Cubed Friday 5, Prairie Grasses, Flowers and Trees/Shrubs
Interestingly, last Friday’s 5 already included 2 Prairie plants - Wild Bergamot and Smooth Aster.
This time we have a 5x5x5
5 grasses, 5 flowers and 5 trees/shrubs.
Let’s dig right in with Grasses…
No, wait!
Before we start I just learned something new, and I think, super cool!
I always realized that the names in italics following the common name was the specific, actual factual name of the plant. There can be 20 different common names and depending on where you live you may call the plant something different.
When we lived up in Cochrane we ate sugar plums, but when we moved south I bought serviceberry bushes for our yard, and again if we moved farther west I’d call them Saskatoon berries. They’re also known as Juneberries. Actually, factually they are the genus Amelanchier from the rose family (family Rosaceae to be properly proper).
Quite possibly you’re asking why does any of this matter?
“I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”
― Richard P. Feynman
Let’s look at a couple names and see what they tell us..
Amelanchier canadensis designates the Canada Serviceberry (you probably noticed canadensis looked familiar).
Amelanchier arborea is the Serviceberry that grows like a tree (arborea).
Amelanchier stolonifera, commonly called running serviceberry, has stolons (stems which grow at the soil surface or just below ground that form roots at the nodes, and new plants from the buds).
Amelanchier alnifolia 'Regent' gives us three pieces of information
Amelanchier - Genus name comes from the French explorers recognizing a plant that looked like the European genus they were familiar with, Amelanchier ovalis.
Alnifolia - Specific epithet means leaves like the genus Alnus (common alder).
'Regent' - the name of this particular cultivar, which typically grows only 4-6' tall. Edible berries resemble blueberries in size and color and are often used in jams, jellies and pies.
These aren’t just random words. Names were often given based on characteristics of the plant or its similarity to something else. Sometimes it was purely hubris. But this knowledge can help you choose a better suited plant for your yard.
If we want a native species, not a cultivar, then ‘Regent’ just won’t do.
Let’s say you want to produce a nice dense thicket in your yard for songbirds? That’s exactly what Amelanchier stolonifera does naturally. Plant it and set it free to do it’s thing.
Or perhaps you prefer order, not chaos, and you don’t want serviceberry popping up all over your yard like Sumac. A tree, Amelanchier arborea, may be better suited for your needs.
Armed with this knowledge and a quick internet search if your Greek or Latin is as rusty as mine (was it ever iron?), you can learn so much more about the nature of the plant. So if i can find the information I’m going to start adding it in.
Oh, all of the wonderful things to learn and know!!!
Now the 5 … x5 … x5
5 Grasses
Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot Grass (Andropogon gerardii)
Flowers: September to February
Purplish red 4 inch flower clusters are three-part (like a turkey’s foot) with attractive foliage. Leaves start out a gray to blue green color in spring and then by summer have darkened to green with red tinges. After frost the leaves turn a red bronze with tinges of purple.
Height: 3-7', known to reach 12’
Habitat: Dominant grass of the Tallgrass Prairie it tolerates a wide range of soils and growing conditions. Prefers full sun and drier soil - too much moisture will make it lush but flop over, dry soils will keep it standing without support. Will tolerate the occasional flood. Cut back to the ground each year in late winter/early spring before the new growth appears.
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae (grasses)
Andropogon: Genus name from the Greek words aner or andros (man) and pogon (beard) referencing the hairs on the spikelets of some species in the genus.
gerardii: Specific epithet Louis Gerard (1733-1819), French physician and botanist.
Notes: Excellent species for restoration projects. Provides cover for at least 24 species of songbirds and nesting sites or seeds for Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, and other sparrows, as well as nesting sites for Sedge Wrens and Western Meadowlarks. Larval Host of the Delaware Skipper and Dusted Skipper.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
2. Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Flowers: The panicles (a loose branching cluster of flowers) are light brown, narrow and feathery. Up to 12 inches long they have yellow stamens. The panicles darken in fall to a chestnut brown with hints of bronze. By winter they will fade to grey and provide some vertical interest above the snow.
Height: 3-6’
Habitat: Another core species grass of the Tallgrass Prairie it tolerates a wide range of soils and growing conditions. Prefers full sun and drier soil - too much moisture will make it lush but flop over, dry soils will keep it standing without support. Will tolerate the occasional flood. Cut back to the ground each year in late winter/early spring before the new growth appears.
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae (grasses)
Sorghastrum: Genus name from Greek - a poor imitation of sorghum.
nutans: Specific epithet means to nod or nodding.
Notes: Provides nesting material and food for small mammals and birds. Larval host for the Pepper-and-Salt Skipper butterfly.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
3. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Flowers: August to February
Flowers (racemes) are 3 inches long and a purple bronze color. They are followed by attractive clusters of fluffy, silvery-white seed heads which persist into winter for vertical interest. Leaves are slender, flat and green with a bit of blue at the base. These turn a bronze-orange in fall.
Height: 2-3’
Habitat: Native to prairies, fields, clearings and open woods from Alberta to Quebec and as far south as Florida. One of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairie. Prefers full sun and average to dry soil. Tolerates drought, nutrient-poor soils, and juglone.
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae (grasses)
Schizachyrium: Genus name from the Latin schizein (to split) and achyron (chaff)
scoparium: Specific epithet means broomlike.
Common name is in reference to the blue color at the base of the stems.
Notes: Provides nesting materials/structure for native bees. Also provides cover, nesting materials and food for small mammals and birds. It is the Larval host for the Ottoe Skipper, Indian Skipper, Crossline Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Cobweb butterfly and Dixie skipper.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
4. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Flowers: July to February
The panicles are pink-tinged and finely-textured. As the seeds mature they turn beige and the seed plumes persisting well into winter. Seeds are a food source for birds in winter.
Height: 3-6’
Habitat: An important component of the tallgrass prairie, it occurs in both wet and dry soils. Found in prairies and open woods, gravel bars and stream banks and along railroad tracks. Tolerates some shade and flooding. Prefers full sun. Soil that is too rich will make it flop over.
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae (grasses)
Panicum: Genus name from an old Latin word for millet.
virgatum: Specific epithet means twiggy.
Notes: Provides cover and nesting material as well as seeds eaten by ground-feeding songbirds and game birds Larval host to the Delaware Skipper. The Grass Family is an essential larval host for most banded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
Possible plan for a small Prairie Grass Garden
5. Prairie Cordgrass, Slough grass, Ripgut (Spartina pectinata)
Flowers: July, August
Flower stems rise above the foliage clump in July-August bearing clusters of straw-colored flowers arranged like a comb on cluster branches. The leaves are a glossy, dark green and have sharp edges so make sure to wear gloves when you’re working with this grass. The leaves turn yellow in autumn.
Height: 4-7’
Habitat: Native to a large area of North America extending from Newfoundland to Alberta and to the southern States. Typical habitat is freshwater marshes, swampy open valleys, pond margins, low spots along roads and railroads and both wet and dry prairie areas.
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae (grasses)
Spartina: Genus name from Greek spartine (cord) in reference to the tough, fibrous leaves.
pectinata: Specific epithet from Latin pectinatus (comb) in reference to the comb-like appearance of flower panicle branches.
Common name is in reference to the sharp-edged leaves (ripgut).
Notes: The larvae of several moth species are specialist feeders (oligoleges) of Prairie Cordgrass. These include the Four-lined Borer Moth, Many-Lined Cordgrass Moth, and Spartina Borer Moth, as well as the Tortricid moth. It is an important source of protective cover and nesting habitat for many wetland birds and other kinds of wildlife. The seedheads and rootstocks are eaten by Canada Geese, Black Duck, Mallard, and other ducks when found in or near wetlands. It is also favoured by leafhoppers and other bugs which in turn become food for songbirds and others.
Sold Nearby: Not that I could find.
5 Wildflowers
1. Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Photo taken by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee
Flowers: June to September
Bright yellow flowers have drooping petals surrounding a round gray central disk. The disk darkens to brown as the seeds mature.
Height: 3-4’
Habitat: Found in prairies, thickets and woodland edges. Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. Will tolerate sand and clay soils that are nutrient-poor. It’s also deer resistant once the plant is mature.
Family: Aster
Ratibida - of unknown origins
pinnata - Specific epithet is in reference to the pinnate leaves.
Notes: This coneflower is care-free and long-lived producing attractive clumps with handsome leaves. The blooms are very long lasting and loved by butterflies. It is of special value to native bees. It stands up best when grown amongst other tall plants to support its thin stems. Finches love the seeds. Unfortunately it's getting rare to find in wild habitat so enjoy it in your restoration projects.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Markdale or Kimberly - Lacewing
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
2. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Photo taken by Eric Hunt
Flowers: June to September
Showy, bright orange blooms cover this clump forming perennial. This is considered one of the best plants to choose to benefit the Monarch Butterfly. It also feeds many different butterflies, moths, larvae, bugs, beetles, bees, and our native hummingbird. It will re-sows readily over large distances by seeds spread by the wind, especially in disturbed soil. Cut off the seedpods if you don’t wish it to naturalize. Great plant to let be in restoration projects.
Height: 1- 1.5’
Habitat: Grows in prairies, open woods, canyons and hillsides. Prefers full sun and very well drained soil. Fine with sand, loam, clay, or limestone. ONe of those prairie plants that benefits from wildfires. It is prone to aphids so you can either ignore them, squish
them, or wash them off by blasting with a strong stream of water from the hose. Deer resistant.
Family: Dogbane
Asclepias - Genus name honors the Greek god Asklepios (the god of medicine)
tuberosa - Specific epithet means tuberous in reference to the roots.
Notes: Beautiful cut flower. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Larval Host for the Grey Hairstreak, Monarch and Queens. Of special values to native bees, bumble bees and honey bees. Also attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Markdale or Kimberly - Lacewing
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
3. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Photo taken by Albert Herring
Flowers: July to October
Bright yellow daisy-like blooms with dark centers that are long lasting and prolific.
Height: 2-3’
Habitat: Found in prairies, meadows, pastures and the edge of woodlands. A pioneer species, excellent for prairie and meadow restorations.
Family: Aster
Rudbeckia - Genus name honors Olof Rudbeck (1630-1702), a Swedish botanist.
hirta - Species name hirta (hairy) in reference to the short bristles that cover the leaves and stems.
Notes: Cheery cut flower in bouquets. Plants may bloom longer with some afternoon shade. Birds enjoy the ripe seeds. Attracts birds, bees and butterflies. Larval host of the Gorgone Checkerspot and Bordered Patch butterfly. Annual to biennial to a short-lived perennial but can aggressively spread via self-sowing depending on competition. Don’t give it perfect conditions if you want it to stay contained.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
4. Showy Tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)
Photo taken by peganum
Flowers: June to September
Lovely rose-purple clusters of pea-like flowers are crowded on the waving slender stems of this bushy perennial.
Height: 2-4’
Habitat: Found in open wood, rocky or sandy prairies, stream banks and roadsides. Prefers full sun to part shade and can handle moist to dry, well-drained soil. Ok with sand and clay. Another plant that benefits from wildfires. May get mildew if crowded.
Family: Legume
Desmodium - Genus from the Greek word desmos (a band or chain) with reference to the jointed pods.
canadense - Specific epithet means of Canada
Notes: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Larval Host to the Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper and Hoary Edge butterfly. Special value to bumble bees. It also shelters and feeds song and game birds.
Sold Nearby:
Seeds
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
5. Ironweed (vernonia missurica)
Flowers: July to September
Tall magenta purple, thistle like, flowers turn to rusty colored seed clusters in fall.
Height: 3-5’
Habitat: In the wild it is mainly found in moist soils, with tolerance for periodic flooding. It performs quite well in cultivation in average garden soils. Plants generally grow taller in moist soils.
Family: Asteraceae
Vernonia - Honors William Vernon (d. c. 1711), an English botanist.
missurica - Specific epithet is in reference to the Missouri River.
Notes: Special value to native bees. The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies. Birds eat the seeds.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
Seeds
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Palmerston - Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
5 Trees, Shrubs
1. Shagbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa)
Flowers: April, May
Greenish yellow flowers - the male flowers are catkins 4-8” long and the female flowers are short spikes. Female flowers produce nuts encased in a very thick husk which splits open in four sections when ripe in fall. Bark of young trees is gray and smooth but gets shaggy with age.
Height: 60-80’
Habitat: Grows best in rich, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. (I know this seems counterintuitive to the dry concept of a prairie/savanna you might have but these are Savanna trees. Ontario is their Northernmost reach so they won’t be found as often in the wild.) This tree needs a very large space within which to grow. In the wild, it grows in moist or wet soils of flood plains and valleys, with other hardwoods. It is difficult to transplant because of its deep taproot.
Family: Juglandaceae
Carya - Genus name from the Greek karya (used for walnut trees)
laciniosa - Specific epithet means shredded referencing the shaggy bark.
Notes: The nut is said to be the tastiest of any of the hickory nuts. It will take 10 years to start producing and 40 for a bountiful harvest of nuts. Cross-pollination generally produces a more abundant crop of better quality nuts. Excellent fall color. The crevices created by the peeling bark shelter many insects, especially in the winter, and provide nesting places for the Brown Creeper. Flycatchers, vireos, chickadees, gnatcatchers, warblers, tanagers, and other insectivorous birds enjoy the bugs hiding in the bark. The blue jay and red-bellied woodpecker eat the nuts. It is the host plant for the larvae of several butterfly and moth species. You’ll find out next week why hickory is so valuable to butterflies and songbirds when I dive into a really cool study on Lepidoptera.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
2. Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila)
Flowers: May, June
Numerous small, white flowers cover the branches in late spring.
Height: 3-10’
Habitat: Likes medium to moist, sandy soil in full sun. It is a successful spreader when in the right conditions. Provides excellent erosion control for sandy sites.
Family:
Notes: Attracts birds, fruit provides food for birds and small mammals. Also attracts pollinators. Special value to native bees. The genus Prunus is also mentioned next week.
Sold Nearby: Not that I could find.
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat sells Black Cherry and Chokecherry plants.
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm sells American Plum, Black Cherry and Chokecherry plants.
3. Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Flowers: April
Very small yellow flowers bloom at the twig tips in early spring before the foliage appears. Separate male flowers, or catkins, and female flowers, in clusters, can appear on the same plants. This is called monoecious. When they appear on different plants this is called dioecious. Male catkins form in late summer and persist throughout the winter until eventually blooming in spring. Female flowers produce small clusters of hairy, red berries in late summer which may last into winter.
Height: 6-12’
Habitat: Found in open woods, glades and thickets. It doesn't spread like a typical sumac. It is the only non-colonizing sumac in our area. Adapts to different soil conditions. Prefers sun but will tolerate some shade. Looks best when planted in drift-like plantings as it occurs in nature. It is fast growing, generally pest and disease-free, and drought-tolerant. Only female plants produce flowers and berries. Highly deer resistant.
Family: Anacardiaceae
Rhus - Genus name from the Greek name for one species, Rhus coriaria.
aromatica - Specific epithet means fragrant.
Notes: Beautiful red, yellow and orange fall colors. Flowers and foliage have an attractive scent. The flower is a nectar source for adult butterflies and is the larval host for the Banded and Red-banded hairstreak butterflies. The berries attract birds and can provide a food source for them well into winter. It’s of special value to native bees and honey bees, providing nesting materials/structure for native bees. It also attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey on pest insects.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Elmvale - Return of the Native
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
4. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus or herbaceus)
Flowers: May - July
Pom poms of tiny, fragrant, white flowers appear on long stalks above dark green leaves. Young twigs are quite yellow, standing out in winter against the snow.
Height: 3’
Habitat: Found in prairies, glades, dry open woods and thickets this extremely adaptable species can withstand inhospitable conditions because of massive, deep roots. It is quick to recover after fire.
Family: Rhamnaceae
Ceanothus - Genus name from keanothos, an ancient Greek name relating to some plants in the buckthorn family
americanus - Specific epithet means from America, North or South.
Notes: Nitrogen fixing. The dried leaves of this shrub make an excellent tea that was very popular during the Revolutionary War period (no caffeine). It attracts butterflies and moths and is the larval host of the Spring Azure, Summer Azure and Mottled Duskywing. The seeds are eaten by turkey and quail. It is of special value to native bees and attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey on pest insects.
Sold Nearby:
Plants
Kilworthy - Hidden Habitat
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm
5. Shadbush (Amelanchier sanguinea)
Flowers: May
Loose, nodding spikes of white, sometimes pinkish, flowers are followed by dark-purple edible berries.
Height: 3-8’
Habitat: Found on hillsides, in upland woods and on rocky slopes. Grows in clumps but does not form colonies. Can handle a good amount of shade.
Family: Rosaceae
Amelanchier - Genus name comes from the French explorers recognizing a plant that looked like the European genus they were familiar with, Amelanchier ovalis.
sanguinea - Specific epithet means bloodred, describing the red twigs of this shrub.
Notes: An important browse and food plant for birds and other wildlife who eat the leaves, twigs and berries. Of special value to native bees.
Sold Nearby:
Plants: Not that I could find.
Mulmur - Not So Hollow Farm sells 7 other varieties of Amelanchier though.
P.S. You know how I’ve been listing in the Notes section all of the wildlife that the specific plant shelters, or feeds, or provides a nursery for?
I just found a really neat resource for my area to see all of the butterflies and moths that have been sighted on my “square” since 1952. The area starts just north of Stayner and does a straight line into the Bay, north of the roundabout. East it runs over to Sunnidale corners and then north again to the junction of Zoo Park Road and Golf Course Road. Then west till it hits the bay again just past Nancy Island.
There have been 167 and different butterflies and moths seen on my square since 1952, the earliest recorded observation being the Compton Tortoiseshell.
If you’d like to do a bit of research and find out what’s been seen on you square, and when, click here. It will take you to the Toronto Entomologist Association’s atlas.
Enjoy!
