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How to use it. Use this large native perennial in any shady site, including a formal shade garden, featured as a focal point along a woodland edge or naturalized in a deciduous woodland. Combine American spikenard with other shade-tolerant native perennials, including early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum), large-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla) and sweet Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum). Planting notes. American spikenard is rhizomatous and will spread slowly in rich soil, forming clusters. It is a difficult plant to transplant, so site it appropriately and leave it in place. The berries can be collected in September when ripe, and sown directly into the desired location in the fall. Collected seed can also be stored in a cool, dry location over the winter. Cold-stratify the seed in damp sand in the fridge for 60 days before sowing it in pots, or directly in the ground in the spring.
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates shade and a wide range of soil conditions Seasonal interest: Features large, compound leaves; large panicles bear many tiny creamy-white flowers that open in mid-July through August; robust size and bright red to maroon berries in fall When to plant: Spring or fall. Potted plants and seeds are available from most native-plant nurseries in areas where it occurs. Distinguishing traits. American spikenard is shrub-like in form and size, and makes a statement as a single specimen or combined with other shade-tolerant perennials. The fruit attracts many types of birds, which devour the ripening berries.
Botanical name: Aralia racemosa Common name: American spikenard Origin: Native from eastern to southwestern North America, from eastern South Dakota to Kansas, east to Maine in the north and Georgia in the south; in the Southwest it is native to New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado; in Canada it is native from Saskatchewan eastward to Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 43 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3a to 8a; find your zone) Typical plant communities: Dry-medium to medium-moist woodland slopes and woodland edges Soil requirement: Dry-medium to medium-moist, sandy-loam to clay-loam soil Light requirement: Shade to partial sun Mature size: 48 to 60 inches tall and 30 to 42 inches wide
Planting notes. The height and shape of Oregon grape can be managed with light pruning. Once established, it can also be coppiced (cut to the ground) in the fall or winter to renew old growth or help control cabbage looper caterpillars. Tough and disease resistant, Oregon grape is also easy and low maintenance.
Another species. Creeping barberry (Mahonia repens, syn. Berberis aquifolium var. repens) is very similar to the Oregon grape shown here, yet it grows only to 2½ feet tall and slowly spreads to 3 to 5 feet wide, and is an ideal ground cover. It can handle a bit more summer water than Oregon grape, but extra water is not necessary, since creeping barberry is also drought tolerant. Its fruit hangs near the ground, so quail can easily pluck and then enthusiastically consume the berries. Creeping barberry also sports red and other colored leaves like those shown.
How to use it. Oregon grape makes an excellent hedge or specimen for a partly shaded area; it’s a great accent plant for a woodland garden. The fruit is edible. Some say it is bitter and not worth bothering with, while others maintain that preserves and other recipes made with it are quite good. This will be for you to find out.
Botanical name: Mahonia aquifolium (syn. Berberis aquifolium) Common names: Oregon grape, Oregon grape holly, hollyleaved barberry Origin: California; some regions in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and northern Mexico; prohibited in Michigan due to black stem rust Natural habitat: Slopes, canyons, coniferous forests, oak woodlands, chaparral; below 6,500 feet elevation Where it will grow: Easily hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone) Water requirement: Drought tolerant to needing occasional water Light requirement: Full sun along the coast; partial shade inland Soil: Adaptable; prefers acidic, well-drained soil Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide; spreads slowly Benefits and tolerances: Benefits birds and butterflies; tolerates coastal conditions, clay, drought and desert; good with oaks; deer resistant; edible Seasonal interest: Year-round interest, with spring flowers, bronze new foliage and fall colors, without dropping leaves; summer berries follow the bloom, ripening to dark purple in summer to fall When to plant: Late fall is ideal; winter works well; spring is acceptable; summer can be challenging to all but the mos...
Try spicebush, which also puts out yellow blooms in spring but also draws insects and birds (like spicebush swallowtail, which uses it as a host plant), produces red berries in fall and has aromatic foliage that turns golden in autumn. It prefers a good deal of shade but can take more sun if soil moisture is ample — it’s a bit fuller in full sun. At 6 to 12 feet tall, it deserves a place of prominence. Spicebush also requires male and female plants to produce fruit, so plan accordingly.
U. of Maryland Arboretum & Botanical Garden Save Email Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) Native to all U.S. regions except the southern Plains and the Southeast Insects enjoy its masses of white flowers in spring, followed by tons of white berries the birds adore. Solid autumn leaf color and bright red stems follow in winter. Redtwig dogwood prefers a wet to medium soil and does fine in clay, in full sun to partial shade. The species reaches 6 to 12 feet tall and wide, but some smaller cultivars are available. Every three years you should cut the oldest and thickest stems down to the ground, as younger shoots provide the bright red color.
Shumard Oak, or Southern Red (Quercus shumardii) Native from Kansas east to Pennsylvania and south to Texas and Florida Highly tolerant of urban areas and a perfect street tree, Shumard oak will reach 40 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide, opening up as it ages. Keep in mind that these size ranges reflect optimal siting and reflect geographic location — a tree in the north will be shorter than one in the south. Shumard prefers dry to medium soil in sun, but can also do well in a rain-garden-type location. Its red fall color comes later than that of most oaks.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Native from Saskatchewan to New Brunswick in Canada, and from Montana to Texas and east (except for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida) in the U.S. Reaching 60 to 80 feet tall and wide, bur has a wide range and is one of the most adaptable of the oaks. It thrives in dry to medium soil in full sun, but also does fine in a large rain garden setting with proper drainage. The fall color tends not to be showy, but can be a yellowish brown. Bur is also the most northern of our oaks; in the more northern regions, it tends to become shorter and shrubby. Like golf-ball-sized acorn? Bur oak has the largest of our native oaks.
How to spot American kestrels. Male American kestrels’ dominating colors are like those of a beautiful, weathered penny. They have a coppery-colored back and tail, accompanied by bluish-gray wings and head. Black and white streaks on their face and black speckles covering much of their body mix with these vibrant colors.
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