Native Plant of the Month
Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
In this edition of Eat Your Yard, hahaha, just kidding but seriously, this is fascinating! This tree is a beautiful option for yards and pollinator gardens, it is a deciduous understory tree. Butterflies and bees feed on its nectar, several species of moths live in them, the songbirds and Cardinals can eat its seeds. Planting this tree can provide a beautiful view in the garden, wildlife support and a wild food and medicine for you.
This tree is technically a legume, its heritage is as a member of the pea family which is obvious because of its ornamental pea flowers and seed pods which will look familiar and are very similar to those of the garden variety sweet pea. The flowers, leaves, seed pods and seeds are edible and the inner bark has been used as medicine by native tribes for a long time. These are only moderately deer resistant…..a fairly low maintenance tree, can aid in biodiversity and preventing evaporation to plants that need more water below them.
Redbud flowers have some of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C of any plant in eastern Woodlands. They have a slightly sweet, kind of tart flavour. Some folks remove (but you don’t have to) the darker lower part of the blossom before eating as this is the bitter portion, the upper lighter coloured section of the blossom is sweet. They are enjoyable plain, pickled, added to breads, pancakes or in a salad.
Redbud leaves are edible. They have a mild grassy flavour and is mostly used as a salad green. Some find the flavour off-putting and people have suggested non-poisonous as a better description than edible for this part of the plant! Pick when very small, no larger than 1” across, and scatter a few through the salad, or put them right on top and get it over with, haha. Remember you don’t have to eat a whole bowl to acquire its benefits.
Redbud seed pods are really where the most value lies within this plant. The pods are generally 2”-3” long and dangle in clusters from the branches. They can be eaten when young and very immature as this is when they are tender. The earliest pods will be dark reddish—purplish-brown and tube shaped-these would be the best ones to get. They will turn green and are still edible as long as they are bendable like a piece of paper. It is advised to “pull the string out” before cooking. You can steam, boil, or stir fry them but do chop them up don’t cook them whole. Some other suggestions I’ve read was to slice really thin or mince and they become a nice tart element in dressings, dips or sauces like tzatziki. Strong flavours like vinegar and salt help hide their astringent flavour and can be pickled - like a pickled bean! When the pods dry out and get tough, you can still eat the seeds inside. The pods can hang on the tree from late summer all through the winter and fall off in early spring, another benefit of how they excel as a survival food. Many native tribes would bury the intact pods in hot coals and let them roast, dig them out after a while, shell the cooked seeds and eat them whole. The dried seed contains between 22 - 27% protein and 7- 8% fat! Also very high in antioxidants as well as linoleic (Omega 6 family of fatty acids) and alpha-linoleic acid (Omega 3 essential fatty acid). For a wild plant based food source in our area, this is remarkable! These statistics rival walnuts for nutritional value.
The medicinal portion that is used is the inner bark, its action is mostly as an astringent. Used to reduce fever, cough, even whooping cough, also useful for calming the digestive tract and treating diarrhea and vomiting.
I have a newborn redbud in my greenhouse right now and have daydreams of her providing my little farmstead with her wildly nutritious flowers and pods for the next 30 years and I am very excited that society is into finding wild food sources. In my opinion they are treasures hidden in plain sight! I hope you enjoyed this edition of eat your yard!
If anyone has a mature redbud and wouldn’t mind me collecting some flowers, please let me know, I would be most grateful! Nicole Zinn
In this edition of Eat Your Yard, hahaha, just kidding but seriously, this is fascinating! This tree is a beautiful option for yards and pollinator gardens, it is a deciduous understory tree. Butterflies and bees feed on its nectar, several species of moths live in them, the songbirds and Cardinals can eat its seeds. Planting this tree can provide a beautiful view in the garden, wildlife support and a wild food and medicine for you.
This tree is technically a legume, its heritage is as a member of the pea family which is obvious because of its ornamental pea flowers and seed pods which will look familiar and are very similar to those of the garden variety sweet pea. The flowers, leaves, seed pods and seeds are edible and the inner bark has been used as medicine by native tribes for a long time. These are only moderately deer resistant…..a fairly low maintenance tree, can aid in biodiversity and preventing evaporation to plants that need more water below them.
Redbud flowers have some of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C of any plant in eastern Woodlands. They have a slightly sweet, kind of tart flavour. Some folks remove (but you don’t have to) the darker lower part of the blossom before eating as this is the bitter portion, the upper lighter coloured section of the blossom is sweet. They are enjoyable plain, pickled, added to breads, pancakes or in a salad.
Redbud leaves are edible. They have a mild grassy flavour and is mostly used as a salad green. Some find the flavour off-putting and people have suggested non-poisonous as a better description than edible for this part of the plant! Pick when very small, no larger than 1” across, and scatter a few through the salad, or put them right on top and get it over with, haha. Remember you don’t have to eat a whole bowl to acquire its benefits.
Redbud seed pods are really where the most value lies within this plant. The pods are generally 2”-3” long and dangle in clusters from the branches. They can be eaten when young and very immature as this is when they are tender. The earliest pods will be dark reddish—purplish-brown and tube shaped-these would be the best ones to get. They will turn green and are still edible as long as they are bendable like a piece of paper. It is advised to “pull the string out” before cooking. You can steam, boil, or stir fry them but do chop them up don’t cook them whole. Some other suggestions I’ve read was to slice really thin or mince and they become a nice tart element in dressings, dips or sauces like tzatziki. Strong flavours like vinegar and salt help hide their astringent flavour and can be pickled - like a pickled bean! When the pods dry out and get tough, you can still eat the seeds inside. The pods can hang on the tree from late summer all through the winter and fall off in early spring, another benefit of how they excel as a survival food. Many native tribes would bury the intact pods in hot coals and let them roast, dig them out after a while, shell the cooked seeds and eat them whole. The dried seed contains between 22 - 27% protein and 7- 8% fat! Also very high in antioxidants as well as linoleic (Omega 6 family of fatty acids) and alpha-linoleic acid (Omega 3 essential fatty acid). For a wild plant based food source in our area, this is remarkable! These statistics rival walnuts for nutritional value.
The medicinal portion that is used is the inner bark, its action is mostly as an astringent. Used to reduce fever, cough, even whooping cough, also useful for calming the digestive tract and treating diarrhea and vomiting.
I have a newborn redbud in my greenhouse right now and have daydreams of her providing my little farmstead with her wildly nutritious flowers and pods for the next 30 years and I am very excited that society is into finding wild food sources. In my opinion they are treasures hidden in plain sight! I hope you enjoyed this edition of eat your yard!
If anyone has a mature redbud and wouldn’t mind me collecting some flowers, please let me know, I would be most grateful! Nicole Zinn
Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
Packera aurea is a spectacular wildflower for full sun to open shade. The flowers are typical of the Aster family, of which it is a member. They are daisy-like, up to 1" across, with yellow disks and rays, and develop atop terminally-branched, 2' tall slender stalks. Commonly called golden ragwort, is an easy-to-grow native perennial valued for its profuse bloom in early summer, and its ability to naturalize rapidly. The basal foliage is showy as well; the dense rosettes of heart shaped leaves with purple undersides are an attractive ground cover throughout the season. The central stalk is mostly bare, and lends a strong vertical line to massed plants.
An excellent choice for rain gardens, in full sun, also combines beautifully with ferns if grown in a shady spot. It is attractive to early pollinators, and very deer resistant. This species has also become popular as a green mulch. It blooms earlier than most plants used in pollinator gardens, and is well adapted to the shade that taller perennials will provide later in the season. The semi-evergreen basal foliage will create an attractive ground cover that will help retain moisture and prevent weeds from establishing.
Highly adaptable, and easy to grow, golden ragwort can provide an effective semi-evergreen ground cover for moist soil, in full sun to open shade. It is adapted to bog-like conditions, and will require consistently moist soil if grown in full sun. It will tolerate drier conditions if grown as a shade plant in organically rich soil that will help retain moisture. It spreads by rhizome-forming fibrous roots and stolons, to form dense, weed-proof colonies. As with other Asters, the seeds are dispersed by the wind, and unwanted spread can be controlled by dead-heading. It enjoys a long blooming period of a month or more, from mid-spring to early summer. Very cold hardy: zones 3-8
A naturalized colony of Packera in the woodland garden is spectacular in bloom. Add it in patches along streams or around ponds, or include it in a water feature. Packera is completely deer resistant. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees such as little carpenter bees, cuckoo bees and various halictid bees. Linda Harris
Packera aurea is a spectacular wildflower for full sun to open shade. The flowers are typical of the Aster family, of which it is a member. They are daisy-like, up to 1" across, with yellow disks and rays, and develop atop terminally-branched, 2' tall slender stalks. Commonly called golden ragwort, is an easy-to-grow native perennial valued for its profuse bloom in early summer, and its ability to naturalize rapidly. The basal foliage is showy as well; the dense rosettes of heart shaped leaves with purple undersides are an attractive ground cover throughout the season. The central stalk is mostly bare, and lends a strong vertical line to massed plants.
An excellent choice for rain gardens, in full sun, also combines beautifully with ferns if grown in a shady spot. It is attractive to early pollinators, and very deer resistant. This species has also become popular as a green mulch. It blooms earlier than most plants used in pollinator gardens, and is well adapted to the shade that taller perennials will provide later in the season. The semi-evergreen basal foliage will create an attractive ground cover that will help retain moisture and prevent weeds from establishing.
Highly adaptable, and easy to grow, golden ragwort can provide an effective semi-evergreen ground cover for moist soil, in full sun to open shade. It is adapted to bog-like conditions, and will require consistently moist soil if grown in full sun. It will tolerate drier conditions if grown as a shade plant in organically rich soil that will help retain moisture. It spreads by rhizome-forming fibrous roots and stolons, to form dense, weed-proof colonies. As with other Asters, the seeds are dispersed by the wind, and unwanted spread can be controlled by dead-heading. It enjoys a long blooming period of a month or more, from mid-spring to early summer. Very cold hardy: zones 3-8
A naturalized colony of Packera in the woodland garden is spectacular in bloom. Add it in patches along streams or around ponds, or include it in a water feature. Packera is completely deer resistant. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small bees such as little carpenter bees, cuckoo bees and various halictid bees. Linda Harris
Skunk Cabbage
With warm weather right around the bend, many of us are waiting impatiently for the first signs of spring. In many places throughout Appalachia, the renewal of the season is heralded by the appearance of one of the most unique plants in North America, the Eastern skunk cabbage.
Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) has an incredible life history. Like other members of the Arum family, the inflorescence of skunk cabbage features a spadix (a dense spike of tiny flowers) encapsulated by a spathe (a modified leaf). This type of flower structure may be familiar to those who keep peace lilies in their home or those who are familiar with the Jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema spp.). However, in the case of skunk cabbage, the flowers go one step further.
In a process called "thermogenesis," skunk cabbage flowers are able to generate copious amounts of heat, which gets trapped in the hood-like spathe and raises the internal temperature of the flower structure up to 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit! In this way, skunk cabbage flowers can melt the snow and ice of late winter and make a compelling entry into the new growing season.
Amazingly, this plant is not only able to generate its own heat but can regulate it as well! On nights when temperatures drop rapidly, skunk cabbage will increase its rate of respiration and heat production, and slow down again when daytime temperatures climb.
But the wonders of skunk cabbage don't end there! You might be wondering how skunk cabbage got such a colorful name. Well, it stinks! Crushed parts of this plant smell fetid (hence the specific epithet foetidus), and it is thought that the odor attracts pollinators like carrion flies and beetles that feed on rotting meat. The dark, cryptic mottling of the spathe reinforces the idea that the flowers are pollinated by insects drawn to its smell rather than to its appearance. In fact, an added advantage of the thermogenic flower may be that the warm air constantly wafting out of the spathe can carry the scent further than it would without.
Insects that are drawn to the inflorescence are treated to a much warmer microclimate where they can shelter from colder temperatures outside. Various bees, flies, and spiders have been observed resting in the heated bowers of skunk cabbage spathes, apparently renewing their energy before heading back out to forage.
As the flowers begin to wilt, thermogenesis halts, and broad, rounded leaves unfurl. A large colony of skunk cabbage can quickly eliminate any view of the ground beneath. The leaves, as well as the rest of the plant, are considered poisonous raw. They contain high concentrations of calcium oxalate crystals which render the plant unpalatable to potential predators and can cause a burning sensation and blistering of the mouth if eaten. Surprisingly, though, skunk cabbage was historically used by Native Americans as medicine for a variety of breathing problems, coughs, and headaches, and may also serve as a treatment for parasites and to stimulate the digestive system. Do your own research before attempting to use this plant as food or medicine.
You can find skunk cabbage growing in wet, mucky soils in a variety of wetland contexts, including swamps, bogs, fens, moist thickets, seeps, and along rivers and streams throughout northeastern North America. But you will only find the flowers for a short time early this spring, so be sure to look for them whenever you're near water! Two good places to look for skunk cabbage in Garrett County are Finzel Swamp and Cranesville Swamp, where skunk cabbage is currently flowering along the trails leading into the wetlands at both locations. Kevin Speray
With warm weather right around the bend, many of us are waiting impatiently for the first signs of spring. In many places throughout Appalachia, the renewal of the season is heralded by the appearance of one of the most unique plants in North America, the Eastern skunk cabbage.
Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) has an incredible life history. Like other members of the Arum family, the inflorescence of skunk cabbage features a spadix (a dense spike of tiny flowers) encapsulated by a spathe (a modified leaf). This type of flower structure may be familiar to those who keep peace lilies in their home or those who are familiar with the Jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema spp.). However, in the case of skunk cabbage, the flowers go one step further.
In a process called "thermogenesis," skunk cabbage flowers are able to generate copious amounts of heat, which gets trapped in the hood-like spathe and raises the internal temperature of the flower structure up to 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit! In this way, skunk cabbage flowers can melt the snow and ice of late winter and make a compelling entry into the new growing season.
Amazingly, this plant is not only able to generate its own heat but can regulate it as well! On nights when temperatures drop rapidly, skunk cabbage will increase its rate of respiration and heat production, and slow down again when daytime temperatures climb.
But the wonders of skunk cabbage don't end there! You might be wondering how skunk cabbage got such a colorful name. Well, it stinks! Crushed parts of this plant smell fetid (hence the specific epithet foetidus), and it is thought that the odor attracts pollinators like carrion flies and beetles that feed on rotting meat. The dark, cryptic mottling of the spathe reinforces the idea that the flowers are pollinated by insects drawn to its smell rather than to its appearance. In fact, an added advantage of the thermogenic flower may be that the warm air constantly wafting out of the spathe can carry the scent further than it would without.
Insects that are drawn to the inflorescence are treated to a much warmer microclimate where they can shelter from colder temperatures outside. Various bees, flies, and spiders have been observed resting in the heated bowers of skunk cabbage spathes, apparently renewing their energy before heading back out to forage.
As the flowers begin to wilt, thermogenesis halts, and broad, rounded leaves unfurl. A large colony of skunk cabbage can quickly eliminate any view of the ground beneath. The leaves, as well as the rest of the plant, are considered poisonous raw. They contain high concentrations of calcium oxalate crystals which render the plant unpalatable to potential predators and can cause a burning sensation and blistering of the mouth if eaten. Surprisingly, though, skunk cabbage was historically used by Native Americans as medicine for a variety of breathing problems, coughs, and headaches, and may also serve as a treatment for parasites and to stimulate the digestive system. Do your own research before attempting to use this plant as food or medicine.
You can find skunk cabbage growing in wet, mucky soils in a variety of wetland contexts, including swamps, bogs, fens, moist thickets, seeps, and along rivers and streams throughout northeastern North America. But you will only find the flowers for a short time early this spring, so be sure to look for them whenever you're near water! Two good places to look for skunk cabbage in Garrett County are Finzel Swamp and Cranesville Swamp, where skunk cabbage is currently flowering along the trails leading into the wetlands at both locations. Kevin Speray
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
If I had known the botanical name (Amelanchier arborea [Michx. f.] Fernald) and good with Latin. Latin Meaning: Amelanchier: French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / arborea: tree-like. Yes, you are right I still would not know it was Serviceberry.
So, what do we know about Serviceberry?
Description
Family (English)Rose
Wildlife Birds, Insect Pollinators, Mammals!
The consumption of the common serviceberry fruit is very popular with over 40 bird species, including the Eastern Bluebird and the Baltimore Oriole, and with several mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks, mice, voles, and foxes. Some larger mammals, like moose, elk, and black bears will eat the leaves and twigs of this tree species. In the spring, the common serviceberry blossoms entice beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, which provide pollination services. Since the common serviceberry are early bloomers, they are a very important source of food for many insects emerging from a chilly winter. Some bird species, such as robins and cardinals, are known to nest in its branches. Additionally, serviceberries are integral plants for the nesting of certain butterfly larvae, like tiger, viceroy, and admiral butterflies.
Cultivars Edible fruit jelly, jam, baking it into pastries, puddings, and pies.
More recent studies of the common serviceberry have looked toward its fruit as a potential functional food that can also be used for medicinal purposes, since the fruit is rich in antioxidants, minerals like iron and copper, and vitamin C. Serviceberries can be used for tool handles, walking sticks, and fishing rods, The Creeks would make bows and arrows.
Threats
The common serviceberry may be infected by many of the diseases common to plants in the Rosaceae family, though damage to the plant is mostly cosmetic. Diseases that may infect the common serviceberry can consist of leaf spot, rust, or powdery mildew. Pests that eat away at the bark of the tree include Japanese beetles, spider mites, aphids, and leaf miners. Additionally, the bark of the common serviceberry is very thin and can be easily damaged by machinery. Environmental damage such as drowning and edema may occur if the soil where this species is growing becomes too water-saturated, leading to rotted roots and bark and blisters on leaves. Interestingly, it is resistant to toxic black walnut trees.
I hope you enjoyed my little tale and facts (thank you Google) I do have to give a shout out to the USDA plant data base, University of Michigan web site, Glen Arboretum and Virginia Tech dendrology web site. Rusty O'Neal
If I had known the botanical name (Amelanchier arborea [Michx. f.] Fernald) and good with Latin. Latin Meaning: Amelanchier: French Provencal name for Amelanchier ovalis - amelanquier / arborea: tree-like. Yes, you are right I still would not know it was Serviceberry.
So, what do we know about Serviceberry?
Description
Family (English)Rose
- Family (botanic) Rosaceae related to the crabapple, cherry, plum, and peach trees, which are all members of the Rosaceae family.
- Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, under utility lines, Wide median grows in nature.
- Tree or plant type Tree
- Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves) early white spring flowers, outstanding orange-red fall color, and striking gray bark.
- Native Eastern, North America
- Size range small tree (4-25 feet)
- Mature height 4-25 feet
- Mature width 4-25 feet
- Light exposure Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
- Hardiness zones Zone 4 - 8
- Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
- Tolerances Alkaline soil, Clay soil
- Season of interest Mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
- Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
- Shape or form Irregular, Multi-stemmed, Narrow, Round
- Growth rate Moderate
- Transplants well No
Wildlife Birds, Insect Pollinators, Mammals!
The consumption of the common serviceberry fruit is very popular with over 40 bird species, including the Eastern Bluebird and the Baltimore Oriole, and with several mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks, mice, voles, and foxes. Some larger mammals, like moose, elk, and black bears will eat the leaves and twigs of this tree species. In the spring, the common serviceberry blossoms entice beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, which provide pollination services. Since the common serviceberry are early bloomers, they are a very important source of food for many insects emerging from a chilly winter. Some bird species, such as robins and cardinals, are known to nest in its branches. Additionally, serviceberries are integral plants for the nesting of certain butterfly larvae, like tiger, viceroy, and admiral butterflies.
Cultivars Edible fruit jelly, jam, baking it into pastries, puddings, and pies.
More recent studies of the common serviceberry have looked toward its fruit as a potential functional food that can also be used for medicinal purposes, since the fruit is rich in antioxidants, minerals like iron and copper, and vitamin C. Serviceberries can be used for tool handles, walking sticks, and fishing rods, The Creeks would make bows and arrows.
Threats
The common serviceberry may be infected by many of the diseases common to plants in the Rosaceae family, though damage to the plant is mostly cosmetic. Diseases that may infect the common serviceberry can consist of leaf spot, rust, or powdery mildew. Pests that eat away at the bark of the tree include Japanese beetles, spider mites, aphids, and leaf miners. Additionally, the bark of the common serviceberry is very thin and can be easily damaged by machinery. Environmental damage such as drowning and edema may occur if the soil where this species is growing becomes too water-saturated, leading to rotted roots and bark and blisters on leaves. Interestingly, it is resistant to toxic black walnut trees.
I hope you enjoyed my little tale and facts (thank you Google) I do have to give a shout out to the USDA plant data base, University of Michigan web site, Glen Arboretum and Virginia Tech dendrology web site. Rusty O'Neal
