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Edge Of The Woods Native Plant Nursery, LLC

Specializing in plants native to mid-Atlantic ecosystem

February 10, 2021

Love Red Flowers? So Does Cupid! (P.S. Gift Cards Available)

Hibiscus coccineus
Hibiscus coccineus – bold and beautiful.

Few colors are as lovely in the landscape than true, vibrant red. While red roses and carnations are Valentine icons, let’s not forget some of Eastern North America’s stunning red flowers. Attractive to you and to garden visitors such as hummingbirds and butterflies.  These red flowers are certain to pop in your gardens and landscapes.  While it is still winter, one can plan to add these red plants this spring.  Weather permitting, the nursery will open for shopping on April 1.   Gift cards available  year round. 

Trillium

First on our list is probably the first red native to bloom, as well as one of the most sought after woodland wildflowers: Trillium erectum, commonly known as red trillium or wake robin. Three-petaled, burgundy-red flowers sit atop the broad, whorled leaves in early to mid spring. Flowers can last up to a month, before forming fruit. Wildlife will eat the berries, and early pollinating insects visit the blooms. An ephemeral species, after  the fruits mature, the plant slips into dormancy, withering by mid-summer, only to emerge again the next spring. This plant prefers growing in rich, moist soil in full shade to filtered shade. Over time, this plant can spread and form patches in the garden.

Trillium erectum

Columbine

Another spring bloomer, Aquilegia canadensis, known as Eastern red columbine, makes a beautiful addition to the garden. Blooming from mid-late spring, the clover-like leaves, often with a purple tinge, are topped with little hanging flowers reminiscent of lanterns. They are red with yellow centers, almost making them appear as if they are glowing. The earliest arriving hummingbirds, as well as bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects visit the blossoms for nectar. Blooming can last for well over a month, sometimes much longer. This species prefers full sun to part shade, moist but well-drained soil. It will tuck its roots under rocks or flagstone, making it a great addition to retaining walls or rock gardens. Will spread about by seed.

Columbine Flower

 

Fire Pink

Beginning to bloom around the same time is Silene virginica, better known as fire pink or scarlet catchfly. This small plant generally grows 1’-1.5’, but it surely makes a statement. Ideal for average to dry, well drained, sandy or gravely garden soils in full sun to part shade (afternoon shade preference). This species is often short-lived in the garden,  but will readily reseed if planted in the right spot. And, even if it doesn’t, its short-lived time in your garden will be a memorable one!. Hummingbirds really love this one. Like other Silene species, you will notice its interesting habit of trapping tiny insects on its sticky stems.

Silene virginica

Indian Pinks

Perhaps one of our most strikingly unusual native perennials, with a tropical appearance, is Spigelia marilandica, often called Indian pinks. Blooming from late spring to mid-summer, this plant produces cymes of red, tubular flowers with bright yellow centers. Though truly a native just south of Pennsylvania, this plant is still part of the greater mid-Atlantic ecosystem and is hardy to USDA zone 5b. Best grown in average to moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, this plant works great tucked in with complementary flowers such as Coreopsis species and Iris versicolor, or mass planted. Hummingbirds will relish this one, too.

Spigelia marilandica (Brandon Everett)

Royal Catchfly

The taller, and more robust cousin to fire pink, Silene regia, commonly known as royal catchfly, is perhaps one of the most visually striking red flowers. The five-petaled, vibrant, scarlet red flowers can be spotted from a distance among other plants in mid-summer. This is a grassland species, native to the mid-west, as far as east as southern Ohio. Most of Pennsylvania’s native grasslands were converted to agriculture quickly after the colonization of Europeans, so perhaps this species did occur in western Pennsylvania at one time.

Hummingbirds will visit this plant, along with butterflies and bees. The stems of this plant are stronger and stickier than the stems of the closely related fire pink, and tiny insects can be found stuck all over it. There is speculation that this species could one day evolve to have carnivorous tendencies and absorb nutrients from these trapped insects. There is no evidence that the plant can currently utilize the insects it traps. This species thrives in full sun, grown in average to dry, well-drained soil. Complementary flowers include Echinacea purpurea, Monarda fitsulosa, and Rudbeckia sp.

Silene regia (Brandon Everett)

 

Bee Balm

Another mid-summer bloomer and our tallest native red-flowering perennial, Monarda didyma, commonly called scarlet bee balm, sports large red flowers atop 3-4 foot stems. Blooming persists mid to late summer.  It is one of the best flowers for attracting hummingbirds. A member of the mint family, it produces fragrant oils that can be smelled if the leaves are clipped or crushed.

This species prefers full sun in average to moist garden soil, and it can even be planted in wet soils. It has long, spreading roots that send up shoots each year to form a dense colony. The roots are very shallow and easily removed if it spreads more than desired. There are several cultivars of this species, including mildew resistant strains.

Monarda didyma

Cardinal Flower

Finally, a flower so red it was named after our reddest native bird. Lobelia cardinalis, the cardinal flower, is one of our true treasures from the wetlands and streamsides of our region. Though naturally found in wet soils, this beautiful plant can be grown in moist garden soil. It is often short lived in the garden, and seems to last longest in moist soil that is shaded from the hottest parts of summer days. This is yet another great plant to observe hummingbirds feeding, as well as bees.

Blooming begins in the late summer and can last until early fall; flower stems reach anywhere from 1 to 3 feet tall, and sometimes even larger. The plant will benefit from watering if it is not in a moist location. Ideal for use in a shallow pond, container, or bog garden.

Lobelia cardinalis (Sue Tantsits)

 

 

Article by Brandon Everett / Plants

Recent Posts

  • Opening for the Season April 1 2021
  • Five Spring Garden Maintenance Tips
  • Love Red Flowers? So Does Cupid! (P.S. Gift Cards Available)
  • Native Plant Starter Kits
  • Winter Greetings

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2 days ago
Climate-Wise Landscaping

Replace the seasonal non-native plantings that need to be replaced every few months with native perennial borders. And instead of wide spaces of mulch between the plants, place them close together so that there is little room for weeds. This practice is part of climate-wise landscaping because it reduces soil disturbances, which reduces the carbon released to the air and it reduces the large footprint of repetitive production and transport to supply new plants every season. The perennials will last for many seasons and require much less labor.
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2 weeks ago

Trees, trees, and more trees! Oh, and shrubs, shrubs, and yes, more shrubs! We have a wonderful selection of native trees and shrubs available now. Woody plants provide interest all year long, height to the garden, vital habitat for wildlife, and years of satisfaction as you watch your plant grow into a mature specimen! They are the foundation of our greater, forested ecosystem spanning most of eastern North America, which historically covered nearly 100% of Pennsylvania’s landmass. Today, forested land still makes up the majority of Pennsylvania’s total land area, at about 58% coverage. Below are some of the trees we have now, keep an eye for another post soon about shrubs :)

Available now:

*Trees*

Shagbark hickory
Shellbark hickory
Red maple
Sugar maple
Red oak
Willow oak
Black oak
Shumard oak
Pin oak
Beech
Sycamore
Fringetree
Red bud
Carolina silver bell
White pine
Red pine
Virginia pine
Pitch pine
White spruce
Red spruce
Eastern Red Cedar
American linden
Sassafrass
Bald cypress
Franklinia
Sweetbay magnolia
River birch
‘Heritage’ River Birch
Yellow Birch
Mountain ash
... See more

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2 weeks ago
Timeline Photos

Yay!! Happy April!! Today is the day everyone, we are open for the season. We’re open today 9am - 4pm

We have a lot of our favorite woodland wildflowers and spring bloomers available now and others in production. Read below to see what we have available today!

Available now:

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadense)
Liverwort/Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba)
Blue woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata)
White woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata ‘May Breeze’)
Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens)
White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cuccullaria)
Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis)
Wild bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia)
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloides)
Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia)
Freckled violet (Viola sororia ‘Freckles’)
Twin leaf (Jeffersonia diphylla)
Foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum)
Golden Alexander’s (Zizia aureus & aptera)
Bishops cap (Mitella diphylla)
Pussytoes (Antennaria sp.)

And more!!!

Stop in today, we have tons of BEAUTIFUL native trees, shrubs, and perennials available now! Keep an eye for a post later about some of the trees and shrubs we have available now!!
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2 weeks ago
Natives Plants for Your Yard: the Next Step

Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons ( Marshallia graminifolia ) are beautiful Florida natives suitable for a fairy tale garden… Is native ga...

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The staff was extremely informative and enthusiastic to educate another beginner.

Joyce - Allentown, PA

Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, LLC
A WBE Certified Woman Owned Business
Promoting Native Plants Since 2003

2415 Route 100, Orefield, PA 18069
(610) 395-2570
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