Wildflower Walk 2020 Preview

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American Cranberry Bush

American Cranberry BushViburnum opulus var. americanum (Formerly Viburnum triloba)Other names: Highbush-cranberry or Cranberry ViburnumBloom Time: MayHeight: 6 - 12 feetSpread: 8 - 12 feetHabitat: Moist woodlands, slopes, and stream banksWildlife Value: Flowers attract butterflies and the plant is a larval host for the Spring Azure caterpillars. The berries are an excellent winter-survival food for birds as the shrubs height reaches above the snow. Its berries also get sweeter after freezing. Established shrubs provide cover for small animals and nesting sites for birds.Home Garden: Wonderful spring and fall interest with white blooms, red fall berries, and gorgeous fall colors. It’s a great winter hardy shrub for hedges or screens in full sun to partial shade areas of garden.Fun Facts: Listed as threatened in Ohio and endangered in Indiana by each state’s protected status. It is unrelated to true cranberry that is grown commercially for food.

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May Apple

May ApplePodophyllum peltatumWhile this plant is not blooming end of March or early April, it's shoots and leaves will start appearing soon. They look like little umbrellas. In May their flowers will bloom and are typically below the leaves so look closely.

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Northern Maidenhair Fern

Northern Maidenhair FernAdiantum pedatumHeight: 1 – 2 1/2 feetSpread: 1 – 1 1/2 feetHabitat: Shaded rich woodlands, rocky hillsides, and ravinesWildlife Value: Its fronds provide shelter to small animals like toads and lizards.Home Garden: Excellent for adding texture to your garden. Its interesting foliage and ability to grow in shade makes it a nice ground cover under trees. Keep moist as this plant is not drought tolerant. It grows well as a shaded border, woodland garden, shaded rock garden, or native plant garden.Fun Facts: Many indigenous tribes used the black stalks to weave decorative designs into baskets. Indigenous people used leaves to relieve aches and make a tea to treat respiratory conditions such as coughing. Maidenhair fern was thought in Colonial Time to treat baldness and promote lustrous hair.

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Bloodroot

Bloodroot

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Virginia Bluebells

Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginica

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Celendine Poppy

Located at the point where the wildflower trails meet with the red trail. There is a small black plant label. Typically blooms mid-April through May. Interesting fuzzy seeds in late May.

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Lenten Rose

Lenten RoseHellebores orientalisBlooms: end of March/early April

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The End - continue your walk or head back to parking lot

If you go left (slight uphill) you'll continue on the red trail through the pririe to an option to stop at the bird blind.If you go right (back through the wildflower area) you will reach the paved path that leads back to the parking lot or can loop 1 mile past other features at Cox Arboretum MetroParkthanks for joining for a wildflower walk