#wildlife value

[tylahsdigitalfieldguide]

Salvia guaranitica Anise- Scented Sage

This plant was photographed on Northeastern University's arboretum near the Curry Student Center

Basic Facts

The cold hardiness zones of this plant are zones 8 to 10 and it can bloom from July to frost. It prefers full sun, medium water, and well drained loamy soil. This plant is also a subshrub that can grow 3 to 5' tall. It has 2 inch blue flowers that are two-lipped and tubular

Design

Salvia guaranitica does well in containers and can even be used in beds, borders and cottage gardens. Some cultivars of this plant should be propagated from cuttings and ensured that not too much shade is given. After the last frost date, only then should the plants be set out. Also to encourage more bloom, be sure to deadhead spent flowers.

Bird attraction

This plant does well at attracting pollinators, butterflies, and hummingbirds because of the flowers it produces. Hummingbirds are attracted to nectar, meaning that this is a plant that acts as a food source for birds!

Sources

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c834

https://blogs.massaudubon.org/yourgreatoutdoors/say-hello-to-hummingbirds/

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Hylotelephium spectabile Ice plant

This plant was photographed on Northeastern University's arboretum near Curry student center. It was a plant amongst other plants but the pla

Basic Facts

This perennial plant is native to China and Korea and has cold hardiness zones of 3 to 9. Hylotelephium spectabile prefers full sun, dry to medium water, and well-drained gravelly soil. The bloom is pink and usually appears in August to October. This plant will grow in a floppy way if it is not given enough shade or in a rich soil environment

Design

This plant is one that can be used in containers. Because of this, consider using the plant in places such as front porches or entrances. It can even be used as a ground cover in large rock gardens. Keep in mind that the pink flower blooms change from pink to burgundy brown as time passes and the flower ages.

Bird attraction

Because of the plant's showy flowers and the succulent (waxy) leaves, this plant does well at attracting songbirds as well as other animals and pollinators

Sources

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279422

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hylotelephium-spectabile/#:~:text=The%20showy%20flowers%2C%20succulent%20leaves,and%20weevils%20can%20be%20problematic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songbird

[tylahsdigitalfieldguide]

Panicum virgatum Switchgrass

This photo was taken on Northeastern University's arboretum near Ell hall. The plant still looks healthy with a few yellow leaves. In this photo, you can see the fibrous roots

Basic Facts

This grass is native to all but the westernmost parts of the US. This plant prefers full sun to part shade, dry to moist soil, and has a cold hardiness zone of 3 to 9. In the fall color, the leaves turn a pale yellow and the plant is a perennial that grows in large clumps.

Design

Switchgrass can be used as a maintenance-free plant when it is first established. When planting it, make sure it is put in a place that receives 6 hours of direct sunlight or more. Timing wise, in warmer regions, you should plant switchgrass during the cooler months. Consider using this plant on a slope or hill to control erosion!

Bird attraction

Panicum virgatum is not only used as a host plant for moths and butterflies. Because of the seeds produced by the grass, it also attracts songbirds that use the seed for food. The plant also acts for cover for birds any other wildlife species

Sources

https://www.northeastpollinator.com/products/panicum-virgatum?variant=12314224707

https://www.gardendesign.com/ornamental-grasses/switchgrass.html

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=pavi2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songbird

[tylahsdigitalfieldguide]

Amaranthus retroflexus Redroot Pigweed

These photographs were taken on Columbus avenue in Boston, Massachusetts's. It appears to be a spontaneous plant that has found its wat out through a gap in a wooden fence

Basic Facts

This deciduous plant has cold hardiness zones from 3 to 11. This species prefer full sun and moist well drained soil. It also does well in a wide variety of soil type but would prefer a neutral pH. These plants can be found in coastal, mountains, and piedmont areas. These plants can produce fruit to be harvested in the fall and summer.

Design

This plant would be most suited in an edible garden or pollinator garden given the fact that it has been used as a food source by many different populations. It also does a wonderful job at attracting pollinators. The seeds are high in protein and the leaves are very nutritious!

Bird attraction

Aside from other animals, this species does a great job at attracting birds. This is because the seeds act as a food source for birds. In fact the seeds of Amaranthus retroflexus are very commonly found in bird seed mixes. You can expect to see that American Goldfinches are most attracted to this species

Sources

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/amaranthus-retroflexus/

https://www.bbg.org/article/weed_of_the_month_pigweed

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id#

[tylahsdigitalfieldguide]

Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire

This plant was photographed on Northeastern University's arboretum near Carter Field. The plant itself is very spread out and has a beautiful red color

Basic Facts

This deciduous shrub is native to Eastern North American and has cold hardiness zones of 5 to 9. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and medium to wet, well drained soil. It can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions however. The branches arch and you can expect this plant to grow 3 to 5 feet in height and the same in spread.

Design

This plant blooms later in the year; around June to July. The flowers are tiny and white. The fall color is very attractive and vibrant, so consider these factors when designing. It can be used in mass for ground cover and is great for any wet locations. Consider using this plant for woodland gardens, shrub borders, or hedges

Bird Attraction

Although the flower on this plant attracts insects and pollinators, the raceme flowers become capsules with seeds that act as food for bird. This plant not only provides food for birds, but also cover. Many species of birds rely on the foliage of this plant for cover and habitat

Sources

https://www.clemson.edu/cafls//demo/plant_profiles/itea-virginica.html#:~:text=These%20fragrant%20flowers%20also%20attract,gold%20during%20the%20fall13.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286893

[tylahsdigitalfieldguide]

Picea omorika Serbian Spruce

This tree was photographed on Northeastern University's arboretum near the Gainsborough garage. The tree takes on an abnormal asymmetrical shape yet keeps its dark green color!

Basic Facts

This species is native to Serbia and has a cold hardiness zone of 4 to 7. This tree prefers full sun to part shade, medium water levels, and well-drained soils. The tree can grow from 40 to 60 feet in height and about 15 to 20 feet in spread. This is a needled evergreen, meaning that the flat green needles stay that way throughout the year. They also produce a pendant cone that emerge purple but mature to yellowish brown.

Design

This tree will not do well in any state south of the zone 7 cold hardiness zone, however it can be used as a shade tree. It has very favorable features like being deer and air pollution tolerant. It is a very attractive spruce and can be used in groups or singular. Because it is evergreen and can grow quite tall, consider using this as one of the center pieces of your landscape

Bird Attraction

Because of the showy fruit of the species, Picea omorika is excellent at attracting birds. Not only can it attract birds with its fruits, but it can also act as a cover for birds and other small animals

Sources

https://www.mckaynursery.com/white-spruce#:~:text=This%20pyramidal%2Dshaped%20Spruce%20tree,and%20has%20a%20pyramidal%20shape.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=h220

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Magnolia virginiana Sweet bay magnolia

This tree was photographed at Northeastern University's arboretum near the Gainsborough garage. As you can see, the leaves are still very green and waxy, indicating that it seems to be changing color very late. There are also buds at the end of one of the branches which I did not see on any of the surrounding trees.

Basic facts

This tree is native to Eastern United States with a cold hardiness zone of 5 to 10. The tree can grow between 10 to 35 feet in height and the same in spread. This tree prefers full sun to part shade, medium to wet water, and rich organic soils. This tree can also toleration wet, boggy soils. You can expect to see this species near the Atlantic Coast of New York

Design

This tree has beautiful white flowers that bloom in May to June as well as showy fruit. This means you can expect to see these flowers in late spring and well into summer. Because of this, consider adding this tree as an element to extend the beauty of your garden past spring. Depending on the climate, the foliage can be evergreen to semi evergreen, so the waxy green leaves can be seen year round. However, in colder climates expect a fully deciduous tree.

Bird Attraction

This tree produces a cone-like fruit with bright red seeds that attract all sorts of birds. These birds are: woodpeckers, tanagers, grosbeaks, cardinals, and finches. Because of the wide range of birds that this tree can attract, it adds wildlife value to any community it is in. It can also be used to purposely attract birds to your garden in August to September

Sources

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e110

https://nc.audubon.org/news/sweetbay-magnolia-adding-life-your-garden#:~:text=Great%20for%20Birds&text=The%20fruits%20will%20attract%20a,only%20to%20our%20coastal%20plain.

[tylahsdigitalfieldguide]

Cotinus obovatus American Smoketree

This Continus obovatus was photographed on Northeastern University's arboretum near Gainsborough garage. By the time I had taken the picture, the leaves have changed from a dark green color to a burgundy color!

Basic Facts

This tree, native to North America, can grow up from 20-30' tall and just as wide. The bloom time is form May to June and you would expect to see Yellowish-green flowers during this time. This tree prefers full sun, medium water, and well-drained soil. The most preferable type of soul would be infertile loam soil. The zone hardiness for this tree is 4 to 8 and it is often found occurring in southeast Missouri.

Design

This tree can be used as a understory tree or shrub. To keep prevent it from wilting due to stress or other factors, make sure that there is a healthy amount of watering and mulch is laid around the plant. This plant is great to keep in an open garden because it is both deer and rabbit resistant! The foliage of these leaves can change to a rich red in the fall time and the flowers give the illusion of a cloud of "smoke"

Bird Attraction

Although this species is not a magnet for pollinators, one of the main pollinators is songbirds. As a shrub and a tree, it also provides wildlife cover for many species of birds and other animals

Sources

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=h660

https://kb.jniplants.com/royal-purple-smokebush-cotinus-coggygria/#:~:text=Pests%2FProblems%3A,and%20applying%20mulch%20as%20necessary.

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cotinus-obovatus/