![]() Common hepaticaĬommon Hepatica is native to the southeastern US. The common hepatica is known by various names, including blue anemone, liverleaf, and mayflower. Use this information as a guide in choosing varieties that will thrive in your region.Īnd here they are: eleven outstanding native flowers that vary in color from light blue to deep indigo. If you don’t already know your hardiness zone, use the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find it. So, as you shop for these exquisite flowers, look for the Latin names, common names, and the words “native” and “blue” to get the best version of each plant for your area.Ĭhoose plants that not only appeal to you, but that are appropriate for your locale. In addition, plant breeders develop new hybrids and cultivars every day. They may also be cultivated outside their native regions as either annuals or perennials, depending upon the temperature. The following flowering plants are all native to a particular region of the US, where they grow in the wild. In these other zones, we may call it a wildflower – but it may or may not need our help to thrive. ![]() When we take this flower and grow it successfully in other regions, we are able to assign a hardiness zone to this native plant. It may be an annual that reseeds itself, or a perennial that comes up every year. Where we find it growing in the wild, we call it a wildflower. When we talk about native plants, it’s easy to get confused.Ī US native flower is one that originates in one or more of our states. So once they are well established do not disturb the soil.A Note on Natives, Wildflowers, and Cultivars As a reminder, these plants have a very deep root system and dislike disturbances. Smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are well established, then transplant to permanent homes. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer or following spring.ĭivision: Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water and then sown in a cold frame in late winter or early spring. Propagation Seed: Seed are best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils. The plant prefers light sandy, medium, loamy soils and requires well-drained soil. Never store wild indigo in plastic or it will mold. Once it is dried place the leaves and roots carefully into a cardboard boxes or paper bags for storage in a dry area until you are ready to sell or use. The wild indigo be completely dry (largest root will snap not bend and the leaves will crush) in 3-7 days depending on the drying conditions. The key to drying any root, herb or bark is an even combination of heat and airflow. Spread the roots and turn daily to aid in drying. Wild Indigo root should be harvested in the fall. You will need to turn or stir the leaf daily. If natural heat is not available you may need to add heat and a fan for continuous airflow. When possible dry indoors in a well ventilated barn loft or attic to protect from the elements. As the name might suggest the plant was used by the Cherokee to make a blue dye. The leaves and pods turn black upon drying. After harvest, remove all foreign matter (rocks, weeds and dirt) and spread in a thin layer immediately. Gather the larger more mature plants leaving plenty of younger smaller plants to seed the area for future harvest. The stem and leaves may be gathered after the flowering is done. It prefers dry soils in woods and clearings, along tree lines, open prairies or native hay fields. Growing region: The wild indigo root can be found as far east as New Hampshire, south to Florida, west to Texas and north into Canada. It has a bitter acrid taste and a faint odor. The inside is white woody and the outside is thick dark brown, kind of scaly and dotted with small wart-like knobs. The roots have a thick knotty head with stem scars, and a round, fleshy root with rootlets up to 2 feet in length. The flowers grow at the top of the tallest branches, bluish purple, are hermaphrodite and bloom in July and August. The leaves are grayish-green trilobar and contain several whorls of 3 clover like leaflets. The stem is erect, with slender branches that alternate. Wild Indigo root is a perennial plant that grows up to 4 feet in height. Common Names: American indigo, baptisia,clover bloom, dyer’s baptisia, false indigo, horsefly weed, indigo broom, indigo weed, rattlebush, rattleweed, yellow broom, yellow indigo
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |