Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) has proven to be a stand out in Dr. Lubell’s research studies.
In my last post, I told you about work being done at the University of Connecticut on breeding sterile cultivars of invasive plants. While some readers were less than enthusiastic about that work, hopefully you’ll be more excited about some other research being done at UCONN by Professor Jessica Lubell, who is evaluating underutilized native shrubs as alternatives to invasive shrubs, such as Japanese barberry and compact winged euonymus, which are found all too often in today’s garden centers and designed landscapes.
Hope for the Future
I heard Professor Lubell speak about her research exposing native shrubs to many harsh conditions found in designed landscapes, including compacted soil, high heat, reflected sunlight, salt exposure and foot traffic. By pushing natives outside their ‘native niches’ and assessing them in environments that more closely mirror our cultivated landscapes, Lubell hopes to help the green industry decide which native shrubs to grow and sell and also help gardeners choose native shrubs that will thrive in their landscapes.
Is highbush blueberry really a suitable native alternative to winged euonymus? Lubell and her team are investigating that very question.
Team member Suzanne Dingwell’s recent thought-provoking post, A Native Plant Tipping Point?, looks at how native plant enthusiasts can most successfully move forward with our message.
One method is with more targeted education that sets aside the moral and emotional undertones that cloud the issue for some people. Regardless of a plant’s origin, gardeners all want plants that will grow well in their gardens so it makes sense that once successful with even one native plant, most gardeners will be willing to give other natives a chance. Research like Dr. Lubell’s can help provide the objective basis needed in these educational efforts to help gardeners make better, more appropriate, choices.
Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa), a valuable native in the wild, seems to struggle in more controlled sites. Photo courtesy of Jessica Lubell.
For some gardeners, local nurseries and plant growers, native plants have a bad reputation that is hard to shake free. Sometimes viewed as too wild, messy or untidy for manicured landscapes, native plants are often overlooked when choosing plants for designed landscapes.
Adding to this PR problem are well-meaning native plant enthusiasts who might recommend a specific native plant, not realizing that landscape sites often differ dramatically from native habitats. The result is natives that under-perform, languish or die. Yes, more education will be good thing all around.
Success Breeds Success
A stand of sweetgale (Myrica gale) in one of UCONN’s parking lots. Photo courtesy of Jessica Lubell.
Dr. Lubell’s research should help with those perceptions by identifying native shrubs that may fit more seamlessly into our gardens. Working with test sites located around the UCONN campus, often in parking lot beds, she has planted native species, and some of their cultivars, alongside invasive Japanese barberry and compact winged euonymus.
I must admit that after years of wondering why there are so many invasives planted around the UCONN Storrs campus, I’m glad to hear it’s all in the name of research!
Lubell is evaluating, among other natives, sweet gale (Myrica gale), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina), red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), steeplebush (Spirea tomentosa), elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) and northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
So far, Lubel has learned that some natives can be difficult to establish (highbush blueberry) while others are much more adaptable than their native habitats might indicate (buttonbush). She’s identified two standouts (sweet fern and northern bush honeysuckle) and at least one native whose performance was erratic at best (steeplebush). Once Lubell has identified the most adaptable native shrubs she will turn her attention to evaluating the best methods of propagation and production of the shrubs.
While it may be years before we start seeing some of the lesser-known native shrubs in places other than specialty native plant nurseries, research like Dr. Lubell’s is a step in the right direction.
Note: I’d like to thank Dr. Lubell for sharing some photos of her research. To learn more about Dr. Lubell’s research, visit the Recent Publications page on her department webpage or connect with her on Facebook.
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