Natives Thriving

Gardeners are hopeful by nature. So it’s always welcome news to learn that the native plants and shrubs offered at our twice-yearly sales are doing well.

Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana) is one of the locally grown species, its pink flowers opening this month and lingering until August.

“Here is the Virginia rose now in full bloom — a very last-minute purchase at the end of the NPSSI plant sale on May 21,” our vice president Anne Fanciullo wrote. “In all honesty it wasn’t much to look at and l figured I’d have to wait until next year for blooms… But no. It really surprised me with bounteous blooms that look like they’ll keep producing for a while. I kept it in its original pot, heavily watered and in the sunniest spot l could find. A treasure.”

“I bought one at last year’s plant sale. It bloomed very nicely, but this year there are twice as many blossoms,” member Thom Taylor reported.

This shrub provides a nectar source and nesting material for native bees and honeybees, and is valued by beneficial predatory insects preying on garden pest insects. Fall foliage is purple, to orange-red, to crimson and yellow. The red fruit and canes can be attractive in winter.