Native Plants

Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass produces exceptionally large 3/4-1" wide, vibrant blue to bluish-purple, dainty Iris-like flowers that are held well above and among the contrasting, narrow deep blue-green iris-like foliage. This is a durable and easy to grow late spring/early summer flowering native perennial that lends itself to use as a border, in the perennial garden, or rock garden. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10165.

4-5" wide deep rose red flowers are produced in abundance with the show beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing until fall. Lufkin Red is a hardy perennial Hibiscus with a compact upright to spreading habit. This cultivar along with Lufkin White were developed for resistance to leaf spot diseases as well as flower color and their compact upright form by Cecile Pounders and the ARS division of the USDA at McNeill, MS and tested at the Poplarville, MS station for 5 years. These are selections from seedlings of Hibiscus laevis, the Halberdleaf Rosemallow. Item# 11169

4-5" wide pure white flowers with a dark burgundy eye are produced in abundance with the show beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing until fall. Lufkin White is a hardy perennial Hibiscus with a compact upright to spreading habit. This cultivar along with Lufkin Red were developed for resistance to leaf spot diseases as well as flower color and their compact upright form by Cecile Pounders and the ARS division of the USDA at McNeill, MS and tested at the Poplarville, MS station for 5 years. These are selections from seedlings of Hibiscus laevis, the Halberdleaf Rosemallow. Item# 11169

Clusters of 1 1/2" wide, light lavender double to single flowers sit atop the sturdy stems beginning in late spring with flowering continuing through much of summer on established plants. Mac's Double Purple Spiderwort is a unique double flowered selection of this durable and reliable native perennial. The perfect addition to any cottage garden, low maintenance landscapes, and in containers. Easy and carefree. Item# 11112

Clusters of 1 1/2" wide, light lavender double to single flowers sit atop the sturdy stems beginning in late spring with flowering continuing through much of summer on established plants. Mac's Double Purple Spiderwort is a unique double flowered selection of this durable and reliable native perennial. The perfect addition to any cottage garden, low maintenance landscapes, and in containers. Easy and carefree. Item# 11681

Clusters of deep orange 2" tubular flowers with yellow throats are held above the rich blue-green foliage of this selection of the tame native Coral Honeysuckle. This easily grown evergreen vine is an excellent choice for hummingbirds and butterflies that may produce flowers basically year round with peak flowering in early to mid spring as the Humminbirds arrive. Item# 9573.

Considered by many to be the best of the red flowered Coral Honeysuckles. Major Wheeler produces loads of large clusters of deep red 2" tubular flowers with yellow throats are held above the rich blue-green disease resistant foliage of this selection of the tame native Coral Honeysuckle. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 9719.

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Tall spikes of glowing red to purplish-red, 2-3" tubular blooms are born in summer above the foliage of this tough native perennial. A drought tolerant and hardy shrublet that freezes back to the ground to return in spring. The flowers are followed by dark colored bean pods that split open to display their brilliant red-orange beans that can remain on the plant all winter. Excellent for Hummingbirds. Item# 9408.

Clusters of 4" long pastel orange-yellow tubular flowers 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 Green-Breasted Mango Hummingbird just in case they get to visit one in your yard. 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# 11374

An award winning perennial, the flowers of Mardi Gras Helenium open to yellow and orange petals highlighted by deep reds that surround a small chestnut colored cone. As the long lasting flowers mature the reds and oranges intensify. An easy to grow and pest resistant perennial that provides a riot of spring and summer color on sturdy, upright plants. Item# 10653.

A more cold hardy selection of the fragrant Carolina Jasmine, Margarita produces masses of primrose yellow trumpets to herald the coming of spring. The fragrance of this easy to grow twining native vine can stop you in your tracks on a night time garden stroll! Makes a low maintenance cover for wire fences or provide it with an arbor or trellis to scramble up. Item# 9071.

Deep brick red petals surround the rounded 'cones' of this spicily colored Helenium beginning in midsummer and continuing well into fall. As the flowers age oranges and yellows begin to show up adding to the festivities. The flowers attract smaller butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Mariachi™ Salsa Helenium is an easy to grow and pest resistant perennial that provides a riot of color on sturdy, compact, upright plants. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and average moisture. Item# 11395

Deep true red ruffled petals surround the rounded cones of this spicily colored Helenium beginning in midsummer and continuing well into fall. As the purplish brown disk flowers comprising the cone begin to open they add yellow to mix. The flowers attract smaller butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Mariachi™ Siesta Helenium is an easy to grow and pest resistant perennial that provides a riot of color on sturdy, compact, upright plants. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and average moisture. Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau, all rights reserved. Item# 12116

3" soft primrose yellow, cornflower-like daisies are born in summer on this durable and reliable, clump forming US native perennial. Stoke's Aster comes highly recommended and its easy to see why with moderate drought resistance, deer and rabbit resistance and it revels in the heat and sun of our southern summers. Plants readily multiply into dense clumps. Super easy and tough. Item# 10487.

Maryland Goldenaster is a clump forming native perennial whose silky-edged rosette of foliage is barely noticed much of the year but in fall it bursts into color producing a multitude of 18-24" stems that are topped by large clusters of nearly 1" wide golden yellow daisies. The perfect native replacement for mums in the fall garden and one of our favorite fall flowering native perennials. The Maryland Goldenaster is generally found in sandy, well-drained soils in full sun to partially shaded locations and is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. This is sure to brighten up the late summer and fall meadow, prairie, or roadside as well. It provides bees and smaller butterflies with a much needed source of pollen and nectar late in the season. Item# 10687

The Maypop Passionvine or Passion Flower produces a summer long display of 2-3" wide white, lavender, and purple exotic flowers that are held against medium green tropical foliage. Pollinated flowers are followed by round passion fruit that ripen to yellow and contain a tangy tropical tasting clear flesh that surrounds each of the small black inedible seeds. This easy to grow perennial native vine can grow to 15-18' each year if given a suitable support but it is also happy to clamber along a fence, trellis, or any other support that it can grasp with its strong tendrils. Provide a well-drained soil and a full to mostly sunny position for the best results. The Maypop is the caterpillar host for the Gulf Fritillary and other members of the Longwing family as well as the Variegated Fritillary. Click on "More Details and Growing Info" or the image to learn more about growing Passionvines as perennials in containers or in the garden and landscape. Item# 500

This newly introduced variety of Yellow Bells was selected for earlier and more consistent flowering habits. The large golden yellow trumpets are born in loose clusters from summer to fall on this woody perennial. Occasional deadheading promotes more blooms, though it is not required. Mulch deeply in winter for best results. Item # 9327

Whorls of 1" long tubular violet-blue flowers on 3" high spikes are accented with lighter white lips dotted with violet are produced atop the low 1-2" high rich green trailing foliage. The mid to late spring flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Something of a Lamium look-alike and considered a good native replacement for Ajuga, Meehan's Mint, Meehania cordata, is an unaggressive low trailing stoloniferous mat-forming native perennial well-suited to moist to periodically dry, well-drained soils in shaded sites. It appears to be most common in West Virginia with populations spilling over into most adjoing states. Meehan's Mint can be added as a groundcover for shaded gardens or spilling from containers as a specimen for a shaded porch or patio. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11978

The upright to arching stems are brightly adorned with hanging clusters of sunny yellow tubular flowers beginning in late spring and continuing until late summer. Mersea Yellow Pine-Leaved Penstemon or Beardtongue is a selection of the native Penstemon pinifolius whose upright to arching stems are adorned with fine 1" long narrow deep green foliage that arises from what can become a woody base. Pineleaf or Pine-Leaved Penstemon is native to the dry desert regions of SE Arizona and SW New Mexico but is tolerant of moist conditions provided it has a very well-drained sandy to rocky mineral soil. It has been reported to be hardy into zone 3 but may require a 'dry' mulch and a protected area. We are hopeful that since this cultivar was developed in England that it will do well in the humid Southeastern US. Item# 11928

Large clusters of fiery orange-red tubular flowers are produced from summer through fall to yearround in warm tropical climates and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Clusters of shiny black 3/8" fruit develop on pollinated flowers and are utilized by songbirds. When grown in full to mostly sunny conditions the foliage generally has a reddish tinge. The Firebush, Hamelia patens var. patens, is native to the southern half of Florida and is evergreen under frost free conditions and can develop into a medium to large shrub. *We have grown this species in our zone 8B gardens for over 30 years as a quite reliable 3-4' high die-back perennial. Each winter it freezes back to its crown and then returns in mid to late spring to flower through much of summer and into fall. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, although they are fairly tolerant, for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 898

A close cousin of the highly popular Yellow Bells, this new introduction produces huge clusters of clear pumpkin orange trumpets in profusion from summer to frost. A root hardy tropical that makes an excellent addition to the perennial garden. Occasional deadheading promotes more blooms, though it is not required. Mulch deeply in winter for best results. Item # 9357.

Loads of 2' long spikes of deep violet-blue pea shaped flowers are held well above the green foliage of this new hybrid Baptisia from Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Midnight Prairieblues™ creates an upright to vase-shaped plant that blooms for an extended period in spring. An excellent addition to the perennial border or cut-flower garden that is drought tolerant, deer resistant, durable, long-lived, and easy. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10156.

As well mannered in the garden as it name implies Miss Manners Physostegia stays in a tidy clump. In summer it produces dense spikes of tubular white flowers atop sturdy stems that attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds. This is a hardy, perennial that is native to the eastern half of North America and prefers moist to wet soils but performs well with average moisture. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11094