Bayscape Blog 4/8/11

Let the Show Begin- Spring Flowering Natives

By Judy DeFiglio

After such a very long winter, I am sure we are all ready for the beautiful blooms of spring. While I will admit the flowers of the cherry and pear trees are a pretty sight, a late spring frost or April heat wave, which are common in our area, can quickly end the show on these non natives. In addition, the Bradford pear, once a highly recommended spring bloomer, is now considered an invasive species in several states. Besides, it can get pretty boring when every house on the block has a weeping cherry drooping in the front yard. Why not add some springtime flowering native shrubs to your landscape and really wow your neighbors?

Native trees and shrubs have adapted to our climate, so they are happier and healthier then the exotics brought into our area. This means less pests and diseases for the plant and less work for you. Most native plants do not require fertilizer or any additional water, once established, so they are a much better choice for the environment. All this and gorgeous blooms too. Need more? Most of these plants have a fantastic berry display later in the year. Still more? How about great fall color? That’s three seasons of interest in your garden.

Try some of these native spring blooming trees and shrubs:

Amelanchier Canadensis commonly called Serviceberry is a small tree that has white flowers in April followed by edible red fruit that turns blue in late summer. Good red fall color.

Aronia arbutifolia, the red chokeberry is large multi-stemmed shrub, six to ten feet tall. It grows in full sun to light shade and has lots of tiny white flowers in spring. The very prolific red berry display that arrives in fall, lasts well into the winter. Leaves turn a bright orange-red in autumn.

Cercis Canadensis, our eastern redbud(pictured), is a small tree that has deep rosy pink flowers in early spring before the leaves emerge . They really stand out against the bark that is almost black. Interesting heart shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn. This one is my favorite.

Kalmia latifolia or mountain laurel is a broadleaf evergreen with pink or white flowers in late spring. This is a good choice to replace the overused, non-native, azaleas and rhododendrons. Though there are several native rhododendrons that I do recommend you include in your landscape.

Vaccinium corymbosum, highbush blueberry, is often overlooked as a landscape plant. But it has white to pink bell-shaped flowers in spring, shiny dark green leaves that turn deep red in autumn and, of course, delicious blue berries in summer. They look great in a mass planting and your kids will have a ball picking the berries.

Viburnum dentatum commonly called arrowood is large shrub, up to ten feet tall and wide. Clusters of white flowers in late spring are followed by bluish black fruit. It has shiny dark green leaves that turn red in fall.