Earth Day is April 22nd, and the celebration marks the perfect time to appreciate the native plants of Virginia and incorporate them into your garden. The Merrifield Garden Center is a wonderful resource for additional native plant suggestions, and the Virginia Native Plant Society is a wonderful organization dedicated to conserving the flowers, plants and trees native to the State of Virginia.
Wild Columbine – Aquilegia Canadensis – Also known as Red Columbine, this Virginia native plant is a wonderful flower to feature in your garden. Tiny, downward-turned blossoms in yellow and red appear in April and last until July, and appear as wildflowers from Virginia along the coast into Canada and as far west as Wisconsin. This plant prefers a habitat of rocky, wooded, or open slopes and does very well in a partial-shade environment. European Columbine is blooms in shades of blue, pink or white short-spurred flowers.
Virginia Blueflag – Iris virginica – Also known as the Southern Blueflag, this Virginia native plant is a stunning addition to any landscape. A wetland species with striking blue flowers and vivid green leaves, the Virginia Blueflag is a member of the Iris family of flowers. They appear in May or June, and favor swamps, wet meadows and marshes along the eastern Continent from southern Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas. Warning: Some Iris species are poisonous to humans and animals, so take caution when harvesting or adding to your garden.
Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia Hirta – A stunning member of the Aster family of flowers, this Virginia native plant has striking, bold yellow petals on a daisy-like head with a dark brown central cone. These flowers blossom from June to October, and are native to prairie regions. They flower the second year after planting, the first being reserved for a rosette of leaves. Warning: The stems and leaves of the Black-eyed Susan can cause skin irritation in humans.
Mountain Laurel – Kalmia Latifolia– This Virginia native shrub has always reminded me of the Peony plant, with its short stump and spreading branches weighted-down with large, pink flower clusters. The evergreen leaves make a lasting green addition to your garden, and the crooked branches have been used for tool handles and turnery. The ideal habitat is acidic soil in either dry or moist locations, and thickets of Mountain Laurel appear everywhere from forest floors to upland mountain slopes ranging from northern Florida up the southern Appalachians as far west as Indiana. Warning: Leaves and flowers contain poisonous substances and should not be ingested by humans or animals.
American Holly – Ilex Opaca – Also known as the Christmas Holly, this Virginia native small tree is all over the Richmond area, decorating both private homes and businesses alike. An evergreen tree with narrow, spiny leaves and small white flowers, the American Holly produces tiny red berries in the autumn which contrast strikingly against the glossy green leaves. This tree prefers moist or wet but well-drained soils, especially flood plains or mixed hardwood forests. The American Holly is very popular along the Appalachian States, from eastern Massachusetts all the way down to central Florida, and across the mountains to southeastern Missouri. Warning: The berries can be toxic to humans, especially children, if ingested. Toxicity can vary in plant according to season, unique part of the plant, and stage of growth.
Sources:
eNature, “America’s Wildlife Resource”
Merrifield Garden Center, “Virginia Native Plants”
