Knockout Natives George Coombs- Manager, Horticultural Research
Mt. Cuba Center
Research at Mt. Cuba Center Plant Introductions- 1988 Trial Garden Evaluations- 2002 Ecological Evaluations- 2014
Plant Introductions Introduced 17 cultivars to the trade since 1988 Newest- Coreopsis tripteris Gold Standard Symphyotrichum oblongifolium Purple Dome Symphyotrichum laeve Bluebird Ageratina altissima Chocolate Viola walteri Silver Gem Solidago sphacelata Golden Fleece
Trial Garden Evaluations What we do Evaluate native plants and their related cultivars Why Inform consumers and nurseries Introduce under-used species Promote greater awareness How Genera based Eastern United States Includes hybrids of natives Maintain with homeowner in mind
Data Collection Weekly data Measurements Pest/Disease observations Assign ratings Scale of 1-5 Foliage/habit, floral display, disease resistance 3 years Final report, website summaries
Trial Garden Evaluations Completed Trials Phlox Monarda Baptisia Coreopsis Heuchera Echinacea (outdated) Asters Ongoing Trials Helenium Hydrangea Clematis Amsonia Upcoming Trials Echinacea Carex
Coreopsis (2012-2014) Why Coreopsis? Lots of new breeding New annuals Several species not used in horticulture Hardiness complaints 94 accessions 67 perennials 27 annuals
Coreopsis palustris Summer Sunshine
Coreopsis tripteris Gold Standard
Coreopsis integrifolia Last Dance
What We Learned Numerous overlooked species deserve more horticultural attention C. tripteris, palustris, integrifolia, delphiniifolia, palmata Rhizomatous habit are more reliably perennial C. tripteris, verticillata, rosea, palustris, integrifolia
Monarda (2014-2016) Why trial Monarda? Powdery mildew New dwarf cultivars Several species not used in horticulture 40 accessions in total 6 species
Monarda fistulosa Claire Grace (4.5)
Monarda Dark Ponticum (4.5)
Monarda AChall (Grand Marshall ) (4.2)
Monarda Purple Rooster (4.1)
Other Great Cultivars Jacob Cline (3.7) Prairie Gypsy (3.8)
Interesting Species Monarda bradburiana Monarda punctata
What We Learned Excellent pm resistance often = poor floral display Unimpressed by most dwarf cultivars Straight species hard to recommend Similar but better cultivars exist M. didyma Jacob Cline, M. fisutlosa Claire Grace Need further selection M. bradburiana, M. clinopodia, M. citriodora, M. punctata Future breeding M. bradburiana for slow rate of spread, early bloom time M. clinopodia and M. bradburiana for improved disease resistance
Sun-Loving Phlox (2015-2017) Why trial Phlox? Powdery mildew New cultivars Several species not used in horticulture 94 accessions 8 species
Early Garden Selections 1800 s beginning of P. paniculata selections (European and American) Early 1900s George Arends, Wilhelm Pfitzer, Victor Lemoine and many others By 1917 there were 584 named selections!!! Post WWII surge Cpt. Bertram Hanmer Bunbury (B.H.B.) Symons-Jeune (England) Karl Foerster (Germany) 1960s Alan Bloom (Blooms of Bressingham) Jacob De Vroomen Coen Jansen Current Breeding Netherlands Many of our best performers are found, not bred
P. paniculata Jeana (4.8)
P. paniculata Glamour Girl (4.3)
P. paniculata Delta Snow (4.2)
P. arendsii Babyface (4.2)
P. paniculata Lavelle (4.1)
P. paniculata Robert Poore (3.9)
P. paniculata Dick Weaver (3.9)
P. paniculata David (3.8)
P. paniculata Ditomdre (Coral Crème Drop) (3.8)
P. paniculata Shortwood (3.8)
P. carolina Kim (4.5)
P. glaberrima N 3 Tasache rvfo hakof (4.3) (N 3 Springfall)
P. carolina Bill Baker (4.4) P. glaberrima ssp. triflora Morris Berd (4.3) P. Forever Pink (4.3)
P. amplifolia (4.1)
P. Minnie Pearl (4.2)
Garden Culture Full sun Moist, fertile soil Not too hot compact cv s poor performance Dry tolerant pulchra latifolia/ovata pilosa amplifolia
Powdery Mildew Foliar disease more stress=more disease generally not fatal leaf defoliation Most resistant cv s Jeana Delta Snow David glaberrima N3 Springfall glaberrima Morris Berd Forever Pink carolina Kim amplifolia
Fragrance Not all cultivars are fragrant no frag, mild frag, fragrant, very fragrant Very Fragrant cv s Robert Poore Dick Weaver David Blue Paradise
Ecological Value Native species? Cultivars? Hybrids? Citizen Science observations Graduate level research
Pollinator Watch Team
Phlox Butterfly Preference Longwood Graduate Student- Keith Nevison Phlox paniculata Jeana Not nectar amount Not sugar concentration Size of flower tube?
Pollinator Watch Team Citizen scientists counted butterfly and hummingbird visits Hummingbirds need large didyma-size flowers (usually red cv s are this size) Butterflies prefer high quantities, mediumsized flowers
Monarda Pollinator Preference Mt. Cuba Center Fellow- Owen Cass What characteristics cause differences? Color # of flowers Flower morphology (size, shape) Nectar quantity Nectar sugar concentration Nectar recharge
Coreopsis Pollinator Preference Mt. Cuba Center Fellow- Owen Cass What characteristics cause differences? Color # of flowers Flower morphology (size, shape) Amount of pollen Pollen nutrition
Coreopsis Pollinator Preference 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. C. delphiniifolia 2. C. major 3. C. tripteris 4. C. tripteris Flower Tower 5. C. Gilded Lace 6. C. verticillata 7. C. verticillata Golden Gain 8. C. verticillata Zagreb 9. C. Moonbeam 10. C. Route 66 11. C. Show Stopper 12. C. Center Stage 13. C. Full Moon 14. C. Redshift 15. C. Star Cluster 16. C. rosea 17. C. Golden Dream 18. C. Pineapple Pie 19. C. RP #1 (Little Penny) 20. C. Jive 21. C. Salsa 22. C. Cherry Lemonade 23. C. Pink Lemonade 24. C. Strawberry Lemonade 25. C. Tropical Lemonade 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Owen Cass: Pollinator Preference
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