Big, Blooming & Wild: Suffering Sassafras (Big, Blooming & Wild!)

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First is to just recognize that there is going to be lots of change. The characteristics of the planting site — soil, moisture and light levels—will influence the changes over time. Having an initial seed mix with too large a percentage of seeds of an aggressive species can eventually put that species in control of your garden. A seed mix that has a small number of aggressive species will likely lead to a planting heavily dominated by just a few species. I talked to a staff person at one of the large native plant nurseries about what influences succession in our native plant gardens.

He described a garden at their nursery site that had lots of Early Sunflower, a plant that I know from personal experience to be very aggressive. One of the most important factors affecting succession is the total number of plant species in the original seed mix. That seed mix forms the seed bank from which my mini-community will draw as the years progress. Use as large a number of species in the original mix as you can. A large number makes for more plant diversity and less chance that one or two species will take control and crowd out others.

It should also make the succession process more dynamic and a little closer to what occurs in nature. Disappointments aside, it is fascinating to watch all the changes occur and part of the fun of native plant gardening. Looking back on my efforts to replace large sections of lawn with native plants, I can think of three things that I sure wish some gardening wizard had told me in advance.

If you rely on just a few species and one or more of them turns out to be problematic too aggressive, too floppy or weak-stemmed, ugly, etc. It is darned hard work to get rid of something planted in volume once you decide you are sorry you planted it. A naturally-occurring plant community can have species or more. Although some species are very slow to spread, many of them are aerial acrobats that make you wonder how they do it.

Otherwise you are headed for a losing battle of trying to keep plants in their assigned locations. I once read a description of a gardener who took 13 years to get her native planting established. I will be done in years. Proportions and locations change, and you never know exactly what the next year will bring. However, the change never totally stops. So take advantage of this dynamic process. There are always opportunities to try adding a few new species each year.

Tennessee has such an abundant wealth of native flowers and grasses to try. You will make your planting better and have more fun at the same time. In a natural setting, new species often occur in areas of disturbance that create openings, for example a downed tree that suddenly lets in sunlight. Find areas of disturbance in your planting area, e. Use these areas to introduce new species.

It has a number of other common names including Scarlette Gilia and Flame Flower. This past spring, I had planted about an ounce of Standing Cypress seed, scattering it by hand, here and there across the top of the soil surface. Then I forgot all about it, except that on and off all summer long, I kept noticing these little green feathery-looking plants popping up here and there in my planting area. I went back to my seed lists to see what I had ordered, and of course, it was Standing Cypress in its first year. The more I read about Standing Cypress, the more I am looking forward to next summer.

It is a dependable re-seeder and once you get it started, you will have it blooming every other year. You can get it to bloom every year if you plant seed two years in a row. It likes full to part sun and medium to dry moisture. Its preferred soils are rocky, sandy or loamy. Since my soil is mostly clay, it will be interesting to see what happens. But so far, so good! This plant sounds like a great combination of beauty, ease and dependability. I will update this post next summer and add some pictures.

If anyone else has tried this plant, let us know how it worked for you. I got into experimenting with annuals out of necessity when I was trying to start native perennial wildflowers, which need that first year or more just to get established. Annuals gave me a good, temporary filler in my planted areas. Now that I have tried them and found how easy and colorful they are, I am always looking for opportunities to sandwich in a few annuals here and there. You can buy large quantities of seed for very reasonable prices, and annuals make a great addition to your native plantings. I thought it would be fun to share those species that I have tried and liked.

This information helps if you are anxious to limit yourself to only naturally-occurring Tennessee wildflowers. Our TYN blog is a great place to exchange ideas and information, so I hope others will add their comments, thoughts and other plant species! Indian Blanket or Firewheel Gaillardia pulchella. This plant has red flowers with yellow rims. It likes heat and tolerates drought , sandy soil and full sun, potentially blooming clear into October.

Lemon Mint or Purple Horse Mint. It is a typical member of the Mint family with square-shaped stems, and flowers are deep purple to lavender. It gets ft. It blooms for most of the summer. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love it. It is my favorite plant out of all the annuals I have tried. I planted it on a fairly steep slope of clay soil and had great luck with it.

It occurs in isolated counties in Middle and East Tennessee. Plains Coreopsis or Calliopsis Coreopsis tinctoria. This plant has striking yellow flowers with maroon centers and gets ft. It likes damper soil so it is good for areas with poor drainage or that tend to stay soggy for periods of time.

I have only tried a variety of this plant called Dwarf Red Plains Coreopsis with the same scientific name. It has very striking, solid mahogany-red flowers and blooms from mid- to late summer. However, it was still worth having, just for that solid deep, red color. The species is native to Tennessee and occurs statewide.

The dwarf variety appears to be originally native to mid-western U. Clasping Coneflower Dracopis amplexicaulis or Rudbeckia amplexicaulis. This rudbeckia has black, cone-shaped heads surrounded by bright yellow drooping flowers. It gets 2 feet tall and potentially blooms from early summer to September. Seed has a high germination rate, and it is a very heavy re-seeder. It is native to the mid-western and southern states, including our neighboring states of Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia.

Also Tennessee DOT sometimes adds this species to their native seed mixes that they plant along Tennessee roadsides. This bright red poppy is technically a native of Europe and has become naturalized throughout the United States. It has fire engine red flowers, and you can easily spot it from 30 or 40 yards away. It needs full to part sun and blooms spring to early summer.

For all the seeds I have put down, I have gotten mighty few plants. I read that good germination only occurs in areas of bare ground which may be part of my problem. However, even one or two successes are enough reward to keep me trying, at least for a while. Scarlet Sage Salvia coccinea. This plant has fluorescent red tubular flowers and can get up to 3 feet tall. It likes full to part sun and sandy to gravelly soil. It potentially blooms from early summer to the first frost and is a hummingbird magnet.

Even though it is found growing wild in the southern U. Although I usually try to stick with Tennessee natives, I find this plant hard to resist. It is so striking and brings in the hummingbirds and butterflies that I love. I buy seed by the ounce and scatter it widely. If you have other plant species you have tried or other favorite seed sources, please be sure to post them. Also be sure to post any techniques you have tried that improve plant growth and performance.

Since I prefer to plant large areas of my yard in native flowers and grasses, money always seems to be the number one criteria in my plant selection. Every year I try a new list of species. I thought it would be fun to post my favorite 10 plants that I have found relatively easy to grow from seed in pots. As is typical with wildflowers, every species on this list requires 1- 2 months of cold, damp treatment before the seed will germinate.

So in late December, I plant the seed in little peat pots about to a tray , water the pots and put them out in the garage for the winter. I cover the trays with a sheet of wax paper and top that with a few sheets of newspaper; I check them every few weeks to make sure they are not drying out.

On March 1, I bring them into the house and put them on the floor under grow lights that I have hung on the underside of a metal folding table. With hundreds of species out there to try, this list barely scratches the surface. Be sure to post any species you have tried that worked well for you. We would love some suggestions. I consider the Liatris species to be the royalty of the native wildflower world. They are tough, beautiful and butterfly magnets. However, I have always been kind of confused by the diversity of plants in this genus and by their very picky cultural needs. Since I have never spent the time required to really study which ones grow where, I have been missing out on this great plant.

I spent some serious time researching the six species that are native to Tennessee and thought it would be fun to share the chart that I developed to help me select the right plants for my yard. To start out, it is good to be aware that all the species have several things in common. They are beautiful and easy to grow if you meet their needs.

They all need full sun to reach their potential. Well-drained soil is a must. The tall varieties are likely to need staking. That said, here is my chart, and please be sure to post any observations or edits you have. I always like to diversify my native plants as much as possible, and even though I try to research each species ahead of time, some of them always come back to bite me. Here is my list of regrets. If anyone has had a different experience with these plants or has found a way to deal with them, please post a response.

Also to help out the rest of us, please consider posting your own list. Virginia Wild Rye Elymus virginicus. I have been pulling and dead-heading it for five years. Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii. Generally, this is considered a very desirable meadow grass. Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginiana. It works fairly well in dry shade, but it is almost like something from outer space if put in full sun with plenty of water. It is often on rain garden plant lists, and I made the mistake of using it in my rain garden.

In less than 3 months, a total of 6 plants had buried every other plant in the garden, and when I pulled it all out, I had rooted plants about every inch to half inch. W ild Petunia Ruellia humilis. This plant is a darling, small purple petunia that makes a great groundcover. I read that it shoots its seed up to 10 feet through the air, which at the time sounded rather charming. Since it blooms the first year from seed, those plants will then send their seed out another 10 feet.. Even though it is a small plant, you cannot hand pull it by the roots.

I am no longer sure that I want it, but it is too late. Once planted, it is so invasive that it is here to stay. Sweet Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia subtomentosa. This plant is both pretty and a huge headache. It is a great rain garden plant with bright yellow flowers. It re-seeds with abandon, popping up everywhere in the yard.

So I thought it would be fun to post a list of my favorite plant species in case they will be helpful to someone else. My favorites are those plants that are dependable, good on a modest budget, and easy to grow from seed applied on bare ground. As a preface to the list, I should mention that I like to grow natives in a meadow-like setting as a replacement for lawn.

So I am not necessarily recommending these plants for use in a groomed, formal flower bed, which is a whole different creature. I like to do larger areas from seed for a natural setting that draws lots of birds, butterflies and bees. Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea. This is my top pick. It is spectacular en masse, blooms for a long period, reseeds well on its own, and beloved by butterflies. It is also a favorite food of goldfinches, who are so impatient to eat that they start checking for seed ripeness as soon as flowers appear.

The seed is also inexpensive. This is a charming, white flower that is a very strong re-seeder so you need to be a bit careful in the amount of seed you use. For such a tiny seed , per ounce , it has an amazingly successful germination rate. You can depend on it to quickly cover bare ground perhaps a little too quickly. But again it is spectacular en masse, and a large, mass bloom comes alive with the hum of hundreds of bees.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata. This is an easy coreopsis from seed and gives quick bloom in the first year. I like its bright dependable color. It makes a good nurse crop while other plants are getting started. I find it does tend to decline after a few years. Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea. This is a dependable, bright yellow flower for spring. Seed has a high germination rate, and plants re-seed readily so it is easy to get too much of it.

Nodding Pink Onion Allium cernuum. Personally I love the cute nodding heads of pink flowers. Its dainty height and shape is a nice contrast to the large plant species. Given its small size, it is better placed along the garden edges. Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa. This plant is the old-fashioned native from which many cultivars have been produced.

Unfortunately it has a bad, and in my opinion undeserved, reputation for mildew. I find the bees like it better than the cultivars, and the flowers are unique and beautiful. When you plant the seed, be forewarned that it will feel like every single seed that you planted germinated.

If Wild Bergamot is too coarse for you, this is a tamer and smaller species that is easy from seed and spreads well. It has lovely flowers and deep green leaves. The bees and butterflies like it too. Slender Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium. This is a mid-summer bloomer with many, small white flowers with purple-tinted edges. It is not a spectacular flower from a distance but extremely pretty close-up. It is very easy from seed, re-seeds readily, and very popular with butterflies and bees.

It will provide a mass bloom just after the Alexanders have finished. Side-oats Gramma Bouteloua curtipendula. This is a charming 2 foot tall grass that I have been told is a not a strong survivor in Tennessee. So far mine are hanging in there for their 3rd succeeding year. Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica. I have planted seed off and on over several years with very modest results.

But it only takes a few plants, and once you have them, Blue Lobelia will move quickly into the areas that it likes. Although the books specify that it tends to be a wetland plant and likes wet to average moisture, it has planted itself on the steep, rather dry slope behind my garage.

When things are turning brown and straggly in the fall, the bright blue of this lobelia is most welcome. After about 3 years, I have it scattered here and there across the entire slope. With all these quoted prices and amounts, I anticipate questions on where I buy my seed. While I am very happy with their quality and service, I am sure there are also other outlets with competitive prices.

This blog will serve as a TN native plant database with images and growing information as well as a place where you can come and provide feedback and ask questions about plants in your garden! Sprayed area right next to unsprayed, after 24 hours. Extended to March 15th!

No dependence on chemicals To outsiders, his farm appeared somewhat wild and unkept. Buttonbush Is Large Shrub. Cephalanthus occidentalis at Chicago Botanical Garden. Favorite Native Plants Buttonbush. Favorite Native Plants , Miscellaneous annual , recommended. Then you adjust this number according to your situation: Leave a comment Posted by joystewart on June 5, Diversify your plant species.

This salvia likes full to part sun, grows ft. It does tend to lean when it gets tall so it needs the support of surrounding plants. This mint likes part to full shade but will accept full sun. It accepts a wide range of soils including clay and has pretty, pale blue flowers with purple spots which the bees love. Missouri Evening Primrose Oenothera macrocarpa. It prefers lean soil; in fertile soil, it can be overwhelmed by its larger neighbors.

You may already know this plant for its eye-stopping, huge, bright yellow flowers. Its only drawback is that it does tend to form a somewhat messy tangle of leaves and stems, but with flowers like that, who cares! This plant likes full to part sun, moderately wet to medium moisture, and grows feet tall. It prefers humus-rich soil but will adapt to average or sandy soil. It has attractive rose-pink flowers and deserves to be grown more often. It is another easy-to-grow, adaptable penstemon that has elegant lavender and white blooms that attract hummingbirds.

This plant likes full to part sun, moderately wet to moderately dry moisture and will grow in just about any soil. It is an unusual and striking architectural plant that gets feet tall. It reminds me of a yucca. This plant likes part to full shade, medium to moderately dry moisture, and grows about 3 feet tall. I was not disappointed; this flower has beautiful sprays of golden yellow flowers that brighten any shady spot. This is a lovely woodland plant that I had always incorrectly assumed would be hard to grow from seed, as many woodland plants seem to be.

It grows in part to full shade, likes moderately wet to moderately dry soil, and gets 12 inches tall. This is a woodland plant that needs light to medium shade, medium to moderately dry moisture, and loamy to rocky soil. Seedlings appear in roadsides and openings among buildings. Large flowers are attractive but can become slick on roads. The similar Southern catalpa, C.

Celtis laevigata sugarberry Tree A close relative of hackberry though less abundant, sugarberry may also be a welcome volunteer in your flowerbed to transplant. The bark may be less warty but otherwise similar to hackberry. However, there is a form of it called Texas sugarberry, which is more shrublike. Celtis occidentalis hackberry Tree Hackberry is adaptable and easily becomes established in undeveloped areas.

It has good natural form and interesting warty bark. Some autumns favor a brilliant yellow leaf color. Chionanthus virginicus fringe tree Tree So rare in the wild, and so beautiful. At the peak of its bloom it shows the whitest white petals that cover and hang from the tree rivaling a snowstorm. It has proved its ability to survive an intensely harsh site at Meramec Community College. Cladrastis kentukea yellowwood Tree A lovely shade tree, yellowwood can adapt to St Louis, though we may be a bit too far north for it to do really well.

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The smooth bark, long flower clusters, and large compound leaves are a real benefit. Not a large tree, it can provide shade on small homesites. Cornus florida flowering dogwood Tree Though the Missouri native dogwood grows as an understory tree in shady areas, many cultivars were developed for planting in yards where the numerous flower bracts and berries are unrivaled. The crimson fall leaf color and tight, blocky bark are also unique.

Though transplanting a native tree may be tempting, the fine cultivars available are a better choice.

Big, Blooming & Wild: Suffering Sassafras

In the East, a disease, a type of anthracnose, has killed many dogwoods…but not in Missouri. Crataegus crus-galli cockspur thorn Tree A common native, the flower is pretty, but it gets cedar rust. And it is thorny. Crataegus phaenopyrum Washington hawthorn Tree Washington hawthorn is a Missouri native that has become popular in St. It does get nice flowers and neat red berries. However I have found pruning them bloody painful, especially when nurseries entwine multiple trunks together.

And they commonly get cedar rust on leaves and twigs. Use hawthorns resistant to the rust. Crataegus viridis green hawthorn Tree Green hawthorns are beautiful flowering trees. They do seem to have an aroma sometimes not particularly fragrant. And sometimes they are thornless.

Diospyros virginiana persimmon Tree Female persimmon trees are known for their tasty fruit…when ripe. They are also notable for their straight form and dark, alligator bark when seen in old fields and along railroad tracks. The wood of this ebony relative is hard. As a pioneer it is adaptable to difficult soils. Gleditsia triacanthos honey locust Tree Our native honeylocust thrives on any soil.

But beware of the thorny branches. The pinnately and bipinnately compound leaves provide thin shade, allowing grass to grow underneath.

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The pods are interesting. Not all of them have millions of thorny branches; a thornless honeylocust is available and widely planted. Sucking insects may cause leaves to lose their green color. Fall color may be a good yellow. Gymnocladus dioica Kentucky coffee tree Tree Kentucky coffee tree is capable of interesting growth angles yet still maintaining strength and structure. The bark is dark and deeply ridged. The leaves are large and compound attached to thick branches. I have often recommended this tree for areas needing summer shade yet winter warmth from the sun.

Juglans nigra black walnut Tree They leaf out late and lose their leaves early due to anthracnose. Black walnuts have heavy fruits that can stain hands for many days. If I could overlook a fertile, northeast-facing slope I would plant walnut for their wonderful chocolate-brown bark with distinct diamond patterns, and let the nuts roll downhill to my neighbor. I can buy shelled walnuts at a farmers market.

Liquidambar styraciflua sweet gum Tree Sweet gums have a terrible reputation. The main health problem is homeowners who top the tree. Topping is a permanent injury, cutting life short. Another problem is planting too deep causing girdling roots. Mulch to the dripline to contain the balls. A healthy tree produces fewer fruit. Then enjoy the dependable fall color. Liriodendron tulipifera tulip tree Tree This fast-growing, straight-arrow tree has beautiful flowers to decorate the tree and lawn in spring.

Tulip-shaped leaves inspire its common name, tulip tree. Sucking sap from twigs and leaves, they deposit their ample discharge on cars and furniture. Maclura pomifera osage orange Tree Naturalized here for decades, it seems like a native. The large, gaudy fruit is not an asset unless you are an opossum. Yet this tree is very, very durable! Leaf cuticles resist chewing, probing insects. The impenetrable, crooked branches, once used for fenceposts, provided homes for the native bluebirds.

I do hope some adventurous homeowners can make space for this slow-growing, thorny but well-formed tree. Magnolia acuminata cucumber tree Tree I have only seen a few cucumber tree magnolias in park-like settings; they are impressive. It apparently enjoyed some past popularity in St. I understand the green cucumber-like fruits release bright red seeds on long slender threads Morus rubra red mulberry Tree Certainly I love mulberry fruit. If I had the space I would plant them far away from the car and fight the birds for the fruit.

The zigzag branches with the two-toned buds are interesting. I would still plant this native, though neighbors may object. Nyssa sylvatica black gum Tree Black gum turns red!

See a Problem?

Whether in the forest or on a lawn, in autumn leaves turn brilliant to deep red. I have found it an adaptable Missouri native worthy of the home as it becomes more available. Plant or prune new plants to a single trunk to maximize strength. Mulch properly to avoid lawnmowers, weedeaters. Avoid mulch "volcanos" as they damage the root flare. Ostrya virginiana eastern hop hornbeam Tree A small native tree, the Eastern hop hornbeam, also known as ironwood, has adapted to homesites and tolerates dry soil.

I find the branching structure, flakey bark, and the fruit, a cluster of nutlets in a bladdery sac, attractive. Platanus occidentalis American sycamore Tree This native has decorated our city streets for decades. However sycamore anthracnose threatens these mighty trees. Across Missouri the fungus forces refoliation multiple times in spring.

One year some trees could not keep leaves until August. Yet most survived and maybe even thrived…amazing!

Yet they are messy, dropping branches because of it. A look-alike relative, London planetree, is a good substitute. Populus deltoides eastern cottonwood Tree Cottonwood can be recognized in many parks by its very thick, deeply furrowed bark. Its large, shiny buds, triangular leaves and flattened petioles are interesting, but the cottony fluff that lifts the many seeds on the slightest breeze make them unwelcome around any air conditioner.

It also gets very tall very fast. Prunus americana wild plum Tree The wild plum has few really attractive assets. But it is tough and able to survive almost any sunny place. Flowers in spring and fruit that make great jelly are its best assets. Prunus serotina black cherry Tree A unique tree, it has fallen out of favor in the city.

The fruits are small and tasty though a bit crunchy. It needs intense competition to reach great heights. With age it develops black, scaly bark with horizontal lenticels similar to other Prunus species. Without competition, it will stay small and scruffy and will eventually fall prey to the many, many diseases afflicting Prunus species. Quercus alba white oak Tree White oak, though slower growing than red oak, is an impressive tree. Trees in the white oak group are less likely to die of oak wilt. They can get it, but their defense systems protect them. But, of course, urban stress certainly can be a factor.

The white oak group is recognized by its rounded buds and round lobes on the leaves.

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