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"
Black-eyed Susan is a fast-growing biennial or short-lived perennial. “Hirta” means hairy, and this is the main way you can tell the difference between this and its cousin Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower): R. hirta is thickly covered in small soft hairs, while R. fulgida has more sparse hairs on its leaves. This is an easy […] Continue reading "Black-eyed Susan"
Also referred to as a black-eyed Susan, this is an easy-to-grow plant in most garden conditions as long as the soils don’t stay wet. Often confused with two other species, the Rudbeckia hirta (a biennial, typically also referred to as a “black-eyed Susan”) and Rudbeckia triloba (another perennial called a brown-eyed Susan), the orange coneflower […] Continue reading "Orange Coneflower"
Sundrops is an erect perennial with lance-shaped green leaves and bright yellow, four-petaled flowers up to 2 inches across. Unlike most evening primrose species, sundrops blooms during the day. Individual flowers are short-lived, but they appear in succession over a long bloom period from mid-spring through summer. The overwintering basal rosette is evergreen in our […] Continue reading "Sundrops"
Coral honeysuckle is a twining native vine with dark blue-green leaves and showy, trumpet-shaped flowers in red to orange-red with yellow interiors. It blooms from spring into summer and is one of the best native plants for attracting hummingbirds, which are its primary pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and some moths visit as well, and songbirds eat […] Continue reading "Coral Honeysuckle"
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"
Butterfly milkweed is an upright native perennial with narrow, lance-shaped leaves and flat-topped clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers, typically 2–5 inches across. It is the shortest commonly available milkweed in our area. It blooms throughout summer and makes a good cut flower. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all visit the flowers. It is a […] Continue reading "Butterfly Milkweed"