proper site with moist well-drained acid soil (4.5 to 5.5 pH)and part shade to full sun (consider a north or east-facingslope, which limits the afternoon sun for southern climates),mature plants can reach five to twelve feet tall with a similarspread. The more recent ‘elf’ variety can be expected toachieve only three feet.One of the more colorful names for this evergreen shrub isCalico Bush. So named for the pink edged white blossomsproduced in terminal clusters four to six inches across,creating an image reminiscent of calico fabrics.Mountain Laurel is extremely toxic in all its parts to humansand livestock and other animals. In fact, one study suggests that when eaten by Canadian pheasants the poison iscommunicated to those who feed on the birds.On rescues, a common companion plant is Trailing Arbutus Epigaea repens. This plant is a rare evergreen groundcover blossoming in late winter with pale pink flowers. Both plants can be finicky to transplant from the wild. For the Trailing Arbutus that I recently acquired from a rescue, I was advised to add ground up ferrous sulfate tablets (1-2 per eight inchplanting) to the soil to increase acidity.
Piedmont Azalea
Rhododendron canescens
In 1979, the native azalea was chosen as Georgia's state wildflower, and many species and varieties are found acrossGeorgia. In fact, there are some thirteen species of deciduous azaleas native to the state. Additionally, due to overlap of distribution and blooming season, we see many interspecific hybrids along with introgression (when a hybrid back breeds with one parent species only resulting in plants that generally look like one species but have some genes of theother). This can make species identification a significant challenge. While the Great Rhododendron Rhododendron maximum, also profiled in this issue, is native to Georgia, I want to talk about one of our most stunning natives – Piedmont Azalea Rhododendron canescens. The earliest blooming of the nativeazaleas (March and April), this deciduous shrub is well known for its vivid display of pink or white, fragrant clustered blooms.Selected by the GNPS as our 2001 plant of the year, is also sometimes misnamed as Wild Honeysuckle, but ourPiedmont Azalea has little in common with the West Coast native. You may also find this plant listed as the FloridaPinxter Azalea, and though typically considered a southern species, it is hardy enough to see wider landscape use.Commonly available from native plant nurseries, this prominent plant is often rejected by others in the belief thatgardeners will not purchase deciduous azaleas.Piedmont Azalea makes a spectacular spring show since the flowers open before the leaves have expanded. A matureplant can be expected to grow to ten feet and more with an upright habit. Rich, moist acid soil in light shade, butreceiving some direct sun, or high filtered shade, as found under tall trees or at the forest edge and on stream banks,form an ideal environment. When attempting to rescue these plants, it is important to know that the root system is not deep, but includes many far-reaching lateral runners. Saving as many of these runners as possible is critical to success. Also, local experts recommendsoaking the plants overnight in a tub of water to counteract shock, and reducing the foliage by one third prior totransplanting. This can be done by clipping every third leaf in the cluster, or by removing the tips of all leaves – adaunting process with larger plants. Typically, the smaller the plant the easier it will be to dig and transplant.
Low Bush Blueberry
Vaccinium pallidum
Also known Hillside Blueberry, a synonym for this deciduous shrub is Vaccinium vacillans. One of the identifyingcharacteristics of this plant is the pale backside of the leaf. It is present throughout the Eastern and North CentralUnited States and Ontario, and the fruit provides a valuable food source for many small birds and mammals. Though the berries are sweet and can be used in pies and jellies, it ripens over a long period of time, causing collection in quantity to be difficult. Native Americans dried the berries and pounded them together with strips of venison to season theirpemmican.I rescued a number of these plants from a site in Snellville, GA, which is being developed. Like the Piedmont Azalea, thislow growing shrub exhibits many longer runner roots, and it is helpful to preserve as much of this root system aspossible. Despite care in collection and the overnight soaking method mentioned above, by day two I was doubtful thatany would survive. However, following advice to prune the plants hard, they all re-sprouted and are shaped up as healthy specimens.The site of this rescue included a dry sandy hill that was covered in the one to two foot tall plants under high dappledshade. For the home landscape, ensure well-drained acid soil – down to 4.5 pH – and at least partial sun.Pretty bell shaped green-cream to pinkish flowers appear in early spring. I dug the plants mentioned above in the first week of April and the colony had nearly finished blooming. Around the same time, an important pollinator in our region,the Southeastern blueberry bee, starts flying. Elaine Nash, an active member of the botany community in Georgia, tellsme that this bee “pollinates 100 % of Carolina Jessamine and a wide variety of other native plants. Since the drasticdecline of honeybees, those plants in my yard that bloomed before the earliest blueberries, like Japanese Pieris, don't getpollinated.”Fruit follows the flowers in June and July. Though many will argue that the wild berry is superior in flavor to cultivars,many different species of low bush blueberry are available for purchase from nurseries. While this specific species may be difficult to find, hybrids abound and researchers have found some success breeding early fruiting varieties forcommercial use.
Callaway Ginger
Hexastylis shuttleworthii var. harperii
Hank Bruno, Trails Manager at Callaway Gardens tells us that “Callaway Ginger Hexastylis shuttleworthii var. harperii was brought to the gardens by Fred Galle, Director of Horticulture, in 1965. It was among plants rescued from the estateof plant collector J.G.C. Bloodworth in Decatur, GA when that property was subdivided and developed. There was norecord of the original location of the parent plant. Recognized as different from the species, Galle propagated and sharedit with gardeners and nurserymen. It became known as Callaway ginger and is now widely cultivated. In 1987 botanistL.L. Gaddy assigned the varietal name harperii to this distinctly mottled ginger in honor of its original discoverer RolandHarper.” Though identified as Hexastylis here, you will often find the plant identified as Asarum shuttleworthii callaway.Though the species is common in the mountains of the Carolinas and down through Georgia and Alabama, and forms anattractive evergreen groundcover, the harperii variety is rare in its range, and has suffered from habitat loss due todraining or filling of wetlands for development. The variety is shorter than other gingers – just three inches tall – whichmakes it easier to see the late spring flowers which are typically hidden under the leaves. These flowers are bell shaped with a purplish cast and appear in May. A relatively slow grower, it will take ten years to achieve a three foot wide patch, but the wait is worthwhile. The half dollar sized leaves with their dark green background and dramatic silver venationmake a striking addition between rocks or among small ferns in a woodland garden. Hardy in zones 5-9, Callaway needsshade, good soil, and constant moisture. Too much sun may cause slight burning of the plant. Often found in acidic soilsnear Mountain Laurel, Rhododendrons and other acid loving plants, gingers are easy to identify by the strong ginger sentproduced when the leaves are crushed. While the root can be used as a substitute for culinary ginger Zingiber officinale,the slow growing nature of the plant makes it impractical for this purpose.
Pink Lady’s Slipper
Cypripedium acaule
The Pink Lady’s Slipper is a dramatic native orchid alsoknown as Moccasin Flower, and found in acid woods, oftennear pines. Preferring full shade to partial sun with moist soil,Native in the City On Becoming a Native PlantGardenerCreating a Garden in the WoodsGeorgia Gardening Magazine Link
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