Page 56 - Free State Summer 2023

GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued) fall. Plants are evergreen in the warmer parts of Maryland

the seeds attract goldfinches in the fall. Plants are not long and semi-evergreen to dormant depending on the cold
lived but will still fit nicely in border, pollinator and cottage temperatures. The fibrous roots need an inch of mulch
gardens. Pest include aster yellows, fungal leaf spot and to keep the soil moisture in summers and protect it from
powdery mildew. freezing in winter. Tiny bell-shaped green to creamy white
with a pink tint flowers emerge on leafless wiry stems and
Heuchera americana, or Coral Bells, blooms from June to rise above the foliage in nodding airy panicles. Plants fit into
August and thrives in dappled sun to part afternoon shade woodland gardens as groundcovers and in shady boarders
and organically rich, moist but well drained soils. If grown in or native gardens. Deer leave the native Coral Bells alone
the full sun, plants need constant moisture and the leaves due to the high tannins in the foliage. No serious pests.
can suffer from scorch. Plants grow 1-2 feet tall and 1-1½ feet
wide with the 4-6 inch leaves emerging from the soil in a Tradescantia virginiana, or Virginia Spiderwort, blooms from
dense spiral from a short crown to form a mounding clump. May to early July and thrives in part to full shade and moist
The rounded heart shaped 5-7 lobed leaves start a pale well drained soils. Plants grow 1½ to 3 feet tall and 1-1½ feet
purple color that matures to green with shades of purple, wide. The foot-long narrow, dark green leaves have a fold
bronze or cream veins, then turns a darker purple in late at the main vein, forming a groove. The arching leaves
resemble iris and form a mounding clump. The 3-petal deep
purple to pinkish purple flowers open, with contrasting bright
yellow stamens and bloom for a day from the terminal
clusters which hold numerous buds. Each day brings new
flowers that open in the morning sun and fade in the
evening. Once finished blooming, the foliage often dies back
but new foliage emerges when the cooler fall temperatures
return. Plants fit nicely in natural woodland gardens or shady
native and pollinator gardens. Spiderwort has a viscous
secretion from its stems which becomes threadlike and silky
when it dries, looking very much like a spider’s web. There
are no serious pest problems.
Trautvetteria caroliniensis, or false bugbane, blooms from
June to August and thrives in dappled shade and organically
rich, wet well drained soils. Plants grow 2-4 feet tall and wide
with basal leaves 6 inches wide during flowering, expanding
to 8 inches wide during fruiting. Each palmate deeply
divided leaf has 5-11 toothed lobes with a long petiole. The
smaller sessile leaves have shorter petioles and fewer lobes.
Flowering stems rise above the foliage with clusters of white
flowers that have no petals, instead the ¾ inch blooms are
made with 3-5 fragrant sepals. When the sepals drop as the
flowers open, the tassel of stamens show off bright white
filaments and soft yellow anthers. Plants spread by rhizomes
and fit into borders, woodland gardens, and pond margins.
False Bugbane are in the buttercup family which herbivores
know will cause burns if eaten. There are no serious pests. A

Ginny Rosenkranz
Extension Educator, Commercial
Horticulture, University of Maryland
Extension, Dorchester, Sommerset,
Wicomico and Worchester County
410 749-6141 x106
rosnkrnz@umd.edu
Agastache Blue Fortune

56 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News