Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

By Karen Lauterbach, Master Gardener^SM Volunteer

*English ivy like the ‘Gold Heart’ cultivar pictured here can revert to green, more aggressive forms and pose real problems in the landscape. (Image credit: Joey Williamson, HGIC Clemson Extension)*

I am still regretting some of my plant choices from 30 years ago, especially English ivy (Hedera helix ‘Gold Heart’). At some point, it reverted to the wild type and began spreading across our wooded lot and climbing trees. It has been a years-long battle to bring it under control, and I’m still not sure who will win in the end. It is a tenacious foe.

I wish I had heard the recent Durham Garden Forum talk years ago. Charlotte Glen reviewed common invasive plants in the North Carolina Piedmont and recommended alternatives: plants native to our area and non-natives that are not invasive. Glen is the state coordinator for the NC State Extension Master Gardener program. Glen said that woody invasives – trees, shrubs and vines – pose the most severe harm to our ecosystems. She noted that only a very small percent of introduced species become invasive. But when they do, they can replace native plants, create a monoculture, and change the whole function of an ecosystem. Glen said that by planting natives, gardeners can increase biodiversity and benefit the environment.

So, what are the invasive plants that gardeners in the NC Piedmont should avoid? Two of the top offenders are Bradford pears (Pyrus calleryana) and privet (Ligustrum sinesis and Ligustrum japonicum). What appeared to be the perfect landscape tree – the Bradford pear – has now become the number one tree to avoid. Instead, plant okame cherry (Prunus ‘Okame’), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas ‘Spring Glow’) or trident maple (Acer buergerianum). Native options include redbud (Cercis canadensis), serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea or Amelanchier grandidfora), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) and two-winged silverbell (Halesia diptera). Still available in the nursery trade, privet (Ligustrum spp.) should be avoided. Instead plant cleyera (Ternstroemia gymnanthera), Distylium ‘Linebacker’, holly osmanthus (Osmanthus heteroplyllis), or dwarf burford holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford’).

Bradford pears are common in our area. This time of year, the extent of their invasiveness is evident as you can easily spot their blooms in landscapes along wooded edges and highways. (Image credit: Jim Janke CC BY 4.0)

Emerging invasive shrubs include nandina (Nandina domestica), leatherleaf mahonia (Berberis bealei), and barberry (Berberis thunbergii). For more about these shrubs and what to plant instead, view the PowerPoint slides from Glen’s presentation. ¹

Some of the worst invasive vines–in addition to my foe, Hedera helix–are Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), Chinese wisteria (Wisteria senensis), and sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora). Glen said that good alternatives for Piedmont NC gardeners are the following natives: coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), and climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea barbara).

*Native coral honeysuckle is a pollinator magnet, a favorite for hummingbirds, and a larval host for the spring azure butterfly and the snowberry clearwing moth. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)*

Glen also demonstrated a new resource for North Carolinians: The NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. The Plant Toolbox contains over 4,600 plants that grow in and around North Carolina. The toolbox is designed select plants that will thrive where they are planted. The link to the Plant Toolbox home page is https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/find_a_plant/.

To join the Durham Garden Forum and have access to a video library of all presentations since 2021, fill out the membership form and mail it with a check for $25 to the address shown. You can find the membership form at https://durhammastergardeners.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pdf-of-membership-form.pdf. Membership includes discounts at area garden centers (For Garden’s Sake and The Durham Garden Center). Upcoming presentations are listed below.

• March 21: “Propagation” with Sara Smith, Durham County Extension Master Gardener.
• April 18: “Landscape Design,” with Anne Spafford, Ph.D., Professor of Horticultural Science at NC State University.
• May 16: “Plant-to-Plant Interaction,” with Anita Simha, community ecologist and PhD candidate in Duke University’s Program in Ecology.
• June 20: “Bamboo: Uses in the Landscape and Effective Removal,” with David Benfield, founder of Brightside Bamboo.
• July 18: “NC Native Herbal Plant Remedies,” with Arvis Boughman, a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and the author of Herbal Remedies of the Lumbee Indians, and Robert RedHawk Eldridge, who is of Sappony decent and a storyteller. He travels across the country sharing stories about his ancestors and Native American culture.

Notes

1–Link to Glen’s presentation slides https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRaONT5LdPg6PhsjF2Dv4zw5Yt0ArAa_w5o4k4c0xNbbC3V4XZe1H6AayEL3H4ONsfKBwM1kuL1F-yq/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.p44

Resources and Additional Information

NC State Extension Gardener Handbook has an through chapter available online about native plants for NC.

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/12-native-plants

The NC Botanical Garden has a great list of native trees, shrubs and vines for your landscape as well as an illustrated online booklet about how to control invasive plants.

https://ncbg,unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/963/2019/08/NativePlantsWoody.pdf

htt ps://ncbg,unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/963/2020/03/ControllingBooklet2020web.pdf

Article Short Link https://wp.me/p2nIr1-3f3

Planting Native Perennials for Pollinators

Saturday, March 11 2:00 – 4:00pm

Location: 221 Milton Rd, Durham

This presentation will cover native plants, rich in nectar and/or pollen, which will
bloom sequentially throughout the life cycle of our Piedmont pollinators. Plants
selected for the presentation will include many that tolerate deer, heat, and
drought and will include plants for sun and shade gardens. Handouts will be
provided that summarize information about the plants presented in the
PowerPoint and include resource links for native plant gardeners.

Register: https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/10254152

Container Gardening: Setting Up for Success

Choose one session:

Tuesday, March 2110:00 – 11:00am or Sunday, March 26⋅2:00 – 3:00pm

Location: Cocoa Cinnamon

420 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, USA

For city dwellers, growing plants outdoors often means gardening in containers. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, townhome or house, our Urban Container Gardening series will get you prepared to grow ornamental plants or edibles in containers at your city home. For this two-part miniseries, you can attend either one or both seminars, as they’ll cover complementary information.

For the first part, Extension Master Gardeners Cathy Halloran and Jackie MacLeod will lead you through the steps of determining how much sun you have, choosing containers and potting medium, checking drainage and irrigation, the tools you’ll need, and choosing plants for success for your sun exposure.

Join the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers of Durham County to learn gardening tricks and tips at the Cocoa Cinnamon Container Gardeners.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED https://www.eventbrite.com/e/container-gardening-setting-up-for-success-321-tickets-513363553207

$5 Fee

Parking is available along the street and in the Cooperative Extension Parking lot (721 Foster St). There is a limit of 15 people per class.

This class is part of the Bull City Gardener Learning Series and is open to everyone.

This class is made possible by an Inspire-Connect-Empower Grant from the Master Gardener Association of North Carolina.

Durham Garden Forum – Plant Propagation

Tuesday, March 21 7:00 – 8:30pm

Sara Smith, Durham County Master Gardener
In the beginning, there were plants – EVERYWHERE! Plants spread across the Earth from the depths of the oceans to rocky mountain peaks. That didn’t happen with just one
method of propagation. Join us for a look at the various propagation techniques that plants employ. Learn how to facilitate their natural tendencies to produce an abundance of your favorites.
Disclaimer: Plant propagation may be habit-forming

Registration Required

The Durham Garden Forum is an informal group that meets once a month to enrich our gardening knowledge and skill. 3rd Tuesdays, 7:00- 8:30 pm via Zoom link sent to registrants.

Memberships: $25 per year. Members have access to video library of presentations. CONTACT US/REGISTER: durhamgardenforum@gmail.com

Inaugural Plant Festival

Saturday, April 1⋅10:00am – 12:00pm

721 Foster St., Durham

Come and join us for our first ever Plant Festival, to be held on Saturday April 1 in the Foster St parking lot, the week before the Master Gardeners’ plant sale. Preview plants, ask questions, and learn from Master Gardeners and community partners! More information HERE.

More opportunities:

Duke Gardens

JC Raulston Arboretum

NC Botanical Garden

Triangle Gardener

Shortlink: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-3eB