#Fragaria virginiana

[uxbridge]

Treefrog on strawberry

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

My Garden Flowers Part 1

Just thought I'd give you all the garden tour. :) I will update when I get more photos. This is of course not counting any of my ferns or conifers as they don't flower. I might do a series of foliage posts, though. All photos mine, unedited.

In order of appearance:

001. Canada Plum (Prunus nigra) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet. I have her in a shady spot and she's fairly slow-growing but healthy.

002. Yellow Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttata) An annual that sadly doesn't seem to have reseeded despite flowering profusely last year. But maybe next year! That happens sometimes.

003. Boreal Yarrow (Achillea millefolia borealis) The place where she is is north-facing so she doesn't get quite as much sun as she'd like, so she can get a bit leggy but she still flowers so it's fine.

004. Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) Not pictured as I haven't got any pictures yet, but I will if she flowers this year. I actually had to move her because she had planted herself in a not ideal location in my garden. Which is fine because I wanted one anyway.

005. Vierhapper's Aster (Aster alpinus vierhapperi) This was supposed to be Canada goldenrod, but it's okay because Canada goldenrod planted herself. I relocated her to the intended spot and they get along fine together. Asters and goldenrods generally do. :)

006. Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) I did not plant this! Must have been given to me by a bird or squirrel. Sadly she didn't reseed. Oh well, she's a cultivar and I did get the wild type. Interesting to me that she actually flowered in that area when her cousin stubbornly refuses to.

007. Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) This refers to the fact you can move the flowers around, not to the behaviour of the plant, which is very aggressive.

008. Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

009. Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) I didn't plant her; she just started coming up everywhere when I removed the grass. She is not a nightshade. I've learned that even people interested in planting natives regard her as a weed. I disagree. She's not aggressive to other plants and she's pretty.

010. Northern Gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

011. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Haven't tried her for tea yet, but she's a lovely little bush.

012. Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosa) Aforementioned cousin of the common sunflower. Not pictured as she keeps making her flowerbuds too late in fall so the frost gets them before they can open.

013. Potato Bean (Apios americana) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

014. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) SUPER fragrant, especially in the evening. This is an aggressive plant but worth it for the flowers, the fragrance, and the butterflies they attract. Not to mention the young shoots, flower clusters, young leaves, and young seedpods are all edible if cooked properly!

015. Northern Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet. Her leaves are nice and evergreen, though.

016. Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) Also known as "wild strawberry", but so is her cousin. She flowers reliably every spring but no strawberries yet. The flowers themselves are edible but I keep hoping she'll make strawberries. lol

017. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

018. Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia) Not the greatest picture, but the point is I will get grapes one of these years!

019. False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) It was hard to pick a favourite photo. They're really quite stunning. She blooms from July until the frosts of October. :)

020. Canadian Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet. She's a wee little tree in the shade for now.

021. New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Probably the most attractive of the Symphyotrichum asters, to be honest. The flowers are more compact than most of her relatives while still being a decent size, and the colour is much more saturated too. And the bees absolutely love her. But that doesn't stop me enjoying other asters!

022. Common Elder (Sambucus canadensis) She almost died when I potted her for the move. See I dug up as much of her taproot as I could, but she'd already gone quite deep and I had to break it. But she lived! She's quite big now and has these wonderful lacy white elderflowers every year, with elderberries to follow.

023. Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculata) Not pictured as I didn't get any pictures yet. Should have when I first got her. She was in flower then. She hasn't since.

024. Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) Not pictured as I don't have pictures yet. Don't know why. lol I've taken pictures of the berries. I'll remember next year.

025. Fox Geranium (Geranium robertianum) A true geranium I managed to trade for last year. You mostly find these in the woods and now I have her in my garden.

026-027. Common Hops male and female flowers (Humulus lupulus) I can't remember which is which, but yeah! I could flavour beer if I was a brewer. :)

028. American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) Another one with lacy little white flowers, and it looks like some of them are going to fruit!

029. Silverweed (Argentina anserina) After several failed attempts, this one has finally taken off. Truly lives up to her name in the spring and has these nice yellow flowers later on.

030. Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta) The name must refer to the leaves, which are kind of blue-grayish, because the flowers are just a nice purple.

[on-my-way-to-the-woods]

Getting covered in berry juice from time to time is important for your mental health

[continent-of-wild-endeavor]

What time of year is it?

Well it's dogwoods, full on, and still spring beauties, and mountain laurel starting to work its way up to it, and is that an actual wild strawberry, not a flavorless impostor?

[pnwnativeplants]

Fragaria virginiana or wild strawberry botanical illustration

[thebotanicalarcade]

Ohio Spring Wildflower Field Guide

[vandaliatraveler]

Spring in the Cheat River Canyon.

From top: lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum); the pendulous green flowers of striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum); sweet white violet (Viola blanda), which loves cool, moist forests; wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), which has been hybridized with a South American species to produce commercial strawberries; marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata), an elegant, gregarious violet found growing in seeps and along streambanks; smooth Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum); great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum); a West Virginia white (Pieris virginiensis) sipping nectar from a sweet white violet; and broadleaf toothwort (Cardamine diphylla), the larval host plant for the West Virginia white.

Note: this hauntingly beautiful butterfly, a flitting ghost in Appalachia's April forests, is in serious decline because it confuses invasive garlic mustard for its host plant, Cardamine. Garlic mustard is toxic to its larvae. Another example of how an invasive species can wreak havoc on the vital lifecycles of our native ecosystems.

[gardenvarietygay]

In case anyone was wondering what happens if you forget a plug tray of wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) in a greenhouse for four months.

[noelcollection]

Summer & Strawberries

There are many things that come to mind when the word “summer” is said for everyone. It may be cookouts with family, days at the pool-side with friends, or not having to go to school for several glorious weeks. There are also the holidays that mark the beginning, middle, and end of Summer which are normally themes in red, white, and blue. So, how many people think of strawberries? 

            There is a select day especially for picking strawberries and it is May 20th, which is also Armed Forces Day. However, we recognize our nation's service personnel at a later date. Today we are discussing a little hybrid species of fruit. Strawberries first came into existence in the late 18th century in Brittany, France. At least the common garden strawberry did, there is also a wild species of strawberries. The fruit we use in our pound cake was cultivated from breeding the Virginia strawberry or mountain strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) from eastern North America and the Chilean strawberry or beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis). When the Spanish first observed the growth of the female Chilean strawberry in 1551, they brought it over to Europe where it flourished but did not produce fruit. It was not until the mid-18th century that when the Chilean variety was planted between rows of musk and mountain strawberries that it produced an abundance of large fruit. This resulted in a series of scientific discoveries regarding plant-breeding methods. The resulting strawberry, Fragaria ananassa, was named by Antoine Nicolas Duchesne due to its similarity to the pineapple with the larger strawberries’ shape, smell, and taste. 

            For this litter post, two books were chosen which deal with the growth of the ruby fruit. The oldest of the two is from 1934 and contains a chapter regarding the strawberry; The new American gardener; containing practical directions on the culture of fruits … by Thomas Fessenden (https://bit.ly/437S6IU). The second text is from 1850 and has illustrations of strawberries, which are dispersed throughout this post. The American Fruit Culturist … by John J. Thomas (https://bit.ly/3WsspR7) contains various descriptions and illustrations regarding fruit trees grown in planet nurseries, orchards, and gardens.

[acaciapines]

plant meanings!!!! ramble about em!!!!!! I wanna hear it!!!!

he he :3

plants! technically spoilers for the fic i just posted the vine that ate the south, so like, yknow. under the cut!

alright so! i spent. do not even want to know how long to come up with all of these. from the start i knew leafpool was gonna be kudzu and since (as probably is obvious from the title) the idea of kudzu growing over and smothering everything is strongly associated with the american south, the clans are vaguely set there! somewhere in the georgia-alabama area idk. so all my plants. should grow there lol.

and now to copy paste my notes! anything added i'll put in (parenthesis) at the end.

Leafpool: Kudzu (Pueraria montana), smothering imagery—she is smothered and left to die by starclan.

Squirrelflight: The wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). There is something to this idea of always being this provider, and how that is taken from her, ex. how this is one of the parents of the cultivated strawberry. Also straw is similar to star <3. (i'll add--literally i just liked the vibes of this also, i tried finding something else but just kept coming back squilf being a strawberry <3)

Mothwing: While she doesn’t actually have a daemon, to hide that she weaves long-spurred violets (Viola rostrata) into her fur, because violets are lesbian flowers and also because they tend to grow near eastern hemlock trees…so, connecting her to Leafpool! (ie. to the forest, aka where leaf is from) Before her brother’s death, however, she wore aconite (Aconitum lycoctonum,)the specific species of which is non-native but grown in gardens in the Americas, and less toxic than some other varieties, so she gets the benefits of not being doubted (who would wear actual toxin in their fur) without like. dying lol.

Hollyleaf: Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum) as they’re poisonous to cats and thus get that association, but also in looks you could see them as a star—but not an aster species. She’s the odd one out. 

Jayfeather: Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum). It’s a rather rare species that used to be far more common as it depends on wildfire-made environments and thus occupies a far smaller range than it once did, like how Jay is sort of hemmed in and stuck by the clan system lol.

Lionblaze: Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum). It’s a pretty common aster species with a wide range and it grows in tandem with other aster species—I write Lion as a pretty family-oriented guy so it fits.

and though she was cut from the fic dovewing would have both kudzu (to connect her w/ leaf, and very much show how starclan is now forcing dove to the prophecy and basically stuff i wrote in flightless dove) and Aster quitensis, which is a rare and maybe extinct aster species that is only found in ecuador. my notes here just say "she is not getting out of this alive" so take that as you will.

and for the minor characters who i gave plants...

Cinderpelt: Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) just. Because I feel like it fits her okay. cheerful despite her circumstances, happy to be here, taking it one day at a time.

Brambleclaw: Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina) because. C’mon. The thorns. The association with love. He’s toxic as get out. The story isn’t about that but it COULD BE. (brambleclaw was going to play a larger role but the fic turned way deeper into leaf being the mother of hollyjaylion than i thought it would be so he mostly got cut.)

Firestar: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), because it's a large tree that works with Thunderclan being The Forest, and also they're like, almost evergreen--they keep their leaves year-round mostly and Thunderclan would like that!

annnnnd that's my plants! wahoo!

[rabbitcruiser]

National California Strawberry Day

National California Strawberry Day falls on March 21 and you bet it’s the perfect holiday for nutrition lovers to bask in the fruity deliciousness of one of the world’s favorite fruits — strawberries! A whole day dedicated to strawberries? Why not? Not only does this yummy heart-shaped fruit warm countless hearts and delight bellies, but it’s also packed with goodness benefiting our heart, skin, brain, and much more. National California Strawberry Day was birthed in 1983 by the California Strawberry Advisory Board (now California Strawberry Commission) in celebration of strawberries, which can be enjoyed in a variety of recipes.

History of National California Strawberry Day

We all know strawberries rank among the world’s preferred fruits right now but did you know the existence of strawberries can be traced back centuries? According to popular belief, there are traces of strawberry plants in ancient Rome in 234 B.C., their use then was medicinal — they were used to treat depression, fever, kidney stones, and sore throats. By the 14th century B.C., the tiny rare fruit was cultivated in France. In America, the Europeans first discovered strawberries in 1588. However, the variants of strawberries enjoyed today differ from the earlier ones. In 1712, native strawberries landed in France from Chile they were crossed with European strawberries, and the result was the delicious, large berries enjoyed today.

The small bright, juicy, red strawberry, scientific name — Fragaria ananassa, rumored to be berries just like blackberries and raspberries aren’t really in the botanical sense of the word as they are derived from a single flower with more than one ovary, as compared to true berries from one flower and an ovary with several seeds. Examples of true berries are blueberries, gooseberries, cranberries, grapes, tomatoes, bananas, and peppers.

Strawberries are reputed to deliver a world of goodness: Wade off cancer, boost immunity, boost eye, and brain health, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, among numerous benefits are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. Plus, strawberries seat comfortably as a low-calorie food too which helps with weight loss. Strawberries are also a highlight as they are dubbed as one of spring’s first fruits.

National California Strawberry Day timeline

234 B.C. Strawberries are First Found in Rome

The strawberry plant is first found in ancient Rome but is used for medicinal purposes.

1588 Europeans First Discover Strawberries

In America, the Fragaria virginiana, a species of strawberry native to North America, is found.

1712 Much Loved Strawberry Hybrid

Owing to a French excursion to Chile, the widely grown garden strawberry is born.

19th Century Strawberry Love Widespread

Fresh strawberries become a luxury, being served with cream, and champagne, among other delicacies.

National California Strawberry Day FAQs

How old is the oldest strawberry?

The royal sovereign dates back to 1892 and is one of the oldest varieties of strawberries that still delights households to date.

What is the sweetest variant of strawberry?

The Alpine Strawberry, also known as the wild strawberry, is small, and super sweet with a distinct flavor; it is easy to cultivate too. Such a delight.

What’s a fun fact about strawberries?

Strawberries belong to the rose family. It’s little wonder they smell just as nice too.

National California Strawberry Day Activities

Learn a new recipe

Enjoy a strawberry treat

Pick your strawberry

Strawberries come in about 600 varieties and can be enjoyed in plenty of ways; you could try the easy strawberry milkshake, perfect for any time of the day. All you need is frozen strawberries, milk, strawberry ice cream, whipped cream, and of course, strawberries.

There are lots and lots of options out there; strawberry sweets, strawberry ice cream, strawberry cakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, and strawberry shortbread cookies. Let your heart guide you!

The sunny weather brings the perfect opportunity to be outdoors picking your summer fruits — strawberries. Quick tip, mornings are best to pick and don’t forget to give yourself a treat once done.

5 Awesome Facts About Strawberries

The first fruits to ripen in spring

Strawberries are a terrific aphrodisiac

Strawberries were a symbol of love

Strawberries stand out

California is a major producer

Strawberries and honeyberries are known as the first fruits to ripen with the welcome of spring.

Just like chocolate, strawberries are known to boost mood, increase libido, and heighten pleasure.

In ancient Rome, strawberries were regarded as the symbol of Venus, the goddess of love.

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside and that disqualifies them as berries.

California produces more than 80% of strawberries consumed in North America.

Why We Love National California Strawberry Day

Strawberries are super delicious

It’s the perfect healthy snack

Strawberries are symbolic

This nature’s delight is yummy and can be eaten in a variety of ways. Indulge in smoothies, puddings, ice cream, cake, breakfast fruits, desserts, or after-dinner snacks, depending on your preference.

Strawberries are low in calories so we don’t have to worry about packing extra pounds while enjoying the treat that provides tons of nutritional benefits. We love this!

The delicious treat has long been associated with purity, love, fertility, and rebirth. Go ahead, gift your loved one some strawberries today!

Source

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

Native Plants I’ve Actually Seen Growing Wild in Southern Ontario

Acer saccharinum (silver maple) --along the sides of highways

Acer saccharum (sugar maple) --GTA ravines

Achillea millefolia (yarrow) --GTA ravines

Allium schoenoprasum (wild chives) --GTA ravines, Ridgetown

Allium tricoccum (ramps) --Niagara region escarpments

Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot amaranth) --fallow areas in the GTA

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) --fallow areas in the GTA

Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed) --parks in the GTA

Amelanchier spp. (saskatoon/serviceberry) --GTA ravines

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit) --GTA ravines

Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) --ravines and parks in the GTA

Asarum canadense (Canada ginger) --GTA ravines

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) --fallow areas, ravines, and parks throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) --Niagara region escarpments

Betula spp. (birch) --ravines and parks throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Bidens spp. (beggar ticks) --GTA ravines

Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) --GTA parks

Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort) --GTA ravines (native in freshwater across the globe anyway)

Circaea lutetiana (enchanter’s nightshade) --fallow areas in the GTA

Commelina spp. (dayflower) --fallow areas in Windsor

Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda dogwood) --GTA wooded areas

Cornus sericea (red osier dogwood) --GTA ravines and in Windsor riverside parks

Crataegus spp. (hawthorn) --GTA ravines and parks

Echinocystis lobata (wild prickly cucumber) --GTA ravines

Elaeagnus commutata (silverberry) --GTA parks and fallow areas

Epilobium ciliatum (fringed willowherb) --fallow areas in the GTA

Equisetum spp. (horsetail/scouring rush) --GTA ravines and fallow areas

Erigeron spp. (fleabane) --GTA parks and fallow areas, Ridgetown

Erythronium americanum (trout lily) --GTA ravines and parks

Eutrochium maculatum (Joe-Pye weed) --GTA parks

Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry) --fallow areas in the GTA

Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) --Windsor green spaces

Geranium robertianum (herb robert) --Windsor green spaces

Geum aleppicum (yellow avens) --GTA fallow areas

Geum canadense (white avens) --GTA fallow areas

Geum macrophyllum (large-leaved avens) --GTA fallow areas

Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky coffee tree) --GTA ravines

Helianthus spp. (sunflower) --GTA fallow areas and parks

Heracleum maximum (cow parsnip) --GTA ravines

Hordeum jubatum (foxtail barley) --GTA fallow areas

Humulus lupulus (hops) --GTA ravines

Hydrophyllum virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) --GTA ravines

Impatiens capensis (jewelweed) --GTA ravines and in Windsor riverside parks

Juglans nigra (black walnut) --GTA ravines

Lactuca canadensis (Canadian lettuce) --GTA fallow areas

Lilium michiganense (Michigan lily) --GTA ravines

Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) --GTA parks

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower) --GTA ravines

Maianthemum racemosum (starry false solomon’s seal) --GTA ravines and parks

Maianthemum stellatum (starry false solomon’s seal) --GTA ravines

Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) --GTA ravines

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) --GTA ravines and parks

Morus rubra (red mulberry) --fallow areas in Windsor, GTA parks

Myosotis laxa (smallflower forget-me-not) --GTA fallow areas

Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) --GTA fallow areas

Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) --GTA ravines

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel) --fallow areas and ravines throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Parietaria pensylvanica (Pennsylvania pellitory) --GTA fallow areas

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) --Windsor fallow areas and GTA ravines and parks

Persicaria lapathifolia (curlytop smartweed) --GTA fallow areas

Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) --GTA ravines and parks

Portulaca oleracea (purslane) --fallow areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA (native globally anyway)

Potentilla norvejica monspeliensis (ternate-leaved cinquefoil) --GTA fallow areas

Prunella vulgaris (selfheal) --fallow areas and ravines throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Prunus virginiana (chokecherry) --Windsor fallow areas, GTA ravines and parks, Niagara region escarpments

Pteridium aquilinum latiusculum (western bracken fern) --GTA parks

Quercus spp. (oak) --wooded areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) --parks and fallow areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to Collingwood

Ribes spp. (currants) --GTA ravines and parks

Ribes spp. (gooseberries) --GTA ravines

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) --GTA ravines and parks

Rosa spp. (roses) --GTA ravines, parks, and fallow areas

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) --ravines, parks, and fallow areas in Hamilton and GTA

Rubus odoratus (purple-flowered raspberry) --GTA ravines and parks

Rubus strigosus (American red raspberry) --GTA parks

Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed susan) --GTA parks

Salix spp. (willow) --GTA ravines

Sambucus canadensis (common elderberry) --Windsor riverside parks, GTA ravines

Sambucus racemosa (red elderberry) --GTA ravines and parks

Smilax spp. (greenbrier) --GTA parks

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod) --parks and fallow areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Sorbus spp. (mountain ash) --GTA ravines and parks

Streptopus spp. (twistedstalk) --GTA parks

Symphoricarpos spp. (snowberry) --GTA parks

Symphyotrichum ericoides (heath aster) --fallow areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) --fallow areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage) --GTA parks

Tilia spp. (linden) --GTA ravines

Trillium grandiflorum (white trillium) --parks throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock) --GTA parks

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail) --marshes in Essex county and GTA

Urtica gracilis (slender nettle) --GTA ravines

Uvularia spp. (bellwort) --streams in Windsor green spaces

Verbena hastata (blue vervain) --GTA ravines

Viburnum lentago (nannyberry) --GTA parks and Ridgetown ravine

Viburnum trilobum (highbush cranberry) --Ridgetown

Viola sororia (wood violet) --fallow areas and wooded areas throughout southern Ontario from Windsor to GTA

Vitis riparia (riverbank grape) --GTA fallow areas, ravines, and parks

Waldsteinia fragarioides (barren strawberry) --GTA ravines and parks

Xanthium strumarium canadense (Canada cocklebur) --GTA parks and fallow areas

I’ve likely seen many others and just couldn’t identify them, but there are a lot I’ve never seen growing wild. What I’m hoping is that some of the native species I have in my garden will make their way to the nearby ravine. If I get around to it, though, I might just take a walk with some Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) seeds in the fall. They certainly seem to successfully germinate in my garden whether I want them to or not (don’t have space for them to go crazy). Can’t see why they wouldn’t in a natural swamp area.

[kakashihasibs]

Currently going through iNaturalist and correcting everyone's strawberry identifiactions. Lots of misidentified fragaria vesca vs. Fragaria virginiana. You gotta look at the leaves!

[chase-prairie]

I’m convinced this is wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). Wild strawberry does not give a fuck. Wet? Dry? Whatever. She’s sending out runners within one month of existence.

I have patches that have survived multiple rounds of mowing and herbicide, but still, in the middle of winter, she puts out leaves.

I wanna have hope like a wild strawberry

[pnwnativeplants]

Want to support butterflies and moths? Plant these!

Top Herbaceous Plants For Caterpillar Production

3. Salidago (Goldenrods)

Goldenrod is one of those unfortunate native plants that often gets called a “weed” despite the fact that it’s been here a lot longer than we have, and supports entire ecosystems through it’s showy flowers. Salidago canadensis, Salidago, Salidago gigantea and Salidago multiradiata are all native species that support at least 59 different species of butterflies and moths.

2. Lupinus (Lupine)

Lupines so beautiful, they’re are an easy sell to gardeners, so why don’t we see them more often when we walk around our neighborhoods? I think we just need to get the word out. These gorgeous plants fix nitrogen in our soil, but they’re also a host plant for at least 64 species of butterflies and moths. Many of which can’t reproduce on any other plant!

1. Fragaria (Strawberries)

Everyone loves strawberries and wild strawberries are famous for how much more flavor they pack into their tiny berries. We actually have three species of Fragaria native to our area. Fragaria virginiana, Fragaria vesca and Fragaria chiloensis. Our native strawberries support at least 76 species of butterflies and moths! These plants are little treat for you AND your ecosystem.

[xxclosetgothxx]

By the 1300's the strawberry was in cultivation in Europe, when the French began transplanting the wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca) from the wilderness to the garden.  At the end of the 1500's the musky strawberry (Fragaria moschata) was also being cultivated in European gardens. Then, in the 1600’s, the Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) of North America reached Europe. The spread of this new relatively hardy species was very gradual and it remained little appreciated until the end of the 1700’s and early 1800's when it was popular in England.

- Vern Grubinger