Jenkins Arboretum, one of the region’s oldest remnants of the once continuous eastern forest, quietly resides in Devon, Pennsylvania for all to enjoy and admire. It nurtures a large collection of native deciduous azaleas, hybrid rhododendrons, perennial wildflowers and ferns.

In the Arboretum’s goal to educate the public on the advantages of using native plants in the landscape that thrive in southeastern Pennsylvania, Jenkins Arboretum has created its Green Ribbon Native Plant ® Selections. Every spring, the Arboretum Horticulture Committee and staff select three native plants (a tree, shrub, and fern or wildflower) that are grown in the Arboretum which should work well in residential and commercial landscapes.

A native plant is defined as a species existing in eastern North America prior to European settlement. Native plants tend to be more hardy and resilient to environmental conditions since they have evolved and adapted to grow in the region. They are also aesthetically pleasing and offer great ecological value for a diversity of insects, birds, and animals in all landscapes.

The pawpaw is a member of the Annonaceae (the Custard-Apple family). Found mostly in the southern parts of Eastern North America, the pawpaw is native to this region. It is a hardy, smaller woodland tree 15-20 feet tall. This under story tree was once common across our landscape but years of clear cutting has all but removed it from its natural setting.

The pawpaw is grown for its striking foliage, unusual solitary flowers borne on the previous year's shoots and for its edible fruit. In May it displays a showy, deep reddish-purple flower, but it comes into its glory in the fall displaying brilliant yellow foliage as well as yellow custard-like fruit 2-5" in length. The fruit is edible, tasting like a cross between a banana and a mango. The pawpaw grows in moist, well drained fertile, humus-rich, neutral to acidic soil in full sun. This tree can be difficult to transplant, so it is best transplanted as a small balled-and-burlapped or container plant.

The extract of the pawpaw's twigs and leaves has some insecticidal properties. It is best used to naturalize and makes an excellent transition at a woodland edge. To view Jenkins Arboretum's pawpaw, follow the path to the pond.

The Pinxterbloom Azalea is a deciduous azalea that naturally colonized at the Arboretum. It is a medium growing, (4-6") wellbranched, stoloniferous azalea with elliptic, bright green leaves. It grows in partial to full shade and is extremely adaptable. It grows in a variety of soil conditions from dry, sandy, rocky soil to wet areas along a stream.

The flower is the true glory. The trusses of 6-12 narrow, tubularfunnel-shaped, fragrant, white or pale pink to deep violet flowers are borne in mid-season before the leaves. Follow the Woodland Path in early May to experience a grove of these wonderful native shrubs.

Tiarella gets its common name from the white, foamy-looking flowers. This easily grown herbaceous evergreen perennial plant can be used in partial to deep shade when given a moist soil. Some varieties remain aclump while others spread rapidly. The foam flower is not considered to be invasive.

This hardy plant has something to offer all year round. In late April, it grows under shady conditions and could be treated as a ground cover. It puts on a show of dense white feathery spires that give a lace-like appearance. The handsome "maple-leaf" foliage is attractive all summer long, turning a beautiful red in autumn. Depending on the variety, summer foliage can vary from deep green to variegated with dark red markings. This plant is perfect for mixing with lower-growing woodland flowers, so that the foliage can show off all year long.