Did you know that Pennsylvania has more varieties of wildflowers than almost any other state? We cannot claim the record because the numbers keep changing. Having stated that, it is nice to live in a state with so much diversity in not only wildflowers but trees, birds and butterflies too.
We are blessed at our home in Alba to have several species of wildflowers on our property. The two we feature in this column are the Herb Robert and the Deptford Pink. Both wildflowers love shady spots and we have plenty of those places available alone with places with morning sun and afternoon shade and full sun.
The Herb Robert wildflower has pink to lavender flowers on stalks arising in the axils of ornamentally cut leaves on hairy, reddish branching stems. The height of the plant varies from one to two feet. The flowers are about ½ inch wide; 5 petals. The Herb Robert is a beautiful little flower and once identified, will be always remembered. The plant flowers from May to October. Its habitat is rocky woods, and in the woods along meadows and cut lawns. The flower grows widely from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia; south toe West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; north to Manitoba. These species is native to both Europe and North America, and is a member of the Geranium family. It has very disagreeable odor when crushed.
The flower’s name has two potential sources. One story is that the Herb Robert is named from St. Robert of Molesme, whose festival date in April occurs at the same time that the flowers bloom in Europe. The other legend is that the flower is named form Robert Goodfellow, known as Robin Hood.
The Deptford Pink is a member of the Dianthus family. It flowers also from May into September. The flowers are a deep pink in flat-topped clusters at the top of stiff, erect stems. The height of the plant ranges from 6 inches to 24 inches. The flowers are ½ inch with five petals with jagged edges and tiny white spots. Again, once identified, you will never forget it. We have it growing in shaded areas around two outbuildings and two maple trees. I am quite careful to mow around the clusters of flowers.
The range of the Deptford Pink is from Southern Ontario to Nova Scotia; sough to Georgia and northwest to Missouri. The flower is originally from Europe and somewhat resembles the Sweet William wildflower. The common name refers to Deptford, England (now part of London) where the flower was once abundant. If you are in the Alba area (between Troy and Canton), take a chance and stop at our house at 87 Windfall Road and we will show you these beautiful wildflowers.
Jim Collins is an outdoor writer for this newspaper. To contact him, email jimcollinsinsurance@frontiernet.net; or write to him at Outdoors With Jim Collins, 87 Windfall Road, Alba, PA 16910.