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Top 10 Native Plants Predicted for the 1999 Philadelphia Flower Show

Release Date: 2/24/1999
Contact Information: Donna M. Heron (215) 814-5113

PHILADELPHIA - Visitors to the EPA’s 1999 Philadelphia Flower Show exhibit will see  a display that uses thousands of native plant species..

Every year a handful of the indigenous plants used in the EPA display capture the public’s imagination and exhibit staffers usually find themselves deluged with questions and requests for information.

For this year’s event to be held March 7 to 14 at the Philadelphia Convention Center, the employee-volunteers, who created the EPA display, decided to go out on a limb and predict the 10 native plants that will captivate visitors at the 1999 exhibit "An All American Garden."

Jeff Lapp, an EPA wetlands scientist who helped design the exhibit, said that the trees, shrubs, and plants - all native to the region - will thrive with less care than exotic plants because they have adapted to the climate and soil conditions.  They will require less water, less pesticides and a lot less work for the gardener.

"When people see these plants, they are amazed," Lapp said.  "Can you buy them locally?  Ten years ago the answer would have been rarely.  But more and more growers are offering them.  Horticulture is really about supply and demand.  Once gardeners start asking for them, the plants eventually become available."

Complete information on all the plants will be available at the EPA exhibit.  And don’t forget to ask for your copy of "A Gardener’s Guide to a Healthier Environment."

This year’s top picks are:

Eastern redbud (cercis canadensis):  A small canopy tree found from Florida to New England prefers light shade and well-drained soil.  Deer-resistant and tolerant of full shade and drought/heat, Redbuds are known for their light purple to pink spring flowers.

Fringe-tree (chionanthus virginicus):  Slightly fragrant pendulous white flowers cover the tree like fringe in May and June. Blue-black fruit in the summer attract birds. The tree, which has a maximum height of 20 to 30 feet, does best in full son andprefers acidic soil that is moist but well-drained.

Virginia sweetspire (itea virginica):  A shrub native to the Middle Atlantic region and grows as far north as New Jersey, is excellent as a woodland border where it will receive some sun.  Very fragrant white flower spikes two to six inches from late June to late July, the shrubs leaves turn brilliant red in the fall. Does best in poorly-drained, neutral to moderately-acidic soil.

Sheep laurel (kalmia angustifolia):  A miniature version of the Mountain Laurel, this evergreen shrub has deeper pink-flowers in May and June.  Native from Georgia to Canada, it prefers acid soils in moist, shady sites but can tolerate dry, open sites. Leaves can be toxic to grazing animals, hence the alternate name, Lambkill.

Coastal azalea (rhododendron atlanticum):  This is a native deciduous azalea to the coastal pine barrens and wooded wetlands from George to Delaware.  It grows three to six feet tall and has sweet fragrant white to pale pink flowers in April and May.  It prefers part shade where soils are acidic and most and provides good fall color.

Pinxter azalea (rhododendron periclymenoides):  In the wild it is found in swamps and lowland forests from George top New England.  It blooms in early May with clusters of tubular pink flowers and grows to a height of six to eight feet.  It prefers moist, acid soil and part sun.

Pinkshell azalea (rhododendron vaseyi):  It’s sprawling habit makes it well-suited for mass plantings at woodland edge.  It blooms with light pink flowers clustering at branch tips in mid to late May before leaves unfold.  This shrub grows to six to nine feet tall and prefers moist, acid soil and light shade. In the wild it is found bordering streams.

Yellow trumpet pitcher plant (sarracenia flava, S. Purpurea):  Found in bogs and damp pinelands from the Gulf of Mexico to New England, these small carnivorous plants are adapted to poor, highly acidic soils.  These unusual plants with yellow-green to purple leaves flower in the spring to mid-summer in the north.  They derive their nutrients from insects and snails that become trapped in their trumpets.

Carolina silverbell (halesia carolina):  This is a fine small tree native from Florida to Virginia. It’s main attractions is its delicate flowers.  Small drooping bell-shaped white flowers arrive in early to mid-May.  The fruit is tan and brown borne from September to December.  A fine dooryard plant, the Carolina silverbell has a deep root sysem and prefers moist yet well-drained acidic soils on north or east-facing slopes.

Mountain andromeda (Pieris floribunda):  Native to North Carolina and West Virginia, this glossy, green evergreenshrub prefers acid, well-drained soil in part shade.  It produces attractive flower buds all winter, fragrant white spring flowers and can be planted under windows and next to walks.  It is deer resistant but susceptible to root rot if not in well-drained soil.

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