Louisiana Native Plants

Clusters of upward facing, soft lavender pink, nicely fragrant flowers are produced in loose clusters on 12-16" high stems in mid to late spring attracting mainly butterflies. Bonnie's Pink Prairie Phlox, a selection of Phlox pilosa and appears to match the description of ssp. ozarkana, is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, rhizomatous, native perennial adorned in narrow medium to dark green foliage. It makes a vigorous ground-cover once well-established and can be allowed to wend in and around larger shrubs and perennials. Provide an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil in a sunny garden or landscape. Item# 3062

Flattened round 1-1/2" wide clusters of tiny light lavender tubular disc flowers are held well above the 12" high rich green foliage beginning in mid to late spring and lasting well into summer. The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Broadleaf Barbara's Buttons, Marshallia trinervia, is a rare low-growing rhizomatous native perennial that develops into a dense ground-covering mass of plants with an unaggressive nature. This easy to grow plant is more vigorous than its rarity might imply when given a moist to average moist, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Deciduous shade seems to be optimum providing full to mostly sunny conditions for the low rosettes of foliage in winter and light shade during the heat of the day in summer. With adequate moisture, it is reported to handle full sun to mostly sunny conditions even in summer, although, an eastern exposure with cool morning sunlight should be about perfect. Broadleaf Barbara's Buttons makes a wonderful low growing companion for Hydrangeas, larger Hostas, clump forming ferns, and other similar shade lovers. Item# 10767

A continuous display of brown-eyed golden-rayed daisy-like flowers are produced from early to midsummer into fall on well-branched plants with deep bronzy green hairy foliage. The Brown-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia triloba, is very similar in all regards to the wild forms of the Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, and it begins flowering about the time that the latter species is finished for the year. This biennial to short-lived perennial is a heat tolerant, sun-loving, deer and rabbit resistant native well-suited to both the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings like prairies, meadows, and roadside plantings. It readily reseeds on exposed soils but is not aggressive or difficult to control. It prefers a full to mostly sunny position in well-drained, average moist to semi-dry soils. The flowers of the Brown-Eyed Susan offer pollen and nectar to bees, smaller butterflies, and other garden beneficials. The seeds offer food for songbirds and small mammals. Item# 11980

The dense, rounded, white to greenish-white, up to 1" diameter, flower clusters sit atop thick sturdy stems that emerge from a rosette of soft yucca-like foliage and are produced over an extended period in summer. Button Snakeroot, Eryngium yuccifolium, is a tough and long-lived, adaptable clump forming native perennial whose long-lasting summer flowers will attract a myriad of butterflies, bees, wasps and other pollinators to your garden. Typically found in consistently moist settings like bogs, moist savannahs, prairies, and meadows but it readily tolerates average moist garden conditions. Provide Button Snakeroot with a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist soil. Item# 9260

Lightly honey scented, white to cream, tight ball-like flower clusters are produced on new growth in late spring and summer and attract an array of butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. The Buttonbush is a vigorous, medium-sized to large growing, deciduous shrub that does best in consistently moist soils with most of a day of sunlight. A moderate to severe annual pruning of established plants in late winter helps to promote fuller plants and the most flowers. Item# 9247.

Pale sky blue falls and standards with darker blue veining and narrow yellow signals and are centered by complimentary white style arms. Bywater Louisiana Iris, named for the body of water, is midseason flowering, April, and is a smaller growing cultivar reaching 24-28" high. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13342

The large, lightly fragrant flowers are composed of bright white falls and standards that are accented by nicely contrasting yellow signals and greenish-yellow style arms. Cajun Popcorn Louisiana Iris is a compact, midseason flowering perennial growing to about 24-26" high. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13429

The large 5" wide bright sunny yellow flowers have a darker gold stripe on the outer petals or falls and with some green accents in the center of the flowers. Captain Jeff Bowen is a vigorous and hardy, midseason flowering Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12833

2-3' high spikes of glowing scarlet tubular flowers are produced in late spring or summer on this US native wildflower. A rosette forming herbaceous perennial to biennial, the Red Cardinal Flower is commonly found along stream banks, marshes, and bogs and will perform well in average to wet garden soils. Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Item# 1217

Clusters of small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are produced in spring and are followed by 1/4-3/8" diameter, red berries that ripen to glossy black in fall and are prized by songbirds. Carolina Buckthorn, Frangula caroliniana and previously Rhamnus caroliniana, is a small, native, deciduous tree to large shrub with large, glossy, ovate foliage and typically grows to about 10-15' high. It is native to much of the southeastern US from central Texas to central Florida and as far north as central Missouri. It is adaptable to most soil types provided they have good drainage and is moderately drought resistant once fully established. Provide the Carolina Buckthorn with a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, fertile soil for optimum growth and vigor. Caterpillar host: American Snout Butterfly. Item# 13555

Masses of bright yellow, 1" long trumpets herald the coming of spring and have a strong Jasmine-like fragrance that is produced in early evening and at night suggesting that they are pollinated by hummingbird or sphinx moths as well as by native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. *It is not a suitable nectar plant for honeybees. Carolina Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is a native, twining, evergreen to semi-evergreen vine with glossy, dark green, narrow foliage that can climb up to 20' high but is just as happy on a 6' fence or other sturdy support. It is native to the southeastern US from eastern Texas, all along the Gulf Coast, north to Virginia, as well as in the southern half of Arkansas and about 3 counties in southcentral Tennessee. Provide Carolina Jasmine with a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum growth and to maximize flowering. Although, it is shade tolerant it doesn't flower as profusely. Tough and easy as well as drought, deer, and rabbit resistant. Its fragrance is enough to stop you in your tracks on an evening stroll! Item# 1208

3-4" wide, upward facing, flowers are produced in a range of colors ranging from red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and cream atop sturdy 18-30" stalks in summer attracting a wide range of pollinators, especially butterflies and larger bees. Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower is a seed grown, hybrid strain of Echinacea with a clump forming habit and deep green foliage that flowers in its first year under average growing conditions. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Cheyenne Spirit was selected as the 2013 AAS Perennial of the Year. Image courtesy of Kieft Seed. Item# 10525

Rounded clusters of medium purple tubular flowers are produced in late spring to early summer atop sturdy stems. The flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Claire Grace Beebalm was selected not only for its long-lasting masses of darker purple flowers but also for its glossy green healthy foliage with good resistance to powdery mildew. This was one of the top 3 performing Monardas in trials that included over 40 cultivars at Mt. Cuba Center near Wilmington Delaware. Discovered in Mississippi by Barb and Michael Bridges of the now defunct Southern Perennials and Herbs and named for their daughter. Beebalm makes an easy and reliable addition to the garden and landscape as well as in naturalized areas. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in well-drained soils for optimum health and flowering. Item# 11946

Up to 6" wide, fragrant, slightly rounded, white flower clusters arch away from their structure on semi-lax stems showing off numerous small white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The dark green glossy foliage creates a strong contrast to the brilliant white flowers. This native Climbing Hydrangea is typically found growing where soils are consistently moist in shaded to filtered shade conditions. It is a hardy deciduous woody vine that uses a multitude of rootlets along its stems to grab onto structures for support and may be used as a groundcover as well. Only mature vertical growing stems produce the new growth that creates the early to midsummer flowering stems. A west central Louisiana selection. Item# 12066

Dense clusters of upward facing, short, tubular whitish flowers are touched with purple or lavender and are accented by large silvery to whitish bracts and are produced over an extended period in summer. The flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators especially small native bees and flower flies. Clustered Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum muticum, is a native, branching, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial growing to about 2-3' high and 1-2' wide. This may be the strongest scented of the Mountainmints and the foliage can be used in teas and cooking. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil. Easy and reliable and can be enjoyed as a container plant as well as in more naturalistic settings like prairies and meadows. Item# 10029

The 3" wide, cornflower-like daisies open white, slowly work their way through shades of lavender, and finally deepen to a violet blue creating a rainbow of cool-colored flowers even on the same flower stalk. Colorwheel Stokesia is just as tough and reliable as its brethren creating a mound of foliage on a durable and dense clump forming native perennial. Stokesia Daisy is one of those plant it and forget it perennials, once they become established in nearly any garden or landscape they require almost no additional care. Item# 10928.

Small clusters of large 4-petaled sunny yellow flowers are lightly fragrant and open in the evening to attract pollinating moths and may last until about noon the following day when they attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Ripe seeds are utilized by songbirds. Common Evening Primrose is a tall growing tap-rooted native biennial species found throughout most of the lower 48 states and into Canada. It is common in disturbed areas, meadows and prairies. The first year it produces a rosette of foliage and the second year it shoots up to 3-6' high and begins flowering in summer and may continue into fall under good conditions. The Common Evening Primrose will readily reseed on exposed soils. It is a good addition to naturilized areas or add it to the Moon Moth Garden. Item# 11761

Clusters of red to coral, 2" long, tubular flowers are produced beginning in late winter and early spring and continue cyclically through summer and into fall attracting mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators. The Coral or Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is a native, deciduous to semi-evergreen, twining, woody vine growing to about 10' high and is cloaked in bluish-green to medium green, rounded foliage. Flowers are followed by 1/4" red berries that are a treat for songbirds. This is a mannerly and manageable Honeysuckle, unlike its white and yellow flowered Japanese cousin, and will happily twine through a 6' high chain link fence or up an 8-10' arbor, trellis, or post. Few other native woody vines can boast such a long flowering season as the Coral Honeysuckles making them our #1 pick for attracting hummingbirds. Provide a sunny, average moist, well-drained site for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 1171

Correll's False Dragonhead is a rare but wonderful, seemingly more refined garden species that is as vigorous as it is beautiful. The dense spikes of purplish-pink, tubular, often speckled, flowers are held atop sturdy, 3' high stems in summer. Like most other Physostegias, Correll's False Dragonhead does spread by large rhizomes even in average soils. The leaves of this species are toothed, widest in the middle, sessile, and are almost always a rich dark green. Item# 10236.