by Kevin Kavanagh

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, tuckedaway inside the Nantahala National Forestof North Carolina’s AppalachianMountains, is one of thoseNorth American pil-grimages that allbotanists shouldmake at least once intheir lives. As a graduate student in for-est ecology, I had read about it in the scientific literature, one of the bestexamples of an old-growth‘cove’ forest on the continent:massive tulip trees (Lirio-dendron tulipifera) morethan 500 years old, east-ern hemlocks (Tsugacanadensis) rivallingtheir west-coastrainforest cousinsin size and age,and, along thestreams, dense under-storey stands of rosebay rhododendrons(Rhododendron maximum) forming a darkcanopy overhead.

To call it a canopy is not embellishment. I setup my tent under - not beside - a tangled groveof rosebay rhododendrons that rose close toseven metres (about 20 feet) high,

their large elliptic leaves forming a delicate pat-tern against the bright yellows of overstoreytulip trees in peak autumn coloration. Alongmountain streams, the trails wove in amongexpansive rhododendron thickets that inplaces rose more than 10 metres (30 feet) over-head on gnarled stems (trunks!), the largest ofwhich were close to 30 centimetres (one foot)in diameter.

The species range extends from New YorkState and New England southward to northernGeorgia and Alabama, principally in themountain systems that comprise the

Appalachian chain. Although hardy in easternCanadian gardens, Rhododendron maximumdoes not penetrate naturally into Canada.While there are historical accounts fromOntario, Quebec, New Brunswick and NovaScotia, none of them, to my knowledge, havebeen authenticated.

In its native range, rosebay rhododendron(also known as great-laurel or great rhododen-dron) thrives along cool, moist streams in theshade of hemlocks and a rich myriad of hard-woods. More rarely, it will mix with other rho-dodendron species on moist, exposed, high

SU M M E R 2004, VO LU M E 5, IS S U E 3

NEWS L E T T E R O F T H E NO RT H AM E R I C A N NAT I V E PL A N T SO C I E T Y

Rosebay rhododendronRhododendron maximum

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Native Plant to Know

Continued on page 12

SUMMER 20042 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2004 – 10AM – 4PM

Markham Civic CentreHighway 7 and WardenMarkham, Ontario

The North American Native Plant Society(formerly the Canadian Wildflower Society)will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary start-ing this fall. Join us for a special event to beheld in Markham where it all began. High-lights include presentation of the Paul McGaw

Memorial Conservation Awards, our fall plantsale, seminars and speakers, including formerpresident Larry Lamb. A limited number of$40 tickets for a special luncheon in honour of the society’s founders are now available.Reserve your seat by contactingnanps@nanps.org. And please bring your extra native plants to sell.

Join us to celebrate two decades ofcommitment to native plant conservation.

The Blazing Star is . . .

The Blazing Star is published quarterly(April, August, November, February) bythe North American Native Plant Society(NANPS). Contact editor@nanps.org foreditorial deadlines and for advertisingrates. The views expressed herein are thoseof the authors and not necessarily those of NANPS.The North American Native Plant Societyis dedicated to the study, conservation,cultivation and restoration of NorthAmerica’s native flora.

Spring 2004Volume 5, Issue 3

Editor: Irene FedunProduction: Bea Paterson

© North American Native Plant SocietyImages © the photographers and illustra-tors, text © the authors. All rights reserved.

North American Native Plant Society,formerly Canadian Wildflower Society,is a registered charitable society, no.130720824. Donations to the society are tax-creditable in Canada.

NANPS Membership: CAN$10/year withinCanada, US$10 year outside Canada

Please make cheques and money orderspayable to North American Native PlantSociety and mail to P.O. Box 84, Station D,Etobicoke, Ontario M9A 4X1.Telephone: (416) 631-4438. E-mail:nanps@nanps.org. Web: www.nanps.org.

Board of Directors:Honorary President: James A. FrenchPresident: Deborah DaleVice President: Darcie McKelveyTreasurer: Kathy EdgarSecretary: Barb O’MalleyGrif CunninghamIrene FedunMartin FieldFeng GaoMiriam HenriquesHoward MeaddJenn ReaderCornelius Sommer

NANPS 20th Anniversary AGM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2004(NANPS Members only)

After a wildly successful spring trip to visit anative plant cottage garden and prairie restora-tion in the Kawarthas, NANPS is offering a falltrip to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.

Join us for the first-ever public tour of yoursociety's remarkable and fragile nature reservein Norfolk County. Through the generosity ofan anonymous donor, the society purchasedthe land in 1994, to preserve its rare Carolin-ian species including Canada's only indige-nous magnolia - the "Cucumber Tree",(Magnolia acuminata).

The tour leader will be Mark Bacro who

lives, botanizes, birds and gardens in the vicin-ity. Our tour will also include a visit to otherareas of interest in Norfolk County, in theheart of Ontario's Carolinian Zone. Due tothe environmental sensitivity of the woods,numbers will be limited. Book early to reserveyour spot!

We will be leaving by chartered bus (large,with water closet) from the parking lot of theToronto Botanical Garden, at the southwestcorner of Leslie Street and Lawrence AvenueEast in Toronto. The bus leaves at 8 AM sharp.

For further information, e-mail excur-sions@nanps.org. Tom Atkinson will answeryour inquiries. Please be brief and specific.

Shining Tree Woods and Environs Trip

The North American Native Plant Societywould like to welcome a new board member,Jenn Reader, an ecologist specializing in floraidentification (that could come in handy dur-ing field trips!) and native plant communityassessment. Her impressive list of credentialsincludes volunteering as an ecological con-sultant in a protected dry tropical forest inEcuador.

Of course we still need more board mem-bers. Anyone is welcome to stand for electionat the upcoming annual general meeting. Allyou need is enthusiasm about native plants.Please consider making your contribution to

NANPS and the preservation of our nativeflora by joining the Board of Directors.

Our annual plant sale was the usual greatsuccess despite cool damp weather. We appre-ciate the contribution of all volunteers – thankyou to everyone who participated and every-one who came out to shop. A special note ofgratitude to Constance Gardner who gener-ously contributed a carload of native plants toour sale.

Monica Dennis, with the help of DonnaMcGlone and many other board members,organized the spring tour to the Kawarthas.Many thanks for a job well-done.

From the Editor…

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SUMMER 2004 3NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

by Irene Fedun

Although developers are continually seekingnew ways to carve up the wilderness aroundhim, Howard Meadd quietly goes about thework of preserving his own wild haven inScarborough, Ontario.

On 1/10 of a hectare (1/4 acre) just min-utes from Highway 401, Howard grows over250 native plant species, many of them start-ed from seed. Though he deplores the devel-opment – the kind of short-sighted thinkingthat decimated nearby Collins Woods tobuild Collins Woods Homes – Howard res-cues as many plants as he can before thebulldozers move in.

He takes pleasure in the wild areas thatseem secure for now, like the woodlot acrossthe street where toothworts (Dentaria spp.),red baneberries (Actaea rubra) and purpletrilliums (Trillium erectum) grow. In hisneighbourhood he carefully collects seeds togive away (the NANPS Seed Exchange is onelucky recipient) or start in pots for futureoutplanting into his garden. He readily

admits that he wants to have anything nativethat grows in his bioregion.

Upon moving into his home nine yearsago (when he and his wife Elaine were onlycontemplating starting a family), Howardimmediately created a small pond in hisperipherally-wooded backyard. He dug ahole less than a metre (two feet) deep, in anapproximate two-by-five metre oval (sevenfeet by 16 feet), put in a rubber liner, put

bricks around the outside shelf, added clayas a low-nutrient substrate and finally,dumped sand along the sides and bottom asa growing medium for marginal and aquaticplants. Apart from the few ornamental grass-es Howard put in early on and now wants toremove, his pond is home to a constantlychanging palette of native flowering plants:bright yellow marsh marigold (Calthrapalustris), blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), greatblue lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica), hairy wil-low-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), Joe-pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum), the low-growing shrub sweet gale (Myrica gale) andwhite water lily (Nymphaea odorata). Theonly disappointment so far has been cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) which did not sur-vive the winter.

Howard will continue to add plants andmake modifications to the pond. The origi-nal waterfall is no longer functioningbecause he had to lower the water level. He’dlove to reinstate the little falls since song-birds (even the migrants) liked to shower inthe splashing water. But now that he has

young children running around (Ethan is 4,Ian is 2 and the youngest, Erin, is threemonths) Howard has added sand to thepond to make it more of a marsh and less ofa potential hazard for his kids. His childrenare fortunate (although too young to knowit) that this little wetland forms part of theiruniverse. When the pond was installed,garter snakes moved into Howard’s back-yard. Over the years his family has observed

a sharp-shinned hawk bathing in the pond, afox drinking from it and fireflies hoveringaround it at night.

A bird-watcher and butterfly-gazer sincechildhood, Howard’s reasons for growingnative plants are two-fold. He loves theplants and the whole process of watchingthem grow from seed. But he also loves thewildlife native vegetation attracts. He reportshaving observed 30 different species of but-terflies in his yard and 80 species of birds.Not to mention the dragonflies and otherinsects.

The animals recognize Howard’s efforts tomake his property as friendly as possible andthey reciprocate. In his early days there,Howard would watch birds alight upon adead elm tree (Ulmus sp.) left standing in hisbackyard and deposit their droppings full ofseeds into the bed below. Thanks to the birdshe now has American mountain ash (Sorbusamericana), hobblebush (Viburnum lan-tanoides), alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornusalternifolia), choke cherries (Prunus virgini-ana) and serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.).Squirrels bring in butternuts (Juglans cinerea)and other nuts and plant them too.

His parcel of land is large enough thatHoward can indulge his affection for treesand shrubs as well as his passion for perenni-als (feelings happily shared by his wife). Herecently obtained a hackberry (Celtis occiden-talis) from the NANPS sale, a good choice forthe city since it is tolerant of pollution. Manyother native trees dot his backyard includinga black cherry (Prunus serotina) that has seenbetter days but still produces enough fruit tofeed local birds and eastern tiger swallowtailbutterflies. The basswood (Tilia americana)produces lots of nectar so the bees love it,and squirrels strip the bark to make theirnests. The old white spruce (Picea glauca)finally fell down last year during a windstorm. Howard plans to use the branches tomake a tepee for his kids.

Not that Howard is a purist. He leaves thefull-grown Siberian crabapple (Malus bacca-ta) in his front yard well enough alone,knowing that birds appreciate it as a perchand nesting location, and animals eat thefruit. But, he has started a planting on theeast side of the crabapple, on the edge of hisproperty, that includes a redbud (Cerciscanadensis) started from seed from EdwardsGardens in Toronto, a mapleleaf viburnum(Viburnum acerifolium) with Rouge River

Sowing the Seed

Bur Reed and Yellow Pond Lily

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4 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2004

Valley seed, a pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fromthe NANPS Plant Sale and a small witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). With this oddtree/shrub combination, Howard plans tocreate a hedge.

At the road’s edge is one of Howard’s earlyendeavours, a native prairie planted because,Howard claims, he didn’t want to be mowingthe ditch. It’s a perfect place for a prairie,sunny and sandy (the region was originally abarrens much like High Park in Toronto).The seed source of many of the plants here isthe Ojibway Prairie in Windsor, Ontario: tallsunflowers (Helianthus giganteus), tall core-opsis (Coreopsis tripteris), culver’s root(Veronicastrum virginicum), Virginia moun-tain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) andothers. To those he added purchases fromthe NANPS Plant Sale and rescues from theneighbourhood: the incredibly tall cup plant(Silphium perfoliatum) whose leaves cuparound the stout stalk and collect rainwaterfor small birds and insects to drink, sky blue,New England and heath asters (Aster laevis,A. novae-angliae and A. ericoides), and clasp-ing-leaved dogbane (Apocynum sibiricum)which sends out runners everywhere likecommon milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and is similarly difficult to control. Other plantscome from up north like the wavy-leavedaster (Aster undulatus), uncommon inOntario. Many of the over 100 plants herewere started from seed.

Of course, when he first started growingnative plants Howard knew nothing aboutstratifying seeds. After some less-than-satis-factory results, he got advice from MartinGalloway, host of HGTV’s Secret Life ofGardens and read Lorraine Johnson’s bookon propagation entitled 100 Easy-to-GrowNative Plants for Canadian Gardens(Random House, 1999). Now he has germi-nation success with most of the plants hesows. One difficult-to-germinate plant, blacksnakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa), has nevergrown for him despite repeated efforts.

Howard keeps most of his seeded pots onhis back deck even through the winter. Theonly problem he’s encountered is that squir-rels will spread the seeds around by runningover the pots. And they do find the nuts –but they often bury them somewhere in thegarden and forget about them. Moisture-lov-ing plants such as spicebush (Lindera ben-zoin) are the ones that require a bit morecare. Howard places the seeds in a plastic bagwith moist soil and leaves them in the fridge

over the winter.He continues to experiment, establishing

all manner of native plant communities. Awoodland garden incorporates trees andshrubs as well as familiar spring ephemeralssuch as bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis),spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) andmitrewort (Mitella diphylla). In a boggy sec-tion near the house Howard grows enor-mous ostrich ferns (Matteucciastruthiopteris), Virginia waterleaf(Hydrophyllum virginianum) and Elliott’sgoldenrod (Solidago elliotii) which was"growing just up the block". Beneath thedownspout, the rich blue bottle gentian(Gentiana andrewsii) has settled in happily.

Although none of his neighbours havefollowed his example, no one has com-plained about Howard’s wild yard. And thecity crews have learned not to mow the ditchin front of his property.

His established gardens need little care –after the first season Howard does not waterthem, although weeding is necessary. Alienplants like garlic mustard (Alliaria officianalis),must be controlled, if not eradicated. Thisyear, he’s going to try and smother it withbranches from the white spruce.

Watchful of the changes in the wildernesscommunity around his home, Howard knowswhen natural systems are being disrupted anddoes what he can to correct abuses. CentennialCreek, which once flowed on the opposite sideof the street, is now only an intermittentstream due to construction of subdivisions.The Toronto Region Conservation Authorityhas built a small wetland (with dams includ-ed) as a storm control measure at one end andplanted a few natives. Howard has startedadding to the planting and will continue to do

so as his own native plants multiply.Despite the tree-felling and earth-flatten-

ing development around him, Howardmaintains his own little wilderness, modestlycontributing to the preservation of ournative flora.

Irene Fedun is the editor of the Blazing Star.

October 1-3, 2004GARDENS OF DIVERSITY, GROWING ACROSS CULTURES

American Community Gardening Association ConferenceToronto, OntarioVisit www.communitygarden.org for details.

October 2, 2004NANPS 20TH ANNIVERSARY AGMMarkham Civic Garden Centre,Markham, OntarioFor further information see ad on page two of this newsletter.

October 5-7, 20041ST FLORIDA DRY PRAIRIE CONFERENCE

Sebring, FloridaSponsored by the Florida Center for Environmental Studies –http://www.ces.fau.edu/fdpc/.

October 13-16, 200431ST NATURAL AREAS CONFERENCE

Emerging Issues: Possibilities and PerilsChicago, IllinoisFor more info:http://64.92.126.53/03conference/2004conf.htm.

Calendar of Events

Howard Meadd’s prairie garden by roadside

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by Kay E. Stephenson

In the Piedmont Plateau of north and cen-tral Georgia, between one-third and one-halfof the soils are clayey, with the balance consist-ing of gray sand. More importantly, theunderlying rock causes the soil to be acidic. Atest of the acidity of lawns in Georgia con-ducted in 1984 found that 30% had a pH of5.4 or below (strongly acidic), 28% werebetween 5.5 and 5.9 (moderately acidic) andonly 42% fell in the range of 6.0 and above(slightly acidic). Natural soil acidification hasbeen accelerated by acid rain. It is clear whylearning about acid-loving plants is a smartinvestment here.

SOURWOOD OXYDENDRUM ARBOREUM

In 2004, the member-ship of the GeorgiaNative Plant Society(GNPS) chose sour-wood as the plant ofthe year. A small tomedium-sized tree,sourwood providesmulti-season interest.

After the usualspring show of flow-ering trees andshrubs, sourwoodoffers its pretty sum-mer blooms – cas-cades of whitebell-shaped flowers.These flowers giveOxydendrumarboreum one of itsmany commonnames, the lily-of-the-valley tree. One of thefirst trees to begin thefall colour show, itcontinues to offerinterest well into thewinter. Attractivefruit, which matures during September andOctober, remain on the tree to disperse seedfrom the open capsule throughout the winter.Sourwood possesses a distinctive bark that isgray, tinged with red, deeply fissured, withnarrow, scaly ridges especially at the base.Though the tree has been known to reach 60feet (18 metres), and one rare specimen foundin 1982 in Vinton County, Ohio was measuredat 75 feet (23 metres), generally it is much

smaller. Also known as sorrel-tree, sour gum,or elk tree, its flowers are an important sourceof honey in some areas. A slow grower, sour-wood is native throughout the south, south-east, mid-Atlantic and eastern mid-weststates.

OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA HYDRANGEA QUERCIFOLIA

Oakleaf hydrangea’s pale gray-green leavesemerge in early spring, and are soon followedby large, creamy, cone-shaped flower clusters.(Unlike with some hydrangeas such as H.macrophylla, the soil pH does not affect thecolour of the flowers.) As the blossoms age,they shift from light pink through rosy tonesto a final tan. These clusters hang onto theplant well into late fall and early winter. Theleaves, large and, obviously, reminiscent of oak

leaves, turn to rich reds, purples and bur-gundies in late fall and often remain on theplant through November and early December.In winter, as the blossoms and foliage finallyfall, the branch structure is accented bycolourful exfoliating bark.

If planted in moist, well-drained, acid soilin part to full shade, these plants are drought-tolerant once established. They work well in ashrub border, as a specimen or massed at the

edge of a wooded area. Expect properly sitedplants to reach a height and spread of eightfeet (2 1/2 metres) or more. Especially inwarm climates, it is important to ensure theplants are shaded from afternoon sun.

Hydrangea quercifolia is native to only asmall region of the southeast, but adapts wellto gardens outside its range, even as far northas Ontario. However, Michael Dirr, a well-known horticultural author from the Univer-sity of Georgia, tells us to expect some diebackand winter kill of flower buds with extendedtemperatures of minus 20 degrees F (–29C).

MOUNTAIN LAUREL KALMIA LATIFOLIA

This evergreen shrub can be difficult to trans-plant, but once established in a proper sitewith moist well-drained acid soil (4.5 to 5.5pH) and part shade to full sun (consider anorth or east-facing slope, which limits theafternoon sun for southern climates), matureplants can reach five to 12 feet 1 1/2 to 3 1/2metres) tall with a similar spread.

One of the more picturesque names for thisevergreen shrub is calico bush. It has pink-edged white blossoms produced in terminalclusters four to six inches (10 to 15 centime-tres) across, creating an image reminiscent ofcalico fabrics.

Mountain laurel is extremely toxic in all itsparts to humans and livestock and other ani-mals. In fact, one study suggests that wheneaten by pheasants the poison is communicat-ed to those who feed on the birds.

PIEDMONT AZALEA RHODODENDRON CANESCENS

There are 13 species of deciduous azaleasnative to Georgia. Additionally, due to overlapof distribution and blooming season, we seemany interspecific hybrids along with intro-gression. (Introgression occurs when a hybridback breeds with one parent species onlyresulting in plants that generally look like onespecies but have some genes of the other).This can make species identification a chal-lenge.

One of our most stunning natives is pied-mont azalea (Rhododendron canescens). Theearliest- blooming of the native azaleas(March and April), this deciduous shrub iswell-known for its vivid display of pink orwhite, fragrant, clustered blooms. It is some-times misnamed as wild honeysuckle, but ourpiedmont azalea has little in common with thewest-coast native.You may also find this plantlisted as the Florida pinxter azalea, and though

SUMMER 2004 5NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Georgia Acid Lovers

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6 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2004

typically considered a southern species, it ishardy enough to see wider landscape use.Commonly available from native plant nur-series, this showy plant is often rejected byother nurseries in the belief that gardeners willnot purchase deciduous azaleas.

Rhododendron canescens makes a spectacu-lar show in early spring. The leaves sprout butthe blooms appear when the leaves are still aquarter of their mature size. A mature plantcan be expected to grow to 10 feet (threemetres) and more with an upright habit. Rich,moist, acid soil in light shade but with somedirect sun, or high filtered shade (under talltrees, at the forest edge and on stream banks),offers the ideal environment.

When attempting to rescue these plants, itis important to know that the root system isnot deep, but includes many far-reaching lat-eral runners. Saving as many of these runnersas possible is critical to success. Also, localexperts recommend soaking the plantsovernight in a tub of water to counteractshock, and reducing the foliage by one-thirdprior to transplanting. This can be done byclipping every third leaf in the cluster or byremoving the tips of all leaves – a dauntingprocess with larger plants.

LOW-BUSH BLUEBERRY VACCINIUM PALLIDUM

Hillside or low-bush blueberry grows natu-rally throughout the eastern and north-cen-tral United States and Ontario, and the fruit isvaluable food for many small birds and mam-mals. Though the berries are sweet and can beused in pies and jellies, they ripen over a longperiod of time, making collection in quantitya chore. Native Americans dried the berriesand pounded them together with strips ofvenison to season their pemmican.

I recently rescued a number of these plantsfrom a site under development in Snellville,Georgia. Like the piedmont azalea, this low-growing shrub sends out many longer runnerroots. It is important to preserve as much ofthis root system as possible. Despite care incollection and the overnight soaking methodmentioned above, by day two I was doubtfulthat any of the shrubs would survive. So, Ipruned the plants hard and they have all re-sprouted. A tip for novices: do not give up eas-ily. Vaccinium pallidum can be prunedseverely, so that a few stems and no leaves areleft and they will come back quickly. A fewmonths later mine are shaping up as healthyspecimens.

The site of this rescue included a dry sandy

hill that was covered in the one- to two-foot(30-60-centimetre) tall plants under highdappled shade. 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 pinkishflowers appear in early spring. Around thesame time, an important pollinator in ourregion, the southeastern blueberry bee,appears. A local botanist tells me that this bee"pollinates 100% of Carolina jessamine(Gelsemium sempervirens) and a wide varietyof other native plants. Since the drastic declineof wild and domesticated honeybees, thoseplants in my yard that bloomed before the ear-liest blueberries don't get pollinated." (Insome regions of the United States up to 90%of the honeybee population is gone due pri-marily to the introduction of a parasitic mite.The use of pesticides and, in the Southwest,invasion by African species have contributedto the decline.)

PINK LADY’S SLIPPER CYPRIPEDIUM ACAULE

A dramatic native orchid is the pink lady’sslipper or moccasin flower, found in acidwoods, often near pines. It prefers full shade topartial sun with moist, very acidic soil.

Blooms first appear in mid-spring and cancontinue for over a month. The commonnames given to C. acaule by the natives andwhite settlers offer clues to the unusual shapeof the dark pink flower which has a deep cleftin the centre. The cleft is actually a one-way

entrance for insects. Inside the flower, smallhairs "direct" the insects (usually bees) whereto go, but some never make it out. If theymanage to follow the hairs they are sentthrough a very narrow passage, where they arecoated in pollen before exiting the plant.

Here in Georgia where the plant is protect-ed, we need a special permit to rescue themwhen they are threatened by development. Agood deal of debate has arisen around meth-ods for digging then up. According to orchidexpert and GNPS member David Mellard,"When rescuing C. acaule, the one thing youshould do is leave your shovel at home. Likethe spokes of a wheel, the roots of C. acaulegrow horizontally in the decaying pine duffmicroclimate." Using your hands it is easy tolocate the roots – up to 18 inches (45 centime-tres) from the centre. Slide a three-prongedtrowel under the roots and loosen them. Oncethey are loosened, you should again use yourhands to move under the root system and gen-tly lift. (Editor’s note: Never dig plants out ofthe wild unless they are threatened withdestruction and always obtain permission fromthe property owners and the proper authorities.)

As for creating the proper environment toreceive these plants, David adds "probably themost important thing is to plant the rootshorizontally on the surface, cover them withcompost, and – this is critical - water themwith vinegar (two ounces of vinegar per gal-lon of water or 6 millilitres to 3.8 litres)throughout the growing season." Failure to

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transplant successfully is typically due to twofactors: root damage and planting in a soil thatis insufficiently acidic. In the past, manybelieved that lady’s slippers needed to be dugwith lots of soil to capture required micro-organisms not present elsewhere. However,more recent research has shown that the nec-essary micro-organisms bond to the roots, sobare root collection works fine.

The pink lady’s slipper can be found in thefoothills and mountains of Alabama, Georgia,South Carolina, adjacent Tennessee, andNorth Carolina, north and west to Alberta.The Conservation Status Rank for this stun-ning orchid varies from state to state orprovince to province. In Georgia it is classifiedas "uncommon but not rare" whereas in

Alberta it is "vulnerable". It is still quitenumerous in New Hampshire where it hasbeen adopted as the state wildflower. Themyth that it is illegal to harvest or dig theseflowers in that state persists – a good thingsince this has most likely contributed to thesecurity of the population.

This article just skims the surface of acid-loving plants in Georgia. A dip into the Oke-fenokee Swamp would yield roughly 600species of plants thriving in an extraordinarilyacid environment, with an average pH value of3.7. This unique ecosystem has been designat-ed a National Wilderness Area and remainsone of the oldest and best-preserved freshwa-ter wetland areas in America.

Kay E. Stephenson is a transplant to Georgia

from the St. Lawrence River valley. She serves on

the board of the Georgia Native Plant Society

where she combined her passion for plants with

her experience in high-tech marketing and a

desire to learn about natives, and turned her

hand to public relations for the society.

The Georgia Native Plant Society has active con-

servation, restoration and education programs,

and only takes plants from the wild that are

threatened with destruction. Some plants are

sold and the proceeds sponsor scholarships and

research targeted at native plant preservation.

Many of the rescued plants are donated to pub-

lic restoration projects.

Trees of the Carolinian Forest: A Guide toSpecies, Their Ecology and Usesby Gerry Waldron (Erin, Ontario: BostonMills Press, 2003, 275 pages, p.b., $24.95CDN, $19.95 US, ISBN 1-55046-404-3)

Gerry Waldron has earned his star status inOntario’s botanical circles as the discoverer ofthree tree species previously unknown inCanada. (His most recent coup was finding,with Lindsay Rodger and John Ambrose,swamp cottonwood, Populus heterophylla, inLambton County.)

In this extraordinary book Waldron shareshis extensive knowledge of the Carolinian for-est of southern Ontario—a region thatextends from Windsor to Toronto. His writingachieves that elusive of qualities, managing tobe both rigorously precise and poeticallyexpansive. His enthusiasm for the subjectcomes through on every page, whether he’sdiscussing a deep cultural veneration of trees("Trees germinate in our subconscious, growthrough our memories and emerge as chargedsymbols in dreams and art.") or the allelo-pathic effects of black walnut ("One odd thingis that walnut seedlings are susceptible to thejuglone of their parent, which seems as coun-terproductive as eating your young.").

The book is divided into two sections. Thefirst part provides a fascinating discussion ofthe history of the Carolinian Zone, going backthousands of years through glaciation andplant migrations, then through humanimpact on the region. Not surprisingly, the

history is sometimes heartbreaking to read:"During the nineteenth century it is probablethat every accessible mature hemlock in thezone was destroyed solely for its bark" (fromwhich tannin was extracted). Waldron thengives a useful synopsis of how the CarolinianZone became known as such and discussessome of the confusion related to terminology,concluding, "if I were king, I would dictate theuse of Deciduous Forest Region instead ofCarolinian Zone….I wouldn’t be surprised ifyou disagreed." What follows in this first sec-tion of the book is a discussion of plant com-munities and some of the challenges ofrestoration in the Carolinian Zone.

Section II is set up like a field guide, devot-ing two pages each to 73 Carolinian treespecies, from black ash to witch-hazel. Alongwith drawings (leaf, twig, flower, fruit andmature form) and a range map, the descrip-tion for each species includes introductorytext and sections on habitat; wildlife value;wood; propagation, culture and use; prob-lems; description; quick check; and largestOntario specimen. Peppered throughout arepersonal observations.

The colour photo insert is one of the mostuseful I’ve ever seen—how handy to havesample leaves from four Populus speciestogether in one photo for comparison, and thesamaras of five different ashes, and acorns of10 different oaks, all in a row!

This book is a gem.

�

Biotic Forest Communities of Ontarioby Norman Duncan Martin and Norma M.Martin (Belleville, Ontario: CommonwealthResearch, 2001, 195 pages, p.b., $10 plus $2p&h, ISBN 0-9688513-0-4)

Not everyone will be captivated by a sen-tence such as, "Most of the down wood in thistransect is white pine and red oak of the previ-ous seral stage." But for those who have a keeninterest in succession in Ontario, there’s a lotof information in this compact book, which isbased on the authors’ life study of theprovince’s forest dynamics. Basic communi-ties are identified, divided into upland com-munities such as poplar-birch, jack pine, andsugar maple-beech, and bottomland commu-nities such as black spruce-tamarack, blackash-silver maple, and white cedar. A basicdescription of these communities’ biotic com-position is provided, with an emphasis on treespecies, breeding birds, and small mammals,and with reference to shrubs, herbs, insects,and fungi. Finally, there’s an analysis of succes-sion. Serious students of Ontario’s forests willfind much of interest in this book’s charts,tables, graphs, photographs, and descriptions.(Available from Suite 1107, 2 South FrontStreet, Belleville, Ontario K8N 5K7.)

�

Reviews by Lorraine Johnson

New & Noted

8 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2004

by Kristie Virgoe

Only one and a half hours east of Toronto isa beautiful region known as the KawarthaLakes. A chain of 15 lakes, they are part of theTrent Severn Waterway system and are naviga-ble from east to west via a series of locks oper-ated by Parks Canada. These lakes are asignificant cog in the economic engine of thearea since clean water, a healthy environmentand good fishing are the main attractions forthose who vacation or live here permanently.Due to proximity to heavily populated areas,the pressure from developers for increasedurbanization is great. Lakeshore residentscommonly approach landscaping with anurban perspective, so that natural shorelinesbecome lawns with retaining walls.

A shoreline encompasses the area uplandfrom the water’s edge and out into the lake.This strip, referred to as the ribbon of life, isvital to the health of a lake ecosystem. Seventypercent of all animals depend on healthyshorelines for access to water, natural corri-dors and habitat. In addition, 90% of allaquatic life depends on a natural healthyshoreline for some part of their life cycle.

As shorelines become more populated byhumans, much of the native vegetation is lost.Unfortunately this exposes the soil to erosion,as the root systems of turf grass do not extendas deep as the root systems of native shrubs,wildflowers, grasses and trees. The pesticidesand fertilizers used on these lawns eventuallywork their way into our lakes. Pesticides oftenkill off valuable aquatic insects, the foodsource for many fish. The nutrients in fertili-zers, especially phosphorous and nitrogen,increase the growth of aquatic weeds such asEurasian water milfoil (Mirophyllumspicatum) and tape grass (Vallisneria ameri-cana). One pound of phosphorous in thewater can produce over 200 kilograms (500pounds) of aquatic vegetation. These plantscan choke a waterway, degrade habitat, dimin-ish water quality and decrease property valuesvery quickly.

The Kawartha Region Conservation Autho-rity is responsible for over 350 kilometres (200miles) of shoreline along the Trent SevernWaterway. We educate landowners throughon-site consultations, information workshopsand the creation of demonstration sites. Thesesites display different shoreline naturalizationtechniques and promote the reintroduction oraddition of native plants along fragile shore-

lines. Although re-vegetation using nativeplants is the primary focus in shorelinerestoration work, some areas may requireadditional support from environmentallyfriendly structures.

Early in 2003, the City of Kawartha Lakespresented a challenge to Kawartha Conserva-tion’s Shoreline Naturalization Program:recreate a healthy shoreline in the village ofCoboconk. In this small community thebeaches had been closed for several years run-ning due to highe-coli readings inthe water. It waseasy enough todetermine thecause. A large pop-ulation of Canadageese, sometimesover 100 birds,stayed in the areafor the entire sum-mer defecating onthe shore and inthe water. Thegeese were attract-ed to the mani-cured lawnsbecause they pro-vide an easy foodsource. What’smore, geese feelsecure in openareas with lowvegetation wherethere is no placefor predators tohide. The area inquestion offeredthese birds a buffetthat stretched 180-metre (200 yards)long and spanned the entire depth of the park(up to 20 metres or 22 yards in some places).

Our Shoreline Naturalization team deviseda site plan that incorporated native wildflow-ers and shrubs within a five-metre (16-foot)buffer strip stretching along the shoreline.Buffer strips along lakeshores and wetlandsenhance wildlife habitat and protect waterquality by reducing soil erosion, filtering outsediments in runoff water and absorbingexcess nutrients before they reach the water. Inaddition, a natural vegetation buffer creates aless desirable habitat for the geese. Over 750plants were installed for the buffer strip in

Coboconk’s Lion’s Park and native grassspecies were seeded as well. Shrubs and forbsused included red osier dogwood (Cornusstolonifera), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina),ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), floweringraspberry (Rubus odoratus), pussy willow(Salix caprea), pearly everlasting (Anaphalismargaritacea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckiahirta), and wild bergamot (Monarda fistu-losa). When compiling the species list, we con-sidered the merits of each plant. Willows were

chosen for their strong root systems that stabi-lize soil. Dogwoods and other berry-produ-cing plants provide food for songbirds andother wildlife. Wildflowers such as black-eyedSusans create an aesthetically pleasing displayof colour for area residents to enjoy.

The project progressed during the springand early summer with the assistance of vol-unteers from local schools, the communityand interest groups such as the Norland Hor-ticultural Society, the Coboconk Girl Guidesand the Victoria Land and Water StewardshipCouncil. Within weeks, residents wereexpressing their satisfaction with the project.

Shoreline Restoration in the Kawarthas

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A community planting day at Coboconk Lion’s Park Beach in June, 2003.

SUMMER 2004 9NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Fewer geese were observed in the area. E-colireadings of the water were consistently withinthe guidelines set by the health unit. Residentsand visitors to Coboconk were once again ableto enjoy the beach area without risk of illnessdue to poor water quality.

Delighted with our success in Coboconk, infall 2003 we identified a potential demonstra-tion site in the community of Bobcaygeon, atthe western point of the lock station. The siteconsisted of mowed lawn with a few scatteredtrees. This gave fishermen and boaters easyaccess to the shoreline. Without deep root sys-tems in place to support the partially exposedsoils, the heavy traffic along the shoreline onlyincreased the erosion that was already takingplace. Concerns about the effects of this ero-sion on water quality and wildlife habitat werehigh. Since many fish spawn within the ribbonof life, eroding soils can be a death sentence tothe next generation of aquatic life. As loosenedsoils fall away from the shoreline they cancover the vulnerable eggs and suffocate thembefore they have a chance to hatch.

To limit erosion, more than 600 shrubs andwildflowers were planted with the help of vol-unteers from Sir Sandford Fleming CollegeEcosystem Management program. The plant-ing was completed last October and overwin-tered with minimal losses. Many of the shrubsand flowers are already in bloom, and a num-ber of baby snapping turtles have been seen inthe area, indicating that wildlife is using thesite. We hope the plantings around thelakeshore will decrease the compaction of soil(caused by people walking or mooring theirboats along the shoreline) as well as improv-ing water quality and wildlife habitat. Touristsand fishermen are still visiting the area butthey no longer trample the banks to gainaccess to the water. This is important toimproving the condition of the shoreline. Asthe roots of the native plants become estab-lished over the next few years, the soils willbecome more stable.

Our latest demonstration site is Lindsay’sRiverview Lion’s Park along the Scugog River.Here the usual problems exist: drastic erosionand loss of habitat. But this site also poses asafety hazard. The removal of native vegeta-tion that was replaced by a mowed lawn pro-moted erosion. Historic attempts to halt theerosion included the construction of a logwall. Unfortunately, time has shown us thathardened shorelines (shorelines with impervi-ous edges) will eventually fail because precipi-

tation is blocked by the structure. The walleventually collects enough water that it startsto erode. At Riverview Lion’s Park the erosionis extensive and poses a threat to spawningfish.

This project involved the establishment of afive-metre (five-yard) wide buffer strip thatstretches 200 metres (220 yards) along theshore. Students from Lindsay Collegiate Voca-tional Institute, Sir Sandford Fleming Collegeand area residents have planted over 800native shrubs and wildflowers. Involving theyouth fosters community pride and a sense of

ownership as well as providing them with aunique learning environment.

I opted for fruiting plants or plants that willattract butterflies. While the park does notoffer swimming facilities, many residentsspend time there watching birds and otherwildlife. The fruiting shrubs such as service-berry (Amelanchier alnifolia), American elder-berry (Sambucus nigra) and highbushcranberry (Viburnum trilobum) will providefood for songbirds and small mammals, whilebutterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa), grey-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) andwild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) will pro-vide habitat for butterflies and other insects.

What makes the Lindsay site particularlyexciting is that it will link up with anotherdemonstration site further upriver. NayoroPark is scheduled for restoration this fall,allowing us to return some 400 metres (440yards) of continuous Scugog River shoreline

to a natural state.One of the goals of the Shoreline Natural-

ization Program is to encourage landownersto use native plants by showing them howbeautiful and functional they can be. Water-ways provide an effective corridor for thespread of seeds, so the more we replace ournative flora with non-native plants, the morelikely those plants will out-compete our nativestock. While the flowers of our native beautiesmay not be as large or colourful as manyintroduced or hybridized flora, native plantsare experts at dealing with the weather and

growing conditions that the Canadian climatethrows at them. They don’t require fertilizersto grow or special sprays to keep the bugsaway. In addition, homegrown plants areexactly what local wildlife need. The colours,berries, and scents are perfect for attractingour birds, insects, and other wildlife. Someplants, such as cattails (Typha spp.), evenimprove water quality by absorbing pollutantsfrom the water. Overall, native plants improvethe health of our environment.

Kristie Virgoe is the Shoreline Naturalization

Co-ordinator for the Kawartha Region

Conservation Authority. She is excited about

the community education opportunities of

the shoreline restoration program and can

be reached at 705-328-2271 or

kmccabe@kawarthaconservation.com.

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Coboconk Lion’s Park Beach in early July, 2004.

10 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2004

by Moralea Milne

The Victoria Native Plant Study Group(VNPSG) has been at the forefront of theplant rescue movement in British Columbia.By negotiating with developers we save nativeplants, even some quite rare ones, from sureeradication under the blades and tracks ofland-clearing machinery.You must be a mem-ber of our organization to participate in therescues. As more people hear about the rathernew concept of harvesting native plants fromsites that are earmarked for immediate devel-opment, they join our group and we benefit

from increased membership and the atten-dant annual fees. The rescued plants are usedin our gardens or donated to restoration pro-jects throughout the Victoria area. Sometimesthe seeds and cuttings are used to propagatemore plants in nurseries and further thenative plant gardening movement. These allseem to be activities that we can and shouldsupport.

BUT I WONDER...Spring 2002 and 2003 saw a huge plant

rescue operation at what came to be known as the Langvista sites in Langford, BritishColumbia. Early spring 2002 found me aneager participant. I was delighted to savenative plants from certain obliteration andprovide my own property (and a native plantgarden I was attempting to create on munici-

pal grounds) with often expensive and hard-to-find native plant material. The participantsall carefully followed the rules laid out by thedevelopers and stayed well out of covenantedareas, glad to know some of the site's naturalbeauty and plant community were protected. Idid give a moment’s pause to wonder wherethe many birds displaying territorial behav-iour throughout the site would be nesting thatyear. However, there was a beautiful intact siteacross the road they could migrate to and Iignored the obvious - that site would alreadyhave its full complement of birds assertingtheir territories.

Early in 2003 a friend and I bid on the con-tract to remove broom (Cytisus scoparius)from the covenanted areas on the now-devel-oped site. Through this work we learned thatthe area across the road, the back side of MillHill Capital Regional District Park, was alsoabout to be developed. I consulted with thedevelopers and found they were amenable toplant rescue operations at the new site.VNPSGmembership grew as word of the wealth ofplant material at this site filtered through thenative plant enthusiast community.

This site was so amazing; everyone com-mented on the abundance and diversity ofplant material. There were a few blue-listed**Isoetes nuttallii (Nuttall’s quillwort) and liter-ally thousands of Allium amplectens (slimleafonion), only recently declassified as a blue-

listed species. Both species are indicative of anuncommon vernal wetland ecosystem. A fewof the plants collected were: broad-leaved orPacific stonecrop (Sedum spathufolium), Men-zies’ larkspur (Delphinium menziesii), satin-flower (Sisyrinchium douglasii - nowOlsynium), Hooker’s and nodding onion(Allium acuminatum and A. cernuum), hood-ed ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana),fairy-slipper (Calypso bulbosa), white fawn-lily (Erythronium oregonum), camas (Camas-sia spp.), western buttercup (Ranunculusoccidentalis), harvest brodiaea (Brodiaea coro-naria), chocolate lily (Fritillaria affinis), rusty-haired and tufted saxifrage (Saxifraga rufidulaand S. cespistosa), small-flowered fringecup(Lithophragma parviflorum), two-colouredlupine (Lupinus bicolor), broad-leaved andpretty shootingstar (Dodecatheon hendersoniiand D. pulchellum), tomcat clover (Trifoliumwilldenowii), monkey flower (Mimulus spp.),Puget Sound gumweed (Grindeliaintergrifolia), various native grasses such asCalifornia wild-oat grass (Danthonia califor-nica) and Roemer’s fescue (Festuca roemeri),ferns such as Indian’s dream pod fern (Aspido-tis densa) and goldenback fern (Pentagrammatriangularis) and many unidentified mosses,lichens and fungi. There were large numbersof virtually all of these plants. Some sharp-eyed members harvested white-top aster(Aster curtus), designated red-listed*** inBritish Columbia.

All those species… it begs the question,what did we miss? What rare jewels were notapparent to our non-expert eyes? Mill HillPark was recently inventoried by Hans Roe-mer, a provincially renowned botanist, and hefound many more species and occurrences ofrare plants than were previously thought toexist there. It is logical to assume the samewould be true at the adjacent site.

This past year brought a shift in my percep-tions. I felt increasingly sickened by thedestruction and plunder of this hugely pro-ductive, rich, rare association of ecosystems.When someone declared they felt like "a kid ina candy store", I really started to wonder at theappropriateness of what we were doing. Thiswas no candy store that could be restockedwith old favourites. It took many thousands ofyears to produce the assemblage of plants andanimals at this site. Nothing we attempt in ourlifetimes could replace the astonishing envi-ronment that was lost.

The Ethics of Plant Rescue

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Harvest brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria) in its native habitat.

When I consider the number of people whomade repeated trips to the Langvista/Mill Hillsite to rescue plants, I wonder what could havebeen accomplished had that same time andenergy been directed towards saving the site. Ihave heard the developers were willing to sellthe land to Capital Regional District Parks.What if we had worked with all three levels ofgovernment, non-governmental organiza-tions and CRD Parks? Could we have pre-served this immensely rich and biodiversecommunity for future generations?

Garry oak or Oregon white oak (Quercusgarryana) ecosystems are considered one ofthe three most endangered in Canada. Only atiny fraction remains, and through our igno-rance and inactivity we let an irreplaceableremnant be destroyed. Perhaps if we had notbeen so focused on "rescuing" individualplants we could have rescued an entire ecosys-tem. What good are the plants that we savedreally? They have become mere gardeningmaterial rather than part of a dynamic ecosys-tem. Is that a worthwhile trade?

Since last spring I have not participated infurther "plant rescue" opportunities. I feelambivalent about the value and appropriate-ness of this activity. Should we focus our limit-ed resources on plant rescue? Or would theenthusiastic members of the plant rescuecorps harness the power of their combinedenergies to the preservation of endangeredecosystems? Does the immediate gratificationof "owning" rescued plants outweigh the longand sometimes arduous struggle to protectand preserve our natural heritage? Does thediplomacy involved in securing plant rescueoptions on a site preclude the ability to fightfor the preservation of that site? Is there evenan organization that is working to prioritizethe acquisition of the last relics of our Garryoak ecosystems?

Perhaps if I could be sure that we hadexplored all possible avenues to protect andpreserve every remaining significant Garryoak and associated ecosystem site, then "plantrescue" operations would be worthwhileendeavours. At the moment I find myself sit-ting on the fence of indecision, staring at thecrossroads of choice and asking myself thisquestion: if there is only a limited time left,what do I want to leave as my legacy?

** Blue List – the provincial ranking system inBritish Columbia that designates species assensitive or vulnerable and "at risk" but notyet endangered or threatened. Populations ofthese species may not be in decline, but their

habitat or other requirements are such thatthey are vulnerable to further disturbance.Species that are generally suspected of beingvulnerable, but for which information is toolimited to allow designation in another cate-gory, are included in this category.

*** Red List – the ranking system that designatesspecies as endangered, threatened or beingconsidered for such status because they runthe risk of extirpation or extinction.

Moralea Milne is quietly working to restore

Devonian Regional Park in Metchosin, British

Columbia. She is a graduate of Restoration of

Natural Systems Program at the University of

Victoria.

This article was reprinted with permission from

the Victoria Naturalist, January/February 2004, but

modified due to space considerations.

SUMMER 2004 11NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

JOIN NANPS

Your donations and membership dollars help NANPS to study, conserve, cultivate and restoreNorth America's native flora. Members receive our quarterly newsletter, the Blazing Star, and areeligible for NANPS-sponsored excursions and the Seed Exchange. NANPS is a registered charita-ble organization (no. 130720824) founded in 1984. Donations to the Society are tax-creditablein Canada. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more.

___ $10 / 1 calendar year (Jan.–Dec.)

___ $20 / 2 years

___ $30 / 3 years ( ___ send me a free copy of Growing Canada’s Floral Emblems

as a bonus for my 3-year membership)

___ $250 Sustaining Membership (includes a Canadian tax credit for $150

and a 10-year membership)

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Please make cheque payable to the NANPS and mail to Box 84, Station D,

Etobicoke, Ontario M9A 4X1. For info, call (416) 631-4438; e-mail nanps@nanps.org.

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Broad-leaved stonecrop or Sedum spathulifolium

SUMMER 2004

elevation sites where the resultant vegetationcommunity is known as a ‘heath bald’.

The smooth leaves (among the largest ofeastern rhododendron species at 20-25 cen-timetres or eight inches long) are arranged ina whorl at the end of each branch. As abroadleaf evergreen, its leaves remain yearround. Among rhododendron species itsleaves are the first to droop and curl up tightlywhen the temperature drops below 0C (32F),a strategy to prevent moisture loss in the leaftissue. As the temperature rises above freezingagain, the leaves unfurl and look striking inthe winter garden.

Another attractive feature of this species isits superior cold hardiness. Many authoritiesrate it hardy to -40C/F and it has easily sur-vived a -30C (-22F) temperature in my Toron-to garden with no visible foliar damage. Itspreferred sheltered, streamside habitat sug-gests that high humidity is beneficial to thisspecies so placing it out of windy and exposedlocations is important. It is very shade-toler-ant and can survive and even flower (lightly)under the canopies of many forest species. Itlooks its best in partial sun along the edge of awoodland garden, although exposures tostrong sun at mid-day in summer and stronglate-winter sun are best avoided, especially innorthern climates where the ground canfreeze for six or more weeks. Exposure to latewinter sun will significantly warm the leaves,causing moisture loss, and when the roots arefrozen, the plant is robbed of its ability toreplenish moisture to its leaves. This explainswhy rhododendrons in northern gardens aremore frequently killed by winter desiccationthan the absolute low temperatures they expe-rience. In cold climates, artificial shading inwinter from southern exposures can make abig difference in rhododendron survival.

The flowers are subtle, ranging from faintpink (almost white) to, more rarely, a deep fullpink. The colour is always darker in the budsjust prior to opening. While most rhododen-drons flower in spring or early summer inadvance of stem and leaf development, theflowers of rosebay rhododendrons open inmid- to late July, with the result that they aresomewhat hidden among the newly expandedvegetative growth.

Rhododendron maximum is a member ofthe diverse heath family, Ericaceae, and hassimilar cultural requirements to others in thisgroup. Acidic soil rich in leafy organic matter(especially decayed oak and pine needles) isbest. A layer of leaf litter in winter is importantto minimize the number of freeze/thaw cycles

that can damage the fine shallow root mass.Rhododendrons hate having the soil workedaround their base as this damages the finerootlets. In the wild, rosebay rhododendronsprefer the slopes adjacent to mountainstreams, but they do not appreciate gettingsoggy wet feet. Good drainage is important.That said, if planted under or among othertrees and shrubs (especially maples), R. maxi-mum will need supplemental watering duringdry spells to successfully compete with theestablished and often aggressive root systemsof the larger trees. Transplanting in spring isoptimal. If the plant is container-grown,loosen up the soil ball slightly and soak it for acouple of hours before planting to ensure thatthe plant is fully hydrated.

Although at home in a woodland setting,rosebay rhododendron can also grace theshrub-border, adding texture year-round.And, despite its potential to achieve substan-tial sizes in the wild, it rarely exceeds two tothree metres (six to 10 feet) in cultivation.This may make it the ideal choice for the gar-dener who has been too intimidated to try abroad-leaved evergreen rhododendron, espe-cially in northern growing zones. The chal-lenge is finding R. maximum in nurseries. Ithas never found favour with landscapingenthusiasts because it lacks the flower profu-sion of its cousins such as R. catawbiense. R.maximum can most reliably be found in spe-cialty nurseries featuring native plants. Grow-ing this species from seed is practically an artand should be attempted only if you havepatience.

Whether or not you choose to grow rosebayrhododendron, a trip to a natural site to see itsmidsummer bloom or its evergreen foliage inthe depth of winter is highly recommended. Itwill buoy the spirits of any plant enthusiast.

Kevin Kavanagh is the Director of the Canadian

Biodiversity at Risk Program at World Wildlife

Fund Canada. An avid gardener, Kevin has natu-

ralized his backyard in Toronto and is designing a

new garden at his

cottage in the heart

of Carolinian Canada.

Rhododendrons and

native plants, espe-

cially trees and

shrubs of the south-

eastern United States,

fill much of the space

in both gardens.

Continued from page 1

12 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

By appointment

by Tom Atkinson (asimina@sympatico.ca)

All ericads, such as rosebay rhododendron,have minute seeds, produced in great number.Germinate them thus:

• Moisten shredded peat moss

• Place it in a shallow tray

• Sprinkle the seed onto the surface of themoist peat

• Mist seed with a water sprayer

• Cover the tray with plastic wrap

• Place the tray in a room in the house where itwill get light, but not direct sunlight (under achair or a bench near a window works well)

• In two-three weeks, you will see minutegreen appear on the peat: each dot is a poten-tial rosebay rhododendron!

• As the seedlings grow, loosen the plastic wrapand pull it higher

• When the seedlings are perhaps five milli-metres (.2 inches) high, poke a few pin holesin the wrap: this is the start of hardening offthe seedlings

• As seedlings get bigger and touch the coverlift it up and make holes bigger

• Keep the seedlings in this tray through thesummer and the next winter

• Overwinter in a room that gets cold, down to0C (32F) or -5C (23F)

• Next year, transfer some seedlings to a gar-den bed with acid soil

• Always hedge your bets: keep some seedlingsin pots and in a cold room ‘til they are 10-20centimetres (four-eight inches) high beforeoutplanting

Propagating Rhododendron

maximum from seed