Native Plants As Habitat For Wildlife - Native Plant Society of ...

They grow well on poor sandy or gravely soils in full sun.
Use:
Jack pines are useful in naturalization on poor soils. They make interesting specimen
trees where a twisted gnarled appearance is wanted.
Propagation:
Seed
Pinus contorta var. lattfolia (lodgepole pine)
Description:
The species name "contorta" means twisted and may be a reference to the gnarled
branches, the twisted needles, or the coastal variety of this tree. The common name refers
to the use of the wood in teepees and lodges by Indigenous peoples who also used the
resin for water-proofing canoes, baskets, moccasins and other articles. Lodgepole pine is
native to the Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills. Once commonly called "cypress", the
Cypress Hills of Alberta and Saskatchewan
were named for this conifer.
Up to 20 m in height, lodgepole pines have a life span of up to 200 years. The trunk is
tall, straight and has little taper. The needles are dark green to yellow-green, in bundles of
two, twisted and sharp-pointed. Within the bundle they are parallel rather than spread out.
The cones are claw-shaped, with each scale having a sharp but fragile bristle or point.
The tips of the cones point backward toward the trunk of the tree. The cones usually
remain closed and persist on the tree for 10 to 20 years, opening when exposed to the heat
of fire or direct sunlight – which softens the resin holding the scales together. The root
system consists of a tap root and spreading lateral roots. Where their ranges overlap,
lodgepole pine hybridizes freely with jack pine.
Culture:
It will grow in full sun on a wide range of soils.
Use:
Lodgepole pine is useful for screening, as a specimen tree and in shelterbelts.
Potentilla fruticosa (cinquefoil)
Description:
Potentilla is from the word "potens" meaning power, a reference to the medicinal power
of some species. "Illa" means small. Thus we have a small plant of great power -
certainly a tough one with a long period of bloom.
Native to the prairies, the species has deep yellow, buttercup-like flowers up to 2.5 cm (1
in.) in diameter which are borne in small clusters at the end of branches through the
40