Petals and Patents: The Business of New Plants

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Katie Schmidt

We get a lot of questions about what it means for a plant to be a cultivar or a variety, and if that is good or bad in terms of pollinator attraction or ecological value. There are lots of strong opinions on the matter, but to really answer that question, it is important to know how that plant is produced, where and how it was discovered, and what the patent says about its parentage. It can be a tricky! Come along with us on our blog series where we plunge into the intrigues of plant reproduction and patenting, and the impact that the horticulture industry has on the market for native species.

Today’s question is: How is it possible to patent a plant, and why do people do it?

We most often discuss plant patents in reference to agricultural species. Selecting and improving crops for yield, drought resistance and improved taste has been instrumental in creating a stable global food economy. In fact, domestication of wild food plants has been happening for 10,000 years! But in modern times, horticulturalists are working to alter ornamental species as well. They do this to reduce the height, change the flower color, improve drought resistance, and so on. While our original goal in selecting and altering plants was for food, humans can now also use the same principles to improve certain flowering species for landscaping use in cities and neighborhoods.

For many thousands of years most of our commonly consumed foods have been carefully selected for desirable traits, and subsequently domesticated. Photo found here via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0,

Creating a “New” Plant

Echinacea is an easy example to start with, since horticulturists love to mess around with this plant! Echinacea species hybridize readily with each other, and they are a very marketable plant. This is why there are so many Echinacea varieties and hybrids to choose from, all with different colors, heights, and habits. But how do these come to exist?

Let’s follow the story of one line of Echinacea breeding, now known as Echinacea purpurea G0052Y. The patent link itself makes for a pretty long read, so I will do my best to paraphrase for the layperson:

‘Kim’s Knee High’ Echinacea
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0via Wikimedia Commons

In 2001, ‘Magnus’ Echinacea and ‘Kim’s Knee High’ Echinacea were cross pollinated.
Seed developed, and was collected.
Researchers planted that seed in fields and in greenhouses in the spring of 2002.
By July of 2002, eleven of the best plants were chosen as the best of the bunch. Pollen was collected from these eleven plants, mixed, and redistributed amongst the eleven to pollinate them.
Seeds where harvested from each of the eleven plants, and planted into eleven different field populations.
Researchers monitored the fields for desirable traits, and identified 22 plants with horticulturally important traits (brighter flower color, good branching, compact height).
Pollen was collected from the 22 plants, mixed, and used to pollinate them again.
Researchers harvested the seed that developed, and planted again in 2004.
The plants with the most striking, deep rose flower color and best growth habit were identified, and tested for which of their traits are dominant (recessive color testing).
Researchers identified four plants that had identical copies of the gene for brighter flower color.
These four were crossed to create a stable line that could be named G0052Y.
Between 2006 and 2008 the resulting seeds were planted in field trials to ensure stability and uniformity.
Once confirmed, the patent was applied for – USP 7,982,110.

Patent Pending

The process of breeding and trialing plants requires a lot of time, and a lot of money. Researchers can spend many years testing and tinkering before they create a plant that is actually marketable. Receiving a patent protects their hard work and initial investment, and eventually allows them to charge royalties on the product. The breeding of E. purpurea G0052Y has directly led many of the popularly available Echinacea varieties available today, like the Sombrero series of red, orange, and yellow, as well as the Proven Winner’s Echinacea ‘Fire Finch’.

Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ is a patented cultivar of the native staghorn sumac with a shorter height than the species. Because of this, we can more easily incorporate it into landscape designs. But research is ongoing on whether the alteration in leaf color is detrimental to insects.

Pros and Cons of Patented Plants

Patented plants are all around us. They are hard to distinguish from other plants unless you read the fine print on the tag. But there are some pros and cons to using them in your garden.

Pro: breeding plants increases awareness and wider use of natives. Folks who would have never been exposed to these species are now seeing them in popular gardening magazines and at garden centers, leading to greater public access.

Pro: patented plants bred for reliable height and structure are excellent for landscapers trying to achieve a specific look. These plants grow more uniformly than genetically variable straight species, which can be bigger/smaller depending on parentage or environmental conditions. In a formal planting, business setting, or city park, aesthetic is king! The predictability of a plant’s performance is a must*.

Cons: in some cases, we inadvertently shorten the lifespan of highly specialized plants. This is particularly apparent in Echinacea. A native Echinacea can live on for many years, but some of the brightly colored red and orange hybrids sometimes last four years or less. If the plant blooms more prolifically and for a longer period of time, it can sort of “exhaust” itself and this may be a contributing factor to a shorter overall lifespan. This is certainly not the case for all patented plants, but is something to be aware of.

Cons: patented plants reproduced via asexual propagation are all clones. The lack of genetic variation may lead to issues in mass plantings – if they are susceptible to a certain pathogen, the gardener is likely to see the problem in the whole group.

*hopefully we will start to slowly change our perspective on what constitutes an “attractive” urban landscape to allow for more natural variation, and if so, the pressure for the plant to be ‘perfect’ and uniform will become a thing of the past!

Should I Buy Patented Plants?

‘Tuscan Sun’ Heliopsis is less prone to flopping over than the straight **Heliopsis helianthoides**. It is also a little less spready, which appeals to gardeners with little space. Photo from Walter’s Gardens

For some folks, these pros are not convincing enough and for others these cons are no worry at all. It just depends on your overarching goals. If you are trying to create a prairie reconstruction and are concerned with genetic diversity, then steer clear! But when looking for bloom power and reliable performers for an urban setting, a well-bred plant might be perfect. In my vegetable garden, I stick with ‘Better Boy’ tomato and ‘Slicemaster’ cucumber, those patented plants ensured to perform well. I also opt for nativars when planting a species that is traditionally too unruly. With a small yard, I must choose plants that won’t outgrow my space. But in the case of most other flowers and grasses, I personally prefer to stick with straight species or older cultivars that are not far phenotypically from the species.

All that to say, don’t let the business of plant patenting scare you off. Do your research, and figure out what your priorities are for the garden. If you need advice on your particular project, be sure to reach out to us via our contact us form. Our plant people are happy to help!

Plant Profile: Aronia

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Katie Schmidt

Also known as chokeberry, Aronia is a North American native fruiting bush that is sorely underused in the ornamental landscape. Often confused with chokeCHERRY, chokeberries also have a white spring bloom, dark summer fruit, and gorgeous fall color. There are many Aronia varieties available, but it can be hard to keep them all straight! I planted three different types in my own backyard as a little experiment in how they might differ, and now that they are 3 years old, I can finally see the contrast. Read on for a primer on this superfruit-producing native shrub and a breakdown of a few different varieties.

*Black Chokeberry flowers are attractive to bees and other spring pollinators. Photo by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

Chokeberry Basics

Aronia rarely gets much taller than six or seven feet in our region, though it can reach eight feet tall if situated properly. The white blooms are prolific, and attract lots of those spring bees buzzing around. These shrubs are self-fertile, but planting in groups will increase your berry crop. The fall color is bright, saturated red tones, and when the leaves drop the berries often hang on through much of winter. Interestingly, birds don’t eat them right away. I notice in my yard that they are largely untouched until mid-winter, when the robins suddenly show up and then gobble them all down in the matter of a few hours. Perhaps they get more palatable with lots of freezing and thawing cycles? Just a hunch.

North and South

*Native ranges of Aronia species in North America, photo from BONAPS*

Aronia arbutifolia and Aronia melanocarpa are both native to north America, but have slightly different ranges. A. arbutifolia is more commonly found in the southern states, with a range that dips all the way to Florida and the Gulf Coast. A. melanocarpa is hardy into the far northern parts of Minnesota and on into Canada. While neither one is native to Kansas, they can still thrive here since we are on the edge of both the ranges. The flowers and berries have wonderful wildlife value for our pollinators and birds.

**Aronia arbutifolia** ‘Brilliantissima’ in bloom. Photo by Daderot at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington D.C., via Wikimedia Commons

Berry Different

*From left to right: **Aronia arbutifolia** ‘Brilliantissima’, **A. melanocarpa** ‘Viking’, and **A. melanocarpa** ‘MacKenzie’*

When potted and ready to purchase at our Florakansas event, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the many types of chokeberry we offer. It is not uncommon for us to have up to five Aronias to choose from at one time, all displayed together. But once allowed to mature, some obvious differences emerge. A. arbutifolia has smaller, firmer berries that hold their red coloring much longer into the year. They also have ovate leaves. A. melanocarpa varieties tend to have large fruit and round to teardrop-shaped leaves. The largest fruit, in my experience, is from ‘MacKenzie’. If you are looking for a large harvest for human consumption, MacKenzie will be the best choice. Some wonderful ideas for Aronia jelly, sauce, vinaigrette, and fruit leather can be found at the Forager Chef.

Shape Up

The shrubs not only have different berry sizes, they also grow in slightly different shapes. ‘Brilliantissima’ is very upright and vase shaped, while ‘MacKenzie’ is rounded and dense. ‘Viking’ is sort of between the two, not as round as the big fruited bush but not as narrow as ‘Brilliantissima’. Of course, I am drawing generalizations from a too-small sample size (1 specimen each) so this is purely anecdotal. I made a sketch, such as it is, of their general shape as they are now in my backyard. I am writing this in December when they have lost their leaves, otherwise I would have taken a photo, which might have been more helpful!

Because of its adaptability, edibility, low-maintenance habit, and wildlife value, Aronia is a fantastic addition to any landscape. It is sorely underrepresented in urban environments. So as we look ahead to spring, start thinking about where you can add one of these to your yard and garden. You won’t regret it!

New Plants around the Grounds

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Katie Schmidt

I recently spoke at the Oklahoma Native Plant Network fall festival in Oklahoma City. They had a day full of speakers, including representatives from Tulsa Botanic Garden, the Xerces Society and Bat Conservation International. But the real treat of course was the plant market outside the presentation hall. So many great native treasures were available from local vendors, I couldn’t resist buying a few new plants. I was able to get a few hard-to-find species for installation on the Arboretum grounds. Keep an eye out for these beauties on your next visit.

Callicarpa americana var. lactea – White American Beautyberry

Photo provided by the grower, Wild Things Nursery of Seminole, Oklahoma.

I didn’t even realize a naturally occurring white variety of beautyberry existed until I saw it being sold by Wild Things Nursery at the ONPN event. All the same lovely characteristics as its purple cousin – shade tolerant, pollinator friendly, bird attracting – but with striking white berries on arching stems. Marilyn, the owner of Wild Things Nursery said she collected the seed over twenty years ago down a shady dirt road in north western Arkansas. According to her they come true from seed reliably. Beautyberry are marginally edible, though not very tasty. Find these new additions in the back of the Compassionate Friends Garden near the hedgerow at the arboretum.

Hibiscus laevis – Halberd-leaf Rosemallow

Our pond has several lovely Hibiscus moscheutos thriving along its edge, and I am excited to add H. laevis to the mallow collection. This is a slightly taller species with narrow leaves, as the name implies, in the shape of a medieval sword. Native throughout the eastern half of the US, though much of its wetland habitat in the mid-Atlantic has been disturbed. Sadly, it is not as commonly found as it once was. I’ll be planting this on tip of the island, where there is some space on the banks thanks to our latest renovation. I found this at a great plant at a vendor called Duck Creek Farms from Mounds, Oklahoma.

Native Range of *H. laevis*, according to USDA plants database

Wisteria frutescens – American Wisteria

Illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott, via Wikimedia Commons

Anyone who has seen the opening scenes of Bridgerton house on Netflix’s hit show will recognize the pendulous purple blooms of Wiseria vine. But most of the Wisteria you see in media and in formal landscapes is the asian variety. Beautiful, but at a price: invasive in certain parts of the country and downright pushy in the garden, it needs diligent trimming to keep growth in check. But native W. frutescens is a great alternative to its exotic cousins, and with plenty of color to spare. I’ll plant this next spring near a leg of our new octagonal gazebo soon to be erected in the Birdwatch Garden.

*Wisteria frutescens*, Photo by Bearerofthecup, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Shop Til You Drop

Photo by Sue in az, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In between shopping for the Arboretum, giving the keynote presentation of the festival, and networking with all the like-minded conservationists and plant peddlers, of course I also snagged a few things for my own landscape! I found blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) for a hot, dry spot near my front sidewalk. I also found an adorable spineless cactus (possibly Optunia ellisiana?) to plant nearby. Here’s hoping these cuties fill in the rather inhospitable space between my purple prairie clover and creeping sedum.

If you are in the area, put ONPN’s fall festival on your radar for next year. It was a great time to learn about native plants and related topics in conservation. And you will never see me turn down an opportunity to buy plants and support small growers!

Messy Trees

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Scott Vogt

I love this time of year. Cool mornings and warm afternoons are a welcome break from the heat of summer. This time of year also reminds me that not all trees are the same. Some have beautiful fall colors of orange, red, yellow and purple while others shades of tan and brown. Once the leaves drop from the trees, the fruit stands out even more.

We also quickly realize that some trees are “messier” than others. Whether it is the leaves that drop, the fruit that drops or the sticks that litter the yard, trees are constantly dropping something. Sure, there is not a perfect tree that magically cleans up after itself, but there are some trees to avoid planting in certain locations within your landscape if you have a choice. Here is a list of trees to think twice about planting in your landscape.

Sweet Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua)

This ornamental tree is primarily grown for its brilliant fall color of oranges, reds, yellows and purples. It can be quite stunning, but it also produces copious amounts of spiky gum ball fruit. My in-laws had one of these growing in their front yard and it was a prolific fruit producer that they complained about every year. Like most messy trees, it has its place in the landscape, but not in a place where your grandchildren will be walking barefoot.

*Sweet gums have great fall color, but spiny fruit*

Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)

The large heart shaped leaves of this native lowland tree along with the fluffy white blooms in the summer can be reasons to have this tree in your landscape. However, the long cigar shaped seed pods and thousands of catalpa caterpillars are major drawbacks. I have one of these trees in my yard in a low spot that has standing water when it rains. I can appreciate the blooms from a distance but in the fall, I do have to collect the large leaves so they don’t smother my lawn.

*Catalpa heart-shaped leaf with long cigar shape fruit pod*

Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides)

These trees are notorious for dropping sticks and debris throughout the year. The fluffy cotton clogs up air conditioner units and seedlings sprout up any place with constant moisture in the spring. They are also susceptible to many diseases and insect pests. As our state tree, their native habitat is along rivers, streams and ponds. Their roots are typically shallow, buckling sidewalks and driveways. My colleagues have been lobbying to cut one of these down that currently grows on the edge of our prairie.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

This tree is often found along prairies, stream margins and fencerows. While native, you should avoid planting a black walnut along streets and driveways. The round, hard nuts will stain concrete and they are tripping hazards. The fruit and foliage can be quite pungent as well and the leaves are a favorite of walnut caterpillars. These pests can become so numerous that they will totally defoliate the tree. It also produces a toxic compound that can kill other plants you are trying to grow around and under its canopy. Leave it in the wild and go to it to collect the black walnut fruit if you like to eat them.

Oaks (Quercus sp.)

I hesitated including oaks in this list, but then I looked at my back deck, currently covered with tiny acorns. We value oaks for their long life, shade, hardiness, fall color (sometimes), and wildlife attraction to our yards. In fact over 900 species of winged insects rely on oaks for their life cycles, not to mention birds and other wildlife. If you plant one of these mighty oaks in your yard, just know that you have to take the good with the bad. In my case, the good far outweighs the bad.

*Pin oak acorns roll around my backyard like marbles, but at least the squirrels are happy.*

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

The ginkgo tree is a living fossil with distinct fan-like leaves. The beautiful yellow fall color and hardy disposition make it a much sought after street tree. However, there are male and female trees. The female trees produce a fruit that is both messy and smelly. Some liken the fruit smell to rotting flesh. If you really want a ginkgo in your landscape, seek out one of the many male varieties.

Other obvious trees to avoid

Bradford pear, mimosa, Goldenrain tree, silver maple, Norway maple, weeping willow, river birch, Siberian elm, tree of heaven, mulberry, black locust and Russian olive.

Choose Wisely

As I said earlier, there are no perfect trees. We view some trees as “messy” because they require us to repeatedly clean up the yard. Every tree drops something, but messy trees with stinky, messy fruit and large branches that can damage your house or pests are more problematic. If possible, do your research before planting so you know what to expect as the tree matures. To get good shade, you might have to put up with some messiness. If you are stuck with a messy tree, either embrace its faults by regularly cleaning up the mess or choose to have it removed.

As you know, trees in Kansas are a luxury, so think carefully before removing a mature tree. The downsides of a mature tree needs to far outweigh the upsides. In the case of my 60 year old oak trees that frame my backyard, I regularly pick up fallen branches and routinely blow off my deck and sidewalks of acorns and leaves. I have come to appreciate these trees because they attract so many different forms of wildlife, provide shade, and add to the diversity of my entire landscape.

Aromatic Aster

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Brad Guhr

One of my favorite prairie wildflower species has to be aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium). Aromatic asters are hardy, drought-tolerant forbs that bloom toward the end of the growing season. Their leaves have an herbal scent when crushed. Aster species are host plants for caterpillars of butterflies including painted ladies, pearl crescents, and silvery checkerspots as well as many species of moths. In the late summer and fall, aromatic aster flowers delight the human need for color and provide nectar for many insects, most notably, butterflies, bees, wasps, flies and beetles.

*Aromatic aster var. ‘Raydon’s Favorite’*

According to Mike Haddock at Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses, aromatic aster is found across almost the entire state of Kansas on dry, open prairies. In our Dyck Arboretum reconstructed prairie, aromatic aster (seed collected from the Smoky Hills ~30 miles north of Hesston) is just about finished flowering. Its purple hues popped a couple of weeks ago among the reddish-brown colors of senescing warm-season grasses.

A Star in the Prairie Garden

In our native plant gardens, aromatic aster is the star of a show that we have been looking forward to all growing season. Aromatic aster fills garden spaces between other plants nicely where its dense, low 1′-2′ foliage crowds out weeds and lends above-ground support to neighboring plants. But its late-season flowers are the main reason that this species is a dominant part of our featured Butterfly Garden.

*Educational signage in our Dyck Arboretum Butterfly Garden bed (line drawings by Lorna Harder)*

While I enjoy observing all prairie flowers throughout the growing season and the pollinators they attract, aromatic asters just seem to take the human entertainment value to a higher level. Given the high number of flowers on each plant and the lack of anything else blooming this time of the year, this species usually seems to put on the greatest show of the year as it plays host to a busy array of insect pollinators.

The two varieties of aromatic aster in our Butterfly Garden are ‘October Skies’ and ‘Raydon’s Favorite’. They bloom at different times and in nice succession for a long season of attracting pollinators. I seem to usually observe the former blooming from late September to mid October and the latter from mid October to early November.

*Comparison of aromatic aster varieties ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ on left and ‘October Skies’ on right (Photo by Janelle Flory Schrock)*

Whether I’m walking with elementary schoolers, college students or retired master gardeners, this Butterfly Garden spot on a sunny afternoon is always a regular stop. The flowering spectacle by aromatic aster in this time of the year is one of my favorite flower/pollinator interactions in the prairie garden.

When trying to capture the jaw-dropping wow factor of a landscape scene like the Flint Hills or a Kansas sunset, a photo or video never conveys the inspiring scene I want. Nevertheless, here is a video of the super busy pollinator scene I witnessed yesterday (10/22/24).

13 Butterfly Species Observed

The butterflies I observed nectaring on the flowers of aromatic aster var. ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ yesterday included the following species: checkered white, sachem, common checkered skipper, fiery skipper, dainty sulphur, clouded sulphur, orange sulphur, eastern tailed blue, common buckeye, monarch, pearl crescent, Melissa blue, and American lady (not all species were visible in the video). Various species of bees (audibly busy), flies, beetles and moths were also abundant.

Stop by and see our Butterfly Garden before the aromatic aster finishes its show in the next week or two. Better yet, add different varieties of aromatic aster to a sunny spot in your landscape where you can enjoy a similar show for years to come.

For a broader review of asters in general, see my colleague’s great past posts, Asters: Autumn’s Crescendo and All About Asters.

Think Pink

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Katie Schmidt

Muhly grass is in its prime this time of year, and all our regular visitors are asking about it. This native grass is unforgettable once you see it in bloom, and we are lucky to have multiple types growing on our grounds. Read on to find out which species is right for you!

Muhlenbergia capillaris – Muhly grass, Hair

Planted in the northwest corner of the Arboretum, our plot of muhly grass is in its third year. When first planted they are pretty thin and unimpressive, but once mature these grasses really put on a show, especially if planted in large groups. Vibrant pink seed heads appear in late summer and persist in a thick cloud of color all through fall. Extremely drought tolerant, they hardly need watering once established. They require excellent drainage, best planted in gritty soils, or on a slope.

*M. capillaris* is native to the southeastern US. Map by USDA plants database.

Muhlenbergia reverchonii – Seep Muhly

Usually smaller in stature, this grass is notably less stiff. While M. capillaris grows straight up, the graceful blades of seep muhly are arching and curled. It isn’t as deep in color, but still has a nice pink hue that is slightly more airy and light. Better for folks who prefer more neutral tones. This species has much more movement in the wind, and is softer to the touch. Something to think about when installing grasses around play areas or walkways!

**M. reverchonii** has a more limited range, found in the central regions of Oklahoma and Texas.

Muhly Grass cultivars

*‘White Cloud’ muhly grass, photo courtesy of Hoffman Nursery*

There have been some great options on the market for Muhly grass cultivars in recent years, including a variety of M. capillaris called ‘White Cloud’. It has all the allure of those wispy seed heads but in an ethereal white, a perfect pop for darker backdrops like brick or evergreens. At 4 ft tall it grows a bit taller than the pink types and can be used as a fluffy, neutral tone backdrop in the garden. Muhlenbergia ‘Undaunted’ is a well-loved cultivar of M. reverchonii. It’s weeping seed heads and open habit make it a great specimen plant for the perennial border.

*‘Undaunted’ is noted over the straight species for increased hardiness in norther zones and having a deeper panicle color at first flush. Photo courtesy Walter’s Gardens*

No matter which Muhly grass you choose, as long as you plant in full sun and well draining soil, you will surely be thrilled with its light texture and season-long interest. It is a water-wise plant with no major pest problems, but it does have few flaws: collapses easily in heavy snow, not very hardy in northern zones, and doesn’t always establish well when planted in fall. Keep those things in mind when considering adding this grass to your landscape. Look out for the spring update of the Native Plant Guide on our FloraKansas page to find out what species we will have available at our spring sale.

Right Rudbeckia, Right Place

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Katie Schmidt

Rudbeckia is a very recognizable flower. Its bright yellow blooms appear when summer reaches its peak, and flowers steadily through the hottest part of the summer when we all need it most. Also known as black eyed Susan (named after a romantic poem!) or sometimes as yellow coneflower, Rudbeckia is a variable genus with many garden worthy species. But they each want a little bit different environment, so be sure to put them in the right place!

Rudbeckia maxima – Giant Coneflower

*Photo by Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

R. maxima is a lesser known species native to the southern US, including Oklahoma and Texas. It averages about 6 feet tall in our area, but can be taller in moist, fertile soils. The flowers attract pollinators all through July, and through the winter a bevy of birds perch on the cones and eat the nutritious seeds. The foliage is striking: waxy and grey, resembling cabbage leaf. A wonderful vertical element to add to your landscape, with very sturdy stems and large blooms. It is a show piece in the garden! But it can easily be floppy if it gets too much shade or the soils are too rich. Situate it in strong sun and semi-dry soil, with dense grasses around it for support.

*These **R. maxima** are thriving on the dry side of our drainage ditch near the greenhouse. The cones were huge this year!*

Rudbeckia subtomentosa – Sweet Coneflower

Sweet coneflower is often found in moist sites, as seen here growing on the banks of the Arboretum pond. This plant can handle a bit of dry soil once established, but in general it likes moist sites. So try to plant it in a low spot or drainage area. The common name references the subtle sweet smell of the blooms. Less spready than other species of Rudbeckia, it pairs well in the garden with grasses like Panicum and other tall forbs like Eryngium yuccifolium. The petals can vary in length, and sometimes they are even rolled or ‘quilled’ as seen in the cultivar ‘Little Henry’.

Rudbeckia triloba – Brown Eyed Susan

Clouds of small yellow blooms on stiff, wiry stems appear in mid to late June on this easy to grow perennial. It readily self seeds, to the point of becoming an absolute menace in the garden! But if you have the space to let it run wild it is a pollinator-attracting powerhouse. It is best planted in an area that can be contained, either by mowing, burning or hemmed in by sidewalk/pavement. This species is native throughout most of the eastern half of the continental United States, and grows well in full to part sun and average to moist soil. The cultivated variety called ‘Prairie Glow’ flowers red with yellow tips. It is a seed strain from breeder David Cavagnaro introduced to the garden trade in 2003. Both the straight species and the cultivar are often available at FloraKansas.

**Rudbeckia missouriensis** blooming in the Gjerstad garden on the northwest side of the Arboretum.

And beyond these three, there are tons more to choose from! In a previous post, Scott talked a bit about R. missouriensis, R. hirta, R. lacinata, and R. fulgida, all great options for the habitat garden. All of these and more are usually available at our biannual FloraKansas event, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for our updated plant list when it comes out.

Plums, Cherries, and Very Bitter Berries: A Prunus Profile

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Katie Schmidt

In honor of all the wild plums ripening right now, this week’s blog is all about the Prunus genus of plants. There are several common Prunus species found in Kansas. All are excellent choices for wildlife and habitat gardening, as they produce fruit and many are important caterpillar host plants.

Gee, What a Genus

Prunus is a group of plants known as a Genus. If you remember back to your high school biology days, that is the grouping just smaller than a plant family, but less specific than a species. This genus contains over four hundred different species within it, and many are economically important plants for humans, including cherry, apple, pear, peach, plums, apricot, and almond. Thank goodness this genus exists, as it contains all my favorite types of pie! It also contains four very common species in our area: sand cherry, choke cherry, American plum, and Chickasaw plum. Those are the species we are going to focus on in this post.

Sand Cherry

Height: 3′-6′
Full Sun
Average to dry soil, tolerant of clays

Prunus pumila is a tough-as-nails plant that adds a splash of fall color to the landscape. Hot southern exposures are no problem for sand cherry. Birds and bugs alike visit this plant throughout the growing season for its fruit and flowers. A naturally occuring variant, Prunus pumila var. besseyii, known as western sand cherry, tends to be wider than it is tall. A great choice for parking lots or street medians when you need vegetation to stay shorter than five feet. There are even lower growing varieties, like Prunus besseyii ‘Pawnee Buttes’ , which stays reliably short (under three feet) with a prostrate habit. Prunus pumila ‘Jade Parade’ is another low growing option, but its branches arch upward rather than snake on the ground like ‘Pawnee Buttes’, better to show off its spring flowers. Edible fruits can be harvested for pies, jams, and all manner of sauces.

Chickasaw Plum

Height: 5′-7′
Full Sun to Part Sun
Average to dry, sandy soil

Also known as sandhill plum, Prunus angustifolia grows best in sandy soils but is highly adaptable and can be found all throughout the state. Showy white flowers in April give way to sweet and tangy fruits by July. The fruits are used to make wine and jellies. This is a great plant for stabilizing soil and preventing erosion, or for filling in hedgerows. It suckers quickly, creating dense thickets useful to small birds. Many of us Kansans have fond memories of picking these in childhood, careful to avoid the spiny branches, and toting a bucket of them back to Grandma’s house for processing.

Chokecherry

*USDA NRCS Montana, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

Height: 8′-10′
Part Sun
Average to moist soil

Pendulous white blooms in spring cover this small tree in April, attracting every insect in the area. It is a handsome landscape plane, thought it suckers aggressively in certain settings. The fruit of Prunus virginiana is beloved by birds, but not as well loved by humans. It has an incredibly astringent taste that basically chokes you, hence its name. Thanks to all those tannins, it takes a lot of sugar to make a yummy jam out of this but it can be done! Be sure to process and pit them correctly, as like most Prunus species, the pits/stems/leaves all contain cyanide-producing compounds.

American Plum

*Photo by: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Height: 6′ to 12′
Full Sun to Part Sun
Average soil

Prunus americana is a delicious treat to find while out on a hike or walking in the pasture. Ripening in late summer, the fruits turn reddish orange when ready. They make for a fantastic jam, and can be used in desserts or turned into an applesauce-like consistency as a sauce for pork or venison. The tree itself is petite and ornamental, with white spring flowers that feed the bees.

Prunus, and We Will Grow!

The species mentioned here are relatively easy care and don’t take much special treatment. Many Prunus species will sucker, sending up shoots from the base of the plant and spreading to form a colony. You can either trim them off as they arise, plant in an area you can mow around to control the spread, try to find sucker-free varieties of your favorites, or simply plant them in an area that allows them to grow wild and free. Birds love the thicket-forming quality of these plants, and the less pruning you do the more cover they have to play around in! Trim out dead wood as it arises, and in the case of Prunus americana, trim in late winter and remove any dead wood promptly to encourage healthy fruit production.

If you are looking for a plant to add some high quality native habitat to your landscape, look no further than a member of the Prunus genus. They all have great ornamental appeal and high scores for their wildlife value. And many will be available at our upcoming FloraKansas event September 5-8!

Plant Spotlight: Spigelia marilandica

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Katie Schmidt

Bright red, versatile, compact habit and attracts hummingbirds…why has the landscaping industry so often overlooked this plant? Spigelia is a lesser known and underutilized species for native gardens. We rarely see it in landscape designs in this area, and it can be hard to find commercially available. What gives? Read on to find out about this wonderful plant and how to use it in your garden.

*Photo by J. Carmichael (Tevonic), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

Pinkroot

Spigelia marilandica, also known as woodland pinkroot or Indian pink, is a petite treat. Two feet tall and wide and blooming in June, it is a big show in a small package. The deep red trumpet shaped blooms are yellow on the inside, forming a two-toned flower when the petals bend outwards. Indigenous people in its native range have used it medicinally, though we don’t suggest trying this on your own as it does have some toxic properties at higher doses.

*USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

The tube shaped blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and it is low maintenance once established, needing no special trimming or care. According to its entry on the Ladybird Johnson database, “This plant does very well in gardens. It blooms from the bottom upward and the flowering season can be prolonged by removing the flowers as they wither.”

So, What’s the Catch?

S. marilandica is not found much around here. Its native range is mostly in our neighboring states to the south and east. Not to say there aren’t going to be a few stray specimens living in some moist woods of eastern and south eastern Kansas, but it would be rare. It likes lots of moisture, like streambanks and seasonally wet ravines, and prefers shade. Moisture and shade are not what Kansas is known for.

*This map shows the native range of **Spigelia marilandica**, from BiotaNA*

But if you have a shade garden in Kansas, you are likely giving it a bit of supplemental watering just to keep things going during our droughty summers. Why not add this beauty to the mix? They are difficult to find and propagate from seed (though there is some helpful advice here on that topic), but lucky for our local readers we will have some live plants available at our fall FloraKansas fundraiser! We will have a variety called ‘Little Red Head’,

*Spigelia ‘Little Red Head’, Photo courtesy of Walter’s Gardens*

Companion Plants

With its bright red color, Spigelia is a showstopper. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be complemented by companion plants that also like semi-moist shade. Think hostas, phlox, geranium, and starry champion. Spring blooming woodland ephemerals like Columbine and Mertensia would play well with this species. Remember to plant in clusters of three or five for the biggest impact, and repeat those clusters to create a cohesive look even if you are aiming for a naturalistic woodland garden.

Spigelia will be available at our fall FloraKansas event, which is coming right up in September, the weekend following Labor Day!

Early May Blooms at the Arboretum

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Scott Vogt

As we work further into spring, I thought I would share some rare and some common prairie plants in bloom at the Arboretum the first week of May. Enjoy!

Plains wild indigo *(Baptisia bracteata*)

Missouri evening primrose (*Oenothera macrocarpa*)

Native Blue False Indigo-*Baptisia australis var. minor* and Golden Alexander-*Zizia aurea*

Eastern Gama Grass-*Tripsacum dactyloides* reestablishing itself along the new concrete pathway in the Prairie Window Project south of the hedgerow.

We have been fortunate to receive just enough rain to green up the prairie nicely. If you are in the area, stop by and see the many other early May blooms. The Arboretum will be at its peak for spring bloom in a couple weeks.