{"id":1524,"date":"2016-05-03T01:48:15","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T01:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=1524"},"modified":"2017-01-13T23:02:30","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T23:02:30","slug":"prime-plants-for-nature-backyards-for-nature-2016-native-plant-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=1524","title":{"rendered":"Prime Plants for Nature: Backyards for Nature 2016 Native Plant Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Edie Parnum<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Every year we feature two superior native plant species.\u00a0 One of the Prime Plants for Nature is a Tree or Shrub<\/strong> and the other is a Perennia<\/strong>l.\u00a0 Prime Plants are selected based on these criteria:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be native to southeastern Pennsylvania.<\/li>\n
  2. Offer high wildlife value and contribute significantly to your property\u2019s web of life.<\/li>\n
  3. Provide food for wildlife. \u00a0Nutritious fruits, seeds, nuts, nectar, or pollen are produced by the plant.\u00a0 Most host insects that are eaten by birds or other animals.<\/li>\n
  4. Offer shelter and places to raise young.<\/li>\n
  5. Be easy to grow and make an attractive addition to your landscape.<\/li>\n
  6. Sold at native plant nurseries and native plant sales. \u00a0(See list at end of article.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Our selections for the 2016 Prime Plants for Nature awards are:<\/p>\n

    Black Cherry, Prunus serotina<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Wildlife Value<\/strong>: This medium-sized deciduous tree delivers exceptional wildlife value.<\/p>\n

    \"When<\/a>

    When the young caterpoillars emerge, the eat the cherr leaves. \u00a9 Barb Eliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    \"Red-spotted<\/a>

    Red-spotted Purple butterflies lay their eggs on the tips of Black Cherry leaves. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    According to Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain\u00a0<\/em>Wildlife with Native Plants<\/em>, it hosts 456 species of moths and butterfly caterpillars. \u00a0The foliage-eating caterpillars include\u00a0Red-spotted Purple butterflies and moths such as Luna, Polyphemus, and Cecropia. \u00a0The tree is not defoliated\u00a0because many migrating and breeding birds including warblers, vireos, and thrushes feed on these caterpillars.\u00a0 Yellow-billed Cuckoos will eat Eastern Tent Caterpillars.<\/p>\n

    \"Luna<\/a>

    Luna Moth is another of the 456 lepidoptera species caterpillars that eat Back Cherry. Photo \u00a9 Adrian Binns. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    In late\u00a0summer Black Cherry produces a copious crop of berries that are enjoyed by 33 species of birds including American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Cedar Waxwing, and various woodpeckers. \u00a0Native bees and flies pollinate the flowers.<\/p>\n

    \"Many<\/a>

    Many birds eat these Black Cherry fruits in late summer. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Growing Conditions:<\/strong> Adaptable to a variety of situations, sun or part sun, dry to moist soil.\u00a0 Seedlings can be transplanted.<\/p>\n

    Appearance:<\/strong> Medium to large fast-growing deciduous tree with dark, peeling bark.\u00a0 White flowers bloom in May on drooping stalks called racemes.\u00a0 The reddish-black fruits ripen in late summer.<\/p>\n

    Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Wildlife Value: <\/strong>If you want to entice hummingbirds to your yard, this is a must-have perennial.\u00a0 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are attracted to the Cardinal Flower\u2019s brilliant red flowers and are its primary pollinators.\u00a0The nectar is very sweet, twice as sweet as a soda. \u00a0A hummingbird\u2019s bill is long enough to reach the nectar deep inside the tubular<\/p>\n

    \"The<\/a>

    The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the primary pollinator for Cardinal Flower. It’s long bill and tongue can reach the nectar deep inside the blossom. It’s head feathers pick up pollen from the anther. Photo \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    flower.\u00a0 The feathers on the head pick up the pollen and carry it from one plant to another. Cardinal Flowers bloom for six weeks in the late summer during the hummingbirds\u2019 southbound migration. Bees rarely visit these flowers because their proboscis is too short to access the nectar.<\/p>\n

    \"The<\/a>

    The Spicebush Swallowtail’s long proboscis can reach the nectar, but the pollen remains untouched. SCJack.blogspot.com photo. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Large swallowtail butterflies can reach the nectar with their long proboscis but are unable to pick up and transfer the pollen.<\/p>\n

    Growing Conditions:\u00a0 <\/strong>Cardinal Flower is a trouble-free perennial that enjoys moist soil.\u00a0\u00a0 It will grow in average soil in a shady location. Not a true perennial, the plant and roots die after the growing season. However, the next spring it produces off-sets that will flower or can be transplanted to new locations.\u00a0 The parent plant also produces seedlings that can be transplanted.\u00a0 In the late fall, lay the flower stalk on the ground where you want seedlings to sprout in the spring. Appearance:\u00a0 <\/strong>The striking red flowers are arranged along 8\u201d spikes called racemes. \u00a0\u00a0The plant grows 2 \u00bd -3 feet high.\u00a0 The flowers are attractive additions to flower arrangements.<\/p>\n

    ———————————————————————-<\/p>\n

    Complete List of Backyards for Nature\u2019s <\/em>Prime Plants for Nature<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Trees<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Betula nigra<\/em>, River Birch<\/p>\n

    Juniperus virginiana<\/em>, Eastern Red Cedar<\/p>\n

    Prunus serotina<\/em>, Black Cherry<\/p>\n

    Quercus alba<\/em>, White Oak<\/p>\n

    Perennials<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Asclepias incarnata<\/em>, Swamp Milkweed<\/p>\n

    Lobelia cardinalis<\/em>, Cardinal Flower<\/p>\n

    Monarda fistulosa<\/em>, Wild Bergamot<\/p>\n

    Pycnanthemum muticum<\/em>, Short-toothed Mountainmint<\/p>\n

    For information about each plant, see Previous Posts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    —————————————————————-<\/p>\n

    Sources of Native Plants<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

    Collins Nursery, <\/strong>773 Roslyn Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and some perennials.\u00a0 Spring and fall open houses.\u00a0 Otherwise appointment necessary.\u00a0 215-715-3439 or collinsnursery.com.<\/p>\n

    David Brothers Native Plant Nursery<\/strong>, Whitehall Road, Norristown, PA 19403.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials.\u00a0 610-584-1550 or davidbrothers.com<\/p>\n

    Edge of the Woods Nursery, <\/strong>2415 Route 100, Orefield, PA 18069.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials. 610-393-2570 or edgeofthewoodsnursery.com.<\/p>\n

    Gateway Garden Center, <\/strong>7277 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin DE19707. Native trees, shrubs, and perennials.\u00a0 302-239-2727 or gatewaygardens.com.<\/p>\n

    Jenkins Arboretum, <\/strong>631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA 19333.\u00a0 610647-8870 or jenkinsarboretum.org. Outdoor plant shop open daily 9-4 late April through mid-October.<\/p>\n

    Redbud Native Plant Nursery<\/strong>, 643 West Baltimore Ave., Media, PA.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials. 610-892-2833 or redbudnativeplantnursery.com.<\/p>\n

    Russell Gardens Wholesale<\/strong>, 600 New Road, Southampton, PA 18966. Wholesale perennials, many native, sold to public. Pre-order for convenient pick-up. 215-322-4799 or russellwholesale.com.<\/p>\n

    Sugarbush Nursery, <\/strong>4272 Morgantown Road, Mohnton, PA 19540. Native trees, shrubs, and perennials.\u00a0 610-856-0998 or sugarbushnursery.com.<\/p>\n

    Yellow Springs Farm, <\/strong>1165 Yellow Springs Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Landscape design and consultation services available.\u00a0 Spring and fall open houses. On-line and phone orders available.\u00a0 Otherwise call for appointment.\u00a0 610-827-2014 or yellowspringsfarm.com.<\/p>\n

    Native Plant Sales<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Bartram\u2019s Garden, <\/strong>5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19143. 215-729-5281 or bartramsgarden.org. Spring and fall sales.<\/p>\n

    Bowman\u2019s Hill Wildflower Preserve<\/strong>, 1635 River Rd. New Hope, PA 18938.\u00a0 215-862-2924 or bhwp.org. Spring and fall plant sales.<\/p>\n

    Brandywine Conservancy<\/strong>, Routes 1 and 100, P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317. 610-388-2700 or brandywine.org\/conservancy.<\/a>\u00a0 Mother\u2019s Day weekend.\u00a0 Seeds also available.<\/p>\n

    Delaware Nature Society<\/strong>, Cloverdale Farm Preserve, 543 Way Road, Greenville, DE 19807.\u00a0 302-239-2334 or delawarenaturesociety.org.\u00a0 First weekend in May.<\/p>\n

    Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust<\/strong>, 2955 Edge Hill Road,\u00a0Huntington Valley, PA 19006. 215-657-0830 or pennypacktrust.org.\u00a0Spring and fall plant sales.<\/p>\n

    Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education<\/strong>, 8480 Hagys Mill Rd., Philadelphia 19128. 215-482-7300 or schuylkillcenter.org.\u00a0 Spring and fall plant sales.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Edie Parnum Every year we feature two superior native plant species.\u00a0 One of the Prime Plants for Nature is a Tree or Shrub and the other is a Perennial.\u00a0 Prime Plants are selected based on these criteria: Be native … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,1,112],"tags":[126,128,15,7,95,34,60,17,129,42,125,5,124,46,127,130,9],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1524"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1524"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1704,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1524\/revisions\/1704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}