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Growing with Phipps: Helping native wildflowers continue to bloom
Saturday, August 26, 2000 By Jeff Polonoli, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Though more than 2,000 native plants grow in Pennsylvania, most of the wildflowers you see in Pittsburgh or its suburbs are not native.
This is one of a series of periodic columns by staffers of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Jeff Polonoli is Phipps' plant recorder.
Only those wildflowers growing in this region before the 1600s or prior to European settlement can be called true native wildflowers. All others are nonnative because they were introduced from another country, mainly in Europe and Asia.
Native wildflowers are unique because most will survive only in a particular natural habitat. However, because of our growing population, we are constantly altering and eliminating these natural habitats. Unfortunately, some wildflowers cannot adapt to this change. One way we can help the survival of our native wildflower population is to grow native species found in Pennsylvania. Simply figure out what natural habitat -- meadow, field, moist or dry woodland, swamp or sandy soil -- is closest to your type of garden setting and choose a native wildflower that is found growing naturally in that particular habitat.
The milkweed family (Asclepidaceae) has some of the best native wildflowers for butterfly enthusiasts. This family cannot be matched among natives for its sweet flower fragrance. Our common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) grows 3 to 5 feet tall, has many clusters of pale purple flowers and is found growing in meadows and along roadsides. The most colorful milkweed is Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), which has many bright orange flower clusters atop a 3-foot stem and grows on roadsides and in dry, sunny fields or semi-shaded woody edges.
If you enjoy planting showy flowers, then the lily family (Liliaceae) has the natives you'll prefer. This family is probably the most observed family by wildflower enthusiasts during the spring. The Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) has mottled leaves and a bright yellow flower. This plant has the ability to colonize a wooded slope, making this native perfect for woodland gardens. All native Trillium species bloom from February through spring and can adapt to any shady garden with humus rich soil. There are at least five native Trilliums found growing in Pennsylvania in colors of white, purple and even yellow.
One of the most diverse groups of native wildflowers is the Aster family (Asteraceae). This family has species adapted to both dry and wet habitats. For height in the garden, Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum) is a good choice. This native wildflower has large whorled leaves, a stem smelling like vanilla when scratched and a large pink flower cluster guaranteed to attract many butterfly species. It usually grows in moist meadows or wood edges but can be found just about anywhere. One of the longest flowering natives is New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis). This native wildflower has 30 to 50 clusters of purple flower heads atop a 5-foot stem. Ironweed is usually found growing in moist to dry meadows, often accompanied by the common Goldenrod. Together, these plants display a wonderful show of golden yellow and royal purple in late summer.
You can surely grow at least one of these native wildflowers in your garden and help ensure the survival of our native plant species. Begin your search by purchasing a wildflower field guide that lists both local native and non-native wildflowers, along with a description of their natural habitat.
Remember never to remove a plant from the wild and purchase only those wildflowers propagated at a nursery. To have a successful native wildflower garden, simply choose your plants wisely, avoid non-native species and let nature do the rest.
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