Native Perennials

Verbena Hastata (vervane)

Tall perenial (4-5 ft) with spiked blue/purple flowers. As season progresses or plant is dead headed secondary blossoms emerge from lateral growth.

Drought tolerant and looks good behind red roses. Good butterfly nectar.

Swamp rose: a true rosa, not a mallow (hibiscus) This rose grows along the moist banks of rivers and wetlands. I have only seen pink ones, but you never know what mother nature has out there. Great by a downspout in your garden. Spreads rapidly and needs to be kept in bounds with severe pruning.

Joe Pye Weed (eupatorium)

There are many new hybrids of Joe out there now, many dwarf versions of the species. It can grow to 7 feet tall in a moist area and looks great planted with many of the other tall native perennials such as NY Iron Weed and Verbena Hastata.

Loved by butterflies, its bloom time is rather short if not in a moist area.

New York Ironweed

My favorite native perennial next to purple coneflowers. Tall and regal, this plant lives up to its name. It is tough and can take more abuse then anyother flower I know. NYI can get 5 ft tall and butterflies love it. It looks great surrounded by short clipped boxwood, or in a meadow of prairie wildflowers, or in your cottage garden. I use it as a back of the border plant when I need height, but don't want a shrub.

The best combination is with a black elderberry shrub!

Asclepia Tuberosa (butterfly weed)

As we say in the native plant business, this is an 'upland' plant. Meaning, a plant that likes a drying soil. One that is on higher ground. Beautiful orange flowers that look great combined with the deep purple of May Night salvia. Use care when transplanting and don't disturb the tap root. This plant is food for the monarch butterfly AND its larva, so it is very important plant in the butterflyer's world.

Grows to about two feet. Don't freak out if it's chewed to the ground, you'll have monarch butterflies to show for your devotion!

Asclepia Incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)

A 'lowland' plant, so it likes moisture. It doesn't have to be wet or boggy. Wonderful pink domes of flowers. It also is food for the larva and adult monarch.

Grows to three feet.

This plant will also be chewed to hell by the monarch larve, but it's worth it for both their beauty! It's always covered with aphids, but the plants don't seem to mind it, go figure? Never spray butterfly plants, please!

Agastache (Anise Hyssop)

Native more to the southwest, it is nevertheless found in the mid-atlantic states from time to time.

Lovely blue spiked flowers last almost all season long and I don't think I've ever had to deadhead it. It can grow to three feet tall and can become rather woody when old, so cut it to the ground in spring. Wonderful scent to the leaves. I plant it near the veggies because it really brings in the bees!