Monday, November 18, 2013

Bill's Favorite Native Plants: November



Allen, Sterling & Lothrop's nursery manager Bill Kennie has been working with the Falmouth Open Space committee to help eradicate invasive plants from the Maine landscape. Bill believes that it is very important to include native species in ornamental landscape gardens. Indeed, the more native plants a garden has the better--native plants are typically low maintenance, they provide food and shelter for wildlife and are visually in keeping with our native "wild" landscape.


Comptonia Peregrina                                                                
Sweet Fern

Height: 2-4’                         Spread: 4-8’

This one brings me back to my childhood---running through sandy fields in summer with the spicy smell of this plant.  The fern like foliage turns red and yellow in the fall.  It does great in well drained infertile soil.  It will take full sun to part shade. I cut some of this in November and it still had its spicy fragrance.  I’ve had this dried in my house all winter…it really lasts! If you have a tough spot this one could be for you.
 

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