Welcome to the Muhlenberg Native Plant Meadow The Muhlenberg Botanical

							Welcome to the Muhlenberg Native                                         non-
                                                 Why does it matter that non-native
         Plant Meadow                            plants dominate the landscape?

                                                 When non-natives replace
                                                                                                                                         Guide to the
The Muhlenberg Botanical Society created
this meadow in 1997, using seeds they had        native plant species, wild
                                                 animals have a harder time
                                                                                                                                       Muhlenberg Native
collected by hand from isolated spots
throughout the county.                           finding food. In some
                                                 locations, populations of birds and insects
                                                                                                                                        Plant Meadow
All of the plants in this meadow are native to   have declined partly due to a loss of their
Lancaster County, which                          native food sources.
means they evolved here and
are adapted to the local                         However, birds and insects are not the
environmental conditions,                        only wild animals affected. Bird and
such as soil type, rainfall and                  insect-eaters are also affected, as are
temperatures.                                    herbivores, such as deer, rabbits, and a
Correspondingly, native wild                     variety of rodents.
animals are uniquely adapted
to and depend upon these                         Being at the bottom of the food chain,
plants for survival.                             native plants serve as the foundation for
                                                 all living beings. Losses of native plant
               plants
But aren’t all plants growing in the             species affect all animals, including
                                                 humans.                                          Muhlenberg Botanical Society
Park native?                                                                                             400 College Ave.
                                                                                                        Lancaster, PA 17603
                                                 What is the solution?
No, in fact many plants growing in
Lancaster county and across the country are
non-native species. Such plants have been        Whenever possible, plant                       Lancaster County Department of           Lancaster County
                                                 native species in home                               Parks and Recreation
introduced to the United States from other
                                                 gardens. Native plant                                  1050 Rockford Rd.
                                                                                                                                           Central Park
countries. Some, like multi-flora rose were
introduced intentionally as a living fence.      gardens attract the most                              Lancaster, PA 17602
While others, like purple loosestrife, were      diverse populations of                                   (717) 299-8215
introduced accidentally.                         birds, butterflies and other                    Email: parks@co.lancaster.pa.us
                                                 fascinating critters.                         Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us/parks
Because non-native species did not evolve in                                                           County Commissioners
this area, local wild animals don’t readily      For information about how
                                                 to design a native plant                                Dick Shellenberger
recognize these plants as food.                                                                         Howard “Pete” Shaub
Consequently, these plants can grow in           garden, call the Lancaster                              Molly Henderson
greater abundance than natives, out              County Department of
competing native species and dominating          Parks and Recreation’s Environmental                    Executive Director
                                                 Center at (717) 295-2055.                                James L. Hackett
the landscape.
Muhlenberg Native Plant Meadow contains the most number of plant and animal species              Grasses                       Butterflies
   of any area in Central Park. In other words, it exhibits the greatest biodiversity.
       Which of the following native species of plants and animals can you find?         Bluestem, Big                   Butterflies          Caterpillar
                                                                                             Little                                            Food
                                       Wildflowers                                       Broomsedge                     Azure, Appalachian    Black Cohosh
                                                                                         Gamma Grass                          Spring          Dogwood
     Aster, Calico                 FBC               Joe-Pye Weed               F        Indian Grass                   Baltimore             Turtlehead
         Heath                     FBC                  Hollow-stemmed          F        Purple Love-grass              Comma                 Elm, Nettle
         New England               FBC               Lobelia, Great Blue        H        Purple-top                     Copper, American      Sheep Sorrel
         Panicled                  FBC               Mallow, Halberd-leaved     HC       Switch Grass                   Eastern Tailed Blue   Pea Family
         Purple-stemmed            FBC               Milkweed, Common           FC       Wild Oats                      Fritillary, Meadow    Violet
     Beard Tongue                  H                    Butterfly               FCH      Wild Rye, Riverbank                Great Spangled    Violet
     Bee Balm                      FH                   Purple                  FC           Virginia                   Hackberry             Hackberry
     Bergamont, Wild               FH                   Swamp                   FC                                      Hairstreak, Banded    Oaks
     Black-eyed Susan              FB                Mistflower                 F                                           Grey              Mallow
     Blazing Star                  FB                Monkey-flower, Winged      FH                                      Lady, American        Everlasting
     Boneset                       F                 Mountain-mint, Hoary       F                 Birds                      Painted          Thistle
     Cardinal Flower               FH                   Narrow-leaved           F                                       Monarch               Milkweed
     Coneflower, Green-headed      FB                Ox-eye                     FB       Bluebird, Eastern              Pearl Crescent        Asters
     Coreopsis, Tall               FB                Phlox, Panicled            FH       Bunting, Indigo                Red Admiral           Nettle
     Cress, Creeping Yellow        F                 Poke                       B        Blackbird, Redwing             Red Spotted Purple    Cherry
     Culver’s-root                 F                 Skullcap, Downy            F        Cardinal                       Sulphur, Clouded      Clover
     Evening Primrose              FBH               Smartweed, Pennsylvania    B        Catbird                            Orange            Alfalfa
     False Dragonhead              FH                Snakeroot, White           F        Dove, Mourning                 Swallowtail, Black    Carrot Family
     Figwort, Maryland                               Sneezeweed, Yellow         F        Goldfinch, American                Spicebush         Spicebush
     Fleabane, Daisy               F                 Sunflower, Tall            FBC      Grossbeak, Blue                    Tiger             Cherry
     Gerardia, Purple                                   Thin-leaved             FB       Hawk, Red Tailed               Viceroy               Willow
     Goldenrod, Early              FB                Thistle, Field             FBCH     Hummingbird, Ruby-throated
         Lance-leaved              FB                Thoroughwort, Hairy        F        Junco                           Skippers         Caterpillar
         Late                      FB                Tick-trefoil, Panicled     FC       Kingbird                                           Food
         Rough-stemmed             FB                Turtlehead                 FC       Owl, Great Horned              Duskywing, Sleepy  Oak
         Sweet                     FB                Vervain, Blue              FBH      Sparrow, Chipping                  Juvenile       Oak
         Tall                      FB                Violet, Common Blue        FC          Song                            Wild Indigo    Wild Indigo
     Hemp, Indian or Dogbane       F                 Virgin’s Bower             FH          White-throated              Hoary Edge         Tick-Trefoil
     Indian Plantain, Pale         F                 Wingstem                   FBC      Swallow, Tree                  Hobomok            Grasses
     Ironweed, New York            F                                                     Warbler, Common Yellowthroat   Least              Grasses
         Upland (Listed Species)   F             Plant Consumers:                                                       Silver Spotted     Locust
     Jerusalem Artichoke           FB                  B = Bird        C = Caterpillar                                  Sootywing, Common Pigweed
     Jewelweed, Spotted            FH                  F = Butterfly   H = Hummingbird