Cattail

Typha

Typha angustifolia ( Narrow-leaf Cattail )
A rhizomatous perennial grass, reaching up to 6.5 ( rarely over 5 ) feet in height, that is native to marshes, shallow ponds and the edges of lakes in most of southern Canada ( except Alberta ) and the U.S. ( except for Utah, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida ). In Ontario it is found as far north as Ignace and Hearst. Though less common thant Typha latifolia in the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was still locally abundant on Point Pelee, the Lake Erie Islands and the Ohio shoreline before 1900.
The narrow leaves are up to 5 feet x 0.3 inches in size.
The fruits look like cigars and are up to 6 inches long.
Hardy zones 2 to 9. It is edible and is eaten in the same way as closely related Typha latifolia.

* photos of unknown internet source

* photo taken on Aug 15 2015 @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

Typha latifolia ( Broadleaf Cattail )
A rhizomatous perennial grass, reaching up to 10 feet in height, that is native to marshes, shallow ponds and the edges of lakes in most of southern Canada ( except Alberta ) and the U.S. In Ontario it is found at least as far north as Lake Nipigon and Hearst. It was extremely abundant trhough the region around Windsor/Essex County, Ontario, the Lake Erie Islands and the Ohio lakeshore before 1900 though has declined considerably due to drainage of marshland and invasion of Common Reed Grass. The loss of Cattail marshes has caused severe declines in many waterfowl and other marshland bird populations there and elsewhere throughout central and midwestern North America.
The narrow ( but wider than T. angustifolia ) leaves are up to 8 feet x 1 inch in size.
The fruits look like cigars and are up to 1.4 inches wide.
The sprouts can be eaten cooked or raw until they reach 3 feet in height. Pulling the stalks straight up will usually separate them from the rhizome without damaging it. After peeling the leafy layers, cut the 0.5 inch wide core into 1 foot lengths. They can be boiled for 10 minutes or eaten raw like celery. During fall and winter, the roots can also be dug and used in the making of white flour. They should be washed and peeled before crushing the cores and taking out the fibers. Be careful to correctly identify this plant as some species of Iris look somewhat similar and are poisonous.
Hardy zones 2 to 10

* photos taken by Sheri Hagwood @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* photos of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Oct 23 2015 in Ellicott City, MD

Typha minima ( Dwarf Japanese Cattail )
Reaches up to 2 feet in height, with narrow leaves and a small poker.

'Japonica'
Similar with foliage that turns deep orange-red in autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

Huckleberry

Gaylussacia
A genus that is closely related to Vaccinium ( the Blueberries ), the main difference is that the glossy fruits contain 10 hard seeds instead of fewer softer seeds contained in Blueberries. There are 40 species of Huckleberries, all of them native to the Americas.
The Huckleberries prefer moist, acidic ( ph 4.5 to 5.5 ), humus-rich, well drained soil in partial shade. While some species are found in the wild in full sun on peat bogs, conditions which are difficult to imitate in cultivation, other species native to woodland environments are relatively easy on the open wooded landscape.
Propagation is from layering, cuttings taken during summer and seed that is stratified before sowing.

Gaylussacia baccata ( Black Huckleberry )
A vigorous, clonal-colonizing, deciduous shrub, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 4 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native to northeastern North America ( from southern Manitoba to Killarney, Ontario to North Bay, Ontario to Quebec & Newfoundland; south to southwest Arkansas to northern Alabama to northern Georgia to central North Carolina ). It can sometimes spread much wider after many years to form extensive colonies. It is usually found in acid swamps and sandy or rocky forests in the wild. It is endangered in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
The smooth-edged, elliptical leaves are up to 3 x 1 inches in size. The foliage is mid-green above, bright green beneath; turning to scarlet-red during autumn.
The pinkish-white, bell-shaped flowers, up to 0.3 inches in length, are borne during late spring.
They are followed by edible, fleshy, black berries, up to 0.4 inches wide. The sweet-tasting berries usually ripen mid to late summer and are great either eaten fresh, made into jelly or added to pancakes.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in partial shade on acidic, well drained soil.

* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Aug 13 2016 in Reisterstown, MD

* photo taken on Sep 25 2016 near Reisterstown, MD

Gaylussacia brachycera ( Box Huckleberry )
A spreading, small, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 20 feet, that is native to the eastern U.S. ( from central Pennsylvania to Delaware; south to Kentucky and eastern Tennessee to Delaware ) where it is nearly extinct in the wild. It remains a small shrub for many years, however spreads at a moderate rate up to 14 inches per year with the roots self rooting as they spread, thus forming a dense groundcover. A single plant in Perry County, Pennsylvania, is considered to be the oldest living thing on earth. It is a single plant that clonally colonized over 100 acres ( nearly 1.5 km wide ) and is estimated to be 8000 years old. Due to the extreme isolation of existing clones even before Europeans landed in North America, it is believe that this shrub was once far more abundant and widely distributed before the previous ice age.
The leathery, shallow-toothed, oval leaves are up to 2 x 0.5 ( rarely over 1 ) inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green, turning to intense scarlet-red during autumn.
The white ( rarely pale pink ), urn-shaped flowers, up to 0.3 inches in length, are borne on racemes during late spring.
They are followed by bitter tasting, black berries, up to 0.5 inches across.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in partial shade on acidic well drained soil. Though difficult to propagate, it is hoped that this plant becomes a more common landscape plant in the future. It has potential to be the next hot groundcover.

* photos of unknown internet source


* interesting article on Box Huckleberry
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1492261
* Box Huckleberry video found on youtube


Gaylussacia dumosa ( Dwarf Huckleberry )
Also called Gopherberry. A rhizomatous spreading shrub, reaching a maximum height of 2.5 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet, that is native to pine barrens and sand woodland in eastern North America ( from eastern Louisiana to central Tennessee to central West Virginia to Newfoundland; south to southern Florida ). It is critically endangered in New York State where it was once more widespread on Long Island. It is also endangered in Tennessee. It is extinct in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area near Reisterstown is among the few places where it remains in Maryland. While it is native to the Mid Atlantic U.S. and the Canadian Maritimes; it is mysteriously absent from New York State and New England. It is possible that native populations may have existed there in previous centuries but were destroyed before being documented. Clones resprout vigorously from underground rhizomes after forest fires. It is illegal to collect from the wild but through nursery propagated plants; Dwarf Huckleberry has potential to become the next hot groundover shrub.
The obovate or oval leaves, up to 1.6 x 0.3 inches in size. The leathery foliage is very glossy bright to mid-green above, whitish-green beneath; turning to red during late autumn.
Up to 8 white flowers are borne on racemes during late spring.
They are followed by juicy black berries, up to 0.3 inches wide, during late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zone 4 to 9 in partial shade on acidic, sandy, well drained soil. It is very heat and drought tolerant.

* photos taken on Aug 13 2016 in Reisterstown, MD

Gaylussacia frondosa ( Dangleberry )
Also called Blue Huckleberry. A shrub, reaching a maximum size of 9 x 6 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, that is native to swampy woods of eastern North America ( from eastern Ohio to western New York State to New Hampshire; south to Kentucky to Florida ). It is also often sound in acidic sandy pine or oak-hickory forests. It may be extinct in the wild in Ohio. Populations further south than South Carolina are often considered to be subspecies or even as an entirely separate species Gaylussacia tomentosa.
The oblong leaves are up to 2.5 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is dull blue-green to mid-green above, greenish-white beneath; turning to reddish-purple during autumn.
The light pink flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne during late spring.
They are followed by sweet-tasting, juicy, deep blue berries, up to 0.3 inches wide, during late summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on acidic, sandy, well drained soil.

* photos taken Aug 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Gaylussacia orocola ( Blue Ridge Huckleberry )
A rhizomatous, small shrub, reaching up to 3.3 feet in height, it is one of the worlds rarest plants native to only a few acidic mountain bogs in western North Carolina. It has great potential as groundcover where growing conditions suit it.
The narrowly-oblong leaves are up to 1.1 x 0.5 inches in size. The attractive foliage is glossy deep green above, bright green beneath.
The white flowers, up to 0.2 inches long, appear in short racemes during late spring.
They are followed by edible juicy black berries.
Hardy zones 5 to 6 ( estimate...may prove hardier with testing ).

Gaylussacia ursina ( Bear Huckleberry )
A shrub, reaching a maximum height of 5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that eventually suckers widely. It is native to open deciduous or pine woodland in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. It is often a dominant groundcover in mountain Pitch and Table-Mountain Pine woodland. Very long-lived; Bear Huckleberry may form extensive colonies after many years. This beautiful shrub has great potential as a landscape plant.
The ovate leaves are up to 4 x 1.3 ( rarely over 2.5 ) inches in size. The foliage is reddish at first, turning to mid green above, whitish-green below. The leaves turn attractive reddish-purple during late autumn.
The greenish-white flowers appear 4 to 6 on a raceme during late spring.
They followed by sweet-tasting, juicy, glossy black berries, up to 0.3 inches across.
Hardy zones 6 to 7 ( possibly 5 ) in partial to full shade on acidic, well drained soil.

Phacelia

Phacelia

Phacelia bipinnatifida ( Fernleaf Phacelia )
A biennial, native to deciduous woodland and streamsides in the eastern U.S. ( from central Iowa to central Indiana to southern Ohio to northern New Jersey; south to northern Arkansas to northern Alabama to western Virginia ).
The pinnate leaves, up to 5 x 3 inches in size, are divided into 3 to 7 ( rarely over 5 ) ovate leaflets. The foliage is mid-green.
The purplish-blue flowers last for up to a month during mid-spring. Do not deadhead as its habit of self seeding is required to sustain it in the garden.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist, fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil.

* photos taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Apr 17 2016 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC