Woodland Plants

What are Woodland Plants?

Yes, plants that grow in the woods or woodland gardens.

Woodland Gardens are natural looking and are often under large trees. Usually these garden spots are beneath deciduous trees that provide partial to deep shade. High dappled shade areas seem to be the ideal for woodland plants. Naturally the under-plantings are shade loving plants and bulbs. Many woodland type plants prefer their roots be left undisturbed.

In Iowa we commonly refer to our woods as timbers and many old farmsteads had groves of tall deciduous trees. These areas are natural woodland gardens where wild shade loving plants and flowers flourish.

I love going to the timber in early springtime. The huge umbrella leaf Mayapples are out, Jack-in-the-pulpits are cropping up, & Dutchman's Britches are dangling. Morel mushrooms abound and the earthy smell of the timber floor is intoxicating. Woodland violets bloom so sweetly. They seem so dainty and fragile but indeed are vivacious little plants. Soft, green moss squishes on the trails the deer have trod into the forest floor. Woodland poppies show off. Wild blue belles nod on the breeze. And ferns unroll their frilly fronds to greet the arrival of spring in the woods. If you're lucky you might spy shy showy orchids that are precious jewels to be seen but not touched. Listen, to the songs of birds welcoming spring's green renewal of life.

Mimicking a natural woodland garden requires like growing conditions and knowledge of what woodland plants are all about. It's a learning curve with lots of trial and error in my gardens. Two old giant mulberry trees (they are too huge to bear berries anymore) claim dominance to my east gardens. I love the shade but their feeder roots can be plant killers. A black walnut is the main shade for the front gardens. Remember, I said creating a woodland garden might be challenging! Dry shade is a big obstacle to successfully growing many woodland type plants. I use sprinklers but nothing is more refreshing than real rain. Some times the big trees do not even allow the rain to touch the ground. They are like huge tents protecting the plants from scorching sun but robbing them of life sustaining moisture. It can be touch and go for woodland plants. Many of them disappear in hot dry weather becoming dormant for the rest of the season. Hopefully, they will be back to see me the next spring.

So what is a woodland plant? Yes, a plant that likes to grow in a shady woodland garden be it nature's wild gardens or in a backyard garden. Cultivated woodland gardens are wonderful but nothing equals walking in the timber in early springtime. You can smell that earthy smell, and hear the birds sing, and see, what you might see growing on the forest floor.

If ever you get opportunity, take your grandchild to the timber, hold their hand, and teach them all about the flora & fauna. My grandchildren were mushroom hunting at age two.

When I see these little blooms in spring, they take my breath away. And it's easy to see why they are called Fairy Wings.

Blood Root (Sanguinaria Canadensis) is a small perennial plant about 6 inches tall, found in shaded, rich soils. It's a native North American wildflower. It "bleeds" red sap when the tuber is cut.

I first saw a double blood root in someone else's garden. I really wanted one really bad. I couldn't get it out of my head. It was quite awhile before I found someone to trade hostas for blood root with. Then it was the single blooming one. After four years I was finally able to trade for the double ones. Now lots of little glowing white blossoms light up my early spring garden. Soon they leave only their leaves, then fade away to surprise me the next spring.

Notice the distinctive leaf. What a wonderful early spring woodland surprise.

Check out these Blood Root leaves. After the glowing white blossoms the leaves put on a quiet show of their own.

Blooming in April '04.

Pulmonaria & Lung Wort have captivating foliage but very itchy & scratchy to touch. Wear gloves to shake hands with these guys.

Pulmonaria 'Silver Shimmers'

Purchased 2006. Looks to be a beauty in the shade garden.

Garden Gate Notes: Lungwort (Pulmonaria) (pdf)

Pulmonaria is a favorite perennial in Marlys' Garden. It requires very limited maintenance. I leave the frosted leaves on the plant all winter to help protect it from winter cold and because I never get everything done that's on my list of things to do especially when it comes to fall clean-up in the gardens. Somehow, fall clean-up is not invigorating like spring in the garden. The dread of winter is on the wing symbolized by fall chores. In Iowa we have to get ready for winter.

Unlike the article denotes I enjoy pulmonaria seedlings in my gardens. They are tenacious little creatures beginning ever so small. If left alone they grow quite nicely in the spot of their being. Pulmonaria plants do quite well in the dry shade at the base of the large walnut tree in flower bed #6 of Marlys' Gardens.

The funnel shaped flowers of the pulmonaria plant either have "pin" flowers with short stamens and long styles or long stamens and short styles "thrum" flowers. Colors vary from purple, violet or blue to shades of pink and red, or sometimes white. The color of the flower in bud is often pink which changes as the flower matures. So when we see the plant in bloom it appears to have bi-color or maybe tri-color flowers. In reality it is just the flowers in the different stages of maturation.

The 'hairs' that cover the lance to oval shape leaves are usually quite bristly and very irritating and itchy if touched with bare skin. I love the spotted / variegated leaves in my foliage garden. Pulmonaria spreads very slowly by underground rhizomes but is not invasive like most rhizome spreading plants.

"The scientific name 'Pulmonaria' is derived from Latin pulmo (the lung). The spotted oval leaves were believed to symbolize diseased, ulcerated lungs (yuck), and so were used to treat pulmonary infections. Thus the common name of 'lungwort'. Other English names include, Spotted Dog, Soldiers and Sailors, Joseph and Mary, Jerusalem Cowslip, Bethlehem Sage. Pulmonaria is in the herb family."

Wikipedia: Pulmonaria

Brunnera (macrophylla) Jack Frost a true standout woodland perennial. Its silver engraved green leaves are fuzzy textured short hairs. I didn't even know about its perfect tiny blue blooms when "I had to have it". It grows 12" - 15" tall x 18" wide. It is also known as "Forget-Me-Not" Anchusa.

Early this spring this Trillium magically appeared in garden #5; all majestic & manly. What a wonderful surprise. I didn't know I had any Trillium in my gardens but now I've planted more. Yellow ones I think. Some wonderful garden person must of shared with me last spring. Thank you, whoever you are.

Here's my newest growing adventure; Lady Slipper Orchid. I got it early spring '04; mail order from Munchkin Nursery. So far it is just "sitting there". Hey, at least, it hasn't died yet.

I enjoy mushroom hunting in early spring. A few years ago while searching for morels I spied this precious little plant. It was growing in moss at the base of a small tree. I had never seen such a plant before. It was totally intriguing. Ever so gently I worked my fingers into humus soil. Up came this woodland treasure & into my mushroom bag it went. Soon it was transplanted into my special "Grandma's Garden".

I called it my mystery plant. I had no idea what it was. None of my garden grugrus knew either. I stumbled across a website of native woodland plants & there it was: Showy Orchid - Orchis spectabilis. I corresponded with that expert & he confirmed the identification. I felt like Sherlock Holmes solving the "mystery of a life-time".

I have lost that website from north-eastern Iowa but discovered this Iowa DNR link recently: Prime Focus-Iowa\Showy Orchids

"Shooting stars streak across the evening sky and fall to earth creating a flower. From the debris in each point of impact a living replica of the journey is created. Individual flowers are shaped like rockets or comets. The stamens are packed together in the shape of a nose cone. Then a band of color after which the petals reflex back in an exhaust of pink. Each 3/4" rocket is at the end of a gently arching stem, arranged in a loose circle of a dozen or so blooms. All rests upon a stout stalk to 20" above a rosette. The individual leaves are oblong, smooth in texture, reaching six inches or more in a mature plant.

Those falling stars are fairly selective on where they choose to land for shooting stars are generally found in a specific environment. Look for seepage areas at woodland edge under open shade. They enjoy the extra moisture during the growing season, but as dormancy arrives drying out does not seem to bother. I have also seen them growing in grasses. North of us I am told they are native to prairie grasses. In my garden they are planted in several locations, only one of which has the extra moisture similar to nature. The other plants located in rich, well-drained, soil with plenty of leaf mold seem to perform just as well. In this area spring moisture is seldom lacking. Spring is the time to plant shooting stars, although occasionally they will sulk by going immediately into dormancy. Be sure and mark the location so they will not be disturbed. All broken pieces of roots should be planted. Next year the pieces will become small plants."

Munchkin Nursery / Garden Clippings
www.munchkinnursery.com