Something for Everyone

This week, we’re highlighting something for everyone to suit a variety of site conditions. We have woodland groundcover, Sedum ternatum, sunshine-loving native shrub, Hypericum x ‘Blue Velvet’, and the unique but underutilized meadow perennial, Eryngium yuccifolium. Each of these natives play critical ecological roles in the landscape, from providing crucial nectar sources for pollinators, to soil stabilization, and everything in between.

Typically, when one thinks of any member of the Sedum genus, sunshine and dry soil conditions come to mind. What makes our native woodland stonecrop (also called Mountain stonecrop, Whorled stonecrop, and Three-leaved stonecrop), Sedum ternatum, so unique is its ability to handle not only partial to full shade, but its affinity for woodland sites with moist, organic, well-draining soil. Like sun-loving stonecrops, Sedum ternatum is often utilized as an evergreen groundcover, where once established it can produce a dense mat of fleshy foliage that is capable of scrambling over rocks and outcroppings. Delicate sprays of white flowers appear in late winter to early Spring, with full bloom occurring typically between March and April, inviting early-awakening pollinators to delight in the nectar of the small star-shaped flowers. If planted in the native woodland garden, don’t be shocked to see Eastern chipmunks occasionally visiting (and eating) Whorled stonecrop’s tender roots. While large quantities of Sedum ternatum shoots are generally not recommended for consumption, small amounts of newly emerged stems and leaves can be eaten as a raw trail snack. And, because deer tend not to cause major damage to this plant, there will be more for you and the chipmunks to enjoy.

As we move upward and outward from the forest floor to the outskirts of the understory and into open, sunny territories, we happen across Hypericum x ‘Blue Velvet’ with its bright yellow flowers and attractive blue-green foliage. This particular selection is a blue-leaved variety of Hypericum kalmianum, featuring all of the cultural and habitual attributes that make the straight species such a beloved addition to sun-loving gardens. The sunny yellow flowers attract a variety of bee species, which can currently be seen busily grazing nectar and collecting pollen while creating a cacophony of meditative, low buzzing in our large crop of ‘Blue Velvet’ St. John’s Wort. As the plant blooms, attractive seedheads can also be seen forming in conjunction with the flowers. These seedheads evolve to a rich scarlet red in Autumn, making this deciduous shrub a lovely multi-seasonal specimen in the pollinator garden or planted amongst sun-loving perennials in the border or cottage garden.

One native sun-loving perennial to consider for companion planting with Hypericum x ‘Blue Velvet’ might be prairie paramour, Eryngium yuccifolium, commonly known as Rattlesnake Master. This carrot family member produces peculiar, spiky pom-pom-like inflorescences densely packed with tiny, individual white flowers that are visited by various bees, wasps, and flies, as well as beetles. In Eryngium yuccifolium’s native Southern and Midwestern ranges, it plays host to the larval stage of the endangered Eryngium stem-borer moth (Papaipema eryngii), which is dependent on large swaths of the plant to support successful reproduction. The moth larvae borrow into the stem, where they remain for 2-3 weeks, eventually emerging as moths and typically completing their life cycle nearby the host plant. While stem-boring and subsequent emergence may ultimately harm the plant and cause it not to flower or to dieback altogether, Eryngium yuccifolium is the only known food source for this particular moth, making it a crucial species for ecological restoration in its native habitat.

Traditionally, Rattlesnake Master was thought to alleviate symptoms of snake bites in unfortunate victims, used widely by First Nations peoples for this particular purpose. As it turns out, modern scientists have been able to isolate phytochemical compounds from Eryngium yuccifolium that have supported these claims. Specified extracts from the plant have been shown to inhibit the negative effects of both snake and scorpion venom in laboratory tests, indicating the potential for use in humans as initially intended and described by Native Americans (Price, 2016). Interestingly, Rattlesnake Master has been noted as part of Meskwaki ceremonial rattlesnake dances. The Meskwaki, also known as the Fox people, were known to call the Mississippi River watershed region home – a region with prairies as far as the eye can see. Prairies where Rattlesnake Master is both endemic to, and an indicator species of. Prairies that are now widely threatened and disappearing due to human development and infrastructure. If we want to continue to provide critical habitats and ecosystem value to our natural areas, planting natives is a great start. Organizations such as the Save the Prairie Society and the Prairie Land Conservancy of Illinois, the American Prairie Reserve in Montana, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Prairie Network are making active efforts to preserve and restore North America’s prairies, not only to support our native flora and fauna, but to ensure a bright future for the generations ahead.

Boller, M. (2023, April 17). Meskwaki people – True Native Iowans. Our Iowa Heritage. https://ouriowaheritage.com/our-iowa-heritage-true-native-iowans/

Campbell, S., & Yiesla, S. (2022, January 12). Kalm’s St. John’s wort. The Morton Arboretum. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/kalms-st-johns-wort/#overview

Dydo, E. (2012, July 9). How to Grow Blue Velvet St. John’s Wort - Horticulture. Horticulture. https://www.hortmag.com/plants-we-love-2/blue-velvet-st-johnswort

Mankowski, A., Esker, T., & Walk, J. (2014, June). Final Recovery Planning Outline with Listing Status Review Triggers for the Illinois Endangered Eryngium Stem Borer (Papaipema eryngii). A Recovery Planning Outline - Illinois Department of Natural Resources. https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/espb/documents/recovery-docs/recovery-planning-outline-papaipema-eryngii-final-062514.pdf

Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. (n.d.). Sedum ternatum FD-l - Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic. https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sedum-ternatum-fd-l.pdf

Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Sedum ternatum. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m310

Missouri Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Ebony bugs. Missouri Department of Conservation. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/ebony-bugs

NC State Extension. (n.d.). Woodland Stonecrop sedum ternatum. Woodland Stonecrop - Sedum ternatum | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sedum-ternatum/common-name/woodland-stonecrop/

New Moon Nursery. (n.d.). New Moon Nurseries. Sedum ternatum three-leaved stone crop from New Moon Nurseries. http://www.newmoonnursery.com/plant/Sedum-ternatum

Price J. A., 3rd (2016). An in vitro evaluation of the Native American ethnomedicinal plant Eryngium yuccifolium as a treatment for snakebite envenomation. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology, 5(3), 219–225. https://doi.org/10.5455/jice.20160421070136

Ulaszek, E., & Benda, C. D. (n.d.). U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/Eryngium-yuccifolium.shtml

University of Kentucky. (n.d.). Hypericum “CCFLPC1” blue velvet. Hypericum “CCFLPC1” Blue Velvet | Nursery Crop Extension Research. https://ncer.ca.uky.edu/content/hypericum

Waddick, P. (n.d.). Jagged ambush bugs. Jagged Ambush Bugs | Department of Entomology. https://entomology.umn.edu/jagged-ambush-bugs

Wheeler, J. (2018, May 9). Weird and wonderful plants for pollinators: Rattlesnake master. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. https://xerces.org/blog/rattlesnake-master

Click here for more information