The Empty Niche Syndrome by Carol ………. Pennsylvania
Long ago, somewhere in the eastern deciduous forests, the elements necessary
to produce new plant species “realized” that, if they could just manage to grow,
blossom, and set seed quickly enough, they could take advantage of several crucial
things: the abundant sunshine that reaches the forest floor before the trees leaf out;
the plentiful rains of early spring; and the pollinators present but rather underemployed
at that time of year. How it happened I cannot say, but happen it did—and not just
once, but once for each of the several plant species we now refer to as spring
ephemerals.
Nature is nothing if not creative in filling with life every square inch on earth that
is even remotely capable of sustaining it at any given moment. Gardeners, alas, are
somewhat less creative in using all of the available growing opportunities. We tend to
fill the early spring niche with non-native bulbs or cover it up with that all-purpose
default which is mulch.
In defense of gardeners and plant nurseries, I have found that spring ephemerals
are often hard to come by. Collecting and growing seed of species such as
Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), and cutleaf
toothwort (Dentaria laciniata) is difficult at best. Some ephemeral species produce
little seed, relying instead on other means of perpetuating their forms and increasing
their numbers. What seed is produced is shed quickly. Even if it is successfully
collected, it cannot be allowed to dry out before sowing. Germination and growth to
the size of blooming plants may take years. Still, some nurseries that specialize in
native plants do grow and sell them.
There is, however, one classic spring ephemeral, Virginia bluebells (Mertensia
virginica), that is not particularly difficult to propagate from seed. Bill Cullina, author of
Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada, describes the
plant as follows:
As best I can determine, Mertensias are not plants at all,
but delicate clumps of sky, thinly disguised and sent here
for a few weeks each year to bring us earthbound folks
briefly closer to heaven….The flowers are the same ethereal
blue as a cloudless spring day and hang like little longhandled
bells on arching stems incorporated within the
uppermost leaves. The broad, thin foliage is lightly brushed
with this same glorious pigment giving it a soft blue-green
glow.
All of that and they are deer-resistant too!
Virginia bluebells are easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil in areas sunny in
spring and shady in summer. Add plenty of humus to the soil when planting and mulch
well. Water if the spring is dry. The plants go dormant in late June. After that they can
deal with a good bit of drought. They are naturals under deciduous trees and shrubs,
or near species that emerge late such as maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum),
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), or Jack-in-the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum).
White wood aster (Aster divericatus) is a great companion species since it blooms in
shade in the fall. Another option is planting among woodland ground cover species
such as wild ginger (Asarum canadense), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), or
foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia).
Bluebells will self-sow readily where they are happy and do not require division
to maintain vigor and flower well. If you want to divide them to get more plants, do it
just after they go dormant, or in the fall when there is a flush of new root growth. If you
wait until fall you will, of course, have to mark the location of the plants. Keep track of
which end is up as you break up the clumps of tubers and replant two to three inch
pieces about two inches deep. Keep them moist until established.