Tag: native shrub

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Hearts-A-Bustin’ / Strawberry Bush

Post author By acadis
Post date August 6, 2020
No Comments on Hearts-A-Bustin’ / Strawberry Bush

Scientific Name: Euonymus americanus

Family: Celastraceae

Height: 4 -6 ft.

Spread: 4 – 6 ft.

Bloom Time: May – June

Native Range: Eastern United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Winter food for birds.

Human Value: Joy!

Augus 5, 2020: I first saw Heart-A-Bustin’ at Bartrum’s Garden one fall day with Martha. The bright red and purple pods splitting open to reveal the red berries within made me grin and stuck in my mind, along with the descriptive common name on the label. I had to wait several years for our red maple tree to grow large enough to shade it throughout the day, but I as finally able to plant a whip in the spring of 2019. So far, it has grown slowly, but it will probably be another year or two before it flowers.

Tags Native, native shrub, shrub, woody

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Hazelnut, American

Scientific Name: Corylus americana

Family: Betulaceae

Height: 10 – 16 ft.

Spread: 8 – 13 ft.

Bloom Time: March – April

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: The large shrubs provide shelter and nesting sites for birds. Tallamy reports that American hazelnut is a larval host for 125 species of caterpillars. Mammals and birds eat nuts.

Human Value: Edible nuts.

August 5, 2020: I purchased two American hazelnut whips from Prairie Moon Nursery in the spring of 2019 and planted them against the east fence next to Ian’s clubhouse. The southern whip survived and has grown into a small multi-stemmed shrub, but the more northern whip was planted in much poorer soil and died. I plan to plant a second hazelnut next spring as a pollinator for the surviving plant.

Tags edible, Native, native shrub, shrub, woody

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Chokeberry, Black

Scientific Name: Aronia melanocarpa

Family: Rosaceae

Height: 3 – 6 ft.

Spread: 3 – 6 ft.

Bloom Time: May

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar source, berries for birds

Human Value: Extremely bitter berries are technically edible and contain a large amount of pectin, but need to be cooked with a great deal of sweetening such as in jams.

August 5, 2020: In a class on attracting animal life to gardens that I took at the Mt. Cuba Center in the fall of 2018, the lecturer said that he had observed that birds preferred black chokeberries to red chokeberries. I look forward to comparing the interest in the two species in our yard this fall (2020). So far, the birds have largely ignored the red chokeberry by the front door.

Tags edible, Native, native shrub, Pollinator, shrub

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Bottlebrush Buckeye

Scientific Name: Aesculus parviflora

Family: Sapindaceae

Height: 8 – 12 ft.

Spread: 8 – 15 ft.

Bloom Time: June to July

Native Range: Southeastern United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar source.

Human Value: Ornamental.

August 5, 2020: Our bottlebrush buckeye, affectionately named Edith, started as a balled and burlapped tree planted by landscapers at my parents’ house in Swarthmore. Unfortunately, their large deer herd found her new shoots irresistible. She struggled for two years before my parents gave her to me in the spring of 2019. Mistaking her species, I planted her in full sun for six months before realizing that she was a shade-loving bottlebrush buckeye.

In the September 2019, I moved her to the shadier northeast boundary of the Side Lot. As of August 2020, she seems to be establishing nicely.

Tags Native, native shrub, Pollinator, shrub, woody

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Viburnum, Possumhaw

Scientific Name: Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’ and ‘Bulk Brandywine’

Height: 5-12 ft

Spread: 5-12 ft

Bloom Time: April-May

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host. Nectar for beneficial insects. Berries for birds.

Human Value: Edible berries.

Tags Bee, bird, edible, Native, native shrub, Pollinator, shrub

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Blueberry, Highbush

Scientific Name: Vaccinium corrymbosum

Family Name: Ericaceae

Height: 4-8 ft

Spread: 4-8 ft

Bloom Time: May-June

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar for insects. Fruit for birds.

Human Value: Blueberries appear in mid to late summer.

Tags Bee, bird, edible, Native, native shrub, Pollinator, shrub

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Rose, Virginia

Scientific Name: Rosa virginiana

Family: Rosaceae

Height: 4-6 ft.

Spread: 4-6 ft.

Bloom Time: June

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Rose hips are eaten by birds and mammals. The suckering growth creates hedges of good cover.

Human Value: Petals are edible and may be distilled for rose water. Rose hips, with seeds removed, may be made into jams or dried and used in teas. The rose hips are high in Vitamin C and fatty acids. The seeds are high in Vitamin E. The red hips provide good winter interest.

Tags Bee, bird, Native, native shrub, Pollinator, shrub, woody

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Azalea, Flame

Scientific Name: Rhododendron calendulaceum

Family: Ericaceae

Height: 6-12 ft

Spread: 6-12 ft

Bloom Time: May-June

Native Range: East Coast from New York to Georgia, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar for bees.

Human Value: The plant is toxic. Honey made with large amounts of nectar from it may be toxic as well.

Tags Bee, Native, native shrub, Pollinator, shrub, woody

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Sumac, Fragrant

Scientfic Name: Rhus aromatica

Family: Anacardiaceae

Height: 1.5-2 ft

Spread: 6-8 ft

Bloom Time: April-May

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host. Berries.

Human Value: Native Americans used leaves and bark for medicines. Both could be used for tanning of leather. The berries soaked in water can be used to make sumac-aide.