Several weeks ago (From the Ground Up, April 20), I wrote about the Bradford Callery Pear; how this once-heralded and widely-planted cultivar has become a serious nuisance tree. Believed to be sterile, it has been cross-breeding with other pear trees and is now out of control. In the column, I mentioned several similar spring-flowering native trees with white blossoms that are a much better choice. This week, I want to tell you more about these beautiful trees.
The first one my list is Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina.), one of my all-time favorite trees. I planted one on my property as a specimen tree about ten years ago so that I could enjoy its bright-white, plentiful, bell-shaped flowers each spring. I don’t know exactly why, but when I see the tree in bloom it just makes me happy. While it does well in full sun, in its natural setting Halesia is an understory tree, making it perfect for a woodland area or a shrub border, planting well with azaleas and rhododendrons. It is not susceptible to any particular insect or disease, and is remarkably self-sufficient. As described on the website of the Missouri Botanical Garden (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org), Halesia is “easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils in part shade. May be grown as a large, multi-stemmed shrub or trained as single trunk tree.” Blooms in April. Family: Styracaceae
Where the April-blooming Halesia leaves off, the White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginianus) takes over, blooming in May and sometimes into June. There is nothing not to like about this native tree. The individual flowers are barely there, with impossibly thin petals, but the creamy white flowers hang in large, soft, frilly, slightly fragrant, eye-catching masses. In bloom, this is a tree you almost want to hug. Like Halesia, Chionanthus does well in full sun or partial shade, has no serious insect pests or diseases. In addition, the clusters of bluish-black fruits are a source of food for birds and wildlife. (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org) The South Carolina Wildlife Federation reports that 75 species of birds eat Chionanthus fruit, including thrashers, bluebirds, vireos, and finches (http://www.scwf.org/native-plant-list/). Chionanthus is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. If planting Chionanthus as a food source for birds, be sure to purchase at least one male to pollinate the female trees. Olive Family (Oleaceae).
Its March-into-April flowers are less showy and more ephemeral than Halesia or Chionanthus, but our native Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) deserves attention. Until the Bradford pear literally went wild, it was the white blossoms of Serviceberry that we noticed in our local woodlands in early spring. Also known as Shadbush, the flowering coincides with the annual shad run in our rivers. Effective in shrub borders or woodland areas. Largely pest- and disease-free. Green berries turn red and finally to a purplish-black by the end of summer. The berries are attractive to birds and may also be used to make jams, jellies, and pies. Rose Family (Rosaceae).
Another native plant sale
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has announced its annual Spring Native Plant Sale, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The sale is open to the public, and all proceeds benefit Hawk Mountain’s conservation and education programs.
The sale will feature nearly 300 species of Pennsylvania native wildflowers, vines, grasses, ferns, shrubs, and trees. Volunteers will help visitors select which plants are best for their home landscape. The bookstore also offers a year-round selection of native plant gardening books for those interested in learning more. In addition to the sale, visitors can browse the Native Plant Garden for free.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is located at 1700 Hawk Mountain Rd, Kempton, PA 19529. Information at www.hawkmountain.org.
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Join the conversation at “Chester County Roots,” a Facebook page for gardeners in the Delaware Valley. Go to Facebook, search for Chester County Roots, and “like” the page. To receive notice of updates, click or hover on “Liked” to set your preferences.
