Occasionally dry

After the cold gloominess of winter, beautiful umbel shaped golden flowers appear throughout meadows in spring. The petals of this flower only slightly open when in bloom. Although like Golden Alexander, this plant can easily be distinguished by its heart-shaped leaves and is more drought tolerant. This plant is celebrated for…

New England Aster is a deciduous, sometimes woody perennial that oftentimes appears as a small shrub. Plant at least 12 inches apart in a sunny location with good drainage. This plant tends to grow rapidly, so make sure to give it room to grow! Leaves are rough, alternate, and hairy with…

In shady dry forests and open woodlands, bluish purple tubular flowers are a sight to the eyes while adding incredible wildlife value. Hoary Skullcap is a summer blooming perennial, and its blooms are considered more showy than other plants in the genus. The leaves are arranged opposite on erect stems. Both…

Little Bluestem is a clumping warm season grass in the Poaceae family. In full sun, this plant can get up to four feet tall and slightly less wide. Blue-green linear leaves turn golden to orange in fall and persist in winter, adding winter interest to the garden. Like many of our…

Found in open woodlands and moist thickets, Narrowleaf Mountain Mint has an airy appearance and sweet minty smell. Clusters of white tubular flowers attract a variety of pollinators including butterflies, honeybees, sweat bees, and other native bees through summer. Flowers and leaves are edible and can be used in flavorings or…

Creeping Phlox creeps along landscapes with above-ground stems that can root on the nodes. Its spreading habit makes for a great groundcover that can prevent erosion on slopes. Fertile stems contain fragrant star shaped flowers that are tubular and come in a variety of colors including blue, pink, purple, or white.…

‘White Cloud’ Muhly Grass is a stunning cultivar of Pink Muhly Grass. White tufts appear over the blue-green grass-like foliage in fall, fading to a more cream color over time and persisting into winter. This variety blooms about the same time, or shortly after the species Pink Muhly Grass. This grass…

Bright yellow flowers with showy stamens bloom throughout summer into early fall on the current year’s growth. Shrubby St. John’s Wort is a deciduous to evergreen shrub with a compact and dense habit. Its dark green leaves grow oppositely or in whorls along multi-stemmed branches. In nature it is found in…

Roundleaf Thoroughwort is known for its umbels filled with clusters of white flowers, frequently visited by flying insects including wasps, butterflies, and bees. Wasps are helpful in the garden in keeping pest insects at bay. This upright perennial grows in bogs, savannahs, and wooded areas. Although it can occur in wetlands,…

Wood’s Sedge is a clumping woodland plant with thin, grasslike leaves. Foliage is semi-evergreen and is cover for small animals while seeds are enjoyed by songbirds and gamebirds alike. Growing at just under a foot, it would do beautifully in small spaces within the garden. If your garden is mostly full,…

Blue Wood Sedge is a compact grasslike perennial that makes a beautiful groundcover in a shady space or rain garden. As light diffuses through the trees, it may give off a bluish hue. Being evergreen, it provides color in winter months as your garden naps and habitat for wildlife as they…