Page 52 - Free State Summer 2023

GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued) the foliage for the 1–2-inch bell-shaped nodding bright red
and yellow flowers, with bright yellow stamens. The 5 sepals
summer and are clearly seen as the spathe dies off. As a are red and the 5 petals are yellow, and each flower has 5
deep woods forest dweller, the Jack -in-the-Pulpit can thrive in short red spurs on the back of the flower. Columbine flowers
deep shade and co-exists with Black Walnut tree roots. Deer bloom up to 6 weeks, attracting hummingbirds and other
do not eat this native Jack-in-the-Pulpit because the roots long tonged pollinators. There are no serious pests, and this
contain a poisonous chemical, calcium oxalate. native columbine resists the dreaded leaf miner.
Another shade lover that blooms in April to May is Dicentra Dicentra eximia, also known as Fringed Bleeding Heart,
canadensis, often called Squirrel Corn. These deciduous blooms from April to July. Plants thrive in organically rich,
plants thrive in part shade and humus-rich moist soils. moist soils in dappled afternoon shade. The plants grow 1-1
Growing from tubers, the lacy green finely cut triangular ½ feet tall and wide with both flowers and foliage growing
shaped basal leaves are divided into thirds with each third from a scaly rootstock. The basal gray green foliage is lacy,
divided again into thirds, each leaf expanding to 6 inches deeply cut, and does not go dormant in the summer. In April
long and 3-6 inches wide. The fragrant white flowers are the tiny 1-inch-long pink heart shaped flowers are clustered
tinged with pale pink and are arranged in a cluster of 4-8, on the top of an 12-15 inch arching stem. The heart shaped
hanging downwards at the end of a 6 - 8 inch arching stem. blooms have protruding inner petals that form the ‘drop of
The tiny heart shaped flowers are ½ inch long, brightening blood’ at the bottom of each flower, giving it the common
up woodland gardens. Once the flowers are finished name of bleeding heart. The plants flower the most in the
blooming the plant goes dormant until the next spring. Deer spring, but after a soaking rain or as the summer heat
do not eat the toxic leaves or flowers and there are no other cools off in the evenings, they will often bloom again until
serious pest problems. September. Fringed Bleeding Hearts do well in woodland
Iris cristata or Crested Iris blooms in April and thrives in full gardens and shady borders and will thrive as long as the soil
sun to part shade and organically rich moist soils. If grown is well drained, especially in the winter. No serious pests.
in full sun, the plant will need to be watered to keep the Baptisia australis, or False Indigo, is a deciduous perennial
soil constantly moist. Plants can tolerate full shade but will that is one of the first perennials that emerges from the soil,
bloom less. Crested Iris has 1 to 2 flowers on 6-inch stems. The growing to 3-4 feet and wide and blooming from May to
2-inch flower standards are narrow and shorter than the falls June. The plants quickly develop a strong tap root, thriving
and come in lavender, lilac or pale blue, while the falls have in full sun and prefer well drained soils. The blue-green
3 golden parallel crested ridges in the center bordered blue. trifoliate leaves grow quickly to form a substantial shrub
Plants spread by shallow branching rhizomes, often creating like plant. In May the flower spikes grow above the foliage,
a carpet of narrow 6 inch long green stems with the flowers developing a 12-inch racemes that hold the pea like blooms
nestled among the leaves when in bloom. Slugs and snails on short petioles alternately up to the top. The flowers can
can be problematic. be in shades of purple, from very light, smoky blue to almost
Amsonia tabernaemontana or Blue Star blooms in May and an indigo blue. The flowers last for about 4 weeks before
thrives in full sun and part shade and prefers loamy moist maturing into 2 ½ inch inflated pods which turn black when
soils, but is tolerant of drought. They emerge from the soil ripe. When deer pressure is high, they will browse on the
and grow rapidly in early spring to 2 – 3 feet tall and wide, foliage until other plants are available. There are no serious
forming an erect clump of foliage. The soft narrow green pests.
leaves grow alternately on the stems. Flower clusters of ½ Iris versicolor or Northern Blue Flag blooms from May to June
to ¾ inch pale blue star shaped blooms form at the tips of and thrives in full sun growing in rich, wet soils, and happy in
the stems and bloom for 3-4 weeks. Late summer to fall up to 2-4 inches of standing water. This water loving native
the willow thin leaves turn from green to a creamy yellow, is considered a marginal aquatic plant that can be planted
brightening up the autumn landscape. There are no serious in freshwater marshes and along ditches and shorelines. The
pests. clump forming plants have 24 inch long, 1 inch wide green-
Aquilegia canadensis or Columbine blooms from April to May blue leaves. In May the 30-inch flower stalk produces 3-5
and thrives in full to part shade, preferring organically rich, purple to blue to white flowers that expand 4 inches wide.
moist, but well drained soils. The plants only live for 3 years The 3 upright standards are single colored with darker veins,
but they seed prolifically, creating drifts of semi-evergreen, while the falls arch back and the ends are purple to blue
delicate, deeply lobed fan shaped foliage that can grow with white that is covered with the yellow stamens overtop
2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. In April, thin stems rise above of a yellow blotch. Plant clumps spread by rhizomes that are

52 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News