STORY BEHIND THE ART OF CAROL WOODIN

Wildly Exquisite: Florida’s Native Plants

Maypop

Passiflora incarnata

I love painting wild plant species in general – they are underappreciated in the garden and in natural habitats. Many of the plants we see on roadsides and in wetlands were introduced and have ‘gone wild’, escaping cultivation, some colonizing vast areas. In our region of upstate New York, we confront Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) completely overtaking creeksides, non-native loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) replacing cattails and other wetland plants, and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) encroaching in broadly varied habitats. My own yard and surrounding forest has, over the last few years, been colonized by invasive stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum).

With non-natives taking up such vast areas of our neighborhoods, it is difficult sometimes to know which plants are native and to appreciate them. They offer not only aesthetic enjoyment, but provide many other benefits to both the physical aspects of the environment and its associated fauna. This is where Passiflora incarnata came to mind! It is a native plant ranging from Florida northward through Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and west to Texas and Nebraska. It can be considered invasive in some cases. Its vigor can cause it to spread through the garden, but it serves as a host and food plant to so many species of butterflies, bees, and birds that it is a real boon to any habitat. It is also just beautiful.

Maypop is not quite native where I live, and originally I had seen it growing along a stone wall at Wave Hill. During this year’s shutdown, I puzzled over where to find a flowering example nearby. Fortunately, Hortus Botanical Garden and Arboretum, a local paradise with all kinds of curious plants, came to the rescue. At Hortus, this maypop was grown with some protection, had become very vigorous, and was flowering and fruiting. So in this happy environment, my labors began. I studied the bud, an open flower, a fruit, leaves, vines, and tendrils in the hoop house, and then Hortus kindly provided me with cuttings to take home. The flowers wilt quickly when cut, but by placing one in a plastic zip bag, it stayed fresh in the fridge for a couple weeks!

Plants in the genus Passiflora have always been intriguing. They have such a unique floral structure and often beautiful coloration. However, for an artist trying to portray them, they do present challenges! The petals and sepals of this passionflower are somewhat recurved, and the corona in the middle has many, many membranous outgrowths that are purplish. In short, floral structure is complicated and unique, and it requires careful study and rendering. This passionflower is vining, and had many curling tendrils, which make such interesting design elements. And studying and painting the fruit brought to mind the unbelievably delicious passionfruit ice cream that can be found in Ecuador!

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Read more about this artist’s work: Abundant Future