Alan Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team are thrilled to announce the release of FloraQuest: Northern Tier, a new plant identification and discovery app covering more than 5,800 wildflowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and other vascular plants occurring in the northern part of The Flora of the Southeastern United States (FSUS).
With FloraQuest: Northern Tier, you can customize the northern tier flora by state and physiographic province.
With easy-to-use graphic keys, advanced dichotomous keys, habitat descriptions, range maps, and 20,000 diagnostic photographs, FloraQuest: Northern Tier is the perfect companion for your botanical explorations. FloraQuest: Northern Tier doesn’t need an internet connection to run, so you can take it with you wherever you go in the field.
You can use FloraQuest to learn about and identify all plants occurring within the 12-state “northern tier” portion of the FSUS. The app allows you to filter the state and physiographic region in which you are botanizing, seeing only relevant results close to you. Do you struggle to remember complicated botanical terms? We’ve got you covered: click on a word you don’t know, and the definition will pop up in the app without you having to leave the page!
This app covers Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Washington (D.C.), Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts of New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. In the coming years, our Flora team will be releasing additional apps for the remaining regions of the Southeastern Flora. Next up is North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Begin the graphic key with a choice of which plant group you are in, with multiple images for each group
Answer further quick questions in the Graphic Key to find the plant you’ve encountered. Here, 14 plants matched.
Browse plants based on search or graphic key results
Species photos
Species distribution, phenology, habitat, comments, synonymy, and more
Species range maps with legend
More options
Configure which states or regions within states to show
We remain committed to traditional floras and making flora data accessible: you can access the FSUS web app or download the latest PDF of the Flora of the Southeastern United States for free (donations optional) at ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/floras/.
Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Blacksburg, VA
Country Home Farms; Pembroke, VA
Eastern North America’s tall fescue grasslands produce a plethora of beef stockers, replacement heifers, and cow-calf pairs. These pastures replaced a variety of native woodlands and grasslands in the past 70 years. While tall fescue is a useful forage for much of the year, most tall fescue acreage consists of toxic endophyte Kentucky 31 tall fescue. This endophyte reduces animal performance in terms of average daily gain, reduced reproductive success, and decreased milk production. A lot of this tall fescue acreage cannot be easily converted to alternate forages, such as novel endophyte tall fescue or warm-season forages, in part due to soil conservation as well as economic constraints.
Producers might be able to reduce or eliminate toxic endophyte effects in cattle by overseeding this tall fescue with clovers. Clovers (Trifolium spp) are commonly overseeded into tall fescue stands. Red (T. pratense) and white (T. repens) clovers are currently recommended in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia for pasture clover. There are native alternatives to red and white clover.
A suite of native clovers are present in the United States. Kentucky historically had at least three native species from the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Plateau. These species were present in native grasslands and woodlands throughout the region at the time of European settlement. Native clovers declined with land use change, overgrazing, and fire suppression, but they are still present in modest populations. Native clovers serve a similar nutritional role to wildlife as red and white clovers serve for livestock. Conservation crop science has led to some study as to whether native clovers are agronomically competitive with red and white clover.
Cattle nutrition can justify native clover conservation in pastures
Clovers provide crude protein to cattle in cool-season grasslands. This additional crude protein comes with no additional nitrogen (N) fertilization. Native clovers often serve as the protein concentrate for native ungulates such as bison and deer, as well as monogastric species such as turkeys. Secondary metabolites, such as isoflavones, can dilute or interfere with the alkaloids found in tall fescue pastures. Screening native clover species for traditional metrics of nutritive value can make subsequent analysis for secondary metabolites more effective. Ultimately, this project would provide publishable data regarding the nutritional value of native clovers in comparison to red and white clover under common conditions. This data would guide existing research at Virginia Tech, including Bee-friendly Beef (NIFA-funded). Native clovers are a prime candidate for native plants in livestock production. Including native plants in working grasslands could provide production and conservation opportunities, especially if native clovers offer improved animal nutrition over introduced species.
Native clovers can support cattle and co-exist with non-native grasses
Native clovers are an important protein source in the western rangelands. Species nutritional value has been reported for several of the species native to California, Wyoming, and Oregon range (Bentley & Green, 1954; Cooper, 1957; Cooper and Hunter, 1959; Hamilton, 1961; Hamilton & Gilbert, 1971). These western clovers establish in stands and grow similarly to their nonnative equivalents (Lulow, 2008). Clovers from the eastern United States have only recently been investigated for their agronomic potential. Native clovers have similar agronomic performance relative to traditional red and white clovers.
Image: Jonathan Kubesch
1990s research suggests that native and nonnative clovers cannot be easily crossed, but native species such as Carolina (T. carolinianum) and peanut (T. polymorphum) clovers in addition to the buffalo clovers have improved pest resistance relative to red and white clovers (Taylor et al., 1994; Quesenberry et al., 1997). Running buffalo clover (T. stoloniferum) is competitive in orchardgrass stands subject to hay and forage clipping schedules (Barker and Sparks, 2013). Running buffalo clover also appears to persist in regularly grazed pastures (e.g. Taylor Fork Ecological Area, Eastern Kentucky University; Good Enough Farm, Peru, Indiana). Buffalo clover (T. reflexum) has a similar seed weight and comparable establishment as red and white clovers (Sanne et al., 2023; Kubesch et al., 2023). This work is lacking in reporting the nutritional value of these native clovers.
The Pollinator Garden Grant Partnership provides financial and support resources to Kentucky schools and nonprofit organizations wanting to establish or expand native plantings to attract and sustain pollinators. The primary mission is the garden, but the secondary mission is education regarding native plantings for pollinators in Kentucky.
The partnership includes three parties:
The Kentucky Native Plant Society as grantor will provide funds to purchase native plants and seeds. In lieu of funds, KNPS may choose to supply the plants and seeds to be chosen and delivered with the grantee’s knowledge and cooperation.
The grantee will be the owner or caretaker of the garden. The site should have education as part of its mission and offer public access, within reason.
An educational agency or organization will provide education and continued support for at least two years. KNPS can help you find such an organization in your area if necessary.
Each grant recipient will receive $500 to purchase native plants and/or seeds.
The plants must be true natives, no nativars, and be native to your region. KNPS and the educational partner of your choice will help you choose the best plants for your garden.
We encourage grant participants to follow these management practices:
Manage the density of plants, keeping them close, though not crowded, to provide shelter and protection for caterpillars and chrysalises.
Completely eliminate the use of insecticides.
Remove old growth from the previous year before the growing season begins, preferably in early to mid-spring. Keep in mind that many native pollinators overwinter in the garden as eggs, caterpillars, or chrysalises. Fall clean-up may destroy next year’s pollinators.
A pollinator garden should be approximately 100 square feet or more, although we encourage you to start small unless you have a good volunteer base to support a larger garden.
During the two years following the grant, KNPS requires before, during, and after progress reports and pictures to help us assist you in maintaining your garden. The number one failure of new pollinator gardens is a lack of central and continued support during this crucial time. We encourage grantees to choose someone in their organization who is willing to take on this two-year responsibility.
If you have received this grant previously, you are still eligible to apply, with evidence of prior success and commitment.
Kentucky Native Plant Society Pollinator Garden Grant Application [Note: This is a pilot project and not open to the public at this time]
Click on the image to view and download the PDF of the proclamation.
Governor Andy Beshear has proclaimed April 2023 as “Native Plant Month in Kentucky.” In his proclamation the Governor said:
“Now, therefore, I, Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim April, 2023, as Native Plant Month in Kentucky and encourage Kentucky citizens to observe this occasion by removing non-native invasive plants in our yards and communities, planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers, and educating our citizens about the many benefits of native plants.“
In the fall of 2022, The Garden Club of America launched an initiative to request proclamations from all 50 Governors to make April 2023 Native Plant Month in every state! As of April 4, 2023, 42 of the 50 states have issued such a proclamation. You can see all of the state proclamations here: Native Plant Laws and Proclamations by State.
In addition to the state proclamations, The Garden Club of America, beginning in 2021 has worked with Senators Rob Portman (R-OH retired), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Mike Braun (R-IN) to introduce and pass resolutions in the US Senate to declare April as National Native Plant Month. Resolutions were passed in 2021 and 2022. Senators Hirono and Braun introduced the resolution for 2023 in March and the expectation is that the Senate will pass the proclamation as soon as it returns from the Easter recess. You can read the press release from Senator Hirono’s office here: Hirono, Braun Introduce Resolution Designating April 2023 as National Native Plant Month.
There are over 150 organizations in 49 states supporting the Senate resolution, including the Kentucky Native Plant Society. In our supporting email, the Society said “The Kentucky Native Plant Society is in full support of the Senate resolution to designate the month of April as National Native Plant Month! Native plants are essential to both the well-being of our natural ecosystems and the public enjoyment of these native ecosystems. This resolution is in full alignment with our organizational purpose to promote conservation of native plants and natural plant communities and to promote public education in botanical science.”
That’s the question I hear most often at native plant events. People want to know where they can purchase Kentucky native plants.
If you’re in central Kentucky, you have a nursery nearby that’s dedicated to native plants: Ironweed Native Plant Nursery. Every plant is a Kentucky native.
Owner Alicia Bosela started Ironweed Native Plant Nursery in Columbia, Kentucky about eight years ago. Last fall, Alicia bought property in Waddy Kentucky and moved her nursery there in February of this year. In the last two months, Alicia has made many new connections with educators and growers in the area. Alicia says “The momentum for native plants is growing!”
Alicia’s still moving in. She’s currently in the process of expanding an area for native plants that prefer shade by hanging shade cloth.
Fortunately for us, Ironweed is fully stocked with native plants ready for new homes. You’ll find an amazing selection of flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs, all native to Kentucky.
Ironweed Native Plant Nursery is open for business by appointment. The nursery’s number is (270) 250-3587 and the email address is info@ironweednursery.com. The physical location is 400 Waddy Road, Waddy, KY 40076, which is easy to find. The entrance is on the east side of the road and clearly marked. You can also order online by pointing your browser to https://www.ironweednursery.com/. You can follow the nursery on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Ironweednursery/.
A couple of happy customers, Kris and Charlie Goggin visit Ironweed.
By Jonathan O.C. Kubesch1,2, Derek Hilfiker 1,2, Frank Reith 1,2, Dillon Golding 1,3 , Joe House4, Jenna Beville1, Peter Arnold1,5, and Forrest Brown1
Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Blacksburg, VA
Country Home Farms, Pembroke, VA
Hoot Owl Hollow Farm, Woodlawn, VA
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Arnold Classic Farms, Chestertown, MD
The vast majority of Kentucky’s population is not directly involved with livestock. However, backyard chickens have become a popular trend in recent years. Many people are raising chickens both for their fresh eggs and as pets. Some households even dabble in turkeys and ducks. While these birds can be a fun and rewarding addition to any backyard, there is some debate about whether or not they harm native plants and landscaping. In this article, we discuss both sides of the argument to determine whether backyard chickens help or harm native plants. Potential solutions and management ideas will also be presented in this article to balance your interest in native plants as well as backyard poultry.
Benefits of Backyard Poultry for Native Plants
There are several ways that you and your native plants can benefit from raising backyard poultry. In this section, we’ll review a few.
Pest control
One of the primary benefits of backyard chickens and other poultry is that they can help control pests. Chickens love to eat insects and other small animals that can be harmful to native plants. A few examples of this are chickens searching and eating beetle grubs such as June beetles (Cotinis nitida), common black ants (Lasius niger), and brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys). Removing these insects can be beneficial to desired plants. By reducing the number of pests in your backyard, your plants are more likely to thrive and grow.
Free organic fertilizer
Another benefit of backyard chickens is that they can provide a source of natural fertilizer. Manure is composed of ammonium, which is a volatile form of nitrogen, and organic N, which is stable but not immediately available. Poultry manure has one considerable advantage: it does not require commercial production and is a by-product of livestock production. Chicken manure is high in nitrogen, which is essential for healthy plant growth. By adding chicken manure to your garden, you can improve the soil quality and increase the nutrient content of your plants. This can help native plants grow stronger and healthier, making them more resistant to pests and diseases.
Poultry manure is a valuable resource that is often undervalued and subsequently misused in gardens and on farms. Fresh poultry manure typically contains 1.3% nitrogen (N), of which 55% is available for crop uptake (Zublena et. al 1996). Poultry manure also contains between 1.1-1.3% P2O5 (phosphate) and 0.5-0.8% K2O (potash). When using recommended poultry stocking rates, an average of 19 lbs N/ac, 31 lbs P2O5/ac, and 16 lbs K2O/ac are defecated in poultry manure monthly. If you were to assume a 40-lb bag of 13-13-13, a commonly used home fertilizer, costs $20, then accounting for the nitrogen contribution of poultry manures saves you $73 per acre each month on fertilizer. Scaled to your backyard, this might translate to $33 of nitrogen savings.
Of course, the nutrients from the manure need to be utilized, otherwise the full economic benefits will not be realized. Native plants are often slower to use nitrogen compared to introduced species, and so limited applications of poultry manure are preferable to larger deposits. To best utilize the manure nutrients, consider rotating poultry through garden or lawn areas, which will help nourish plant growth without the need for synthetic fertilizers. Backyard gardeners might prioritize getting their bird manure into vegetable gardens, then cool-season lawns, and finally into native plantings. Synthetic fertilizers are incapable of adding carbon to the soil as they do not contain carbon. When considering the immediate savings on fertilizer and the long-term increase in soil carbon, having poultry provides many other benefits beyond the meat and eggs produced.
Figure 1. Nitrogen cycle in mineral soils showing various transformations and processes related to fertilization practices (Havlin et al., 2014).
Nitrogen cycling in mineral soils is a complex process with several pathways: plant uptake, soil-bound, aqueous losses via leaching, gaseous losses via denitrification, nitrification, and urea hydrolysis (Figure 1). Although manure and urea forms of nitrogen result in gaseous losses, utilizing litter as a part of a fertility regimen is a beneficial use of a by-product of livestock production. Additionally, using a mobile coop may be advantageous compared to stationary chicken coops, which often result in exposed soil. Exposed soil presents an issue when considering the advantages of poultry litter fertilization. When there is a lack of plant cover to protect the soil, there is additionally a lack of plant matter to incorporate nitrogen from poultry litter.
Improved soil organic matter
Poultry manures also provide valuable carbon (C) to the soil, something that inorganic fertilizers cannot do. Coops and runs full of wood shavings, sawdust, or other carbon sources can bind up the nitrogen in poultry manure and produce a more stable compost. Poultry manure can be a more stable form of fertilizer for native plants as the bedding material immobilizes nitrogen and then gradually releases the nitrogen back into the rhizosphere.
Plant roots can then uptake this nitrogen. This carbon is cycled by soil microbes into soil organic matter, which helps soil hold more water and provide more nutrients to plants, among many other benefits. While it is difficult to place a monetary value on the carbon additions of poultry manure, repeated applications will build up soil organic matter, saving you money in the long run from the countless benefits seen from increased organic matter. It should be noted that shavings are an additional cost to consider. This organic matter can also serve as an enriched mulch around native plant beds that can suppress weed seedlings.
Health and safety considerations
The direct application of fresh manure can also be detrimental to plants and their fruits. High levels of nitrogen, in the forms of urea and ammonia, and salts are often toxic to common vegetables and fruits. A direct application may quickly kill many desirable species. Conversely, manure with shavings will increase the amount of carbon present, which will immobilize nitrogen, making it less available to plants (Mahr, 2012). Bacteria harmful to humans such as E. Coli are often present in manure as well.
Composting recommendations vary, but it is generally accepted that poultry litter should be aged for 3-5 months and have reached a temperature of 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit. The USDA recommends waiting 120 days before eating crops fertilized with manure (Swanson, 2016).
Native plants for the backyard flock
Certain native plants can tolerate disturbance and high soil fertility, such as the rare previously federally-listed running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum). In another case, wild onions (Allium canadense) tend to grow rapidly, exhibit good health, and have increased numbers after a period of poultry foraging (F. Reith, personal observation). Across eastern North America, some native plants can even require regular disturbance to remain useful to wildlife (Table 1) (Kubesch et al., 2022; Brooke & Harper, 2018).
Common name
Scientific name
Big bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Maximilian sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Annual gaillardia
Gaillardia pulchella
Running buffalo clover**
Trifolium stoloniferum
Wild Onion
Allium canadense
Table 1. Native herbaceous plants with tolerance to high fertility and/or disturbance conditions.*
*Based on ongoing research at Virginia Tech as part of Bee-Friendly Beef; Kubesch, 2018. **Running buffalo clover will be commercially available in 2027 in Kentucky. The authors anticipate that commercial availability will allow this species to serve as an alternate turf.
It is important to have woody plants that can benefit poultry year-round and cater to their needs. These species should provide shelter, protection, and serve as a food source. A variety of trees and shrubs can create layered diversity even across a “thin” woodland or a mixed range. Picture this as a layered forest garden for your flock.
Amongst the native species, there are a few that stand out and will serve your birds well:
Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a native deciduous tree that most landowners probably already have on their property. It produces sweet berries that are loved by poultry and it can tolerate a wide range of soils and is easy to grow.
Another great woody plant is serviceberry. Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is another native deciduous shrub that can tolerate poultry well. It produces clusters of white flowers in the spring followed by blue to black berries in the summer.
Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) is a small tree that you might already have due to its preference for rich soils. This tree would do well downslope in a backyard. It provides shade and serves as an additional food source.
A tree that also might be found downslope is the dogwood (Cornus spp.) as it too thrives in rich, fertile soil. It will provide your flock with late season fruit to further diversify their diet.
Another great tree, especially for the winter months, is the crabapple. Crabapple (Malus spp.) has a tendency to hold onto its fruit until late fall/early winter and gradually drop off.
Further recommendations for shelter include eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) and Willows (Salix spp.). Additional woody plant suggestions include various bramble fruits that are easily accessible to your birds. These include, but are not limited to blackberries, raspberries, and dewberries (Rubus spp).
Poultry can also be used to convert lawns into native plantings by destroying the existing vegetation (Arnold et al., 2022). This process is often unintentionally done when people first get into backyard chickens or poultry; however, it can be beneficial. Birds will forage and scratch through existing vegetation repeatedly when looking for food. Poultry preferentially eat broadleaf plants over grassy ones which can help to control the succulent broadleaf weeds around native plants. Furthermore, the continuous presence and addition of manure will also suppress and kill plants.
These actions combined will rapidly convert land to mud, dust, and manure when there is a large and stationary population. Poultry will not disturb more than the first 2-3 inches of soil generally, but nonetheless are an efficient form of “tillage” (Lee & Foreman, 2011). Such shallow tillage might be ideal for native plant seeding as it creates a fertile and loose seed bed. This scratching will likely be insufficient to plug plants. Controlled long-term presence of poultry may therefore allow for a natural, low cost, and easy form of native seed bed preparation.
Among the bald cypress knees at Metropolis Lake SNP
Like many of you, I love early spring and exploring the woods for the first native plants to appear and blossom. Here, on our place in McCracken county, we have spring beauties (Claytonia virginica), yellow corydalis (Corydalis flavula), common violet (Viola soria), downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), and pawpaw (Asimina triloba) all in bloom. Lots of natives are just now popping out of the ground everywhere I look. After the severe drought we experienced last summer all the signs are that this will be a good year for our native plants. I hope you all are having the opportunity to get out into Kentucky’s native plant communities and are enjoying the spring rebirth.
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 8 begins KNPS’s Wildflower Week 2023. The week will begin with a series of First Day Hikes at locations around the commonwealth. From Metropolis Lake in McCracken county to St. Anne Woods and Wetlands in Campbell county, and several locations in between, these easy nature walks will be led by local botanizers who know the native plant species that will be encountered in each area. If you would like to learn more about these hikes and join one, just visit this page: Kick-off BotanyBlitz 2023 with a First Day Hike on April 8.
The First Day Hikes begin our week long BotanyBlitz 2023, which will run from Saturday, April 8, through Saturday, April 15. This is the third year for our BotanyBlitz, which is an effort to document as many plant species as possible within Kentucky during the week preceding Wildflower Weekend 2023. The BotanyBlitz will be again hosted on the community science website iNaturalist, and participants will be using the iNaturalist mobile app (or website, if your preferred camera is not a smartphone!) to upload photos of budding and blooming plants they observe in local parks, state parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature preserves. Last year’s BotanyBlitz 2022 had over 100 participants in more than 70 counties in Kentucky make 4,456 observations of 536 different species of plants, including 6 species that are rare in Kentucky. I encourage everyone reading this message to join in this exciting and valuable community science project. Learn how to participate here: Become Part of BotanyBlitz 2023! April 8 – April 15.
Last, but certainly by no means least, Wildflower Week 2023 comes to its conclusion with Wildflower Weekend 2023 at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park on Friday, April 14th & Saturday, April 15th, 2023. This is the 34th year that the Kentucky Native Plant Society has organized and held this amazing spring event and the first year that it has been held in a location other than Natural Bridge SRP. For fans of Natural Bridge and the Red River Gorge (and who cannot be a fan of that amazing region of Kentucky?) don’t worry, we will be back at Natural Bridge in April of 2024. The KNPS Board that we will have future Wildflower Weekends in even numbered years at Natural Bridge and in odd numbered years we will be moving the event around the state to other parks and natural areas.
Wildflower Weekend 2023 is shaping up to be among the best events KNPS has put on. There are 19 different hikes, led by some of the best botanists in Kentucky, exploring native plant communities in Cumberland Falls and the surrounding area. Several of the hikes are full, but there are still spots open in all of the time slots (Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon.) The weekend’s events will culminate with the Saturday evening talks in the Moonbow Conference Room. Scheduled talks are Trilliums of Kentucky Update, by Tara Littlefield, Southern Kentucky Landscape Features and Associated Rare Species, by James Kiser, and Botanical Humor: You Never Knew Plants Were So Funny, by Chris Benda. Read all about Wildflower Weekend 2023 and register here: Wildflower Weekend 2023 – Registration is Now Open!
