Re: [SHADEGARDENS] New Member

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• To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
• Subject: Re: [SHADEGARDENS] New Member
• From: "* D* C* <m*@PIPELINE.COM>
• Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 03:38:47 -0500
• References: <744DBC8BC3FBD01192C200A0C96BA7BD2BFB0E@ntx1.cso.uiuc.edu>

At 11:07 PM 1/14/98 -0800, you wrote:

>My goal is to have a wild-life friendly backyard......birds and butterflys
>and squirrels. Is this possible with a shade garden and what plants would
>you recommend?
>
Hi; for butterflies there is nothing to rival Vernonia altissima.  It grows
wild in the eastern USA, and is commercially available from Southern
Perennials (their catalogue is on the Internet).  I bought all the
so-called butterfly magnets: Buddleia, Asclepias, etc.  Maybe a butterfly
or two would visit; never long enough to leave any eggs for the next year.
But the Vernonia was swarmed by several species.

Vernonia is usually described as a 'full sun' plant.  In such a location,
it will grow to about 6' tall, with a vase-shaped habit.  In light or
partial shade, it grows to 18-24" in height and is globular.  In late
summer, it is covered with brilliant violet-blue blossoms that resemble
tiny monarda flowers.  Foliage is narrow and graceful, rather like shrub
willow.

Vernonia will grow in any soil, from hard-packed, stony clay to sandy loam.
 Fertilization is not recommended.  It can grow in boggy conditions and in
drought; supplemental watering is usually only needed if your soil is
extremely sandy. If you buy seeds, you will have about 10% of your
seedlings germinate; 'sprouting' doubles the germination rate.
Sheila Smith
mikecook@pipeline.com
Z 5/6

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