PA Natives
Below is a list of the PA natives that we will be selling at our upcoming Plant Sale. These native perennials make your garden beautiful while providing food and habitat for native insects and birds. Our natives are provided by The Garden in Centre Hall or planted from seed with seed kindly donated by Ernst Seeds, and are offered in partnership with Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Native plants will be available for $7.50 each, or 3 for $20.
Through this collaboration, native plants will be available for purchase both during the Student Farm Club plant sale on Friday, May 2, 11-5pm in the Tyson Greenhouses Headhouse I-III on campus, and also at the Shaver’s Creek Native Plants sale on Saturday, April 26, 10am-5pm at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.
Native Varieties
Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion)
Description: Nodding Onion is a perennial flower of the Allium (Amaryllidaceae) family that may invite pollinators such as bumble bees and honeybees to your garden with its small flower buds resembling dangling, or nodding, onions. You may notice a hint of an onion aroma. Flowers will bloom mid-season and the plant can grow up to 2 feet tall.
Planting Instructions: The allium prefers well drained soil in full sun, but can tolerate clay soil. This allium will self-seed, so deadhead flowers before seed sets to reduce unwanted spread.
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Description: Swamp milkweed is an herbaceous perennial in the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. It grows up to 5 feet tall and about 2-3 feet wide. This plant attracts pollinators with its attractive pink flowers that are in bloom from mid-spring to early fall.
Planting Instructions: This plant prefers damp-wet soil and full sun to partial shade. Used as an accent or border plant.
Ascelpias tuberosa (Butterfly milkweed)
Description: If you want to welcome butterflies to your backyard, Butterfly Milkweed is an obvious choice. This herbaceous perennial grows 1-2 feet tall. Enjoy its beautiful orange blooms from late spring throughout late summer.
Planting Instructions: Choose a place that gets lots of sunshine! This plant can tolerate a variety of soil types and even drought conditions due to its extensive taproot, so caretaking is minimal. Mature plants can do well with just monthly watering in arid conditions.
Aster oblongifolius
Description: Although the name suggests otherwise, these flowers only have an aroma when crushed. This native will produce lovely lavender blooms with a yellow center. Aromatic Aster has fibrous roots and spreads via rhizomes. The stiff stems will branch out slowly to create a bush-like appearance and will be completely covered in light purple flowers when blooming.
https://www.prairiemoon.com/symphiotrichum-oblongifolium-aromatic-aster#panel-descrip
https://growitbuildit.com/aromatic-aster-symphyotrichum-oblongifolium/
Planting Instructions: The Aromatic Aster loves full sun and prefers drier soils but can manage in average daring soils.
Baptisia australis
Description: Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a large bushy perennial, with dense clusters of deep blue flowers on long upright spikes. In its first few years this long-lived plant develops mostly below ground. After the first two seasons the blooms are increasingly showy as the plant matures into a shrub-like form around 4’ high. The bluish-green foliage is very attractive and provides a good backdrop to other flowering plants. Along with this, it is very popular with all kinds of pollinators.
Planting Instructions: This native will thrive in any average soil and prefers to be in full sun but can tolerate some shade.
Campanula americana (American Bellflower)
Description: Native to moist open woods, meadows, streambanks and ditches in shady areas, the American Bellflower could easily make itself at home in a variety of backyard climates. The plant may grow 3-5 feet tall and produces violet blooms between July and October. The bellflower is a pollinator magnet: many species of bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds will visit and search for nectar and pollen.
Planting Instructions: American Bellflowers are best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in part shade. The plant may withstand more sun in cooler climates, but will need shade on hot summer afternoons.
Chelone glabra (Turtle Head)
Description: Turtle head plays important role as primary host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies, Chelone glabra is a low maintenance perennial that provides lovely white with a hint of pink cut flowers with a vase life of about a week.
Planting Instructions: Turtleheads like to be in a moist, rich soil that gets some 3-6 hours of direct sun per day.
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Description: This perennial produces purple flowers and, in full sun, will produce a strong fragrance. This native has a fibrous root system with short woody rhizomes. It is a drought-tolerant perennial that is also deer resistant. Purple Coneflower can be found as far east as Georgia. Plains Indians used the root to treat rattlesnake bites, bee stings, headaches, toothaches, sore throats, and distemper in horses. Coneflowers are still widely used today in pharmaceutical preparations.
Planting Instructions: Plant this Echinacea in a spot where it will get full or partial sun and has will have good draining soil.
https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/perennials/echinacea/how-to-grow-echinacea
Eutrochium purpureum (Joe Pye Weed)
Description: This tall, herbaceous perennial is known for its large clumps of pinkish purple flowers that have a strong vanilla scent. This native is loved by many pollinators and is important in the production of honey. Joe Pye Weed matures at 4 to 7 feet in height and blooms from July to September. It has pale pink to pale purple flowers in large clusters and large leaves in whorls around the stem and pairs well with the Tall Bellflower.
Planting Instructions: This plant loves to be in moist to well-drained garden soil and in partial to full shade.
https://www.prairiemoon.com/eutrochium-purpureum-sweet-joe-pye-weed
Filipendula rubra (Queen of the Prairie)
Description: This stunning native produces beautiful soft pink flowers that are perfect for any garden. This easy-to-grow plant spreads by rhizomes, making it an excellent choice for naturalizing in moist meadows.
Planting Instructions: This plant loves to be in a spot where it has moist soil and gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Gillenia trifoliata (Bowman’s Root)
Description: Bowman’s root or Indian physic, is a perennial flowering plant in the Rosaceae or rose family. This deciduous herbaceous plant that blooms with five-petaled white flowers on wiry red stems from late spring to early summer. The airy look of the flowers is effective in mass plantings or borders. The serrated green leaves turn red in fall. This plant may benefit from support.
Planting Instructions: Bowman’s root thrives in fertile, evenly-moist soil and grows equally well in part shade or full sun, although it prefers a little shade in the hottest part of the day.
Heliopsis helianthoides (Ox-eye Sunflower)
Description: Ox-eye Sunflower is an herbaceous perennial in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. This plant may grow 3-5 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide. It has yellow daisy-like flowers with a golden center that are in bloom from mid-summer into the fall, attracting pollinators.
Planting Instructions: This plant flourishes in moist to dry soil in full sun to partial shade.
Liatris spicata (Dense Blazing Star)
Description: This tall native produces long stalks full of purple flowers that emerge from grass like foliage. More common in flower gardens than in the wild, it is a standard component of butterfly gardens, water feature margins, rain gardens, and naturalized moist prairies.
Planting Instructions: This native prefers to be in full sun. Although it grows best in soils with good drainage, it can survive in most types of soils.
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
Description: Cardinal Flower is an herbaceous perennial in the Campanulaceae family. This plant grows about 4 to 5 feet tall. Brilliant red blooms are first seen in late summer and continue into mid-fall. The showy flowers begin opening at the bottom of a terminal flower spike and continue to the top.
Planting Instructions: It is easily grown in medium to wet soil in full sun to part shade. The soil should never be allowed to dry out, and it will tolerate brief flooding. Root mulch should be applied in cold winter climates to protect the root system and to prevent root heaving. Mulch will also help retain soil moisture.
Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)
Description: Great Blue Lobelia will add a touch of character to your landscape with its unique blue-purple flowers. An herbaceous perennial, the plant blooms from late summer to mid fall. It may grow around 3 feet tall. Enjoy visits from bees and hummingbirds throughout the summer season.
Planting Instructions: Great Blue Lobelia does best in partial to full sun and average to very wet soil. Occurring naturally in wet areas, this plant would thrive near ponds and riverbanks.
Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)
Description: Bee Balm is an herbaceous perennial in the Mint (Lamiaceae) family. Its bright red blossoms attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The leaves have a nice minty aroma when crushed. Leaves can be used in teas, flavor jellies, soups, stews, and fruit salads. The flowers are also edible.
Planting Instructions: Bee balm can reach a height of 4 feet and will spread rapidly by underground stolons. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun but will tolerate some shade.
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamont)
Description: Wild bergamot is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae family. Looks like Bee Balm. It is clump-forming and typically grows 2-4′ tall. This plant blooms from June to September and attracts lots of pollinators.
Planting Instructions: Enjoys full sun and can tolerate partial shade. This plant does not like overly wet soil. It is pretty drought tolerant but would like to be watered regularly. When planting, keep it about 1.5-2 feet away from other plants.
Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort)
Description: Golden Ragwort is an herbaceous perennial in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. It forms thick spreading mats, and in the spring, it sends up stalks of bright yellow flowers that attract many pollinators. The blooms will even appear in the shade which can add some color in darker areas. This plant attracts pollinators and songbirds.
Planting Instructions: The plant grows rapidly. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in average medium to wet soils. The flowers can look unkempt after they die so cut them down to the leafy base of the plant or leave the seeds for birds.
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)
Description: Hairy Beardtongue is a perennial in the Plantaginaceae family. These plants grow about 1-2 feet tall. This plant has trumpet-shaped, lavender-colored flowers that bloom from about late May to late June. The flowers have hairy lower lips, giving it its name. These flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds. In the fall the plants’ leaves turn a beautiful red.
Planting Instructions: If planting multiple, place about 1 foot apart. Enjoys medium-wet to dry soils and can live in a variety of sun conditions.
Phlox divaricata (Wild Phlox)
Description: This perennial has flowers atop sticky stems that are slightly fragrant and range in color from pale blue to lavender to violet. Deer seem to have little interest in Phlox, but rabbits especially like Wild Blue. It is a popular choice for adding some color to an area and is loved by all kinds of pollinators.
Planting Instructions: This native can handle most types of garden soil and enjoys being on the edge in the shade.
https://www.prairiemoon.com/phlox-divaricata-wild-blue-phlox
Pycnanthemum incanum (Hoary Mountain Mint)
Description: Like other mountain mints, this variety is loved by all pollinators but unlike other mountain mints, this variety has much larger flowers with a deep purple.
Planting Instructions: This mint prefers to get 6 hours or more of direct sunlight but can tolerate less. It likes to be in a moist soil but still drains well.
Pycnanthemum tenuifolum (Narrowleaf Mountain Mint)
Description: This native has small but showy white flowers with small dots of light lavender on them that bloom from mid to late summer. This native is loved by bees and butterflies. It is best known for the multi-branching habit of stalks with very narrow, almost needle-like, silvery green leaves. This mint grows to be 2’-4’ tall and spreads rhizomatously to form small colonies. Narrowleaf Mountain Mint does have a particularly strong mint aroma, especially when crushed or cut. Bees and butterflies love their flowers.
Planting Instructions: This native can be grown in a variety of conditions, from dry to wet soil or from full or partial sun.
https://www.growingwildnursery.com/products/pycnanthemum-tenuifolium?variant=39788415221848
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)
Description: Black-eyed Susans are charming, carefree North American natives that are perfectly at home both in our gardens and in our meadows. All have daisy-like flowers with sultry dark ‘eyes’ and brightly-colored petals which emanate pure joy. This variety produces large 9 in. long flowers.
Planting Instructions: This flower loves to be in as much sunlight as possible and prefers soils with good drainage but can handle poorer soils.
https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/perennials/black-eyed-susan/all-about-black-eyed-susan
Salvia lyrata (Lyre-Leaved Sage)
Description: Lyre-leaved Sage features trumpeting, tubular flowers in white and periwinkle blue that bloom through late spring to early summer. The longer lower lip of these flowers makes a perfect landing strip for bees, pivoting with their weight to tip pollen on them, and for hummingbirds. The blossoms radiate from the squared stem that soars above hairy, low-lying foliage.
Planting Instructions: This sage likes to be in a moderately wet soil and in a spot that either gets full or partial sun.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster)
Description: This native perennial, which occurs in moist prairies, meadows, thickets, low valleys and stream banks. It is a stout, leafy plant typically growing 3-6′ tall with a robust, upright habit. Features a profuse bloom of daisy-like asters (to 1.5″ diameter) with purple rays and yellow centers from late summer to early fall.
Planting Instructions: The New England Aster will thrive in moist, rich soils that have good drainage and get at least 6 hours of sun everyday.
Tiarella cordifolia (Foam Flower)
Description: An herbaceous perennial in the Saxifragaceae family. It spreads through underground rhizomes which makes for a useful as groundcover. Foamflowers have unique foliage with small spikes bearing white flowers which attract pollinators.
Planting Instructions: This plant is slow-growing and requires minimal maintenance. It does prefer moist, well-draining soil and can grow in full to partial shade. It will need 1-3 feet of planting space
Veronica fasciculata (Ironweed)
Description: This stately native offers a large cluster of unusually brilliant purple flowers on top of 6′ tall, unbranched stems; a sight to see late summer and into fall. Dark green, coarsely toothed leaves add to the overall interest.
Planting Instructions: Ironweed needs to be planted in a decently moist soil but will grow well in full or partial sun.
Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s Root)
Description: Culver’s Root is prized for its well-defined clean lines and strong vertical statement in the garden. The tall unbranched stems are surrounded with whorls of deep green leaves and topped with elegant spires of white flowers, blooming for several weeks in midsummer. It is popular with many pollinators and loved by many different types of bees.
Planting Instructions: This easy to grow native thrives in almost any garden soil and in partial or full sun.
