{"id":7162,"date":"2017-07-29T12:24:50","date_gmt":"2017-07-29T16:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/?page_id=7162"},"modified":"2023-08-05T23:06:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T03:06:00","slug":"flowering-plants-trees-shrubs-and-vines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/zero-waste-main-page-2\/flowering-plants-trees-shrubs-and-vines\/","title":{"rendered":"Flowering Plants, Trees, Shrubs, and Vines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><em>Yards and gardens are a delight to the eye, sustenance for the soul, and a lifeline for pollinators.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>NATIVE PLANTS<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Native plants are an essential part of a sustainable yard. &#8220;Native plants have adapted to the climate, insects, and soil types found in Massachusetts. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2758.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-7159 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2758-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/a>Because of this, they may reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, and water needed for a yard, as well as contribute to a more natural habitat for animals and other plants. Native plants may support 10 to 50 times as many species as non-native plants.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/more-than-just-a-yard-ecological-landscaping-tools-1\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ecological Landscaping Tools for Massachusetts Homeowners<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>More Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hgcny.org\/books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Books about habitat gardening<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nativeplanttrust.org\/for-your-garden\/books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Garden books by Native Plant Trust experts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grownativemass.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Grow Native Massachusetts Website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Trees, shrubs, and other plants are carbon sinks. They absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen that we need to breathe.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Perennials<\/strong><br \/>\nSome favorite natives: pink-flowered swamp milkweed <i>(Asclepias incarnata)<\/i> does well in local gardens, even without a lot of watering, and so does the orange butterfly weed <i>(Asclepias tuberosa)<\/i>; New England and other asters (<i>Symphyotrichum);<\/i> coneflowers <i>(Echinacea);<\/i> black-eyed susan <i>(Rudbeckia);<\/i> and many types of goldenrod <i>(Solidago)<\/i> thrive as well. Native daisy fleabane (<em>Erigeron annuus<\/em>) often invites itself into local gardens. It freely spreads by seed and needs to be watched but it is a lovely, perky little flower attractive to pollinators.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7217\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7217\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2763-2-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7217\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2763-2-1-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2763-2-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2763-2-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2763-2-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_2763-2-1.jpg 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7217\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monarch on swamp milkweed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>When selecting a native plant, try to purchase the \u201cstraight species\u201d rather than a newer hybrid \u201cnamed\u201d cultivar. They are more reliably beneficial to pollinators than hybrids.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Shrubs<\/b><br \/>\nPossible native shrubs to consider include highbush blueberry (<i>Vaccinium corymbosum<\/i>), \u00a0sweet pepperbush (<i>Clethra alnifolia<\/i>), \u00a0rosebay rhododendron (<i>Rhododendron maximum<\/i>), \u00a0catawba rhododendron (<i>Rhododendron catawbiense<\/i>), \u00a0flame azalea (<i>Rhododendron calendulaceum<\/i>), \u00a0sweet azalea (<i>Rhododendron arborescens<\/i>), and \u00a0mountain laurel (<i>Kalmia latifolia<\/i>).<\/p>\n<p><b>Vines<\/b><br \/>\nThe native twining vine, trumpet honeysuckle (<i>Lonicera sempervirens<\/i> \u2018Alabama Crimson\u2019) is a fine choice. See &#8220;non-native vines&#8221; below for vines that are recommended and vines that are invasive and should be avoided.<\/p>\n<p><b>Trees<\/b><br \/>\nNative evergreen trees include arborvitae (Thuya occidentalis), western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), white pine (<i>Pinus stobus<\/i>), Rhododendron \u00a0and California Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens). Some large deciduous trees to consider are natives such as red maple (<i>Acer rubrum<\/i>), sugar maple (Acer saccharum \u2018Green Mountain\u2019), white oak (<i>Quercus<\/i> alba), red oak (<i>Quercus rubra<\/i>), bur oak (<i>Quercus macrocarpa<\/i>) and beech (<i>Fagus grandifolia<\/i>). Smaller trees to consider include natives such as serviceberry (<i>Amelanchier arborea or A. laevis<\/i>), \u00a0redbud (<i>Cercis canadensis<\/i>), \u00a0sourwood (<i>Oxydendron arborea<\/i>), flowering dogwood (<i>Cornus florida<\/i>), pagoda dogwood (<em>Cornus alternifolia<\/em>) (pagoda dogwood) and fringetree (<em>Chionanthus virginicus<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/documents\/2018\/11\/keep-needham-green-with-trees-sept-2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">KEEP NEEDHAM GREEN WITH TREES BROCHURE<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>NON-NATIVES<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Many non-native annuals and perennials<\/b> are wildlife-friendly and not invasive. Lantana, zinnia, cosmos, salvia, French marigold, Mexican sunflower (all annuals), fall sedums, Russian sage (perennials), thyme and lavender.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shrubs<\/strong><br \/>\nSome non-native viburnums are lovely and not susceptible to the viburnum beetle, including \u00a0burkwood viburnum (<i>Viburnum X burkwoodii<\/i>) and \u00a0doublefile viburnum (<i>Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum<\/i> \u2018Shasta\u2019)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vines<\/strong><br \/>\nThe non-native clematis vines are mostly fine choices EXCEPT for sweet autumn clematis (<i>Clematis paniculata<\/i>), which can become invasive. Many vines such as Japanese honeysuckle and wisteria have invasive tendencies and should be avoided. The vine oriental bittersweet is one of our most destructive invasive plants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trees<\/strong><br \/>\nGood nonnative evergreens are Hinoki falsecypress (<i>Chamaecyparis obtuse<\/i>), Korean fir (<i>Abies koreana<\/i>), and upright Japanese yew (<i>Taxus cuspidata<\/i> \u2018Capitata\u2019). Good non-natives deciduous trees include little leaf linden (<i>Tilia cordata<\/i>) \u2013 bees love the flowers of lindens, and silver linden (<i>Tilia tomentosa<\/i>). Nonnative small trees include small-fruited (for the birds) crabapples (<i>Malus<\/i>), \u00a0Japanese maples (<i>Acer palmatum<\/i>), Cornelian cherry (<em>Cornus mas<\/em>), and Korean mountain ash (<i>Sorbus alnifolia<\/i>).<\/p>\n<p><b>Where to buy:<\/b> Some native species can be found at Volante Farms. Ask them! The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nativeplanttrust.org\/for-your-garden\/buy-native-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Native Plant Trust\u2019s Garden in the Woods<\/a> in Framingham is a great place to see native plants growing and to purchase native perennials, as well as some native trees, shrubs, and vines recommended above. Russell\u2019s Garden Center in Wayland has native and nonnative perennials and annuals, as well as some trees and shrubs, as do Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton and Stonegate gardens in Lincoln.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>TIPS AND TECHNIQUES<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong>Planting Trees:<\/strong><br \/>\nConsider whether you have room for a large tree or whether a smaller tree would better fit the space available; you don\u2019t want to be constantly pruning the tree back to keep it in bounds, thus distorting the natural shape of the tree.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Plant evergreen trees on the northeast side of a house buffer cold winter winds and large deciduous trees on the south and west sides to provide shade in summer and sunlight in winter.<\/li>\n<li>Planting in the spring is usually safest.<\/li>\n<li>Planting younger trees is a good idea; they are easier to plant and establish more quickly.<\/li>\n<li>When you plant a tree, add some compost, which you can obtain from the RTS or you can make your own using the leaves you rake up in the fall and plant waste from your kitchen, to the soil. But do not change the soil too dramatically and do not plant the tree deeper than it was originally growing in the nursery; it is better to err on the side of planting the tree slightly higher than planting it too deeply. You can add mulch (no more than about 2 inches) around the tree but do not allow it to touch the bark, which contains living cells. Alternately plant groundcover plants; the idea is to protect the tree bark from being injured by a lawnmower.<\/li>\n<li>You will need to water the tree deeply during the first year, perhaps once per week depending on the weather, and in times of drought for the next few years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"yiv2401942260MsoNormal\">If you desire a tree planted by the Town of Needham you can request one (or two).\u00a0 The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.needhamma.gov\/index.aspx?NID=1141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Needham Parks &amp; Forestry Department<\/a> has a Setback tree planting program.\u00a0 There is a request form to be filed out.\u00a0 Once received the Town will begin their process of evaluating your site.\u00a0 You can specify if you would like a Front yard planting or a Berm tree. The Town prefers and promotes, front yard tree plantings for many reasons.\u00a0 Learn more by reaching out.<\/p>\n<p>Updated August 2023<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnc-resources-header\">Resources<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"gnc-resources-subheader\">Documents<\/h5>\n\t\t<ul class=\"documents\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\n<h5 class=\"gnc-resources-subheader\">Resources on the Web<\/h5>\n<!-- Links --><table style=\"margin:0;padding:0;\"><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/grownativemass.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Grow Native Massachusetts<\/a>\r\n<br \/>Grow Native Massachusetts\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"width:100%;\">\r\n<td style=\"width:100px;vertical-align:top\">\r\n\r\n<\/td><td>\r\n<div class=\"links_sc_fb\" style=\"text-align:left\">\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/grownativemass.org\/Great-Resources\/experts-videos\" target=\"_blank\">Grow Native Massachusetts - Our Experts&#039; Videos<\/a>\r\n<br \/>Watch Grow Native Massachusetts \"Evenings with Experts\" Recorded Lectures\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/td><\/tr><\/table>\n<!-- \/Links -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how your garden and yard can help the planet.  Choose native plants and shrubs that better support the insects and soil of Needham&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7159,"parent":9976,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7162","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7162\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}