Plant names matter more than you think

They say a weed is a plant – no matter how pretty it is – that’s in the wrong place. But plants with nothing more than ‘’weed’’ as part of their common name can scare off novice gardeners. Take the native blue porterweed, for example. This species (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) displays small blue or pink blossoms on lengthy stems most of the year. The vivid flowers not only catch human eyes: they draw hummingbirds and butterflies, and theyre a host plant for Gulf fritillaries.

But blue porterweed, up to 5 feet tall, isn’t burdened by just the ‘’weed’’ word: the plant self-sows with abandon, and — according to the definition — can become somewhat weedy. Blue porterweed — easy to grow on bright, well-drained sites — is mostly herbaceous, though older specimens develop woody bases. Propagate with seeds.

Similarly handicapped is butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a 2-to-3-foot bushy, tap-rooted perennial that revels in sun on sandy sites. An exceptional butterfly plant, this native species flaunts clusters of orange flowers from spring into autumn. The abundant blossoms are especially attractive to monarch butterflies, which use this and other Asclelpias species as larval host plants. Propagate by seeds and divisions. Incidentally, in an effort to banish the dreaded ‘’weed’’ word, catalogs often refer to this species as ‘’orange milkplant.’’

Also with a name under revision by folks seeking to improve its public acceptance is pickerel weed, now — in some quarters — referred to as ‘’pickerel plant’’ and ‘’pickerel rush.’’ This 18-to-30-inch, semi-aquatic native (Pontederia cordata) spreads rapidly in boggy areas in sun or light shade. Highly ornamental, pickerel weed boasts blue flowers throughout the warm season. In addition to blue blossoms (a white-flowered form is widely available), this vigorous species has attractive heart-shaped, glossy foliage. Propagate pickerel weed with seeds and by dividing plants in spring and early summer. The fruit, by the way, is highly esteemed by birds, particularly water fowl.

And then…there’s guilt by association. Not surprisingly, the ‘’birds-of-a-feather’’ rule can determine a plant’s popularity. When Floridians hear Melaleuca, they invariably think of the cajeput tree (M. quinquenervia), an extremely invasive species. But Melaleuca comprises about 300 species, including some attractive trees and shrubs that could beautify our landscapes. Among examples are the conifer-like black tea tree (M. bracteata) and M. nesophyila, a large pink-flowered shrub. Equally stressed by their unruly relatives are beautiful species of Bauhinia and Ardisia.

Charles Reynolds, a Winter Haven resident, has an associate’s degree in horticulture and is a member of Garden Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ballroom16@aol.com.