Mark Your Calendars - May 7, 2022
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As you look to fall planting, or start planning for spring during the upcoming winter months, remember the Dirty Dozen, a list of twelve invasive plants frequently found at nurseries and landscape retailers that should be avoided.
The Dirty Dozen |
Better yet, considering adding some of the Birdy Dozen to your gardens to attract birds. The Birdy Dozen Check more information on Invasive Plants and recommendations for alternatives on our Plant Information and Landscaping page.
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What is a Native?
A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived in North America as the species native to the eastern United States. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.
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Why Natives?
Because native plants are adapted to the growing conditions where you live, they are often easier to grow, and less susceptible to challenging conditions than non-native plants. Many Non-native plants are also invasive, and threaten out our native plant species.
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In Bloom:
The Goblet of the Marsh – Marsh Marigold
Every spring I’m in awe when I come upon marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), usually in wetlands or riparian areas. Not a marigold, it is a native member of the buttercup family. Other common names are cowslip and kingcup. It’s such a cheerful and vibrant plant that makes quite the sunny splash in ditches and marshy areas and along creeks and ponds in spring and early summer. I usually find it growing alongside skunk cabbage and ferns in the wild.
The flowers of marsh marigold have no actual petals. Each bloom is made up of numerous stamens and pistils surrounded by 5 to 9 yellow sepals which look like petals. (The norm seems to be 5 sepals.) The flowers are pollinated by various bees, flies, and butterflies which are attracted to the outer purple sepals. That’s right... I said purple. While we humans see beautiful yellow flowers, insects see and are attracted to the “bee’s purple” which is a combination of ultraviolet light and yellow.
The waxy green foliage of marsh marigold is a beautiful contrast to the flowers. The leaves are rounded or heart or kidney shaped. It’s important to note that all parts of marsh marigold are poisonous, especially the leaves. This is due to protoanemonin which can cause skin irritation. Convulsions and lesions throughout the digestive system can occur if the plant is ingested. Deer are apt to avoid this plant which is an important benefit where deer browsing is a major problem.
Marsh marigold is a carefree plant if provided with sufficient moisture in sun to part sun. Without adequate moisture, it may go dormant in summer. The plants can grow 1 to 2 feet tall in a mounding growth habit – Mother Nature’s living bouquet! If happy with its growing conditions, the plants may spread via rhizomes and by seed. Did I mention that it likes its feet wet? Marsh marigold shares similar growing conditions with the non-native and extremely invasive lesser celandine aka fig buttercup (Ficaria verna) which has 7-11 narrow petals and smaller flowers and leaves. Lesser celandine grows in thick mats that outcompete our native ephemeral wildflowers, such as spring beauties, trout lilies, and trilliums.
The Latin name for marsh marigold roughly translates to “goblet of the marsh” - what a lovely image that is! The beauty of this plant has inspired several naturalists to wax poetic. Thoreau described marsh marigold as “a flower-fire bursting up, as if through crevices in the meadow where they grow.” John Burroughs wrote that “they give a golden lining to many a dark, marshy place in the leafless April woods.” Mary Oliver wrote “We’ll lie in golden meadows all bejewelled with marsh marigold…” Marsh marigold is worthy of these beautiful words and worthy of a spot in your garden… that is if it’s wet enough!
If you have a favorite plant or photo, send it to webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org for a future publication.
Article and photo courtesy of Karen Smith
Every spring I’m in awe when I come upon marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), usually in wetlands or riparian areas. Not a marigold, it is a native member of the buttercup family. Other common names are cowslip and kingcup. It’s such a cheerful and vibrant plant that makes quite the sunny splash in ditches and marshy areas and along creeks and ponds in spring and early summer. I usually find it growing alongside skunk cabbage and ferns in the wild.
The flowers of marsh marigold have no actual petals. Each bloom is made up of numerous stamens and pistils surrounded by 5 to 9 yellow sepals which look like petals. (The norm seems to be 5 sepals.) The flowers are pollinated by various bees, flies, and butterflies which are attracted to the outer purple sepals. That’s right... I said purple. While we humans see beautiful yellow flowers, insects see and are attracted to the “bee’s purple” which is a combination of ultraviolet light and yellow.
The waxy green foliage of marsh marigold is a beautiful contrast to the flowers. The leaves are rounded or heart or kidney shaped. It’s important to note that all parts of marsh marigold are poisonous, especially the leaves. This is due to protoanemonin which can cause skin irritation. Convulsions and lesions throughout the digestive system can occur if the plant is ingested. Deer are apt to avoid this plant which is an important benefit where deer browsing is a major problem.
Marsh marigold is a carefree plant if provided with sufficient moisture in sun to part sun. Without adequate moisture, it may go dormant in summer. The plants can grow 1 to 2 feet tall in a mounding growth habit – Mother Nature’s living bouquet! If happy with its growing conditions, the plants may spread via rhizomes and by seed. Did I mention that it likes its feet wet? Marsh marigold shares similar growing conditions with the non-native and extremely invasive lesser celandine aka fig buttercup (Ficaria verna) which has 7-11 narrow petals and smaller flowers and leaves. Lesser celandine grows in thick mats that outcompete our native ephemeral wildflowers, such as spring beauties, trout lilies, and trilliums.
The Latin name for marsh marigold roughly translates to “goblet of the marsh” - what a lovely image that is! The beauty of this plant has inspired several naturalists to wax poetic. Thoreau described marsh marigold as “a flower-fire bursting up, as if through crevices in the meadow where they grow.” John Burroughs wrote that “they give a golden lining to many a dark, marshy place in the leafless April woods.” Mary Oliver wrote “We’ll lie in golden meadows all bejewelled with marsh marigold…” Marsh marigold is worthy of these beautiful words and worthy of a spot in your garden… that is if it’s wet enough!
If you have a favorite plant or photo, send it to webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org for a future publication.
Article and photo courtesy of Karen Smith
Upcoming Events
May 7, 2022 - Central Pa Native Plant Festival and Sale, Boalsburg. Click here for details.
Check our Complete Calendar for all upcoming events. If your event isn't listed, let us know and we can add them to our Calendar - email webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org.
Check our Complete Calendar for all upcoming events. If your event isn't listed, let us know and we can add them to our Calendar - email webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org.
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We are over 14,000 members strong and growing! Contact Us:For general inquires, email us at info@panativeplantsociety.org Our mailing address is P.O. Box 807, Boalsburg PA 16827
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