North American Native Species
Lately I've become interested in Coefficient of Conservatism scoring for each plant growing in the woodland garden. It provides a way of measuring my success at encouraging a more specialized and diverse habitat. At least that's my understanding of it. Encouraging plants with a higher CofC to expand or emerge naturally on my lot suggests that I'm providing a more specialized and ecologically improved area for these plants to exist and thrive within.
I'm not going to get overly consumed with trying to install plants with a high CofC score. I only want to use the score as a way to quantify my success at creating the conditions necessary to support a more specialized plant community. I've been excited to see two American Beech seedlings emerge on my lot because I didn't plant them and because they have a CofC of "7" which is high for my lot. If I force them to exist it's different from creating the conditions for them to exist.
One thing that jumps out at me when I look at this is... There are 13 species of non-cultivated native plants on our lot with a CofC of 6 or higher. Out of these 13, a total of 11 are tree species. This is surprising because there are far more herbaceous layer plants on our lot than tree species. One possible explanation is that the canopy trees have long lives and the canopy exists above plants like honeysuckle, garlic mustard, and celandine. All of the specialized herbaceous layer plants may have been overtaken by invasives long enough in the past for their seed bank to have been exhausted. Meanwhile, the canopy trees existing above the honeysuckle continued adding to the seed bank and waiting for it to be unlocked.
Here's is a link to Ohio's Floristic Quailty Assessment Index which explains CofC scoring...
https://epa.ohio.gov/static/Portals/35/wetlands/Ohio_FQAI.pdf
Species
CofC
Occurrence Via
Notes
American Beech
7
Natural Succession
Two seedlings have emerged post invasive removals.
Blue Ash
7
Natural Succession
A total of three Blue Ash trees have germinated. The tallest is about 15' as of 2023.
Shellbark Hickory
7
Natural Succession
Two shellbark seedlings have emerged so far after invasive removals.
Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
7
Natural Succession
A single shumard oak seedling has emerged following invasive removals.
American Sycamore
7
Naturally Occurring
Only two individuals exist.
Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
7
Naturally Occurring
Only four or five of these in total. None of them appear to be over 50 years old.
False Rue Anemone (top of hill)
7
Introduced
American Basswood (Tilia americana)
6
Naturally Occurring
Only a single individual exists at the very bottom of the lot, near the road.
Buckeye
6
Naturally Occurring
Only have a few of these. They haven't bloomed and I'm not sure if they're Yellow Buckeye or Ohio.
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
6
Naturally Occurring
Both red and white oak suffer mightily from deer predation here. I've fenced a few of these to help them along.
Tulip Poplar
6
Naturally Occurring
Another of dominant canopy tree species here.
White Ash
6
Naturally Occurring
Tons of White Ash seedlings have sprouted post honeysuckle removal. Larger white ash were hit by the emerald ash borer several years ago. I treat one mature white ash, but even it looks sickly.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
6
Introduced
Bought as a 3' sapling at a native plant sale. Now 8' as of 2023.
PawPaw (Asimina triloba)
6
Introduced
Purchased several of these 12 years ago at a native plant sale. There are also some that are naturally occurring on the other side of the road.
Dutchmans Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
6
Introduced
Britton Woods - Brown County, OH. I have since discovered a small colony of these existing near the opposite corner of the lot and just over the property line.
Ostrich Fern
6
Introduced
Transplanted from a parent population in Troy, Ohio which itself was established from a parent colony in Wisconsin.
Purple Coneflower
6
Introduced
Prairie Moon.
Scarlett Bees Balm (Monarda didyma)
6
Introduced
Prairie Moon.
Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)
6
Introduced
Britton Woods - Brown County, OH. I have since discovered a small colony of these existing near the opposite corner of the lot and just over the property line.
Violet Woodsorrel
6
Introduced
Started from a parent colony in Brown County, Ohio.
Virginia Bluebells
6
Introduced
Started from plants bought at CNC native plant sale.
Wild Hyacinth
6
Introduced
Started from a single plant bought at a native plant sale.
Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
6
Introduced
Started from plants bought at CNC native plant sale.
Oval Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes ovalis)
6
Naturally Occurring
These emerge occasionally in late summer, but they're finicky... they don't stay in one spot, and I never know which years I'll find one.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
6
Naturally Occurring
Becoming more common here following invasive removals. I've also brought some in from Britton Woods to plant at the top of the hill. I only found it occurring naturally here toward the bottom of the hill.
American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
5
Introduced
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
5
Introduced
Cultivated seedling descended from a parent plant in Troy, Ohio.
Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra)
5
Naturally Occurring
One of the dominant canopy trees at this location.
Bitternut Hickory
5
Natural Succession
Several bitternut hickory seedlings have emerged following invasive removals.
Dogwood (Cornus Florida)
5
Naturally Occurring
Two mature trees existed in the woods when we bought the house. Several seedlings have been discovered post honeysuckle removal.
Sugar Maple
5
Naturally Occurring
One of the common over-story trees in our woods.
Common Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)
5
Naturally Occurring
Toadshade Trillium (Trillium sessile)
5
Naturally Occurring
Another success story. I only had one of these on the lot at the start of invasive removals. Now there is a fairly large number... The single individual expanded, and I also brought some in and reestablished colonies in different places within the woods.
Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum)
5
Naturally Occurring
Wild Onion
5
Naturally Occurring
Cream Violet (Viola striata)
5
Introduced
Plant rescued from an eroding island in a creek at Britton Woods.
Gray's Sedge (Carex grayii)
5
Introduced
Plant rescued from an eroding island in a creek at Britton Woods.
Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium)
5
Introduced
Plants given to me by a fellow gardener in the same Five Mile Creek corridor.
Jacobs Ladder (Polemonium Reptans)
5
Introduced
Purchased at CNC native plant sale.
Purple Cress (Cardamine duouglassii)
5
Introduced
Pulled from a parent colony existing at Britton Woods in Brown County, OH.
Fragile Fern (Cystopteris)
5
Introduced
Britton Woods - Brown County, OH.
Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
5
Introduced
Given to me by a fellow gardener in Troy, OH.
Waterleaf
5
Introduced
Pulled from a parent colony existing at Britton Woods in Brown County, OH.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
5
Introduced
Started from a parent colony in Brown County, Ohio.
Star Chickweed / Tennessee Starwort (Stellaria)
5
Introduced
Crownbeard (Verbesina)
5
Introduced
Started from a parent colony at Britton Woods in Brown County, Ohio.
Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
5
Introduced
Started from a parent colony at Britton Woods in Brown County, Ohio.
White Fawnlily (Erythronium albidium)
5
Introduced
Started from a parent colony at Britton Woods in Brown County, Ohio.
Hackberry
4
Naturally Occurring
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
4
Natural Succession
Two honey locust seedlings have emerged following invasive removals.
False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)
4
Naturally Occurring
Very pleased with the expansion of this colony post invasive removals. There were only a few struggling individuals in the beginning. Now there is a very large colony in large clumps throughout the entire woods.
Mayapple
4
Naturally Occurring
Has expanded aggressively following invasive removals.
Smooth Rockcress (Borodinia laevigata)
4
Naturally Occurring
Smooth Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
4
Natural Succession
I just realized in 2023, after 16 years working on this, that I have some of these mixed in with the Maianthemum Racemosum. They aren't as common and aren't noticeable until they bloom. In the early years most of the individuals in both colonies were eaten by deer before they had a chance to bloom.
Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza)
4
Natural Succession
I did not notice this at anytime while clearing honeysuckle or at any time in the past 15 years on our lot. Pretty sure this came to exist on our lot only after invasive removals. It's pretty common, but hadn't seen it here before.
Pale Corydalis (Corydalis flavula)
4
Naturally Occurring
Dwarf Larkspur
4
Introduced
Seeds and plants pulled from a parent colony existing at Britton Woods in Brown County, OH.
ZigZag Spiderwort (Tradescantia subaspera)
4
Introduced
Started from a parent colony existing at Britton Woods in Brown County, OH.
Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)
4
Introduced
Seeds and plants pulled from a parent colony existing at Britton Woods in Brown County, OH.
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
4
Introduced
Purchased from CNC Native Plant Sale.
Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica)
4
Naturally Occurring
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
4
Introduced
Purchased from CNC Native Plant Sale.
Woodland Phlox
4
Introduced
Plants pulled from a parent colony existing at Britton Woods in Brown County, OH.
Black Cherry (Prunus Serotina)
3
Naturally Occurring
Box Elder (Acer Negundo)
3
Naturally Occurring
Very common under-story tree. One of the most prolifically occurring seedling trees following honeysuckle removal.
Eastern Red Cedar
3
Naturally Occurring
Eastern Redbud
3
Naturally Occurring
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
3
Naturally Occurring
Bristly Greenbrier (Smilax tamnoides)
3
Natural Succession
Christmas Fern
3
Naturally Occurring
A decent sized colony now exists near the bottom of the hill. There was only one sickly plant existing prior to invasive removals.
Clustered Black Snakeroot (Sanicula odorata)
3
Introduced
Introduced from Britton Woods. Expanding aggressively.
Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
3
Naturally Occurring
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron)
3
Naturally Occurring
Enchanter’s Nightshade (Circaea canadensis)
3
Naturally Occurring
This plant has expanded very aggressively post invasive removals. It's not exactly desirable, but it's native and taking up space that otherwise might be filled in with plants like garlic mustard.
Hooked Buttercup (Ranunculus recurvatus)
3
Naturally Occurring
Jack in the Pulpit
3
Naturally Occurring
This species has expanded noticeably following invasive removals.
Meadow Sedge (Carex granularis)
3
Naturally Occurring
Virginia Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
3
Naturally Occurring
Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)
3
Naturally Occurring
White Snakeroot
3
Naturally Occurring
Another plant that is common here. It existed in abundance before, during, and after invasive removals.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
3
Introduced
Plants purchased from Prairie Moon.
Foxglove Beardtongue (Pentstemon digitalis)
2
Introduced
Plants purchased at CNC Native Plant Sale.
Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius)
2
Naturally Occurring
American Elm (Ulmus americana)
2
Naturally Occurring
Blue-eyed Grasses (Genus Sisyrinchium)
2
Naturally Occurring
Clearweed (Pilea pumila)
2
Naturally Occurring
Common Beggars-Tick (Bidens frondosa)
2
Naturally Occurring
Jewelweed
2
Naturally Occurring
Fleabane (genus Erigeron)
2
Naturally Occurring
Old-Field Aster (Aster racemosus)
2
Naturally Occurring
Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
2
Naturally Occurring
Tangled Thread Moss (Amblystegium varium)
2
Naturally Occurring
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
2
Naturally Occurring
Virginia Stickseed (Hackelia virginiana)
2
Naturally Occurring
White Avens (Geum canadense)
2
Naturally Occurring
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
2
Introduced
Started from a parent colony at Britton Woods in Brown County, Ohio.
Clammy Ground Cherry (Physalis heterophylla)
1
Introduced
CNC Native Plant Sale.
Confederate Violet (Viola sororia f. priceana)
1
Introduced
Given to me by a fellow gardener who lives in Troy, OH.
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
1
Introduced
Collected seed from along the Ohio River in Hamilton County, OH.
Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata)
1
Naturally Occurring
Mock Strawberry (Potentilla indica)
1
Naturally Occurring
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans
1
Naturally Occurring
Pokeberry (Phytolacca americana)
1
Naturally Occurring
Have one large colony. It's been very effective at drowing out garlic mustard in that area.
Blue Violet
1
Naturally Occurring
Black Locust
0
Naturally Occurring
My understanding is that Black Locust is a native tree east of the Appalaichans, but not native to Ohio (hence the 0 CofC).
Bedstraw (Galium aparine)
?
Naturally Occurring
There is some debate over whether or not this is a native plant. I'm including it in this list but with a CofC of 0.
Cressleaf Groundsel (Packera glabella)
0
Naturally Occurring
Rhomboid Mercury (Acalypha rhomboidea)
0
Naturally Occurring
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)
0
Naturally Occurring
Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)
0
Naturally Occurring
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
0
Naturally Occurring
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
?
Natural Succession
One american holly seedling has emerged following invasive removals.
Non-Native To North America:
Species
Status
Notes
Callery Pear
Expanding
Seedlings emerge more frequently post honeysuckle removal. Once the under-story and canopy recover, I expect to see fewer Callery Pear seedlings.
Tree of Heaven
Expanding
Seedlings emerge more frequently post honeysuckle removal. Once the under-story and canopy recover, I expect to see fewer Tree of Heaven seedlings.
Burning Bush
Expanding
Seedlings emerge more frequently post honeysuckle removal. Once the under-story and canopy recover, I expect to see fewer Burning Bush seedlings. They're easy to stay on top of as long as I pull them every year when young.
Liriope (Liriope muscari)
Expanding
Expanding, but slowly. Planning to completely knock it out this year before too many plants develop.
Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Stable
Been holding these in check, but need to work a little harder to completely extirpate.
Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Stable
Stable or possibly declining but only because I stay on top of it. Less aggressive in shade.
Burdock
Stable
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma Hederacea)
Stable
Not a battle I'm currently choosing. This stuff exists, but isn't widespread, doesn't expand much, and doesn't crowd anything out.
Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)
Stable
Not a battle I'm currently choosing. This stuff exists, but isn't widespread, doesn't expand much, and doesn't crowd anything out.
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Stable
Stable on my lot... I pull new outcroppings every year. Expanding on neighboring lots, could become a bigger problem.
Low Smartweed (Persecaria longiseta)
Stable
Not a battle I'm currently choosing. This stuff exists, but isn't widespread, doesn't expand much, and doesn't crowd anything out.
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Stable
Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)
Stable
Not a battle I'm currently choosing. This stuff exists, but isn't widespread in the shade, doesn't expand much, and doesn't crowd anything out.
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Stable
Pull it every year to keep the population stable. This is another one where shade helps keep it from growing quickly.
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Stable
Currently the one plant I spend the most time on. Have to work like crazy just to keep the population from expanding.
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Stable
Not a big problem here. I notice new ones every year or two, but they're easy to pull when I see them.
Bush Honeysuckle
Declining
This is much less work now that all of the large plants have been removed.
Definitely declining in terms of biomass needing to be removed, but still pull lots of seedlings every year.
Definitely declining in terms of biomass needing to be removed, but still pull lots of seedlings every year.
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Declining
Used to notice this more often shortly after invasive removals. More dense canopy, understory, and herbaceous layer are shading it out..
Rose of Sharon
Declining
It's taken years to get ahead of this one, but it is now declining. Still have to pull a few every year.
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
Declining
Exists in clumps here and there. Not nearly as common in shadier areas.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Declining
Close to being extirpated. Haven't seen any this year, so I'm hoping I got it all.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Declining
Saw more of them shortly after initial invasive removals when more sun was able to hit the ground. See very few now. Shade is doing the work for me.
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Declining
I have to pull a little less every year. Take a long time getting ahead of this one... but I'm slowly getting there.
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Extirpated
A single japanese maple seedling emerged a few years ago. I was going to let it go just to see what would happen but it didn't come back the following year.
Creeping Bellflower (Capanula rapunculoides)
Extirpated
Had a couple of these pop-up one year. I didn't remove them, but they didn't come back. This was shortly after initial honeysuckle removal when there was lots of sun hitting the forest floor.
Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)
Extirpated
Had a couple of these pop-up one year. I didn't remove them, but they didn't come back. This was shortly after initial honeysuckle removal when there was lots of sun hitting the forest floor.
Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria)
Extirpated
Had a couple of these pop-up one year. I didn't remove them, but they didn't come back. This was shortly after initial honeysuckle removal when there was lots of sun hitting the forest floor.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Extirpated
Had a couple of these pop-up one year. I didn't remove them, but they didn't come back. This was shortly after initial honeysuckle removal when there was lots of sun hitting the forest floor.
Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
Extirpated
Pretty sure I've finally removed all of it.
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Extirpated
Haven't had any come up in several years.
Variegated Solomon’s Seal
Extirpated
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Extirpated
Wild Grape Vine (Vitis spp)
Extirpated
Yellow Rocket (Barbarea vulgaris)
Extirpated
Haven't come across any of this for a long while.
