Allegheny Monkeyflower Mimulus ringens Description: Pairs of snapdragon-like flowers Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Rain Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 12″ Spread: 12″ Family: Scrophulariaceae Soil type: Acidic loam Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Part shade to shade Zone: 3-9
Tag: summer
Allegheny Spurge
Allegheny Spurge Pachysandra procumbens Description: A groundcover that blooms with fragrant, white, bottlebrush-shaped flowers in the spring. Propagation: Division or cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 10″ Spread: 36″ Family: Buxaceae Soil pH: Acidic woodland soil Soil moisture: Moist Light: Shade Zone: 6…
Bigleaf Aster
Bigleaf Aster Eurybia macrophylla Description: Late summer starry flowers in the woodland; will form a groundcover on slopes Propagation: Division of the spreading rhizome Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White, pale blue Height: 1-2′ Spread: 36″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Sand, loam, clay average…
Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh Actaea racemosa AR Plant Model Description: Tall bottlebrush flowers in summer Propagation: Move small plants in early spring, or start from seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 5′ Spread: 24″ Family: Ranunculaceae Soil type: Acidic woods Soil moisture: Moist Light: Shade…
Blanketflower
Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata Description: Short lived low perennials bloom most of the summer with bright petals of red, yellow and orange. Propagation: Easy from seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Red, yellow Height: 8-16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Sandy or gritty loam Soil moisture:…
Blue Flag Iris
Blue Flag Iris Iris versicolor AR Plant Model Description: Versicolor means “variously colored” and that’s why another common name is harlequin flower. The yellow flag iris is from Europe and is an invasive species, pushing out the native flag iris. Do not plant it. Propagation: Seeds are produced in a large capsule, but easier…
Blue Mistflower
Blue Mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Description: This plant’s fuzzy blue flowers attract butterflies in September and October. Found in old fields, meadows, and along stream banks, it can grow rapidly up to 3’ tall. Propagation: Easy from seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W1 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Lavender Height:…
Blue Vervain
Blue Vervain Verbena hastata Description: Candelabra spikes on tall stems Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Purple Height: 2-6′ Spread: 24″ Family: Verbenaceae Soil type: Basic Soil moisture: Medium to moist Light: Full sun Zone: 3-9
Brown-Eyed Susan
Brown-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba Description: A densly branched, hairy, short-lived perennial or biennial, with coarse leaves. Propagation: Self-seeds readily Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 20″ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Medium to dry Light: Sun Zone: 4 –…
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Description: The bright orange, clustered flowers attract bees and butterflies. Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves and accumulate toxins from its latex sap as a defense strategy. Propagation: From seeds or division of the rhizomatous roots in fall. Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color…
Canada Goldenrod
Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis Description: A spreading, aggressive native plant with showy spikes of yellow flowers. Not the plant which provokes hay fever; ragweed does that. Propagation: Seeds and spreads by stolons Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 4′ Spread: 6′ Family: Asteraceae Soil type:…
Cardinal Flower
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Description: A hummingbird magnet, these short-lived perennials make lots of seeds and thus continue where happy for many years Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Red Height: 2-5′ Spread: 18″ Family: Campanulaceae Soil type: Sand or loam Soil moisture: Moist…
Carolina Allspice
Carolina Allspice Calycanthus floridus Description: A large, suckering shrub with dark red, fragrant flowers. Propagation: Bare-root or clonal suckers in spring or fall Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Maroon Height: 4-6′ Spread: 6′ Family: Calycanthaceae Soil type: Acidic or neutral Soil moisture: Medium moist to wet…
Chives
Chives Allium schoenoprasum Description: Leaves and flowers in salads, vegetables, poultry, fish, eggs, and butter. Lavender flowers in June. Propagation: Seeds or divisions of the small bulbs Initial bloom (month and week): June W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Purple Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Amaryllidaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Dry Light:…
Clustered Mountain Mint
Clustered Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum Description: This clump-forming perennial flowers from July to September. When crushed, the leaves produce a spearmint aroma and can be used to make tea. Pollinators love it. Propagation: Division of surface stems Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White and pink Height:…
Common Milkweed
Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Description: Larval host plant for Monarch butterflies Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Dusty rose Height: 5′ Spread: 6′ Family: Apocynaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Sun Zone: 3 – 9
Crooked-stem Aster
Crooked-stem Aster Symphyotrichum prenanthoides Description: With narrow leaves, the zig-zag stems produce many small rayed flowers in late summer Propagation: Divisions of the roots Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Pale blue-violet Height: 36″ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Moist to wet…
Culver’s Root
Culver’s Root Veronicastrum virginicum Description: Tall white candelabra blooms above whorled foliage Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 4-8′ Spread: 24″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Basic Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Full sun Zone: 3-8
Cup Plant
Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum Description: Leaves join at the stem forming a cup that holds water Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 4-10′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Deep rich soils Soil moisture: Drought tolerant Light: Full sun Zone:…
Dense Blazing Star
Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata Description: Upright flower spikes of pale purple bloom in July and August and are highly attractive to butterflies. Can survive in dry sites. Propagation: Easy from seeds or offsets Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Lavender Height: 2-3′ Spread: 12″ Family:…
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens Description: A small orchid named for the snake-skin pattern of white veins over the dark green background of the leaf. An erect floral stalk bears many small, white flowers. Propagation: Seeds or divisions, but requiring a mycorrhizal association to thrive. Surprisingly, it makes a good terrarium plant. Initial bloom (month…
Fall Phlox
Fall Phlox Phlox paniculata Description: Its flowers come in a wide variety of colors and bloom throughout July and August. Also known as garden phlox, the flower is sweetly scented and survives in moist to well-drained, rich soil. Propagation: Divisions or cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): July W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color…
False Aster
False Aster Boltonia asteroides Description: Hundreds of white daisies make a massive bloom statement Propagation: Seeds must be stratified to germinate. Divisions of the roots in spring. Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White or pink Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3′ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral…
Flowering Tobacco
Flowering Tobacco Nicotiana alata Description: The white fragrant flowers open at night to attract moths. Larval host plant of the tobacco hornworm, which also uses tomato. Propagation: Scatter seeds in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): August W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 12″ Spread: 16″ Family: Solanaceae Soil type:…
Giant Sunflower
Giant Sunflower Helianthus giganteus Description: This tall prairie sunflower has coarse leaves and spreads gently. Propagation: Seeds or divisions of the rhizomes in spring Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 8-10′ Spread: 36″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sand or loam Soil moisture:…
Golden Alexanders
Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea Description: Early summer flowers feed many short-tongued insects. Food plant of the Black swallowtail butterfly. Propagation: Short-lived but will self-seed. Divisions in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): April W4 Garden name: Rain Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 36″ Spread: 12″ Family: Apiaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Moist…
Great Blue Lobelia
Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Description: Found along stream banks and pond edges, making large colonies where happy. Propagation: Seeds or divisions from the roots Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 24″ Spread: 18″ Family: Campanulaceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil moisture: Medium to…
Grey-headed Coneflower
Grey-headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Description: A prairie coneflower with a tall central disc Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 2-5′ Spread: 12″ Family: Adteraceae Soil type: Rich prairie or woods Soil moisture: Medium Light: Full sun Zone: 3-10
Hairy Beardtongue
Hairy Beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus Description: This short plant is great for rock gardens and borders. Propagation: Seeds and stem cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Lavender to white Height: 6-8″ Spread: 10″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Sun Zone: 3 –…
Heath Aster
Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides Description: This plant provides a dense groundcover with half inch white daises with golden centers. Its grows well in poor, dry soils in full sun and flowers in September. Propagation: Easy from seeds, or divisions in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): September W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of…
Hens and Chicks
Hens and Chicks Sempervivum calcareum Description: Long-lived succulents will multiply and live for years if dry enough. Individual crowns die after flowering. Propagation: Offsets may be pulled off and planted at any time Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 12″ Spread: 10″ Family: Crassulaceae…
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium fistulosum Description: This perennial grows from 5-12’ and features tiny, dusty pink flowers in huge scapes from July to September. Propagation: Divisions in early spring Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Dusty pink Height: 5-12′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil…
Indian Pink
Indian Pink Spigelia marilandica Description: Upward-facing bright red tubular flowers with contrasting yellow centers. A gorgeous hummingbird favorite. Propagation: Seeds, or divide whole plants in early spring. Initial bloom (month and week): June W1 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Red and yellow Height: 24″ Spread: 12″ Family: Loganiaceae Soil type: Neutral woods…
Ironweed
Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Description: The tall purple flowers of this plant bloom on upright stems in August and September. Thriving in full sun and dry to average soils, ironweed is commonly found in pastures since it is unpalatable to cows. Propagation: Seeds are easy, also divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny…
Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla mollis Description: Leaves pleated in a fan shape hold dew drops Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 16″ Spread: 16″ Family: Roseaceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 3-8
Lanceleaf Tickseed
Lanceleaf Tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata Description: Bright yellow flowers in May and June attract butterflies and bees to this hardy perennial. Propagation: Seeds, divisions in spring or fall Initial bloom (month and week): May W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Golden yellow Height: 18″ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Sandy Soil moisture:…