Planting Guide

Native Planting Guides

Click links below for photos and descriptions

  1. Butterfly Garden and Dry Wildflowers Collection
  2. Complete Prairie Collection
  3. Moist Wildflowers Collection
  4. Native Plant Restoration
  5. Nelson Lake Dam Demo
  6. Raingarden Collection
  7. Wetland Collection
  8. Woodland Collection
Common name Scientific name Color Height Bloom Suitable Sites
Alumroot Heuchera richardsonii Greenish Brown 2-3 feet Spring-Summer Dry, Prairie, Open Woods, Rocky Areas
Arrow-leaved aster Aster sagittifolius white 2-4 feet Summer-Fall sun to part shade, moist
Bastard Toadflax Comandra umbellata White 6-16 inches Spring-Summer Dry, Open Fields
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii
1-2 feet Summer sun, wet to moist
Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
4-7 feet Summer Sun, dry to moist
Black Snakeroot Sanicula marilandica White to Cream 1-4 feet Summer Dry, Sun to Shade, Along Forest Edges
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Yellow 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Open Areas
Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis White 5-10 inches Early Spring Hardwood Forest
Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Greenish Yellow 1-3 feet Spring Wet, Shade, Hardwoods
Blue Flag Iris Iris versicolor Violet Blue 2-3 feet Spring-Summer Wet, Sun or Shade, Shoreline, Wetland
Blue joint grass Calamagrostis canadensis
3-6 feet Summer Sun, wet
Blue Vervain Verbena hastata Deep Blue 2-6 feet Summer Wet, Shoreline, Roadsides
Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium montanum Blue 4-20 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Meadows, Roadsides, Praries
Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum White 2-4 feet Summer-Fall Wet, Open Areas
Bottle (Prairie) Gentian Gentiana andrewsii Blue 1-2 feet Summer-Fall Moist, Sun, Praries, Old Fields
Bottlebrush sedge Carex hystricina
1-3 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum
1-3 feet
Moist to Dry, Sun to Shade
Bristly sedge Carex comosa
1-3 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Brown fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea
1-3 feet Summer-Fall Wet to moist, sun
Bunchberry Cornus canadensis White-Red Berry 3-8 inches Spring Conifer Forests
Butterfly-Weed Asclepias tuberosa Orange 1-2 inches Spring-Summer Dry, Sun, Prairie, Sandy Soils
Canada Anemone Anemone canadensis White 1-2 feet Spring-Summer Wet Meadows, Prairies
Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis Yellow 2-5 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Open Fields and Prairies
Canada milk vetch Astragalus canadensis white 1-3 feet Summer Sun, moist
Canada tick trefoil Desmodium canadense purple 2-4 feet Summer Sun, moist, open areas
Canada Violet Viola canadensis White 8-16 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Cool, Shade, Hardwoods
Canada wild rye Elymus canadensis
3-5 feet Summer Sun, moist
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Scarlet Red 2-4 feet Summer-Fall Wet, Light Shade, Along Streams and Wetlands
Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Red with Yellow 1-2 feet Spring-Summer Dry, Shade or Open Hardwoods
Common Blue Morning Glory Calystegia sepium White to Pink 3-10 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sunny Fields, Along Woodlands
Common Blue Violet Viola soroia Deep Blue 4-10 inches Spring Wet, Moist, Woodlands
Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Pink 2-5 feet Summer Wet or Dry, Sun or Shade, Fields
Common Sunflower Helianthus annuus Yellow 3-10 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Fields, Roadsides and Open Areas
Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium White or Pink 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Hardwoods, Fields and Prairies
Compass plant Silphium laciniatum yellow 4-9 feet Summer Sun, dry
Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum White 3-5 feet Summer Prairie, Meadow, Fields
Cup plant Silphium perfoliatum yellow 4-9 Summer sun, wet to moist
Daisy Fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Pink with Yellow 1-5 feet Spring-Fall Wet or Dry, Sun or Shade, Adaptive
Dark green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens
3-5 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Dotted mint Monarda punctata white to pink 1-2 feet Summer sun, dry
Downy Yellow Violet Viola pubescens Yellow 8-16 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Cool, Shade, Hardwoods
Drummond's aster Aster drummondii light purple 2-4 feet Fall Prairie, woodland, wet meadow, sun to part shade
Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucullaria White 4-12 inches Early Spring Hardwoods
Early Meadow Rue Thalictrum dioicum White to Green 1-3 feet Spring Wet, Moist, Woodlands
Early sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides yellow 3-5 feet Summer Sun, moist
Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis Yellow 2-5 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Prairies and Roadsides
False Lilly-of-the-Valley Maianthemum canadense White 2-6 inches Spring Shade, Hardwoods and Conifers
False Solomon's Seal Smilacina racemosa White-Red Berry 1-3 feet Spring-Summer Hardwoods
False Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides Yellow 3-4 feet Summer Dry, Sun, Fields and Prairies
Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium Lavender 2-6 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Shade, Conifer and Hardwoods, Roadsides
Flat-Topped Aster Aster umbellatus White 1-6 feet Summer-Fall Wet, Sun, Woodland Edges, Prairies
Flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata white 1-3 feet Summer sun, dry, prairie
Four-O'Clock Mirabilis nyctaginea Purple to Pink 1-3 feet Spring-Fall Wet or Dry, Sun or Shade, Adaptive
Fowl mana grass Glyceria striata
2-5 feet Summer Sun to part shade, wet
Fox sedge Carex stipata
1-3 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Fringed brome Bromus ciliatus
2-4 feet Summer Sun, wet
Fringed Gentian Gentianopsis crinita Deep Blue 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Wet, Prairies, Meadows, Streambanks
Giant Blue Hyssop Agastache foeniculum Light Blue 2-4 feet Summer Dry, Sun or Shade, Hardwoods, Prairies
Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea Yellow 1-3 feet Spring Wet, Sun, Fields, Hardwoods, and Roadsides
Grass-leaved goldenrod Solidago graminifolia yellow 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Sun, wet
Great Angelica Angelica atropurpurea Green 6-9 feet Spring-Summer Prairie, wetland, savanna, wet meadow
Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica purple 1-2 feet Summer sun, wet
Great bulrush Scirpus validus
3-4 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Great St. John's wort Hypericum pyramidatum yellow 1-3 feet Summer sun to part shade, moist
Green-Headed Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Yellow 5-8 inches Summer Wet, Sun, Fields, Prairies, Roadsides
Hairy wood mint Blephilia hirsuta white 1-2 feet Summer Moist, sun to part shade
Harebell Campanula rotundifolia Pale Blue 6-20 inches Summer Wet, Sun, Rocky, Meadows, Praries
Heart-leaved golden aster Zizia aptera green 1-3 feet Spring-Summer Sun, dry
Heath aster Aster ericoides white 1-3 feet Fall sun to part shade, prairie, dry
Hoary Puccoon Lithospermum canescens Yellow 6-12 inches Spring Dry, Sun, Prairie, Rocky Soils
Hoary vervain Verbena stricta purple 1-3 feet Summer Sun, dry
Indian grass Sorghastrum nutans
4-6 feet Summer-Fall Sun, dry to moist
Indian Paintbrush Castilleja coccinea Red to Orange 1-2 feet Spring-Summer Moist, Open Fields, Rocky Areas
Interrupted Fern Osmunda claytoniana
3-4 feet
Wet Areas, Mostly Shaded
Ironweed Vernonia fasciculata purple 4-6 feet Summer-Fall Sun, wet
Jack-In-The-Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Greenish Purple 1-3 feet Spring Wet, Shade, Hardwoods
Jacob's ladder Polemonium reptans light purple 6-12 inches Spring-Summer Moist, sun to part shade
Joe-Pye Weed Eupatorium maculatum Dark Pink 2-10 feet Summer Wet, Sun, Meadows, Along Roads/Streams
June grass Koeleria cristata
1-2 feet Summer Sun, dry
Labrador Tea Ledum groenlandicum White 1-4 feet Spring-Summer Wet, Shade, Conifer Woods
Lady Fern Athyrium angustum
1-3 feet
Wet, Mostly Shaded Areas
Large-Flowered Bellwort Uvularia grandiflora Pale Yellow 10-20 inches Spring Wet, Shade, Hardwoods
Common Name Scientific Name Color Height Bloom Suitable Sites
Large-Flowered Trillium Tirllium grandiflorum White 8-18 inches Spring Rich Moist Woodlands
Large-leaved Aster Aster macrophyllus Pale Blue 1-5 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Shade, Hardwoods
Leadplant Amorpha canescens purple 1-4 feet Summer Sun, dry
Little bluestem Andropogon scoparius
2-5 feet Summer-Fall Sun, dry
Maidenhair Fern Adiantum pedatum
1-2 feet
Wet, Shaded Areas
Marsh blazing star Liatris spicata pink 3-4 feet Summer-Fall sun, wet
Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris Yellow 1-2 feet Spring Wet, Sun, Along Ponds, Streams and Lakes
Miterwort Mitella diphylla White 8-18 inches Spring-Summer Moist Woods
Mountain mint Pycnanthemum virginianum white 2-3 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Narrow-Leaved Bluets Hedyotis longifolia White to Pink 5-10 inches Spring-Summer Prairies
New England aster Aster novae-angliae pink to purple 4-5 feet Summer-Fall sun, wet to moist
Nodding Trillium Trillium cernuum White 6-24 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Shade, Hardwoods
Northern Beadstraw Galium boreale White 10-36 inches Summer Dry, Sun, Prairies, Along Roads and Fields
Obedient plant Physostegia virginiana deep pink-purple 2-3 Summer Sun, moist
Old-field goldenrod Solidago nemoralis yellow 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Sun, dry
Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
2-4 feet
Wet, Shaded Areas
Panicled aster Aster simplex white 3-4 feet Fall Sun, wet
Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea White 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Along Roads and Fields
Pink Lady's Slipper Cypripedium acaule Pink 6-15 inches Spring-Summer Dry, Shade, Conifer Woods
Pipsisewa Chimaphila umbellata Pink to White 6-12 inches Summer Dry, Shade, Conifer Woods
Prairie (Wood) Lily Lilium philadelphicum Orange 2-3 feet Summer Wet, Sun, Prairie, Hardwoods an Conifers
Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya Purple 2-5 feet Summer Wet, Sun, Sandy Soils, Moist Prairie Areas
Prairie brome Bromus kalmii
1-3 feet Summer Sun, dry to moist
Prairie cinquefoil Potentilla arguta white-yellow 1-2 feet Summer Sun, dry
Prairie cord grass Spartina pectinata
4-6 feet Summer-Fall Sun, wet
Prairie coreopsis Coreopsis palmata yellow 1-2 feet Summer Sun to shade, dry to moist
Prairie sage Artemisia ludoviciana Brown 2-3 feet Summer-Fall Prairie, savanna
Prairie sedge Carex bricknellii
1-2 feet Summer Sun, moist
Prairie smoke Geum triflorum Pink 12-16 inches Spring sun, dry, prairie
Prairie Wild Onion Allium stellatum Pink 1-2 feet Summer Moist to Dry, Sun to Shade
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Purple to Blue 2-3 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Prairies, Roadsides
Purple Hyssop Agastache scrophulariaefolia Purple 3-6 feet Summer Savanna, woodland
Purple meadow rue Thalictrum dasycarpum white 3-6 feet Summer Sun, wet
Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea Purple 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Prairies
Rattlesnake grass Glyceria canadensis
1-3 feet Summer Sun, wet
Rattlesnake master Erygium yuccifolium white 3-4 feet Summer Sun, moist, sandy soils
Rattlesnake Root Prenanthes alba White to Purplish 2-5 feet Summer-Fall Wet, Shade, Hardwoods
Reed mana grass Glyceria grandis
3-5 feet Summer Sun, wet
River bank wild rye Elymus riparius
3-5 feet Summer Sun to part shade, wet
Rose Twisted-Stalk Streptopus roseus Pink-Red Berry 1-3 feet Spring-Summer Moist Hardwoods
Rosin weed Silphium integrifolium yellow 4-6 feet Summer-Fall Sun, dry to moist
Rough Blazing Star Liatris aspera Purple 16-48 inches Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Sandy Soils, Prairies
Round-lobed Hepatica Hepatica americana Blue, White 4-6 inches Spring Dry, Shade, Hardwoods
Sand coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata yellow 1-3 feet Spring-Summer Sun, Dry sandy soil
Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis
1-2 feet
Wet Areas, Sun to Shade
Sessile bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia Pale Yellow 6-12 inches Spring Hardwoods
Sharp-lobed Hepatica Hepatica acutiloba Blue to White 4-6 inches Spring Dry, Shade, Hardwoods
Showy Lady's Slipper Cypripedium reginae White and Pink 1-3 feet Summer Wet, Sun, Moist Woods, Swamp Edges
Side-oats grama Bouteloua curtipendula
2-3 feet Summer Sun, dry
Sky-blue aster Aster azureus pink 1-3 feet Fall Prairie
Smooth blue aster Aster laevis purple to blue 2-4 feet Fall sun, dry, prairie
Smooth penstemon Penstemon digitalis white 1-3 feet Summer Sun to part shade, wet to moist
Smooth Solomon's Seal Polygonatum biflorum Blue-Black Berry 1-3 feet Spring Dry, Shade, Hardwoods
Sneezeweed Helinium autumnale yellow 3-5 feet Summer sun, wet
Spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis Violet Blue 10-24 inches Spring-Summer Dry, Sun, Meadows, Praries
Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica Pink 6-10 inches Spring Wet, Shade, Hardwoods
Star Flower Trientalis borealis White 4-8 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Shade, Conifer andHardwoods
Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida Yellow 1-5 feet Summer-Fall Dry, Sun, Fields, Roadsides, Prairies
Swamp Buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Yellow 1-3 feet Spring-Summer Wet, Shade, Hardwoods, Along Streams
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Rosy Red 1-4 feet Summer Wet, Sun, Swamps, Stream or Meadow Edges
Sweet grass Hierochloe odorata
1-2 feet Spring-Summer Sun, wet
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum Pale Pink 2-7 feet Summer Dry, Thickets, Open Woods
Switch grass Panicum virgatum
4-6 feet Summer-Fall Sun, dry to moist
Tall Meadow Rue Thalictrum dasycarpum White 2-8 feet Summer Wet, Shade, Wetlands, Along Streams
Thimbleweed Anemone virginiana White 2-3 feet Summer Dry, Sun, Open Woods and Rocky Areas
Turk's-Cap Lilly Lilium superbum Yellow to Orange 3-7 feet Summer Wet, Sun, Moist Woods and Roadsides
Turtlehead Chelone glabra White 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Wet, Sun, Moist Areas along Streams and Wetlands
Twinflower Linnaea borealis Pink 3-6 inches Summer Conifer Woods, Bogs, Rocky Areas
Virginia Waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum Blue to White 1-2 feet Spring Moist Hardwoods
Virginia wild rye Elymus virginicus
3-5 Summer Sun, moist
Virgin's Bower Clematis virginia White 6-10 feet Summer Shade Along Woodland Edges
Water horehound Lycopus americanus white 1-2 feet Summer sun, wet
Western sunflower Helianthus occidentalis yellow 2-3 feet Summer sun, dry, prairie
White prairie clover Petalostemum candidum white 1-2 feet Summer Sun, dry
White Trout Lily Erythronium albidum White 5-10 inches Spring Dry, Hardwoods
Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata White 6-15 inches Summer Dry, Sun, Prairies, Nutrient Poor Rocky Soils
Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa Lavender 2-4 feet Summer Dry, Sun, Fields, Roadsides, Prairies
Wild Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata Pale Blue 10-20 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Shaded, Hardwoods
Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum Lavender 1-2 feet Spring Dry, Shade, Hardwoods, Meadows
Wild Ginger Asarum canadense Brownish Red 6-12 inches Spring Moist, Shade, Hardwoods
Wild golden glow Rudbeckia laciniata yellow 5-8 feet Summer-Fall Sun to part shade, wet to moist
Wild Leek Allium tricoccum White 6-12 inches Summer Moist, Mostly Shaded Areas
Common Name Scientific Name Color Height Bloom Suitable Sites
Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis Blue 1-3 feet Late Spring-Early Summer Dry, Sandy Soils, Sunny Open Areas
Wild Sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis White 1-2 feet Spring-Summer Dry, Shade, Hardwoods and Conifers
Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginia White-Red Fruit 3-6 inches Spring-Summer Dry, Sun, Edges of Woods
Wintergreen Gaultheria procumben White-Red Berry 2-6 inches Spring-Summer Dry, Shade, Conifer Woods
Wood Anemone Anemone quinquefolia White 4-8 inches Early Spring Dry, Shade, Open Areas and Edges of Hardwoods
Wood Fern Dryopteris carthusiana
1-2 feet
Wet, Shaded Areas
Wood reed grass Cinna arundinacea
3-5 feet Summer sun, wet to moist
Woodland sedge Carex sprengelii
6-12 inches Spring-Summer Moist, Sun to shade
Woodland Sunflower Helianthus spp. Yellow 3-7 feet Summer-Fall Shade, Edges and Open Areas of Hardwoods
Wool grass Scirpus cyperinus
3-5 feet Summer Wet, Sun
Yellow coneflower Ratibida pinnata yellow 4-5 feet Summer sun, moist
Yellow Lady's Slipper Cypripedium calceolus Yellow 4-24 inches Spring-Summer Wet, Shade, Hardwoods, Along Swamps and Bogs
Yellow or Closed Gentian Gentiana flavida White to Yellow 1-2 feet Fall Dry, Sun, Prairies, Old Fields
Yellow Trout Lily Erythronium americanum Yellow 5-10 inches Spring Dry, Hardwoods
Zig-zag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis yellow 1-3 feet Summer-Fall Sun to shade, moist