In recent years, municipalities, landscape designers and customers have become more aware of the environmental benefits of selecting "native" or local shrubs and trees for landscapes. There is a long debate inside landscaping circles of what qualifies as native (Straight species vs. hybrids; Native to what? The State? The DelMarVa Region? Our particular temperate zone?).That whole debate is reserved for another posting, but an easy way to sidestep the argument is go to one of the authorities on horticulture that everyone general respects: The US Fish and Wildlife Service! Here's the link to what is considered the Native Plants Bible for the Chesapeake Bay Region: http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/ .
Read up, there will be a test during the next posting.
Currently, my favorite "native" tree is the Eastern Red Bud (Cercis canadensis - Page 56 on the
link above). This humble fellow is a harbinger of Spring with a beautiful lavender/pink flower that blooms in Late March/Early April. It grows in the wild to a mature height of 20'+ typically in the undergrowth of the forests. When all other trees are beginning to push new growth, the little Red Bud stands out with a brilliant color unique in the forest for that time of year. You can still see specimens with the flowers attached if you drive around Loch Raven or Gunpowder State Park. Take a look this weekend!
link above). This humble fellow is a harbinger of Spring with a beautiful lavender/pink flower that blooms in Late March/Early April. It grows in the wild to a mature height of 20'+ typically in the undergrowth of the forests. When all other trees are beginning to push new growth, the little Red Bud stands out with a brilliant color unique in the forest for that time of year. You can still see specimens with the flowers attached if you drive around Loch Raven or Gunpowder State Park. Take a look this weekend!
