Shrub Spotlight for the Native Plant Fest and Sale

By: Stacey Wildberger

Cape Conservation Corps Native Fall Plant Fest and Sale is coming up September 23, 2023 from 9am to noon, located in the field behind the clubhouse (1223 River Bay Rd 21409).  In addition to the ferns, groundcovers and perennials we will have some outstanding shrubs for with high value for wildlife.  The following are a few we will have (supply permitting). 

Are you looking for some amazing fall color?  Check put the Callicarpa  americana American beautyberry, with is vibrant purple berries clinging tightly to the stem in bunches is a showstopper! It will bring all the birds to your yard to feast on these beauties.  Reaching 3-6’ feet in height and spread in the full sun to part shade it will provide some amazing winter interest.  While the flower is pretty insignificant the berries will delight!

Hypericum prolificum shrubby St John’s wort is a smaller shrub, reaching 1-5’ in height and 1-4’ spread.  It will thrive in full sun to part shade making it very versatile.  The beautiful yellow bloom from June to August is a welcome addition to any garden.  Great for use in a hedge row or border and useful in stabilizing slopes.  It attracts a variety of bees, butterflies and other pollinators.  Look for this to be blooming at the Little Magothy Beach Park next year as we just added a group of 6!

Another spectacular pollinator shrub we will have is Clethra Alnifolia summersweet (picture at the top of the post).  Preferring moist to wet conditions it will grow 3-8’ and spread 4-6’.  It performs well on full sun to part shade.  Uses include hedge row, rain gardens and naturalized area.  We recently added this the Little Magothy Beach Park as well.  The white, showy and fragrant bloom will bring in those big, beautiful butterflies such as monarchs and swallowtails!

We are hoping to have several varieties of Viburnums at the sale.  There are so many to choose but we are trying to get V. acerifolium mapleleaf viburnum and V. prunifolium, Blackhaw (picture above).  The mapleleaf is shorter viburnum (3-6’) and the Blackhaw will reach 12-15’.  Both have showy white blooms to attract a variety of butterflies and pollinators.  Full sun to part shade in a dry to medium soil will suit these beauties best. Depending on availability we may have other Viburnums.

Our sale will not only feature beautiful selection of native plants at rock bottom prices but we will have many experts on our hand to answer questions and suggestion plants.  Nancy Lawson, author, blogger and friend to wildlife, Chris Pax, local native landscape designer, Alison Milligan the ultimate plant guru, Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, including the Baywise team, Pollinator Pathways, Magothy River Association, Adkins Arboretum, Unity Gardens and of course the AA County Watershed Stewards! Look forward to seeing everyone!