Spring in time of Covid V – native species

April 29, 2020

A brief garden ‘woodland’ walk to see various species that were basking under the sun a couple of days ago. Again, trying to use locations in the garden that reproduce the native habitat is the key to happiness.
For most parts this means deciduous woods which allow plenty of sun in early to mid -spring and again in the fall. Combined deciduous/coniferous woods allow less light and can also be dryer (except on bottom lands and river valleys).

Of course that some species are more adaptable than others and having more seedlings you can try them in various locations to see how they react.
Asarum canadense, the wild ginger, is one of the most easy going species that can be used as a groundcover. I caught it in the act of flowering in a sunny position, while in more shaded area is still in bud. The second picture shows the success I had establishing young plants grown from seeds on a dry slope (also shoots of Maianthemum stellatum showing up).

Anemonella thalictroides  (syn. Thalictrum thalictroides), rue anemone, is usually found on slightly moist locations. It is very easy to grow from fresh or moist packed seeds – pictured here are 3 years old flowering plants.

Another easy going species and spreading by self-sowing (a bit too much) is Hydrophyllum virginianum, Virginia waterleaf. It can even grow close to old tree trunks (hint for dry shade resistance!). A most loved species by the bees and bumblebees, so a few plants are a must (young seedlings can be easily removed if not desired).

The spring beauty, Claytonia virginica always loves to grow close to the trees. In the pictures below: a few in my garden (squirrels love to dig the corms) and a nice patch flowering in the woodlands last year. The woods are still out of reach and seed collecting remains a question mark for now.

 I will finish for today with these Prosartes lanuginosa seedlings, which are grown in a pot buried in the ground. I have shown this easy method to grow all woodland species from seeds a few times and I repeat it again for all those who recently purchased Caulophyllum thalictroides seeds ;)

Read more about easily growing woodland species from seeds: We got the moist packed seeds – now what?
Purple beasties – Caulophyllum

Until next…