Overlooked Species

Although we grow well over 200 species of native plants, only about 50 account for the vast majority of our sales. Clearly residential customers, contractors and consultants alike stick with what they know. We are very excited about the other 150 + species we grow since they not only offer greater diversity and beauty, but many can grow under the most difficult conditions. We would like to highlight some of the often overlooked species.

Beardtongue - Penstemon digitalis              (perennial)
This handsome plant with its upright form and characteristic tubular, showy-white flowers blooms in early summer. Planted in mass it makes for a showy accent to the garden. It grows well in full to partial sun exposure and average to moist soil conditions. Grows 3-4 feet tall.

Black Chokeberry - Aronia melanocarpa           (shrub)
This shrub has glossy foliage and profuse clusters of white flowers that appear in the spring. Persistent fruit dangle off the tips of the branches, makes this shrub an excellent late winter food source for birds and other animals. Common in wet sandy places, this shrub will grow well on drier sites and heavier soils too. Average to moist soil conditions, part to full sun, grows 4-6’ tall.

Bladdernut - Staphylea trifolia                              (shrub)
Cream-colored flowers appear in spring and give way to distinctive Japanese lantern-like fruits in the fall. Typically grows in part sun but flowers more profusely when open-grown. A suckering shrub of moist woods and floodplains. Use in full to partial sun with average to moist soil conditions. Grows 10-14 feet tall.

Blue-Eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium angustifolium                                                                                 (perennial)
This “miniature iris” has small blue flowers, which appear over a several week period from late spring to early summer. Often readily self sows once established. Will thrive under average to moist soil conditions, part shade to full sun., only reaches 8-10” in height.

Bog Birch - Betula pumila                                      (shrub)
A fine to medium textured shrub with attractive catkins in spring and beautiful fall color. Found natively in fens and other wet areas, this shrub tolerates high alkalinity and is very easy to grow. It is larval host for the several brushfoot butterflies. It grows well under average to wet soil conditions, sun to part shade, and grows 3-9’ tall.

Bottlebrush Grass - Hystrix patula                                   (grass)
This graceful woodland grass looks best when planted in mass. Distinctive bottlebrush seed heads produced in late summer disperse by fall. Larval host for the Little Satyr and Northern Pearly Eye butterflies. Does best in part sun; Moist to dry woodland openings and edges. Grows 2-4 feet tall.

Creeping Strawberry Bush - Euonymus obovatus                                                                             ( woody vine)
Creeping strawberry bush is a prostrate, woody vine grown for its thick dark green leaves. The inconspicuous, cream-colored flowers are followed by red fruits in the fall. Best grown with other woodland plants. Found typically in rich woods. This ground cover does best in average to moist, shaded conditions. Only grows 1-2 feet tall.

Culver’s Root - Veronicastrum virginicum                                                           (perennial)
Lovely, white candelabra-like flowers appear in the summer. This plant has an upright form and distinctive whorls of leaves. Full to partial sun and tolerates average to moist soil conditions. It grows 3-5 feet tall.

Golden Alexanders - Zizia aureus                  (perennial)
This delicate plant produces attractive clusters of yellow flowers in late spring. Golden Alexanders grows in full to partial sun with average to moist soil conditions. It attains a height of 2-3 feet.

Heart Leaved Aster - Aster cordifolius         ( perennial)
A woodland plant with attractive heart-shaped foliage and white to pale blue flowers that appear in the fall. Will grow in conditions ranging from dry to moist, shade to full sun, grows 1-2’.

June Grass - Koeleria macrantha                         (grass)
Appreciated for its compact clumping form and greenish-gray foliage. June Grass is also extremely drought tolerant. Found natively in dry prairies and Oak and Jack Pine woods. Plant in full to part sun, grows 1 to 3 feet tall.

Mad-Dog Skullcap - Scutellaria lateriflora    (perennial)
Profuse, light-blue flowers appear in late summer. Readily reseeds when conditions are right. Found natively in wetlands of various sorts. It will thrive in average to very wet soil conditions in full to part sun. Grows 2-4 feet tall.

Moonseed - Menispermum canadense     (woody vine)
This woody vine is grown for its distinctive leathery, dark green, and unusually shaped leaves. A twining, non strangling, vine of floodplains and moist woods with inconspicuous flowers borne separately on male and female plants, This plant is named for its moon shaped seed. Average to moist soil conditions, shade to part sun.

New Jersey Tea - Ceanothus americanus         (shrub)
One of our smallest and most drought tolerant native shrubs. White blossoms appear in the summer, providing an excellent source of nectar for many butterflies and other insects. Found on dry prairies and savannas, New Jersey Tea grows well in dry, sandy soils in full sun to partial shade. Grows 2-3 feet tall.

Nodding Wild Onion - Allium cernuum                                                             (perennial) This wild onion displays nodding clusters of showy white to pink flowers in mid to late summer. It grows in full sun to light shade, average to moist soil conditions. Grows to 6-18 inches in height.

Prairie Dock - Silphium terebinthinaceum (perennial)A true and distinctive prairie plant, Prairie Dock is a long-lived perennial that may take several years to flower. Large stiff leaves appear in late spring. By late summer the plant is blooming on 5-8 foot flower stalks. Small, yellow sunflower-like flowers give way to large seeds that are irresistible to many birds. It grows best in full to partial sun under dry to moist soil conditions.

Purple Love Grass - Eragrostis spectabilis       (grass)
Planted in mass, the flowers and seeds create the appearance of a reddish-purple haze hovering close to the ground in late summer and fall. Short by comparison to other native grasses, this drought tolerant grass thrives on highly disturbed infertile sites. Use in dry to average soil moisture conditions, full sun, grows, 2-3’ tall.

Ragworts - Senecio aureus & S. obovatus (perennial)
These close cousins should be used more extensively. Both bloom in spring and have rich yellow orange flowers. Both are broadly adapted and will grow in a wide range of garden and naturalized settings. S. aureus grows natively in moist areas and S. obovatus is typically found on drier sites Part to full sun, grows not more than 2’ tall.

Roundleaf Dogwood - Cornus rugosa               (shrub)
The lush rounded leaves, light green stems, and dense white flower clusters in spring make this a very attractive shrub. Although this plant does not generally produce a great deal of fruit, the porcelain blue & white berries on pink pedicels are very attractive. The fruit is highly sought after by birds. Uncommon in southern Lower Michigan, this shrub is found in open woods and forest edges on sandy soils. Grows well in dry to average soil moisture conditions, and part shade to full sun, and grows 6-9’ tall.

Smooth Aster - Aster laevis                             (perennial)
One of the last species to bloom in the fall. The lovely display of blue flowers attracts adult butterflies. Found typically on dry open sites and readily reseeds if conditions are right. Will thrive under full to part sun on dry to moist soils. Grows 2-4 feet tall.

Spikenard - Aralia racemosa                           (perennial)
Clusters of small white flowers appear in late summer, wine red berries ripen in late fall which are highly ornamental and attract birds. This wildflower is typical of dry shaded places but will grow most anywhere. Dry to average moisture conditions, part shade to full sun, grows 1-3’ tall

Stiff Goldenrod - Solidago rigida                    (perennial)
A must for the prairie wildflower garden. The fuzzy leaves give the foliage a soft gray-green appearance. In late summer, yellow flowers are produced in flat-topped clusters attracting a diversity of butterflies. Will thrive under dry or moist conditions, does best in full sun. This upright plant grows 2-5’ tall.

Zigzag Goldenrod - Solidago flexicaulis     (perennial)
This wonderful woodland goldenrod attracts many butterflies when the wand-like sprays of yellow flowers are in bloom in late summer. Forms small clumps and will readily reseed under optimal conditions. Perfect for a shaded garden, it will also do well in sun. Desires average to moist soil conditions. Grows 2-3 feet tall