Hey folks if you're in the Fayetteville, NC area check out this meet and greet with a local candidate for county commissioner at large. I know Mrs Stubbs from a few local organization actions over the years and it's worth it to go to this event.
TKG
@tkg-nc.bsky.social
385 followers 100 following 3.3K posts
Horticulturist, Forager, Purveyor of Dad Jokes, Farmer, Mushroom Grower. Blog is here: bl2-litfm.blogspot.com Youtube Channel is here: www.youtube.com/@LostInTheFarmersMa…
![[Author's Note: This is a picture of the White Ischia and Chicago Hardy/Celeste harvest before the Beetles showed up.]
The down side is that it has also been found to be a pathogen of Reptiles, but research continues and in the meanwhile you can use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), a soil-dwelling bacterium to control populations but you have to make sure it’s the right one. A few sources suggest using BT galleriae which is in products like Beetle Gone for killing the grubs of beetles specifically.
As an end note, it’s been known that Fig Beetle body parts have been used in human jewelry production since ACE 50 to 500 by the Ancient Pueblo People. At least two necklaces have been recovered from the Bear Ears Monument in Utah that date back to 70-60 BCE which suggests even older uses of the beetles by humans. So that’s Fig Beetles in short, they’re an interesting pest at my Fig Orchard that is causing interesting problems that aren’t dangerous enough to do anything more than cultural care for. Most of the time Insecticides are overkill and have unintended effects that go beyond the crisis you see.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreifr4xjgx2oooa3c6jiwa54zu2veqgfcow3ehwbr34jkpgzy3c3lne)
![[Author's note: The pods start out light green then mature to white. Folks often mistake IB for 'Star of David' Okra. SoD wishes it was as cool as IB.]
The heritage of Okra can be traced back to the country we now call Ethiopia which is located on the eastern side of the African continent near just above the equator. In its native habitat Okra is a perennial but here in the USA we grow it as an annual because our winters are far too cold for it. According to our USDA hardiness zones it can be grown from zone 5 through 11 but does its best in 8-11. Interestingly Okra’s genetic heritage is uncertain; it’s an allopolyploid meaning it has more than two paired sets of chromosomes. The two plants that crossed to make the ancestor of modern Okra are uncertain though some studies suggest White Wild Musk Mallow (A. ficulneus) and (A. tuberculatus) a wild species native to India. Research is as always ongoing and new information may come to light as genetic testing methods improve. The specific variety Pictured in today’s post is unique because it’s a Middle Eastern variety, ‘Iraqi Bamia’ unlike a lot of variety names tells you where it’s from and what it is. The word bamia part just means Okra, which then with the other word is straight up stating it is an Iraqi variety. What makes this variety truly special is that it produces wide pods that are white and that matters especially with what Climate Change is doing these days. ‘IB’ Okra’s white pod coloration is a defense against the heat of harsh unrelenting sun, they don’t scorch, and they reliably produce numerous 3-5” pods.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreibhbhi5eda6ivjo257466czhzp5umez6aoq5yhi5umlfyqwgld6fi)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
Rotenone is interesting because when it is extracted and concentrated it is a colorless crystalline isoflavone and Goat’s Rue isn’t the only place it is found. Rotenone is naturally found in the Jicama vine, Florida Fishpoison Trees, Miletta, Jewel Vine and Barbasco. As such it is generally employed as a non-selective fish poison (Piscicide) and it kills fish by interfering with cellular respiration causing fish to float to the surface where they can be caught and removed from a body of water. Unfortunately as noted prior it is non-selective, so while it is valuable for removing invasive or non-native species it also can kill the species that are supposed to be there. Goat’s Rue as a strictly native but ornamental plant is a good reliable choice. Goat’s Rue grows to about two feet tall, and is a hardy perennial plant that is already present in all states except Hawaii. It prefers acidic soils to a point that its seeds may not germinate unless the substrate is within the pH range of 6.0 to 4.5. Its soil preference is for sandy or sandy-loam soils and will grow in full sun, partial shade or deep shade just fine. The strong point of this plant is that it is a larval hose for two species of native butterfly, the Southern Cloudy wing and the Northern Cloudy wing. Also since it is in the Pea family its flowers attract and support a wide range of pollinators with nectar and Pollen, The seeds of Goat’s rue are the food of several species of wild birds such as Wild Turkeys. The best part of this particular native is the flowers, as they are large by Pea standards and are a bright pink and butter-cream yellow color which is striking in the landscape. If this plant interests you, I do know that Prairie Moon sells the seed, and in buying from a credible vendor you are helping make life hard for plant poachers.
[Author's Note: This stuff was in a lot of places along side the hiking trails.]
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreifqxxuwa4tgrngoio4733w443unrkfzc6gmg2kcwxwuqwsbrb73y4)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Debbie Roos.]
In general it’s leaves are elliptical and look a bit like those on a Crape Myrtle, and are a brighter green color, though sometimes they will have a gray-green glaucous color to them. Maleberry’s foliage turns an orange-red in the fall making it quite pretty when used as a landscape plant for moist soil areas. In the spring, Maleberry has pretty bell shaped flowers that hang with the opening facing down; this feature is common to the Heather Family and is also seen on Blueberries which can make field identification problematic. Fortunately Malebush does not have fruit in the sense that they do not form berries, instead the seed capsules are split five ways much like the ones on Mountain Laurel (Kalmia sp.) which makes confirming identification in the autumn far easier.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreigc5sm2od7cnt7gpgvnugzjdcexezbftlgfu62hhqn3o3drelki4q)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Homer Edward Price.]
Given time a single Maleberry plant will eventually form a colony. Maleberries mainly spread by underground rhizomes but some of their seeds are still viable and you may find new ones nearby. In the landscape, Maleberry is an ornamental plant, its spring flowers bring in the native pollinators while it’s fall color is definitely something to brag about. The fact that it doesn’t mind moist or wet soil makes it extra useful in areas where soil drainage isn’t so good because it will help hold the soil in place and limit erosion. The only downside to this plant is that it is absolutely inedible, as all parts contain Andromeotoxin and Grayanotoxins. Those toxins make it a danger to pets, livestock and people. Weirdly, despite the toxicity of this plant many credible sources indicate the Cherokee at some point made an infusion out of this plant as a remedy for ulcers, toe itch and a malady called 'ground itch'.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreiebrztgfrcambd2molmus5cawwglxe7thfzrjlfz3fdwyxwnixtq4)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Susan Strine.]
With both age and in ideal growing conditions Deerberry can get up to fifteen feet tall, so the highbush name is totally warranted. In the wild though, colonies of Deerberry are often perhaps three feet tall and form dense but low-growing shrub thickets. The primary means of reproduction of this plant is not through the seeds in the berries but through modified stems called runners that grow outward from an established plant or colony, take root and form new upward growth. This also means that should you encounter this plant while you are out and about hiking it is easy to get a piece of it and start your own Deerberry colony.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreicno5pjcrhgz3bfwdxfpur64i5abq6shdosdcoziawd2hvcrkgena)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Ted Bodner.]
In the included picture you can see that Deerberry has an alternate leaf arrangement with ovate shaped leaves and that the flowers have five petals and mainly have a downward hanging habit. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 5A to 9B and can be found naturally at least thirty states in the USA. Generally it prefers to grow in Acidic soil (about 6.0) that that drains well but has a high amount of organic matter. Deerberry’s preferred exposure is partial shade but I’ve found it in full scorching sun locations so it can tolerate full sun. A number of credible references suggest that once established it is drought tolerant but also resistant to wildfire which might be very important in the future.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreiakavv37x5wgfight3bgqdn2yr7htecb7dmimq3y7kewarnhzajzq)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Eric Hunt.]
The best part about Deerberry is that its berries are considered a bit sour but are safely edible; its flowers provide nectar for numerous pollinators and are a host plant for the larva of Brown Elfin Butterflies. The berries also support populations of Songbirds, Wild Turkeys, Deer and even Black Bears. Just like with the rest of the Vaccinium species as a whole, Deerberry also supports several species of native specialized bees. For note the berries of Deerberry start out green, turn golden yellow and will ultimately turn purple or lavender when ripe. Most references to Deerberry indicate that given the tart nature of the berries suggest their use in Jams, Jellies, preserves or in cobbler-type pies. I can personally imagine that they would be very good in sweet breads or certain types of cake or perhaps brewed into a dessert wine.
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreic5iy3y7czrqmmccwzgifcdzdsiif6n5nl7op6genxyuvhfs3nf7m)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
Black Snake root is a native perennial that is herbaceous and has a native range that goes as far north as Ontario, Canada and southern Vermont. Black Snakeroot can be found as far south as Florida and Texas.
The picture as a whole is telling you something very important, this plant only appears in the woods in partial shade to dappled shade and it requires a soil that is high in organic matter which means the soil is also well drained and generally moist. Or in less technical terms a forest floor where there are regular deposits of leaves, decomposers eating those leaves and the occasional wild fire to break down the tougher organic materials that eventually pile up and clog the forest floor’s ecology. In this case the array of leaves indicate that the soil pH is likely somewhere in range of 5.5 to 6.5 since the Sandhill region of North Carolina is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plains which then tells us, the oaks present are likely a mix of Water Oaks, Red Oaks, or Black Oaks.
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Mary Keim.]
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreihlggsxe2c73vhoxnbmwkeysb7xgg62griirqvk4hkmwlhij54ef4)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
Black Snakeroot is one of those wild plants that is fairly specialized, it appears in a specific environment, and even has a specific species of Aphid (Aphis saniculae) that attacks it. Individual plants can get up to three feet high with age but a lot of that is their flower stalk. The maximum noted width for these perennials is about a foot wide. The flowers on Black Snakeroot are tiny and green colored, very easy to miss but their spiky seed pods which dry and become burrs are not. As seen in the photo, the foliage resembles so many garden perennials that it stands out in the woods. Black Snakeroot resembles a plant that escaped cultivation to a point you almost want to look around for signs of an abandoned homestead that surely must be nearby. Black Snakeroot visually resembles Lady’s Mantle, Virginia Creeper, Potentilla, Barren Strawberries, and a few other things. Know that Black Snakeroot isn’t a vine, doesn’t produce runners and only reproduces by seeds.
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Mary Keim.]
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreidlvxmx57uzoi3w2avbkhje2uqsmq3bj3q3e737xqr6235vhes4ue)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
The best use of this plant is as an indicator of where to find good quality soil in the wild. It can be eaten as a potherb but it has to be cooked because it is bitter flavored and cooking reduces that. Instructions on how to cook it are unclear, so it may be wise to cook it in at least one change of water. The most solid information for its use as a medicine comes from ‘A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region’ by Bruce A. Sorrie. The entry for this plant says “Native Americans used powdered roots to stimulate menses and as an abortive” so, there is at least that to consider. I have found no other mentions of medicinal or edible uses for this plant that are credible thus far. Regardless of a lack of clear use it is an interesting wild plant that you can find locally and as some sources have suggested use as a ground cover perhaps in a wooded area.
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Stephanie Harvey.]
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreihaapll2qaoinb2g3clln4rhgt7zql2k3kl7aj263tpjxx3si2joy)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Alvin Diamond.]
The Green Arrow Arum however, is a native plant that in its northern range in the USA is a deciduous perennial but in its southern range in our country it is either semi-evergreen or fully evergreen. You can commonly find this plant in wet areas as its biology favors freshwater bogs, marshes, the coastline of lakes and other areas prone to regular flooding. Green Arrow Arum is tolerant of low-oxygen water and potentially stagnant soil that is somewhat anaerobic. It is not uncommon to spot this aroid in colonies since it spreads by rhizome, despite producing viable seeds from its lackluster looking flowers. If you are trying to collect seed from this plant, viable seed clusters are the ones where the stems have nodded and the seed clusters are in the water or nearly so.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreihde57s72opyiq7cupjrvr2rwrm2dahhsmtwhe644ku5ot4rajbly)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Nelson.]
The flowers themselves from a biological stand point are interesting even if they are visually bland. As I mentioned before Green Arrow Arum is an Aroid which means its default flower format is called a Spadix. This is a sort of rod-shaped arrangement of tiny flowers that are densely packed into a limited area. As far as I know the flowers have no scent and they tend to bloom between May and June. The Spadix as a whole may be white, greenish-yellow or yellow, but the surrounding Spathe is typically green. Green Arrow Arum is mainly pollinated by a type of Chloropid Fly (Elachiptera Formosa) which has a symbiotic arrangement with the plant. Earlier I mentioned the issue of this plant having Calcium Oxalate crystals. Well, as it turns out the Native Americans had ways of dealing with this, as the crystals can be neutralized/destroyed through cooking the plant matter for a long while, a specific practice of heating or drying things out.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreifusma5wowhzqxhvj5fo2suli4zzvlznuldxtiohxsmvrjj3pkie4)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Photo Note: This image is from the NC Plant Toolbox Site, it was taken by Krzysztof Ziarnek Kenraiz.]
The Native Americans would extract starch from the rhizomes dry it, grind it up and then use it to make breads or to thicken soups. The entire flower was considered a delicacy though it needed to be cooked at least nine hours to get rid of the crystals. The problem with wild foraging this plant is that the rhizome likes to live one to two feet down meaning that it’s firmly in shovel territory if you want to get one in the wild. At that depth in the soils this plant prefers the soil is anaerobic and has a certain aroma that will cling to you, your gear and, the plant. The good news is that Green Arrow Arum can be bought through a number of nurseries online and you can grow your own and save on the back-breaking labor of digging one up and possibly committing an illegal act. So, this covers Green Arrow Arum, an interesting and as it turns out edible native species of Aroid in North Carolina. I hope all of you out there have a happy and Safe Memorial Day and check back here for another Wild Harvest Digest.
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreifbca23vod2rqxyfoyxlzx7vbk4gridb2fw6yjui754i6wet7bg3e)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Photo note: This image is not one of mine; it is from the NC plant toolbox site and was taken by Douglas Goldman.]
The final name is where things get bad; Bull Nettle is also known as Finger Rot because it’s stinging hairs can cause severe lasting skin issues such as blisters, sores, discolored skin patches and rashes that may look like your fingers are rotting off. Additionally it is possible that back in the old days this plant may have been responsible for causing open wounds that then allowed infections or worse gangrene to move into a victim’s fingers. From the aforementioned you can easily understand why this plant is compared to Nettles; with the implication it is similar in defensive abilities to Stinging Nettle.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreietiu6otbknxgrfmgewxxbyjito3mah7afhwmjypsobb2trmc523q)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Photo note: This image is not one of mine; it is from the NC plant toolbox site and was taken by Douglas Goldman.]
Despite this Bull Nettle is an interesting plant that can potentially tell you a few things with the first lesson being to look but do not touch. The second thing is that it is most often found in Long leaf Pinelands, Turkey Oak Scrub lands, by the roadside and in fields that have been allowed to lay fallow. If it appears in fallowed farm fields that also suggests what was there before the farm. Bull nettle also has a sort of wild beauty to it in that it’s lobed leaves resemble a Fig, Grape or Passion vine in shape, while the flowers are pretty enough to catch the eye from a modest distance. The flowers are borne in what is called a Cyme which is a flat-topped determinate inflorescence where each flower stalk ends in a singular flower.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreighqfu3kg6vejxgjpnm2p3nmmqbj57o3wb64evhiv7j42yeqbg4ti)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Photo note: This image is not one of mine; it is from the NC plant toolbox site and was taken by cmvaldes18.]
The flowers usually have five petals and are pure white with exception to the cream colored pollen. The combination of the leaves, stinging hairs all over the plant and the flowers truly makes this plant look like it came from another planet. So, the big question of course is ‘can this plant be used for anything other than causing misery?” The answer is yes, the foliage is problematic sure, however several sources including the NC plant Toolbox have indicated that the plant’s long taproots can be boiled in several changes of water to yield an edible food that is said to resemble a potato or pasta in flavor. The trick to getting there is to dig at an angle so you avoid contact with the foliage of the plant. Now, would I plant this in my backyard…eh not so much; but knowing about it might save your life someday.
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreichy2zd2vw4thj7d5qtgare6hgmf2bqqrhro7i5xhax2e2ypbvdze)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Photo from NC Plant Tool Box site, Photo was taken by Mary Ann Yaic]
It’s most identifying feature is the opposite and clasping leaf arrangement, as you can see in the picture it was so perfect I almost thought it was a plastic plant. I only saw one of these plants in the entire hike and none of them were in bloom or had residual seed heads suggesting that these plants are herbaceous and that their stems and whatnot break down quickly once they bloom and produce seed. According to some references this plant can have an alternate leaf arrangement too, so always use more than one identification feature if you’re trying to identify this plant in the wild. This variation is because Roundleaf Boneset can freely hybridize with similar species of Eupatorium producing hybrids with slightly differing visual characteristics. The strong Points of this plant are that it supports native pollinators and is a food source for the larvae of several species of moth.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreifzuy2fz5r6wxliivcjyw4rkjuyqujbe577jrzgej3dg7w57zqbf4)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Photo Note: This photo is from the NC Plant toolbox Site, it was taken by Sean Patton]
The seeds of this plant may be eaten by a few species of bird too so by allowing it to grow somewhere you are supporting the wild life. The flowers of this plant are white and arranged in a Corymb, which is in this case a loose head of tiny flowers sort of like what you see in the Carrot family except they have more tightly packed Umbel flower heads.
The downside of this plant is that according to every reference I can find, you cannot eat it and it is dangerous to try and use it for medicine. Granted most references are talking about the Eupatorium family as a whole the only known relative used for medicinal use is (E. perfoliatum). Even the common name Boneset is a bit misunderstood because the aforementioned her wasn’t used to treat broken bones.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreidvytpxwcgeta24cljcr3y7rjjsxg5cbdwbx5xise2vdqauojczbe)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Photo Note: This photo is from the NC Plant toolbox Site, it was taken by Sean Patton]
Eupatorium was used to treat Dengue Fever which was called bone break fever because of the intense pain it caused. In truth most Eupatorium are poisonous to humans, pets and grazing livestock and despite this in folk medicine small amounts have been used to handle Gout. There is a tiny bit of good news, this plant does contain sesquiterpene lactones which in some trials can limit tumor growth in vitro when the right compounds are extracted which gives it some potential future use in Cancer treatments. Despite being effectively off limits for the medical and culinary menus it does have a pretty and unique flower. When it comes to wild plants sometimes that flower is all that matters.
Btw if you want to see the write up for a giant cousin of this plant look at the link below from October of 2024.
https://bl2-litfm.blogspot.com/2024/10/queen-of-meadow.html
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreiakodpreb2mjwc4mxshhbl6bx7t72woioipuw5w6xuoxuaemkp2ku)
![<Alt Text 2 of 3>
[Author's note: This photo is not mine. It was taken by Gary P Fleming and can be found on the NC Botanical Garden website.]
What caught my eye was the intensely lobed foliage which is like a far more intensely lobed Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). The main specimen was sticking out of a raised sand embankment with several dead flower stalks from last year’s growing cycle and a light unintentional much of pine straw from the nearby pines. From the picture you can see the soil is sandy as heck, dry and lacking anything resembling a decent topsoil layer.
The natural distribution of this plant from Virginia south to Georgia and as far west as Alabama, though the cluster of individuals found on Fort Liberty appeared to be confined to a dry sandy bank in a roughly ten foot area. I did not encounter any more of them anywhere as we walked the trails and I was constantly looking for interesting wild plants. There was the specimen photographed and about two other much smaller ones suggesting the big one was the parent. I did a little gentle digging and found out these plants have really long taproots that would put a Daikon Radish, Dandelion and even a Pokeweed to shame. If you look up photographs of the flowers this plant has you will find that it has flowers akin to its cousin Cutleaf Coneflower or any of the Swamp Sunflowers. Basically the flowers can have anywhere from five to twenty petals, and are a golden yellow color. The plant’s bloom season is noted to be pretty long too ranging from May through September.
<Alt Text 2 of 3>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreigk5lnekwo3td6bwlfspweqeyub6yztt6jdrluebakzqx6k4zalvu)
![<Alt Text 3 of 3>
[Author's note: This photo is not mine. It was taken by Alan Weakly and can be found on the NC Botanical Garden website.]
Most references indicate that it is a herbaceous perennial that is a strong attractant for pollinators. Its seeds are a food source for wild birds so by growing one you are supporting native wildlife which is a bit important these days. Also, this plant recovers quickly from occasional wildfires making it a good candidate for areas prone to that as it can help stop post wildfire soil erosion. Now about the common name; Rosinweed is called what it is because its resinous sap has been chewed as a gum substitute in the past. Some species of Rosinweed have edible shoots and the seeds of others are edible and may be the next big thing in the oilseed industry. Getting the seed for this plant is hit or miss Prairie Moon Seeds have some Silphium, but not this specific one. So folks if you do order the seed online be careful of who you buy from.
<Alt Text 3 of 3>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreicqpvsczevaqpae3pgbd4t4zfz5oxtjk5thp4eh57ovf2w6kgp4yq)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
Supposedly the seeds of Butcher’s Broom are boiled, roasted and then ground up to use as a Coffee substitute in Tunisia. I have not tried to make Butcher’s Broom seed-Coffee because I’ve only recently acquired a recipe for this. Perhaps the best part about this plant is that it can survive in a pot just fine even tolerating being pot bound for years without any sign of decline but also being vigorous enough to choke out weeds that attempt to colonize the pot. The range of green colored fronds that Butcher’s Broom will have at any time gives it an interesting look and the large red berries are a bonus. The flowers of Butcher’s Broom are tiny, with six yellow petals and a red center. They appear in the middle of the Cladophylls and show up in spring, berries usually ripen by fall or winter.
As promised, this is a link to the Nursery I ordered my plant from:
https://nurcar.com/products/ruscus-aculeatus-wheelers-form
So, next week I will post the final part of the Companion Planting series which will cover the Nightshade family. With any luck it will fit within the character limit but we will see. Thanks for reading and see you next week.
[Author's note: I repotted my Butcher's Broom a month ago after it grew in it's last pot for several years, there was no soil visible; all root ball. It seemed to be suffering no ill health despite it's confinement. The new pot is at least two inches in diameter bigger and in depth. I'm not sure what I'll do in another decade when this thing is saying 'Feeeeeed meeeeee!']
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreidjb76zhqg6jbz6k33rgzzdgud6hg6udelunl52rojfz5psktxvle)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Author's note: I do not see Mountain Mint in any form in many gardens. My stand of it has been in place for most of a decade and does well, but when it blooms the plant practically vibrates with pollinator activity.]
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
The common problem with the plants we think of as Mints is that they readily escape cultivation and can go invasive. Mountain Mint on the other hand is well-behaved, generally does not escape and can tolerate hotter drier areas and its flowers bring in a plethora of pollinators including a lot of non-aggressive solitary wasps of all colors and shapes. In terms of flavor and scent this plant is similar to Spearmint with a bit of something else it has all the same uses as Peppermint or Spearmint but has a vertical growing habit and woody stems. There are a few species of Mountain Mint and generally they are native to North America. I recommend looking for Blunt Mountain Mint because its leaves are far easier to harvest and use, and its flowering heads are something to behold. As for Companion Planting, this particular mint brings in the pollinators, and some of those pollinators are great at reducing caterpillar populations such as Tomato/Tobacco Hornworms.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreih6z3jjkshdeiyvfz26gq4f6ixunn4332ie74ycmu7q3wtdvzg5li)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Author's Note: In the lower right of the photo that is Holy Basil, which is another Mint Family member. I'm hoping to start up some new Lavender plants this year in the test gardens, it's been about three years without.]
Lavender (Lavendula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’)
Yes, you read that right. Lavender is in the Mint Family, and when you really think about it is that any surprise? Lavender is a genus of about 47 species of plants that have a fair amount of variety and to that end I can say, that only one particular cultivated variety has passed the growing test for our climate and that’s a variety called ‘Phenomenal’ which lived for about seven years when most others can’t even handle three years. Lavender is noted to repel ticks. Before you go nuts with planting lavender because you know you have ticks know that it’s application of the plant’s essential oils. The oil itself can kill ticks but it has to touch them first and the studies behind this were only on the Yellow legged tick found in Africa and the Middle East. There is no telling how well it works on our three most common species of Tick in North Carolina. Lavender is said to repel rodents because of its strong aroma as an essential oil messing with their ability to navigate and forage for food. A third use, repelling Clothing moths and their destructive larvae is proven, but the catch is again that it relies on aromatic essential oils and is best used before a problem is detected. Beyond all the aforementioned, the blooms attract a lot of pollinators, and its foliage and flowers are food-safe.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreifxe6cduvctldqkk4ggcity3w7k47cyv4lpp3i54cnexpy3frqcnq)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Author's Note: The specific variety of Ajuga here is 'Chocolate Chip' and technically it is an escapee from a preservation project involving some potted Itea. I'm not mad that it escaped and has made a permanent home under my Rainbarrels.]
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Some of you probably did not expect this perennial plant to be in this listing, but yes it is a tried and true member of the Mint Family. It is a non-native that in some places has been determined to be invasive and that listing is perfectly understandable. However when in control in your garden, it has a secret superpower for companion planting. Unlike the other plants I’ve spoken of Bugleweed has the ability to make topsoil. The dense mats of foliage and the pretty flowers are all just a cover for what happens under the plant’s ground cover canopy. You see, it creates a little microclimate and haven for decomposers wherever it’s the dominant low-growing plant. It sheds its leaves and dead flowers into that micro-canopy; soil organisms eat that and turn it into topsoil. In addition to this the foliage catches bits of detritus that would otherwise float by in a rain and it gets trapped in there and breaks down. After a few years there might be a quarter to a half inch of fertile topsoil and the best part is that the Bugleweed has grown up so it’s always on top holding that soil in place. If you punch a few holes in that and plant tall things the Bugleweed acts like a living mulch and soil producer. The only catch is you have to remember to water it, Bugleweed is very dramatic about wilting and does not tolerate drought. The big downside to this plant is that it is not edible nor safely used as a medicine, but it does bring in pollinators.
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreigpckvfmipa5bf2mulgxlfez57bsxibwf4b5ugvj3crwth3xhjmqq)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Photo Notes: This patch of Nandina ran under a 3' wide sidewalk in an attempt to colonize a lawn area.]
This problem alone is why Heavenly Bamboo is classified as an Invasive plant by numerous groups in North Carolina. The berries these Nadina’s produce are viable and their bright color makes them a tempting snack to animals, birds and small children. The problem is that they are highly toxic to birds, cats, dogs and livestock. Not even Pigs can eat the berries which should give you more than enough reason to not plant old school Nandinas nor allow existing stands of them to remain. The dangerous ingredient in question is Hydrogen Cyanide, and some of you who read this undoubtedly know how bad that is. Nandinas are responsible for killing a lot of North American Songbirds who mistook their berries for an easy meal and Cedar Waxwings were hit noticeably hard. The odd balance there is that when Heavenly Bamboo blooms in spring the pretty flowers are often crawling with various types of bees because the bees are immune to the poison or, the poison is not present in the nectar and pollen. I am not sure this is an acceptable tradeoff for a plant that can kill wild birds and also can easily escape captivity.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreig4skz4i5cgrgkov2vqbyboxqyjdi5jzq2t4xbszbbs2i4xgtkiiq)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Picture Note: Notice the miniature 'forest' of nandina sprouts, this is what it will do when it hits a hard barrier while it's underground roots trie to find a way under the obstruction.]
The good news is that modern hybrids have been selected and bred not to produce berries however the stability of that breeding and selection under field conditions is still worthy of debate because; nature finds a way. Now personally, I have a few of the old school Nandinas that were planted on the property by my Great Grand Parents in the late 70’s if not early 80’s. Before any of you get the pitchforks and torches out over that revelation, I cut off and dispose of the berries so songbirds aren’t harmed and also the population of Nandinas has been reduced to two specimens that are managed. They haven’t gone colonial and honestly this works for me but I also understand not everyone will bother to undertake this kind of management which also includes making sure there are alternate food sources for wild birds that feed on berries in the property I own. It’s more work than you might expect but having a specimen or two to use as a cautionary tale is how we got this article. As a final note for this post, you will see Nandinas sold in nurseries and garden centers, these are usually hybrids selected to be less of a problem. Always check the tag to see what variety you are getting and if it’s not a cultivar you recognize or it just says Nandina domestica don’t buy it.
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreidb5tdoozdmpyzdmwgunezhceqpmqsajgnotokpg7odthu6khrzte)
![<Alt Text 1 of 4>
[Author's Note: The Onion here is a 'Yellow of Parma', a dry storage onion, that counts as a Yellow Onion and thus a Common Onion. Normally they don't have multiple growing points like this.]
Onion, Nodding (Allium cernuum) – Nodding Onions are essentially a wild form of Onion native to the Americas and as such there isn’t much about it being used in companion planting.
Onion, Ornamental (Allium species) – Oranmental Onions are considered inedible and are bred for extra-showy flowers and unique foliage. It can be assumed they offer similar virtues as the Common Onion.
<Alt Text 1 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreigokdzybdn7srsq35mll7dtjnywqrwuws5lwx44f2jf5hagkefhi4)
![<Alt Text 2 of 4>
[Author's Note: These two are Elephant Garlic Bulbs. They were planted a bit high to show off the shape of the bulb in contrast to regular Garlic. The one on the right has pushed itself out of the soil demonstrating the force of cellular elongation in the roots. Since Elephant garlic is more of a perennial I'm not sure it's roots count as advenitious like other members of the Allium family.]
Onion, Pregnant (Allium cepa variety aggregatum) – Also known as Mother Onions or Multiplier Onions, preganant Onions are very similar to Common Onions with one major difference, they produce offsets far more frequently. They provide the same benefits as Common Onions.
Onion, Wild (Allium canadense) – Wild Onions are hard to tell apart from Wild Garlic (A. vinale), look for a fibrous coat on the central bulb, no offset bulbels and leaves that appear near the base of the flowering stem. Presumably the same rules apply here as with Wild garlic.
<Alt Text 2 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreien7wo7h3vazy7orhho4qjghue4v5e4hvzkf6edbvzlajwr3hfyh4)
![<Alt Text 3 of 4>
[Author's Note: Here is the Garlic, it's of an unknown variety given to me as seed garlic almost a decade ago by another farmer who's arthritis had gotten so bad they could no longer tend their fields. Unofficially I call it "Jerimiah's Strain", named after that farmer. It's a softneck type and the cloves and by extension the bulbs can be huge at times. I have not undertaken any serious selection efforts because I don't dare mess with the flavor and pungency.]
Ramps (Allium tricoccum) – Ramps are that Carolina staple food that is eaten up in the mountains where if you eat too much the aroma gets in your sweat. The companion Planting options are all woodland plants because this too is a woodland plant
Shallots (Allium cepa variety aggregatum) – Shallots are often compared to Green Onions because of how they are sometimes used in cooking. Shallots are milder than Green Onions and fit in better with recipes that call for onion but need not be overpowered by onion flavor. They follow the same companion planting rules as Common Onions.
<Alt Text 3 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreiheafxjsj4nly4cjietbiuxvzni6b6mpmmileqmy4b2fwp3imayiq)
![<Alt Text 4 of 4>
[Author's Note: This is a store-bought red onion that I've had sitting partly in water to encourage roots and shoots. I wanted to have a red one for when I did a video on youtube covering growing onions I'd have a red one and a yellow one. Red onions are just a variety of the Common Onion, along with sweet onions.]
We have now covered the members of the Allium family that you are most likely to encounter when considering your planting plans for your garden this year. As I noted before Onions are space efficient, good at attracting pollinators and resistant to critters such as deer. They pair well the cabbage family and a few other vegetables and fruits and of course they aren’t that hard to grow. In the next episode we start on the Asters and after that the mountain of mints.
<Alt Text 4 of 4>](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ttjk7vw35ao5ktsnimyitp3v/bafkreigl7ojdma3ilpahcaaxowhdievsqrhe5pypxqjsmutcn4zhnm3uvi)
