Old, Resilient Ozark Natives

Naturally Natives

Resilient Ozark Plants on the Run and Old as the Hills

Text and photos by Scott Woodbury

It is said that blues musician changing climate and advancing Robert Johnson (Tommy glaciers. Johnson in the movie, O During the last two million Brother Where Art Thou) sold years, many plants and animals his soul to the devil (for musi- migrated to the warmer climate cal virtuosity) at the crossroads of the Ozarks as they were pushed in Clarksdale, Mississippi. More south and west by advancing famous blues musicians origi- glaciers. As the climate warmed, nated from this area (and mi- and glaciers retreated back north, grated there) than anywhere in most cooler-loving species the country. In much the same followed. But some species way, more species of plants ex- (called glacial relics) stayed ist in the Ozark Highlands (one behind. They found refuge in the of the oldest mountain ranges bottoms of cool sinkholes, northon the planet) than anywhere in facing slopes, box canyons, the lower Mid-west. Why? Because the Ozarks are an ancient crossroads for migrating plants. Penstemon cobaea, Echinacea pallida, and Oenothera macrocarpa and wetland fens. To this day, glacially disconnected animals like wood frogs and four-toed They are a tapestry of plants, uprooted and on the run from ever- .salamanders still hang out in these cool and moist, shady safehavens, while the majority of their population exists far to the north and east. The same is true of plants like queen-of-the-prairie (Filapendula rubra) and Ridell’s mud pies, grasshoppers, water bugs, tadpoles, frogs, goldenrod (Solidago ridellii), mud turtles, elderberries, both living in wetland fens, wild strawberries, acorns, and also harebell (Campanula chestnuts, trees to climb. rotundifolia) and white camas

Brooks to wade, water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, (Zigadenus elegans) that cling butterflies, various animals to north-facing bluffs along the to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, Jacks Fork River. These are rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; disconnected species (called and any child who has disjunct) because they exist been deprived of these beyond or at the edge of their Filapendula rubra, Queen-ofhas been deprived natural ranges. According to Dr. the-Prairie. of the best part of education.

~ LUTHER BURBANK

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Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for 30 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program.

Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants

Campanula roduntifolia, harebell. Julian Steyermark, author of The Flora of Missouri, many other plants have found a second home in the Ozarks, beyond or at the edge of their normal ranges, including tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum), barren strawberry (Waldsteinia virginiana), soapweed (Yucca glauca), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), common witch hazel (Hamamelus virginiana), beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), mountain azalea (Rhodadendron prinophyllum), rose turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), yellowwood (Cladrastis kentuckia), limber honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica), Texas greeneyes (Berlandiera texana) and dense blazingstar (Liatris spicata). But what about the plants that originally came from the Ozark crossroads, and never left home (called endemic)? They apparently began to evolve there (and continue to evolve) one hundred million years ago. Not quite as old as the five hundred million years old hills, but pretty old never-the-less. Common garden plants endemic to the Ozarks include woodland spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana), Fremont’s leatherflower (Clematis fremontii), little-flower alumroot (Heuchera puberula), Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelus vernalis), Bush’s poppy mallow (Callirhoe bushii), shining bluestar (Amsonia illustris), purple beard-tongue (Penstemon cobaea), cliff

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Healing the Earth one yard at a time.

goldenrod (Solidago drummondii), Missouri black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia missouriensis) and yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa) to name a few. So if you are taken by the origin stories of native plants, like I am, then pick up a few Ozark native plants the next time you are at a garden center or plant sale near you. They have been around a long, long time, and chances are, they will continue to hang on, deep in the Ozark Highlands, and possibly in your back yard. Happy gardening!

Hamemelis vernalis, Ozark witch hazel, with fly.

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery

9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109 www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net

573-496-3492

Meet us at one of these locations in the St. Louis area. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we will bring it to the location. Plants purchased at events away from the nursery cost 10% more, which covers sales tax and shipping. This costs less than having them shipped UPS from the nursery. Kirkwood Farmer’s Market, 150 East Argonne Dr. Kirkwood MO 63122. Give us your order in advance, or pick from the selection at the market. April 3, 10, 17, 24, and May 1, 22, 29; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shaw Nature Reserve, 307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, MO 63039. Event: “Shaw Wildflower Pickup-Up www.shawnature.org. May 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No Friday sale this year. Shopping at our Brazito (Jefferson City) location: Our retail “store” (outdoor sales area) is open for you to make selections. You can also send a pre-order and pick it up at the nursery. Please practice physical distancing if you are not vaccinated. Open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 Sunday. We can ship your order! We ship plants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays all year. UPS usually delivers the next day in Missouri and to the middle of surrounding states. Shipping charges apply.