Large Twayblade

Large Twayblade Liparis liliifolia   Description: An orchid that bears 5-30 drooping flowers on an erect stem. Each flower has three pale purple petals and three green sepals. Twayblade does not set much seed, and what pollinates it is largely unknown. Huge colonies exist, but may be the result of offsets. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom…

Lavender

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Description: Add to your bath or use in cakes, cookies, or jellies. Grows to be 18” tall. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 18″ Spread: 12″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy gravel Soil moisture: Dry and hot Light: Full sun…

Lavender Cotton

Lavender Cotton Santolina chamaecypayrssus Description: A natural air freshener and insect repellent, used in short hedges Propagation: Seeds. Difficult to transplant when large. Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Medium dry Light: Full…

Nasturtium

Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus   Description: Use the leaves and flowers in salads, or pickle the seed pods and used as you would capers Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Orange Height: 12″ Spread: 36″ Family: Tropaeolaceae Soil type: Neutral loam Soil moisture: Medium to dry…

Nodding Onion

Nodding Onion Allium cernuum Description: Bears white to pink flowers nodding at the top of a leafless stalk. Like all onions, this plant is edible. There are selected dark pink forms, but the wild species is a pale pink. Propagation: Seeds or division of bulb clusters. Very easy, can take over. Initial bloom (month and…

Northern Sea Oats

Northern Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium   Description: A common ornamental grass  that grows 2-5’ in rich woods and rocky slopes. Propagation: Prolific from seeds, easy to divide the fibrous roots Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Golden yellow Height: 2-5′ Spread: 12″ Family: Poaceae Soil type:…

Obedient Plant

Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana Description: Snapdragon-like flowers Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 2-4′ Spread: 12″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Rich meadow Soil moisture: Moist Light: Full sun Zone: 3-9

Ohio Goldenrod

Ohio Goldenrod Oligoneuron ohioense    Description: Largest and showiest goldenrod flowers Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 3-4′ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Basic, sand or clay Soil moisture: Medium to moist Light: Full sun Zone: 4-5

Ohio Spiderwort

Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis   Description: The deep blue, pink or white flowers open in the morning and close by noon on sunny days, but last longer on cloudy days. Many named cultivars are available in the trade. Also known as bluejacket. Propagation: Division after the plant becomes dormant in late summer, or in early spring…

Orange Coneflower

Orange Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida   Description: Many yellow ray flowers, attracts bees and butterflies. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow with black center Height: 2-3′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Tolerant of clay soil Soil moisture: Dry or moist Light: Full…

Oregano

Oregano Origanum vulgare Description: Indispensable for pizza and all tomato sauces, leaf tea for indigestion. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 12″ Spread: 24″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun Zone: 3 – 9

Ozark Sundrops

Ozark Sundrops Oenothera macrocarpa   Description: Large flowers bloom a long time followed by curious seeds pods shaped like paddle wheels. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 12″ Spread: 24″ Family: Onagraceae Soil type: Neutral sand or loam Soil moisture: Dry Light: Full sun…

Parsley

Parsley Petroselinum crispum   Description: Use as a nutritious garnish or add to tabouleh, stuffing, or salad. Food plant of the black swallowtail butterfly. Propagation: Biennial; allow seeds to form and scatter them in July Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Green Height: 18″ Spread: 18″ Family:…

Partridge Berry

Partridge Berry Mitchella repens   Description: This tiny ground cover has oval evergreen leaves and bright red berries all winter. Propagation: Root cuttings in fall at leaf nodes Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 2-4″ Spread: 12″ Family: Rubiaceae  Soil type: Acidic woodland soil…

Pearly Everlasting

Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea   Description: This everlasting flower is good for drying. It is also the larval host plant of the American Lady butterfly. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 16″ Spread: 12″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture:…

Pickerel Weed

Pickerel Weed Pontederia cordata Description: An obligate wetland species, pickerel weed is host to many bees and butterflies. This plant won’t tolerate any drought, and must be planted in standing water. The seeds and stalks are edible. A special bee, Dufourea novaeangliae, obtains pollen and nectar from only this plant. Propagation: Seed or division of roots,…

Pink Turtlehead

Pink Turtlehead Chelone lyonii Description: Closed flowers resemble turtles’ heads. Spreads by rhizomes. Propagation: Divisions, cuttings, seeds Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 1-3′ Spread: 20″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Rich humus Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Sun to shade Zone: 3-9

Prairie Blazing Star

Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya  Description: Fluffy rose pink flowers on a tall plant Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 2-5′ Spread: 20″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Dry prairie Soil moisture: Dry, tolerant of clay soil Light: Full sun Zone: 3 – 9

Prairie Dock

Prairie Dock Silphium terebinthinaceum   Description: Leaves like elephant ears. Birds love the seeds. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 3-10′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Basic, sand or clay Soil moisture: Medium to moist Light: Full sun Zone: 4-7

Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Description: Blooming in July and August, this eastern US native has roots which are used for a tea which is said to strengthen the immune system. Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): June W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pinkish-purple Height: 3-4′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae…

Royal Catchfly

Royal Catchfly Silene regia Description: Bright red flowers attract hummingbirds Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Red Height: 2-4′ Spread: 18″ Family: Caryophyllaceae Soil type: Sandy and coarse Soil moisture: Good drainage Light: Full sun Zone: 4-9

Sage

Sage Salvia officinalis   Description: Growing to 3’, sage blooms with pink or blue flowers. Delicious in stuffing or with meat, in bread, or as a tea. European. Propagation: Seeds. Difficult to transplant when large. Initial bloom (month and week): July W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink or blue flowers Height: 3′…

Sawtooth Sunflower

Sawtooth Sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Description: This tall prairie sunflower has coarse leaves and spreads gently. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 3-12′ Spread: 18″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Deep prairie fertile loam Soil moisture: Moist Light: Full sun Zone: 3-8

Scarlet Beebalm

Scarlet Beebalm  Monarda didyma Description: Bright red, tubular flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Propagation: Divide the surface runners in spring Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Red Height: 3-5′ Spread: 36″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Neutral prairie Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Full sun Zone:…

Self-Heal

Self-Heal Prunella vulgaris   Description: Long used as a medicinal plant, the leaves and flowers are edible. It is native in Europe, Asia and North America. Propagation: Seeds and rooted stem divisions Initial bloom (month and week): July W2 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Blue to purple Height: 4-6″ Spread: 12″ Family: Lamiaceae…

Sessile Bellwort

Sessile Bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia   Description: A small hanging bell distinguishes this bellwort from the greater one. Also known as little merrybells. Propagation: Seeds should be sown immediately upon ripening; do not allow to dry out. The roots may also be divided in fall. Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland…

Shale Barren Buckwheat

Shale Barren Buckwheat Eriogonum allenii Description: Silvery leaves and bright yellow flowers on the only buckwheat easy to grow in the Eastern US. Good for a green roof. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): July W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 12″ Spread: 16″ Family: Polygonaceae Soil type:…

Short’s Aster

Short’s Aster Symphyotrichum shortii   Description: One of the most attractive of the woodland asters, with larger flowers Propagation: Easy from seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Shady Woodland Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 2-3′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral Soil moisture: Dry Light: Shade to part…

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Shrubby Cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa Description: Suckering dioecious deciduous shrubs with good foliage and long-blooming flowers. There are 130 named color forms. Propagation: Easily rooted from cutting or layering Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow, white Height: 2-3′ Spread: 36″ Family: Rosaceae Soil type: Neutral gravel, limestone…

Slender Blue Iris

Slender Blue Iris Iris prismatica Description: A graceful narrow-leaved iris for wet places Propagation: Division of roots Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Blue-purple Height: 36″ Spread: 12″ Family: Iridaceae Soil type: Acidic to neutral loam Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Full sun Zone: 4-8

Smooth Oxeye

Smooth Oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides Description: Early and long-blooming, and birds love the seeds. Propagation: Seeds or divisions in spring, and easily rooted as a cutting. Initial bloom (month and week): July W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 3-6′ Spread: 36″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Moist, heavy soils Soil moisture: Wet to…

Smooth Phlox

Smooth Phlox Phlox glaberrima Description: Skippers and swallowtails are common visitors to this phlox, found in wet open woods. Smooth phlox blooms in June and July with pink-purple flowers. Propagation: Divisions or stem cuttings Initial bloom (month and week): July W1 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Pink-purple Height: 16″ Spread: 18″ Family: Polemoniaceae Soil…

Solomon’s Seal

Solomon’s Seal Polygonatum biflorum AR Plant Model Description: This elegant and statuesque plant grows from a root which is said to resemble the seal of the Hebrew King Solomon. The small flowers dangle from leaf axels and produce attractive blue berries in the fall. The large fleshy rhizomes make the plant tolerant of dry shady conditions….

Stiff Tickseed

Stiff Tickseed Coreopsis palmata   Description: A good plant to stabilize dry, sunny slopes. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 2-3′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral sandy loam Soil moisture: Dry to medium Light: Full Sun Zone: 3-8

Summer Savory

Summer Savory Satureja hortensis   Description: Use with green beans, soups, eggs, and vinegars. The flavor resembles thyme and marjoram. Propagation: Sow fresh seed each spring. Will self-sow. Initial bloom (month and week): June W3 Garden name: Sunny Garden Color of flower: White Height: 8″ Spread:10″ Family: Lamiaceae Soil type: Rich sandy loam Soil moisture:…

Swamp Milkweed

Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata   Description: A milkweed that enjoys wet conditions. Larval host plant for monarch butterflies. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): June W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Pink Height: 4-5′ Spread: 20″ Family: Apocynaceae Soil type: Prairie Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Full sun Zone: 3-8