5 native plants you'll find in Middle Tennessee at ‘bask’ retreat center
Christmas Fern (Polystichum Acrostichoides)
Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly known as Christmas fern, is a perennial, evergreen fern native to eastern North America, thriving in moist, shady woodlands and rocky slopes. Its name comes from the fern’s fronds, which often remain green through the winter and into the Christmas season. Growing in clumps from a central point, its dark green, leathery fronds reach up to 31 inches in length. Christmas fern is popular in garden cultivation due to its hardiness and ability to thrive in various environments. It also plays an important role in soil conservation by helping to prevent erosion on steep slopes, with its fronds lying flat after frost to hold soil and organic matter in place. You can find Christmas ferns on the forest floor at ‘bask’ and in other shady areas on our property.
Bear's Foot (Smallanthus Uvedalia)
Smallanthus uvedalia, commonly known as hairy leafcup, bear's foot, or yellow flower leafcup, is a tall herbaceous perennial native to the central and eastern United States. Reaching heights of 2 to nearly 10 feet, its stout, mostly smooth stem supports large, opposite leaves that form a small cup around the stem. The plant produces clusters of yellow flowers, with 7 to 13 ray flowers surrounding 40-80 tube-like disc flowers. Known for its resinous odor, bears foot can produce up to 100 flower heads on a single plant. It was previously classified under the name Polymnia uvedalia. While you’re exploring our creek you will find these rare plants in bloom along the creek edge and scattered throughout our wetlands area.
Prairie Rosinweed (Silphium Integrifolium)
Silphium integrifolium, commonly known as rosinweed or prairie rosinweed, is a perennial herb native to eastern and central North America. Growing up to 6.7 feet tall, it has smooth or slightly rough stems and lance-shaped to ovate leaves. The plant produces clusters of yellow flowers, with up to 36 ray florets and numerous disc florets. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and is often targeted by herbivores like deer and insects such as gall wasps. S. integrifolium is being domesticated for oil production and livestock forage, valued for its drought resistance and ability to uptake nitrogen. At ‘bask’ we are lucky enough to have prairie rosinweed growing naturally in our prairie, which we are in the process of restoring with the Southern Grasslands Institute (SGI) over the next 4 years.
Purple Fringeless Orchid (Platanthera Peramoena)
Platanthera peramoena, commonly known as the purple fringeless orchid, is native to the Eastern United States, thriving in moist environments like forests, marshes, streambanks, and wet prairies. This perennial orchid grows between 35 and 105 cm tall and produces showy rose-purple flowers from July to August. The flowers have deeply lobed lips and are pollinated primarily by the moth Hemaris thysbe. At ‘bask’ you will be able to find the purple fringeless orchid in our wetlands area along the water's edge, where it adds a striking visual presence with its vibrant blooms.
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterfly weed, is a native milkweed species found across eastern and southwestern North America. This perennial plant grows between 1 to 3.5 feet tall and is known for its vibrant orange, yellow, or red flowers that bloom from April to September. These colorful blossoms attract various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, particularly monarch and queen butterflies. Butterfly weed thrives in dry, sunny habitats with sandy or gravelly soil and is popular in gardens for its striking flowers. The plant is also notable for its long-haired seeds housed in 3-6 inch fruit pods, which aid in its propagation.