Certain groups of native plants referred to as “keystone plants” have been found to be especially supportive of wildlife. In this program Extension Master Gardeners Elaine Mills and Kathie Clements describe selected species of trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials native to the Mid-Atlantic region which offer food and shelter for pollinators and birds and provide sustenance to the full lifecycle of our local butterflies and moths. Attractive features, care requirements, and ideas for landscape uses will be presented for each native species. Elaine Mills is the creative force behind the resource Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic and is the co-coordinator for the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden, a Virginia Cooperative Extension Demonstration Garden in Arlington, Virginia. Kathie Clements, a newly certified Extension Master Gardener, has a focused interest in native plants.
Zoom session, recorded January 21 2022
Video of Presentation
Additional Resources
Native Keystone Plants that support the highest number of caterpillars of Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths, skippers, fritillaries):
Top Woody Keystone Plants
- White Oak (Quercus alba):
genus supports 534 species - Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
- Dwarf Chinquapin Oak (Quercus prinoides)
- Black Cherry (Prunus serotina):
genus supports 456 species - Black Willow (Salix nigra):
genus supports 455 species - Silky Willow (Salix sericea)
- Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
- River Birch (Betula nigra):
genus supports 413 species - Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria):
genus supports 311 species - Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum):
supports 288 species - Red Maple (Acer rubrum):
genus supports 285 species - Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus):
genus supports 203 species - Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata):
genus supports 200 species - Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli):
genus supports 159 species - Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens): genus supports 36 species
Other Woody Keystone Species
- Poplar (Populus deltoides)
- Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- Rose (Rosa palustris)
- Filbert (Corylus americana)
- Walnut (Juglans nigra)
- Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Top Herbaceous Keystone Plants
- Rough-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa): genus supports 115 species
- Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
- Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)
- New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae): genus supports 112 species
- Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
- White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
- Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
- Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus):
genus supports 73 species - Narrow-leaved Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
- Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium):
genus supports 42 species - Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica):
genus supports 36 species - Plantain-leaved Sedge (Carex plantaginea)
- Common Blue/Confederate Violet (Viola sororia):
genus supports 29 species - Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens)
- Striped Violet (Viola striata)
- Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum):
genus supports 23 species - Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida):
genus supports 17 species
Other Herbaceous Keystone Plants
- Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
- Iris (Iris virginica & Iris cristata)
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp.)
- Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata & Asclepias tuberosa)
- Verbena (Verbena hastata)
- Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
- Phlox (Phlox divaricata, Phlox paniculata, & Phlox subulata)
- Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Details and Answers to Chat Questions:
- QUESTIONS ON WOODY PLANTS – Elaine Mills
- QUESTIONS ON HERBACEOUS PLANTS – Kathie Clements
References
- Tried & True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic, MGNV Website
- Sustainable Landscaping Videos, Master Gardener Virtual Classroom, MGNV Website
- Books by Doug Tallamy on the importance of keystone plants:
- Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope, The Nature of Oaks
- Native Plant Finder, National Wildlife Federation (locate keystone plants by zip code)
- Native Caterpillars, Moths, Butterflies, and Host Native Woodies, Wild Ones
- Keystone Plants for Birds in North Carolina Piedmont, New Hope Audubon Society
- Native-only Plant Sellers, Plant NoVA Natives