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Silky Willow
Scientific name: Salix sericea This plant has a very high wildlife value (similar in value to oak trees). I’ve only had it in the ground for about 3 years and it always provides me with something exciting to watch (even when it’s not being visited by wildlife). In the wind, the willow-shaped leaves shimmer as […]
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Pokeberry
Scientific name: Phytolacca americana L. Growing up, I always thought of pokeberry as a weed because everyone told me it was just an ugly weed, and it is more commonly referred to as “Pokeweed”. When I saw it rising from the garden, I had to retrain my mind to appreciate its beauty. From its rose-colored stems […]
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Pitch Pine
Scientific name: Pinus rigida We planted this baby pitch pine, and then relocated it to a place where it will have more sun. I’m really excited about this one, though, I wasn’t expecting to see the magic happen until much later in (my) life. As a mature tree, its branches twist and bend, and it […]
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Prickly Pear Cactus
Scientific name: Opuntia humifusa This prickly pear cactus was given to us by a neighbor, and freshly planted in the garden sometime in early September of 2021. We are very excited to see what it does and how well it grows. It’s native, and (bonus) edible! Planted in a dry location in full sun.
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Creeping Phlox
Scientific name: Phlox stolonifera An early spring bloomer, this groundcover won’t tolerate a lot of foot traffic, but it’ll come back for your viewing pleasure year after year, and it spreads relatively quickly. It’s also very resistant to deer, and remains relatively green throughout most of the winter. You can divide it after it has […]
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Nimblewill
Scientific name: Muhlenbergia schreberi A delicate and wispy native grass that is most hated by all lawn lovers. However, if you are interested in naturalizing your property, this grass can be your best friend. It’s a very prolific spreader, and not easy to kill by accident… Actually, you’ll have a hard time killing it on […]
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Wild Senna
Scientific name: Senna marilandica We got this from a neighbor when it was just a few inches tall just a few months back. Now it’s about 3′ and with seed pods. The yellow flowers were nice, but I really like the almost fern-like leaves the best. While I’ve read it does well on wet-ish sites, […]
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Blanket Flower
Scientific name: Gaillardia One of the most rewarding things about native plant gardening is watching what you planted come back every year (perennials), but much less attention is given to the annuals. This flower is an annual, but luckily, I hear it is a prolific re-seeder. It seems to do really well on very poor, […]
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Common Milkweed
Scientific name: Asclepias syriaca This stuff has been growing to almost 6 feet in height, and spreads readily. It has also attracted an entire apiary to our garden. There looks to be at least two bumble bees for every flower, and the perfume-like aroma is strong. Tip: you can let them grow to about 3 […]
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Scarlet Bee Balm
Scientific name: monarda didyma Ours grew to 4 feet tall before blooming. Very striking in the garden, and for the height, seems to remain erect while other plants of that height eventually flop over if not supported by other plants or fencing. We only have one plant, and it’s one of the “garden stars” shining […]
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Blue-Eyed Grass
Scientific name: Sisyrinchium Blue-eyed grass is not a true grass. It has delicate little flowers, short stature, stays green for much of the year, clumping. Seems to be popping in places I didn’t put it, which is great because it’s one of my favorites. When the flowers go away it looks like grass, and doesn’t […]
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Wood Sorrel
Scientific name: Oxalis stricta From what I’ve read, this one is native. I’ve found that it’s not nearly as aggressive as the non-native white clover, and is relatively easy to remove (so I had be careful when pulling non-natives around it). Once I better understood the difference between wood sorrel and the white clover, I […]