Oenothera biennis Not every native plant needs to be beautiful to earn its place in a habitat. Some plants attract our attention through colorful flowers, interesting textures, or the way they complement the surrounding landscape. Others have a much quieter presence, contributing to the ecosystem in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Common evening primrose (Oenothera
Common Evening Primrose: More Than Meets the Eye Read Post »
When I first began exploring native plants for my own backyard, purple lovegrass was one of the grasses that immediately caught my attention. There was something about its appearance that I found fascinating. A low-growing mound of green foliage topped with what looked like a soft, floating cloud of purple. It didn’t have the bold
Purple Lovegrass: A Cloud of Color in the Native Garden Read Post »
Lobelia siphilitica There are some native plants I grow primarily because of what they do. Goldenrods and asters support an incredible variety of insects. Swamp milkweed provides food for monarch caterpillars. Virginia mountain mint can become absolutely covered in pollinators. Late boneset seems to turn into an insect gathering place as soon as it begins
Great Blue Lobelia: Bringing Beauty and Structure to the Habitat Garden Read Post »
There are certain plants in my garden that seem to become gathering places. Earlier in the summer, Virginia mountain mint is one of them. When it is in full bloom, I can stand beside it and watch an almost constant stream of bees, wasps, flies, beetles and other insects moving across the flowers. As the
Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum): A Late-Season Pollinator Magnet Read Post »
Some plants become part of a garden because you carefully decide exactly where they belong. Others seem more interested in making that decision themselves. Plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) has become one of those plants for me. Its small yellow flowers, usually marked with deep reddish-brown near the center, don’t dominate the garden. Instead, they seem
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria): A Native Annual That Finds Its Own Place Read Post »
Pokeweed is probably not the first plant that comes to mind when someone thinks about creating a native garden. In fact, for a long time, I didn’t think much about it at all. American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is one of those plants that seems to simply appear. Birds eat the berries, deposit the seeds somewhere
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana): The Native “Weed” I Learned to Appreciate Read Post »
If I could recommend one perennial for attracting pollinators in a Northwest Ohio garden, Virginia mountain mint would be near the top of the list. Despite its name, it isn’t a mountain plant in the way many people imagine. It naturally grows throughout much of eastern North America in prairies, open woodlands, meadows, woodland edges,
As my garden moves into midsummer, certain plants naturally begin to stand out. This year, one of those plants has been Culver’s root. I planted it last year, knowing it would likely spend its first season establishing roots before putting on much of a show. This summer, that patience has been rewarded. Growing in full
Few native grasses capture the beauty and resilience of North American prairies like little bluestem. This warm-season native grass provides four-season interest, exceptional wildlife value, and striking color changes that anchor native gardens, prairies, and meadow-style landscapes. What Is Little Bluestem? Little bluestem is a clump-forming, warm-season perennial grass native to much of North America.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) A Native Grass for Various Soils and Full Sun Read Post »
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is a resilient native perennial valued for its silvery foliage and long-lasting white blooms. This adaptable wildflower brings soft texture and visual calm to meadows, prairies, and naturalized gardens while providing important late-season resources for pollinators and wildlife. What Is Pearly Everlasting? Pearly everlasting is a widespread North American native found
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) A Native for Dry Full Sun Gardens Read Post »
