Find coral honeysuckle and red-throated hummingbird in your Maryland garden.
The diverse geology, hydrology and land formation in Maryland provide a desirable ecosystem for over 3,000 species of plant life. The rich soil of the state's mountain region to the sandy soil along the Eastern shore contribute to Maryland's diverse growing conditions. Flowers common in Maryland vary widely in size, formation, color and habitat. Maryland gardeners can choose from a wide range of indigenous flowering ground covers, ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials when decorating their flower beds. Does this Spark an idea?
Black-Eyed Susan
The cheerful, daisy-like black-eyed Susan is the official Maryland state flower. The Maryland General Assembly designated the black-eyed Susan the "floral emblem" of Maryland in 1918. This wildflower is an annual to short-lived perennial featuring bright-yellow rays encircling a dark-brown spherical center--the flower's claim-to-fame. Tiny, coarse hairs cover the stem and leaves of black-eyed Susan giving it a fuzzy appearance and rough texture. Find the black-eyed Susan in Maryland's fields and roadsides between May and August reaching up to 2 to 3 feet in height.
Turtlehead
Turtleheads (Chelone glabra) attract the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, the official Maryland state insect. These perennials are hardy plants with sturdy, vertical, rounded stems and deep-green, boldly veined leaves. Turtleheads produce creamy white, pink-rimmed blossoms from August through October. These flowers grow up to 24 to 36 inches in height and bloom for up to five weeks. The Chelone glabra serves as the Baltimore checkerspot's only host plant and provides nourishment to the butterfly during its growth period. Aside from the checkerspot, turtleheads are highly pest resistant. Find turtleheads in Maryland's wet meadows; the flower thrives in rich, moist soil near ponds or streams. Turtleheads also require partial shade and frequent watering.
Coral Honeysuckle
The long, tubular, red, sweetly-fragranced flowers of the Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) beckon hummingbirds to visit. Find ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), the predominant hummingbird species in Maryland, flocking to your garden in mid-spring when the coral honeysuckle flowers most heavily. Lonicera sempervirens serve as a primary source of nectar for both hummingbirds and butterflies. Coral honeysuckle continues to provide clusters of blossoms at the end of its vines throughout the summer. Enjoy an abundance of red blossoms by planting the coral honeysuckle in areas offering full sun exposure. Although aphids sometimes attack the tips of new shoots, the coral honeysuckle enjoys a reputation of being both pest- and disease-resistant.
Queen Anne's Lace
Dotted along Maryland roadsides during the summer are the blossoms of Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota). This biennial features a carrot-like root and its flowers also smell like the deeply-colored root vegetable. The flower's umbels range from claret to pale pink in color before blooming into a bright, white blossom with a spherical shape. Queen Anne's lace grows up 3 to 4 feet tall when in full flower. According to legend, the flower bears the name of a British royal who pricked herself with a needle while tatting lace. Although the flower bears the name of royalty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies it a noxious weed.
Tags: black-eyed Susan, coral honeysuckle, Queen Anne, Anne Lace, Baltimore checkerspot, bears name, Chelone glabra
