Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower is named for its beautiful scarlet red flowers which are an important nectar source for hummingbirds and swallowtail butterflies. Lobelias produce a secondary compound known as “lobeline,” which deters herbivores. The flowering spikes open from the bottom to the top and bloom for several weeks. They grow best… Continue reading Cardinal Flower
Month: January 2021
Campanula americana
Campanula americana Tall Bellflower Campanula americana, Tall Bellflower or American Bellflower, reaches from three to five feet in height, its blue-violet blooms providing a bright late-summer accent to savanna or woodland plantings. Self-seeding, it is either annual or biennial by habit, seemingly depending on when germination occurs. First-year plants are tight rosettes of heart-shaped leaves… Continue reading Campanula americana
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed, is most often a distinctive bright orange but there is some variation in flower color, from deep red-orange to yellow. This distinctive color and the absence of the typical milky sap make identification easy. Butterfly Weed needs a drier, well-drained location to successfully seed into and… Continue reading Butterfly Weed
Boneset
Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatumGrowing in moist conditions, Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset) produces flat to roundish heads of white flowers. The stem is covered with long spreading hairs with leaves that are often joined at the base, appearing to surround the stem. Many different insect species are attracted to the flowers as the nectar is relatively easy to… Continue reading Boneset
Virginia Bluebells
Virginia Bluebells – Mertensia Virginica This is a very showy bloomer and is also known as Cowslip. It starts with pink blooms that turn bright blue when fully open. The flower go dormant and die back midsummer. It will reseed when it’s happy. This plant is a great sight in spring.
Blue Cohosh
Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue Cohosh) is a beautiful woodland plant with a preference for rich moist conditions, typical of a woodland floor. Compound leaves fill out the single leaf stalk with a lacy effect similar to Meadow Rues. New foliage can show a tint of blue or purple pigment. The flowers… Continue reading Blue Cohosh
Bloodroot
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria Canadensis One of the earliest Native woodlands. Its early blooms are fleeting but are a harbinger of warm weather. The emergence of the blooms (illustrated in the photo above) is also one of the charms of the plant. The full leaves gives them an entirely different appearance post bloom. They like hillsides… Continue reading Bloodroot
Baptisia australis
A hardy native perennial with a bushy habit that sets a very deep tap root. I gave up trying to move one after the second shovel broke. It blooms best in full sun and will reseed some. Light: Full Sun Bloom Color: Purple Bloom TIme: Late Summer Foliage Height: 2-4 feet Habit: Shrub likeMoisture: NormalUses:… Continue reading Baptisia australis
Astilbe
A great shade plant that is tough and well behaved. Slow grower that tolerates dry shade conditions. It gets a beautiful pink flower spike in late summer. Light: Full to partial shade Bloom Color: Pink Bloom Time: Late Summer… Continue reading Astilbe
Anemone Sylvestris
This is a cheery early blooming perennial that has a distinctive sharp leaved foliage and lovely blooms for nearly a month! Light: Full sun to partial shade Bloom Color: White Bloom Time: 3 weeks Bloom Height: 16 inches Foliage Height: 12 inches Habit: … Continue reading Anemone Sylvestris