5.2 Perennials

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PERENNIALS Notes: about 50 spp. native to N. America, some very limited in distribution; range of some spp. reduced by intensive cultivation, and now commonly found in fields which are least disturbed by arable farming or on railway embankments and unsprayed roadsides 23. A characteristic of this group of plants, is the milky-white sap that "bleeds" from a cut stem or leaf. Also known for the distinctive mature seed-pods, packed with seeds bearing long silky hairs. Frequently insects feeding on milkweeds are poisonous to mammals. Ornamental spp. are grown in the border or rock garden (e.g. A. tuberosa L., butterfly milkweed, ascldpiade tubdreuse). Common native American spp. include, A. syriaca L. (common milkweed, herbe a coton) found in thickets, dry fields and roadsides in w. N.B. to Sask. and S. 23 ; A. incarnata L. (swamp milkweed, ascldpiade incarnate) found in wet thickets, swamps and shores in Que., N.S., Man., N.E., L.I. and beyond Can. limits 23 ; A. verticillata L. (whorled milkweed) found in dry woods and open sterile soil in Mass., N.Y., s. Ont., Mich., Wisc., s. Man., and s. Sask.; A. speciosa Ton. (showy milkweed) found in prairies and clearings in Minn. to B.C. 23 . Aster L. aster, Michaelmas daisy, starwort, frost flower per. Aug-frost N(P) Value for honey: HP2 (for most Aster) 16 ; H yields of 13.5-45 kg/colony/season reported 50. Asters are one of Canada's major naturally occurring source of N and P. Most apiaries in Canada are within easy reach of at least one sp. of aster. However, few beekeepers differentiate between spp. when reporting, so it is difficult to compare them accurately. Asters are considered valuable for their long late flow and ability to yield well, even in very cool weather. The apparent variation in value for H between spp. may be due to differences in growing conditions. The aster is found in all provinces, but is commercially more important to beekeepers in the E. (i.e. Ont., Que., and the Maritimes) 5°'72 . Value for pollen: much less important for P than N. Honey: surplus H is often mixed with that of Solidago (goldenrod), but since the latter is more sensitive to frost than asters, the production of pure aster H is sometimes possible 72 . H is light to medium amber in colour; with a characteristic aroma; unripe H may have a rank or sickening odour which largely disappears during storage; usually of fine quality, but can have characteristics making it undesirable for over-wintering (i.e.: contains "gums" indigestible to bees; early granulation; and prone to fermentation due to late collection and incomplete ripening). However, in some areas it is depended upon for winter stores 72 . Many of the garden cvs., hybrids and native spp. are probably worked well for N and P, but recorded evidence was found only for those spp. listed here or described below: A. ericoides L. (Me., s. B.C.); A. sagittifolius Wedem. ex Willd. (N.B. to Ont.); A. sedifolius L.; A. tradescantii L. (s. Nfld., L.St.John, Que., N.S., Bruce Pen., Ont.); A. umbellatus Mill. (Maritimes to Man.); A. vimineus Lam. (e. Canada) 2332 . Notes: Other notable native aster spp. of undetermined value for H are: A. macrophyllus (Que., Ont., N.S.); A. azureus Lindl. (Ont.); A. ciliolatus Lindl. (Anticosti I. to Hudson Bay reg., nw. to n. B.C., S. to N.S.); A. undulatus L. (N.S., s. Ont.); A. tardifolius L. (n. N.E., s. Que., e. Ont.); A. sericeus Venten. (s. Man.); A. radula Ait. (Nfld., Que., N.S.); A. falcatus Lindl. (Alta.) A. simplex Willd. (w. Nfld., Sask.); A. adscendens 39
40 PERENNIALS Lindl. (w. Nfld., Gaspe Pen., Que., Manitoulin Distr., Ont., Sask. to Alta.); A. foliaceus Lindl. (Que., N.S., N.B.); A. johannensis Fern. (s. Lab., Sask., S. to Nfld., P.E.I., N.B., s. Ont.) Aster amellus L. Italian aster, aster amelle per. -37° to -29° C Aug-Sep 45-60 cm N(P) Value for honey: several cvs. available that may vary in attractiveness, but the sp. is known to be valuable 36 ; see Aster. Honey: see Aster. Notes: purple flowers, 30 mm across are large and showy; more difficult to grow than most asters; introduced to N. America. Aster cordifolius L. blue wood aster per. Sep-Oct 90-120 cm N(P) Value for honey: a reported source of surplus in the Gatinais Valley in Que., where it is used successfully for over-wintering 72 ; see Aster. Honey: unlike H from most asters, this does not granulate readily; see Aster. Notes: many cvs. available that may vary in value; open woods, thickets, and clearings, usually common, Que. to Wisc., N.S., N.E. and beyond Can. limits 23 . Aster dumosus L. bushy aster per. -50° to -29° C Aug-Oct 90 cm N(P) 36 Value for honey: produces H freely 72 ; see Aster. Honey: see Aster. Notes: flowers prolifically; found in parts of the e. USA.; dry to wet siliceous and argillaceous open ground, thickets, shores, s. Me., and beyond Can. limits 23 . Aster laevis L. smooth aster per. -29° to -23° C Sep-Oct NP Value for honey: N sugar concentration 41% 94; may be more attractive for P than N 94 . Honey: see Aster. Notes: grows well in dry soi1 95 ; a good plant for prolonging the blooming season in the garden; white, pink or purple flowers in terminal clusters; Yukon to ne. Ore. and E. to Me. 23 (and N.S.?). Aster lateriflorus (L.) Britt. calico aster per. -37° to -29° C Aug-Oct 120-150 cm N(P) Value for honey: produces N freely 7z ; see Aster. Honey: see Aster. Notes: grows in moist or dry locations; flowers are 30 mm across and borne in onesided clusters on the branches; native to se. Canada; dry to moist fields, clearings, thickets, shores etc., Algoma Distr., Ont., S. to N.S., N.E. and beyond Can. limits23.
Page 1 and 2: 36 5.2 Perennials PERENNIALS Agasta
Page 3: 38 Anemone blanda Schott R. Kotschy
Page 7 and 8: 42 PERENNIALS Aurina saxatilis (L)
Page 9 and 10: 44 PERENNIALS Claytonia virginica L
Page 11 and 12: 46 PERENNIALS Dictamnus albus L. bu
Page 13 and 14: 48 PERENNIALS Honey: usually mixed
Page 15 and 16: 50 PERENNIALS Helianthus salicifoli
Page 17 and 18: 52 PERENNIALS Liatris pychnostchya
Page 19 and 20: 54 waste land, locally N. to N.E.,
Page 21 and 22: 56 PERENNIALS Mentha spicata L. (sy
Page 23 and 24: 58 and beyond Can. lirnits 23 . PER
Page 25 and 26: 60 Notes: includes about 250 spp. o
Page 27 and 28: 62 PERENNIALS Solidago L. goldenrod
Page 29 and 30: 64 PERENNIALS on calcareous ledges
Page 31 and 32: 66 PERENNIALS Trifolium repens L. w
Page 33 and 34: 5. DESCRIPTIONS OF PLANTS 5.1 Annua
Page 35 and 36: 18 Value for pollen: P protein is h
Page 37 and 38: 20 Honey: is greenish-yellow to dar
Page 39 and 40: 22 Coriandrum sativum L. coriander,
Page 41 and 42: 24 This is one of the few plants th
Page 43 and 44: 26 Isatis tinctoria L. dyer's woad,
Page 45 and 46: 28 vanilla 16 ; excellent 35 . Note
Page 47 and 48: 30 Origanum majorana L. (syn. Major
Page 49 and 50: 32 flavour 16 . Notes: self-seeds f
Page 51 and 52: 34 form); is a legume and so fixes

5.2 Perennials

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