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How gardeners can identify false spring, protect their plants
The initial burst of sunshine and warmer temperatures may be a welcome sight, but more often than not, it is a false dawn.
When spring-like temperatures arrive earlier than usual, they are typically followed by wintery conditions, hence the term “false spring.”
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Spring is an optimum time to refresh your landscape by replacing and adding new shrubs.
Considerations for your landscaping plans should include finding the right plants for our climate, as well as selecting regional natives and avoiding plants that are considered invasive.
Pennsylvania falls within the defined USDA Northeast region of the U.S.: the western Pennsylvania specific USDA Planting Zone is 6 (6a and 6b). This means that plants should be selected that can survive winters with average extreme low temperatures of -10 F to 0 F.
There are numerous reasons for choosing regional native plants. While your entire garden does not have to be comprised of only native species, the National Wildlife Federation, among other reputable organizations, encourages limiting non-native plants to less than 30% of your overall landscape. This includes trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. Native to our region means these plants were present in our geographical area before our European ancestors arrived.
True native plant species (not cultivars) have acclimated to our climate and therefore are easier to grow. Once established, they require less water and fertilizer and are more resistant to disease. An important consideration for native plant selection is also their support of a wide variety of wildlife, including native insects and birds. Consider host plants for butterflies and moths. They will provide the adults as well as their caterpillars with food sources that non-native plants lack. Feeding our insects is important as they not only play a vital role in the reproduction of many plants (including what we eat) through pollination activities, but they are also a critical food source for our birds.
Be aware of what are considered invasive plants to our region and avoid planting them. You may still see them being offered in garden centers and nurseries. Often, there are “sterile” cultivars being offered, meaning they will not invade our natural areas. However, they still offer little in the line of nutrition to our native insects, birds and animals.
When selecting plants for your landscape, consider size, soil and lighting needs. In addition, consider the timing of flowers, appearance of fall foliage, drought tolerance, salt tolerance if planting near roads or driveways, and deer resistance. There are so many wonderful native plants available that are better choices than the more popular invasive plants we find in many nurseries and big box stores. Let’s explore a few invasive shrubs and better native alternatives.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii and hybrids): This is just one example of a popular non-native plant in many of our yards that is now considered invasive to our region. This shrub is considered invasive because it spreads quickly, freely reseeding and outcompeting/displacing native plants and taking over stream banks, forests and parks. While butterfly bush does attract butterflies, they won’t lay their eggs on the shrub because their larvae will not eat the leaves. Two great native shrub alternatives include Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and Summersweet (Clethra alnifolis). Both have similar growth habits, microclimate and care requirements to butterfly bush. They are native to Pennsylvania and offer a long blooming season, attractive fall color and meet native insect nutritional needs.
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii): In full sun, this shrub is an attractive shade of red and burgundy, especially in autumn, which is one of the reasons that it was a landscaper’s favorite. Barberry can still be found in residential and commercial landscapes. It’s official though; this species is now banned from sales in Pennsylvania. Birds love the late season berries and disperse them throughout the landscape, displacing native species. And they are a “nursery” for ticks. Your best bet is to remove this one from your landscape, as it’s impossible to keep it contained to your landscape. Note that starting in 2023, the PA Dept. of Agriculture approved the sale of four “sterile” Barberry cultivars. So, while the plants cannot spread via seed disbursement, they also will not provide a food source to birds and are still a “home” to ticks and Lyme disease-carrying mice.
A great alternative to Japanese Barberry is the Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillate). This deciduous, berry-producing holly is a food source for butterflies, small mammals, and over 48 species of songbirds and specialized bees. Winterberry is a host plant for Henry’s Elfin butterfly. Fall leaf color is yellow but the bright red berries are a spectacle throughout the winter. You will need a male and female plant that bloom at the same time to produce berries.
Another option to the Japanese Barberry is the hardy native Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). This small compact shrub’s leaves emerge with a tint of bronze in the spring, giving way to a yellow-to-burgundy fall foliage. Summer-long clusters of pale-yellow fringed flowers turn red as they are pollinated. Bush Honeysuckle will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and is a host plant for the Laurel Sphinx moth and the Snowberry Clearwing.
Rose of Sharon (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is in the Hibiscus family. It is considered invasive in our region because of its ability to prolifically self-seed and like other invasives, it will outcompete and displace our native species. It does attract bees and the late season blooms provide hummingbirds with much-needed “juice” for their migration south. I would not intentionally plant this species today, but I’m also not quite ready to cut down the ones I have, so I micro-manage this aggressive re-seeder by cutting off the seedpods as soon as the flowers die.
There are Pennsylvania native hibiscus species, which include the Marsh Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) and Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus laevis). They produce flowers in shades of white to red from July to September, are sun-loving and prefer moist soil. Hardy Hibiscus attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Last, but certainly not “last or least” on the list of invasive plants to avoid and remove is the Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus – Winged Euonymus). Like most invasives discussed here, it has been a landscapers’ “go-to” for ease of growth, size and fall color. Again though, the birds love the berries and disperse them throughout our forests and wild areas. This plant has been banned from sales in Pennsylvania starting this year. There are several great native replacements including both the Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa). These two shrubs have similar growth habits, small clusters of bee-attracting white flowers in the spring, beautiful burgundy fall foliage and they provide a good food source for wildlife with black fall berries.
Remember native as well as invasive plants are often region-specific. Several online resources exist to help with identifying the right plants for your location. When searching online for native Pennsylvania plant suggestions, look to reputable sources such as the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant
Finder, Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) Landscaping with Native Plants, Pennsylvania Native Plants for the Perennial Garden, and the PA Native Plant Society. When visiting a local nursery, don’t be afraid to ask questions of the staff. If you have questions, reach out to the Master Gardener Hotline at beavermg@psu.edu.
Your upfront work on plant selection will pay off for years to come and provide a more biodiverse environment.
Maureen McCulloch is a Penn State Master Gardener in Beaver County.
