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need advice for native vines

16 years ago

Hi all. I'm not sure ...how can I confirm if a plant is "native" or not? (I've decided I only want to start growing native plants...I live in NYC.)

Right now I'm looking for vines. I was going to order some clematis and some golden hops, but then I suspect the clematis in particular is not native.

Any other appropriate vines you can suggest?

Also, I know there's a great website out there where regular folks can rank online plant suppliers but the name of the site escapes me. Anybody know it?

Thanks!!!

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Comments (8)

offplumb
16 years ago
hello yippee
Clematis virginiana is a native clematis - you might want to look into that.
I'm not well versed on vines but if you could indicate the amount of sunlight your spot gets, it'll be helpful to the more knowledgeable folk when they come around.
to confirm that a plant is native to your specific location, there are some online resources which are quite helpful. once again, I fall short of info - I usually just google, and make sure the plants are native to my spot - I'm sure others here can post their favorite sites.
as for something i do know...
at Daves Garden, there's the garden watchdog (link below)

good luck to you

Here is a link that might be useful: garden watchdog at dave's garden
stoloniferous
16 years ago
Hello Yippee! Try the USDA site: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BICA. Under the map is a button called "view native status". That should tell you what you need to know.

Here are some other vine options for you to consider:

Trumpet Vine, Campsis radicans
American Wisteria, Wisteria frutescens
American Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens (not to be confused with the invasive Oriental Bittersweet)
Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Cheers!

Here is a link that might be useful: USDA
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There's our native climbing hydrangea -- Decumaria barbara. It isn't as showy as the Asian climbing hydrangea, but it's still pretty handsome. My garden encyclopedia lists its size as 30 feet, but it grows fairly slowly, so pruning should be a practical way to keep it in bounds. You say 'no trellis', but would you consider using strings or wires for a twining climber or one with tendrils? That would give you a lot more options, like Passiflora incarnata, Celastrus scandens, Lonicera sempervirens, or maybe one of the native Clematis. If the vine has to cling to the stone on its own, then Decumaria may be the only option. Here is a link that might be useful:
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bob64
16 years ago
Ditto the response from stoloniferous. Virginia Creeper is native to your area and mine and is commercially available by mail order from Ernst Conservation Seeds among others (http://www.ernstseed.com/species_search.aspx). Your page mentions that you have to contend with shade. Virginia Creeper grows in sun and shade where I garden in White Plains which is not so far from you. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a good web site and also some literature for sale. I also noticed that there was an area within the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's site for urban gardeners.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
carol23_gw
16 years ago
There are many beautiful native vines. One of the local PA nurseries is propagating quite a few species and selections. There are beautiful Clematis native to the southeast which grow well in the mid-Atlantic states and areas colder.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brushwood Nursery native plant list
ladyslppr
16 years ago
If you plan to use the internet as a source of information regarding native plants, be careful to cross check any source you find, particularly the more informal sources and retail nurseries. I have seen lots of plants that are definitely not native listed as native. A catalog I got recently advertised "native daylilies" and showed a picture of the orange daylily Hemerocallis fulva that grows in the wild, but is not native.
bob64
16 years ago
Dutchman's Pipe is another native vine.
ellen_s
16 years ago
Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens is native to the northeast. It attracts hummingbirds, in fact its long tubular flowers evolved with hummingbirds who can pollinate the flowers with their long bills...

A great book describing native vines and their habit is William Cullina's book on Native Vines, Shrubs and Trees.
wildflowerchris
16 years ago
coral honeysuckle vine is a very pretty native vine.
does well in a good size pot or in the ground.

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