Trillium Means Spring

Signs of early spring are appearing everywhere. Crocus are flowering and early daffodils are in bloom where I live. Abelias are showing tiny leaves, buds are swelling on the Fothergillas, and maple trees are starting to show a red cast. One of my earliest spring indicators is the emergence of Sweet Little Betsy, Trillium cuneatum, pronounced TRIL-ee-um kew-nee-AH-tum. Other common names include Purple Toadshade, Wake Robin, and Bloody Butcher.

My Trillium originated with my husband’s grandmother, a remarkable gardener. My family enjoyed them for years when we lived at New Hope Farm. I dug the rhizomes and moved them to our new property three years ago. All internet gardening sites say that Trillium “do not transplant easily.” I carefully lifted a rootball about the size of a regulation basketball, and my plants never missed a beat. When our home renovation construction began near their location, I decided to divide the clump and keep some in a container in a site well away from backhoe and concrete trucks. This week, I am happy to report, I spotted healthy new growth and numerous buds on the rhizomes I potted as a precaution as well as those I left in the original location. The potted insurance plants will be relocated to a new, in-ground home during the coming week.

Sweet Little Betsy is native to the southeast. Plants have three mottled leaves and three petals, usually a deep wine red. Other species have white, yellow, and even pink flowers. They thrive in moist shade and enjoy the humus-rich soil of woodlands. Plants are winter-hardy in zones 5-8. They prefer an acidic to neutral soil.

You may have heard that one should never pick the flowers of a Trillium or it will die. I believed this until I researched this plant for today’s blog and found this folklore is total nonsense. If you pick the leaves, you may damage the plant by preventing it from generating food storage through photosynthesis, but you most likely won’t kill it. Trilliums are ephemeral, meaning they go dormant after they flower. Their food-making period is brief, so they need all their leaves to make the process efficient. Picking the flower may mean it won’t bloom in the coming year, but it will not kill the plant. So much for hearsay advice!

Trillium flowers smell bad (my opinion) but they produce early nectar for pollinators. Seeds are spread by ants. Plant reproduction via seeds is a slow process. It can take a year or two for seeds to germinate, and up to five years or even longer for new plants to flower. Division is much faster, but plants need a year or two to recover after separation. Lift plants carefully, as the rhizomes are brittle. The fleshy white roots are connected to the rhizome at a single point near the stem, technically, a “scape.” The trio of leaves immediately under the flowers aren’t really leaves, but “bracts.”

Some sites say that the leaves of young Trillium are edible, but other sites indicate they are mildly toxic and can sicken pets. Deer relish them without any bad effects.

Sweet Little Betsy, Trillium cuneatum, safely survived during our construction by moving to a container in our woodlands.

Identification by Elimination: Leucothoe

Most of the time, plant identification is pretty straight forward even for those of who were not trained in taxonomy. Sometimes, however, identification requires research. For the last three years, I have been enjoying the large, evergreen shrubs that appear along the creek banks of my home. They have lovely arching foliage, reddish new growth, and drooping clusters of white flowers in spring. Based on my knowledge as a former garden nursery employee, I thought they were Leucothoe, pronounced loo-KOH-thoh-ee. But which one? Are they Highland Doghobble, Leucothoe fontanesiana? Or Coastal Doghobble, Leucothoe axillaris? Or even Florida Leucothoe, now Agarista populifolia but formerly Leucothoe populfolia?

When I’m having difficulty with identification, I have learned to consult NC State University’s plant sheets and Clemson University’s Home & Garden Info fact sheets. The Georgia Native Plant Society, Virginia Native Plant Society, and the Southern Piedmont Natural History Facebook pages provide invaluable information. I cross reference everything I find online with the information contained in my favorite gardening book, Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs, by Michael A. Dirr. This is a fabulous resource and a must-have for everyone who aspires to be a serious gardener. There are so many post-it notes extending from my copy, it looks like a neon hedgehog.

First, I examined the common factors of the three possibilities. All are natives in the Ericaceae family, meaning they enjoy damp shade and acid soil like other ericaceous family members (blueberries, azaleas). The new growth on all three is a shiny pink-to-bronze color.  Then, I compared the differences in an attempt to identify by elimination.

First to go was Highland Doghobble or Mountain Doghobble. It has an average height of six feet, which kept it in the running. Comparing photos of their flowers to photos of my plants, I could not discern a difference. Both have creamy clusters of white flowers held in the stem axils. But NC State horticultural info says this plant grows in USDA cold hardiness zones 4-6. My property lies in zone 7b. (Zone 8 after the recently updated zone maps were released. I’m having trouble adapting.) Buh-bye.

Candidate number two is Coastal Doghobble. These grow in cold hardiness zones 5-9, but are described as slow growing with a mature height up to four feet. The cold weather foliage is bronze to burgundy. No, no, and no. Mine stay a nice rich green throughout the coldest months. I have cut them to ground level and they grow rapidly to six feet or more.

Which leaves Florida Leucothoe, Agarista populifolia. Hardiness zones 7-9 are a match, as is the mature size of 8-12 feet. New growth is coppery red but leave remain green through winter. The point of confusion for me is with the flowers. Those on my shrubs were a perfect match to the photographs on a couple of sites but not a visual match on other sites describing the same plant.  I am going to make an assumption that my garden is hosting Florida Leucothoe. Take a look at the photos below. If you disagree with my identification, feel free to drop me an email at mary@marysnoddy.com.

While you might assume that the outstanding characteristic of this plant is the lovely spring flowers or the evergreen foliage (works well in cut flower arrangements) or the ease of culture, the best thing is that deer won’t touch it. While the common name Doghobble was derived from its tendency to develop thickets so dense that dogs cannot run through them, it could have just as easily been Dogkill. While bees and butterflies love the flowers, the plant is extremely toxic to people, dogs, cats, and horses. Ingesting as few as two leaves can lead to coma and death. Deer avoid it, even when food sources are scarce.

Leucothoe flower closeup

Leucothoe in spring

Note the arching form

Resurging after severe pruning

Bronze new growth

Calycanthus, Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub

Sweet Shrub is a homely shrub with a heavenly scent. Native to the southeast, Sweet Shrub grows in part shade. It will reach heights of six to ten feet, and spreads indefinitely by suckering. Flowers of the species are nondescript, wine colored, and easy to overlook. Newer cultivars have larger, more attractive flowers but may not be as fragrant as the older type. The flowers have a scent that is described as a cross between strawberry and kiwi. Bruised foliage has a pleasant scent also.

Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus, pronounced kal-ee-KAN-thus FLOR-id-us) is perennial in zones 4-9. It will reach heights up to 12 feet in clay or loamy soil with an acidic or neutral pH. Flowers have strap-like petals (tepals) in shades of burgundy to brown. Newer cultivar ‘Athens’ has white flowers and ‘Aphrodite’ has a brighter red bloom than the straight species. ‘Hartlage Wine’ has larger, showier flowers.

Locate Sweet Shrub in a woodland garden to seating or pathways so that its fragrance can be enjoyed. Flowers are popular with pollinators and shrubs are usually ignored by deer.

This is the native version of Calycanthus, Sweet Shrub. Newer cultivars have larger flowers. Reports indicate that newer cultivar ‘Venus’ is equally fragrant.

Old Man's Beard - Lichen, Fungus, Algae

When you wander through the woods in the dead of winter, you see things that remain unnoticed during the active growing season when everything is lush and green. This week, a lovely growth on the forest floor caught my attention. It was a lichen, Usnea strigosa, whose common name is Old Man’s Beard, Methuselah’s Beard, or Bushy Beard Lichen. At first glance it appears to rest on fallen leaves, but it rises from tiny bits of tree bark.

So, what is a lichen, exactly? It is a symbiotic partnership, a fungus that lives in association with an algae. Algae produces sugars through photosynthesis. These sugars feed the companion fungus. In return, the fungus serves as a protector of its algae partner, offering protection from drought and excessive sunlight. In dry periods, the thread-like organisms appear grayish in color. When rainfall moistens it, the algae is refreshed and the partnership takes on a sage-green tint. Those rounded pads at the tips of the threads are the fruit, producing reproductive spores.

Old Man’s Beard lichen is found throughout the southeast. Other than being something cool to see in the woodlands, Old Man’s Beard can tell us a bit about our surroundings. It does not tolerate air pollution, for instance, so its presence indicates clean air. There is abundant information touting the medicinal properties of Usnea (note: I’m reporting, NOT recommending!), ranging from wound treatment to tuberculosis prevention, tonics, astringents, or diuretics. It can even be used to produce an orange dye.

Look for Old Man’s Beard lichen in oak forests, in damp, shady areas. It slightly resembles unrelated Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides, an epiphyte) or Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina). If you need to confirm its identity, seize one of the threads and pull the ends in opposite directions. The green algae covering will separate from the fungus, which is a white thread in the middle. The fungus is stretchy, almost like a rubber band.

Rhododendron Family - Part 3: Native Azaleas

Native Azaleas are less in-your-face showy than other members of the Rhododendron family, but they are my favorite. They are native to the US, unlike the popular Popsicle-colored, evergreen Asian Azaleas that are found in many southern landscape plantings.

The Natives are taller and more open than their Asian counterparts. They are deciduous, losing every leaf in winter. In spring, the flowers appear before leaves.  The vivid yellow, orange, red or pink blooms glow like torches in the woodland areas where they occur naturally. Given the proper soil (moist, acidic) and light (morning sun, afternoon shade), they perform well in home gardens also. When not in bloom, they fade into obscurity. They look best when incorporated into a natural area rather than jammed against a house foundation. A mature plant may reach 10 to 15 feet, so site accordingly.

There are more than a dozen species of native Azaleas. Many are fragrant. Clemson University has compiled a useful fact sheet, listing species, colors and bloom times. Find a link to their information by clicking here.

According to Alabama and Auburn University Extensions, there are several hybrid groups that are more heat tolerant than most: Aromi hybrids, Auburn series, Confederate series, Sommerville series, Strickland Azaleas, and Clarence Towe’s selections. My friends in the nursery world recommend ‘Admiral Semmes,’ a yellow-flowered shrub in the Confederate series as a strong performer. I cannot distinguish a Piedmont Azalea from a Pinxter Azalea. Both have pale pink flowers with protruding stamens that are beyond gorgeous. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds flock to all the native Azaleas. Unfortunately, they are also a deer favorite.

Plants may be propagated from seed or root cuttings. I have experienced failures with both, so will be content to purchase mine from a garden center. Native Azalea is the state wildflower of Georgia.

This ‘Admiral Semmes’ (a Confederate hybrid) is in full bloom, with flower trusses that would rival its showier cousins, the Rhodies.

Pinxter Azalea. Photo by Jerry King, Reidville, SC.

Close view of an ‘Admiral Semmes;’ flower.

The bud of a Flame Azalea inspired its name, since they look a bit like candle flames. This photo Image by Rebecca Matthews from Pixabay

Prima Donna Pieris

Pieris japonica (pronounced pee-AIR-iss jah-PON-ih-kah) is a lovely evergreen shrub with a multitude of white bell -shaped blooms held in clusters in late winter to early spring. Flowers are occasionally pink-tinged. New growth is a bronzy red and young stems are yellow-green. Old bloom stems remain attached to the mother plant unless removed.

Pieris is not the easiest of shrubs to grow. It is a member of the heather family (“ericaceous”), which means it enjoys similar conditions as heath, azalea and rhododendron. Plants are hardy in zones 5-8. In the south, Pieris needs partial shade and consistently moist (not wet) acidic soil with plentiful organic matter. It must be shielded from winter winds.

It is easy to overlook that slow-growing Pieris, commonly called Andromeda or Fetterbush, can reach heights of twelve feet or more and up to eight feet wide. Unfortunately, they are prone to numerous problems, including leaf spots, lace bugs, scale, nematodes, and unexplained dieback. Both flowers and leaves are extremely poisonous to humans, cats, dogs, and horses. On the positive side, it is somewhat deer resistant.

Numerous cultivars are available.

Pieris blooms stand out against leathery, dark green leaves.

Fun with Fungi

There is a silly joke that goes, “No matter how big and tough you are, when a 3-year old hands you their toy telephone, you pretend to answer it.” It is this childlike spirit within that makes it impossible to leave a puffball mushroom alone.

Puffballs (Pisolithus arhizus - no idea how to pronounce it) initially appear as innocent little round white orbs, smaller than a golf ball. If removed from the soil, they will have a thick base with yellowish mycelial threads. If you crack one open at this stage, the inside is dark brown and moist, like chocolate cake. Left alone in the ground for a few days, it enlarges, darkens slightly, and flattens. In a few more days, it turns black and evil looking. It is at this stage that they are so tempting. One simply must step on it to generate puffs of black “smoke,” hence the name “puffball.” Other common names are Dog Turd Fungi, Dead Man’s Foot, and Dyemaker’s Puffballs. The last is because the immature fungi can be used to dye wool a dark brown, if you are ever tempted to take up your own cloth color customization.

Young Puffball

Ripe Puffball

Whee! Smoke!

Puffballs are common around conifers or oaks, in areas with poor soil. The “smoke” is actually airborne spores. While Americans consider them unsightly and a nuisance, gardeners and foresters in Great Britain welcome them. Puffballs form mycorrhizas with almost any kind of root. Mycorrhiza promotes plant growth, especially in poor soils. You can order bags of mycorrhiza for incorporation into planting holes, but unless the fungi have been handled carefully (kept cool and damp, not riding around in a delivery van for several days) they are likely to arrive dead. This is not something you can detect visually.

Puffballs are NOT edible and may even be toxic. I have found several interesting varieties of mushrooms growing in surrounding woodlands over the past two weeks.  I have included photos of a few so that you can enjoy their earthy beauty with me. Until I can identify with certainty which ones are edible and which ones are not, I will not incorporate them into my recipes. In fact, my husband was extremely dubious over home-cooked dinners for a week or so after he saw that I had purchased a mushroom identification book. We will enjoy them visually – for now.

Woodland Orchids

I consider myself a fairly good gardener, but I have never enjoyed success with indoor orchids such as Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium. It must have something to do with the neglect I inflict on houseplants while I cajole outdoor plants into health and beauty. There are two orchids that thrive in southeastern woodlands without any mollycoddling.

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) is an evergreen perennial wildflower found in woodlands across the eastern half of our country. The plant is small and easily overlooked. The distinctive leaves are very attractive, deep blue-green with distinctive veining and prominent light stripe down the center of each leaf. After a plant is several years old, it throws a single bloom stem in mid-summer with 20 to 80 tiny white flowers. These flowering stems remind me of another plant in the orchid family, Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes). Lady’s Tresses requires plentiful water, while Rattlesnake Plantain prefers average to dry, acidic soils with plentiful organic content. It is commonly found in the same areas as Creeping Cedar.

Pipsissewa popping through a field of creeping cedar.

Rattlesnake Plantain is easily confused with another wildflower, Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), sometimes called Spotted Wintergreen. The two can be distinguished by their different leaf arrangement: Rattlesnake Plantain leaves are held in a basal rosette, while Pipsissewa leaves are held on a stem. I like the musical sound of Pipsissewa: pip-SIS-uh-wuh.

While Rattlesnake Plantain can be grown as a houseplant and in terrariums, it is listed as endangered in several states and should not be dug from the wild. It is sometime possible to find them for sale by native plant societies. Propagation is from root cuttings or dust-like seeds. It was named Wildflower of the Year for 2016.

Pipsissewa produces plentiful seeds and is common in woodlands. In the past, leaves of Pipsissewa were used to flavor root beer. It is one of my favorite discoveries when walking through the forest. The deep green leaves with white netting are gorgeous. The blooms? Meh. Just appreciate them for the foliage and their willingness to thrive without care.

If you pine after something a little more showy than these two woodland orchids, stayed tuned for next week’s feature on Bletilla striata, Hardy Orchid. She’s a beauty!

Admire the pretty leaves of this Pipsissewa. Seedlings are coming up in the leaf litter.

Beautiful Club Moss (Creeping Cedar)

The bright green foliage of club moss is a welcome sight against the grays, browns and blahs of winter. Lycopodium, also known as creeping cedar or ground pine, grows in partial shade throughout woodland areas in the Mary Snoddy garden. Reaching a height of six inches or less, it makes a beautiful green groundcover blanket. Evergreen plants spread above ground by runners and below ground by shallow rhizomes with sparse roots.

Like ferns, Lycopodiums produce new plants by spores. The spores occur along candelabra-type stems (see photos) that are held above the lacy foliage. These spores, when dried and mixed with air to form a mist, are flammable. They are used to create impressive flashes or flames in stage productions. The flames disappear so quickly that they don’t (normally) ignite anything else.

The one downside of creeping cedar is the difficulty in transplanting it.  Several times, I have attempted a move and met with miserable failure. I suspect that it may need a particular mycorrhiza (soil fungi) or some magic combination of micronutrients. When happy in their habitat, plants spread and spread. They prefer partial shade and well-drained acidic soil but will tolerate almost any soil type . They are slow to return to areas that have burned. Decades ago, club moss was so widely harvested for Christmas wreaths that it neared extinction.

I found conflicting reports of growth zones. Clubmosses have been separated into at least ten genus and 300 or more species, so there may be wide variations through the family. I can only report success in zone 7b. The lovely “leaves” look like shredded umbrellas. Neither deer nor rabbits nibble.