Allegheny Monkeyflower

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

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

Blue-eyed Grass

Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Description: This adorable tiny iris looks like a grass from its foliage, but close examination of the flower reveals the six petals of an iris. This is a good groundcover in soils that don’t dry out. Shear it back to prevent seeding around where you don’t want it. Propagation: Division or seeds…

Boneset

Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Description: White flat-topped flowers over deep green leaves that connect at the stem Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): September W2 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White Height: 3-4′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Woodland edge Soil moisture: Moist or wet Light: Full sun Zone: 4-8

Bottle Gentian

Bottle Gentian Gentiana andrewsii Description: Tight clusters of bottle-shaped flowers visited by bumble bees, which are strong enough to force their way into the closed flowers. Propagation: Divisions, cuttings, seeds Initial bloom (month and week): September W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Blue Height: 1-2′ Spread: 12″ Family: Gentianaceae Soil type: Sand,…

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…

Common Camas

Common Camas Camassia quamash Description: The bulbs were an important food among Native Americans, who called it Quamash. Sacajawea, who guided Lewis and Clark, fed the whole party with the roots of this plant. Propagation: Seeds or bulbs, best planted in fall Initial bloom (month and week): May W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color…

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:…

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…

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…

Golden Club

Golden Club Orontium aquaticum   Description: This is the only species in the genus, although there are several extinct species described from fossils. The flower stalks are long pointed wands. Propagation: Seeds sown as soon as they ripen in early summer Initial bloom (month and week): April W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of…

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

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris   Description: This early spring flower is said to be deer resistant, but at Powdermill deer eat it when they can get near it. Propagation: Seeds Initial bloom (month and week): March W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 24″ Spread: 18″ Family: Ranunculaceae Soil type: Acidic…

New England Aster

New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Description: This native perennial is the host food plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Growing up to 5’ tall, this plant enjoys moist, rich soils but can grow on dry sites as well. Its flowers range from purple to pink and blooms occur during late summer into fall. Propagation: Easy from…

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…

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 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

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

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

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

Sneezeweed

Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale  Description: Bright yellow flowers attractive to bees and butterflies. Does not cause allergies. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): September W1 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 3-5′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Neutral prairie Soil moisture: Moist to wet Light: Full sun Zone:…

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

Swamp Rose Mallow

Swamp Rose Mallow Hibiscus moscheutos   Description: Very large flowers open in late summer and are attractive to butterflies and bees Propagation: Seeds, which must be chipped and soaked Initial bloom (month and week): August W2 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White, pink, red Height: 5′ Spread: 24″ Family: Malvaceae Soil type:…

Sweet Coneflower

Sweet Coneflower Rudbeckia subtomentosa   Description: Long-blooming, long-lived plant for moist conditions Propagation: Seeds or plugs Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 2-6′ Spread: 24″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Rich Soil moisture: Moist Light: Full sun Zone: 4-9

Tall Coreopsis

Tall Coreopsis Coreopsis tripteris   Description: A widespread native tickseed with sunflower characteristics. Propagation: Seeds or divisions in spring, and easily rooted as a cutting. Initial bloom (month and week): August W4 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: Yellow Height: 4-7′ Spread: 36″ Family: Asteraceae Soil type: Deep prairie fertile loam Soil moisture:…

White Turtlehead

White Turtlehead Chelone glabra    Description: The flower resembles a turtle’s head, with nearly closed petals. Propagation: Seeds or divisions Initial bloom (month and week): August W3 Garden name: Sunny Wetland Garden Color of flower: White and pink Height: 36″ Spread: 18″ Family: Plantaginaceae Soil type: Neutral to acidic sand or loam Soil moisture: Moist…