What Belongs in the Woods

What Belongs in the Woods

First up, the witch hazel. I am familiar with the late winter-blooming types. In the gardens I design, I always try to have some flowering interest throughout the year, and witch hazel is a sure way to take care of three dull weeks of winter, and looks spectacular in snow.

Marie Viljoen

Quick research revealed that the fall-bloomer is Hamamelis virginiana. Born in America, and known as common witch hazel. It is perfect for a last hurrah to the late-season garden. Not only is it politically correct (plant American!), but it is beautiful in terms of form, flower and leaf. It is hardy from Zone 4-9, though count on that changing, along with our climate. It wants slighty acidic soil, and full sun to part shade.

Marie Viljoen

What about the masses of beautifully orange barberries on the forest floor, hung with scarlet berries? Not good! They have escaped from gardens via birds and are taking over, edging out native plants, preventing the growth of an understorey in the woods, and starting the nasty downward spiral to habitat loss for creatures furred, feathed and otherwise clad. Please do not bring Berberis thunbergii or B. vulgaris home with you from a nursery, if you find them. They have been classifieda noxious weed several states. More info on Page 2, here.

Marie Viljoen

The blue-berried shrub: this was identified for me by some of my blog readers, a great source of information! It is Viburnum prunifolium, or blackhaw. Any shrub that has beautiful blooms and bears edible fruit gets approval from me, and this native has certainly made the cut. Holly, Wood and Vine will be planting it next year in a new park in Manhattan. Find more information about blackhaw.

Marie Viljoen

The blue knapweed caught my eye by a roadside. A bee buzzed in its scentre. Pretty picture. Does it belong? No. Another invasive. "Heavy infestations of knotweed along river banks can result in the loss of wildlife habitat, decrease species diversity, and reduce water carrying capacity in rivers." That quote from this study of invasives in the Catskills. So another to cross off my list. Can't have. Must destroy. Sad.

Marie Viljoen

Finally, the winged euonymous, or burning bush, in its scarlet glory (or pink, in shade). Another introduced species, it felt so at home here that it has invaded our woods, out-competing natives and speading like wild, ahem, fire.

Marie Viljoen

I have used winged euonymous myself in a garden design, and now regret it. Because this shrub is so prolific, we should reconsider it's place in our gardens.

Marie Viljoen

Doll's eyes – Actaea pachypoda- were new to me until this spring when I saw its deliciously scented white flowers in the BBG's native garden. I knew I wanted to incorporate it into garden plantings.

Marie Viljoen

Seeing them growing by a waterfall on the Peekamoose Road was exciting, as I'd never seen the plant in the wild. It's on my list for next spring. Semi-shade , humus rich soil needed, and hardy from Zones 4-9.

Marie Viljoen

The pretty rosehips all over the hedgerows and woods belong to Rosa multiflora, the lovely little white rose that erupts in spring. It's bad. Do not encourage it and if you have it on your land, grit your teeth and remove. Dispersed by birds, and spreading via its rooting, arched canes, it reproduces very easily and grows into thickets, again forcing out native plants. Plant an alternative that your birds will enjoy. More about that in another post.

Marie Viljoen