Native Plants

Vibrant glowing fuchsia, 1" long two-lipped tubular flowers are borne along short spikes from spring to fall on this vigorous Salvia hybrid. Vibe® Ignition Fuchsia Autumn or James Sage is hybrid of Salvia greggi x S. microphylla garnering the best of both species and boasting exceptional flower power and a naturally compact tidy rounded habit to 2'x2'. It is sure to make an easy and forgiving colorful low-maintenance container plant or add it to the garden and landscape where its flowers will draw in hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with good drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Vibe® Ignition Fuchsia Salvia is moderately drought resistant once fully established but may flower best under average moisture conditions. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12417

Vibrant dark purple, 1" long two-lipped tubular flowers are borne along short spikes from spring to fall on this vigorous Salvia hybrid. Vibe® Ignition Purple Autumn James Sage is hybrid of Salvia greggi x S. microphylla garnering the best of both species and boasting exceptional flower power and a naturally compact tidy rounded habit to 2'x2'. It is sure to make an easy and forgiving colorful low-maintenance container plant or add it to the garden and landscape where its flowers will draw in hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees throughout the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with good drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Vibe® Ignition Purple Salvia is moderately drought resistant once fully established but may flower best under average moisture conditions. Item# 11987

Dense flattened clusters of dainty white tubular flowers top the narrow blue-green to green fragrant foliage in summer. The small nectar rich flowers of Virginia Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum, attract a wide variety of pollinators, and are especially important to native bees. This is a rhizomatous native perennial that will readily spread especially in moist soils. It is native mainly to the northcentral and northeastern US and is typically found in moist soils but can tolerate drier sites where it is less likely to spread aggressively. Virginia Mountain Mint is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types from clay, to sandy, to rocky as well as calcareous soils. Item# 12355

Large clusters of lightly fragrant, 1 to 1-1/2" wide, 4-'petaled' white flowers often with light green accents are produced in mid to late summer attracting bees, hummingibirds, and other pollinators. The Virgin's Bower, Clematis virginiana, is a vigorous, deciduous, woody native vine climbing via tendril-like leaf petioles up to about 20' high where it has support. It is deer and rabbit resistant, is adaptable to soil types and moisture levels, as well as sunlight, although, plants grown in sun to part shade may flower more profusely. This is not to be confused with the invasive Sweet Autumn Clematis, Clematis terniflora, which has entire or smooth leaflet edges and the foliage is thick and leathery, whereas, Virgin's Bower, C. virginiana, has toothed leaflets and the foliage tends to be a darker green. Female flowers may be followed by densely 'bearded', long lasting seed heads. Note: These are seed raised plants which may have only male, only female, or both flower types on the same plant. Flower and overall plant images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13179

Yellow trumpet shaped flowers are heavily accented by deep brick red in the throat and are produced in mass in spring to early summer with flowering coinciding with the arrival of migrating hummingbirds. The flowers have a fragrance similar to the candy Bit O' Honey that my mother often enjoyed as we were growing up. The flowers also attract larger bees and other pollinators. The Wabash Valley Crossvine, a selection of Bignonia capreolata from its northern most regions in Wabash County in southern Illinois and was selected by the late Dr. Wesley Whiteside and was introduced to the nursery trade by Ellen Hornig via Broken Arrow Nursery. It was selected at least in part for its reliable zone 6 cold hardiness. The Crossvine is a vigorous semi-evergreen, clinging native vine that produces pads at the ends of its tendrils that can attach to most surfaces without harming brickwork and masonry. These native vines make a low maintenance choice for fences, posts, arbors, and larger trellises. Item# 13055

1" golden yellow daisies sit atop the dark rich green foliage of this durable groundcover. Drought tolerant once established, Wedelia revels in the heat and sun creating a dense 8-12" high mass of foliage, stems and flowers. Evergreen in mild winter climates but may freeze to the ground in the northern portions of its range. Item# 718.

In late summer and fall, Frostweed produces large flattened clusters of flowers that are used by a variety of pollinators including bees, migrating Monarchs and other butterflies. This is a relatively tall growing rhizomatous native perennial that will develop into a mass of upright stems and flowers. Frostweed, Verbesinca virginica, is typically found growing in moist to periodically dry soils in partly shaded to lightly shaded sites from the Edward's Plateau of west central Texas to Florida and as far north as Missouri and Kentucky. Compared to the very similar species Texas Crownbeard, Verbesina microptera, the Virginia Frostweed has fewer ray flowers (or petals) per flower and is considered to be more reliably cold hardy. Item# 11767

This white fruited selection of the American Beautyberry adorns itself in dense clusters of 1/8" wide, creamy white, berries that encircle the stems. The fruit begins to ripen and color up in summer but they are most noticeable on the bare winter stems. Apparently the berries sweeten as winter sets in and songbirds find them irresistible. This is a fast growing, native, deciduous shrub that is tolerant of sun to semi-shade but generally flowers and fruits best in full or mostly sunny conditions. Because it flowers on new growth, if the American Beautyberry gets too large it will benefit from periodic hard pruning and still produce fruit the same year if pruning is done before new growth begins in spring. Item# 12224

Clusters of pure white flowers with a darker eye may be born throughout summer and can nearly cover the top of the plant under good conditions. White or Swamp Milkweed is one of the few shade tolerant Milkweeds but it seems to produce a fuller denser plant where it receives at least 4-6 hours or more of direct sunlight. This is an excellent choice for use as a Monarch host as it will remain evergreen in mild winters in zone 8B and warmer and is a good substitute for the Mexican Milkweed for those looking for a reliable locally native perennial Milkweed with a smaller compact habit. Asclepias perennis is native to much of the eastern central US. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to semi-moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Plant the Aquatic or White Milkweed in spring until about midsummer in zones 6-8 to help ensure plants are well-established before winter. It can also be enjoyed as a container plant but it should be protected if there is a chance that the soil can freeze. Item# 10451

Large dense panicles of 1" long, pure white, foxglove-like flowers are held atop upright to arching, 24-36" high stems and are produced beginning in mid to late spring and may continue well into summer attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This wildflower's popularity for bouquets has made it nearly endangered in some areas. White Wand Penstemon, Penstemon tubaeflorus var. tubaeflorus, is a rosette forming, herbaceous, native perennial whose rich green foliage often exhibits deep maroon tinges, edges, or the entire rosette may be maroon during portions of the year. The small black seeds may be utilized by smaller songbirds and small mammals. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in well-drained, average moist to dryish, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. White Wand Penstemon is a component of the Tall Grass Prairies and makes an easy addition to naturalistic settings like roadsides, meadows, and prairies as well as in the perennial garden or landscape. Item# 9542

12-18" long sturdy spikes of white pea-like blossoms contrast with the purplish black stems and are born in spring above the newly unfurling bluish green foliage on tall 3-4' stems. Baptisia's are durable pest and disease resistant native taprooted perennials and could be considered the Lupine for the south. An excellent addition to the perennial border or cut-flower garden that is drought tolerant, deer resistant, durable, and easy. Item# 10230.

In late summer and fall loads of dainty 1/2-1" wide white daisies, with yellow centers or disk flowers that age to red-purple, literally cover the plants for weeks and offer nectar and pollen to a variety of smaller pollinators. The White Wood Aster, Aster divaricatum now Eurybia divaricata, is a medium-sized bushy, shade and drought tolerant, vigorously spreading rhizomatous, native perennial common throughout the Eastern US. This is one of the earliest Asters to begin flowering in late summer and can even be utilized as a mum replacement in containers if desired. The White Wood Aster may be best suited to semi-shaded to shaded, naturalistic areas where it will readily colonize eventually creating a groundcover-like mass of offsets. Provide a partly shaded site in average to well-drained soils with average to dryish (once well-established) moisture conditions. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12991

In fall loads of dainty 1/2" wide white daisies with a pinkish-purplish 'eye' literally cover the plant for weeks and offer nectar and pollen to smaller pollinators. The White Woodland Aster or Calico Aster, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, is a small bushy clump forming native perennial common throughout the Eastern and Central US and spilling over into Canada. It is a common component of our local Pineywoods region that adds a bolt of color beneath that of the changing foliage as well as providing a pollinator food source at a time when many plants have gone to seed for the year but native bees are still stockpiling. The White Woodland Aster is fairly tolerant of full sun to partly shaded sites and is a good choice for meadows, prairies, and roadside plantings. It may reseed on exposed soils, although it does not appear to be aggressive. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Item# 12039

Clusters of tiny, light pink, tubular flowers are encircled by a mass of velvety white, bract-like leaves in mid to late summer. Whiteleaf Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum albescens, has a strong minty sage-like fragrance and can be used in place of sage in cooking. It is a clump forming native perennial with an upright to rounded growth habit reaching about 3' high by flowering. The dainty flowers are pollinated by a variety of smaller pollinators but are especially relished by bees. Easy to grow and deer and pest resistant. Whiteleaf Mountainmint is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Item# 10669

According to Dr. Allen's Edible Plants of the Gulf South, Wild Chervil or Honewort is an easy to grow, native, tuberous rooted perennial whose leaves, stems, and flowers are useful fresh in salads or can be cooked as a green, the tuberous roots can be used as a starch, and the seeds can be used as a spice. Grow it as a loose groundcover in shade to partial shade in a moist, but not soggy soil,  preferably rich in organic matter. A host for the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly. Item# 10219.

The tall stems of this native perennial cover up in 1" light purple daisies in late summer and fall. Willowleaf Aster, Symphyotrichum praealtum, produces a multitude of upright to arching stems once well-established and makes a grand statement in the fall garden, prairie, meadow, or roadsides. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but are an especially important late summer and fall nectar source for native bees. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Willowleaf Aster or Willow Aster is long rhizomatous, versus clumpforming, and will slowly colonize an area once established creating a dense stand at maturity. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in moist to average moist soils. Cutback to ground level after flowering to prevent unwanted seedlings if desired. Item# 10693.

Deep wine red falls changing to purple at their outer edge and with a contrasting gold signal and with the standards being only slightly lighter with more purple tones and are topped by light wine red style arms. Wine Country Louisiana Iris is mid to late season flowering, or April-May, and growing to 30-36" high. Note: IMHO this cultivar looks different than the one pictured in the images on the American Iris Society's Iris Wiki as that flower appears more purple than wine and has noticeably ruffled edges. 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# 13341

Deep wine-red cupped flowers with contrasting creamy white stamens cover this durable native groundcover in spring with flowering often continuing well into mid-summer and flowering again in fall. Winecups make excellent choice where it can be allowed to naturalize or where it can be enjoyed spilling from large containers or over a wall. This tough native tap-rooted perennial reliably returns year after year and has been selected as a Plant Select® Award winner. Provide a full sun to partly shade site and Winecups are adaptable to soil types but prefer average moisture. Item# 9232

A large type selection with an initially upright habit that rounds out with age as well as deeper green, slightly more evergreen foliage as compared to the species. The dense neat mound of deep green glossy foliage and red tinged stems is topped by clusters of white flowers in spring which make way to red berries ripening through purple and finally black. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators and the fruit attract songbirds and smaller fructivores. Withlacoochee® Walter's Viburnum is a selection of the southeastern native Viburnum obovatum and its dense mounding habit lends it to use anywhere a large-sized shrub is desired in the landscape. It is generally evergreen into zone 8A and tends to be deciduous to semi-evergreen in zones 6 and 7. Use this tough and easy native shrub in place of non-native hollies, Ligustrum, Red-Tip Photinia or anywhere a  disease resistant, low maintenance shrub is desired. Provide a full sun to part shade site in an average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Image courtesy of AgriStarts, all rights reserved. Item# 13396

Light blue narrow rays surround the eye of contrasting yellow disc flowers sit atop the neat mounds of foliage beginning in late summer and continuing into fall. The nectar rich flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators. Wood's Light Blue New York Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum novi-belgii or Aster novi-belgii, is a 8-12" x 8-12" compact selection of the species that is a good choice as a replacement for fall mums and can be enjoyed as both a container plant as well as near the front of the border in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13151

Clusters of sunny yellow 1" orchid-like flowers are borne in spring and summer and into fall and are followed by chartreuse butterfly-like seed pods that fade to brown. A vigorous and hardy yet well-mannered twining climber the Yellow Butterfly Vine can grow to 15-20' high if given support or it can easily be maintained on a fence, trellis, or arbor. This woody naturally evergreen vine can also be grown as a mounding shrub to 4-6' high. Where not hardy the Yellow Butterfly Vine is easily maintained as a container plant. The beautiful flowers provide nectar and pollen to a variety of garden beneficials including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 745.

From spring to fall a near continuous display of the 2-3" wide bright sunny yellow trumpets are held against a foil of deep green glossy foliage. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Yellow Mandevilla, Pentalinon luteum or Urechites lutea, is a vigorous twining, naturally evergreen, tropical vine native to southern Florida, the Caribbean, and Honduras. It is vigorous enough to cover a small arbor or medium-sized trellis but is mannerly enough to be maintained on a smaller 3-4' high support where it can be enjoyed as container plant for a sunny patio. Provide the Yellow Mandevilla with a fertile, average moist, average to well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for maximum flowering and vigor. Item# 12385