Native Plant Profiles

Anise Hyssop –
Agastache foeniculum
A pollinator powerhouse, this perennial produces purple blossoms all summer long. Crushed leaves smell like licorice and can be used for tea an herbal remedies. Attractive to Hummingbirds.

Bee Balm –
Monarda fistulosa
A mid-late summer pollinator magnet, this whimsical flower brings a buzz of activity to any garden. The fragrant leaves can be used to make soothing herbal tea. Deer Resistant. *FULL PROFILE*

Blue Cohosh –
Caulophyllum thalictroides
An attractive native with three seasons of interest. Unique smoky purple stems are topped with yellow flowers in spring. They’re followed by powdery blue seeds in summer that mature to a rich dark blue in the early fall. Deer & Rabbit Resistant. *FULL PROFILE*

Blue Mistflower –
Conoclinium coelestinum
Tolerant of shade, wet feet, and quickly fills in the landscape. May be a bit of a bully to it’s neighbors, but it’s so pretty you might not mind. Also known as Hardy Ageratum, this native loves to spread itself around! It can be late to emerge in the spring, but can form a sea of blue blossoms in late summer and fall.

Butterfly Weed –
Asclepias tuberosa
Have dry, sandy, rocky soil? This milkweed may be just for you! Drought tolerant and well-behaved, it doesn’t spread as vigorously as other asclepias species. Often emerging very late in the spring, it is covered in bright orange flowers during summer.

Common Blue Violet –
Viola sororia
A sweet little groundcover that spreads readily. Though some may consider it a weed, it is an important larval host plant for 14 species of Greater Fritillaries and 16 Lesser Fritillaries. Without violets, we would not have these lovely butterflies!

Common Milkweed –
Asclepias syriaca
One of the easiest milkweeds to grow! Often found in fields or along roadsides, this beneficial plant boasts fragrant pale pink flower clusters in the summer. It’s an important larval host plant for Monarch Butterflies.

Cutleaf Coneflower –
Rudbeckia laciniata
Also known as Wild Golden Glow, this cheery coneflower reaches towering heights. Favoring moist soil, it is often found along streams or woodland edges. *FULL PROFILE*

Golden Groundsel –
Packera aurea
Ideal for a fast-growing groundcover, it’s evergreen basal foliage remains in the landscape year round. Dainty yellow flowers are held high on purple stems in the spring. Though it prefers moist soil and shadier conditions, it is one of the most resilient and adaptable natives we’ve come across!

Great blue Lobelia –
Lobelia siphilitica
Sometimes referred to as Blue Cardinal Flower, you can often find it growing in colonies along streams, springs, or in wet meadows. Blooming from July-September, it can add a refreshing burst of color in the landscape and is a enjoyed by pollinators.

Hairy Wood Mint –
Blephilia hirsuta
Sometimes referred to as Hairy Pagoda Plant, it is best perfect for woodland gardens. Blooming from June-September, it’s highly aromatic foliage is very minty and thus typically avoided by mammalian herbivores.

Honewort–
Cryptotaenia canadensis
A member of the carrot family, cooked roots can be eaten like parsnips. Young stems/leaves are also edible and even the seeds can be used as a spice. Flowers are not showy, but this native is a host plant for Black Swallowtail butterflies. Able to tolerate almost complete shade. It can be considered weedy and potentially spread to the point of being a nuisance.

Northern Sea Oats –
Chasmanthium latifolia
Also called Wood Oats or Spangle Oats, it is perhaps one of our most shade tolerant native grasses. Clumps grow 2′-5′ tall. Fluttering seed heads make a pleasant sound even in a gentle breeze. Excellent fall/winter interest. Great for dried flower arrangements.

NY Ironweed –
Veronia noveboracensis
Frequently found growing along streams or around ponds, this clump-forming perennial also volunteers in moist thickets. Tolerant of clay soil, deer, and wet conditions. Produces showy purple flowers in late summer and fall.

Pokeberry –
Phytolacca americana
An enthusiastic grower, some might call this native downright aggressive. The birds don’t mind though! This fascinating plant boasts black berries that are an important late-season food source for local wildlife. *FULL PROFILE*

Red Columbine-
Aquilegia canadensis
An early bloomer with attractive foliage. Adaptable to full sun or shade and deer/drought resistant! It is a larval host for the Columbine Duskywing Butterfly and is attractive to Hummingbirds, Bees, and Butterflies.

Striped Cream Violet-
Viola striata
Can be used as a bright little groundcover in shady areas! It is a larval host for Fritillary Butterflies and has a long bloom time. Reseeds itself with vigor and mingles well with other shade-loving natives. Perfect for a woodland garden or to use as a “living mulch” around shrubs.

Swamp Milkweed-
Asclepias incarnata
Often found in swamps and wet meadows, it is adaptable to average, well-drained soil. Vanilla scented pink flowers bloom in late summer. An important host plant for Monarch Butterflies.

Tall Meadow Rue –
Thalictrum pubescens
With one of it’s common names being “King of the Meadow”, this elegant wildflower is surprisingly underused in cultivated landscapes. It thrives in moist shade, but is adaptable to garden landscapes with a little extra care. *FULL PROFILE*

Virginia Bluebells –
Mertensia virginica
This true blue spring ephemeral can be found growing in large colonies along forest edges or sun dappled woodland clearings. A sight for sore eyes after the long days of winter. Deer and rabbit resistant. *FULL PROFILE*

Virgin’s Bower Clematis Vine–
Clematis virginiana
This showy climbing vine will quickly cover a trellis or arbor up to 9′ high. Typically found along creeks, wet meadows, or woodland edges, it likes moist soil and partial shade. However, it is adaptable! Fluffy seed heads provide fall/winter interest.

White Snakeroot –
Ageratina altissima
An attractive fall-blooming native that enjoys part shade and thrives in woodland soil. This enthusiastic spreader reseeds prolifically and can form beautiful colonies that light up shady areas, especially if the soil is rich and moist. *FULL PROFILE*

White Turtlehead –
Chelone glabra
A plant that enjoys a bit of shade and loves consistent soil moisture, the flowers of this native can be white or shades of light pink. The blossoms are said to resemble the head of a turtle and are frequently visited by bumblebees.

Wingstem –
Verbesina alternifolia
Constantly buzzing with insects and pollinators, there’s always something to see when you take the time to look closely. Late season yellow flowers are held high on strong stems up to 8′ tall that don’t require staking. Perfect for meadows or the back of a border. Not recommended for small landscapes.

Woodland Stonecrop –
Sedum ternatum
Also known as Three-Leaved Stonecrop, this low-growing groundcover has beautiful evergreen foliage. Star-like white flowers cover the succulent-like leaves in spring. Easy to divide and propagate new plants! Deer/Rabbit Resistant.

Wood Poppy –
Stylophorum diphyllum
This woodland wildflower adds a bit of much needed sunshine in very early spring. Buttery yellow flowers with large overlapping petals have a frilly center that gives it a showy appearance. It has a lovely mounded shape and will reseed itself freely in the landscape. *FULL PROFILE*