{"id":1955,"date":"2019-04-30T00:57:21","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T00:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=1955"},"modified":"2021-04-17T14:45:01","modified_gmt":"2021-04-17T14:45:01","slug":"prime-plants-for-nature-backyards-for-nature-2019-native-plant-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=1955","title":{"rendered":"Prime Plants for Nature: Backyards for Nature 2019 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, shrub, or vine<\/strong> and the other is a perennial<\/strong>.\u00a0 Prime Plants are selected based on these criteria:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 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 by producing nutritious fruits, seeds, nuts, nectar, or pollen<\/li>\n
  4. Most host insects that are eaten by birds or other animals<\/li>\n
  5. Offer shelter and places to raise young<\/li>\n
  6. Easy to grow and make an attractive addition to your landscape<\/li>\n
  7. Sold at native plant nurseries and native plant sales. (See list of local sources for native plants at the end).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Our selections for the 2019 Prime Plants for Nature awards are:<\/p>\n

    Amelanchier canadensis<\/em>, Serviceberry<\/span> (also known as Juneberry or Shadbush) A. arborea and A. laevis <\/em><\/strong>are closely related species.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Berries on Serviceberry ripen in early summer and are quickly eaten by birds. \u00a9 Mark Gormel Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Wildlife Value<\/strong>: In the early summer this small tree produces berries relished by American Robins, Gray Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and Northern Mockingbirds. Other birds and mammals eat the fruits as well. The popular fruits disappear quickly, often before they are completely ripe. The foliage of Serviceberry is food for 124 species of caterpillars including Striped Hairstreak and Red-spotted Purple butterflies and Blinded Sphinx and Small-eyed Sphinx moths. The nectar-rich flowers attract adult butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Cedar Waxwing eating Serviceberry fruits. \u00a9 Harris Brown. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Serviceberry is a host plant for Red-spotted Purple butterfly caterpillars. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Growing Conditions: <\/strong>\u00a0Serviceberry is easily grown in sun or part shade.\u00a0\u00a0 It prefers moist soil, but will tolerate a variety of conditions. Although sometimes subject to rust or leaf spot, it is normally free of any severe problems. Rust (Apple Cedar rust) can be a problem for anyone who also has nearby Eastern Red Cedar.\u00a0 It is moderately deer-resistant.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Serviceberry blooms profuely in April. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Appearance:<\/strong> A single-trunk or multi-stemmed tree, Serviceberry grows to 15-25 feet at maturity.\u00a0 This member of the rose family is covered with showy white blossoms in early spring before the foliage emerges. The<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Blossoms of Serviceberry are popular with native bees and other pollinators. \u00a9 Barb Elliot. click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    attractive fall foliage is yellow to orange-red.\u00a0 Amelanchier canadensis, A. arborea, <\/em>and A.<\/em> laevis<\/em> are closely related species that hybridize and are difficult to differentiate unless you are a<\/p>\n

    botanist.<\/p>\n

    The Serviceberry should not be confused with Bradford Pear, also known as Callery Pear, an invasive tree with similar white flowers that blooms at the same time.\u00a0 The Bradford Pear has upright branches and denser, dark foliage. It out-competes native species, hosts very few native insects, and produces fruit that is unpalatable to birds and other wildlife.\u00a0 For more info about invasive Bradford\/Callery Pear in Pennsylvania, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Giant Swallowtail, a rare butterfly in southeastern PA, visited my Garden Phlox. \u00a9 Edie parnum. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Wildlife Value: <\/strong>Garden Phlox is a nectar-rich perennial that attracts native pollinators including butterflies, bees, moths, and hummingbirds. The flower petals are fused into a tube (corolla). To access the nectar, a pollinator inserts its tongue (proboscis) into the bottom of the corolla.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Bumble bee nectaring at Garden Phlox. \u00a9 Bonnie Witmer. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Butterflies and large bees with a long proboscis and hummingbirds can reach the nectar.\u00a0 Small bees such as Sweat Bees, Yellow-faced Bees, Leafcutter Bees, and small carpenter bees have a proboscis that is too short to reach the nectar. \u00a0However, all will pick up pollen as they rub against the anther (male part) at the top of the corolla. Flying from flower to flower, these pollinators carry the pollen to the stigma (female flower part) of each bloom. As a result, reproduction occurs.<\/p>\n

    Among the insect pollinators using Garden Phlox, Hummingbird<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    A moth with transparent wings, a Hummingbird Clearwing, nectars on Garden Phlox. \u00a9 Tony Nastase. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Clearwing Moth is a conspicuous day-flying sphinx moth that is sometimes mistaken for a hummingbird.\u00a0 Also look for Peck\u2019s Skipper, a small tan butterfly.<\/p>\n

    Growing Conditions:\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0Garden Phlox will grow well in sun or part sun in moist to average (tolerates clay) soil.<\/p>\n

    Appearance: <\/strong>The pink, lavender, or white flowers bloom profusely in late summer and early fall on 3-4-foot plants. Many cultivars (often referred to as navitars) are<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Garden Phlox. \u00a9 Edie Parnum. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

    available, but some have reduced nectar production.\u00a0 However, according to studies performed at Mt. Cuba Center, \u2018Jeana\u2019 produces nectar abundantly and attracts many pollinators.\u00a0 Garden Phlox can develop mildew during hot, humid summer conditions.\u00a0 Removing some of the flower stalks will improve air circulation and prevent mildew.\u00a0 According to Mt Cuba<\/a>, the \u2018Jeana\u201d, \u2018Robert Poore\u2019, and \u2018David\u2019 cultivars are mildew-resistant.<\/p>\n

    Other phlox species:<\/strong>\u00a0 Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata, <\/em>and Creeping Phlox, P. stolonifera,<\/em> are spring-blooming phlox species that grow in part shade or shade. They attract a variety of pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds. The flower structure is similar to Garden Phlox.<\/p>\n

    ——————————————————————————————<\/p>\n

    Local Sources of Native Plants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Bowman\u2019s Hill Wildflower Preserve<\/strong>, 1635 River Rd. New Hope, PA 18938.\u00a0 215-862-2924 or bhwp.org. Nursery open April -October.<\/p>\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, DE 19707. Native trees, shrubs, and perennials.\u00a0 302-239-2727 or gatewaygardens.com.<\/p>\n

    Gino\u2019s Nursery, <\/strong>2237 Second Street Pike, Newtown, PA 18940.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials.\u00a0 267-750-9042 or ginosnursery.com.<\/p>\n

    Good Host Plants, <\/strong>150 W. Butler St., Philadelphia 19140.\u00a0 Straight species native perennials and woody plants of local genetic provenance. 267-270-5036 or goodhostplants.com.<\/p>\n

    Jenkins Arboretum, <\/strong>631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA 19333.\u00a0 610-647-8870 or jenkinsarboretum.org. Outdoor plant shop open daily 9-4 late April through mid-October.<\/p>\n

    Northeast Natives Perennials<\/strong>, 1716 E. Sawmill road, Quakertown, PA 18951.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials.\u00a0 215-901-5552 or nenativesandperennials.com<\/p>\n

    Redbud Native Plant Nursery<\/strong>, 904 N. Providence Road., Media, PA. 19063.\u00a0 Native trees, shrubs, and perennials. 610-892-2833 or redbudnativeplantnursery.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<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

    Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education<\/strong>, 8480 Hagys Mill Rd., Philadelphia 19128. 215-482-7300 or schuylkillcenter.org.<\/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, shrub, or vine and the other is a perennial.\u00a0 Prime Plants are selected based on these criteria: 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":[152,25,27,64,8,48,95,134,10,60,24,5,153,46,151,9],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955"}],"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=1955"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1973,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955\/revisions\/1973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}