Nursery List Highlights
Groundcovers
Gaultheria procumbens—wintergreen
An evergreen semi-woody low
plant with glossy leaves forming sparse cover; plant under trees or at an open
spot (would prefer half-shade, but will tolerate direct sun). Produces bright
red fruits in the fall keeping them all winter long and all spring! The species
is common in Myles Standish St. Forest.
Epigea repens—mayflower
Evergreen. Does best under
protection of large pines; is somewhat difficult to establish, but if you have
a green thumb, will reward you with delicate white and pink blooms in April and
May and dark green velvety leaves all year round. The state flower of our
state. Common in Myles Standish St. Forest.
Vaccinium angustifolium—lowbush blueberry
The lowest of our
blueberries; forms large uniform clones at open dry rocky uplands (common in
Myles Standish St. Forest); especially fruitful in burned areas. You may have a
nice groundcover and your own crop of blueberries with this attractive,
care-free plant!
Herbaceous
Asclepias tuberosa—butterfly milkweed
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=7025:/photos/200507/20050701$canon108s.jpg (Start of July)
Large, bright orange flower
clusters attracting butterflies and other insects. Can grow on poor sandy soil,
in full sun (grows well in the Blue Hills on a steep disturbed and eroded slope).
Asclepias incarnata—swamp milkweed
Differs from the previous
species in its pink flowers and larger size; will do best on a pond perimeter (not
quite drought tolerant).
Small shrubs
Ilex glabra—inkberry
An evergreen shrub with small
glossy leaves that is very common around ponds in Myles Standish, but will also
do well in an average garden. Takes pruning well and can be formed to any
shape, almost like boxwood, but can grow rather tall if left alone. Produces black
shiny berries (inedible!), which will hang all winter long. Birds will go for
them.
Kalmia angustifolia—sheep laurel
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=7107:/photos/200607/20060701$canon146cs.jpg (Start of July)
A small evergreen shrub
common in Myles Standish St. Forest—both in the upland and wetland. Early
in summer produces large clumps of dark pink flowers crowned by new leaves on
the top. Does best in wet conditions, but will tolerate average moisture.
Prunus maritima—beach plum
Both nice-looking and edible!
A few attempts have been made to tame this attractive compact shrub for
cultivation. So far it could not compete commercially; yet it will make a
perfect addition to your garden. Grows on sand dunes along the coast. Fruits
are abundant and make excellent preserves. Bark is shiny, purplish-brown. Branchlets
are prickly.
Rhus copallina—winged sumac
A tough little shrub that can
do well on rocks, at disturbed habitats, etc. Can beautify any harsh, difficult
spot; will produce piercing purple, scarlet, or orange foliage in the fall;
bunches of fruit will last through the winter. Common in Myles Standish St.
Forest.
Rosa carolina—pasture rose
Can grow in dry, rocky
habitats; needs full light; forms low crawling clones; flowers profusely
(pink). Prickly.
Large shrubs
Acer rubrum—red maple clump form
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=7004:/photos/200804/20080426$canon418s.jpg (April 26, New Long Pond, MSSF)
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=7004:/photos/200605/20060520$canon432s.jpg (in fruit, End of May)
Red flowers early in the
season before leaves; purple or scarlet fruit with young leaves; scarlet
foliage in the fall; purple young branches through the winter. Can take moist
and moderately dry spots; does best in full sun.
Aronia arbutifolia—red-fruited chokeberry
"Brilliantissima"—spectacular
scarlet fall foliage; abundant red berries persisting in winter.
Aronia melanocarpa cultivars
Bright orange fall foliage;
cultivars will produce abundant crop of black berries that are perfect for
preserves (exceptionally rich in vitamin C; a famous natural remedy for high
blood pressure).
The species is common in
Myles Standish St. Forest.
Rhododendron
periclymenoides—pink azalea
A plant that has become rare
in eastern Massachusetts; an elegant, beautiful bloomer
[no photo at Salicicola]
Corylus americana—American hazelnut
A nice woodland shrub that
will produce edible nuts; blooms very early in spring (end of March/start of
April), before leaves, forming long, hanging yellow catkins along with tiny
dark red single flowers.
Ilex verticillata—winterberry holly
A large shrub that can do
well around a pond, in a wetland, but also has proved to be good for a front
lawn. Will drop leaves in winter and stay with abundant red berries throughout
the cold season. In summer has beautiful foliage; flowers are small, white
(inconspicuous). You will need a male and female plant for fruit production.
Juniperus communis—common juniper
An evergreen conifer. Your
best choice for tough open spots where nothing else would survive. Steep, rocky
slopes, poor soil, etc.,--just don't plant it in the shade. Extremely prickly;
good for unapproachable hedges (no one would dare to climb over or crawl
through).
[no good photo at Salicicola]
Kalmia latifolia—mountain laurel
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=7108:/photos/200806/20080614$canon551cs.jpg
(June)
A large evergreen shrub with
glossy leaves similar to Rhododendron; differently from all evergreen
rhododendrons, it is native in our area; spectacular blooming in May/June. Many
cultivars are available, though the straight species to our opinion is not less
beautiful.
Lindera benzoin—spicebush
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=2514:/photos/200505/20050502$canon037cs.jpg (Start of May, opening leaves)
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=2514:/photos/200809/20080913$canon585cs.jpg (September, in fruit)
Consider planting it instead
of non-native Forsythia, if you have a spot on the edge of woods or in
the woods, which gets water in spring. Produces a cloud of delicate yellow
flowers early in April (sometimes even called "forsythia of the
wild"); leaves develop after the flowers; small, bright red fruits at the
end of summer. Very aromatic.
Sambucus canadensis—American elder http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=10120:/photos/200806/20080619$samsu173cs.jpg (June)
A lush shrub that grows wide
and dense. Does best in open wet places; large white inflorescences at the
beginning of summer; edible fruit full of vitamins.
Vaccinium corymbosum—highbush blueberry
No need to introduce! Would
you like your own blueberry? Amazingly, it can take average garden soil. You
don't need a wetland or pond in order to enjoy own blueberries. It is very
attractive in flower, too. The shrub forms a nice ÒfountainÓ shape.
Viburnum lentago—nannyberry viburnum http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?&loc=&town=&mode=public&mon=&image=12156:/photos/200805/20080530$canon823cs.jpg (May)
A large shrub, perhaps the
tallest of our viburnums, that will do best near a pond, stream, or ditch;
fruits are beloved by birds.
Viburnum cassinoides—wild raisin
A viburnum of dryish woods
common in Myles Standish St. Forest. Fruits change color from yellow to pink,
purple, and finally dark blue. When they ripen, they become wrinkled and sweet,
resembling raisins.
Small Trees
Amelanchier laevis—tree serviceberry
A small tree with beautiful
striped bark; blooms early in the season; serviceberries are related to
cherries (same family).
Celtis occidentalis—hackberry
A tree common along sea
beaches and at salt-marsh edges; forming groves; gray bark with spectacular
texture; foliage becomes light lemon yellow in the fall, thus standing out
against any vegetation; small edible fruit (sweet, though with a large stone
taking up most of the volume).
Cornus florida—flowering dogwood
Probably the most interesting
native tree: produces spectacular large white blooms; winter interest—"alligator"
bark and large buds of peculiar shape at tips of branches.
Ilex opaca—American holly
(December)
A small evergreen tree with
prickly large leaves and red berries all winter long. Nice smooth gray bark on
trunk. In order to obtain berries, you will need to plant both male and female
tree (staminate and pistillate). Common on the Cape.
Juniperus virginiana—eastern red cedar
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=6504:/photos/200508/20050827$canon102c.jpg (August, immature cones; they become blue when ripe)
A compact conifer that can
grow columnar, rounded, or even prostrate; common in our area, especially on
the seashore; good for tough open spots; rocks, sand, or poor soil; berry-like
cones loved by birds. Needs full sun. Plant male and female for cone
production. Juvenile leaves are prickly, mature leaves arenÕt.
Prunus virginiana—chokecherry
A small tree often growing as
a tall shrub; can do well anywhere from a swamp margin to a rocky slope. In
full light will bloom and fruit abundantly; small fruits borne in racemes are
edible, though sour! If you pass on them, birds will thank you.
Large trees
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=3526:/photos/200710/20071015$canon523cs.jpg
(October)
A tree with a character:
large horizontal limbs produce a stunning impression in winter, ridged bark;
glossy dark green leaves; brilliant crimson foliage in the fall (not less
bright than red maple); small blue fruit of oval shape (rather tasty). Will
produce generations of smaller trees with age--by forming root suckers. Perfect
at a pond edge; prefers wet habitats but sometimes occurs on rocks. Rather
common in Myles Standish St. Forest.
Prunus serotina—black cherry
This cherry can become really
large with age, though most of the time it grows as a medium-sized shrub along
roads. Blooms profusely at sunny spots at the start of summer. Unlike other
cherries, it first produces leaves, then flowers.
Vines
Vitis labrusca—fox grape cultivars
http://www.salicicola.org/servlet/PlantsPhotoManager?style=imgview.xsl&mode=public&image=3581:/photos/200609/20060904$fujif105cs.jpg (September; photo of straight species)
A common native grape that
has become famous all over the world as a parent of cultivated grapes.
