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.
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.
Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens
Endangered in Pennsylvania,
Clethra acuminata is a striking shrub that likes part shade.
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.
Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens
Sturdy little
Chrysogonum virginianum may be endangered in Pennsylvania and Kentucky and threatened in Ohio and Tennessee, but it’s a marvelous little-care edge plant that blooms from very early spring until very late fall.
Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens
Endangered in Pennsylvania and Maryland, charming
Iris cristata is perfect for small, moist, shady spots – and the white (alba) variety is very rare and highly collectable.
Photo Credit: © Pennystone Gardens
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.”
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.
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.
Endangered plants are a conversation piece, too. Visitors to our garden are often curious about a plant they’ve never seen anywhere, and they often become enchanted when we casually mention that it’s a federally endangered species and is quite rare. Because you can’t just run down to the garden center and pick up a few, it often prompts plant sharing. And in a Johnny Appleseed way, the species spreads.
So here’s how to get started:
Learn about the threatened and endangered species in your area. A good place to start is at your local Cooperative Extension service, local conservation groups or governmental environment agencies.
When you find a plant that interests you, continue your detective work by visiting the USDA plant database to verify its growing status. Use the plant’s Latin botanical name to learn about habitat requirements, when it grows and how it blooms, then decide if it fits into your garden space.
Next, find a source to buy it. A good starting point is online at the University of Minnesota Libraries (see Extras, left). You can find retail nurseries that ship plants, as well as a way to track down even more information about your garden candidate. That said, be careful not to buy any plants that have been collected in the wild, worsening the plant’s endangered status! Reputable sources can verify that their plants have been propagated in a nursery environment.
Oftentimes conservation groups, native plant societies and similar organizations hold fund-raising plant sales in the spring and fall and delight in making these rare and special species available. After all, they’re encouraging all of us to join in and discover how each of our gardens can make a difference. So don’t wait! Yes, you can help save the planet just by growing a few wonderful plants!
