5 minute read
Plants with Purpose
by Mandy Bayer
We can all think of our favorite one-hit-wonder, that band that had the one amazing song then you never hear about them again. Then there are the groups that put out hit after hit, garnering attention time and again. The world of plants is similar. Some species are our one-hit-wonders serving a single main purpose and doing it well. Thuga spp. as an evergreen screen, Syringa vulgaris or Kolkwitzia amabilis for their spring flowers come to mind. Then there are the plants that offer something new every season like Viburnum spp. with their spring flowers, quality summer foliage, and colorful berries (and some with good fall color). But beyond ornamental features, some species offer additional benefits such as supporting pollinators, providing edible fruits, and aiding in water management.
Vaccinium corymbosum, highbush blueberry — Edible fruit, pollinator friendly, wildlife, wet areas, native
Ornamental features of highbush blueberry include terminal clusters of white, pendulous urn-shaped flowers in the spring, blue berries in the summer, and a colorful mix of red, yellow, orange, and purple fall color. Beyond the beauty, berries are eaten by birds, bear, small mammals, and humans. Twigs and foliage are eaten by deer and rabbits. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Native to bogs, swamps, and low areas in the eastern US, Vaccinium corymbosum is also a good choice for wet areas and rain gardens. Aronoia arbutifolia, red chokeberry, and A. melanocarpa, black chokeberry — pollinator friendly, wildlife, wet areas, native
Both species of chokeberry have clusters of white to light- pink flowers in the spring. As the common names imply, A. arbutifolia has glossy red fruit and A. melanocarpa has black fruit. Fruits ripen in late summer and persist into winter. Red chokeberry has brilliant red fall foliage than can rival that of burning bush while black chokeberry is red mixed with purple. Although technically edible, berries are quite astringent and aren’t even very tempting to wildlife until winter when not much else is available. Flowers of both species are attractive to pollinators. Both species are also excellent choices for wet areas and rain gardens.
native, wildlife
Although not long-lasting, serviceberry has attractive small white flowers in early spring before foliage emerges. Foliage is dark green through summer and an attractive mix of red and orange in autumn. The fruit is an edible berry that ripens in June (providing another common name, Juneberry), and ripens from red to purple-black. These berries can be used to make jams and jellies but are also a great source of food for
birds. Serviceberry is an early-season pollinator plant and host plant for many butterflies and moths. The various species of Amelanchier are similar in ornamental features but slightly different in habit and size.
Cephalanthus occidentalis, buttonbush — pollinator friendly, wet areas, native, birds
Buttonbush has unique, spherical flower heads composed of tiny tubular five-lobed fragrant white flowers. Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Flowers give way to a round fruit that is red turning brown and has multiple nutlets. Fruits persist into winter and can be consumed by birds. Excellent choice for wet areas and rain gardens. Commonly planted for its drooping racemes of fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer. Itea also has attractive green summer foliage and long-lasting fall color in shades of red, orange, and gold making it another good choice as an alternative to the invasive burning bush. Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and its dense habit provides protection and habitat for wildlife. As the common name implies, it is native to the mid-Atlantic and southern US. It is adaptable to sun and shade and good for wet areas and rain gardens.
Clethera alnifolia, sweet pepperbush — native, pollinator friendly, shade tolerant, wet areas
Clethera alnifolia blooms in late summer when not many other shrubs are in bloom. Flowers are fragrant, upright, white panicles that are very attractive to butterflies and bees. Fall color is shades of yellow. Clethera can tolerate and still bloom in heavy shade. It is another good choice for wet areas and rain gardens.
Sambucus canadensis (or S. nigra var. canadensis), elderberry — edible fruit (not when fresh), pollinator friendly, wet areas
Another species popular for its fruit is elderberry. Flattopped clusters of tiny white flowers emerge in June and give way to clusters of black drupes in late summer. Fruits are attractive to wildlife and can be used to make jams, jellies, and for pie. Leaves are pinnately compound with 5-11 leaflets giving a lacey appearance. Elderberry is another good choice for wet areas and rain gardens.
Sambucus canadensis, Clethera alnifolia, Itea virginica, Aronia spp., and Cephalanthus occidentalis are all colonizing in nature and can also be useful for erosion control.
Although there will always likely be a place for at least a few one-hit-wonders in the landscape the move towards more sustainable landscapes, that support the environment encourages us to find plants that not only offer ornamental appeal but also environmental benefit. We are lucky that there are a number of amazing plants that fill both roles.
Mandy Bayer, PhD, is Extension Assistant Professor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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