Latin for Gardeners: July 2025

Latin for Gardeners

July’s Native Maryland Plant

Actaea racemosa L.

(ak-TAY-ah ray-see-MO-sah)  

Common Name: Black Cohosh, Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Fairy Candles

Summer is in full swing - it’s a good time to grab a cool drink and find a place in the shade to enjoy watching life in your garden. A shady wooded slope is where the Actaea racemosa blooms in my garden and where I find many pollinators. This plant is often found in moist to dry forests, its racemes reaching high above the shrub layers as its serrated leaves create a nice understory carpet.

A. racemosa took a few years to establish in my yard but has done well without any intervention on my part. It competes well with many other woodland plants and its tall blooms can be seen from a distance as they tower over most other shady perennials.

Black Cohosh is a host plant for the Spring Azure and the Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglectamajor). This latter butterfly’s larvae are specialists; they only use this specific plant as a host. Interestingly, their larvae are known for eating the flowers and buds of the plant, whereas most caterpillars are known for eating the leaves of their host. See Sara Bright’s stunning photos of the butterflies and caterpillars here: https://alabama.butterflyatlas.usf.edu/species/details/38/appalachian-azure

It’s not only butterflies that will be attracted to Black Cohosh – bumblebees and beetles will seek it out too. Its blooms emit a pungent scent; hence the plant was given the unfortunate common name ‘bugbane’ – it was once thought to repel insects.

Like last month’s plant, Gillenia trifoliata, this plant’s botanical name has changed multiple times. Its taxonomic genus, Actaea, was originally proposed by Linnaeus but was reclassified and changed to Cimicifuga, which comes from the Latin “Cimex” (bug) and “fugere”, (to flee or repel) in other words, a bug repellant.  In 2000, based on gene phylogeny analysis¹, it was reclassified again and changed back to Actaea; Cimicifuga is now an obsolete genus. This plant may have a convoluted nomenclature history but it’s a simple choice to plant one - or more.

Stay cool Stewards and don’t forget to help wildlife stay cool – add a water source to your yard to help them survive the heat. This immature, Red-shouldered hawk (note it’s yellow irises) made its presence known with its loud calls well before I saw it cooling off in my fountain. It’s primarily a forest dweller but can be found where houses have forested areas that make for good hunting grounds. Unlike the Appalachian Azure butterfly, these raptors, like most, are generalists and feed on many types of prey including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals like voles and squirrels. As you’d expect, it will be well-fed if it stays in my yard.

¹  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actaea_racemosa

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013

Watershed Steward Class 7/Anne Arundel Tree Trooper

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: June 2025

Latin for Gardeners
June’s Native Maryland Plant

Gillenia trifoliata (L.) Moench
(gil-le-nee-ah try-foh-lee-AY-tuh)
Common Name: Bowman's root, Indian-physic, American ipecac, Fawn’s Breath

Gillenia trifoliata is not a plant I see in many gardens, I wonder why? This low-growing, herbaceous perennial, considered a subshrub (1), is a tough plant that can be slow to establish but grows under many conditions. I’ve planted it in both clay and sandy loam, in full sun and in moderate shade – using it as a filler with more bold textured plants and under shrubs. I’ve seen it growing naturally on a slope in a forested buffer, its trifoliate leaves, lacking stipules, help to differentiate it from a more southern and western plant in the same genus: Gillenia stipulata.

After flowering, the calyces of Gillenia spp. turn red and remain on the plants’ wiry red stems creating an attractive look long after the flower petals have dropped. In the fall the leaves turn a shade of red.

Considered an ornamental plant to gardeners, this plant is attractive to smaller bees and butterflies as well. 

This plant is unusual in that its botanical name has changed multiple times and not because of reclassification (3) , but because of its association with a Clethra synonym.  It was originally named Gillenia, then renamed Porteranthus trifoliatus, and then, after much debate and through a vote at the International Botanical Congress, the original name was reinstated (4).   It also has many common names which can be confusing.

 Whatever you choose to call it, adding Gillenia trifoliata to your garden is certain to get people talking.

1 A small shrub (e.g. prostrate shrubs) or a perennial that is largely herbaceous but slightly woody at the base
2 https://mtcubacenter.org/plants/pink-profusion-bowmans-root/
3 A scientific name change due to DNA analysis
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillenia

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013
Watershed Steward Class 7/Anne Arundel Tree Trooper
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)
aligmilligan@gmail.com

Rooted in Purpose: Planting More Than Trees in Edgewater, Maryland

Rooted in Purpose: Planting More Than Trees in Edgewater, Maryland

As a Tree Ambassador with the Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA), I had the joy of leading a community tree planting project this spring in Edgewater, Maryland. What began as a straightforward plan to plant 12 Sweetbay Magnolias and one Persimmon tree quickly turned into a memorable, muddy, and meaningful day that reminded all of us why this work matters.

This project came together at  Wild Kid Acres (WKA)—a vibrant local farm committed to connecting families to nature and animals. The area chosen for planting had been experiencing some water drainage issues, so adding native trees was not only beneficial for the environment but also for the long-term health of the land. The Sweetbay Magnolia were selected for their ability to handle wetter soil and support local biodiversity.

In the weeks leading up to the event, WOCO Hike & Sound Healing (WOCO) and the Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) worked hand in hand to gather an incredible group of volunteers. Through consistent outreach, social media promotions, and mutual support, we successfully brought together 18 adult volunteers and 5 youth from our communities. The collaboration between WOCO and WSA made it possible to engage a diverse and enthusiastic group, all eager to show up and make a difference. As the day arrived, the tools were ready, the energy was high—and just when we thought we had everything mapped out, nature had a surprise in store.

The night before the event, heavy rain flooded the planting area. By the time we arrived, we weren’t just planting trees—we were planting them in full-on mud puddles. While this wasn’t what we envisioned nonetheless it became part of the adventure. Instead of shying away, we embraced it. Planting in the mud became a reminder to expect the unexpected and go with nature’s flow. With the right mindset—and thankfully, the right gear provided by WKA—it turned into one of the most memorable parts of the day.

Despite the mud, everything else went beautifully. Wild Kid Acres was the ideal setting, and their hospitality ensured our volunteers felt safe, supported, and welcomed. There was a sense of joy and pride in every tree we placed. Many volunteers were planting for the first time, and I could see in their faces just how powerful this seemingly simple act was. Even the younger participants walked away with muddy boots and full hearts.

This wasn’t just about planting trees—it was about planting connection. Between people. Between communities and the land. Between who we are and who we’re becoming as stewards of this earth. I hope the experience stays with everyone who attended and inspires them to stay curious and active in environmental restoration.

In reflection, I hope this experience serves as a catalyst for all who participated to continue advocating for natural spaces. Whether it’s through tree planting, environmental education, or simply spending more time in nature, we all have a role to play. I’m grateful to WSA for the support from start to finish. Their dedication to this work is unmatched. As for me, I’m proud to serve not just as a Tree Ambassador—but as a WSA Ambassador, championing the importance of stewardship in every season.

I’m already looking forward to getting muddy again this fall!

— Ralinda Wimbush
WSA Tree Ambassador | WOCO Hike & Sound Healing

Latin for Gardeners: May 2025

Latin for Gardeners
May’s Native Maryland Plant

Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald
(uh-RUN-kus dee-OH-ih-kus)
Common Name: Goat’s-beard, Bride’s-feathers

Aruncus dioicus, a clump-forming herbaceous perennial, makes a great addition to a moist, part-shade garden. Its feathery white plumes rise high above the plant and bloom May through July, typically for 10-14 days; they resemble the non-native astilbe (aka False Goat’s-Beard). Aruncus dioicus can be a slow-growing plant but once established it will grow to the size of a shrub and will occupy a large area before dying back each year.

The plant’s species name, dioicus, refers to there being separate male and female plants. The male plant is considered showier due to its many protruding stamens1 when flowering - plants are generally not identified as one or the other when offered for sale. The alternate, pinnately compound and serrated leaves are also an attractive feature of this plant.

Of course, it’s not only the aesthetics of a plant to be considered when choosing plants for a garden.  A plant’s value should also be based on its contribution to biodiversity and the life it supports. These native plants will support many very small insects that are not often seen on other more familiar native plants. Small bees, hoverflies, beetles, spiders and true bugs2 will be found, some seeking nectar and pollen from the small bowl-shaped flowers.  Insectivorous birds will benefit from these insects as they support an ecological food chain. Aruncus dioicious is also a host plant for the Dusky Azure Butterfly (Celastrina nigra), which unfortunately is considered extirpated from Maryland.3 This butterfly can be found in rich deciduous forest in the Appalachians and some areas of the Midwest.

Fortunately, the Rose-breasted grosbeak is not a rare bird in Maryland. They migrate from the tropics in late spring, arriving to backyards and deciduous forests of Maryland in late April and early May.  Like the Goat’s-beard male plant, the male bird is much showier than their female counterpart.  You’ll easily recognize them from the red chevron that extends down their white breast. For most of the year, over half of their diet is made up of insects – they also enjoy seeds and berries. Their large, strong, triangular beaks allow them to eat large grasshoppers, crickets and other insects with tough exoskeletons – a splendid bird to have visiting a garden, wouldn’t you agree?

1Stamens are the male reproductive organs of flowering plants.

2True bugs are a group of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera. They are known for their specialized mouthparts which are used for piercing and sucking.

3A species that was once a viable component of the fauna of Maryland, but for which no naturally occurring populations are known to exist. The spread of invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis) is often listed as a reason for habitat loss of the Dusky Azure.

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013
Watershed Steward Class 7/Anne Arundel Tree Trooper
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)
aligmilligan@gmail.com