Gardening With Wildflowers Dr. Thomas G. Barnes Department of Forestry

Hottest Rage in Gardening!!

Why the Popularity? KY losing 160 acres of wildland to development dailyKY losing 160 acres of wildland to development daily Reconnecting with natureReconnecting with nature

Intrigue & challenge Some are easy Some are not so easy

Naturally Hardy

Interesting & unusual

Attract Wildlife BirdsBirds ButterfliesButterflies

But Mostly Just Beautiful

Gardens Are?? A reflection of the gardenerA reflection of the gardener Sense of our relationship with natureSense of our relationship with nature

Rethinking the American Landscape Windows intoWindows into the woodlands the woodlands

Rethinking the American Landscape Prairie PatchesPrairie Patches

Rethinking the American Landscape Wild WatersWild Waters

What is a Wildflower? Simple Question without a simple answerSimple Question without a simple answer Paradox – All flowers are wildflowers somewhere in the worldParadox – All flowers are wildflowers somewhere in the world Tulips- wildflowers in middle eastTulips- wildflowers in middle east Trilliums- wildflowers in North AmericaTrilliums- wildflowers in North America

What is a Wildflower? Native, herbaceous (non-woody) flowering plants excluding grasses & sedgesNative, herbaceous (non-woody) flowering plants excluding grasses & sedges Native? Growing here prior to European arrival in that the species is adapted to various habitats in response to climatic, geologic, and topographical variablesNative? Growing here prior to European arrival in that the species is adapted to various habitats in response to climatic, geologic, and topographical variables

Lets Take a Quiz Wildflower?Wildflower?

Lets Take a Quiz Wildflower?Wildflower?

Lets Take a Quiz Wildflower?Wildflower?

Lets Take a Quiz Wildflower?Wildflower?

Lets Take a Quiz Wildflower?Wildflower?

Lets Take a Quiz Wildflower?Wildflower?

Naturalized Escaped cultivationEscaped cultivation Persist in wild without human interventionPersist in wild without human intervention 15% of our flora is exotic15% of our flora is exotic Some benignSome benign Others are invasiveOthers are invasive

Invasive Exotic The Worst of the worstThe Worst of the worst Threaten natural communitiesThreaten natural communities Cost millions to controlCost millions to control 40% of these were introduced by horticultural industry40% of these were introduced by horticultural industry Examples are numerousExamples are numerous htmwww.exoticpestplantcouncil.org/ky/list. htm

Gardening 1 st rule of horticulture1 st rule of horticulture Know thy plants & theirKnow thy plants & their ecological requirements ecological requirements

Gardening Get to know the native floraGet to know the native flora When designing gardens use nature as your guideWhen designing gardens use nature as your guide

Know Your Flora AggressiveAggressive

Know Your Flora Bloom TimeBloom Time Plant HeightPlant Height Bloom ColorBloom Color

There are wildflowers to fit every gardening situation

Woodland Shade, filtered light, high organic matter (no clay)Shade, filtered light, high organic matter (no clay)

Woodland Know your plants --- need to interplant with ferns -- textureKnow your plants --- need to interplant with ferns -- texture

Woodland Ground coversGround covers

Full Sun Average Soil

Full Sun, Average Soil

Full Sun, little to no soil

Full Sun, wet soil

Bird Flowers

Hummingbird Flowers

Butterfly Flowers

Gardening 1 st rule of horticulture1 st rule of horticulture Know thy plants & theirKnow thy plants & their ecological requirements ecological requirements Is it a perennial? Annual? Biennial? Is it a perennial? Annual? Biennial?

Ethical Gardening Dont dig (unless it is a salvage)Dont dig (unless it is a salvage) Purchase only nursery PROPAGATED (not nursery grown)Purchase only nursery PROPAGATED (not nursery grown)

Why? Impoverishes local floraImpoverishes local flora Possibility of introducing diseasePossibility of introducing disease Survivability of transplantSurvivability of transplant

Technology is a savior!! Tissue CulturedTissue Cultured Expensive --- but worth every pennyExpensive --- but worth every penny

Do I use seeds or plants? Depends – woodland or shade = plants (because most of these do not spread need to plant 6 – 8 apart)Depends – woodland or shade = plants (because most of these do not spread need to plant 6 – 8 apart) Prairie or open – depends on size and budgetPrairie or open – depends on size and budget

Guidance on using seeds Do Not Use wildflower in a can, mat, generalized mixture from large chainsDo Not Use wildflower in a can, mat, generalized mixture from large chains Many exotics, some invasivesMany exotics, some invasives More than 80% annuals (few perennials)More than 80% annuals (few perennials)

Guidance on using seeds Purchase from a native plant nurseryPurchase from a native plant nursery Will need some native grass in mixture (structure)Will need some native grass in mixture (structure) Requires specialized knowledgeRequires specialized knowledge

Some Final Thoughts Scientific namesScientific names

Some Final Thoughts Scientific namesScientific names

Hottest Rage in Gardening!! Jim Wilson, Victory Garden, It has mystery, surprise, contradiction, movement, drama. I could never have planned it that way, and I rejoice in its sweetly, chaotic spontaneity.Jim Wilson, Victory Garden, It has mystery, surprise, contradiction, movement, drama. I could never have planned it that way, and I rejoice in its sweetly, chaotic spontaneity.

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