THERE’S POWER in numbers. That’s what the horticulture staff at Stoneleigh, the historic property turned native-focused public backyard in Villanova, Pa., appears to be demonstrating repeatedly with its extremely artistic method to utilizing woody crops.
Sure, planting a sumac or a viburnum shrub will appeal to hungry birds in fall. However what should you mixed 10 rigorously chosen species of fruiting shrubs into swaths of songbird thickets, as Stoneleigh has been doing, providing not only a fall feast right here and there, however cowl and nesting habitat, too?
Elsewhere, hedges and bushes are paired with vines to up the wonder and the variety inside their shared footprint—and sure shrubs are planted not one to a gap however as strategically designed clump plantings, with three intently associated bare-root specimens positioned collectively to develop into one mass that reveals off all of their barely totally different options.
Stoneleigh’s director, Ethan Kauffman, and I talked about songbird thickets and clump plantings and different imaginative methods the gardeners there are utilizing native bushes, shrubs and vines and that we are able to, too.
Stoneleigh opened its gates in Might 2018 as a mission of the nonprofit conservation group referred to as Pure Lands. Somewhat than being daunted by the natives-only ethos they got, and the way to apply that to the formal bones of a grand previous property, Ethan and the backyard staff have experimented and innovated to nice impact, reinventing the plant palette, and utilizing woody crops specifically in splendidly surprising methods, all whereas making an area that celebrates and helps nature and welcomes guests with its magnificence. (Above: Lonicera sempervirens ‘Flint Hill’ and Halesia diptera; picture by Dave Korbonits.)
Learn alongside as you take heed to the Oct. 19, 2026 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant beneath. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
ethan kauffman on the artistic use of woody crops
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Margaret: I take into consideration you numerous as a result of generally I see the identify of a plant and I bear in mind, oh, you’re utilizing it, however the best way you’re utilizing it’s so attention-grabbing [laughter]. As a result of I see one thing a little bit bit acquainted, however once more, your means—the phrase distinctive, I all the time hate to make use of it, however you form of have invented some fairly distinctive methods of utilizing issues. So I need to discuss a few of that right this moment.
However first simply to set the scene, your authentic form of canvas is a 42-acre former non-public property loaded with formality. I consider a variety of it was designed by the famed Olmsted brothers within the first half of the twentieth century. After which your mandate from the nonprofit Pure Lands was to go native. So simply form of inform us [laughter]: That’s the place to begin, sure? And now I feel you will have an extra tract of land as effectively that you simply’re pondering, becoming a member of to it.
Ethan: Yeah, it’s been a lot enjoyable. This 42-acre property, once we got here right here, it was already beautiful. There have been these big bushes and we noticed all the chances that we’re now increasing upon within the backyard. It was fairly formal, but in addition fairly missing in variety and never a variety of native crops. So now we have this actually thrilling alternative. And as you mentioned, we now have 10 further acres which are proper subsequent door that we’re now including into the backyard itself, or within the means of.
Margaret: So formal gardens, particularly of that period, the early half of the twentieth century, relied on hedges and espaliers and every kind of architectural-almost components, components that woody crops can be utilized to create. And proper from the beginning, you will have been so ingenious, so imaginative, together with your use of woody crops. So I wished to listen to first in regards to the songbird thickets as a result of I simply love the concept of what you’ve been doing.
I imply, I created massive plenty of bird-attracting fruiting shrubs early on, however I didn’t get to 10-species variety like you will have [laughter]. I picked three issues and I bought 15 of 1 and 5 of one other and 6 of one other or one thing. I didn’t fairly go as far, so I’m so to listen to that.
Ethan: Properly, yeah, you know the way it’s with crops, it’s very easy to get carried away [laughter].
Margaret: No, actually?
Ethan: Yeah, however it’s so enjoyable. It began as a result of we had this legacy Forsythia, big mass planting on this actually lengthy view, and it was nice and it will flower. It was truly fairly good for the birds. It was form of a thicket in itself, however we thought, you already know what? We’re Stoneleigh and we’re doing all this stuff with native crops, so why not strive one thing a little bit bit totally different that may be a little bit extra useful for our birds? And we got here up with songbird thicket.
Margaret: And so how did you go about determining what would go in it? I imply, I can identify a bunch of hen crops that fruit, shrubs that fruit particularly, and so forth. And P.S., in an effort to fruit, they might’ve supported the pollinators earlier on throughout their flowering season. In order that they have a number of advantages ecologically. However how did you determine what would look good collectively? I imply, these are massive tracts or massive expanses, I assume, aren’t they?
Ethan: They’re fairly massive swaths, yeah. So it was positively fascinated with what the birds are going to eat and what they’ll like. But additionally we predict now we have to do not forget that gardens must be actually pleasing for us, too. And so how do these textures mix? How do the varieties and habits mix to make one thing that’s pleasing? We predict it’s all going to develop collectively sooner or later, however we did need to begin off with an actual design intent. [Above, songbird thicket; photo by Dave Korbonits.]
Margaret: So what do you think about? Is it the attributes like leaf texture and fall coloration and the flowering, all of the various things, the decorative points? I imply, what did you find yourself placing collectively [laughter]?
Ethan: Yeah, we thought quite a bit about that. And likewise it was form of influenced by what now we have in our nursery. So a variety of these crops that we used, I feel all however one of many varieties had been from wild-collected origin that we grew out within the nursery. So we had 50 of those silky dogwoods [Cornus amomum] within the nursery, and so they had been good. And I’ve an actual delicate spot: Are you aware Aralia spinosa, the satan’s strolling stick?
Margaret: It’s so humorous that you simply ask about that as a result of I feel I’m the one individual I do know who grows it and I’ve had it for over 30 years. I’ve a whole form of grove of it as a result of it does sucker or no matter; unfold. A gardener within the Berkshires of Massachusetts adjoining to me had it on the property he was managing and he mentioned, “Oh, I need to deliver some to you for that new backyard you’re making.” And we planted one or two or no matter. And yeah, I’ve had it ever since. It’s bought the very best fall coloration of something. It’s unbelievable. And all of the thrush family, all of the birds which are thrush family, simply come and gobble up. Flocks of them simply come and gobble it up.
Ethan: I can see we’re kindred spirits. Yeah.
Margaret: They name it the satan’s strolling stick as a result of the trunks and the branches are spiny. They’re very woody and spiny; sharp. Yeah?
Ethan: Sure. And an important pollinator plant, too. And so generally our preferences within the backyard are pushed by what we like, too. And so I really like that plant, and it’s going to sucker and actually create nice habitat, too.
Margaret: Yeah. In order that’s one and that’s not one that individuals actually take into consideration. It’s not technically native the place I’m. I pushed it, you already know what I imply? I imply, it’s a lot hardy. Its native vary might be not this far north towards New England, however yeah, oh, it’s beautiful. It’s only a beautiful plant.
Ethan: It’s. One other one we use that I actually like is a sumac, winged sumac [Rhus copallinum]. And this factor suckers quite a bit, however it’s so stunning. I find it irresistible. It has actually form of delicate foliage. And we used a cultivar referred to as ‘Lanham’s Purple.’ So late within the season it will get actually deep purple foliage after which it turns form of a fiery orange. It’s a very form of astounding transition within the fall.
Margaret: The sumacs are simply, I imply, they’re simply such beautiful… I imply each single one is beautiful within the fall in its personal means, in order that’s one that you simply get a variety of purple, huh?
Ethan: Yeah, and I agree. They’re top-of-the-line fall foliage crops that now we have. I feel they’re superior.
Margaret: Yeah. In order that’s one other one within the group. After which different issues that form of stand out that you simply selected?
Ethan: We now have some Clethra. Once more, these had been gallon crops. We simply occurred to have 30 or 40 within the nursery that we had collected seed from in one in every of our nature preserves. And an important plant; smells great. We use some by Viburnum, that are actually, once more, useful for his or her berries and such a flexible shrub, too.
Yeah, I’m telling you, designing is enjoyable, isn’t it? It’s simply form of that creation from going from what was there to one thing new that’s completely been re-imagined I feel is among the particular elements of gardening. I don’t find out about you.
Margaret: Yeah. My form of spine crops for this after I first began across the fringe of my property had been these large beds and so they had been massive numbers of winterberry holly, the Ilex verticillata, after which Aronia after which some elderberry. After which I blended in different issues as effectively. There was no different with as a lot consistency, however the Ilex had been the factor that I’ve probably the most of. They usually’re not so beautiful besides once they’re in fall coloration and fruit. However boy, the birds love them [laughter].
Ethan: Yeah. Speaking, as form of talked about, you form of pioneered or one of many those who pioneered this method early on.
Margaret: Properly, all on my own sitting right here simply liking birds and simply eager to know what they preferred. And in these days you simply regarded it up in discipline guides and issues like that. what I imply? It was many years in the past [laughter], so it wasn’t… Yeah, however it was enjoyable. It was actually enjoyable.
Ethan: Yeah, we’re comfortable to proceed the great work and discover new issues and once more, help the songbirds, which we love.
Margaret: So in these form of swaths, is it onesies of every plant or is it a sweep or river of 1 plant after which a river of one other… Are you aware what I imply? Is it multiples of every one?
Ethan: Yeah, it’s like a sweep. And the horticulturist who manages the songbird thicket is Zack Gillespie, I’m going to provide him credit score. And Patrick McGinty, our backyard supervisor, they actually put their heads collectively to pick out issues that had been most useful for the birds and the structure, and so they had a very good time with it. And it’s one thing that our visitors see proper once they are available in. It’s nearly speedy once you come into the backyard. So it will get a variety of love.
Margaret: Have to be beautiful at the moment of 12 months. After which I used to be fascinated, you’ve informed me earlier than, however I used to be fascinated about these clump plantings as a result of I’ve by no means put multiple woody plant in a gap at a time [laughter]. I didn’t know, and it’s simply so attention-grabbing. So inform us a little bit bit about that as a result of that’s a unique factor. That’s not a songbird thicket kind of factor, however one thing else.
Ethan: It’s humorous you say that as a result of generally you do issues as a result of generally the clump plantings, we’ll order a bunch of bare-root crops and perhaps you needed to get a sure minimal quantity and unexpectedly we’re left with seven and also you suppose, O.Ok., what can we do with these seven ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgums? And we get the concept, you already know what, let’s simply put all of them collectively in the identical gap and plant them and see what occurs. And so now we’ve bought this 20-foot tall clump of ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgums, and it’s form of cool.
Margaret: So it was simply nearly like a dare to your self. It’s such as you simply mentioned, “Hey, let’s give it a go,” proper? Oh, that’s so attention-grabbing.
Ethan: In some points. I feel a variety of that impressed… I don’t know if it’s impressed, however in gardening, it’s form of an in-the-moment form of method. You suppose, O.Ok., right here’s a chance. Different occasions with different clump plantings we’ve carried out we took totally different sorts of winterberry holly—yellow, orange, and purple. That was intentional. We positively ordered these and put them in the identical gap in order that we get this, I don’t know, form of rainbow of holly berries this time of 12 months. However different occasions it’s form of a backyard by alternative.
Margaret: That’s cool. And every other examples of belongings you’ve carried out in these form of clump plantings?
Ethan: We’ve carried out a number of the witch-hazels as effectively, the Ozark witch-hazel, in addition to a extra frequent native native witch-hazel, like totally different flower colours, orange, purple, and yellow and purple we’ve carried out. And you already know what’s actually attention-grabbing about that? After we planted these, we anticipated the flowers to be totally different, however with the Ozarks within the fall, the leaf coloration is totally different on every cultivar, which is de facto surprising and funky, I feel. [Above: Hamamelis vernalis clump planting with various flower colors; photo by Dave Korbonits.]
Margaret: And in order that’s Hamamelis vernalis, the Ozark witch-hazel. So does it have totally different coloured flowers; do a few of them have totally different coloration flowers, or simply the autumn coloration is totally different?
Ethan: Each the flowers and the autumn coloration is totally different.
Margaret: Oh, I didn’t understand it got here with totally different flower colours as effectively. I didn’t know that. Oh, attention-grabbing.
Ethan: Yeah, it’s attention-grabbing.
Margaret: Wow. And they also simply form of come up from this frequent area, and so it’s like, wow, it should simply be quite a bit occurring [laughter].
Ethan: Yeah. And should you’re doing new issues, you don’t all the time know what to anticipate. And so one factor we came upon with these specifically is that sure cultivars grew a lot quicker than the opposite ones. So we truly needed to prune the fastest-growing one to maintain tempo with the others. I don’t know, who would suppose the cultivars develop at totally different charges, however they do.
Margaret: Properly, genetics, proper? [Laughter.] Yeah, the magic of genetics. So that you’ve carried out that with the witch-hazels and with the Ilex; with the winterberries. It’s fairly enjoyable. I imply, once more, I’ve by no means considered doing it. It by no means occurred to me. And I suppose one of many issues is I don’t have a variety of bare-root issues. I don’t have a variety of expertise with that with woody crops such as you would. Different examples of a few of your artistic makes use of of native woody crops?
Ethan: Yeah. Properly, are you aware Dr. David Creech down in Texas?
Margaret: By identify, however not personally, no.
Ethan: Properly, years in the past I used to be speaking to him and he’s an enormous bald cypress man. And that is one other clump planting, by the best way. And he mentioned in China, he would go over to China, and they might plant lots of of those bald cypress alongside the rivers for erosion management, and they might all form of develop collectively, like their bark would fuse. So we although, oh, why don’t we strive that? So we did plant 5 of those dwarf bald cypress collectively in the identical gap, and it hasn’t fused but, however we’re ready, and it’s form of enjoyable, too.
Margaret: In order that’s Taxodium distichum, and is that that one which has that humorous identify like ‘Peve Minaret’ or no matter? [Above: Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’ clump planting; photo by Dave Korbonits.]
Ethan: That’s it. That’s the one.
Margaret: I don’t know the way you pronounce the range identify.
Ethan: That’s how I say it. I don’t know. There may be a greater means.
Margaret: And also you’ve put multiples of these in the identical gap, huh? And the way massive does it get or how massive has it gotten?
Ethan: Properly, you know the way once you get these crops, it says, “Oh, it’s going to get 8 toes tall.” When that cultivar got here out, all people and every little thing mentioned it was going to get 6 to eight toes, however I feel specimens are pushing 30, 40 toes nearly.
Margaret: Oh my goodness.
Ethan: Yeah.
Margaret: Wow. [Laughter.] And also you’ve carried out a variety of combining form of issues the place you’ve made room for vines in a variety of your… Pairing them with a variety of your bushes and shrubs, hedges, and so forth, and that’s actually enlivened the planting aesthetically, but in addition made it extra numerous and so forth. So I do know you’ve carried out a variety of that. We talked about that a few years in the past, I feel we talked about a few of these. Even then, even a few years in the past once we spoke on the present, I feel you had already began utilizing 24 totally different native vines, and I used to be like, “I can’t even identify 24 totally different native vines.” [Laughter.] Now, the place are you?
Ethan: Again to that it’s simple to get loopy with crops. I feel we now have over 120 totally different native vines at Stoneleigh, so issues can get out of hand once more fairly shortly.
Margaret: Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. I imply, actually, I can’t even identify half that many, in order that’s wild. That’s wild. And so what about that? I imply, the vines…
Ethan: Vines are superior. They’re actually misunderstood, I feel, however they want help is mostly what they want. And so we discovered that the best and the most cost effective are simply utilizing present crops, and particularly our woody crops. And what you are able to do is you may pair, say, a pearl honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, with one other spring flowering tree like two-wing silverbell, Halesia diptera, and create this actually magical second the place each the white flowers are the Halesia, the purple flowers of the traces are flowering on the similar time, and also you get this actually grand show. And like I mentioned, it’s actually form of magical. [Photo of Halesia and Lonicera blooming together, top of page.]
Margaret: And so that you simply make the observations first that encourage these pairings from the place you’ve seen the crops in the identical location blooming concurrently and also you go, “Oh, if I might put these collectively…” As a result of you may’t actually look it up in a guide, I don’t suppose precisely what’s going to bloom concurrently.
Ethan: It’s a light-bulb second. It truly is. And after I was gardening within the South, one other nice pairing that I like to make use of was purple maple and Gelsemium sempervirens or Carolina jessamine. And each of these are actually early-flowering species, however the purple and the yellow are actually placing collectively. And people maples are actually nice for early pollinators like mining bees and that form of factor, so double the influence.
Margaret: So that you form of search for, such as you say, light-bulb moments for the inspiration after which intentionally, you get the suitable crops and intentionally make these pairings.
Ethan: That’s what we do. You too can—once more, and I don’t find out about you, however one of many issues I really like, I simply love watching crops and observing, and also you form of make these psychological notes. O.Ok., that is occurring on the similar time that is occurring, or after. And so one factor we’ve carried out, too, we’ve taken one other honeysuckle referred to as yellow honeysuckle [Lonicera flava], it’s an Jap selection, and paired it with a dwarf redbud [Cercis canadensis]. And by doing that, you get this redbud that flowers, for us anyway, for 2 weeks on the finish of April, after which proper as that’s winding down, you get these good yellow flowers of the honeysuckle that take over, and you will get 4 to 5 weeks of flower-power on this one area by combining these two crops.
Margaret: Yeah. Once more, you’re making me consider so many issues that I might do in areas I have already got one thing rising that’s going to be just like the armature, so to talk. I might double my pleasure and in addition the pleasure of the hummingbirds or the animals that I do know that love the actual crops by bringing that associate in there and coaching it up the help.
Ethan: If you happen to’re simply beginning to do this, if any individual’s simply form of starting to make use of a few of these native vines, clematis are actually a number of the best and greatest as a result of they’re not as aggressive. They develop in nature—that’s how they develop—is thru shrubs. In order that they’re nice to placed on nearly something to have that help, and you then get these actually stunning flowers, I feel. They’re actually delicate.
Margaret: Yeah. I wished to ask you about, and I feel we might have talked a little bit bit about this a number of years in the past, however it’s such an attention-grabbing matter, the concept of… I do know that you simply make blended hedges out of various crops, not these monochrome/monotone form of hedges which are the extra frequent scenario. Any of people who have actually, that you simply really feel like, wow, that was a victory, that one’s actually a great one, that combination? [Above: Wildlife hedge; photo by Sam Nestory.]
Ethan: It’s actually enjoyable, and it’s form of thrilling to do this. A lot of gardening is that private expression, that form of creativity, and blended hedges not solely fulfill, they meet that form of want, that itch you need to scratch. But additionally, once more, we’re creating these dynamic visible hedges, but in addition it’s useful to a broader vary of wildlife, extra disease-resilient. And a number of the greatest, I feel, Viburnum dentatum, arrowwood is a very good one. After all, all of the Arborvitae are good.
A variety of the magnolias, like Magnolia virginia, Southern magnolia, can be actually good for us down right here. Yeah, even Taxodium, our bald cypress, has labored effectively. After all, issues like hop hornbean [Ostrya virginiaia], ironwood, are pure form of hedge candidates, in order that they’ve labored rather well, and have fall coloration.
And we are able to’t neglect about our vines as a result of we throw these in there as effectively. They’re in a few of our blended hedges and the clematis and honeysuckle are ones we’ve used effectively.
Margaret: So actual fast, I do know once we spoke the opposite day, you talked about to me that generally you attempt to discover a house for, I imply, consciously attempt to discover a house for, “missed or underappreciated native crops” is what you name them, to show into hedges. And also you named one, Baccharis, which I do know is form of a factor from the seashore, I feel, surroundings extra, Baccharis halimifolia, and I don’t even know a typical identify for it, however simply give us a few these examples actual fast.
Ethan: Yeah, I feel these are the form of crops individuals would possibly zoom by on I-95 and never suppose twice about, however Baccharis is an efficient one. It makes a very nice hedge. I feel should you can simply take a look at these crops and see them in a unique mild, we’ve been informed for thus lengthy that native crops are meant for casual areas or they’re meant for erosion management, however actually we’d like to consider utilizing them for each facet of our panorama, if we’d embrace this form of ecological gardening and supporting our wildlife. So these are actually good.
We use vines that, once more, within the south, there’s a factor referred to as peppervine. Folks suppose it’s form of a trash plant in the event that they give it some thought in any respect, however it helps, like different Grape relations, so many alternative caterpillars. I feel once we take into consideration what a garden-worthy plant is, we’re within the means of reassessing what garden-worthy means as a result of garden-worthy means now that it additionally helps and performs a practical function in our ecosystem. It’s not nearly being this tidy, saleable plant. We now have an entire new definition of backyard worthy.
Margaret: That’s positively very effectively mentioned. I hadn’t actually considered it that means, however sure. As a result of I’ll say, oh, it’s not sufficient to make fairly footage and issues like that, however garden-worthy, redefining that phrase, that’s effectively mentioned.
What’s the peppervine? The genus? Are you able to inform me so I can look it up?
Ethan: It’s referred to as Nekemias, and it was Ampelopsis.
Margaret: Oh, O.Ok. Certain. Oh, attention-grabbing. Properly, I’ve to look that one up. Properly, Ethan Kauffman, I’m glad to speak to you as all the time. And once more, a few of these issues that you simply’re doing on a bigger scale, they simply nonetheless translate. I’m pondering now of 20 issues that I need to discover [laughter] and add to locations in my very own backyard. I hope our listeners will really feel the identical means. So I’ll discuss to you once more quickly, I hope. Thanks very a lot for making time.
Ethan: Thanks a lot for having me.
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