native garden

Heart-leaved aster in bloom, showing its distinctive purplish-blue flowers and delicate branching stems.

Symphyotrichum Genus: Essential Native Asters for Late-Season Pollinators and Wildlife

If you want to strengthen your fall garden, support butterflies, and extend blooms well into the colder months, the Symphyotrichum genus (our native asters) is one of the most important groups you can grow. With dozens of species adapted to woodlands, prairies, savannas, and wetlands, native asters provide critical late-season nectar while acting as host […]

Symphyotrichum Genus: Essential Native Asters for Late-Season Pollinators and Wildlife Read Post »

Bright purple flower clusters of giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) in full bloom with green leaves in the background.

Tall Ironweed: A Towering Native for Pollinators and Wild Gardens

If you’re looking to add height, bold color, and pollinator activity to your garden in Northwest Ohio, look no further than giant or tall ironweed (Vernonia gigantea). This tall native perennial thrives in moist meadows, prairies, and open wood edges, making it a striking addition to naturalized landscapes. With vibrant purple flower clusters and impressive

Tall Ironweed: A Towering Native for Pollinators and Wild Gardens Read Post »

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

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

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

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 »

A mixture of pink and purple flowers.

Purple Coneflower Plant (Echinacea purpurea): A Resilient Native Beauty for Pollinators

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a tough, long-blooming native perennial that earns its place in any pollinator garden. Beloved for its bold purple petals and sturdy nature, it’s a must-have for pollinator gardens, prairie plantings, and sustainable landscapes. What is Purple Coneflower? The Purple Coneflower plant is a herbaceous perennial native to central and eastern

Purple Coneflower Plant (Echinacea purpurea): A Resilient Native Beauty for Pollinators Read Post »

A hornet upon a pink milkweed flower.

The Difference Between Native, Non-Native & Invasive Plants (With Real-Life Garden Examples)

As gardeners, we often choose plants based on beauty, scent, or nostalgia—but what if our plant choices could also nurture the ecosystem around us? Understanding the differences between native, non-native and invasive plants helps us differentiate the plants that are actually providing in abundance for our ecosystem and plants that may provide only beauty. In

The Difference Between Native, Non-Native & Invasive Plants (With Real-Life Garden Examples) Read Post »

Stay in the Loop

Join [mailpoet_subscribers_count] others and get updates on new blog posts, projects, and site news—delivered to your inbox.

We promise we’ll never spam! Take a look at our Privacy Policy for more info.

Scroll to Top