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Wild Flowers In The Garden
Yearbook 1968 page 18-19 By: Lawrence C. Sherk Back to the web versionWild Flowers In The Garden
Lawrence C. Sherk
Plant Research Institute Canada Department Of Agriculture
Ottawa, Ontario
Residents of the Ottawa area are fortunate in that they can, within a few minutes drive of their homes, still see wild flowers growing in good quantities. People in many other metropolitan regions are not so fortunate. Grazing of woodlots, expansion of urban developments, new highways and other signs of progress are rapidly destroying our heritage of wild flowers and other native plants. Many species will soon be a "thing of the past" if we do not act soon to set aside additional well-protected nature reserves and sanctuaries.
Many wildflowers, however, can also be grown in the gardens of this area and will compete satisfactorily with our common exotic garden plants, both for color and durability. To grow some in our garden one has only to follow a few simple rules; but they must be followed carefully. The first and foremost rule is to study the wild flowers in their natural habitats and duplicate these conditions in the garden as closely as possible. If the plant grows in the woods, select a shaded area in the garden. If it grows in a wet area, select a site beside a pool or other area where a constant supply of water can be maintained. If the plants grow in the fields or along the roadsides in full sun, select an area that receives full sun in the garden. If the soil is acid or alkaline or circumneutral be sure that the garden soil is similar. For woodland plants add a good supply of leaf mold or peat moss to the soil and make sure that the drainage is adequate.
In a woodland or shaded garden plant white trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, violets, Viola species, wild blue phlox, Phlox divaricata, squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis, hepatic a Hepatica acutiloba, and bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, and ferns such as the leatherwood fern, Dryopteris marginalis, Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides and Royal fern, Osmunda regalis.
In an area with a constant supply of moisture, plant marsh marigold, Caltha palustris, cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis, wild flag, Iris versicolor, and Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum and ferns such as the maidenhair fern, Adiantum pedatum.
For the sunny area use any of the common wildflowers of the fields. A note of caution avoid such weedy plants as bracken fern, Pteridium aquilinum and fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium unless you are prepared to keep them within bounds.
If possible purchase your plants from a commercial source. Do not raid our rapidly diminishing wild stands unless, of course, you know that the bulldozers are set to move in shortly. Most of the plants mentioned above are available from an Ontario source. Place these plants carefully and as noted above select an area that closely duplicates the conditions for soil, light and moisture, as found in nature. Spring or fall planting when the plants are dormant is satisfactory for most. If you are obtaining your plants from wild stands, and if time permits mark the plants with a small label when in flower and return in the fall to move them. Move them with as large a clump of earth as is necessary to cut as few roots as possible. The less the plants are disturbed, the greater are your chances for success. If you are racing to beat the start of construction, you can move most wildflowers with a large sod of earth even when the plants are in full leaf.
Once your plants are established and growing well, very little attention will be necessary except for an occasional watering in very dry weather, and an annual mulching with leaf mold. Avoid commercial fertilizers, as they only result in lank foliage and few flowers.
Until you have obtained considerable experience in growing wild flowers avoid the following which are known to be difficult to transplant and grow successfully; most orchids especially the stemless ladyslipper, Cypripedium acaule, trailing arbutus or mayflower, Epigaea repens and the pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea. Instructions on the culture of these three difficult wild flowers are given in the C.D.A. Publication #1288, "Growing Canada's Floral Emblems" which is available from the Queen's Printer, Ottawa, or the Government Book Store, price fifty cents.
There are also several books on the growing of wild flowers that are carried by or can be ordered by local bookstores. If you want to specialize in native plants obtain one of these books. Most give the required cultural conditions for a wide range of plants and many also give details on propagation which for some is simple, but difficult for many.
One last note, please don't pick that wildflower. Leave it for others who come along to see and enjoy too and for future generations.
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