Basic HTML Version
40
Escarpment Magaz ine Summer 2012
A European native, periwinkle is spread-
ing across gardens in North America. This
creeping, evergreen ground plant is often
selected for its ease of care, dense growth
and ability to thrive in dry shade. Winter-
green has similar leaves and is a better,
native option. Reaching 10 to 15 centime-
tres in height, wintergreen produces attrac-
tive white flowers in the spring that make
way for vibrant red berries in the fall. The
plants’ minty leaves have been used for
medicinal teas.
3
Periwinkle vs.
Wintergreen
Native to Europe, western Asia and northern
Africa, English ivy spreads through long vines
that can anchor in almost any soil. With hun-
dreds of varieties now growing in North Amer-
ica gardeners can identify this woody ivy by its
dark green three lobed leaves. For a non-inva-
sive, native option, gardeners can turn to wild
ginger, an excellent and drought-tolerant
groundcover for shady spots. Growing in
clumps 15 to 20 centimetres in height, wild gin-
ger produces maroon flowers beneath heart-
shaped leaves in mid spring. Gardeners who
have had their plants munched all too often by
deer may be attracted to wild ginger for its
deer-resistant properties.
|E|
5
English Ivy vs.
Wild Ginger
The pink and purple hooded-flowers of the Himalayan
balsam have been guilty of luring all too many garden-
ers into bringing it home. This moisture-loving impatiens
has a fleshy reddish stem and can reach heights of over
two metres. A master in escaping the confines of a gar-
dener’s yard, Himalayan balsam spreads quickly to
rivers edges and wetlands. For a native plant with a sim-
ilarly attractive look gardeners should consider growing
orange jewelweed. This plant not only produces brilliant
orange flowers that can attract hummingbirds, but water
droplets on the leaves shimmer like tiny “jewels”.
4
Himalayan
Balsam vs.
Orange
Jewelweed
Wintergreen... a better native choice
Jewelweed... a better native choice
Wild Ginger... a better native choice
For more information and a greater selection of
native plants:
nd
