Wild rice, wild raspberry and wild plum trees are 3 plants easy to grow because they are native plants. Natives are easy to grow and do not require much care, skill, or attention.
Wild Rice
Botanical Latin Name:
Wild Rice – Zizania genus
Member of grass family known as Poaceae
There are four species called Z-palustris, Z-Aquatica, Z-Texana, and Z-latifolia. The Z-palustris and the Z-Aquatica are cultivated grain varieties. The Z-latifolia is a Chinese species cultivated as an Asian vegetable, not as a grain.
Common Name:
Wild Rice is known as Canada Rice, Indian Rice, and Water Oats due to its early historical use.
Sun Exposure:
Grows best in slightly warm sunny climates like during the Spring and the Fall.
Hardiness Zones:
Great Lakes region, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Atlantic coastlines, Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, Florida, California, and Canada.
Mature Height:
Wild Rice can grow up to 10 feet tall. Wild Ride has a shallow root system with an 8 to 12-inch spread range.
Growth Rate:
After pollination with the female-pistillate flowers situated at the top and male-staminate flowers located on the lower stems, Wild Rice matures in about 110 days. After harvesting, wild rice seeds can survive in the soil for years.
Flowering Time:
Harvesting can start as early as four and a half months after initial growth. After fertilization in two weeks, the Wild Rice seeds can easily be seen. Then around four weeks later, it will flower and appear above the water and will be ready to harvest. The Wild Rice seed or grain should be harvested for better cultivation when the plants are in the green stage. If harvesters wait until the Wild Rice gain is brown, it indicates that the grain is mature, and the grain will shatter and fall off, leaving it suitable only for wild birds.
How Long It Flowers:
Wild Rice flowers best when it is planted in the Fall, then winters in the muddy bottom until it regenerates in the Spring.
Soil Requirements:
Wild Rice grows best in nutrient-rich flooded muddy soil terrains of lowland water areas around 1 to 3 inches deep. Seedlings will not produce if planted in more than three inches of muddy soil.
Wild red raspberry - Rubus idaeus - A Great Landscaping Idea
The wild red raspberry, also known as American Red Raspberry, comes from the plant family Rose. The plant typically produces about 3 to 8 small, stalked flowers. The flowers are usually white, with white stamens in the center, and the petals can range 1/3 to 1/3 inch across. The flowers will almost always be erect. They are usually produced during the months of Spring. The leaves in the wild red raspberry are usually 1 ½ to 3 ½ inches long and are found in 3s in flowering stems and 5s in non-flowering stems. The leaflets are vibrant lime green and egg-shaped, while the hairy-like leaves are almost heart-shaped at the base.
Intriguingly, the underside of the leaf in the wild red raspberry contains a silver color to it. The juicy red berries in the wild red raspberry plant attract birds and mammals. The raspberries themselves hold a sweet-tart flavor to them and can be used for many different cooking recipes. More importantly, the raspberry contains antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C, all of which have beneficial roles in the body, including the liver. The fruit is often produced in the summer or early autumn. The wild red raspberry also produces a pleasant aroma. The best soil type for the wild red raspberry is dry or moist soil, rich in organic matter. The fruit can attract birds and butterflies. When caring for the wild red raspberry, it is essential to remember the prickles in the plant. Many gardeners use the wild red raspberry near lakes, meadows, or roadsides. The plant can withstand scorching climates and low-moisture conditions, typically grown in Zones 2 through 11. They require 1 inch of water every week, although they can survive periods of low rainfall. The wild red raspberry can create a wild fruit-filled view of your landscape.
Prunus americana: The Wild Plum
The wild plum tree, or Prunus Americana, is a tree native to North America with a reach from Canada to the Southern United States. This tree has smaller fruit than the similar Canada plum. This large shrub or small tree bears bright red fruit that is both edible and ornamental. The fruit can be processed into several products or eaten right off the tree. The wild plum can grow over fifteen feet and has been adapted to different soils but does not do well in finely textured land. This tree can withstand cold temperatures but is intolerant of environmental issues like drought and shade as it has widespread shallow roots. It proliferates in Spring through summer, blooming in the middle to late Spring.
The wild plum has several stems per plant, and these branches contain thorns. Its leaves are oval-shaped with a dark green upper portion and a smooth, pastel bottom. These leaves alternate and grow between two and four inches. The flowers, which are white and contain five petals, can be singular or grouped in clusters. When these flowers become fruit, they are usually around one inch in diameter. In the Spring, the decorative flowers make the wild plum a popular choice for landscaping homes. In the winter, the tree's branches create a scenic display. Functionally the tree can be used as a windbreak, and its root structure allows it to steady banks by streams. While it struggles in drought, the wild plum will tolerate numerous days of excess water. Wildlife such as deer and birds consume the fruit, twigs, and leaves. Traditionally, Native American tribes like the Cheyenne and Navajo planted and cultivated numerous trees, eating the fruit and using the branches and roots for ceremonial purposes. The wild plum will be a tremendous ornamental or functional addition to any landscape.
Wild Plum- Prunus Americana
The Wild Plum is a shrub that can be cultivated into a small tree. It is typically three to fifteen feet in height but can reach as high as twenty-five feet. Its upper branches form a broad canopy, and growth occurs at a moderate rate. Wild Plums do best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Their root systems are shallow, and they prefer rocky to sandy, well-drained soils. Wild Plums tolerate acidic soils and brief periods of drought but thrive when provided consistent moisture. They are native to eastern through central North America and are hardy in USDA zones three through eight. Wild Plums are deciduous and produce a dazzling display of vibrant red to yellow fall colors. The bark is a rich, deep red-brown color. From April to May, Wild Plums present numerous, showy clusters of three to five white flowers. Each flower is composed of five white, delicate, oval petals. Wild Plums are a prized landscape ornamental due to their abundance of beautiful flowers. Deep green leaves with pale undersides appear once flowering is complete. Propagation is dominantly through seeds and suckers. The attractive flowers turn into sweet plum fruit. Plums are typically a half-inch to one and a half inches in size and ripen from August to September. The fruit is generally a deep red-purple color but can be yellow to pink-red.
The plums are edible and can be enjoyed baked, dried, preserved, or jellied. Many parts of the Wild Plum are helpful. Native Americans harvested the bark and used it as a remedy for many disorders, such as wound care and stomach ailments. They also utilized the roots to make a red dye. Modern studies have indicated that the roots and bark contain components that are active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Groups of Wild Plums are effective for soil stabilization due to their shallow root system and the emergence of suckers. As a landscape addition, Wild Plums provide significant habitats for wildlife and abundant food for birds and mammals.