Category: Green Ribbon Native Plants®

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Asimina triloba

2004 – Common Pawpaw

The pawpaw is one of the more exotic looking trees native to this region. This understory tree was once common across our landscape but years of clearcutting have all but removed it from its natural setting. It is prized for a combination of traits that give it all-season interest. In May, it displays showy, deep reddish-purple flowers that give rise to large, custard-like edible fruits by the end of summer. It is in its full glory in fall as the green leaves change to bright yellow.

Grown in moist, well-drained, fertile soil, the pawpaw spreads to form a grove. It has soft wood and needs protection from the wind, making it an excellent choice as a woodland edge tree. Planting these trees in full sun will enhance their fall color and allow for greater fruit production.

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Cercis canadensis

2003 – Eastern Redbud
The eastern redbud is a small, deciduous tree reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet with an equal spread. It is often multi-stemmed and has heart-shaped leaves, but perhaps its most noteworthy attribute is the abundance of pinkish flowers that adorn the branches before the leaves appear in the spring. There are, however, several cultivars that are prized for other attributes including the purple-leaved ‘Forest Pansy’, the variegated ‘Silver Cloud’, and the white-blooming ‘Royal White’.

Able to grow in both sun and shade, redbuds are effective as forest edge trees or front yard specimens. They are somewhat susceptible to insect and disease pests but can be kept healthy with regular watering and fertilization.

 

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Carex plantaginea

2014 – Plantainleaf Sedge

Plantainleaf or “Seersucker” Sedge is a shade tolerant evergreen ornamental perennial from the Cyperaceae or Sedge family that is valued for its long broad leaves that pucker at the ends like ribbon. Its size ranges from one to two feet and it has a clumping habit. This grass- like woodland plant adds a unique foliage texture to the natural garden or any shade garden. Its native range is from Canada south into Alabama and west to the Mississippi River. It grows best in moist woodland soil that is high in organic matter and in part to full shade.

Hardy to Zone 5, Plantainleaf Sedge is almost always evergreen here in southeastern Pennsylvania. The leaves grow from a basal rosette and can reach a length of 12” with a width of 1 ¼” and have an arching habit. They are bright green, have a prominent midrib down the center and have visible venation. While this plant is grown mostly for its foliage it also has fairly attractive flowers (or inflorescence as they are called on grass-type plants) that bloom in April. The flowers are reddish-purple and appear to float above the brightly colored foliage. This sedge will spread and form colonies in time, but not aggressively. These plants are easily divided and transplanted into other parts of the garden. Along with all its other desirable attributes, this diverse perennial is also deer proof! It is very attractive when planted along paths where it can be appreciated for its striking features. Plantainleaf Sedge makes a wonderful addition to the woodland garden.

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Rhododendron maximum

2013 – Rosebay Rhododendron

The Rosebay Rhododendron is an evergreen multi-stemmed shrub with dark green foliage and clusters of white flowers. These shrubs grow wild in many mountain habitats where they can form dense thickets that can be up to 30ft tall. A more typical mature landscape size, however, is about 10-15ft tall and 7-10ft wide. The dense growth and evergreen foliage of these rhododendrons make good borders or screens in a landscape. The growing habit is fairly irregular which gives the plant an interesting structure. Because of this unique structure, branches from this plant are often cut and used to make furniture. Rosebay Rhododendrons also have clusters of white to pink flowers that can be made up of as many as 25 flowers, each about 1” across.

Plant this rhododendron in partial to full shade in areas with moist but well-drained soils. While the flowers provide a brief show in spring, the real landscape benefits of the Rosebay Rhododendron can be found in its deep, evergreen foliage creating an ideal backdrop for some of the showier plants in the home landscape.

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Kalmia latifolia

2012 – Mountain Laurel

The mountain laurel is an ericaceous evergreen shrub with delicately ornate white to pink flowers. In addition to being one of the harbingers of spring and summer with its late May bloom time, the mountain laurel is Pennsylvania’s official state flower. These shrubs grow 4-10 feet tall with a typical spread of 4-5 feet. Along with the attractive flowers and evergreen foliage, mountain laurels also have very interesting form with a gnarled trucking pattern and dark bark that can be considered ornamental in its own right. While mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest with its form and foliage, it is not densely evergreen, and is typically used more as an accent than a screen.

The native range of the mountain laurel extends across the Eastern United States from Maine to Mississippi. They enjoy rocky, acidic soil that is moist with good drainage, but will also tolerate drier soil. Although wild mountain laurels can be found in the native woodland in large groves that sweep across deeply shaded hillsides, they are not aggressive and will not likely seed around your garden. Mountain laurels will grow in sun or shade and are fairly low maintenance. Pruning dead branches and removing old flower heads will give the plant a more tidy appearance, but is not necessary. While many wild birds use Mountain Laurels as a source of food, this plant is poisonous to humans.