Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica)
Took a long time to find one and about 3 years for it to start naturalizing. The hummingbirds fight over it. Top middle pic is the emerging fuzzy purple seed pods. The big round one is the original. You know you have clay soils when still looks like it is in a pot. No deer issues. Brief overview Mt Cuba Center
Jack in the Pulpit
We had not seen a green jack till moving here. It is cool to see the different color variations. The dark purple one was added to the garden area. The purple Jack may not have been around this spot but it is found in this county and possible around here just hadn't ran across them. Will be adding more. Wanted to get some additions in for May. If you are unfamiliar with the story behind the name the Spadix or the dark purple piece sticking up under the the hood is Jack. The Spathe which is the hood and all the striped purple part is the pulpit. The flower turns into a showy red ball of berries in the fall. Will add seed pictures this fall. Will have to review some links to add on the History like the plant. A plant that nothing seems to bother.
Cutleaf toothwort
Dentaria lacinata
It was one of the only wildflowers here to start most everything else has been added. Only a few were here in the beginning but there numbers have started to explode after the continued removal of garlic mustard and stilt grass. It was mainly one small patch at the base of a poplar tree. That patch was as thick as I have seen but it is now gone, so is part of that tree. The tree was hit by lightening and maybe that is what made the cutleaf patch disappear as well. Will be adding some more
Cutleaf Toothwort Overview
Cutleaf Toothwort Overview
Cutleaf Toothwort Overview
Cutleaf Toothwort is a name that relates specifically to the foliage of the plant. The leaves of this wildflower have deeply cut lobes which resemble teeth. Tooth also refers to the tooth-like projections on the underground stems. Wort is a term meaning common, possibly alluding to it being a common spring flower. Its delicate beauty however makes it anything but common.
Cutleaf Toothwort Overview
Cutleaf Toothwort Overview
Cutleaf Toothwort Overview
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Video to ID and short overview, other good videos
Like their native plant selection and native cultivars
Like their native plant selection and native cultivars
Toothwort is common colonizing early spring edible plant that is mainly used for a substitute for horseradish, although it does have some medicinal uses as well. A really easy plant to identify and to harvest there are a couple varieties of Toothwort.
Like their native plant selection and native cultivars
Like their native plant selection and native cultivars
Like their native plant selection and native cultivars
Dentaria laciniata 'Priceless' is a 2021 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction of a Louisiana toothwort selection, shared by native plant enthusiasts Jack and Ella Price. Dentaria 'Priceless' has been an outstanding performer in our garden since 2003, so we finally have enough to share. The lacy foliage of this widespread (Canada south to Florida) North American native spring ephemeral, emerges in late winter to 10" tall, and topped from mid-February into early April (NC) with clusters of small blush pink pendant bells. Dentaria laciniata spreads via short underground rhizomes to make a 3' wide patch after 15 years $18.00 for 3.5" pot
Spicebush, Lindera benzoin
One of the few natives here 15 years ago it struggled to get a foot hold. Deer, which are overpopulated here, normally would not touch it but here they would graze it to where it could not make it to a mature height. Several were caged and a lot of invasive plants were eliminated that opened it up for other plants the deer prefer and more spicebush. Now there is a good understory population. You can watch for the coming of spring by the swelling of their buds. They are one of the first things out and their yellow blooms bring a pop of color to the still brown and grey woods coming out of winter. As summer comes along they fade into the background as an unassuming green shrub unless you see a nesting bird or Spicebush Swallowtails floating around. It is also a host plant to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the seed is eat by birds and mammals in the fall. Fall brings out a double punch first with the leaves still green the berries which can be abundant turn a bright shining red. Cool night bring on change as the leaves turn a bright yellow lighting up deep shaded areas in the woods. That is Spicebush really stands out. I will add more pictures as the season changes.
Wanted to get flower pictures at their peak this spring (22) but a late freeze did them in. Will see if that effects the berry crop
Spicebush Swallowtail in the garden
Good sites found searching for info, no relationship
Spicebush Identification & Appreciation
Forage Spicebush This Spring to Add a Complex, Citrus-Like Flavor to Your Pantry
Spicebush Identification & Appreciation
As the cool air moves into October and the summer nights are fading into the campfire warmth, the flavors are starting to change. Autumn is associated with the warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Hot apple cider, pumpkin pie, squashes and pumpkins. There is another Autumn staple in this part of the country…the native Spicebush!
Spicebush Overview
Forage Spicebush This Spring to Add a Complex, Citrus-Like Flavor to Your Pantry
Spicebush Identification & Appreciation
In the North this plant is thought of as the “forsythia of the wilds” because its early spring flowering gives a subtle yellow tinge to many lowland woods where it is common. A tea can be made from the aromatic leaves and twigs.
Forage Spicebush This Spring to Add a Complex, Citrus-Like Flavor to Your Pantry
Forage Spicebush This Spring to Add a Complex, Citrus-Like Flavor to Your Pantry
Forage Spicebush This Spring to Add a Complex, Citrus-Like Flavor to Your Pantry
While these foragers (and I) use the plant widely in cooking, one of the most effective ways to experience its adaptable flavor is in drinks: Infusions, extractions, syrups, ferments and teas extract the essence of its character
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Forage Spicebush This Spring to Add a Complex, Citrus-Like Flavor to Your Pantry
The spicebush swallowtail butterfly, Papilio troilus Linnaeus, is one of our most beautiful and interesting swallowtails. It is relatively common in natural areas and flower gardens throughout the eastern and parts of the mid-western United States
Spicebush Tea Soap
Spicebush Swallowtail
Appalachian Allspice
Spicebush berries, also known as Appalachian Allspice, begin to ripen in late summer and early fall here in Ohio. The bright red berries on the female plants are wild food that is packed with nutrients and have many culinary uses.
Appalachian Allspice
Spicebush Swallowtail
Appalachian Allspice
These dried spicebush berries (Lindera benzoin), used as allspice pack a rich flavor and aroma. They’re picked red ripe from the understory of the forest before being carefully dried for later culinary explorations. Simply grind the berries and add to desserts, rubs, coffee and more.
Spreading natives
Hope to keep track of the plants that are shared from here, these were from last year. There are two goldenseals, an Indian pink, and a red trillium. Pretty sure those are two plumleaf azaleas and not two spice bushes. Wanted to get 2 plumleaf azaleas one year and found you could get a flat of plugs for the same price as 2 three gallon plants so got a flat instead. Plumleaf is not native to this region but is found in parts of AL and GA. Will have to find out who these went to. Have a couple other pictures of ones that were shared. It doesn't look like much but that is probably $80 worth and there are not too many places you can get any of them from. The first piece goldenseal we got was $10 and was just couple weeks old cutting in about a 3" pot. Then I found a couple people who grew it and they both shared some. You may want to know you can't just go to a couple places and get all the things you want so don't be disappointed when you start looking. At some of these nurseries you might not believe the prices some small plants can sell for so be prepared for some sticker shock. It has taken 15 years of stopping at nurseries while out of town, on some vacations, meeting people and trading, going to regional places or organizations that put on plant sales, and finally buying online(do a lot of research on the company first). We still have ones we have been looking for or been wanting more of. So start now, just don't think you can do a weekend renovation and go find what you want one Saturday morning. Start with one bed or maybe a couple small areas you may already have something in. If needed get sun tolerant plants to create shade. Buy small and give it time to grow to save money. If you want a lot of one plant buy a few and try to propagate them. Choose ones that are easy to propagate first. Most grow slow and some need protection from critters. Try and learn a few things about them before investing your time and money so you can have some success. You or your pests will probably kill several things, maybe several things every year but it can be worth it.