Getting Started with
Native Plants
Marc Radell
Master Gardener Volunteer
PennState Extension
Montgomery County
About Our Sponsor
Address
1015 Bridge Road, Suite H Collegeville, PA 19426-1179
Contact Phone: 610-489-4315
Fax: 610-489-9277
Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
h6p://extension.psu.edu/montgomery
Master Gardener Plant Sale!
•
Saturday, May 20, 2017
•
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
•
Extension Office
1015 Bridge Road
Collegeville, Pa 19426
•
“Planting for Pollinators”
Where Are the Handouts?
Agenda
§
Native Plants & the Ecosystem
§
Plant Communities of Pennsylvania
§
Getting Started
ª
Planning
ª
Site Prep
ª
Planting
ª
Maintenance
§
Native Plants for Every Garden
Native Plants and the
Ecosystem
History of Penn’s Woods
About 12,000 year ago
§ First humans. Glaciers retreating, climate was cool and wet.
§ Pennsylvania covered with forests of
spruce, fir, birch, pine & alder.
10,000 – 8,000 Years Ago
§ The climate slowly got warmer. § Oak, chestnut, hickory and beech
trees moved in from the south.
§ Pennsylvania covered by deciduous
forests with a thick layer of humus and a rich understory of berries and other plant foods.
§ Limited open space
★ Baseline condition for today ★
Penn’s Woods Today
§
About 60% (17 million acres) of
Pennsylvania is 2
nd-growth
woodlands, about 75% of that
owned privately.
§
97% of forest is timberland.
Pennsylvania is the nation's
largest producer of hardwood
lumber.
§
Forest is generally fragmented,
of uniform age (~100 years old),
and of low ecosystem quality.
§
Open lands are dominated by
non-native vegetation.
Our Yards Are the Environment
oops!
§
Found in a given area prior to human
intervention (in U.S.: prior to European contact)
§
Two major waves of introduction of alien plants
to U.S.: European (17
thand 18th centuries) and
Asian (20
thcentury)
§
About 34% of plant species in Pennsylvania are
now non-native
What is a Native Plant?
§
Precipitation
§
Temperature
(averages and
extremes)
§
Length of growing
season
§
Length of day
Ecological Regions
“Pennsylvania Piedmont” Physiographic Province
plants.usda.gov
‘The purple coneflower grows in rocky
prairie sites in open, wooded regions.’
§
Soils – acidity, percolation
§
Topography – drainage, exposure
§
Right plant, right place
Local Geography
Soil series
Topography
Native Plants and Insects
§
Herbivory
²
Insects account for 80% of terrestrial plant
consumption
²
90% of plant-eating insects feed on only 2 or 3
families of plants
²
90% of songbirds feed insects to their young
Native Plants and Insects
§
Pollination
ª
Native insects prefer native plants for
nectar and pollen 4x more than
non-natives
ª
Many plants have evolved to attract
specific insects
ª
Insects rely on specific nutrients in nectar
(sugars/amino acids) and pollen (protein)
Native Plants and Other Wildlife
§
Symbiotic relationships
§
Native wildlife thrive on nutrition provided by
native plants
§
Size, coloring of plant material also matter
§
Plants define habitat
ª
Regulate soil structure,
chemistry (soil organisms)
ª
Provide most of shelter
to terrestrial organisms
ª
Determine what food
is available to other
organisms, and hence, the
type of organisms
§
Plant communities are used
for habitat classification by
scientists
§
Generally require less maintenance than
non-natives (less fertilizer, fewer pesticides, more
naturalized landscaping)
§
Invasive non-native plants can disrupt energy,
nutrient, and water cycles in local ecosystems
§
Most noxious weeds and pests were introduced
to US via non-native plants
Native Plants: Other benefits
Plant Communities of
Pennsylvania
Plant Communities
§
Plant community: A
grouping of plants
that coexist and
interact with one
another
§
A plant community is
a component of a
habitat: a place that
provides living
organisms with food,
water, shelter, and
space.
§
Influenced by soil,
hydrology, light
§
Defined by dominant
and secondary
species
§
Appalachian oak forest, part of
Eastern Deciduous Forest
Regional Plant Communities
Pennsylvania Plant Communities
§
Forests: trees >5 meters high,
≥
60% canopy
closure, crowns usually interlocking; terrestrial or
palustrine.
§
Woodlands: sparse tree canopy (10%-60%
cover), usually with an herbaceous and/or shrub
layer.
§
Shrublands: dominated by shrubs, < 25% total
cover by trees
§
Wetlands: intermediate between aquatic and
terrestrial habitats; anaerobic soil conditions
influence plant growth
§
Terrestrial Herbaceous Openings
§
Prairies: Not in Pennsylvania!
Plant Succession
§ Upland Forest Types ª Dry oak – heath forest
ª Dry oak – mixed hardwood forest
ª Dry hemlock – oak forest ª Mixed oak – hardwood forest
ª Red oak – mixed hardwood forest
ª Red maple terrestrial forest ª Sugar maple – basswood forest ª Tuliptree – beech – maple forest
§ Lowland Forest Types
ª Silver maple floodplain forest ª Sugar maple floodplain forest
ª Red maple palustrine forest
ª Red maple – black ash palustrine forest
ª Bottomland oak – hardwood palustrine forest
ª Sycamore – (river birch) – box-elder floodplain forest
Montco Forest Communities
Spring Mountain
Wissahickon Creek
§
Local Open Areas
ª
Not many natural herbaceous
openings
ª
Disturbed Areas
•
Agricultural and developed
areas
•
Maintained grasslands/
meadows
•
Often open paths to invasive
plants
ª
Successional Areas
•
Pioneer species (eastern red
cedar, ash, red maple)
Other Montco Plant Communities
www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us
§
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program
§
Terrestrial & Palustrine Plant Communities of
Pennsylvania
§
County-specific natural area inventories
Dominant Species
Blue bluestem LiWle bluestem Indiangrass Switchgrass
Secondary Species
BuWerfly weed Blazing star Corpeopsis Golderod Black-eyed Susan Purple Coneflower
A Lawn Becomes a Grassland
Dominant Species
Purple coneflower Aster
Black-eyed Susan Monarda
Secondary Species
Milkweed Bluestem Switchgrass Cup plant Helianthus Blazing star
A Flowerbed Becomes a Meadow
Dominant Species
Sedge Aster Goldenrods Blue flag iris
Secondary Species
Penstemon False indigo Ironweed Blazing star Cardinal flower Red twig dogwood
Dominant Species
Red cedar Redbud Fragrant sumac Flowering dogwood
Secondary Species
Shadbush Aroma\c aster Canada columbine Switchgrass Big bluestem grass Tall gramma oats grass
A Hedge Row Becomes a Shrubland
Dominant Species
Sugar maple Witch hazel Spice bush Pawpaw
Secondary Species
Cimicifuga Wood geranium Blue cohosh Trout lily Jack-in-the-pulpit Evergreen wood fern
A Specimen Tree Becomes a Woodland
Getting Started
1
Plant only natives from now on
2
Remove invasive non-natives
3
Use natives in new plantings and to
replace existing plants that die
4
Replace high-maintenance
non-natives
5
Don’t propagate (divide)
non-natives
6
As you re-work existing plantings,
compost non-natives and plant
natives
7
Replace remaining non-natives
Going Native Step by Step
§
Microclimate = climate of
specific location
•
Shade
•
Site grade
•
Compacted soil
•
Exposure to wind
•
Radiant heat from massive
bodies
•
Cooling effect of water
bodies
§
Can be large (riparian
corridor) or small (shade
from a single tree)
Microclimates
right plant, right place!!
Assess Your Site
§
Light
ª
Full Sun (
≥
6h) Part Sun (3-6h) Shade (< 3h)
§
Soil
ª
Texture (clay, silt, sand. loam)
ª
Moisture (dry, moist/average, wet)
ª
Fertility/Organic Matter (rich, average, poor)
ª
pH (acidic, neutral, alkaline)
Soil Composition
USDA Hardiness Zones
Climate Change Effects
§
Higher temperatures
§
Increased precipitation
§
Larger storm events
§
Less snow cover
§
Redistribution of some
plant and animal species
Pennsylvania’s climate will be like Virginia’s by 2050
Gardening for Climate Change
§
Diversify, diversify, and
diversify
§
Use native plants that
tolerate warmer weather
and resist drought
§
Monitor for pests and
signs of stress
§
Use mulch to reduce
fluctuations in soil
moisture and
temperature
Define Your Goals
§
Aesthetics
§
Maintenance
§
Budget
§
Other factors: attract
butterflies, attract birds,
deer-resistance,
tolerates walnuts,
erosion control…
Learn about Plants - Duration
§
Annual: completes life cycle in 1 year
§
Biennial: requires 2 years to complete life cycle
§
Perennial: persists for many years
§
Hardy: survives winter
§
Tender: doesn’t survive winter
Species, cultivars, and hybrids – oh, my!
§
Straight species with local
genome
§
Straight species from elsewhere
§
Cultivar (ex: Viburnum dentatum
‘Blue Muffin’)
§
Hybrids (ex: Viburnum x …)
ª
between two US species
ª
between US and non-US species
§
Non-US species or hybrid
Use botanical names!
Botanical (Scientific) Names
§
Echinacea purpurea = Genus/species
§
Echinacea purpurea var. alba = variety
§
Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’= cultivar
§
Echinacea purpurea x pallida = hybrid
§
Echinacea x ‘Coral Reef’= named hybrid
??!!
How Altered Is the Plant?
§
Have there been substantive
alterations: leaf/petal color,
reproductive parts, less fruit?
§
Has benefit to ecosystem been
lessened?
Make a Plant List
COLOR SPRING SUMMER FALL
Tall Plants
Blue Baptisia Agastache Aster
Yellow Baptisia Helianthus Solidago
Medium Plants
Blue Wild Geranium Spiderwort Mistflower
Yellow Alexanders Primrose Helenium
Short Plants
Blue Jacob’s Ladder Campanula Aster
Make a Plan
§
Account for 3 years of growth for herbaceous
perennials and full size for trees and shrubs
§
Consider viewing locations, hardscaping,
and focal points
§
Many plans are for free available on-line
Make a List – Check it Twice
§
From plan, determine
number of each
species necessary
PLANT QUANTITY Baptisia 6 Agastache 4 Wild Geranium 8 Golden Alexanders 6 Jacob’s Ladder 8 Ragwort 4 Spiderwort 4 Achillea 4 Rudbeckia 4 Primrose 4 Helenium 4 Aster 4 Campanula 8
What to Plant
§
Seeds
§
Cuttings
§
Plugs
§
Divisions
§
Bare-root Plants
§
Container Plants
§
Ball and Burlap
Site Preparation
§
Soil preparation should be
minimal (right plant, right
place)
§
Remove turf and
undesirable plants
ª
Pulling, digging, smothering
ª
Tilling (stirs up weed seeds,
breaks soil structure)
ª
Safer herbicides
§
Amend soil only as
Planting
§
Proper spacing
ª
≥
3 years growth for
perennials
ª
Mature size for
woodies
§
Hole
ª
Same depth as root
ball
ª
Twice as wide as root
ball
Planting
§
Plant as densely as
possible to reduce
weeds, maintain soil
ecosystem
§
Plant in clusters of
same species to
promote plant
health and visibility
to wildlife and
beneficial insects
Planting
§
Water empty hole
§
Gently loosen roots
§
Plant with root flare or
crown at soil line
§
Backfill with soil, water.
§
Avoid air pockets
around roots. Mound
under bare roots.
§
Apply 2” mulch, but
not against trunk/stem
§
Mulch should “match”
the plants (woody
and/or herbaceous)
Maintenance
§
Water as necessary
(about 1” per week)
§
Weed, weed, weed
§
Maintain 1-2” layer
of organic mulch/
compost on soil
§
Monitor for pests
and diseases
§
Remove diseased
plant material
Long-Term Maintenance
§
Focus on maintaining quality
over quantity
§
Takes about 3 years for
perennials and woodies to fully
establish themselves
§
Prune woodies to shape or thin
§
Divide perennials as necessary
§
Watch for seedlings, suckers,
new plants
§
Don’t micromanage. If it
grows, let it!
Native Plants for Every
Garden
Before we continue…
§
Class focus is on plants with
high wildlife value, suitability
for residential property, and
my experience
§
Most plants tolerate some
range of conditions but are
most successful in specific
conditions
§
The more we keep plants in
their preferred conditions, the
less maintenance they require
§
Create plant communities
Trees
▪
Pennsylvania was a forest
and still wants to be
(plant trees, plant
multiple trees)
▪
Trees generally require
less maintenance than
other plants
▪
Can reduce cooling bills
(shade) and heating bills
Canopy Trees
▪
“Shade trees”
▪
Provide greatest wildlife, cooling, and
carbon reduction value per square foot
▪
Thrive in full sun, saplings may need
shade
▪
50-100’ high
Oaks (Quercus)
▪
Support 534 species of lepidopterons
▪
Acorns eaten by many birds, mammals
▪
Early blossoms for small insects
White Oak (Q. alba) Slow grower 80-100’ Average to dry soil
Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) Medium grower 90’
Average to moist soil
Pin Oak (Q. palustris) Fast grower 60’
Moist to wet soil
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
▪
Supports 456 lepidopterons
▪
Flowers support pollinators
▪
Cherries eaten by birds and
mammals
▪
Fast grower, 50-75’
▪
Average to moist soil
Maples (Acer)
▪
Support 285 lepidopterons
▪
Birds and small mammals eat seeds
▪
Early blossoms, sap for small insects
Red Maple (A. rubrum) Fast grower 50’
Moist to wet soil
Sugar Maple (A. saccharum) Average grower 60-80’
Average to moist soil
Boxelder (A. negundo) Fast grower 50’
Pines (Pinus)
▪
Support 203 lepidopterons
▪
Birds and mammals eat seeds
White Pine (P. strobus)
Fast grower 80’
Average to dry soil
Virginia Pine (P. virginiana)
Fast grower 40’ Dry soil
Hickories (Carya)
▪
Support 200 lepidopterons
▪
Nuts very important for squirrels and
chipmunks
Pignut Hickory (C. glabra) Medium grower 50’ Various soils
Shellbark Hickory (C. laciniosa) Slow grower 60-80’
Average to dry soil
Some Other Canopy Trees
▪
Eastern Red Cedar (
Juniperus virginiana
)
▪
Black Tupelo (
Nyssa sylvatica
)
▪
America Beech (
Fagus grandifolia
)
▪
Ash (
Fraxinux americana, F. pennsylvanica
)
▪
Sweetgum (
Liquidambar styraciflua
)
▪
Tulip Tree (
Liriodendron tulipfera
)
▪
American Sycamore (
Platanus occidentalis
)
▪
Basswood (
Tilia americana
)
▪
American Elm (
Ulmus americana
)
▪
American Chestnut (
Ulmus americana
)
▪
Canadian Hemlock (
Tsuga canadensis
)
Understory Trees
▪
Usually grow under taller trees
▪
Part sun to shade
▪
Flowering trees, fruit trees
▪
15-30’
Willows (Salix)
▪
Support 455 lepidopterons
▪
Fruit capsules eaten by birds and
small mammals
▪
Early source of nectar for pollinators
Black Willow (S. nigra) Fast grower 30’
Moist to wet soil
Pussy Willow (S. discolor) Fast grower 20’
Moist to wet soil
Prairie Willow (S. humilis) Fast grower 6-12’ (shrub) Dry to wet soil
Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria)
▪
Support 311 lepidopterons
▪
High usage by pollinators
▪
Fruit eaten by birds and mammals
▪
Showy, fragrant flowers April-May
▪
20’, fast grower
▪
Average to moist soils
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
▪
Supports 115 lepidopterons
▪
High-fat berries for birds, mammals
▪
High nectar production
▪
Showy flowers April-May
▪
Dry to moist soil
▪
15-30’, average growth rate
Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
▪
Support 119 lepidopterons
▪
Special value to native bees
▪
Fruit eaten by birds, mammals
▪
Showy flowers April-May
Downy serviceberry (A. arborea) Fast grower 15-25’ Dry to moist soil
Birches (Betula)
▪
Support 413 lepidopterons
▪
Fruit capsules for birds, mammals
▪
Interesting bark, fall color
River Birch (B. nigra)
Medium to fast grower 30-50’
Moist to wet soil
Cherry Birch (B. lenta)
Medium to fast grower 50-75’
Moist to dry soil
Some Other Understory Trees
▪
Paw-paw (
Asminia triloba
)
▪
Eastern redbud (
Cercis canadensis
)
▪
Cockspur hawthorn (
Crataegus crus-galli
)
▪
Common Persimmon (
Diospyros virginiana
)
▪
American Holly (
Ilex opaca
)
▪
Sweetbay magnolia (
Magnolia virginiana
)
▪
Pin Cherry, Choke Cherry, Wild Plum (
Prunus ssp.)
▪
Sassafras (
Sassafras albidum
)
Shrubs
▪
Multi-stemmed
▪
4-20’
▪
Important edge and understory plants
▪
Hedge rows, connectivity between larger habitats
▪
Well-suited for home gardens
Blueberries (Vaccinum)
▪
Support 288 lepidopterons
▪
Good source of nectar
▪
Berries for birds, mammals
▪
Acidic soils
Lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium) 1-2’
Dry to moist soil Sun to part sun
Roses (Rosa)
▪
Support 139 lepidopterons
▪
Showy flowers, June
▪
Hips for birds, mammals
Swamp Rose (R. palustris) 4-8’ Moist to wet soil Sun to shade
Pasture Rose (R. carolina) 3’
Dry to moist soil Sun to part sun
Dogwoods (Cornus)
▪
Support 115 lepidopterons
▪
High-fat berries for birds, mammals
▪
High nectar production
▪
Showy flowers April-May
Gray Dogwood (C. racemosa) 6-12’ Dry to moist soil Sun to shade
Silky Dogwood (C. amomum) 6-12’ Moist to wet soil Sun to part sun
Red Osier Dogwood (C. sericea) 6-12’ Moist soil Part shade
Hollies (Ilex)
▪
Support 34 lepidopterons
▪
Berries for birds, mammals
▪
Nectar for pollinators, June-July
▪
Male and female plants
Winterberry, deciduous (I. verticillata) 6-12’ Moist to wet soil Sun to shade
Inkberry, evergreen (I. glabra) 6-10’ Dry to moist soil Sun to shade
Viburnums (Viburnum)
▪
Support 97 lepidopterons
▪
Important nectar source
▪
High-fat content in berries
▪
Good fall color
Maple-leaved Arrowwood (V. acerifolium) 3-6’
Dry to moist soil Sun to shade
Southern Arrowwood (V. dentatum) 10-15’ Dry to wet soil Sun to shade
Possum-haw Viburnum (V. nudum) 6-20’ Moist to wet soil Sun to shade
Black Haw
(V. prunifolium) 12-24’ Dry to wet soil Sun to shade
Witherrod
(V. nudum v. cassanoides) 6-12’
Some Other Shrubs
▪
Smooth Alder (
Alnus serrulata
)
▪
Devil’s Walking Stick (
Aralia spinosa
)
▪
New Jersey Tea (
Ceanothus americanus
)
▪
Buttonbush (
Cephalanthus occidentalis
)
▪
American Hazelnut (
Corylus americana
)
▪
Witch Hazel (
Hamamelis virginiana
)
▪
Smooth Hydrangea (
Hydrangea arborescens
)
▪
Mountain Laurel (
Kalmia latifolia
)
▪
Spicebush (
Lindera benzoin
)
▪
Chokeberry (
Photinia ssp.
)
▪
Ninebark (
Physocarpus opulifolius
)
▪
Rhododendrons, Azaleas (
Rhododendron ssp.
)
▪
Sumacs (
Rhus ssp.
)
▪
Brambles (
Rubus ssp.
)
▪
Common Elderberry (
Sambucus nigra
)
▪
Steeplebush (
Spiraea tomentosa
)
Vines
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) 20-35’, dry to moist soil Sun to part sun Hummingbirds
Virginia Creeper (Partenocissus quinquefolia) 25-35’, dry to wet soil Sun to shade Butterflies, birds
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) 6-12’, dry to moist soil Sun to part sun Hummingbirds, pollinators American Bittersweet
(Celastrus scandens) 6-20’, dry to moist soil Sun to shade
Berries for birds, mammals
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) 6-12’, dry to moist soil Sun to shade Fragrant
Perennials for Sun, Dry Soil
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) 1-3’
Orange, May-July Butterflies, pollinators
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) 2-4’
Fall color Butterflies, cover Wild Bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa) 1-5’
Purple, June-September Butterflies, hummingbirds
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 2-3’
Yellow, June-October Butterflies, birds
Sundrops (Oenothera perennis) 1-3’
Yellow, May-August Birds, pollinators, hummingbirds
Perennials for Sun, Moist Soil
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 4-6’
Mauve, May-July Butterflies, pollinators
Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) 2-5’ Various Butterflies Cardinal Flower
(Lobelia cardinalis) 2-4’
Red, July-October Butterflies, hummingbirds
New England Aster (Symplotrichum novae-angliae
1-6’
Purple, August-October Butterflies, birds
Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) 1-10’
Perennials for Shade, Dry Soil
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) 1-3’
Red, April-July Hummingbirds, butterflies, pollinators
Alumroot (Heuchera americana) 1-3’
Various, April-July Pollinators, foliage Evergreen Woodfern
(Dryopteris intermedia) 2-3’
Evergreen
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) 1-2’
Purple, April-July Butterflies, birds, pollinators
Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) 1.5-2’
Pink, April-September Pollinators, hummingbirds
Perennials for Shade, Moist Soil
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) 1-2’
Blue, April-June Pollinators, neat foliage
Northern Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) 1-3’
Shelter Turtlehead
(Chelone glabra) 1-3’
White-pink, Jul-Sept Butterflies, hummingbirds
Great Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) 2-4’
White, April-June Birds, pollinators, neat foliage
Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) 1-2’ Lilac, May-June Butterflies, fragance
Groundcovers
Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) 0.5’
Brown, April-May Moist soil, Shade/part sun Host plant for Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly
Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) 2-5’
Sun to shade, moist to wet Birds, mammals Moss Phlox
(Phlox subulata) 0.5’
Pink, White, Lilac April-June Sun, dry soil Butterflies, pollinators
Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens ) 0.5-1’
White, April
Moist soil, Shade/part sun Pollinators, fragrance
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) 0.5-1’ White, April-July Pollinators
Containers
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 2-3’, Sun to part sun Dry to moist soil Yellow, June-October Butterflies, birds
Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) 1.5-2’, Shade/part shade, Dry to moist soil Pink, April-September Pollinators, hummingbirds
Alumroot (Heuchera americana) 1-3’, Shade/part shade Dry to moist soil Various, April-July Pollinators, foliage
Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) 1-2’, Sun to part sun Dry to moist soil Yellow, June-October Pollinators, butterflies
Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) 0.5’
Some Internet Resources
§
www.marcmradell.com
§
www.iconservepa.org
§
www.wildflower.org
§
www.mtcubacenter.org
§
www.bhwp.org
§
www.nativeplantcenter.net
§
plants.usda.gov
Summary
§
It’s not that hard
§
Start small, then expand
§
Every native plant helps
Thank yo
u for
planting native
