers Propagation Root division Wildlife Pollinated by native bees, including three species that specialize in water lilies; seeds, roots, and vegetation eaten by sandhill crane, ducks, muskrat, porcupine, beaver, and turtles Related Species N. mexicana, yellow water lily, Zones 8 to 10; N. elegans, blue water lily or everglades water lily, Zones 8 to 10 Fragrant water lily is the most cold-­hardy of our native water lilies and the only one that produces a sweet scent. If its predators are not present, it is capable of covering the surface of a good-­sized pond. Restrain it by planting it in a tub. Make sure the top of the lily’s root (the crown) is at the top of the soil. Without a tub, you can wade into your pond each summer and weed away. Yellow water lily has yellow, 2- to 4-inch blooms, vertical rhizomes, and banana-­shaped tubers on its fleshy stem. Blue water lily has 5-inch flowers, pale blue to lavender. All the water lilies open in the morning and close up by dusk. Each bloom opens for three mornings.

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276. Latin Name Orontium aquaticum Common Name Golden club, neverwet Usual Height 9 to 12 inches above water, 1 to 2 feet on land Spacing 1 to 3 feet apart or one per 10- to 20-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom Tiny, in the yellow tips of the 12-inch-­ long white-­and-­red stems, early to midspring Fruit Green Leaves Pale green, sometimes floating, briefly dormant after a frost Native Range Shallow streams, ponds, bogs, swamps, eastern U.S. to Appalachians, Zones 5 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, rich preferred Drainage Shallow fresh, moving water, 1 to 12 inches deep Root System Rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Copper and other swamp iris, spider lily, fragrant water lily, spatterdock, pickerelweed, crinum lily, tuckahoe, lizard’s tail Propagation Seed (self-­sows), root division Wildlife Probably pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles; visited by dragonflies Golden club has beautiful leaves—fresh, smooth, and sometimes bluish—with a slightly pleated look. The flowers are unusual, not unlike colorful rat’s tails. But, don’t let that put you off; they’re really very entertaining, and, amazingly, they hold their own with iris and spider lily, both of which bloom at the same time. Golden club is not for the bog garden. It needs gently flowing, oxygen-­rich water. If a pond is too sluggish, this plant will pull itself up on the bank. Keep it happy in a pool with a recirculating pump, in the flow of a seep (where it will seed out downhill), or in the protected eddy of a backyard stream that isn’t too shady. It looks its best with a little sun.

277. Latin Name Peltandra virginica Common Name Tuckahoe, green arum Usual Height 1 to 2 feet Spacing 2 feet apart or one per 20-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom Greenish yellow, like an upright furled leaf, late spring Fruit Greenish bronze, fleshy, early summer Leaves Glossy, arrowhead-­shaped, toxic, dormant in winter Native Range Swamps, flooded woodlands, bogs, marshes, edges of water, eastern North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Very acid or acid Drainage Shallow, fresh water, 0 to 12 inches deep Root System Almost tuberous, clump-­forming Companion Plants Golden club, crinum lily, lizard’s tail, cardinal flower, rose mallow, halberdleafhibiscus Propagation Root cuttings, seed Wildlife Pollinated by chloropid fly; berries eaten by wood duck, mallard, king rail, and migratory birds Related Species P. sagittifolia, spoonflower, white arum, Zones 8 to 9 Tuckahoe is one of those quiet, understated, dependable plants that binds a garden together. It can be used in a semishaded bog garden or in about 6 inches of water. It’s never aggressive, a rare trait among water plants. Use it for texture to fill space where you want to spotlight something taller, such as itea or cardinal flower. Or plant tuckahoe as a thick, irregular border, both on land and in the water, to create a more natural look along the edges of an artificial pool. Spoonflower has a white, spoon-­ shaped shield behind its yellow wand of flowers, making it more ornamental than tuckahoe. It grows in pineland bogs and pond cypress swamps in the Coastal Plain from Virginia to Louisiana. It is rare both in the wild and in the nursery trade.

278. Latin Name Pontederia cordata (also sold as P. lanceolata) Common Name Pickerelweed, pickerel rush Usual Height 2 to 4 feet above water (or mud) Spacing 2 feet apart or one per 20- to 30-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom Purply blue (white), 6-inch spikes, each spike blooms about a week, with new spikes appearing almost continuously from late spring to early fall Fruit Red, sticky, summer to fall Leaves 3 to 7 inches long, smooth, dormant in winter Native Range Sunny edges of fresh water, eastern half of North America, Zones 3 to 10 Soil Acid, lime OK, sand or clay OK Drainage Shallow, fresh water, 0 to 12 inches deep Root System Clump-­forming, short rhizome, can colonize Companion Plants Spider lily, golden canna, blue waterleaf, spatterdock, fragrant water lily, lizard’s tail, powdery thalia, redroot, spikerush, switchgrass Propagation Root division, even while in bloom Wildlife Pollinated by bumblebees and sulphur butterflies; important to dragonflies; seeds eaten by black duck, mottled duck, mallard, green-­winged teal, wood duck, and geese I’m especially enthusiastic about pickerelweed, the South’s most rewarding water plant. It blooms continuously all summer and seems to be constantly covered with dragonflies. It can be planted in a bog, in the soft mud of an earthern pond, or in a large container set into a concrete or plastic-­lined pool. Easy to establish, it forms a clump that grows bigger each year but is not considered aggressive. Pickerelweed’s erect stance makes it a fine vertical accent at the side of fragrant water lily or spatterdock. WATER PLANTS

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279. Latin Name Saururus cernuus Common Name Lizard’s tail, water dragon Usual Height 18 inches, occasionally 3 feet Spacing 2 feet or one per 20- to 30-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom White, tiny on 8-inch curving spikes that bloom from the bottom up, slightly fragrant, mostly in early summer Fruit Ripe in summer on upright spikes Leaves Thick, smooth, 6 inches long, heart-­ shaped, dormant in winter Native Range Marshes, acid swamps, floodplains, shallow water, eastern half of U.S., Zones 4 to 10 Soil Very acid, acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Shallow, fresh water, 0 to 6 inches deep Root System Fleshy rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Crinum lily, netted chain fern, cinnamon fern, sensitive fern, tuckahoe Propagation Root division, seed Wildlife Pollinated by bees; depends on beaver ponds for increased habitats; valuable to wood ducks; deer-­resistant The first thing that will attract you to this native is its endearingly funny, fuzzy, tail-­like flowers. But lizard’s tail has practical virtues, too—it blooms profusely in the shade. (Crinum lily is the only other water plant that flowers so well without direct sunlight.) Lizard’s tail, like pickerelweed, is very easy to grow. If you put a wisp of one in a 5-gallon container, it will be ready for division by the third year. It thrives only on the edges of very shallow water, never venturing out where it is deep and sunny. On shore, lizard’s tail makes a wonderful groundcover, getting thin only where the soil is not moist all year, or where shade becomes very dense, or where it is outcompeted by ferns. Lizard’s tail is quite shallow-­rooted, and can even be found growing on old logs and floating islands of matted vegetation.

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280. Latin Name Thalia dealbata Common Name Powdery thalia, water canna Usual Height 6 to 8 feet in flower, 3- to 4-foot foliage Spacing 3 to 5 feet apart or one per 30-quart container Sun or Shade Bloom Rosy purple with a powdery white bloom, 4- to 6-inch spikes, early summer to midfall Fruit Seeds ripe in fall Leaves 12 to 20 inches long, canna-­shaped, pale, heavy, smooth, dormant in winter Native Range Cypress swamps, marshes, ditches, rare in Coastal Plain from South Carolina to Texas, north to Illinois, Zones 6 to 9 Soil Acid, lime OK, rich preferred Drainage Shallow fresh water, 0 to 12 inches deep Root System Rhizome, colonizes Companion Plants Golden canna, spider lily, fragrant water lily, spatterdock, pickerelweed, swamp sunflower, sugarcane plumegrass, brushy bluestem Propagation Root division, seed (self-­sows) Wildlife Pollinated by carpenter bees, bumblebees, large butterflies, and hummingbirds; important to dragonflies; seeds eaten by mallard, lesser scaup I think of powdery thalia as the queen of water plants. It is both bold and elegant. It gives you height and a focal point with grace and color. In a large earthern pond, it can be massed with a sweep of iris or pickerelweed at its feet and water lilies out in the deeper parts. In a more formal garden, one powdery thalia in a large container makes a striking accent. Its large, pale leaves are clustered in a rather horizontal arrangement about 3 feet wide and tall. These leaves are topped by a 3-foot-­ by-5-foot vase-­shaped fan of bare stems, at the ends of which are strangely clustered showy purple flowers that face out like the heads of exotic birds. Enchanting!

RESOURCES

Conferences Cullowhee Conference There are many local annual meetings and events, but the Cullowhee Conference is the big annual conference for the whole South. Everyone is welcome. Every summer it features programs on landscaping with native plants and includes field trips into beautiful natural areas. It is put on by Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. For information, go to www​.wcu​.edu. Great Smokies Wildflower Pilgrimage For a week from mid to late April every year, botanists and naturalists lead a number of hikes near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to see the spectacular ephemerals and gorgeous scenery of the Appalachian Mountains. See www​.wildflower​ pilgrimage​.org. National and Multistate Organizations Brooklyn Botanic Garden 990 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 718-623-7200 www​.bbg​.org Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 4801 La Crosse Avenue Austin, TX 78739 512-232-0100 www​.wildflower​.org

For their directory of information on native plant societies, conservation groups, governmental agencies, botanical gardens, arboreta, and other plant organizations across the United States, go to www​.wildflower​ .org/organizations. For lists of of plants by state, or for wetlands or dry shade, go to www​ .wildflower​.org/collections. For pictures of individual plants, go to www​.wildflower​.org/plants. New England Botanical Club Gray Herbarium Cambridge, MA www​.rhodora​.org New England Wild Flower Society www​.newenglandwild​.org North American Native Plant Society Ontario, Canada www​.nanps​.org Blazing Star, a quarterly magazine devoted to native plants Southern Appalachian Botanical Society www​.sabs​.us West Virginia University Castanea, a quarterly journal of botanical research on eastern U.S. plants Chinquapin, a newsletter to members Annual April conference with the Association of Southeastern Biologists and the Society of Herbarium Curators

215

Supports the Great Smokies Wildflower Pilgrimage Southern Appalachian Plant Society www​.saps​.us Wild Ones Started in Wisconsin by Lorri Otto, it now has chapters in many other states, promoting ecologically sound native plant communities around homes and businesses. www​.wildones​.org State Organizations Contact these organizations for information about the best local native plant nurseries. Many of these societies hold plant sales, arrange plant rescues, and lead field trips into native habitats so you can see how the plants grow together naturally. Joining, or founding, a chapter in your area will provide you with a good way to meet like-­minded friends and contribute to the community. Alabama Alabama Wildflower Society www​.alwildflowers​.org Arkansas Arkansas Native Plant Society www​.anps​.org Delaware Delaware Native Plant Society www​.delawarenativeplants​.org

District of Columbia Botanical Society of Washington Smithsonian Institution www​.botsoc​.org Florida Florida Native Plant Society www​.fnps​.org

Pennsylvania Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve New Hope, PA www​.bhwp​.org

Georgia Georgia Botanical Society www​.gabotsoc​.org

Philadelphia Botanical Club Academy of Natural Sciences www​.philbotclub​.org

Georgia Native Plant Society www​.gnps​.org

Pennsylvania Native Plant Society www​.panativeplantsociety​.org

Kentucky Kentucky Native Plant Society www​.knps​.org Louisiana Louisiana Native Plant Society www​.lnps​.org Maryland Maryland Native Plant Society www​.mdflora​.org Mississippi Mississippi Native Plant Society www​.mississippinativeplant​ society​.org Missouri Missouri Native Plant Society monativeplantsociety​.org New Jersey Native Plant Society of New Jersey www​.npsnj​.org North Carolina North Carolina Native Plant Society www.NCWildflower​.org

216

Oklahoma Oklahoma Native Plant Society www​.oknativeplants​.org

RESOURCES

South Carolina South Carolina Native Plant Society www.SCNPS.org Tennessee Tennessee Native Plant Society www​.tnps​.org Texas Native Plant Society of Texas www​.npsot​.org Virginia Virginia Native Plant Society www​.vnps​.org West Virginia West Virginia Native Plant Society www​.wvnps​.org

How to Find Native Plants The best way to find the plant you are looking for is to type in the scientific name on the Internet and add the words “for sale” and hit “Search.” You will usually get several choices. Below are nurseries that are old, trusted purveyors of native plants. Most sell retail, wholesale, and mail order. For those that sell only wholesale, your local nursery can order for you. To access these nurseries’ websites, just type in their names. Garden Delights Nursery is wholesale only. They have native ferns and mosses as well as trees, shrubs, and perennials. 931-6924252 or 4837 IZEL, founded by Claudio Vazguez and Amanda McClean, is not a nursery. Its purpose is to “combine the inventories of several nurseries dedicated to responsible collection and propagation of native species.” 410-989-3721 New Moon Nursery, in New Jersey, is wholesale only. 888-998-1951 Plant Delights Nursery, in Raleigh, North Carolina, has a retail catalog and a website. 919-772-4794 Prairie Nursery, in Westfield, Wisconsin, has a retail catalog and website. 800-476-9453 Sunlight Gardens, in Tennessee, has a retail catalog and website and you can shop at their actual nursery at 174 Golden Lane, Andersonville, TN 37705. 865-494-8237 Woodlanders, in the sandy portion of South Carolina, has a retail catalog, website, and a nursery you can visit at 1128 Colleton Avenue, Aiken, SC 29801. 803-648-7522

BIBLIOGRAPH Y

Online Sources

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Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA). www​ .butterfliesandmoths​.org/. Carrington, Mary E., Troy D. Gottfried, and J. Jeffrey Mullahey. “Pollination Biology of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) in Southwestern Florida.” Palms, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2003. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.palms​.org/palmsjournal/​ 2003/serenoaFL.htm. Carson, Brendan, Marko Melymuka, John Bradtke, and Robyn J. Burnham. Aristolochiaceae. Accessed July 25, 2013. Aristolochia macrophylla— CLIMBERS—University of Michigan. climbers​.Isa​.umich​ .edu Chesapeake Bay Program. www​ .chesapeakebay​.net. Coombs, George. “The Compelling Case for Coreopsis.” Landscape Design, March 17, 2016. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.ecolandscaping​ .org/03/landscape-­design/ the-­compelling-­case-­for-­ coreopsis/. Darke, Rick. “Amsonia in Cultivation.” The Plantsman, June 2005, pp. 72-75. Accessed October 30, 2018. rickdarke​ .com/Amsonia​.pdf. Dodd & Dodd Nursery, Inc. “Plants by Botanical Name.” Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.doddnatives​.com/dndby​ botanical​.htm.

217

Dragonfly Aquatics. www​.dragonfly​ aquatics​.com. “Dwarf Larkspur.” In Defense of Plants blog. May 8, 2016, accessed October 30, 2018. www​.indefenseofplants​.com/ blog/2016/5/8/dwarf-­larkspur. Encyclopedia of Life. hierarchy​ _entries. eol​.org. Encyclopedia of Life. “Quercus geminata, Sand Live Oak.” Accessed October 30, 2018. http://eol​.org/pages/1151588/ details. Engstrom, Brett. “Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lanark) Trinius Hairgrass: Conservation and Research Plan for New England.” New England Wild Flower Society, May 2004. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.newenglandwild​.org/ docs/pdf/muhlenbergia​ capillaris​.pdf. Flora of North America. www​ .eFloras​.org. Florafinder. www​.florafinder​.org. Floridata. https://floridata​.com. Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc. https:// friends​ ofthewildflowergarden​.org. Gardening for Wildlife blog. www​ .gardening-­for-­wildlife​.com. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. https://georgiawild​ life​.com.

Gilman, Edward F., Carl J. Della Torre III, and Lyn A. Gettys. “Golden Canna: Canna flaccida.” University of Florida IFAS Extension, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2018. https://edis​.ifas​.ufl​.edu/fp102. Go Botany: New England Wild Flower Society. https://go​ botany​.newenglandwild​.org. Go Orchids: North American Orchid Conservation Center. https://northamericanorchid​ center​.org. Godfrey, M. “Alabama Snow Wreath.” Horticulture, the Art of Science and Smart Gardening, May 1, 2007. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.hortmag​.com/ plants/collectors-­choice/ alabama-­snow-­wreath. Harlow, Michaela Medina. “Summertime’s Sweet Carolina Lupine: Basking in Her Graceful, Golden Glow.” The Gardener’s Eden, June 25, 2013. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.thegardenerseden​ .com/?p=29904. Hawke, Richard G. “An Evaluation Report of Meadowrues.” Chicago Botanic Garden, Issue 28, 2007. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.chicagobotanic​.org/ downloads/planteval_notes/ no28_meadowrues​.pdf. Hill, Steven R. “Conservation Assessment for Hay-­Scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.) T. Moore.” INHS Center for Biodiversity Technical Report, January 13, 2003. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.ideals​.illinois​.edu/ handle/2142/10502.

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Hsu, Eric, Timothy Boland, and Koen Camelbeke. “Stewartia in Cultivation.” The Plantsman, June 2008, pp. 78-87. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​ .pollyhillarboretum​.org/wp​ -­content/uploads/2015/12/ StewartiasInCultivation​.pdf. Huegel, Craig N. Native Florida Wildflowers blog. hawthorn​ hillwildflowers​.blogspot​.com. Illinois Wildflowers. illinois​ wildflowers​.info. This site, managed by John Hilty, is fantastic for descriptions and faunal associations. Kansas Native Plants. Plant Guide. www​.kansasnativeplants​.com/ guide/index​.php. Kartesz, John. The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). www​.bonap​.org. Kentucky Native Plant and Wildlife: Plant of the Week: Bishop’s Cap (Mitella diphylla). Contributors: Blake Newton, Dro Thomas Barnes, and Renee Williams, March 10, 2014. kentuckynativeplant​ andwildlife​.blogspot​.com Klotz, Larry H. “On the Biology of Orontium aquaticum L. (Araceae), Golden Club or Floating Arum.” Aroideana, Vol. 15, 1992. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.aroid​ .org/gallery/gibernau/aroideana/​ 0150007.pdf. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. www​.wildflower​.org/. Martinez-­Suz, Laura and Martin I. Bidartondo, Mycorrhizas in forest monitoring, from Suz et al., 2015. www​.kew​.org.

Memphis Botanic Garden. www​ .memphisbotanicgarden​.com. Menges, Eric S. “Ceratiola ericoides.” Archibold Biological Station, May 2015. Archibold Biological Station > cererisppacc and Archibold Biological Station > emenges. Michigan State University. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, MSU Extension. https://mnfi​.anr​.msu​.edu/. Missouri Botanical Garden. Plant Finder. www​.missouribotanical​ garden​.org/plantfinder/plant​ findersearch​.aspx. The Morton Arboretum. Trees & Plants. www​.mortonarb​.org/ trees-­plants. Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas & Georgia. www​ .namethatplant​.net. New Moon Nursery. www​.new​ moon​nursery​.com. Nicholson, Mary E., and Richard G. Hawke. “Rudbeckias for Cultivated Landscapes.” Chicago Botanic Garden, Issue 8, 1995. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.chicagobotanic​.org/ downloads/planteval_notes/ no8_rudbeckia​.pdf. North Carolina Native Plant Society. NCWildflower​.org. Ozarkedge Wildflowers. ozarkedgewildflowers​.com. Plant Delights Nursery. www​.plant​ delights​.com.

The Pollinator Partnership/North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. “Selecting Plants for Pollinators.” Accessed October 30, 2018. www​ .pollinator​.org/PDFs/ CentralAppalachian​.rx4.pdf. Prairie Nursery. www​.prairienursery​ .com. Seivert, Dale. “A Tour of Moss Gardens in Japan and North America.” North American Japanese Garden Association, September 7, 2016. Accessed October 30, 2018. https://najga​ .org/a-­tour-­of-­moss-­gardens​ -­in-­japan-­and-­north-­america/. Solymosy, Sigmund L. “Notes on Rhododendron coryi.” Virginia Tech University Libraries. Accessed October 30, 2018. https://scholar​.lib​.vt​.edu/​e ​journals/JARS/v28n3/ v28n3-solymosy​.htm. Stroupe, Steve. “Spider Lilies Writ Large.” WGI Online Journal, Vol. 3, No. 4, November 2008. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.watergardeners​ ­international​.org/journal/3-4/ steve/page1.html. Sunlight Gardens. sunlightgardens​ .com. Surrency, Donald, and Charles M. Owsley. “Native Warm-­ Season Grasses: Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina.” USDA-­NRCS Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center, March 2006. Accessed October 30, 2018. www​.nrcs​.usda​.gov\ Internet\FSE_Documents\ nrcs144p2_021520.pdf.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. The PLANTS Database. https:// plants​.sc​.egov​.usda​.gov/about​ _plants​.html. U.S. Forest Service. https://www​.fs​ .fed​.us/. USWildflower​.com. Valleybrook International Ventures Inc. www​.perennials​.com. Van Mullekom, Kathy. “Meet the Bee That Helps Pollinate Native Wisteria . . . and a Suspect Groundcover.” EcoBlog, June 27, 2016. Accessed October 30, 2018. http://www​.dailypress​.com/ news/dp-­xpm-20140510​ -2014-05-10-dp-­fea-­diggin​ -0511-20140510-story​.html. Virginia Tech Dendrology Class. Syllabus. http://dendro​.cnre​ .vt​.edu/dendrology/syllabus/ syllabus​.htm. Voss, Donald H. “Rhododendron bakeri vs. R. cumberlandense revisited.” Virginia Tech University Libraries. Accessed October 30, 2018. https:// scholar​.lib​.vt​.edu/ejournals/ JARS/v57n3/v57n3-voss​.htm. Watauga County Beekeepers Association. North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. wataugabeekeepers​.org. The Water Garden. https://www​ .aquanooga​.com/default​.asp.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. “Habitat Management for Pollinators.” Accessed October 30, 2018. https:// waterlandlife​.org/wp-­content/ uploads/2018/02/Habitat​ -­Management-­for-­Pollinators​ .pdf. Wikipedia. www​.wikipedia​.org. Wildlife Gardeners. www​.wildlife​ gardeners​.org. Woodlanders Nursery. www ​.woodlanders​.net. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “Pollinator Conservation.” Accessed October 30, 2018. https://xerces​.org/ pollinator-­conservation/.

Print Sources

Aiken, George D. Pioneering with Wildflowers. Putney, Vt.: 1935. Ajilvsgi, Geyata. Butterfly Gardening for the South. Dallas, Tex.: Taylor Publishing Co., 1990. ———. Wildflowers of the Big Thicket, East Texas, and Western Louisiana. Kerrville, Tex.: Green Horizons Press, 1979. Armstrong, Patricia. “Bryophytes.” Wildflower Magazine, Winter 1992. Toronto, Canada. Barry, John M. Natural Vegetation of South Carolina. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1980. Batson, Wade T. Landscape Plants for the Southeast. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1984.

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Cobb, Boughton. A Field Guide to Ferns and Their Related Species of Northeastern and Central North America. Peterson Field Guide Series. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1963. Conard, Henry S. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Company, 1956. Correll, Donovan Stewart, and Marshall Conring Johnston. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. Vol. 6 of Contributions from Texas Research Foundation: A Series of Botanical Studies, edited by Cyrus Longworth Lundell. Richardson: University of Texas at Dallas, 1979. Crichton-­Harris, Anne. “Lowbush Blueberries.” Wildflower Magazine, Winter 1992. Toronto, Canada. Cronquist, Arthur. Basic Botany. New York: Harper & Row, 1982. Darke, Rick. “Native Grasses in the Landscape.” Presentation given at 1991 Millersville Conference on Native Plants in the Landscape, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa. Deneke, C. Frederick, and Edward T. Browne Jr. “The Vascular Flora of St. Francis County, Arkansas.” Abstract. Sida, Botanical Miscellany, Southern Methodist University, 1987. Dirr, Michael A. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Portland, Ore.: Timber Press, 2016. ———. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Champaign, Ill.: Stipes Publishing Co., 1990.

Duncan, Wilbur H., and Marion B. Duncan. Seaside Plants of the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987. ———. Trees of the Southeastern United States. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1988. Duncan, Wilbur H., and Leonard E. Foote. Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1975. duPont, Elizabeth N. Landscaping with Native Plants in the Middle Atlantic Region. Chadds Ford, Pa.: Brandywine Conservancy, 1978. Durand, Herbert. Field Book of Common Ferns. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1928. Fontenot, William R. Native Gardening in the South. Carencro, La.: A Prairie Basse Publication, 1992. Foote, Leonard E., and Samuel B. Jones Jr. Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast. Portland, Ore.: Timber Press, 1989. Gandhi, Kancheepuram N., and R. Dale Thomas. Asteraceae of Louisiana. Dallas, Tex.: SMU Herbarium/BRIT, 1989. Georgia Landscape Magazine. Athens: University of Georgia, 1992. Godfrey, Robert K. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Northern Florida and Adjacent Georgia and Alabama. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1988.

Great Plains Flora Association. Flora of the Great Plains. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1991. Grelen, Harold E., and Ralph H. Hughes. Common Herbaceous Plants of Southern Forest Range. United States Department of Agriculture, Research Paper SO-210, November 1984. Gupton, Oscar W., and Fred C. Swope. Wildflowers of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1989. H. L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. “Calendar of Bloom.” Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Duke University, Durham, N.C., revised January 1984. Harrison, Kit, and George Harrison. America’s Favorite Backyard Birds. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989. Hightshoe, Gary L. Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988. Hunter, Carl G. Wildflowers of Arkansas. Little Rock, Ark.: Ozark Society Foundation, 1984. Imhof, Thomas A. Alabama Birds. 2nd ed. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1976. Johnston, Marshall C. The Vascular Plants of Texas: A List Updating the Manual. Dallas: University of Texas at Dallas, 1988. Jones, Samuel B., Jr., and Leonard E. Foote. Gardening with Native Wild Flowers. Portland, Ore.: Timber Press, 1990.

Kelt, Douglas A. “Flowers and Colour.” Wildflower Magazine, Fall 1992. Toronto, Canada. Kral, Robert. “A New Species of Conradina (Lamiaceae) from Northeastern Peninsular Florida.” Abstract. Sida, Contributions to Botany, Vol. 14, No. 3, August 1991. Leverett, Robert T. “Old Forest Growths.” Wildflower Magazine, Fall 1992. Toronto, Canada. Lewis, George W., and James F. Miller. Identification and Control of Weeds in Southern Ponds. Athens: University of Georgia College of Agriculture, revised April 1984.

———. “The Story of the Brandywine Conservancy Gardens.” Quill & Trowel, September/October 1990. Native Gardens. Nursery Propagated Wild Flowers, Fall 1992, 5737 Fisher Lane, Greenback, Tenn. 37742. Native Plant Society of Texas. “East Texas and Its Many Ecosystems.” 1992 Symposium Proceedings. Georgetown, Tex. Nokes, Jill. How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest. Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1986.

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Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1987. Sargent, Charles Sprague. Manual of the Trees of North America. Vols. I and II. New York: Dover Publications, 1949. Scott, Jane. Field and Forest, a Guide to Native Landscapes for Gardeners and Naturalists. New York: Walker and Company, 1984. Simpson, Benny J. A Field Guide to Texas Trees. Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1988. Smith, Gerald L., and Walter S. Flory. “Hymenocallis (Amaryllidaceae) in Texas, with a New Varietal Combination.” Novon, Vol. 11, No. 2, Summer 2001, pp. 229-232. Southern Perennials & Herbs. 1993 Catalog. Tylertown, Miss.

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Whitcomb, Carl E. Know It and Grow It: A Guide to the Identification and Use of Landscape Plants. Vol. 2. Stillwater, Okla.: Lacebark Publications, 1983. Wilcove, David. “Empty Skies.” Wildflower Magazine, Fall 1992. Wilson, Jim. Landscaping with Wildflowers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. Wyman, Donald. Wyman’s Gardening Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1971.

INDEX

Aaron’s rod (Thermopsis villosa), 178 Accent shrubs, 95‒107 Acer floridanum (formerly Acer barbatum), 46 Acer leucoderme (A. saccharum subsp. leucoderme), 67 Acer rubrum var. drummondii, 46 Acer rubrum, 46 Actaea racemosa (formerly Cimicifuga racemosa), 161 Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa), 101 Adder’s tongue (Erythronium albidum), 150 Adiantum capillus-veneris, 137 Adiantum pedatum, 137 Aesculus flava, 47 Aesculus parviflora, 87 Aesculus pavia, 67 Agarista populifolia (previously Leucothoe populifolia), 83 Agarista, (Agarista populifolia), 83 Alabama azalea (Rhododendron alabamense), 92 Alabama croton (Croton alabamensis), 89 Alder (Alnus serrulata) 68 Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), 68 Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), 130 Alnus serrulata, 68 Aloe yucca (Yucca aloifolia), 101 Alumroot (Heuchera americana), 151 Amelanchier arborea, 68 Amelanchier laevis, 68 American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), 87 American beech (Fagus grandifolia), 49 American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), 114 American chestnut (Castanea dentata), 48 American crinum lily (Crinum americanum), 181 American elm (Ulmus americana), 57 American holly (Ilex opaca), 39

American ipecac (Gillenia stipulata), 163 American linden (Tilia americana), 57 American smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus), 73 American snowbell (Styrax americanus), 94 American spikenard (Aralia racemosa), 162 American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), 117 Amianthium muscitoxicum (Zigadenus muscaetoxicus), 161 Ampelopsis cordata, 113 Amsonia ciliata, 170 Amsonia hubrichtii, 170 Amsonia tabernaemontana, 145 Andropogon glomeratus, 198 Andropogon ternarius, 198 Andropogon ternarius, 199 Anemone acutiloba, 128 Anemone americana (Hepatica americana, Hepatica nobilis), 128 Anemone virginiana, 170 Anemonella thalictroides (Thalictrum thalictroides), 146 Anise tree (Illicium floridanum), 84 Anisescented goldenrod (Solidago odora), 194 Antennaria plantaginifolia, 121 Apios americana (Apios tuberosa), 113 Appalachian tea (Ilex glabra), 84 Aquilegia canadensis, 145 Aralia nudicaulis, 162 Aralia racemosa, 162 Aralia spinosa, 69 Arisaema dracontium, 146 Arisaema triphyllum, 146 Aristida stricta (includes A. beyrichiana), 199 Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), 170 Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), 195 Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), 94 Aruncus dioicus, 162

223

Asarum canadense, 128 Asclepias incarnata, 180 Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed, 171 Asclepias lanceolata, red milkweed, 171 Asclepias tuberosa, 171 Ashe magnolia (Magnolia ashei), 76 Asimina parviflora, 69 Asimina triloba, 69 Asplenium platyneuron, 137 Atamasco lily (Zephyranthes atamasca), 159 Athyrium asplenioides (formerly A. filix-femina var. asplenioides), 138 Autumn goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata), 194 Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), 56 Baptisia alba (includes B. leucantha, B. pendula, and B. lactea; old B. alba is now B. albescens), 171 Baptisia australis, 171 Barbara’s buttons (Marshallia trinervia), 186 Basic plan, garden, 12 Basket oak (Quercus michauxii), 54 Basswood (Tilia americana), 57 Bead fern (Onoclea sensibilis), 139 Beargrass (Yucca flaccida), 101 Beebalm (Monarda didyma), 174 Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa), 174 Beech (Fagus grandifolia), 49 Bees, 5 Beetleweed (Galax urceolata), 123 Bentawn plume grass (Saccharum brevibarbe var. contortum), 204 Betula nigra, 47 Big blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), 186 Bigleaf magnolia, (Magnolia macrophylla), 76 Bigleaf storax (Styrax grandifolius), 94 Bignonia capreolata, 110 Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), 48

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), 161 Black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), 104 Black oak (Quercus velutina), 56 Black snakeroot (Actaea racemosa), 161 Black titi (Cliftonia monophylla), 61 Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), 52 Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), 188 Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), 52 Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), 80 Blephilia ciliata, 163 Blephilia hirsuta, 163 Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), 156 Blue boneset, (Conoclinium coelestinum), 191 Blue false fiddleleaf (Hydrolea ovata), 210 Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis), 171 Blue jasmine (Clematis crispa), 115 Blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), 155 Blue water lily (Nymphaea elegans), 212 Blue waterleaf (Hydrolea ovata), 210 Blue woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), 155 Bluestem goldenrod (Solidago caesia), 165 Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides), 191 Boltonia asteroides, 191 Boltonia diffusa, 191 Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), 87 Bowman’s root (Gillenia trifoliata), 163 Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), 141 Bradbury’s beebalm (Monarda bradburiana), 187 Broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera), 140 Broomsedge (Andropogon ternarius), 199 Brushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), 198 Buckwheat tree (Cliftonia monophylla), 61 Bugbane (Actaea racemosa), 161 Bull bay (Magnolia grandiflora), 40 Bush palmetto (Sabal minor), 100 Bushy beardgrass (Andropogon glomeratus), 198

224

Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), 198 Bushy St. John’s wort (Hypericum densiflorum), 105 Butterflies, declines in, 5‒6 Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), 171 Butterweed (Packera glabella), 124 Button snakeroot (Eryngium yuccifolium), 182 Cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto), 44 Cabbage-leaf coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima), 189 Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), 195 Calico bush (Kalmia latifolia), 85 Callicarpa americana, 87 Calycanthus floridus, 88 Campsis radicans, 114 Canna flaccida, 210 Canopy trees, 2, 19, 21 Cardamine augustata (formerly Dentaria heterophylla), slender toothwort, 147 Cardamine concatenata (formerly Dentaria laciniata), 147 Cardamine diphylla, two-leaved toothwort, 147 Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), 186 Carex laxiculmis, 122 Carex pensylvanica, 121 Carex plantaginea, 122 Carex texensis, 121 Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus), 88 Carolina bushpea (Thermopsis villosa), 178 Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), 44 Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), 110 Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii), 185 Carolina rhododendron (Rhododendron minus var. minus), 99 Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), 93 Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina), 74 Carolina spider lily (Hymenocallis occidentalis var. occidentalis), 211 Carpinus caroliniana, 70

Cartrema americana (formerly Osmanthus americanus), 61 Carya aquatica, 48 Carya cordiformis, 48 Carya glabra, 48 Carya myristiciformis, 48 Carya ovata, 48 Carya tomentosa, 48 Carya laciniosa, 48 Castanea dentata, 48 Catalpa bignonioides, 70 Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), 85 Cattail gayfeather (Liatris pycnostachya), 185 Ceanothus americanus, 103 Ceanothus georgianum (Calamintha georgiana, Satureja georgiana), 103 Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), 157 Celastrus scandens, 114 Ceratiola ericoides, 83 Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, 71 Chalk maple (Acer leucoderme), 67 Chapman’s rhododendron (Rhododendron chapmanii), 99 Chasmanthium latifolium, 200 Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, 200 Cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana), 64 Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda), 53 Chionanthus virginicus, 71 Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), 135 Chrysogonum virginianum var. australe, 129 Chrysogonum virginianum var. virginianum, 129 Chrysopsis mariana, 193 Cigar tree (Catalpa bignonioides), 70 Cinnamon clethra (Clethra acuminata), 88 Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), 139 Cladrastis kentukea, 72 Clammy azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), 92 Clematis crispa, 115 Clematis viorna, 115 Clethra (Clethra alnifolia), 88 Clethra acuminata, 88 Clethra acuminata, 88 Clethra alnifolia, 88 Cliftonia monophylla, 61

Climbing hydrangea (Decumaria barbara), 115 Clinopodium coccineum, 103 Clump-formers, 168 Coastal leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris), 97 Coastal Plain Joepyeweed (Eutrochium dubium), 182 Coastal Plain, 2, 6 habitats of, 6 Colonizing, 34 Colorful rush (Rhynchospora latifolia), 203 Coltsfoot (Galax urceolata), 123 Comfort root (Pineland hibiscus), 183 Common alder (Alnus serrulata), 68 Common hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), 78 Common horsemint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), 188 Common names, 31 Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), 49 Companion plants, 34, 167 Conoclinium coelestinum (formerly Eupatorium coelestinum), 191 Conradina (Conradina canescens), 97 Conradina canescens, 97 Conradina verticillata, 97 Copper iris (Iris fulva), 173 Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), 111 Coreopsis auriculata, 172 Coreopsis grandiflora, 172 Coreopsis lanceolata, 172 Coreopsis major, 181 Coreopsis nudata, 180 Coreopsis rosea, 180 Coreopsis verticillata, 181 Cornus florida, 72 Cory azalea (Rhododendron coryi), 92 Cotinus obovatus, 73 Courtyard garden, 13‒15 Coves, 32 Crataegus aestivalis, 73 Crataegus marshallii, 73 Crataegus opaca, 73 Crataegus viridis, 73 Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), 130 Crinum americanum, 181 Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), 110 Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis, 89

Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), 51 Cumberland azalea (Rhododendron cumberlandense), 91 Cumberland rosemary (Conradina verticillata) 97 Curly clematis (Clematis crispa), 115 Cutleaf rudbeckia (Rudbeckia laciniata), 189 Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), 147 Cypress swamps, 32 Cypripedium acaule, 148 Cypripedium kentuckiense, 147 Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens, 147 Cypripedium reginae, 148 Cyrilla racemiflora, 74 Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine), 62 Deciduous shady groundcovers, 127‒31 Deciduous trees, over 50 feet tall, 45‒57 Decumaria (Decumaria barbara), 115 Decumaria barbara, 115 Decumaria sinensis, 115 Delphinium tricorne, 148 Dennstaedtia punctilobula, 138 Deschampsia flexuosa, 200 Devil’s walkingstick (Aralia spinosa), 69 Devilwood (Cartrema americana), 61 Dicentra canadensis, 149 Dicentra cucullaria, 149 Dicentra eximia, 149 Diospyros virginiana, 49 Diphasiastrum digitatum (formerly Lycopodium flabelliforme or Lycopodium digitatum), 122 Dodecatheon meadia, 149 Doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris), 97 Dogtooth violet (Erythronium albidum), 150 Doll’s daisy (Boltonia diffusa), 191 Downy pagoda plant (Blephilia ciliata), 163 Downy phlox (Phlox pilosa), 177 Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), 68 Downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana), 164 Downy wild rye (Elymus villosus), 201

Drooping laurel (Leucothoe fontanesiana), 97 Drummond wax mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus), 106 Dryopteris celsa, 135 Dryopteris ludoviciana, 135 Dryopteris marginalis, 135 Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), 149 Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii), 90 Dwarf huckleberry, 104 Dwarf iris, crested iris (Iris cristata), 152 Dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne), 148 Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor), 100 Dwarf pawpaw (Asimina triloba), 69 Dwarf red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), 67 Dwarf rhododendron (Rhododendron minus var. minus), 99 Dwarf smilax (Smilax pumila), 126 Dwarf tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata), 172 Eared coreopsis (Coreopsis auriculata), 172 Early meadowrue (Thalictrum dioicum), 158 Eastern beebalm (Monarda bradburiana), 187 Eastern false rue anemone (Enemion biternatum), 150 Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), 206 Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), 44 Eastern mayhaw (Crataegus aestivalis), 73 Eastern persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), 49 Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), 40 Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), 145 Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), 71 Eastern shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia), 149 Eastern smooth penstemon (Penstemon laevigatus), 176 Ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), 137 Echinacea pallida, 173 Echinacea paradoxa, 173

INDEX

225

Echinacea purpurea, 173 Eleocharis montevidensis, 201 Elliot’s gentian (Gentiana catesbaei), 192 Elphinium exaltatum, 172 Elymus villosus (E. canadensis var. villosus), 201 Elymus viriginicus, 201 Enemion biternatum (formerly Isopyrum biternatum), 150 Eryngium yuccifolium, 182 Eryngo (Eryngium yuccifolium), 182 Erythronium albidum, 150 Erythronium americanum, 150 Euonymus americanus, 89 Eutrochium dubium, 182 Eutrochium fistulosum (formerly Eupatorium fistulosum), 182 Eutrochium purpureum, 182 Everglades water lily (Nymphaea elegans), 212 Evergreen blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii), 101 Evergreen courtyard garden, 13‒15 Evergreen massing shrubs and accents, 96‒101 Evergreen screening scrubs, 82‒85 Evergreen shady groundcovers, 120‒26 Evergreen trees over 15 feet tall, 60-65 over 50 feet tall, 38‒44 Evergreen wild ginger (Hexastylis arifolia), 123 Everlasting (Antennaria plantaginifolia), 121 Fagus grandifolia, 49 Fairy candles (Actaea racemosa), 161 Fall obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), 193 Fall early flower garden in, 24, 25 garden flowers blooming in, 190‒95 late color garden in, 24, 26‒27 sunny flower garden in, 17, 19 False aster (Boltonia asteroides), 191 False dragonhead (Physostegia virginiana), 193 False Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum), 153 False spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum), 153

226

INDEX

False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), 183 Fan clubmoss (Diphasiastrum digitatum), 122 Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), 80 Fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum), 125 Ferns, 132‒41 Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), 98 Fever tree (Pinckneya bracteata), 77 Fiddleheads, 15, 31, 132, 135, 137‒41 Fire pink (Silene virginica), 157 Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), 91 Flatwoods, 32 Flooding, seasonal, 33 Florida anise (Illicium floridanum), 84 Florida azalea (Rhododendron austrinum), 91 Florida hobblebush (Agarista populifolia), 83 Florida leucothoe (Agarista populifolia), 83 Florida maple (Acer floridanum), 46 Florida pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida), 98 Florida shield fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana), 135 Flower garden, three-season sunny, 15, 17‒19 Flowering dogwood, 72 Flowering shrubs low, 95‒107 under 15 feet tall, 86‒94 Flowering trees, over 15 feet tall, 66‒80 Flowers garden, 167‒97 woodland, 142‒66 Flowery meadow garden, 27‒29 Fly poison (Amianthium muscitoxicum), 161 Foliage garden, early, 24 Forest floor, 2 Forest, anatomy of, 1‒3 Forests, hardwood, 8, 32 Fothergilla gardenii, 90 Fothergilla major, 90 Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), 202 Fragrance garden, 19‒20 Fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata), 212 Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), 76

Fraxinus americana, 50 French mulberry (Callicarpa americana), 87 Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), 71 Fringed campion (Silene polypetala), 157 Fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), 164 Fruit garden, early, 24, 25 Fruiting shrubs low, 95‒107 under 15 feet tall, 86‒94 Fruiting trees, over 15 feet tall, 66‒80 Galax (Galax urceolata), 123 Galax urceolata, 123 Gallberry (Ilex glabra), 84 Garden flowers, 167‒97 Gaylussacia baccata, 104 Gaylussacia dumosa, 104 Gelsemium rankinii, 110 Gelsemium sempervirens, 110 Gentiana catesbaei, 192 Gentiana saponaria, 192 Gentiana villosa, 192 Georgia bark (Pinckneya bracteata), 77 Georgia basil (Ceanothus georgianum), 103 Georgia pine (Pinus palustris), 42 Georgia tickseed (Coreopsis nudata), 180 Geranium maculatum, 150 Giant rudbeckia (Rudbeckia maxima), 189 Gillenia stipulata, 163 Gillenia trifoliata (formerly Poteranthus trifoliatus), 163 Glyceria striata, 202 Goat’s beard, bride’s feathers (Aruncus dioicus), 162 Golden canna (Canna flaccida), 210 Golden club (Orontium aquaticum), 212 Golden fleece (Solidago sphacelata), 194 Golden groundsel (Packera aurea), 124 Golden ragwort (Packera aurea), 124 Golden St. John’s wort (Hypericum frondosum), 105 Golden star (Chrysogonum virginianum), 129 Goldenaster (Pityopsis graminifolia), 193

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), 129 Gopherwood (Cladrastis kentukea), 72 Gordonia (Gordonia lasianthus), 39 Gordonia lasianthus, 39 Grancy graybeard (Chionanthus virginicus), 71 Grasses, ornamental, 196‒206 Grassleaf Barbara’s buttons (Marshallia graminifolia), 186 Great laurel (Rhododendron maximum), 85 Great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), 159 Green arum (Peltandra virginica), 213 Green dragon (Arisaema dracontium), 146 Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis), 73 Greenhead rudbeckia (Rudbeckia laciniata), 189 Ground pine (Diphasiastrum digitatum), 122 Groundcovers, shady, 118‒31 Groundnut (Apios americana), 113 Gulf coast penstemon (Penstemon tenuis), 176 Habitat gardens, examples of, 5‒9 Habitat(s), 1, 32‒33 creating, 1‒9 for wildlife, 3–5 Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), 202 Haircap moss (Polytrichum commune), 125 Hairgrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), 202 Hairy alumroot (Heuchera villosa), 151 Hairy beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatus), 176 Hairy skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica), 164 Halberd leaf hibiscus, 183 Halesia carolina, 74 Halesia diptera, 74 Hamamelis vernalis, 75 Hamamelis virginiana 75 Hammock, 32 Hardwood forests, 8‒9, 32 Hardwoods, 45

Harvestbells (Gentiana saponaria), 192 Hayscented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), 138 Hazel alder (Alnus serrulata), 68 Heartleaf (Hexastylis arifolia), 123 Heartleaf foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), 131 Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata), 113 Hearts-aburstin’ (Euonymus americanus), 89 Helianthus angustifolius, 192 Heliopsis helianthoides, 183 Herb garden, 19, 20 Herbaceous flowers, 31 Hercules club (Aralia spinosa), 69 Heuchera americana, 151 Heuchera villosa, 151 Hexastylis arifolia (Asarum arifolium), 123 Hexastylis shuttleworthii, 123 Hibiscus aculeatus, 183 Hibiscus coccineus, 183 Hibiscus laevis (formerly Hibiscus militaris), 183 Hibiscus moscheutos, 183 Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), 80 Hoary azalea (Rhododendron canescens), 92 Hophornbeam, ironwood, 76 Hornbeam, blue beech, 70 Horsesugar (Symplocos tinctoria), 65 Hubricht’s bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), 170 Hydrangea arborescens, 104 Hydrangea petiolaris anomala, 115 Hydrangea quercifolia, 90 Hydrastis canadensis, 129 Hydrolea ovata, 210 Hymenocallis liriosme, 211 Hymenocallis occidentalis var. occidentalis (also called H. caroliniana), 211 Hypericum densiflorum, 105 Hypericum frondosum, 105 Hypericum hypericoides (Ascyrum hypericoides), St. Andrew’s cross, 105 Ilex cassine, 62 Ilex decidua, 75 Ilex glabra, 84 Ilex opaca, 39

Ilex verticillata, 75 Ilex vomitoria, 62 Illicium floridanum, 84 Illicium parviflorum, 84 Indian bean (Catalpa bignonioides), 70 Indian physic (Gillenia trifoliata), 163 Indian turnip (Arisaema triphyllum), 146 Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), 205 Indianpink (Spigelia marilandica), 166 Inkberry (Ilex glabra), 84 Inland seaoats (Chasmanthium latifolium), 200 Iris brevicaulis, 173 Iris cristata, 152 Iris fulva, 173 Iris giganticaerulea, 173 Iris hexagona, 173 Iris verna, 152 Iris virginica, 173 Iris X nelsonii, 173 Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), 70 Isotrema macrophyllum (formerly Aristolochia macrophylla), 116 Isotrema tomentosa, 116 Itea (Itea virginica), 106 Itea virginica, 105 Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), 146 Jacksonbrier (Smilax smallii), 111 Jacksonvine (Smilax smallii), 111 Jeffersonia diphylla, 152 Jersey pine (Pinus virginiana), 43 Joepyeweed (Eutrochium fistulosum), 182 Judas tree (Cercis canadensis), 71 June wedding garden, 21, 23, 24 Juniperus silicicola, 40 Juniperus virginiana, 40 Kalmia latifolia, 85 Kansas gayfeather (Liatris pycnostachya), 185 Kentucky lady’s slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense), 147 Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), 117 King of the meadow (Thalictrum pubescens), 178

INDEX

227

Kosteletzkya pentacarpos (formerly K. virginica), 184 Lachnanthes caroliniana, 184 Ladies’ tobacco (Antennaria plantaginifolia), 121 Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), 172 Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata), 164 Large fothergilla (Fothergilla major), 90 Large yellow lady’s slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum), 147 Large-flowered tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora), 172 Largeleaf Dutchman’s pipe (Isotrema macrophyllum), 116 Latin names, 30‒31 Leatherflower (Clematis viorna), 115 Leatherwood (Cyrilla racemiflora), 74 Leucothoe axillaris, 97 Leucothoe fontanesiana, 97 Liatris pycnostachya, 185 Liatris spicata, 185 Licorice goldenrod (Solidago odora), 194 Lilium catesbaei, 185 Lilium michauxii, 185 Lilium superbum, 185 Limestone, 9 Lindera benzoin, 91 Liquidambar styraciflua, 50 Liriodendron tulipifera, 51 Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), 204 Little brown jug (Hexastylis arifolia), 123 Live oak (Quercus virginiana), 43 Liverleaf (Anemone americana), 128 Lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus), 214 Lobed coreopsis (Coreopsis auriculata), 172 Lobelia cardinalis, 186 Lobelia siphilitica, 186 Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus), 39 Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), 42 Log fern (Dryopteris celsa), 135 Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), 42 Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum), 200 Lonicera sempervirens (including L. s. var. sulphurea), 111

228

INDEX

Loose-flowered phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida), 154 Louisiana phlox (Phlox divaricata), 155 Lyonia ferruginea, 63 Lyonia lucida, 98 Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata), 125 Lysimachia ciliata, 164 Lysimachia lanceolata, 164 Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata, 51 Magnolia acuminata, 51 Magnolia ashei, 76 Magnolia denudata, 51 Magnolia fraseri, 76 Magnolia grandiflora, 40 Magnolia macrophylla, 76 Magnolia stellata, 51 Magnolia tripetala, 76 Magnolia virginiana var. australis, 52 Magnolia virginiana var. ludoviciana, 52 Magnolia virginiana, 52 Maianthemum racemosum (formerly Smilacina racemosa), 153 Major coreopsis (Coreopsis major), 181 Malvaviscus arboreus (formerly M. arboreus var. drummondii), 106 Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), 107 Marginal fern (Dryopteris marginalis), 135 Marginal shield fern (Dryopteris marginalis), 135 Marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis), 135 Marsh bulrush (Scirpus cyperinus), 205 Marsh phlox (Phlox glaberrima), 187 Marsh, 32 Marshallia caespitosa, 186 Marshallia graminifolia, 186 Marshallia grandiflora, 186 Marshallia trinervia, 186 Maryland goldenaster (Chrysopsis mariana), 193 Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), 155 Mayberry (Vaccinium elliottii), 80 Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), 117 Meadow, 27‒29, 32 life cycle of, 3 Melanthium virginicum, 161

Merrybells (Uvularia perfoliata), 131 Mertensia virginica, 153 Mississippi penstemon (Penstemon digitalis complex), 176 Mississippi River Basin, 32 Mistflower, (Conoclinium coelestinum), 191 Mitchella repens, 124 Mitella diphylla, 154 Moccasin flower (Cypripedium acaule), 148 Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), 48 Monarda bradburiana, 187 Monarda didyma, 174 Monarda fistulosa, 174 Monongahela Barbara’s buttons (Marshallia grandiflora), 186 Morella cerifera (formerly Myrica cerifera), 63 Moundlily yucca (Yucca gloriosa), 101 Mountain alumroot (Heuchera villosa), 151 Mountain doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana), 97 Mountain foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), 131 Mountain hepatica (Anemone acutiloba), 128 Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), 85 Mountain magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), 76 Mountain pepperbush (Clethra acuminata), 88 Mountain rosebay (Rhododendron catawbiense), 85 Mountain stewartia (Stewartia ovata), 93 Mountains, 9, 31‒32 Mouse ear (Antennaria plantaginifolia), 121 Mouse ear coreopsis (Coreopsis auriculata), 172 Muhlenbergia capillaris (includes M. expansa and M. filipes), 202 Mulching, 142, 168 Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana), 70 Narrowleaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), 188 Narrowleaf sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius), 192 Native garden, planning your, 10‒29 Native range, 31

Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix), 99 Netted chain fern (Woodwardia areolata), 141 Neverwet (Orontium aquaticum), 212 Neviusia (Neviusia alabamensis), 107 Neviusia alabamensis, 107 New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), 195 New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), 103 New York fern, 140 Northern arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum), 94 Northern green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum), 129 Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), 137 Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), 55 Nuphar lutea (previously N. luteum; N. advena), 211 Nutmeg hickory (Carya myristiciformis), 48 Nuttall oak (Quercus texana), 55 Nymphaea elegans, 212 Nymphaea mexicana, 212 Nymphaea odorata, 212 Nyssa aquatica, 52 Nyssa biflora, 52 Nyssa ogeche, 52 Nyssa sylvatica, 52 Oak sedge (Carex pensylvanica), 121 Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), 90 Oconee azalea (Rhododendron flammeum), 91 Oenothera fruticosa (O. tetragona, O. glauca, O. fraseri), 175 Oenothera lindheimeri (formerly Gaura lindheimeri), 175 Ogeechee lime (Nyssa ogeche), 52 Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), 158 Old field, 32 Old field pine (Pinus taeda), 42 Old man’s tree (Chionanthus virginicus), 71 Onoclea sensibilis, 139 Orange azalea (Rhododendron austrinum), 91 Orange rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida), 188 Ornamental grasses, 196‒206 Orontium aquaticum, 212

Osmunda spectabilis (formerly O. regalis), 140 Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (formerly Osmunda cinnamomea), 139 Ostrya virginiana, 76 Oswego tea (Monarda didyma), 174 Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), 183 Oxydendrum arboreum, 77 Ozark witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis), 75 Pachysandra procumbens, 130 Packera aurea (formerly Senecio aureus), 124 Packera glabella, 124 Packera obovata, 124 Pale coneflower (Echinacea pallida), 173 Palmetto (Sabal palmetto), 44 Panicum virgatum, 203 Parathelypteris noveboracensis (formerly Thelypteris noveboracensis), 140 Parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii), 73 Parthenocissus quinquefolia, 116 Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), 124 Passiflora incarnata, 117 Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), 117 Pawpaw, Indian banana, 69 Peltandra sagittifolia, 213 Peltandra virginica, 213 Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), 121 Penstemon digitalis complex, 176 Penstemon laevigatus, 176 Penstemon smallii, 176 Penstemon tenuis, 176 Pepper root (Cardamine concatenata), 147 Perennial black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), 188 Persea borbonia, 64 Phacelia bipinnatifida, 154 Phacelia fimbriata, 154 Phegopteris hexagonoptera (formerly Thelypteris hexagonoptera), 140 Phlox divaricata, 155 Phlox glaberrima, 187 Phlox maculata, 187 Phlox pilosa, 177

Phlox stolonifera, 130 Physostegia virginiana, 192 Pickerel rush (Pontederia cordata), 213 Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), 213 Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens), 92 Piedmont, 8, 31 Pigeonwheat moss (Polytrichum commune), 125 Pignut hickory (Carya glabra), 48 Piloblephis rigida (formerly Satureja rigida, Pychothymus rigidus), 98 Pin oak (Quercus palustris), 55 Pinckneya (Pinckneya bracteata), 77 Pinckneya bracteata (Pinckneya pubens), 77 Pinckneya pubens, 77 Pine lily (Lilium catesbaei), 185 Pineland hibiscus, 183 Pineland threeawn (Aristida stricta), 199 Pinelands, 32 Pink coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea), 180 Pink fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), 98 Pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule), 148 Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), 202 Pink tickweed (Coreopsis rosea), 180 Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica), 166 Pinus echinata, 41 Pinus glabra, 41 Pinus palustris, 42 Pinus taeda, 42 Pinus virginiana, 43 Pinxter flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides), 92 Pityopsis graminifolia (Chrysopsis graminifolia, Heterotheca graminifolia), 193 Plantainleaf (Antennaria plantaginifolia), 121 Plantainleaf sedge (Carex plantaginea), 122 Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium), 91 Pocosins, 32 Podophyllum peltatum, 155 Polygonatum biflorum, 156 Polystichum acrostichoides, 135 Polytrichum commune, 125 Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens), 56

INDEX

229

Pontederia cordata (also sold as P. lanceolata), 213 Poor man’s rope (Gelsemium sempervirens), 110 Porcupine palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix), 99 Possumhaw (Ilex decidua), 75 Possumhaw viburnum (Viburnum nudum), 94 Post oak (Quercus stellata), 55 Post oak woodland, 32 Potato bean (Apios americana), 113 Powdery thalia (Thalia dealbata), 214 Prairie blazingstar (Liatris pycnostachya), 185 Prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa), 177 Prairie rose (Rosa setigera), 93 Prostrate blue violet (Viola walteri), 126 Prunus caroliniana, 64 Ptelea trifoliata, 78 Pteridium aquilinum, 141 Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), 173 Purple Joepyeweed (Eutrochium purpureum), 182 Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), 121 Pycnanthemum incanum, 188 Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, 188 Queen of the meadow (Eutrochium fistulosum), 182 Quercus alba, 53 Quercus coccinea, 55 Quercus falcata, 53 Quercus geminata, 65 Quercus laevis, 78 Quercus michauxii, 54 Quercus pagoda, 53 Quercus palustris, 55 Quercus phellos, 54 Quercus rubra, 55 Quercus shumardii, 55 Quercus stellata, 55 Quercus texana, 55 Quercus velutina, 56 Quercus virginiana, 43 Rabbitberry (Vaccinium ashei), 80 Raccoon grape (Ampelopsis cordata), 113 Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), 182

230

INDEX

Red basil (Clinopodium coccineum), 103 Red bergamot (Monarda didyma), 174 Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), 67 Red maple (Acer rubrum), 46 Redbay (Persea borbonia), 64 Redbud (Cercis canadensis), 71 Redneck rosemary (Piloblephis rigida), 98 Redroot (Lachnanthes caroliniana), 184 Related species, 34 Rhapidophyllum hystrix, 99 Rhizomes, 143 Rhododendron alabamense, 92 Rhododendron arborescens, 92 Rhododendron austrinum, 91 Rhododendron calendulaceum, 91 Rhododendron canescens, 92 Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron chapmanii, 99 Rhododendron coryi, 92 Rhododendron cumberlandense, 91 Rhododendron flammeum, 91 Rhododendron maximum, 85 Rhododendron minus var. minus (including Rhododendron carolinianum), 99 Rhododendron oblongifolium, 92 Rhododendron periclymenoides (formerly R. nudiflorum), 92 Rhododendron prinophyllum (formerly R.roseum), 92 Rhododendron prunifolium, 91 Rhododendron serrulatum, 92 Rhododendron viscosum, 92 Rhus copallinum, 79 Rhus glabra, 79 Rhus typhina, 79 Rhynchospora colorata (formerly Dichromena colorata), 203 Rhynchospora latifolia, 203 River birch (Betula nigra), 47 River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), 200 Root system, 33‒34 Rosa carolina, 93 Rosa palustris, 93 Rosa setigera, 93 Rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), 183 Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), 85

Roseshell azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum), 92 Roundleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), 124 Round-lobed hepatica (Anemone americana), 128 Royal fern (Osmunda spectabilis), 140 Rudbeckia fulgida, 188 Rudbeckia hirta, 188 Rudbeckia laciniata, 189 Rudbeckia maxima, 189 Rudbeckia nitida, 189 Rudbeckia triloba, 188 Rue anemone (Anemonella thalictroides), 146 Running box (Mitchella repens), 124 Running cedar (Diphasiastrum digitatum), 122 Rusty blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum rufidulum), 80 Rusty lyonia (Lyonia ferruginea), 63 Sabal minor, 100 Sabal palmetto, 44 Saccharum brevibarbe var. contortum, 204 Saccharum giganteum (formerly Erianthus giganteus), 204 Salt cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), 206 Saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), 206 Saltmarsh mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos), 184 Salvia lyrata, 125 Sand live oak (Quercus geminata), 65 Sand spikerush (Eleocharis montevidensis), 201 Sandhill rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides), 83 Sandhills, 6, 32 Sanguinaria canadensis, 156 Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), 79 Sassafras albidum, 79 Saururus cernuus, 214 Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), 100 Scarlet buckeye (Aesculus pavia), 67 Scarlet calamint (Clinopodium coccineum), 103 Scarlet catchfly (Silene virginica), 157 Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), 55 Schizachyrium scoparium, 204 Schizophragma hydrangeoides, 115 Scirpus cyperinus, 205 Scutellaria elliptica, 164

Scutellaria incana, 164 Scutellaria integrifolia, 164 Seashore mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos), 184 Seasonal flooding, 33 Secondary woods, 33 Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea), 122 Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), 139 Serenoa repens, 100 Sevenbark hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), 104 Shade garden, 15, 16 Shade plants, 31 Shady groundcovers, 118‒31 Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), 48 Shale aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), 195 Shallow root, plants, 33 Sharp-lobed hepatica (Anemone acutiloba), 128 Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa), 48 Shining fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), 98 Shining rudbeckia (Rudbeckia nitida), 189 Shiny evergreen blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites) 101 Short’s aster (Symphyotrichum shortii), 166 Shortbeard plume grass (Saccharum brevibarbe var. contortum), 204 Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), 41 Short-pappus goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata), 194 Showy pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae), 148 Shrubs accents and low, 95‒107 5 to 15 feet tall, 81–94 Shumard red oak (Quercus shumardii), 55 Shuttleworth’s ginger (Hexastylis shuttleworthii), 123 Silene polypetala, 157 Silene virginica, 157 Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia), 193 Silky camellia (Stewartia malachodendron), 93 Silky wild rye (Elymus villosus), 201 Silverleaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum incanum), 188 Sleeping hibiscus (Malvaviscus arboreus), 106

Small’s penstemon (Penstemon smallii), 176 Smallflower (Asimina parviflora), 69 Smilacina (Maianthemum racemosum), 153 Smilax pumila, 126 Smilax smallii, 111 Smooth azalea (Rhododendron arborescens), 92 Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), 206 Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), 104 Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima), 187 Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), 79 Smooth white beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis complex), 176 Snow wreath (Neviusia alabamensis), 107 Soapwort gentian (Gentiana saponaria), 192 Soil, 33 acid, 33 acid to neutral, 33 clay, 33 lime, 33 subsurface lime, 33 very acid, 33 Solidago caesia, 165 Solidago flexicaulis, 165 Solidago odora, 194 Solidago sphacelata 194 Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), 156 Songbird populations, declines in, 4 Sopyrum (Enemion biternatum), 150 Sorghastrum nutans, 205 Sorrel tree (Oxydendrum arboreum), 77 Sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), 52 Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), 77 Southern arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), 94 Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides), 70 Southern green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum), 129 Southern lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides), 138 Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), 40

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris), 137 Southern pinxter flower (Rhododendron canescens), 92 Southern red cedar (Juniperus silicicola), 40 Southern red lily (Lilium catesbaei), 185 Southern red oak (Quercus falcata), 53 Southern shield fern (Thelypteris kunthii), 140 Southern sugar maple (Acer floridanum), 46 Southern swamp lily (Crinum americanum), 181 Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia), 101 Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), 80 Spartina alterniflora, 206 Spatterdock (Nuphar lutea), 211 Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), 91 Spigelia (Spigelia marilandica), 166 Spigelia marilandica, 166 Spiked gayfeather (Liatris spicata), 185 Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius), 198 Spoonflower (Peltandra sagittifolia), 213 Spoonleaf ragwort (Packera obovata), 124 Spoonwood (Kalmia latifolia), 85 Spotted cranesbill (Geranium maculatum), 151 Spotted phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida), 154 Spotted phlox (Phlox maculata), 187 Spreading bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia), 131 Spreading sedge (Carex laxiculmis), 122 Spring titi (Cliftonia monophylla), 61 Spring witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis), 75 Spring garden flowers blooming in, 169‒78 shade garden in, 15, 16 sunny flower garden in, 15, 17, 18 woodland flowers blooming in, 143, 144‒59 woodland garden in, 19, 21, 22 Spruce pine (Pinus glabra), 41 Squaw weed (Packera obovata), 124

INDEX

231

Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis), 149 Staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea), 63 Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), 79 Star anise (Illicium parviflorum), 84 Starrush (Rhynchospora colorata), 203 Stewartia malachodendron, 93 Stewartia ovata, 93 Stinkbush (Illicium floridanum), 84 Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis), 177 Stokesia laevis, 177 Storax (Styrax americanus), 94 Straw lily (Uvularia sessilifolia), 131 Strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus), 89 Strawberry shrub (Calycanthus floridus), 88 Striped gentian (Gentiana villosa), 192 Stylophorum diphyllum, 157 Styrax americanus, 94 Styrax grandifolius, 94 Sugarcane plumegrass (Saccharum giganteum), 204 Summer garden flowers blooming in, 170‒89 sunny flower garden in, 15, 17, 18 wedding garden in, 21, 23 woodland flowers blooming in, 160‒66 Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), 175 Sunny flower garden, 15, 17, 18 Sunny woodmint (Blephilia ciliata), 163 Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), 92 Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii), 54 Swamp coreopsis (Coreopsis nudata), 180 Swamp cyrilla (Cyrilla racemiflora), 74 Swamp honeysuckle (Rhododendron serrulatum), 92 Swamp irises (Iris X nelsonii), 173 Swamp jessamine (Gelsemium rankinii), 110 Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), 180 Swamp rose (Rosa palustris), 93 Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius), 192 Swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora), 52 Swamp, 33

232

INDEX

Sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora), 194 Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), 88 Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), 52 Sweetgum, 50 Sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria), 65 Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), 88 Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), 203 Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (formerly Aster lateriflorus), 195 Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, 195 Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (formerly Aster oblongifolius), 195 Symphyotrichum shortii (formerly Aster shortii), 166 Symplocos tinctoria, 65 Tall fetterbush (Agarista populifolia), 83 Tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum), 172 Tall meadowrue (Thalictrum pubescens), 178 Tall skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia), 164 Tall whitetop sedge (Rhynchospora latifolia), 203 Taproot, root, 34 Taxodium ascendens, 56 Taxodium distichum, 56 Teddybear paws (Scirpus cyperinus), 205 Texas azalea (Rhododendron oblongifolium), 92 Texas Barbara’s buttons (Marshallia caespitosa), 186 Texas bluestar (Amsonia ciliata), 170 Texas sedge (Carex texensis), 121 Texas spider lily (Hymenocallis liriosme), 211 Texas star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), 183 Thalia dealbata, 214 Thalictrum dioicum, 158 Thalictrum pubescens, 178 Thalictrum revolutum, 178 Thelypteris kunthii, 140 Thermopsis villosa (T. caroliniana), 178 Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana), 170 Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), 170

Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), 181 Three-lobed rudbeckia (Rudbeckia triloba), 188 Thuidium delicatulum, 125 Tiarella cordifolia var. collina 131 Tiarella cordifolia var. cordifolia, 131 Tilia americana, 57 Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), 74 Tradescantia ohiensis, 158 Tradescantia viriginiana, 158 Tree lyonia (Lyonia ferruginea), 63 Trees over 50 feet tall, 35‒57 small 15 to 40 feet tall, 58‒80 Trillium grandiflorum, 159 Tripsacum dactyloides, 206 Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), 114 Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), 114 Trumpetweed, (Eutrochium fistulosum), 182 Tsuga canadensisI, 44 Tuckahoe (Peltandra virginica), 213 Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), 51 Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), 51 Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), 106 Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum), 185 Turkey oak (Quercus laevis), 78 Twinberry (Mitchella repens), 124 Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), 152 Twoleaf miterwort (Mitella diphylla), 154 Two-leaved bishop’s cap (Mitella diphylla), 154 Two-winged silverbell (Halesia diptera), 74 Ulmus americana, 57 Umbrella tree (Magnolia tripetala), 76 Understory, 2 Upland seaoats (Chasmanthium latifolium), 200 Uvularia perfoliata, 131 Uvularia sessilifolia, 131 Vaccinium arboreum, 80 Vaccinium ashei, 80 Vaccinium corymbosum, 80 Vaccinium darrowii, 101 Vaccinium elliottii, 80

Vaccinium myrsinites, 101 Veratrum virginicum (Melanthium virginicum), 161 Vernal iris (Iris verna), 152 Viburnum acerifolium, 107 Viburnum dentatum complex, 94 Viburnum dentatum, 94 Viburnum nudum, 94 Viburnum obovatum, 80 Viburnum prunifolium, 80 Viburnum recognitum, 94 Viburnum rufidulum, 80 Vines, 108‒17 Viola walteri, 126 Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), 153 Virginia bunchflower (Melanthium virginicum), 161 Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), 116 Virginia lionsheart (Physostegia virginiana), 193 Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), 43 Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia viriginiana), 158 Virginia stewartia (Stewartia malachodendron), 93 Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), 106 Virginia wild rye (Elymus viriginicus), 201 Virginia willow (Itea virginica), 105 Wafer ash (Ptelea trifoliata), 78 Wahoo (Euonymus americanus), 89 Wake-robin (Trillium grandiflorum), 159 Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum), 80 Walter’s violet (Viola walteri), 126 Wand flower (Galax urceolata), 123 Water canna (Thalia dealbata), 214 Water dragon (Saururus cernuus), 214 Water hickory (Carya aquatica), 48 Water plants, 207‒14 Water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), 52 Wavy hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa), 200 Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), 63 Waxyleaf meadowrue (Thalictrum revolutum), 178

Western mayhaw (Crataegus opaca), 73 Wherry’s foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), 131 White arum (Peltandra sagittifolia), 213 White ash (Fraxinus americana), 50 White baptisia (Baptisia alba), 171 White fringed phacelia (Phacelia fimbriata), 154 White gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri), 175 White oak (Quercus alba), 53 White titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), 74 White troutlily (Erythronium albidum), 150 White wild indigo (Baptisia alba), 171 Whitetop sedge (Rhynchospora colorata), 203 Wild ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum), 191 Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), 174 Wild bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia), 149 Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), 150 Wild ginger (Asarum canadense), 128 Wild golden glow (Rudbeckia laciniata), 189 Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), 104 Wild olive (Cartrema americana), 61 Wild red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), 145 Wild rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), 85 Wild rosemary (Conradina canescens), 97 Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), 162 Wild sarsaparilla (Smilax pumila), 126 Wildlife, 34 habitats for, 3‒5 Willow oak (Quercus phellos), 54 Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), 79 Winter rosettes, 168

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), 75 Wiregrass (Aristida stricta), 199 Wisteria frutescens (includes W. macrostachya), 117 Witch alder (Fothergilla major), 90 Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), 75 Witchhazel, 19 Wood grass (Sorghastrum nutans), 205 Woodland bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana), 145 Woodmint (Blephilia hirsuta), 163 Woodvamp (Decumaria barbara), 115 Woodwardia areolata, 141 Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus), 205 Wooly Dutchman’s pipe (Isotrema tomentosa), 116 Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia), 165 Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), 62 Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), 62 Yellow anise tree (Illicium parviflorum), 84 Yellow azalea (Rhododendron austrinum), 91 Yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), 47 Yellow canna (Canna flaccida), 210 Yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), 173 Yellow cow lily (Nuphar lutea), 211 Yellow pond lily (Nuphar lutea), 211 Yellow troutlily (Erythronium americanum), 150 Yellow water lily (Nymphaea mexicana), 212 Yellow wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), 157 Yellowtop (Packera glabella), 124 Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea), 72 Yucca aloifolia, 101 Yucca filamentosa, 101 Yucca flaccida, 101 Yucca gloriosa, 101 Zephyranthes atamasca, 159 Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis), 165

INDEX

233