Going Nativar: Gro Low Fragrant Sumac

I just learned of the term nativar, a phrase sometimes used to describe a cultivar selected from a native plant. Rhus aromatica 'Gro Low' is just that. It has been specially selected to clone a desired trait – in this case growing "low," or only upwards to 2 feet, from our true native Fragrant Sumac which typically reaches heights of up to 6-12 feet.

How do you know if a plant is a nativar or cultivar? Scientific botanical names should be written in italics with the genus name capitalized and the species name in lower case. The name of the cultivar should not be italicized but enclosed by single quotes following the species name. i.e Rhus (genus) aromatica (species) 'Gro Low' (cultivar). Another example is Betula nigra 'Heritage,' a familiar cultivar of the native river birch commonly available in nurseries. I also recently planted this "nativar" in my garden.

I admit, I have been careless in displaying cultivar names in some of my posts but now that I have a clear understanding of this naming system, I will make it a point to correctly display all cultivars and nativars. A good nursery will also make it a point to display plant names properly.

Are nativars the same as planting a native plant? I have heard yes and no. My experience is somewhat limited as my garden is still quite young. Nativars may be developed to produce less berries (less mess) which would defeat the purpose of planting a berry plant for me – the main reason I like to plant native is for wildlife value and berries are valuable! So, in that situation the answer would be no. But I will agree that sometimes a nativar is a better option for those of us with limited space as in the case of the Gro Low Fragrant Sumac. Its size in particular makes it a better choice to grow alongside my "Nice Driveway" as well as its preference for a well drained soil in full sun.

And as for berries? Gro Low Sumac will produce fuzzy red berries attractive to birds. Interestingly, I've read some nativars of Gro Low are monoecious, having both male and female flowers on the same plant while most are more commonly dioecious, requiring a male plant to pollinate a female plant. The male flowers are small catkins and the female flowers appear in clusters which then form berries. All I observe on mine are catkins (male), so I think mine may be an all male plant and I am now on the lookout for a Gro Low plant that displays female flowers.

Male Catkins

Male Catkins

In Spring both male and female yellow flowers form a delicate eye-catching haze. Gro Low is also an accepted larval host of the Red-Banded Hairstreak Butterfly. It also makes a great alternative to the invasive Burning Bush - its Fall color is fantastic! You won't have to prune it into a "cupcake," either. Mine is still putting on a great show while all the Burning Bushes in the neighborhood are now bare. Consider using this shrub as a ground cover as well. It would be a great choice for an awkward slope. Mine softens the edge of our over-sized driveway nicely.

Most of the plants selected for my garden have some type of wildlife value. Natives tend to offer the best wildlife value which is why I feature native plants in my "Going Native" posts for other gardeners to consider. Sumacs are highly valuable to wildlife but can be large or suckering so if you have a small garden, a nativar such as Gro Low Sumac offers a happy medium. I have another bird-planted (?) Sumac variety growing in my garden that I believe is truly native. It may not be the best choice for the space but hey, if it fell free from the sky, why not try. Once I'm confident that I've identified it correctly, I'll share it with you.

Going Native: Flowering Raspberry

I planted Flowering Raspberry, Rubus odoratus in my Woodland Edge border last Spring. It grew well. The rabbits dined upon it all Winter. This year it grew well again in spite of the nibbling. Actually it grew in even better and is exactly as I pictured - yes, just as I imagined. It is filling in the space as I drew it in my little sketch/plan of the Woodland Edge. Yes, I'm amazed by that. Plants do not usually grow according to plan. Perhaps this one will continue to fill in, and fill in, and fill in ... then it will have grown outside the plan. But I want to add more of it to the other side of my garden because I am just that happy with it. I don't foresee my love for this plant fading.

It propagates by runners and seeds although I think the seeds will be devoured before I have a chance to save them. Dining rabbits, enticing blooms that resemble those of a wild rose and disappearing berries and seeds are all clear indications that this plant is not only loved by me, but by the wildlife in my garden, too. Many types of bees are attracted to the Flowering Raspberry. Robins and other fruit loving birds eat the berries. Small mammals will eat the seeds.

Not only does it flower (long lasting!) and produce berries, but Flowering Raspberry has beautiful large Maple-like leaves that I find myself admiring every time I walk by. They form intricate layers and shades of green and will turn a nice yellow color come Fall.

These shrubs grow to approximately 6 ft and are hardy to zone 3. Mine grow in a pretty good amount of sun but I've heard they will grow well in shade, too. I purchased my shrubs from Amanda's Garden Native Perennial Nursery, but you may be lucky enough to gather some seeds in the wild. If you're patient, I may be giving away some of these plants in a few years!

Going Native: Holly By Golly

I confess I don't actually have this plant growing in my garden yet, but I will be ordering it for spring delivery. Aside from decking halls, holly is a valuable plant for wildlife. Where I live, hollies associated with the traditional decor of Christmas are not quite hardy. They are also usually European in origin. But the Common Winterberry is native, and it is a holly though it will lose its leaves. In fact its leaves don't resemble the usual toothy shape of holly leaves at all, but the berries, oh the berries, DO - they appear in bright sprays of red come winter.

Photo by Stefan Bloodworth

And the berries are what the birds relish. Robins tend to stay the winter here and would much appreciate dining on some winterberry. Other birds known to eat winterberry include: Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, Cardinal, Cedar Waxwing, Chickadee, Northern Flicker, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, and Wood Thrush. There are over 40 species of bird known to eat its berries. These shrubs also provide cover and nesting sites.

Common Winterberry (also called Black Alder) is the host plant for Henry's Elfin Butterfly.

My holiday decor has inspired me to write about holly. My decor tends to reflect the magic of the Northern woods. It has confirmed yet again my decision to include Winterberry in my new woodland edge border.

The spot I have in mind will receive unobstructed Southern exposure but will eventually have a canopy of mature Serviceberry and Dogwood trees. The soil tends to stay moist. I will most likely end up planting a cultivar such as ILEX verticillata Oosterwijk. The native Common Winterberry is often not sold sexed. Female Winterberry requires a male to produce berries. There is also a gold colored berry cultivar available, ILEX verticillata Winter Gold. Wouldn't it be nice to have both colors? I am pretty certain there is not a nearby male for pollination. So if I buy three plant cultivars, I can be certain to have two females and one male for pollinating. If I had more space, I believe I would buy five plants of the Common Winterberry to ensure that I would receive both sexes.

Photos above belong to Bluestone Perrenials but were slightly edited.

So, there is yet another dilemma to going native ... true native species, or cultivar? Just how native are you? I believe these cultivars will still offer wildlife value, so in my garden they go.

Going Native: Virginia Creeper

Fall is the time of year I truly appreciate Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia. It is a stand out in the garden with its beautiful dark red leaves and rich blue berries. My inherited chain link fence is an ideal trellis for my creeper. It keeps this native vine somewhat in line and in turn, the vine hides the not-so-beautiful fence, beautifully.

I have read that Virginia creeper may cause skin irritation. Its very nature may also irritate - it's creepy. It creeps up into trees. "It creeps and leaps and glides and slides" along the ground in just about any condition and soil - so beware. But so far, it has not irritated me in any way.

It certainly isn't irritating to birds. Many birds eat the berries of Virginia creeper. It is also the host plant for several types of sphinx moths, including of course, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth.

Virginia creeper safely clings to buildings without support by small adhesive discs at the end of its tendrils and will not damage a structure.

If you would like to read more about Virginia creeper, click here. If you would like to purchase this vine for your garden, it is available from Brushwood Nursery.