Native Plants

Last updated 12/12/2023

Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia, A Gift to the Horticultural World

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), is a shrub for all seasons. Broad-leaved evergreen mountain laurel has been described as North America’s gift to the horticultural world. One medium sized mountain laurel in full bloom can be breathtaking or grouped as a hedge, just amazing. When used as foundation plantings, their glossy deep green leaves effectively tie the home to the surrounding landscape; they can be pruned as needed.

Mountain Laurel
photo © Carolyn Summers
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The flowers on most of the wild mountain laurel we see around us range from white to light pink. Interesting dotted and banded forms have been found and cultivated by breeders, notably Richard Jaynes of Broken Arrow Nursery in Connecticut, greatly expanding the color range of mountain laurels. These blindingly colorful varieties are now more widely available at nurseries than our own lovely, but more plain, pink-tinged vanilla.

Those of us who prefer homegrown may carefully transplant wild ones into the home garden from our own surrounding woods (or with permission from a friendly landowner). I have done this successfully over the years, with several lovely specimens in our front yard.

Flowering in mid-June is great timing for our pollinators. Butterflies, moths, bees and even hummingbirds keep the shrubs teaming with life. Mountain laurels are noted for their unusual flowers with tiny “slingshots” (anthers) that shoot their pollen onto the bumblebee as it lands on the flower seeking nectar. A demonstration of this can be fun for children. While nectar and pollen are safe for our insect friends, beware “mad honey.” All parts of the plant are toxic to mammals; honey with too much nectar from laurels may cause problems for humans. Beekeepers are not encouraged to plant mountain laurels.

Mountain Laurel
photo © Carolyn Summers
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While the mid-June flower show is most inspiring, at this time of year we turn our attention to winter interest, and here again mountain laurel shines - literally - with glossy dark green leaves. Important not only for our own mental health, but the dense branching and solid leaves make some of the very best shelter for our feathered friends. Here we have many evergreens, including the laurels, close to the house, and birds are found there throughout winter, waiting their turn at the bird feeder and then back again to chow down in a restful spot protected from wind. While I have not been able to find any published confirmation, I have personally observed birds eating mountain laurel seeds in late winter, yet another valuable contribution from this all-season shrub.

We are indeed lucky here in Sullivan County that our woods still support laurels and many other native shrubs, compared with the lower Hudson Valley where woods are overrun with invasive burning bush, barberry, and many others. Let’s keep it this way by planting more natives in our yards. Many winged creatures will thank you.

To clarify moving mountain laurel: It’s perfectly legal to move your own plants, whether or not they are state protected.  That can be both good and bad; it is why developers are allowed to destroy so much.  The laws that protect plants are very weak, much weaker than for animal wildlife. Of course, you do need permission to collect from private lands you do not own; primarily the laws protect against plant poaching. It is of course completely illegal to collect from state lands.   Carolyn Summers

Spikenard, Aralia racemosa, a Woodland Perennial that Shines in Autumn

Spikenard in flower
photo © Carolyn Summer
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While spikenard may appear to some as a small shrub, it is a perennial and will disappear at season’s end. After a late start in spring, plants can reach from two to five feet tall with arching stems spreading almost as wide. Large heart-shaped leaves on elegant black stems catch every bit of available light that reaches the woodland understory. Unlike many spring-blooming woodland herbs, some of which are dormant by midsummer, spikenard saves its large tapered flower cluster for late June and into July. The clusters are made up of tiny white flowers often tinted yellow or green. By autumn, these flowers produce showy wine red to dark purple berries.

Spikenard is an important source of nectar and pollen for woodland bees, beetles, moths, and butterflies. The beautiful berries are relished by woodland songbirds like our thrushes and the plants themselves provide excellent shelter. Some sources list the plant as deer-resistant, but I make no promises.

Add an architectural dimension to your shade garden with the stature and grace of spikenard; light up the midsummer woods with its blossoms, and autumn with its glossy purple berries.

Carolyn Summers

Spikenard in fall with berries
photo © Carolyn Summers
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Pussy Willow
photo © Carolyn Summers
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Pussy willows provide one of the earliest spring wake-up calls, as it is usually the first to bloom of all Northeastern shrubs. It was a family custom to go out in spring as soon as the snows melted and gather the pussy willow branches with their fresh catkins. (For those who have not experienced this, pussy willow catkins are small, furry, silver buds.) Some branches were left out to dry to be used as everlastings and some were ”forced“ in a vase of water until the catkins bloomed with tiny little yellow ribbons. If you are planting a garden with children in mind, pussy willow is an excellent choice. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) eat pussy willow buds and the dense branching habit makes this eight to fifteen foot tall shrub or small tree a preferred nesting spot for goldfinches (Carduelis tristis). Seed capsules appear from early to late spring. Pussy willows are tough and adaptable and can be grown in wet or average soils in sun or partial shade.

My love of pussy willows has been encouraged by learning that all of our native willows are host plants for Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), and 454 other butterfly and moth caterpillars. Willows are often the first to bloom in spring, and thus provide a critical food supply for early rising bees and other insects when little else is available. Returning neotropical migrants, like the Willow Flycatcher, which often will nest in willows, depend on these insects for food.

In addition to pussy willows, there are many species of native willows to choose from for wildlife benefits as well as streamside erosion control. A few of these, such as silky willow (Salix sericea) and sandbar willow (Salix exigua), are commercially available from specialty nurseries. Two others, black willow (Salix nigra) and peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides), are reasonable facsimiles of the Asian weeping willows and make a good substitute. Both are tall, with similar long, slender (willowy) leaves. While the branches do not hang quite as pendulously as the weeping willow, the overall effect is similar and may be reinforced by training branches downward. Black willows are not fast growing, but can eventually become quite large. Peachleaf willow is better adapted to smaller landscapes. Dune willow (Salix syrticola) is a lovely shrub with arching branches and attractive furry leaves and twigs, giving the plant a silvery glow. Another good willow for smaller gardens, this willow can take dryer sites.

Perhaps this article will inspire you to consider planting some native willows. Willows are amazingly easy to transplant, for some of them, one can simply cut a twig and stick it in moist soil. Good nursery sources include local Catskill Native Nursery, Prairie Moon Nursery (mail order) and Southern Tier Nursery (mail order). (Please avoid purchasing the European pussy willows (Salix caprea or S. cinerea), frequently offered at nurseries, which, unfortunately, cannot support our native caterpillars.)

Carolyn Summers