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Compass Issue 8
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Compass is a quarterly publication of the USDA Forest Service's Southern Research Station (SRS). As part of the Nation's largest forestry research organization -- USDA Forest Service Research and Development -- SRS serves 13 Southern States and beyond. The Station's 130 scienists work in more than 20 units located across the region at Federal laboratories, universites, and experimental forests.



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Issue 8 - Science You Can Use!

Plants That Will Grow in Moderately Wet to Wet Soil

Common name Scientific name Height (feet) Description
Native deciduous trees (height is at 20 years)
Musclewood Carpinus caroliniana 20 Older bark develops a smooth, slate- gray, irregularly fluted appearance similar to a forearm muscle, hence the name; tolerates flooding
Red maple Acer rubrum 35 Red seeds in spring, red fall leaf color; seeds eaten by squirrels and birds
River birch Betula nigra 40 Peeling bark is very attractive, usually planted in clumps of three trees; seeds are eaten by grouse, turkey, and several small birds
Native deciduous shrubs
Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis 3-6 Will grow in water, but is not tolerant of dry conditions; unique, creamy white flowers clustered in globular heads appear in late summer; used by native insect pollinators
Redosier dogwood Cornus sericea 4-8 White flower clusters appear June through August, followed by white berries late summer into winter; red stem color is outstanding in winter landscape; berries are eaten by numerous songbirds
Winterberry Ilex verticillata 6-10 Bright red berries ripen late summer and persist through winter; berries are eaten by over 48 bird species; need male and female plants within 40 feet for pollination; prefers acidic soils; berries are poisonous to humans
Native herbaceous perennials
Bee balm Monarda didyma 1-3 Tubular flowers naturally scarlet red, cultivars available with white-to-purple flowers; fragrance attracts bees; also used by butterflies and hummingbirds; not drought tolerant
Cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis 3-4 Fire engine red, tubular flowers in spring; prefers light shade; used by hummingbirds and butterflies
Eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides 4-8 Wide leaf blades, some varieties have bluish tint; tolerates periodic flooding and acidic soils; excellent choice for heavy clay soils or compacted areas; bunching structure provides cover for birds
Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica 2-3 Blue flowers in spring; prefers light shade; used by pollinators
Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis 3-6 Multiple purple flower heads in clusters in summer; used by numerous pollinators
Joe-pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum 3-7 Large, rounded inflorescence made up of small, pinkish-white flowers in fall; used by numerous pollinators, particularly butterflies
Royal fern Osmunda regalis 6 Very graceful, large fern suitable as an accent plant; fronds look like large locust leaves; unfolding fronds have a wine-red color which turns green as they mature
Turtlehead Chelone spp. 1-3 C. glabra has white flowers; C. lyonii has pink flowers; C. obliqua has deep pinkish-red flowers; all prefer light shade; will tolerate full sun

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