Native Plant Gardening Archives - Page 3 of 4

A single bright yellow giant sunflower with a blurred green background.

Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus): A Native Powerhouse for Pollinators and Birds

September 4, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

If you’re looking to add height, color, and pollinator power to your native garden in Northwest Ohio, Helianthus giganteus—the Giant Sunflower—deserves a spot. This towering perennial isn’t just eye-catching; it’s also a magnet for bees, butterflies, and birds. With its late-summer blooms and impressive stature, it plays both an aesthetic and ecological role in native […]

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Close-up of a single Silphium terebinthinaceum flower head showing bright yellow, sunflower-like petals and central disk, native prairie plant

Wildly Unique: Native Flowers That Stand Out – Part 3

August 18, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening

Understated, Wild, and One-of-a-Kind When we think of “unique” flowers, it’s often the big, bold, or showy blooms that get the spotlight. But there’s another kind of uniqueness in the native plant world—plants that bring quiet elegance, unusual structure, or a wild character that can’t be replicated by ornamentals. These understated natives are subtle, but

Wildly Unique: Native Flowers That Stand Out – Part 3 Read Post »

A bumble bee flying up to a wild senna plant with bright yellow flower clusters and green oblong-elliptic shaped leaves.

Wildly Unique: Native Flowers That Stand Out – Part 2

August 12, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening

Weird, Rare, and Full of Personality Not every native flower is loud or showy — some are just plain weird. Others are quiet charmers, rare sightings, or plants that look like they wandered in from another ecosystem. In this lineup, we’re celebrating native wildflowers that don’t fit the mold — plants with personality, seasonal interest,

Wildly Unique: Native Flowers That Stand Out – Part 2 Read Post »

A bumble bee flying up to spotted bee balm.

Wildly Unique: Native Flowers That Stand Out – Part 1

August 4, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening

Striking Forms & Bold Blooms When you think “native wildflower,” your mind probably goes to prairie classics or spring ephemerals. But there’s a whole lineup of plants that break the mold — flowers with unusual form, color, or structure that stop you in your tracks. These five bring pollinator value, bold personality, and real garden

Wildly Unique: Native Flowers That Stand Out – Part 1 Read Post »

The forest floor is covered in blue, purple flowers.

Native Plants for Shady Gardens: Quiet Powerhouses of the Understory

July 28, 2025 / Gardening, Native Plant Gardening

Not all native plants crave full sun and wide-open meadows. Some thrive in the quieter corners — under trees, along woodland edges, or in those stubborn shady spots where lawn grass gives up. Shade gardens may not scream color like a prairie, but they offer subtle texture, layered beauty, and serious habitat value when planted

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Rudbeckia in the Native Garden: A Reliable Genus for Pollinators and Bold Color

July 22, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

Rudbeckias might just be the gateway plants of the native garden world. Bold, cheerful, and pollinator-approved, they show up strong through the heat of summer and into fall without asking for much in return. And the best part? There’s more than one kind worth growing. This post takes a closer look at three standout species—Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia in the Native Garden: A Reliable Genus for Pollinators and Bold Color Read Post »

A bunch of wild bergamot purple flowers blooming.

Wild Bergamot Plant (Monarda fistulosa): A Native Powerhouse for Pollinators and Fragrance

July 8, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

With its lavender-pink blooms and minty scent, Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) brings pollinators and personality to any native garden. Its airy blooms and minty scent make it a garden favorite—not just for people, but for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds too. What is Wild Bergamot? Wild Bergamot is a clump-forming perennial native to much of North

Wild Bergamot Plant (Monarda fistulosa): A Native Powerhouse for Pollinators and Fragrance Read Post »

A prairie with mixed native grasses and flowers.

The Role of Native Grasses in Soil Health: Deep Roots, Big Impact

July 1, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening

If you’re rethinking your lawn or starting a native garden, native grasses are often overlooked—but they play a crucial role in rebuilding ecosystems and restoring soil health. They also add texture, movement, and structure to any landscape. These humble plants aren’t just filler between wildflowers—they’re the underground backbone of prairies and meadows, working hard to

The Role of Native Grasses in Soil Health: Deep Roots, Big Impact Read Post »

Big Bluestem grass(Andropogon gerardii): A Native Prairie Giant for Biodiversity and Structure

June 26, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

Few native grasses match the bold presence and ecological impact of Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). As a keystone species of North America’s tallgrass prairies, it supports wildlife, stabilizes soil, and delivers striking visual appeal from summer through winter. It’s also a personal favorite, especially for its strong role as a tall accent in native gardens.

Big Bluestem grass(Andropogon gerardii): A Native Prairie Giant for Biodiversity and Structure Read Post »

A hummingbird trying to collect nectar from a red flower.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): A Striking Native for Pollinators and Wet Gardens

June 20, 2025 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) brings unmatched color and pollinator power to the wettest parts of the garden. With its brilliant red spikes and value to hummingbirds and native pollinators, this wetland-loving perennial is a must-have for rain gardens, pond edges, and native plant landscapes. What is Cardinal Flower? The Cardinal Flower is a herbaceous perennial

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): A Striking Native for Pollinators and Wet Gardens Read Post »

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