Field Report: Favorites available for Adoption (sale) at Rolling Ridge Nursery in Webster Groves, MO- short list-
(side note Jim is not available for adoption-he's a keeper!)
I have included a few brief descriptions of what plants I am excited about and a few care tidbits that I shared with a recent client. I am helping him deal with managing rainwater runoff and creating an attractive rain garden habitat for birds and butterflies.
It is no surprise that Rolling Ridge Nursery is a quality source for information and plants. It is a surprise that Jim McMillian, KTRS's Inside Out Co-host doesn't brag about these particular items? Perhaps because they are in limited quanities?????( yes there was small quanities of a few things, but I checked with Chris Wagner-one of his right hand guys and a true hort man and his sources are solid. He can replace material sold -whatever the demand. I have to wonder if a customer then just needs to ask about MaryAnn's favorites?
I have made it easy and listed them below. Print out the list and hand it to them when you get there. I can't make it any easier. Just ask to see these first, then do your own scouting- there is a lot more there than this list. I want them to point these out to homeowners who wants to look totally unique- is that you? (I have had list takers in already- and one created a completly new area to accomadate these butterfly / bird friendly plants. I expect to have pics posted eventually so you can see too! Meantime, you do the same and send me you pics of your habitat garden -hopefully with several of these installed!
Best and Most Unique Butterfly and Bird Plants at Rolling Ridge Nursery
Ninebark on standard-WOW
Heptacodium-(My personal favorite when I was caretaker/ staffer at Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center) Best two story butterfly magnet perfect for viewing from 2nd floor windows!
Service berry tree-Beutiful bark suitible for uplighting, delicate looking spring flowers, sweet tasting fruit and great fall color - multiple forms, sigle, clump and three stemmed!
Aronia -my front door favorite-also has same qualities as service berry but narrow profile and different foliage- grrrreat!
Rose of Sharon- single only – 'Dianne'. Subject of my recent "Staying Single" article soon to be posted on website! This one really does bloom all summer and it does attract butterflies-nice size bride white flowers!
Hydrangea 'Pink Diamond' tree form-loved it more once it was where I could see it every day- featured it in my garden in the Post Dispatch! Butterfly worthy
also:
Itea 'Little Henry'
Crape myrtle 'Cherry Dazzler'
Phlox- 'Robert Poore' and 'David'
Liatris
Monarda- petite series only
Buddlia ‘Adonis Blue’
Purple Cone flower
Swamp Milkweed ( don’t worry- it is beautiful)
Amsonia – cultivar- new shorter variety- I think it is ‘ Short Stack’
Baptisia –any you like
Yarrow 'Moonshine'-(driest location)
Annuals –Pentas and Lantana
Just a few descriptions and care notes to make you dream!
Small tree like selections- speciality items- very unique management or underused
Ninebark on standard (spring flower, summer non-messy fruit- all season foliage color. Prunable to manage size space allowance –minimum care)- beautiful bark exposed
Clethra tree form ( trim after flowering- fragrant like spikes with dream carnation / clove fragrance. Butterfly!
Heptacodium- starry Jasmine flowers, summer blooming, then bracts( stems) color rosy pink- 9-10 weeks of interest plus pealing bark like birch
Japanese Lilac ‘Ivory Silk’ cherry like bark – white lightly fragrant flowers in spring-no mildew problems –not a major bore issue like other lilacs
Hydrangea ‘Pink Diamond’ –trained to standard ( it will need consistant moisture but will take sun if adequate moisture available- place this in the swale area. Attractive to butterflies- flowers last till fall and can be used as cut flowers as well)
Service berry tree – Spring flowers, summer blueberry non-messy fruit edible-song bird favorite – great fall color- nice bark
Wafer Ash ( unknown little sweet tree that feeds native butterflies- looks like a cross between Jap maple green form and dogwood with petite habit and airy open look- not a knock you down plant- but sweet)
Styrax –actual small tree- only saw one but it was very nice- lily of the valley like bells in spring- frequently used for nest site of small birds- delicate / petite looking
Multi stemmed option
Aronia
Service berry ( they have both multi and single tree forms-see description above)
Lg Shrubs
Persimmon
Sassafras
Buttonbush
Spice bush
Rose of Sharon- single only – 'Dianne-' extended bloom frequently once established- bloom till fall!, easily pruned without forfeiting flowers -
Small Shrubs
Itea 'Little Henry' –fragrant spring flowers great fall color, takes moist wet swale area well
Beautyberry ( large 4’by late summer--trim to ground in spring)
Crape myrtle- no butterfly use- may help attract hummingbirds because of strong color- very pretty foliage-Cris feeling ok on hardiness -check out Cherry Dazzler foliage!!!
Perennials (start with just these)
Phlox- 'Robert Poore' and David
Liatris
Monarda- petite series only
Buddlia ‘Adonis Blue’
Purple Cone flower
Swamp Milkweed ( don’t worry- it is beautiful)
Amsonia – cultivar- new shorter variety- I think it is ‘ Short Stack’
Baptisia –any you like
Yarrow 'Moonshine'-(driest location)
Evergreens for future reference
Gold Thread False cypress- he keeps in stock
Check if they can get these –hold this list and I will post a pic of these used as a living tapestry- fainty good!
Juniper virginiana ‘Hillspire’ or Juniper virginiana ‘Emerald Sentinel (Concorcor)
Juniper virginiana ‘Skyrocket’or Juniperus virginiana ‘Glauca’
Platycladus orientalis (Thuga) ‘Yellow Ribbon’ or Platycladus orientalis (Thuga) ‘Berkmann’s Gold’
Larger trees – replacement options when Pear goes down – not if –when)
Coffeeetree
Yellowwood
Hackberry
Pecan
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