Are you thinking about what to plant in your garden this year? Nurseries are already displaying their new stock, and native plant sales are popping up everywhere. It’s time to make your shopping list for spring planting. And we can help!
Over the past year, “Around the Grounds” has recommended some great native perennials that will bring life to your garden. Here are some of our favorite flowering plants — with links to blog posts containing photos and tons of information about each of them:
For Sunny Gardens
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) – late bloomer, hot colors
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – fall bloomer, essential for pollinators
Milkweed (Asclepius spp.) – long bloom time, critical for Monarchs
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea or aptera) – blooms early and long
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis) – long-lived, shrub-like spring bloomer
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) – fragrant long bloomer
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) – tall butterfly magnet
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) – long-blooming butterfly favorite
White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) – late blooming bumblebee favorite
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – red spikes for hummingbirds
Coral Bells (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’) – deer-resistant hosta substitute
Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) – shrub-like, blooms early
For Shady Gardens
Native Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) – long bloomer, hardy
Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) – large, showy white flowers
Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) – shrub-like with pink flowers
Wild ginger (Asarum canadensis) – low ground cover, hidden flowers
Golden groundsel (Packera aurea) – shade/sun flowering groundcover
Creeping Sedge (Carex laxiculmus) – clumping grass that stays blue all winter
Violets (Viola sororia) – early flowering groundcover
All of these plants evolved in our region, are well-adapted to our soil and weather, and support native insect and bird populations. Many are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. You can learn more about their favorite garden conditions in the linked blog posts.
We’ve also recommended ferns, grasses, shrubs, and trees, so browse older posts by clicking on the “Around the Grounds Collection” button below.
Happy spring shopping! And if you live in the Greenburg, NY area, mark your calendar for our spring plant sale on May 13 where many of these plants will be available.
THIS BLOG IS AUTHORED WEEKLY BY CATHY LUDDEN, CONSERVATIONIST AND NATIVE PLANT EDUCATOR; AND BOARD MEMBER, GREENBURGH NATURE CENTER. FOLLOW CATHY ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE PHOTOS AND GARDENING TIPS @CATHYLUDDEN.
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Another wonderful blog! Thanks for all of the recommendations. We made it to the end of the native plant sale yesterday…in the rain. Looks like it was a big success.
Jim
I hope you found something good! The Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College has very loyal followers. They sold 4,500 plants — almost everything — in the pouring rain. It was amazing!
What a great list Cathy. I’m going to have to try planting some of these plants. I tried seeds last year outside but it was very unsuccessful. I think I should stick with plants.
Tracey, I’m not good at starting from seeds. I often say I’m too old to start with tiny plants. The truth is I’m into instant gratification! Well-rooted nursery plants give you a great boost for success.
Love this one! So many beautiful options. I didn’t realize there was a native version of the bleeding heart plant. Very cool.
Fabulous list!
Thank you Cathy.
Denise
Thanks, Denise! And lots of these plants will be available tomorrow (4/29) at the Native Plant Center sale at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY starting at 9 for members and 10am for the general public.