Opuntia (probably lindheimeri) in snow
Cold Hardy Opuntia!
Monthly Archives: February 2015
Opuntia (prickly pear cactus)
Purple prickly pear. Probably Opuntia macrocentra.
Opuntia (prickly pear) is a large and intriguing but often confusing genus of cactus. There are a number of Opuntias species native to Oklahoma and in general many Opuntias seem to do well here. Their unique form adds a striking contrast to the more common herbaceous and shrubby plantings. Like most of our favorite plants prickly pears are multi use plants that provide beautiful flowers, delicious fruit and attractive appearance. They are very drought tolerant and very low maintenance. We have been collecting various specimens in the area and have a number to choose from although it’s often difficult to discern which species or hybrids we have. Contact us for more information on our current Opuntia availability. Here’s a list of some of the species we’ve had good luck growing.
Opuntia humifusa or macrorhiza at Sutton Wilderness Norman, OK
Opuntia Humifusa (Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus)
Height: ¾ feet -2 feet
Spread: 3-4 feet
Type: Perennial (Cactus)
Origin: Native to Eastern United States from Massachusetts to Minnesota and south to Oklahoma and Florida
Exposure: Sun to partial shade
Water: Low (heat tolerant)
Edible: ripe fruit edible raw or in jellies, the pads are also edible (watch out for bristles!); however, be careful because the barbed hairs or ‘glochids’ in clusters on the stems can cause severe irritation.
Medicinal: peeled pads are used to poultice wounds, applied the juice to warts, and drank pad tea for lung ailments
Companions : Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Rudbeckia fulgida (black eyed susan), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Baptisia (false indigo), Agastache (anise hyssop)
Notes: The Eastern Prickly Pear is native to much of Oklahoma and is a low growing smallish Opuntia. It produces brilliant (usually) yellow flowers from May through July. Not specifically a desert plant but instead thrives in places where there is water run-off part of the year and hot and dry the rest. Because of this behavior it is often found in rocky outcrops and on bluffs in sandy soil. It’s small size and rugged appearance, and adaptability make it a good choice for many landscaping situations.
Opuntia bloom
Opuntia Macrorhiza (Common Prickly Pear)
Height: ½ foot -1 ½ feet
Spread: ½ foot – 3 feet
Type: Perennial (Cactus)
Origin: From Utah to Kentucky and south to Mexico
Exposure: Sun
Water: Low (heat tolerant)
Edible: ripe fruit edible raw or in jellies or candies, the pads are also edible (watch out for bristles!) raw or cooked
Medicinal: The sap is used for medicinal applications, the prickly pear can also be used as anti-inflammatory medicine or as a laxative. Even more recently it has been used to aid in exercise recovery and to help get rid of hangovers.
Companions: Schyzicarium scoparium (little bluestem), Rudbeckia fulgida (black eyed susan), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Baptisia (false indigo)
Notes: A more arid/western species but closely related to O. humifusa with whom it’s range overlaps in our state. The Common Prickly Pear produces bright usually yellow flowers but white, red, orange and pink flowers are also known to exist. It grows easily in dry sandy soils in full sun. Use much like O. humifusa but less tolerant of wet soils.
Opuntia cacanapa ‘elisiana’. Young specimen mickey mouse.
Opuntia Cacanapa “Ellisiana”
Height: 4 feet- 6 feet
Spread: 3 feet – 6 feet
Type: Perennial (Cactus)
Origin: A spineless selection of Opuntia cacanapa which grows in south Texas and into Mexico. Often mistakenly considered one of Luther Burbank’s famed thornless varieties.
Exposure: Sun
Water: Low (heat tolerant)
Edible: The pads are edible and primarily spineless which makes for easier and safer preparation
Medicinal: much like other prickly pears
Companions: Schyzicarium scoparium (little bluestem), Rudbeckia fulgida (black eyed susan), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Baptisia (false indigo)
Notes: Ellisiana is a relatively big and largely thornless prickly pear that is known to be hardy to at least 7a (most of Oklahoma). The pads have a lovely grayish tinge and the flowers are a bright yellow. Being largely spineless and free of glochids (barbs) Ellisiana may be our best variety for use as edible pads (nopales). Thanks for reading and good luck!
Carya illinoinensis (hardy pecan tree)
Height: 75 feet -100 feet
Spread: 40 feet -70 feet
Type: Large shade tree
Origin: Iowa and Indiana south to Texas and Mexico. Grows in a majority of Oklahoma counties
Exposure: Full sun
Water: Medium to moist
Edible: Pecans are one of the most reliable and abundant nut producing trees in our state. The nuts are full of healthy fats, a good amount of protein, and many vitamins and minterals. They are very high in calories which make them a good survival and self sufficiency food. Pecan pies are hard to beat!
Medicinal: the bark and the leaves are astringent, a decoction of the bark has been used to treat tuberculosis, and the pulverized leaves can be used to treat ringworm
Companions: Chasmanthium latifolium (river oats), Carex albicans (white tinged sedge), Aquillegia Canadensis (colombine), Heuchera, Cercis canadensis (redbud), Amelanchier (serviceberry)
Notes: The pecan tree is the largest of the hickories and is typically found in lowlands where there are rich, moist soils. The wood is used for furniture, flooring, veneer, and charcoal for smokng meats. It is a difficult tree to transplant and is slow growing. Not ideal natural borders but instead great for shade tree and for the delicious nuts it produces. The oddly pinnate leaves are somewhat spread out and therefore provide a nice dappled shade that allows enough light for woodland garden plants. Fall color in good years is a lovely gold or bright yellow. Pecan limbs tend to be susceptible to breakage during storms but overall, given proper sighting, Pecans are a long lived shade tree worthy of any large yard or property.
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Little Bluestem fall color at Black Kettle National Grasslands
Type: Perennial Bunchgrass
Height: 1 to 4 ft. (average height 3 ft.)
Spread: 1-2 ft.
Origin: Much of the U.S. including most Oklahoma counties
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Sun
Water: Medium to dry. Can tolerate some wetness
Edible: n/a
Medicinal: Used as a switch in sweat lodge ceremonies
Companions: Echinacea (pallida, angustifolia, purpurea), Agastache, Baptisia, Pinus mugo, and Perovskia, Yucca glauca
Notes: Few plants are as integral a part of the aesthetics of the Great Plains (and Oklahoma) as Little Bluestem. This grass is an essential component of prairie ecosystems and should be an essential ornamental grass in every landscape. Not many ornamental grasses, (native or otherwise) have the characteristics of beautiful year round color/form and also such a graceful appearance that doesn’t overwhelm spaces. It’s unique attractiveness embodies a wonderful balance between tough ruggedness and delicate elegance.
Little Bluestem grows in dense clusters, and is a warm season species that thrives on the sun and likes well-drained soil. It is very heat and drought tolerant and does well in a variety of situations. It is fairly easy to grow from seed but seedlings are often slow to get established. There is a great range of diversity in this plant but the colors generally range from shades of red, purple, greens, blue, copper and gold (often all of these colors are present in one plant throughout the seasons.) The color changes throughout the season give year round interest.
We use little bluestem in mass or scattered throughout sunny perennial beds. It’s makes an excellent background for showy perennials and ground covers. It’s color and form provide a wonderful sense of movement and dynamics to a landscape, and it plays nicely with perennials, shrubs and other grasses.
Many Little Bluestem cultivars and selections have been released both for forage value and as “improved” landscaping varieties. Some of our favorites include ‘The Blues’, ‘Praire Blues’ and ‘Blaze’. ‘Cimmaron’ is a native Oklahoma selection from the 70’s that is harder to find but a good choice for our region. Although we generally like to avoid patented plants there are a few new patented Little Bluestems that offer very unique color and growth habits including ‘Smoke Signal’, ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Prairie Munchkin’. If you venture out into most rural areas of Oklahoma chances are that you will see a wide variety of local specimens that have interesting and unique traits that are likely to adapt well to your landscape. These local ecotypes could be your ideal “variety”.
Little Bluestem benefits a wide diversity of wildlife both as nesting and roosting habitat as well for food in the form of it seed and as forage. It is also the host plant for a number of butterflies. As Oklahoma’s native grasses and plants become more and more rare in many of our most populated areas it is important to bring this beautiful grass back into our landscapes. With it’s combination of beauty, hardiness, versatility and ease of growth there is no reason why any Oklahoma garden should be without it.
Little Bluestem field Lake Arcadia
backlit seedheads
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’
Height: 15-25 feet
Spread: 15-25 feet
Type: tree
Origin: Hybrid of two native Amelanchier species: Laevis and Canadensis
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Water: medium
Edible: serviceberries are very similar to blueberries in flavor and appearance. They can be used in pies, jams, and jellies or simply eaten raw. This is truly one of the sweetest and tastiest native fruits.
Medicinal: Native Americans used serviceberry for a variety of different purposes from toothaches to cold remedies and more.
Companions: Quercas (oaks), Celtis occidentalis (hackberry), Chasmanthium latifolium (river oats), Heuchera (coral bells)
Notes: Being a hybrid this particular variety of serviceberry has been cultivated for the best qualities of fruit production, blooms and fall color. The blooms start in April giving way to the fruit in June (they are also called Juneberries.) The leaves on the apple serviceberry are fantastic. In early spring they emerge with bronze tints which change to dark green from summer until fall when they turn a stunning red or orange-red. Serviceberries are under story trees best grown under the dappled shade of a larger tree but given enough moisture and fertile soil they can tolerate some sun. Best to at least provide some afternoon shade and make sure to give adequate water. Once established they can be somewhat drought tolerant but generally like moist soils. If left un-pruned a suckering bushy colony may form but keeping it trimmed into a single or multi-trunked tree form doesn’t require much work. Just prune off suckers as they appear (mainly in spring). This small tree really has all of the qualities which make for a standout edible landscaping plant. Even if you don’t eat the berries the birds and other wildlife really love them too. “Autumn Brilliance” is really a no brainer for most landscapes. Many of the other Amelanchier native species are also good candidates for landscape use.
Drainage Ledgestone Hardscaping
Valentine Rose Care
It’s that time of year again when love is in the air and the hearts of all turn to one beautiful flowering plant, the rose. It’s fitting that Valentine’s Day marks a good time for the late winter care of roses. Now is the time of year when roses need to be pruned, fertilized and top dressed in anticipation of the coming spring. Roses may seem to be somewhat imposing, but with the proper gear (rose gloves and a sharp good quality pair of pruners) they can actually be fun to work with. Pruning your roses comes down to a few simple steps of reducing the size to a desirable shape, removing dead and diseased canes and opening up the center to allow for better air flow. Roses are susceptible to fungal diseases and proper air circulation will help decrease their chances of catching one of these diseases. The best place to cut is just above an outward facing bud on each cane you wish to keep. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the rose by about 30%, but they can often handle much harsher pruning. It’s also a good idea to rake up any fallen rose leaves around the base of you plants and discard these. If your roses have had any disease problems cleaning up last years leaves will help maintain a better chance for health this season. But it’s not just pruning and clean up that roses need this time of year, they also need to be fed! One simple approach that roses love, is to sprinkle around the base of the plant out to the drip line (to the width of the rose bush) a good organic fertilizer. These days high quality organic fertilizers containing bone meal, blood meal, microbes and mycorrhizal fungi can found at most garden centers and even big box stores. Roses do seem to have a particular affinity for bone meal, alfalfa meal and kelp meal. All of these contain various nutrients and trace minerals that roses like. The phosphorous in bone meal is particularly good at promoting abundant and lovely blooms. After sprinkling your organic fertilizer around the base of your plant, gently cultivate it in with a cultivator or hoe. A top dressing of compost of 1-3 inches on top of this will provide a nice mulch and continue to gently feed the roses for the rest of the season. Some summer pruning may also be needed to keep your roses in good shape. Follow these simple steps and you will have healthy and beautiful roses every year. If you don’t want to tangle with the thorny little beasties yourself, contact us for our expert organic rose care service.
A Shawnee Creek
Small Retaining Wall
Here’s a little retaining wall we recently completed. Jason D. did a good job adapting the design to the client’s liking.
Helianthus tuberosus (jerusalem artichoke, sun roots)
Height: 5-10+ feet
Spread: 2-3+ feet
Type: Perennial
Origin: Native to much of North America, including many counties in Oklahoma
Exposure: Full sun
Water: Moderate to moist but does fine with some drought
Edible: Produces delicious and useful tubers which are called Jerusalem Artichokes or sunchokes and can be eaten raw or cooked. The taste is similar to potatoes but with a sweet nuttiness and a hint of artichokes. Nutritionally the tubers are high in protein, and rich in iron, potassium and a range of B vitamins. There is even a liquor distilled from the tuber.
Medicinal: Jerusalem artichokes have historically been used as a dietary supplement for people suffering from diabetes to reduce blood sugar levels and minimize the need for insulin.
Companions: Panicum virgatum (switch grass), Baptisia, Lespedeza, Desmanthus illinoensis (illinois bundleflower)
Notes: Helianthus Tuberosus is in the sunflower family and the plants resemble bushy sunflowers. The blooms are a very striking and profuse yellow which is quite a display and good at attracting birds and pollinators. There are a number of different varieties and the species has a lot of genetic diversity. The tubers color can be varying shades of red, white, brown and yellow. It may have a tendency to overrun an area when not kept in check but it can be a great addition to either a perennial edible bed or interspersed in a native garden. Works well with native grasses and legumes. Oikos Tree Crops carries a very nice selection of varieties. Success can also be had from planting grocery store bought tubers. Natural food stores often stock them. Any plant that is both edible and native gets top marks from us!
Flower close up with bee