Native Plants

Extra large, reportedly to nearly 1/2" in diameter, brilliant red berries literally cover up this dwarf and compact deciduous shrub throughout much of winter and may last into spring. Red Sprite Dwarf Winterberry Holly, a.k.a 'Nana', 'Compacta, and 'Macrocarpa', is a USDA release that won the 2010 Holly of the Year Award from the Holly Society of America. This adaptable native shrub drops its foliage early to better show of its display of colorful berries. It can be used en masse to great effect, as a low informal hedge, or as a specimen plant near the front of the garden or landscape. Red Sprite is even small enough to enjoy as a medium-sized container plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist acidic soil. Needs a male holly, of any species, for pollination that flowers at the same time. 'Southern Gentleman' and 'Apollo' are two males that are recommended. Item# 11887

Giant 6" scarlet pinwheels are produced throughout summer and often well into fall on sturdy stems with finely cut darkly tinged foliage. The Red Texas Star or Scarlet Swamp Mallow is a vigorous sun loving perennial which is native to the swampy soils of the southeastern US but is somewhat drought resistant once well-established in the garden. The brilliant red flowers attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, bees, and the occasional butterfly. Item# 672.

A multitude of upward facing, sleepy, scarlet blooms are born among the soft, dark green foliage from late spring to frost. A hardy and long-lived, spreading to upright perennial, Turk's Cap is an easy to grow heirloom that will flower in sun or light shade. An excellent nectar plant for hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Resistant to browsing by deer and moderately drought resistant once well-established. The ripe fruits are readily consumed by birds and other wildlife, along with the occasional curious human. Item# 691.

Ooh la la! This award winning Louisiana Iris boasts deep velvety red falls with just a touch of golden yellow at their base for contrast, and these are centered by three more deep rich velvety purplish-red standards. Awarded the highest award a Louisiana Iris cultivar can receive from the American Iris Society, Red Velvet Elvis won the Mary Swords DeBaillon Medal in 2005. Louisiana Irises generally flower between March and May. Item# 10814.

Dense bottlebrush-like flowers composed of fragrant frilly white to cream colored flowers are produced atop the tips of the bare stems in late winter or early spring. Redneck Nation Fothergilla or Witch Alder is a moderately dense growing small to medium sized deciduous suckering native shrub with showy gray-green and bronze new growth that matures to blue-green in summer and produces fall color in shades of red, orange, and yellow. This species is new to science as of 2020! The the cultivar name is in honor of its original discovery by botanist and naturalist Fred Nation in Baldwin County, Alabama and the species name honors Dr. Ron Miller. Provide an average moist, well-drained, acidic soil in full to partly sunny location for optimum vigor and flowering. Redneck Nation Fothergilla can be used as a low growing and low maintenance informal hedge or as a specimen plant in the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings. Flowers will be similar to those shown although this is an image of Mt. Airy Fothergilla. Item# 12165

The show starts in early summer and may last nearly until the first frost with this reliable and fragrant Garden Phlox. It produces large domed clusters of bright purplish pink flowers on tall sturdy stems with mildew resistant, deep green foliage. Phlox is adored by butterflies and hummingbirds alike! Robert Poore is one of only a handful of Garden Phlox cultivars recommended for southern gardens by noted Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Item# 10161

The large flowers are composed of dark indigo-blue outer falls that are centered with dark blue inner standards creating full nearly rounded flowers. This is a vigorous and hardy, early to midseason flowering Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearhouse, 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# 9205

Tall dense spikes of deep blue to purple, nearly foxglove-sized flowers are produced in summer atop the rosettes of deep green foliage. Rocky Mountain Penstemon or Beardtongue, Penstemon strictus, is a long-lived, evergreen clump-forming perennial that is fairly adaptable as long as soils have excellent drainage. It is typically found in the Four Corners region of the SW US with a disjunct population in W central California. Provide Rocky Mountain Penstemon with a sunny site in well-drained soils for optimum vigor and health. May reseed on exposed soils under good conditions. The flowers of Penstemon attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Item# 11929

Yes it fruits but it's fine textured evergreen foliage is fantastic! The bright pink new growth of spring matures to a dusty blue-green with hints of pink in summer, followed by deep purplish-blue in fall which deepens through winter. Clusters of 3/8" edible blue fruit that ripen in May-June, follow the light pink bell-shaped flowers of early spring. Rosa's Blush is grown mainly for its compact habit and beautifully colored, fine textured, ever-changing foliage as the berries ripen a few at the time over a long period. Pick the blue-black fruit once fully soft for the best flavor and like most blueberries a cross pollinator is required for the best fruit set. Item# 9206.

Deep rose pink, fuzzy tubular flowers are produced in spikes atop the tall stems of this vigorous and free flowering hummingbird magnet! Rosebud Sage is a vigorous and hardy Salvia that begins flowering in early summer and continues into fall on a plant that can easily reach 6' x 6' so allow for plenty of room. A native of Mexico it is a die-back perennial into zone 7 if give protection and a winter mulch. Provide a moderately fertile, well-drained, average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny location for the best results. Item# 11143

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies are produced atop sturdy stems emerging from the rosettes of rounded low growing deep green foliage in early(8B) to late spring or early summer(3) depending on your cold hardiness zone. Roundleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera obovata, is very similar to the cutleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea, but is more tolerant of full sun as well as light shade and drier growing conditions. This stoloniferous native perennial develops into an evergreen to semi-evergreen mat of low rich green foliage and its flowers attract many early season pollinators, especially bees. Use Roundleaf Golden Groundsel as a groundcover in informal and naturalistic garden settings as well as in roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is native to much of the central and eastern US.   Item# 12249

The dense 18" high flowers spikes are composed deep violet-purple pea-shaped flowers are held well above an among the blue-green foliage on this vigorous Baptisia hybrid. Royal Purple Prairieblues™ Baptisia or False Indigo, is a complex hybrid developed by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Chicagoland Grows that exhibits a strong resemblence to the Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, including sharing this parent's vigor on this clump-forming herbaceous perennial. The Prairieblues™ Baptisias were selected not only for their unique colors but also for their extra large flower spikes, durability, and vigor. These are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, all rights reserved.  Item# 12463

Clusters of 4" long deep red trumpets adorn this vigorous native vine throughout summer. Trumpet Creeper is an excellent choice for hummingbirds and we thought it was appropriate to name this naturally occurring Almost Eden selection after the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Trumpet Creeper's vigor, tolerance of poor soils, and durability lend it to use in difficult sites. Use as an espalier, allow it to climb a sturdy fence, or cover an arbor. Item# 11373

A 2020 Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit selection! A US National Arboretum introduction, Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea is designed to have a compact rounded form but with plenty of flower power producing loads of large, uniform elongated clusters of flowers that start out white, change to pink, and ultimately to a deep rosy pink. The beautiful velvety Oak-leaf like foliage is a rich medium green but deepens to purples and reds in fall. Images courtesy of the US National Arboretum website. Item# 10528.

Sweetly fragrant 4-6" high pink candles are borne in summer on this upright to spreading deciduous shrub. Ruby Spice Clethra or Sweet Pepper Bush is an easy grow with few pests or diseases. Withstands wet soils and seaside locations.The Clethras or Sweet Pepper Bushes are naturally suckering deciduous shrubs and are also notoriously slow to leaf out in spring but the fragrant summer flowers make it worth the wait. Item# 363

A rare Rudbeckia that is native only to the Pineywoods of west central Louisiana and east Texas. The bright golden yellow 4-5" daisies are born on tall sturdy stems that are held above the rich green rounded foliage. The Sabine Coneflower is native to consistently moist to bog-like conditions and will probably fare best in a moist to average garden soil. Item# 9402.

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. San Antonio Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Item# 10034

3-4" wide light pink to purplish pink coneflowers with drooping narrow petals are held high above the foliage on sturdy 18-24" high stems. Flowers begin in May and may continue through August and they attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. The Sanguin Purple Coneflower is a taprooted, clump-forming native with an easy to get-along-with and tough nature. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9304

The top performer in Baptisia trials at Mt. Cuba Center where they report the plants produced upwards of 350 flower spikes per plant! Dense spikes of bright yellow pea-shaped flowers are produced above the neat mounds of bluish green foliage in mid to late spring attracting bees and other garden beneficials. Screamin' Yellow Wild or False Indigo, is an award winning selection of the native Baptisia sphaerocarpa, scoring a perfect 5 of 5 stars in the Mt. Cuba Center's 2012-15 Baptisia Trials of 46 cultivars. It sports a neat, compact, rounded to mounding habit and amazing flower power on a long-lived, clump forming, taprooted herbaceous perennial. Baptisias are durable, pest and disease resistant natives that are equally suitable for the garden or landscape as well as for additions to more naturalized settings like meadows, prairies, and roadside plantings. Baptisias, considered to be the Lupine of the South, are somewhat drought resistant once fully established but generally prefer an average moist, well-drained soil and are adaptable to soil types. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Baptisias are also utilized as long-lasting additions to fresh cut flower arrangements. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11653

An easy groundcovering perennial, Selfheal produces dense spikes of contrasting coppery tinged green bracts from which row after row of white tubular flowers with a purple 'hood' emerge. It begins flowering in early to mid spring lasting for several weeks providing nectar to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This member of the mint family is easy to establish and requires little care once established in the garden. Use Selfheal as a groundcover, on roadsides, as a component of the meadow, prairie and other naturalistic settings. Selfheal can be used to good effect spilling over walls or even in containers if you feel you need to contain it. Deer, rabbit, and pest resistant. Mainly a winter and spring growing perennial that moves into dormancy after seeds set in summer. Item# 11176

Slender arching stems that end in spikes of purple flowers emerge from the soft fine textured foliage of this dainty Liatris from late spring through early summer and may even flower into fall. The soft texture and and gently arching flower spikes make this beautiful Blazing Star a perfect candidate for the perennial garden where it sure to attract attention as well as butterflies and pollinators. Plant several together for the best effect. Item# 9865.

Possibly the most exciting native grass introduction on the market to date! In spring the narrow blades emerge heavily variegated with green and cream and are accented by pink tones, especially when weather is cooler. By summer it has grown into a 12-18" by 12-18" mass of arching boldly variegated white and green foliage. In late summer the flowering stalks begin to elongate showing off their variegated form and as summer temperatures begin to cool the white portions of the foliage and flowering stems deepens into pink and rose tones and finally into burgundy. Shining Star™ Little Bluestem, a beautifully variegated selection of our native Schizachyrium scoparium, is a widely distributed, clump forming, herbaceous perennial grass that is native to all but 2 of the lower 48 US states and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies of the midwest. Provide this lovely little grass with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and growth. Images courtesy of Emerald Coast Growers, who discovered this new nativar, all rights reserved. Item# 13138

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165

Considered by many to be the showiest and most garden friendly of our native Goldenrod species in the US. Showy Goldenrod lives up to its name producing dense, spike-like to pyramidal, clusters of large bright yellow flowers in late summer and early fall on sturdy upright stems. A clump forming perennial unlike many of its cousins which spread aggressively.  An excellent choice for pollinators. Item# 10222.