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| Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens |
| If you can grow bleeding heart, you can easily grow Dicentra eximia, a wild bleeding heart that’s endangered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and threatened in Maryland. |
One of the saddest phrases I find when doing research on native plants is, “believed to be extirpated” – in other words, wiped out…completely destroyed…vanished.
Okay, it’s not quite as severe as “extinct.” The species continues to grow somewhere, but it’s no longer found in its recorded native range. Even though you might not find the word “extirpated,” the warning is often then in other phrases, such as, “of special concern,” “threatened” and “endangered.”
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| Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens |
| Endangered in Pennsylvania, Clethra acuminata is a striking shrub that likes part shade. |
We all know that over the course of time, species come and go as part of the natural cycle of the planet. But many of us also share a concern about how we humans have managed resources – even as we work diligently to extirpate the common dandelion (a successful invasive) from our lawns. Global environmental issues are so huge, so vast and so expensive that it can seem overwhelming.
But the cool thing about having a garden of any size is that you can directly impact conservation efforts, help rescue the planet and have some fun, too. How? Simply by making a little room for an endangered plant species!
Plants that are on threatened or endangered lists are often first-rate landscape plants that can bring an interesting touch to any landscape design. Sometimes they’re little accents, sometimes they become great edge plants, and sometimes they’re perfect for dramatic backgrounds.
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| Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens |
| Ruellia caroliniensis is very easy to grow in sunnier locations. Unfortunately, this native petunia is endangered in New Jersey and extirpated in Pennsylvania. |
If such plants are appropriate for your neck of the woods, they’ll settle in and become a durable member of your garden design. What’s more, they usually require minimal care. And if conditions are right, they’ll set about the business of propagating, and you’ll have some truly unique plants to share.
That’s where frontline conservation begins.
As you enjoy your new plants, you’ll quickly become intrigued with some of the astonishing ways these species participate in an ecosystem. If you pay close attention, you’ll get firsthand knowledge of how amazing nature can be. It’s an especially great project for young people, who often have a passion for environmental protection but few “hands-on” ways to participate.
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