Each spring I delight in my first glimpse of dainty spring wildflowers scattered along my hiking trails. Welcome, friends.
Called spring ephemerals, these native wildflowers emerge when the sunlight hits the woodland floor before the first tree leaves unfurl.
They are called ephemerals because their beauty is fleeting. They come and go in just a few short weeks, dissolving back into the ground in late spring or early summer.
Why? They must bloom, be pollinated and set seed before the tree canopies steal their sun. But oh what a show until then.
It starts with a dusting of tiny pink-striped spring beauties (Claytonia virginica). Time rolls back as I remember the lawn of my childhood home awash in pink. Even their pollen is pink.
Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica). Photo: R. Rhodes, University of Maryland Extension (UME)
Boldly marching through the waves of more delicate wildflowers are the hefty trillium, named for their trio of pointed flowers and leaves.
I’m partial to the splotched leaves and red-brown flowers of toadshade (Trillium sessile) but there are lovely purple- and white-flowered forms.
I also am partial to these wildflowers’ poetic names: spring beauties, Dutchman’s breeches, toothwort, toadshade, and trillium.
In my own garden, I’ll smile over a sweep of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Its white many-petaled blooms dance in the slightest breeze over large hand-like leaves.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Photos: C. Carignan, UME
And don’t get me started on my mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). Dangling a single lovely white flower, their splotched umbrella-like foliage hangs on until mid-summer.
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Photo: K. Baligush, UME
But wait. There’s more.
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are just starting to edge the trails with a froth of blue and pink. My father’s favorite, they show pink in bud, then open fistfuls of sky blue bells.
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are lining many local woodland trails. Photo: Joan Willoughby
All spring ephemerals grow low. Since they must withstand early spring vagaries of weather, they must be tough. Growing low protects them from fierce winds.
I encourage you to bend low for a closer look. Most ephemerals have delightful details you don’t notice from on high such as pollen held at the bunched bottoms of Dutchman’s breeches.
How can these spring ephemerals look so good so early? Most have thick rhizomes (thickened underground stems) or bulbs that hold energy stockpiled from the previous year.
Ephemerals’ enduring qualities mirror their ecological benefit. As native plants, they naturally support a healthy ecosystem and provide vital pollen and nectar to early native beneficial insects.
I hope I’ve inspired you to look for wildflowers on your walks and consider adding some to your landscape. But please don’t harvest them from the wild. Look for them at native plant sales and in seed or plant form in catalogs.
Happy wildflower hunting.
By Annette Cormany, Principal Agent Associate and Master Gardener Coordinator, Washington County, University of Maryland Extension.
The golden leaves of the trees outside my window remind me that the growing season is almost over and that winter is coming. However, those same gold colors also remind me that spring is not that far away and at my place, it will start with some gold showing up in my garden. This golden treasure connects the gold of the fall with the gold of spring to close the season’s circle. Let me tell you about what I think is an underrated plant from right here: the golden ragwort!
Golden ragwort – a treasure for our gardens
The golden ragwort (Packera aurea) is a perennial native plant of our region that belongs to the sunflower family, Asteraceae. The species is found pretty much across the whole state and is commonly found in eastern North America. Its name comes from the abundant yellow flowers it produces early in the season (all that gold!), at a time when most other spring plants have not flowered. In fact, in our region, the golden ragwort starts flowering as early as March and continues doing so for several weeks/months afterward.
A species in the Asteraceae family, the golden ragworts displays many inflorescences that are of strong yellow. Photo: B. Gratwicke (CC).
Besides it being a great addition to any space that needs some floral resources, another benefit of this species is its tolerance of a wide variety of growing conditions. Golden ragworts can be grown in conditions ranging from full sun to shade, tolerate heat well, and require some soil moisture. Once established, the plants are great ground covers since they can spread easily thanks to their rhizomes.
After flowering, the rosettes and rhizomes continue to cover and occupy the ground, making them also a great resource to retain water and soil in spaces that may be prone to soil erosion. Related to this, another benefit of this strong ground cover is that because they are so good at establishing, this species can have a high potential for competing against invasive plants that we may want to prevent from arriving or to remove from our green spaces.
Golden ragworts are great ground covers, forming mats that flower for several weeks. Photo: D. McGrady (CC).
And if your green space is like mine, and often visited by deer, this is a plant for you! In fact, because plants cannot escape predation like animals, they have evolved other ways of protecting themselves against herbivores. It turns out that all plants produce chemical compounds that act as chemical shields against herbivory. These compounds can make them toxic or unpalatable to many animals, thus leading to at least an unpleasant and at worst a deadly experience if ingested. Well, it turns out that Packera aurea has some of these defenses! This means that it may not be a great idea to try to eat this plant yourself (in case you were thinking of it 😊), and second, that other mammals such as deer will not feed on it due to its toxicity… making it deer resistant!
What do pollinators think of this plant?
Because they flower so early in the season, golden ragworts are very valuable for pollinators. In fact, because there are often not too many floral resources available in the early spring, early-flowering plants such as this one play a key role in supporting early-emerging pollinators.
Packera aurea flowers have been shown to support a large diversity of bees and hoverflies, and of course, this diversity increases with the progression of the season. Among some of the species it supports are several sweat bees, little carpenter bees of the genus Ceratina, and many species of hoverflies. Interestingly, this species has also been described as one of the preferred pollen sources of the rare pollen specialist mining bee Andrena gardineri.
At the end of the flowering time, the plants create a nice ground cover with their rosettes. Photo: M. Heberling (CC).
When is the best time to plant golden ragwort?
Although the ideal time to plant it is in the early spring, depending on where you are in the state, you may be able to have just enough time to establish it this fall. Either way, the plant gets established very quickly, so if you are afraid of it being too late right now to try it, keep it in mind for the spring and check out your local native plant nursery to get your starts in time! I promise you will not regret it, and you will be thankful every spring for the lovely botanical chest of gold that will enrich your garden.
By Anahí Espíndola, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park. See more posts by Anahí.
Anahí also writes an Extension Blog in Spanish! Check it out here, extensionesp.umd.edu, and please share and spread the word to your Spanish-speaking friends and colleagues in Maryland. ¡Bienvenidos a Extensión en Español!
Gold and yellow hues are the undeniable colors of autumn. In this episode of The Garden Thyme Podcast, we discuss one of our favorite yellow-blooming perennial plants – goldenrod. With its pretty yellow flowers, long blooming seasons, and high wildlife value, what is not to love about these fantastic native plants? Mikaela also counts down her top pick of goldenrods for different gardens (~17:10). Her goldenrod bloom chart can be found here.
We also have our:
Native Plant of the Month – Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) (~22:45)
Bug of the Month – Goldenrod Bunch Gall Midge (~33:35)
If you have any garden-related questions, please email us at UMEGardenPodcast@gmail.com or look us up on Facebook.
For more information about the University of Maryland Extension (UME) and these topics, please check out the UME Home and Garden Information Center. The Garden Thyme Podcast is brought to you by the University of Maryland Extension. Hosts are Mikaela Boley- Senior Agent Associate (Talbot County) for Horticulture, Rachel Rhodes- Agent Associate for Horticulture (Queen Anne’s County), and Emily Zobel-Senior Agent Associate for Agriculture (Dorchester County).
When we think about pollination, we tend to only think about terrestrial plants. However, a large number of plants are not and actually live fully or partially in the water. These plants also need to reproduce, and thus need to have their flowers pollinated to produce seed. How do they do it? In today’s post, I will try to give a (short) answer to that question, using some native plants as examples.
You may recall from previous posts, that flowering plants require pollination to be able to produce seeds and thus reproduce. Since we are terrestrial organisms ourselves, we tend to be more aware of other organisms and processes that share that trait with us, and pollination is no exception. However, there are lots of flowering plants that are completely or partially aquatic, and these plants also require pollination to produce seeds. Depending on the specific requirements of the plants in question, some of them may use different strategies for pollination.
Wind pollination
Many aquatic or semi-aquatic plants depend on wind to transfer pollen to the female reproductive structures. Especially under conditions distant from land, using wind as a means of pollen dispersal can be extremely advantageous. In fact, being distant from land tends to reduce the types and number of animals that can visit the flowers of aquatic plants. By depending more heavily on wind, these plants usually display light and abundant pollen that can be readily blown away and potentially deposited on the stigma of the female counterparts. A global evaluation of this indicated that about a third of all aquatic plants in the world are wind-pollinated.
Watershields are very common wind-pollinated aquatics from our region. These plants display their small flowers well above water, first exposing their stigmas and the next day releasing pollen into the air. Photos: S. Elliott, S. Osborne (CC)
In Maryland, an aquatic plant known to be wind-pollinated are watershields (Brasenia schreberi). This plant has non-showy flowers that display both anthers and stigmas. In order for the plant to promote cross-pollination (i.e., avoid receiving pollen from its own flowers), the flowers of these plants go through a complex blooming process that spans two days. This process involves on the first day the receptivity of the stigma (the female part that receives the pollen) and on the second day the maturation and release of the pollen grains. When the grains mature, they are swept by the wind and can reach stigmas from other flowers that are at that point going through their first flowering maturation step.
Animal pollination
It has been shown that a large number of aquatic plants are at least partially pollinated by insects or other animals. In fact, as is also the case in terrestrial plants, aquatic plants can sometimes use both wind and animals to transfer pollen, increasing the chances of some pollen eventually reaching the stigma. Animal-pollinated aquatic plants are pollinated by a large variety of organisms, but their identity will depend on the specific place where the plant is growing and the ability of the pollinator to reach the plant and even survive in that environment. For example, while large bees may be able to fly further away from land, smaller insects may mostly visit plants that are close to land.
The arrow arum or tuckahoe is an aquatic native that displays a nursery pollination system in association with small flies. Photos: Sheri, N. DeBarros (CC), K. Shulz (CC)
A special case of insect pollination of a Maryland native is that of the arrow arum or tuckahoe (Peltandra virginica). The species belongs to the Araceae family and displays a stunning pollination system. As is often the case in this family of plants (see also the skunk cabbage example we talked about in a previous post), the maturation of the female and male flowers is linked to the production of specific aromas. In the case of the arrow arum, these smells attract small flies, and in particular individuals of Elachiptera formosa. These flies seek the flowers to mate, feed on pollen, and eventually lay eggs on the plant, making this an example of what is called nursery pollination (the plant receives a pollination service in exchange for providing a brood site for the pollinator). By moving along the flower, these tiny flies move pollen from the anthers to the stigmas. Some of this pollen may come from the same plant, but other pollen may come from a different flower already visited by the flies.
Water pollination
Finally, many aquatic plants display flowers that are either completely submerged or floating on the surface of water. These plants usually use water currents to disperse their pollen. As with wind, this dispersal is very inaccurate, which usually leads to the release of a large amount of pollen. These plants have either pollen that floats on water or remains attached to the anthers which float to the stigma.
The American pondweed is one of our native species that uses water as their means of pollen dispersal. Note the very small white flowers that are placed on the surface of water. Photo: C. Fisher
A very common native from Maryland that displays this type of pollination is the pond- or waterweed (Elodea canadensis). This species native to North America displays flowers that have either anthers or pistils, but not both. The flowers with anthers are often displayed over the water, from where they release the pollen, which lands and then travels on its surface. By moving on the surface of the water, the pollen can reach the slightly submerged stigmas of the pistilate (female) flowers, which are held on flowers that float at the very surface of the water. Because such a dispersal can lead to large pollen loss, pollen release in this species is only done when the wind is light and the water current is low. This promotes a more “controlled” dispersal and increases the chances of the pollen effectively reaching the stigmas.
By Anahí Espíndola, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park. See more posts by Anahí.
Anahí also writes an Extension Blog in Spanish! Check it out here, extensionesp.umd.edu, and please share and spread the word to your Spanish-speaking friends and colleagues in Maryland. ¡Bienvenidos a Extensión en Español!
Red-Spotted Purple butterfly on a native Eupatorium in September. Photo: M. Talabac
Q: A lot of my new native plant garden beds contain species that bloom in spring and early/mid-summer. What can I add for pollinators that blooms late?
A: Fortunately, there are numerous late-season nectar sources, though most are sun-loving species. They are very attractive to migrating Monarchs and any other butterfly on the wing in late summer and autumn, plus bees, wasps, beetles, flies, and plenty of other insects. Seed-eating birds also appreciate the food source once the seeds of those plants ripen by the end of the growing season; nature’s bird feeders.
Lots of late-flowering native plants are in the aster family, including: Ironweed (Vernonia); Goldenrods (Solidago and Euthamia); Asters (formerly genus Aster, now named Doellingeria, Eurybia, Ionactis, or Symphyotrichum); Cut-leaved Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata); Blazing-star (Liatris); Elephant’s-foot (Elephantopus); Beggarticks (Bidens); Wingstem (Verbesina); Helen’s Flower (Helenium); perennial Sunflowers (Helianthus); Climbing Hempvine (Mikania scandens); and the Eupatorium group (several common names and genera; Eupatorium, Eutrochium, Conoclinium, Ageratina).
By Miri Talabac, Horticulturist, University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center. Miri writes the Garden Q&A for The Baltimore Sun and Washington Gardener Magazine. Read more by Miri.
Have a plant or insect question? The University of Maryland Extension has answers! Send your questions and photos to Ask Extension. Our horticulturists are available to answer your questions online, year-round.
It is a common misconception that all mosquitoes feed on blood. Unlike ticks, which require a bloodmeal to progress from one life stage to the next, mosquitoes largely rely on plants throughout their life cycle. Only adult female mosquitoes bloodfeed in order to acquire protein to lay eggs; otherwise, adult mosquitoes feed on plant sugars to gain energy for flying, mating, and metabolic demands. Once those eggs are laid in standing water, mosquitoes hatch as aquatic larvae that eat microbes supported by decaying organic matter, called detritus. This detritus often comprises plant parts like leaves, seeds, and fruits that fall from nearby vegetation into larval habitat. The next life stage before adulthood, the pupa, is non-feeding, so the amount and quality of detritus mosquitoes receive as larvae are crucial. Just like we tell children to drink their milk to grow up to be big and strong, mosquito larvae with plentiful and nutritious resources can reach adulthood faster, grow larger, live longer, and lay more eggs as adults. Yikes!
Leaves may vary drastically in their chemical composition, affecting which microbes they support, how quickly they decay, and what beneficial nutrients or toxic secondary metabolites they release as they decompose. Researchers are still working to identify important traits in a detritus resource base, but a trend has emerged: non-native plants seem to support non-native mosquito populations better than native plants do.
Native species, whether plant, animal, or microbe, are those that occur naturally in the region where they evolved. Over the course of time, these species have adapted to the local environment and developed relationships with other native species. Conversely, non-native species are those which evolved in a different region from that in which they can now be found. A small percent of non-native species establish and spread rapidly throughout their new home, with the potential to harm human well-being, environmental health, and/or economic prosperity. Some researchers speculate that non-native species share certain traits that make them successful invaders. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is one of the most successful invaders of the past century, arriving in Texas from Asia in 1985 and reaching us here in Maryland by 1987. The tiger mosquito is capable of spreading viruses such as dengue, West Nile, and zika; it is also a nuisance vector, driving people indoors with its aggressive daytime biting behavior.
An Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) larva [left] and female adult [right]. Photo: Ary Farajollahi, Bugwood.org Continue reading →
Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma). Photo: A. Espíndola
Among the many native plants of North America, there’s one that every summer stuns me with its beauty and its important role in our ecosystems and our lives. In today’s post, I want to share some information about a lovely group of plants local to right here, which can be easily grown in our green spaces, and which one can observe flowering right now: beebalms!
What are beebalms?
Beebalms are a group of plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that belong to the genus Monarda. This genus is restricted to North America and includes several species. In Maryland, there are at least four species present, one of which (M. clinopodia, the basil beebalm) is currently listed as requiring conservation actions (listed as Vulnerable). The other three species (M. didyma, M. fistulosa, M. punctata) appear to be relatively common in the region and are easy to grow in our green spaces. All species reach about 2 to 5 feet in height and are great additions to flower beds because of their beauty but also because they act as biodiversity magnets. For example, the genus Monarda has been recognized as supporting at least three rare and specialist bee species in the Eastern USA, and attracting a lot of natural enemies of pests, meaning that providing these floral resources can support the populations of bee species that depend on the pollen of these plants for their nutrition and help us naturally control pests in our green spaces. And last but not least, later in the season their fruits support birds and, if left uncut, their stems offer overwintering spaces for arthropods.
Scarlet beebalm (M. didyma)
This is a perennial species with dark red flowers that bloom during the summer. As for all beebalms, the flower heads are formed by many elongated flowers that harbor abundant nectar. The plant is incredibly attractive to pollinators, acting as a magnet to bees of all sizes, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Besides its great support to pollinators and other arthropods, this species (along with M. fistulosa) has medicinal properties, which have been identified and used since immemorable times by Native Americans. The very name of beebalm is even related to these uses, since the plant can be used to produce poultices that help with skin affections, including bee stings. Preparations of the plant are also traditionally used to help with digestive and respiratory issues. Finally, as for many mint plants, this species is rich in essential oils, which makes it a good one to flavor foods like one would do with oregano and mint. You can learn more about how to grow this species, along with other facts on this USDA information sheet.
Scarlet beebalms display red flower heads that offer abundant nectar to a large variety of vertebrate and invertebrate pollinators. Photos: A. Espíndola, J. Schneid (CC)
