Calico beardtongue is native from Tennessee north to Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. It has light pink to light purple flowers that are much loved by bees and other pollinators. This species of penstemon is more shade tolerant than others such as P. digitalis, and will also tolerate more moisture in the soil. Spreading notes: Will […] Continue reading "Calico Beardtongue"
Blue phlox is a perennial wildflower that clumps slowly over time. It has light pink to lavender to blue five-petaled blooms in spring. As one of its common name suggests, this phlox does well in a woodland setting and can even handle some dry conditions after it is established. Pair with Celandine poppy, Eastern columbine, […] Continue reading "Blue Wood Phlox"
Ohio spiderwort is a plant that is happy in many different conditions. Some of us have it growing in full sun and others in dry shade. It is a clump-forming perennial and blooms successionally, one flower per day, opening in the morning and closing by evening. The leaves are long and grass-like, and it has […] Continue reading "Ohio Spiderwort"
Dwarf crested iris, as its name suggests, is a diminutive species of iris, growing no more than 9 inches tall. This particular iris can do well in somewhat dry, partially sunny places and will slowly spread to form more of a groundcover over time. It has purply-blue showy flowers. It can survive in full sun […] Continue reading "Dwarf Crested Iris"
An excellent substitute for chrysanthemums, Aromatic aster is one of the TN Valley Wild Ones members’ favorite asters. Run your hand through the leaves throughout the year to smell its wonderful fragrance. As a member of the aster family, it is an important pollinator host for late fall when many other plants have started to […] Continue reading "Aromatic Aster"
Purple coneflower is an herbaceous perennial with dark green leaves and showy purple flowers. Flowers typically reach 3-5 inches across and bloom reliably throughout summer. This is one of the most popular and adaptable native perennials. It thrives in full sun and tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils, from dry rocky areas to moist […] Continue reading "Purple Coneflower"