Native Perennials, Ferns, and Grasses

Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells	Penstemon digitalis Foxglove Beardtongue	Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot

Perennials A-E | Perennials F - L | Perennials M - R | Perennials S - Z |

Ferns | Grasses

Please note: we do not ship plants. We sell retail to the area only.

See notes on nativity at bottom of list.
indicates host plants for butterflies and moths found in PA

Perennials M - R

Maianthemum canadense, Canada Mayflower | PA Native | wide distribution

This wonderful woodland plant can carpet a large area under a canopy of trees in no time! Looking a bit like lily-of-the-valley, short white spikes of flowers rise up from clasping green foliage in late April or May. A rapid grower, extremely low maintenance and care free!

Culture: Plant in partial to full shade in moist, well-drained soil of average fertility. Height: 4"h x 12"w.

Meehania cordata, Meehan's Mint | PA Native | V. limited distribution, protected in PA

This native groundcover is a real gem! Meehan's Mint creeps along the ground and roots all along its trailing stems, making a dense mat. Then in late spring, this "gem" shines with hundreds of blue, trumpet-like flowers with spotted throats. A great native substitute for Ajuga.

Culture: Plant in partial to full shade, in moist soil with organic matter. Height: 6-10"h x w.

Mertensia virginica, Virginia Bluebells | PA Native | moderate distribution

You can be sure that spring has arrived when the cheery blue flowers of Virginia bluebells start appearing. This well-loved woodland plant blooms in April and early May; its foliage then dies down completely by June.

Culture: Plant in partial to full shade in moist soil with organic matter. Mulch to keep cool. Height: 1'-2'h x 1'w. More images: on a Chester County creekside

Monarda didyma, Bee Balm | PA Native | moderate distribution

Bee balm is a classic butterfly and hummingbird plant - a must-have in every garden! Main bloom season in early summer, then sporadic flowering through fall. Easy to grow, and quickly forms big clumps!  'Jacob Cline', with large red flowers, is particularly resistant to powdery mildew.

Culture: Plant in full sun to partial shade in average soil. Adapted to moist or wet conditions. Native to creek banks, floodplains, and woods. Height: 2'-5'h x w.

Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot | PA Native | moderate distribution

Closely related to bee balm, wild bergamot has similar showy flowers in shades of rose to dusky pink. Adapted to drier and harsher conditions than bee balm. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Culture: Plant in full sun to part shade in average soil. Tolerant of clay soil and drought, once established. Height: 2'-5'h x w.

Oenothera fruticosa, Sundrops | PA Native | limited distribution

Culture:  Height: .

Oenothera x 'Cold Crick', Sundrops Hybrid | US Native, Hybrid

Sundrops have made a name for themselves as aggressive spreaders, but this little guy is not in that category! 'Cold Crick' is a naturally-occurring hyrbid of Oenethera that is clump-forming, long-blooming, and very trouble-free.

Culture: Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained soil. Foliage may be cut back after flowering to produce a new flush of growth. Height: 10-12"h x w.

Pachysandra procumbens, Allegheny Spurge | US Native

Our native pachysandra has a lot more going for it than its more commonly-cultivated Asian cousin. It has a subtle beauty all its own - the dark green leaves are attractively mottled with gray, especially towards fall, and its clumping habit makes it a well-behaved guest in the garden.

Culture: Plant in full shade to partial shade in moist soil with organic matter. Slow to establish, so a bit of initial coddling is in order. Height: 6-8"h x 24"w.

Packera aurea (aka Senecio aureus), Golden Ragwort | PA Native | moderate distribution

A very versatile groundcover with loads of cheery yellow flowers on stalked stems in April, and attractive, dark green foliage that hugs the ground. Will naturalize to form large colonies when conditions are right. A beautiful and very under-used groundcover! Genus (Packera, aka Senecio) is a host plant for American Lady and Painted Lady butterflies.

Culture: Plant in full sun to partial shade in consistently moist or even wet soil. Height: 6-12"h x 2'w.

Penstemon digitalis, Foxglove Beardtongue | PA Native | moderate distribution

Branching stalks of white, tubular flowers rise up in early summer from foliage that hugs the ground. This native beauty is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. A popular cultivar is 'Husker Red', with dark-colored foliage. A lovely cut flower, too! Genus (Penstemon) is a host plant for Common Buckeye butterflies.

Culture: Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained soil. Does not perform well in heavy clay soil. Height: 3-4'h x 2'w. More images: wild population on the side of a Berks County highway

Phlox divaricata, Woodland Phlox | PA Native | moderate distribution

Woodland phlox, also known as Wild Sweet William, is a choice groundcover for a woodland setting or shady garden. Softly fragrant flowers in shades of blue to lavender to white, depending on the cultivar, appear on stalks in early spring.

Culture: Plant in partial shade in moist soil with organic matter. Cut back stalks after flowering if powdery mildew is evident. Height: 6"-12"h x 12"w.

Phlox paniculata, Tall Garden Phlox | PA Native | moderate distribution

Garden phlox makes a wonderful tall backdrop for perennial beds and borders. In mid to late summer, garden phlox bursts forth with large, brightly-colored heads made up of lots of small flowers, often with a lovely frangrance. Cultivars are preferred to the straight species because they are more mildew-resistant.

Culture: Prefers full sun, and moist, well-drained soil. Topdress with compost in spring and fall, use seaweed fertilizer in between. Thin out crowded stems. Height: 3-5'h x 2-3'w.

Phlox pilosa, Prairie Phlox | PA Native | v. limited distribution, SE PA only, protected in PA

A shorter phlox with many-flowered clusters of pink, lavender, or whitish flowers held atop narrow-leaved foliage. The cultivar 'Lavender Cloud' has very fragrant lavender flowers. Spreads slowly to form colonies. Adaptable to a range of garden conditions.

Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade in average soil; tolerates dry to moist soils. Height: 15" h x w.

Phlox stolonifera, Creeping Phlox | PA Native | limited distribution

This is a fantastic native plant that forms a dense mat of evergreen foliage. In early spring, flowers on 10" stalks cover the plant in shades of blue, pink or white, depending on the cultivar. Very well-behaved and easy to grow. Available: straight species, cultivar 'Blue Ridge', with blue flowers, 'Pink Ridge', with pink flowers.

Culture: Plant in partial shade to almost full sun in average soil. Height: 3"-6"h x 12"w. More images: groundcover habit when not in flower

Phlox subulata, Moss-pink | PA Native | limited distribution

An early-blooming groundcover phlox with flowers in shades of pink, blue, or white, depending on the cultivar. This is a nice plant to incorporate into a lawn for refreshing spots of color early in the season, as it responds well to mowing after flowering.

Culture: Plant in full sun in well-drained soil of average fertility. Height: 3"-6"h x 6"w.

Physostegia virginiana, Obedient Plant | PA Native | moderate distribution

A long-blooming plant with stiffly erect spikes of flowers in shades of pink. The species has a tendency to spread aggressively, but the cultivar 'Miss Manners', a white-flowered form, is clump-forming and does not spread. Individual flowers obediently face the direction they are turned!

Culture: Plant in full sun to moist to average soil. May be pinched back early in the season to promote a bushier habit. Height: 2-3' h x w.

Podophyllum peltatum, May-apple | PA Native | moderate distribution

Genus (Podophyllum) is a host plant for Variegated Fritillary butterflies.

Culture:  Height: .

Polemonium reptans, Spreading Jacob's Ladder | PA Native | moderate distribution

Our native Jacob's Ladder is lovely in bloom, covered with true blue flowers in late spring. Unlike many other native spring bloomers, the foliage persists throughout the summer. Try it in a woodland setting, or let it naturalize in your garden! Available: straight species, cultivar 'Stairway to Heaven' with pink, green, and white variegated foliage, lighter blue flowers.

Culture: Plant in light to full shade in moist, cool soil. Height: 12-18"h x w.

Polygonatum biflorum, Solomon's Seal

Description coming soon.

Polygonatum commutatum, Giant Solomon's Seal | PA Native | wide distribution

Culture:  Height: .

Porteranthus trifoliatus (aka Gillenia), Bowman's Root | PA Native | moderate distribution

When in bloom, the 1" wide, white, star-shaped flowers look like a crowd of butterflies on this airy plant. Stems and foliage appear delicate and wispy. The foliage turns a subtle russet color in the autumn, giving Bowman's Root two long seasons of interest. Deserves much greater usage.

Culture: Prefers partial shade in average to moist soil. Once established, very drought-tolerant. Found in upland woods. Height: 3'-4' h x w.

Pycnanthemum muticum, Short-tooth Mountain Mint | PA Native | limited distribution

The flower effect of Short-tooth Mountain Mint comes from a combination of silvery-white bracts which set off clusters of pink flowers from summer to early fall. The habit of this plant is dense and compact. The flowers attract many species of butterflies and other pollinators.

Culture: Plant in full sun to partial shade in soil that stays moist, but is well-drained. Best in an edge of the woods location. Can be an aggressive spreader. Height: 2'-3' h x w.

Rudbeckia fulgida, Orange Coneflower | PA Native | limited distribution

Native to most of the Eastern US, orange coneflower is an easy care plant that offers a long season of bloom in late summer through fall. 'Goldsturm' is the most popular cultivar, and is extremely floriferous. Great for cut flowers and for winter interest (from dried seedheads).

Culture: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Not particularly drought-tolerant. Can cut back after blooming to prevent fungal infestations in the winter. Height: 2-3'h x 2'w.

Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, Orange coneflower | PA Native | limited distribution

Culture:  Height: .

Rudbeckia triloba, Three-leaved Coneflower | PA Native | moderate distribution

A free-flowering Rudbeckia with numerous small, yellow daisy flowers with a brown center in mid-summer. Not reliably perennial, but reliably self-sows. If you are not particular about it being in a certain place and that place only, this will be a great plant for you.

Culture: Plant in full sun in average soil. Cut back after flowering if you don't want seedlings (but you do want some, of course!) Height: 3'h x 2'w.

Perennials A-E | Perennials F - L | Perennials M - R | Perennials S - Z |

Ferns | Grasses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Plant notations: a notation of "PA Native" indicates the plant was known to be growing in PA at the time of European arrival; further, the plant's distribution in Pennsylvania is listed. For example, a plant with the notation of "PA Native - wide distribution", means that the plant is found wild in all or nearly all counties of PA, and is very common. On the other hand, a plant with the notation of "PA Native - limited distribution" is found wild in just some parts of Pennsylvania - you're not likely to run into it frequently.

We've also listed when a variety is a cultivar. A cultivar is a cultivated variety of a plant. Most cultivars start from a single plant that's selected from a wild population, because it has a mutation that is different in some interesting way from the plant's common characteristics - it may have a different color flower, shorter stature, etc., that may be more "garden-worthy" than the typical so-called "straight species". It is propagated in larger numbers than would naturally occur in the wild, specifically to sell to gardeners!