Homeowner Habitat: An Intro

Habitat at Home A GUIDE TO ENHANCING AND CREATING HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS IN YOUR BACKYARD

INTRODUCTION Found 20 miles west of Philadelphia, Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) focuses on 28,000 acres within the watersheds of Ridley, Crum, and Darby Creeks of Chester and Delaware Counties. Since 1996, the Trust has permanently conserved over 7,500 acres, including three nature preserves open to the public: Ashbridge Preserve, Kirkwood Preserve, and Rushton Woods Preserve, which is home to Rushton Conservation Center and Rushton Farm. The Trust offers six nationally renowned programs for public engagement and research: the Bird Conservation, Community Farm, Education and Outreach, Land Protection, Stewardship, and Watershed Protection Programs.

This year, we are launching a new Homeowner Habitat initiative. Homeowner Habitat is an innovative gardening concept that goes by many names, including “Wildscaping,” “Meadowscaping” and “Ecosystem Gardening,” and its main tenants are to garden sustainably, conserve our natural resources, and create a habitat that benefits wildlife.

We understand that it can be daunting to start a project like this, which is why we are bringing Homeowner Habitat directly to you! This guide contains all sorts of resources to help you create a wildlife oasis of your very own. Be sure to visit our website for more information and stay tuned for future events: wctrust.org/ resource-library/

Andrew Kirkpatrick Director of Stewardship 610-353-2562, Ext. 114 ajk@wctrust.org

Michael Cranney Preserve Manager 610-353-2562, Ext. 106 mjc@wctrust.org

T HE P E RFE CT T I M E T O S T A RT PL ANNING Y O U R BA CKY A RD HA BI T A T IS NOW!

The Impact of Native Plants 532 Number of butterflies and moths native oak trees support. Nonnative ginkgo trees host just five.

1,200 Simple Steps to Create a Native Plant Garden at Your Place of Worship Like us, birds need food, water, and shelter. You can transform the outdoor space at your place of worship into a bird sanctuary that also saves resources such as water and combats climate change. The secret to success lies in choosing locally native plants, which brim with nutritious insects, berries, nectar, and seed to give birds vital food and refuge. Use the steps below to create and maintain a bird-friendly habitat that brings colorful birds, sweet melodies, vibrant colors and more of nature’s gifts close.

1 2 3

Select a site that’s practical to convert into a garden and allows room to expand. Consider: • Do you have full sun? Partial sun? Shade?

Is the soil rocky, loamy, sandy, clay, or gravel? Does it drain well? Is your site flat or hilly? Near water? What’s the elevation?

• Learn what’s optimal from your local native plant society (see sidebar).

Plant in the spring or fall months and on cooler days.

Follow planting instructions carefully and get tips on mulching around plants.

Water only as needed when young plants are adapting to their new habitat.

Prepare your garden well to save headaches later.

You may need to dig up lawn, remove invasive plants, and add organic compost to the soil. An easy method is to lay down newspaper at least six sheets deep, with plenty of overlap; wet it down; cover it with 4 to 6 inches of mulch, and let it sit until you are ready to plant. Use deep edging to keep out lawn grass.

4 5 6

Plan for a variety of shapes, sizes, and kinds of plants to give vertical structure to your garden.

• Cluster the same plant species together.

• Design for color palettes and seasonal blooms.

• Add habitat features like hollowed boulders that catch rainwater for birds to drink and bathe in.

Steward your native plant garden with tender loving care.

• Pull up noxious and invasive weeds.

• Enhance with brush piles that hide birds and shelter other wildlife too.

• Leave dead trees and branches.

Focus on plants that support high variety and quantity of bird food.

• Red tubular flowers—columbine, jewelweed, and bee balm serve up nectar for hummingbirds.

• Native sunflowers, asters, and coneflowers produce seeds for songbirds.

• Bushes with berries ripen at different times, so include a seasonal variety to sustain birds: dogwood and spicebush; cedar and holly trees.

U.S. crops that depend on pollinators to grow.

Native plants are essential for pollinators — from birds, bees, butterflies, and bats.

Water-wise, droughttolerant native plants reduce water use, especially critical in droughtstricken, arid parts of our country.

96

Percentage of land birds that feed insects to chicks.

Native plants are nature’s bounty.

80 million

Number of pounds of pesticides homeowners apply to the 40 million acres of lawns in the U.S. each year. Native plants, on the other hand, support a vibrant balance of predator and prey insects and thrive without pesticides.

Your native garden joins a collective effort to give back to birds and plant hope for their future.

Spend more time with birds and less time with noisy lawn mowers that pollute the air and water.

800 million

Estimated number of gallons of gas Americans burn in lawn mowers annually. This produces significant amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that drive climate change.

MORE INFORMATION: Create bird-friendly communities: Native Plants for Birds at audubon.org Find a native plant society in your area: American Horticultural Society Buy Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy: Bringing Nature Home book

Photo: David Liittschwager

HOW TO: A BIRD-FRIENDLY SANCTUARY

NATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO INVASIVE SPECIES

By Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of Stewardship

Every time I walk into a nursery or big box store I feel a great temptation to purchase the prettiest plants. However, sometimes the prettiest plants and the ones that stand up to deer are not the best selections available for local pollinators and wildlife. Native plants support local species better than exotic ones because they have evolved in the ecosystems where we live.

And while you will see bees and butterflies at non-native plants, these do not offer the same amount of nutritional content as their native alternatives. A blueberry is far more nutritious for a bird than a barberry. Birds have to eat more of the invasive species to get the same amount of benefits which in turn increases the spread of the invasive seeds in their poop.

With a little research and careful selection we can easily move away from invasive garden species to more beneficial native ones. Here’s a list to get started derived from the excellent book from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Native Alternatives to Invasive Species.

INVASIVE SHRUB: Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) Escapes into the wild and invades forests where it pushes out native shrub species plus it is a vector for ticks.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVES: Witch Alder (Fothergilla gardenii) -Small shrub with rounded to mounding form.

-3-5 ft tall and wide.

-Fuzzy white terminal flower clusters in early spring.

-Oval scalloped foliage.

-Orange to burgundy fall color.

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) -Mounding to spreading form.

-1-3 ft tall and 2-4 ft wide.

-Terminal white flower clusters in late spring and summer.

-Deep green foliage.

-Yellow autumn color.

Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) -See it at the Rushton Conservation Center (RCC) by the front door!

-Small shrub with arching vase-like form.

-2-4 ft tall and 3-5 ft wide.

-Yellow flowers all summer.

-Yellow to burgundy autumn color.

INVASIVE SHRUB: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) Despite the name, butterfly bush only supports adult butterflies with its abundant nectar but fails to provide for all of the other stages of life.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVES: Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) -Rounded, irregular form.

-6-10 ft tall and wide.

-Attractive winter silhouette.

-Fuzzy white summertime flowers.

-Deep glossy green foliage.

-Yellow autumn color..

Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) -Upright to irregular form.

-4-8 ft tall and wide.

-Tawny to chestnut-colored bark.

-Deep green quilted foliage.

-Spikes of sweet-scented white flowers in summer.

-Yellow autumn foliage color.

INVASIVE GROUNDCOVER: Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) Aggressive spreader, easily escapes into adjacent natural areas.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVES: Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) -Dense, slow-spreading groundcover.

-Paddle-shaped evergreen leaves.

-Fuzzy spring flowers.

-Rich winter foliage.

-Not deer resistant!

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) -Climbing vine with holdfasts.

-Palmate leaves with five leaflets.

-Smoky-blue berries on red stalks.

-Flaming autumn color.

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) -Deer resistant.

-Delicate blue star shaped spring flowers.

-Grass like foliage.

-Grows in dense, tufted clumps.

INVASIVE VINE: Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Aggressive vine that will smother trees and shrubs.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVE: Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) -Well-behaved deciduous vine.

-Scarlet flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

-Small red berries.

-Gray-green leaves.

-Exfoliating winter bark.

INVASIVE GRASS: Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis Anderss.)

Very aggressive and deep rooted ornamental grass that is sold as sterile but tends to reproduce anyway. A serious threat to meadows and natural grassy areas.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVE: Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) -Clumping grass with ascending, tufted foliage.

-Silky golden plumes.

-Red to russet autumn color.

INVASIVE GRASS: Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) Escapes into natural areas forming dense stands, prolific seeder spreads by wind.

NATIVE ALTERNATIVE: Pink hair grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) -Clumping grass with a rounded crown.

-Low tufts of arching blades.

-Airy red plumes.

-Russet to tawny autumn color.

Photos: Lady Bird Johnson, Gardenia.net, and WHYY.

September – January: Pick a location for your meadow that is generally sunny and well-drained. Existing lawn areas or fields are ideal. The size of the meadow should be determined by how much space you are willing to dedicate to the project and your budget. As a guide, a one-quarter acre meadow would require approximately 2,700 wildflower plugs planted 2 feet on center.

February – Late March: Work with a landscape professional or reputable nursery that specializes in native plants to place an order for wildflowers that can be scheduled to arrive for installation in mid-April – early May. Late March – Early April: Begin preparing the meadow area by mowing it to a height of 2-3 inches. Continue to mow the project area until you are ready to install the wildflower plugs.

SHADE GARDEN

TREES & SHRUBS, PERENNIALS, AND GRASSES & FERNS

PREPARE: Choose a location for your garden that receives full or partial shade from either nearby canopy trees or existing structures. Once you choose a suitable location, determine the size of the garden based on how much space you are willing to dedicate to the project and your budget. Once you determine the size of the area you are planting, work with a landscape professional/designer or native plant nursery that specializes in native plants to receive an estimate on how many plants should be ordered for your space. If there are existing plants in the space you identified, take an inventory, and decide what to retain and what to remove and replace. Pay particular attention to the guidelines for the plants’ recommended height and spacing.

Gain inspiration from local woodlands by noting the various vertical layers of plant life and aim to echo these layers in your design by including a mix of native plants in the upper canopy, understory, and ground layers.

PREPARE:

TREES & SHRUBS

RIPARIAN BUFFER

PLANNING & MAINTENANCE GUIDE

MEADOW

WILDFLOWERS & GRASSES

PREPARE:

Choose a location along your stream where the riparian buffer area is degraded or non-existent. Measure the square footage of the area you intend to plant. If your project involves planting where no buffer exists, measure outward from where the bank drops off to the stream; and while there is no specific ideal buffer width, the wider the buffer area, the greater the environmental benefits. We suggest a minimum of a 25’ buffer width.

Once you know the size of the area you will be planting, you can work with a landscape professional or reputable nursery that specializes in native plants to estimate how many trees and shrubs should be ordered. Typically, plants are spaced 12-15 feet apart.

Prior to planting, you may want to prepare the project area by mowing it to facilitate digging the holes.

PLANT:

PRESERVE:

Mid-April – Early May: Once your wildflower plugs arrive, it may be tempting to lay out plants in neatly arranged rows, but clustering plants together while still paying attention to plant spacing will echo the organic patterns found in nature. In addition, wildflowers planted in clusters with several plants of the same species within a few feet of each other will also help to attract more pollinators. Use a handheld auger (2” +/- in diameter) or shovel to open holes for your wildflower plugs. Then you can easily insert each plug in the hole and tamp the soil around it.

Early May – Early October: Once your wildflowers are planted, regularly inspect your meadow to ensure that invasive weeds are not colonizing the space. Hand pulling or cutting weeds below the height of native species should help to manage any invasives that may creep into your meadow.

Year Two and Beyond: Mow the entire meadow once a year in late March to early April to a height of about 6 inches -- before the young wildflowers start pushing through the grass. Although some landscape professionals recommend mowing meadows in the fall as well, leaving plants unmowed over the winter provides important food and shelter for wildlife during the harsh winter months. Should you decide to mow a second time in the fall, wait until the year following installation to give the young wildflowers a chance to establish. Wildflower plugs generally take three years to fully mature, so patience is required, but the result is well worth the wait!

PLANT:

PRESERVE:

Prior to digging holes and removing the plants from their containers, place them in the garden according to your intended design; this will allow you to visualize the layout and adjust plant spacing and location as desired.

Once you have planted your shade garden, it is important to mulch it annually and weed it regularly to give the native plants the best chance to establish successfully. Including a mix of diverse herbaceous plants that will spread and expand will also help to suppress weeds.

Following the first 3 +/- years after installation, the garden should require less maintenance. While native plants are best suited to their region and generally require less care and maintenance than many non-native ornamental plants, it will likely be necessary to water plants for the first couple of years, especially during periods of drought or high heat during the height of summer.

We recommend planting the trees and shrubs first. To start, dig holes at least as deep as the container and twice as wide. Remove the plant from the container and loosen the roots, especially if they are tightly bound.

Adjust your plant in the hole, adding or removing soil as needed so the root flare/crown (where the roots start to spread from the trunk or stems) is just above ground level. Tamp the soil around the roots as you fill the hole to ensure that the plant is firmly planted.

Once the trees and shrubs are planted, add the herbaceous plants as appropriate. Planting guidelines are similar to trees and shrubs, with a focus on proper hole depth and width, loosened roots, and tamped soil around the plant to provide the support it needs to grow. A good dose of water after all plants are in the ground--and regularly thereafter--will help ensure their successful adaptation to their new home.

PLANT:

PRESERVE:

Follow guidelines for spacing your trees and shrubs the appropriate distance from each other, but note that your plants do not need to be installed in perfect rows. Creating more naturalistic groupings of plants can echo the organic patterns found in nature.

Once your trees and shrubs are planted, it is important to protect them from deer damage! Placing tree guards or constructing your own fencing around individual trees or shrubs is the best way to protect them from deer until they become large enough to survive without protection (typically 8-10 years). Once installed, periodically check the plants and manually remove any aggressive vines climbing on the tree guards or fencing.

Avoid the use of chemicals to fight the vines; they can harm the plants, insects, and the water system.

Many of your trees and shrubs will likely arrive in pots. Dig the hole at least as deep as the pot and twice as wide. Remove the plant from the pot and loosen the roots, especially if they are tightly bound. Adjust your plant in the hole, adding or removing soil as needed so the root flare (where the roots start to spread from the trunk) is just above ground level. Take care not to bury the plant too deep or cover the trunk with soil, while making sure your plant isn’t sitting too high, with its top roots exposed. Tamp the soil around the root ball as you fill the hole to ensure that the plant is firmly planted.

Written by Bill Hartman & Kristen Henwood

HERBACEOUS

GRASSES

FERNS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady Fern

No flower

No flower

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Dryopteris intermedia

Inter. Wood Fern

No flower

No flower

Shade

M

Dryopteris marginalis

Marginal Wood Fern

No flower

No flower

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Onoclea sensibilis

Sensitive Fern

No flower

No flower

Pt Shade-Shade

M-W

Osmunda regalis

Royal Fern

No flower

No flower

Pt Shade-Shade

M-W

Polystichum acrostichoides

Christmas Fern

No flower

No flower

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Andropogon gerardii

Big Bluestem

Red

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-W

Andropogon gerardii ‘Red October’

Big Bluestem

Red

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-W

Carex appalachia

Appalachian Sedge

Green-Tan

May

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Carex pensylvanica

Pennsylvania Sedge

Green-Tan

May

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Chasmanthium latifolium

Sea Oats

Green

June-Sept

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Danthonia spicata

Curly Grass

Brown

May-July

Full Sun

D

Elymus hystrix

Bottlebrush Grass

Green-Brown

Sept-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Muhlenbergia capillaris

Pink hairgrass

Pink-Mauve

Sept-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Panicum virgatum

Switchgrass

Green-Tan

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Panicum virgatum’Shenandoah’

Switchgrass

Red

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Schizachyrium scoparium’Standing Ovation’

Little Bluestem

White-Tan

July-Aug

Full Sun

Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Lucerne’

Blue Eyed Grass

Purple

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Suwannee’

Blue Eyed Grass

Blue

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Sorghastrum nutans

Indian Grass

Green-Yellow

Aug-Oct

Full Sun

M

Sporobolus heterolepsis

Prairie Dropseed

Pink

Aug-Oct

Full Sun

D-M

Agastache foeniculum

Anise hyssop

Lavender-Purple June-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Agastache x ‘Black Adder’

Hyssop

Blue-Violet

June-Sept

Full Sun

D-M

Allium cernuum

Nodding Onion

Pink

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’

Blue Star

Dark Blue

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Amsonia tab. var. salicifolia

Eastern Bluestar

Light Blue

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

M

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

2-3’

1-2.5’

Woodland Garden

Feathery, light green fronds provide cover for small mammals. Relatively tolerant of partial sun and dry soil.

1-3’

1-3’

Woodland Garden

An evergreen fern with lacy foliage. Tolerates deep shade.

1-2’

1-2’

Deer Resistant

Dark green fronds; provides cover for small mammals. Deer resistant. Tolerant of dry shade conditions.

2-3’

3-4’

Woodland Garden

Attractive light green fronds brighten up shady garden; provides cover for small mammals. Tolerates clay soils.

2-3’

2-3’

Wet Shade

One of the tallest native ferns; provides unique texture and sculptural form to the garden. Tolerates wet, shady areas.

1-3’

1-2’

Dry Shade

Attractive dark green fronds stay green through winter. Tolerates dry soils and dense shade.

3-6’

2-3’

Meadows

Blue-green stems in spring; coppery in the fall. Tolerant of varying moisture levels and salt. Larval host to skippers; provides cover for birds.

3-6’

2-3’

Meadows

More upright form of the straight species, burgundy tipped green foliage in the fall.

Red seed heads are brilliant back lit.

6”

12-18”

Deer Resistant

This cool season grass adds texture to the garden, resists deer, grows under black walnut, hosts Skipper and Satyr caterpillars and even produces seeds that are eaten by turtles!

8”

6-12”

Container Garden

Provides cover for birds and small mammals; spreads slowly to form a groundcover.

Fine texture good for container garden.

2-4’

1-2.5’

Groundcover: Shade

Low maintenance grass with blue-green leaves with decorative seedheads. Seeds eaten by small mammals and birds. Attracts butterflies.

12”

Full Sun Lawn Alternative

Great lawn alternative pioneer, bunch grass. Works for poor, dry, rocky soils. Host plant for Skipper butterflies, grasshoppers, and moths.

1-1.5’

Meadows

Great native ornamental grass to add texture to your garden. Tolerates heavy clay and will self-seed under ideal conditions. Showy seed head.

1-3’

2-3’

Deer Resistant

A showy, clumping grass with a feathery appearance when in bloom. Both deer resistant and drought tolerant.

3-6’

2-3’

Meadows

Attracts birds and butterflies; larval host for skippers and satyrs. Finely-textured reddish seedheads and yellow foliage in fall.

3-4’

3-4’

Meadows

This cultivar has a dark purple cast on its tips throughout the summer and fall. It has an erect form, showy flowers and interesting winter silhouette.

2-4’

1.5-2’

Dry Sites

This cultivar has a sturdy, upright stem and blue-green leaves that turn bronze in the fall for year round interest. Provides cover for birds; larval host for skippers. Drought and salt tolerant.

8-10”

6-8”

Deer Resistant

Grass-like foliage with delicate blooms. Attracts bees and pollinators. Deer resistant.

8-10”

6-8”

Deer Resistant

Attracts bees and other pollinators; great addition to a rock garden. Deer resistant.

3-8’

1-2’

Meadows

Great fall color when foliage turns orange-yellow. Erect, upright form prefers dry sun.

Good for erosion control.

2-3’

2-3’

Meadows

Slow-growing and slow to establish, tolerates a variety of conditions including deer, clay soils, and drought.

2-4’

1.5-3’

Meadows

Fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Will self-seed in optimal conditions. Deer resistant.

2-3’

1.5-2’

Meadows

This cultivar has more numerous vivid blue flowers than the straight species. Blooms until frost.

1-1.5’

3-6”

Deer Resistant

Tolerates deer, drought and black walnut! Fragrant leaves and showy flowers that attract butterflies.

12-15”

12-15”

Pollinator Favorite - Early

Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; foliage turns golden yellow in fall, adding stunning color to the garden.

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Early

Attracts bees and butterflies; tolerates clay soil and drought; attractive yellow fall color.

Stake in moist soils.

6” 2.5-3’

2-3’

HERBACEOUS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Anemone virginiana

Tall Anemone

White

Apr-June

Sun- Shade

D-M

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Pussytoes

White-Pink

Apr-June

Full Sun

D-M

Aquilegia canadensis

Wild Columbine

Red-Yellow

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Aquilegia can. ‘Corbett’

Wild Columbine

Yellow

Apr-May

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Asarum canadense

Wild Ginger

Brown

Apr-May

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Asclepias syriaca

Common Milkweed

Pink

June-Aug

Full Sun

D-M

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed

Rose-Pink

July-Sept

Full Sun

M-W

Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly Weed

Orange

July-Sept

Full Sun

D-M

Baptisia australis

False Blue Indigo

Blue

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Callirhoe involucrata

Poppy Mallow

Purple

July-Sept

Full Sun

D-M

Chelone glabra

Turtlehead

White

Aug-Oct

Pt Shade

M-W

Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’

Turtlehead

Rose-Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Chelone obliqua ‘Tiny Tortuga’

Turtlehead

Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Chrysogonum virginianum ‘Allen Bush’

Green and Gold

Golden Yellow

May-Oct

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Conoclinium coelestinum

Blue Mist Flower

Blue

Aug-Nov

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulée’

Tickseed

Golden Yellow

June-Oct

Full Sun

D-M

Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’

Threadleaf Tickseed

Golden Yellow

May-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower

Violet-Pink

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Twister’

Purple Coneflower

Green-Red

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’

Coneflower

Dark Pink

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Echinacea pur. PowWow® ‘White’

Coneflower

White

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Echinacea pur. PowWow® ‘Wild Berry’

Coneflower

Rose-Purple

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Echinacea purpurea ‘Ruby Star’

Coneflower

Violet-Red

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Eryngium yuccifolium

Rattlesnake Master

Green-White

June-Aug

Full Sun

M

Eurybia divaricata

White Wood Aster

White

Aug-Sept

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

12-30”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

Pleasant understated addition to the woodland garden. Thimble-shaped seed heads are ornamental.

6-12”

9-18”

Dry Sites

Great groundcover for dry, rocky, full sun sites. It will grow where others would fail.

Great for edges!

2-3’

12”

Deer Resistant

Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; self sows in woodland garden. Tolerates dry soil and deer.

12-18”

12”

Deer Resistant

Mid-spring bloom makes it the perfect companion for flower bulbs. Will self-seed and may double in size in two years!

6-12”

12-18”

Groundcover: Moist Shade Slow spreading groundcover that prefers constantly moist, acidic soils in heavy shade.

Deer tolerant too.

2-3’

9-12”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Spreads easily via seeds and rhizomes. Monarch favorite. Once a weed, now our friend!

3-5’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Larval host for monarch butterfly; attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A good choice for rain gardens; tolerates clay soils.

18-24”

12-18”

Meadows

Larval host for monarch butterfly; attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Does not produce milky sap.

3-4’

3-4’

Meadows

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; tolerates dry clay soil. May need staking in moist soils.

8-12”

6-36”

Groundcover: Full Sun

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Tolerates dry soils; good groundcover in full sun.

2-3’

1.5-2.5’

Meadows

Larval host plant for Baltimore checkerspot; blooms late in summer. Tolerates wet soil.

Adds late summer interest. Deer resistant.

2-3’

1.5-2.5’

Deer Resistant

Dark green foliage are a great contrast to the bright pink blooms. Pinch back in May for a bushier plant. Deer resistant. Great in containers.

18-24”

12-16”

Container Garden

Compact cultivar perfect for containers or small spaces! Hot pink blossoms atop lustrous dark green foliage. This slow spreader is good for rain gardens too.

6-12”

8-18”

Groundcover: Shade

Attracts early pollinators; good groundcover for dense shade.

1-3’

1.5-3’

Groundcover: Full Sun

Fuzzy blue flowers brings late season pollinators to the garden. Grows and spreads quickly, making a great groundcover.

12-18”

1-3’

Container Garden

Improved version of C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam,’ this cultivar spreads rhizamatously.

It can be sheared in late summer to promote a fall rebloom. Divide every 2-3 yrs for robustness.

8-18”

1.5’

Groundcover: Part Shade

Easy, low-growing, and spreading plant with abundant flowers throughout the summer.

Encourage fall bloom by cutting back in early Aug.

2-3’

1.5-2’

Meadows

A medicinal plant with purple daisy-like flowers; attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Dried seedheads are a winter food for goldfinches.

2-3’

12-18”

Pollinator Favorite - Late

A cultivar with green-tipped flowers and crimson centers. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; goldfinches eat the seeds. Great cut flower.

2-3’

18”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

A cultivar with horizontal, dark pink petals. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; goldfinches eat the seeds. Great cut flower.

2’

12-16”

Meadows

Drought tolerant and easy to grow cultivar for your meadow garden. Takes full sun and features lots of flowers. Will self-seed and reblooms without deadheading.

2-3’

12-18”

Meadows

Mass with black-eyed Susans for a dramatic blast of color. Long-bloomer, excellent cutflower, loved by birds and butterflies.

2-3’

18-24”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

A slightly shorter variety that produces deeper purple to reddish blooms.

3-6’

2-3’

Specimen

Unique, yucca-like native plant with rounded flower heads. Attractive blue-green, silvery leaves. May self-seed aggressively in the garden.

1-2.5’

1.5-2.5’

Woodland Garden

Lovely, reliable, foundation for any woodland garden. Tolerates deer and dry soil.

Divide in the spring to spread it around the garden.

HERBACEOUS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Eurybia macrophylla

Bigleaf Aster

Violet-Blue

Sept-Oct

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Eupatorium dubium

Three-Nerved Joe Pye

Pink

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Eupatorium fistulosum

Joe Pye Weed

Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Eupatorium purpureum

Woodland Joe Pye

Light Pink

July-Aug

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Geranium maculatum

Wild Geranium

Lavender-Pink

Apr-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Helenium flexuosum ‘Tiny Dancer’

Sneezeweed

Bright Yellow

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Helianthus angustifolius

Swamp Sunflower

Yellow

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Helianthus divaricatus

Woodland Sunflower

Yellow

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Helianthus sal. ‘First Light’

Willowleaf Sunflower

Yellow

Sept-Oct

Full Sun

M

Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Summer Nights’

Oxeye Sunflower

Golden Yellow

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Heuchera americana

Alumroot

Green-White

May-June

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Heuchera americana ‘Dales Strain’

Alumroot

Creamy White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’

Hairy Alumroot

Creamy White

Aug-Sept

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Hibiscus moscheutos

Rose Mallow

Pink-White

Aug-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Hydrastis canadensis

Goldenseal

Green-White

Apr-May

Pt Shade

M

Iris cristata ‘Tennessee White’

Dwarf Crested Iris

White

April

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Iris versicolor

Blue Flag

Violet-Blue

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Liatris spicata

Blazing Star

Rose-Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’

Gayfeather

White

July-Sept

Full Sun

M

Lobelia cardinalis

Cardinal Flower

Scarlet Red

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Lobelia cardinalis ‘Black Truffle’

Cardinal Flower

Scarlet Red

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Lobelia siphilitica

Great Blue Lobelia

Blue

July-Sept

Pt Shade-Shade

M-W

Meehania cordata

Creeping Mint

Violet-Blue

May-June

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Mertensia virginica

Virginia Bluebells

Pink-Light Blue

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Mitchella repens

Partridgeberry

White

May-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Monarda didyma

Bee Balm

Red

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’

Bee Balm

Red

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

2-4’

2-4’

Groundcover: Shade

Attracts butterflies, good for naturalizing. Spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding to form colonies.

3-4’

1’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts bees and butterflies, a swallowtail favorite. A perfect Joe Pye for smaller gardens.

5-8’

3-4’

Meadows

Attracts butterflies and pollinators. Perfect for a rain garden. Adds a strong architectural prescence to the garden.

5-7’

2-4’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts butterflies, bees, and birds; tolerates clay soil.

1-2’

1-1.5’

Pollinator Favorite - Early

Attracts butterflies. Tolerates dry soil and colonizes slowly.

18-24”

12-18”

Deer Resistant

Attracts butterflies; repels rabbits. Deer resistant. Fast growing and adaptable to a variety of site conditions.

5-7’

4-6’

Rain Garden

Moisture loving sunflower perfect for rain gardens, pond plantings, or boggy areas.

4-5’

1-3’

Groundcover: Full Sun

Attracts birds and butterflies; naturalizes quickly in bright shade; excellent cut flower.

Very easy to grow.

3-4’

3-4’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

A showy compact cultivar that gives a burst of yellow late into the fall. Profuse bloomer with seed heads enjoyed by birds.

3-5’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Showy golden flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Seeds offer a winter food source for songbirds.

1-2’

1-1.5’

Container Garden

Adds great texture to your garden. Semi-evergreen leaves develop a purple/bronze/ yellow color toward fall. Tolerates poor soils.

1-2’

1-1.5’

Container Garden

Attracts pollinators; green/purple/bronze foliage provides interest and color in container. Leaves to 1’, flowers to 2’.

8-12”

1.5-2’

Deer Resistant

Semi-evergreen, low-growing, and clump forming plant with fuzzy lime green leaves.

Deer resistant and drought tolerant.

3-7’

2-4’

Rain Garden

Fast grower with 4-5” showy flowers. Needs rich soil, consistent moisture; great for rain gardens. Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators.

8-12”

.75-1’

Woodland Garden

A rare woodland native! Commonly known for its medicinal properties. Prefers humusrich, evenly moist soil.

6-8”

2’

Woodland Garden

Shade loving woodland wildflower spreads to form colonies of low, white flowers.

Tolerates dry soil in shade or some sun with consistent moisture.

3-4’

2-2.5’

Rain Garden

Attracts butterflies. A good choice for a rain garden; tolerates drier soils as well. Good cut flower. Deer resistant.

2-4’

8-18”

Meadows

Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; excellent cut flower.

2.5-3’

8-18”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; excellent cut flower.

2-4’

1-2’

Meadows

Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; good choice for rain garden. Brilliant flower color!

3-4’

2-3’

Rain Garden

This cultivar features a deep dark foliage that lasts the whole season. Needs consistent moisture. Favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies, deer tolerant.

1-4’

1-1.5’

Rain Garden

Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies; good choice for rain garden. Showy blossoms.

6-10”

3-18”

Groundcover: Shade

A slow, creeping groundcover that tolerates full shade. Deer resistant.

14-20”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

Large flowers that transition from pink to light blue in spring. Dies back in summer, so pair with wild ginger or ferns for continued interest.

1-3”

6-12”

Groundcover: Shade

An evergreen, trailing groundcover with white flowers and red berries. Fruit eaten by grouse, turkeys, and small mammals. Sensitive to disturbance and drought.

3-5’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Good cut flower; spreads in garden.

Tolerates clay soils.

2-3’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

A mildew resistant cultivar with large flowers and long bloom period. Tolerates clay and wet soils.

HERBACEOUS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Monarda didyma ‘Raspberry Wine’

Bee Balm

Magenta

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot

Light Pink

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Monarda fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’

Wild Bergamot

Pink

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Oenothera fruticosa ‘Fireworks’

Sundrops

Yellow

May-June

Full Sun

D

Opuntia humifusa

Prickly Pear

Yellow

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

D

Pachysandra procumbens

Allegheny Spurge

White

Apr-May

Pt Shade

M

Packera aurea

Golden Ragwort

Yellow

May-July

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Penstemon digitalis

Beardtongue

White

Apr-June

Full Sun

D-M

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’

Beardtongue

White-Pink

May-July

Full Sun

D-M

Phlox divaricata

Woodland Phlox

Lavender-Rose

Apr-May

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Phlox divaricata ‘May Breeze’

Woodland Phlox

White-Blue Eye

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Phlox paniculata

Garden Phlox

Lavender-Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Phlox paniculata ‘David’

Garden Phlox

White

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’

Garden Phlox

Lavender-Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Phlox paniculata ‘Robert Poore’

Garden Phlox

Rose-Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Phlox stolonifera

Creeping Phlox

Pink

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Phlox stolonifera ‘Bruce’s White’

Creeping Phlox

White

May-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’

Creeping Phlox

Purple

Apr-May

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Phlox subulata

Moss Phlox

Pink-Purple

Apr-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D

Physostegia virginiana ‘Miss Manners’

Obedient Plant

White

July-Sept

Full Sun

M

Podophyllum peltatum

Mayapple

White

May-June

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Polemonium reptans

Jacob’s Ladder

Soft Blue

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Polygonatum biflorum

Solomon’s Seal

White-Green

May-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Porteranthus trifoliata

Bowman’s Root

White

May-July

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Pycnanthemum flexuosum

Appalachian Mountain Mint

White

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Pycnanthemum muticum

Mountain Mint

Silver-Pink

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

3-5’

2-3’

Deer Resistant

A mildew resistant cultivar with bright raspberry colored blooms. Hardy, fast growing, and deer resistant.

2-4’

2-3’

Meadows

Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Good cut flower; spreads in garden.

Tolerates dry clay soils.

3’

2’

Meadows

Mildew resistant cultivar with shiny foliage. Spreads by rhizomes, divide every two to three years.

18-24”

12-18”

Deer Resistant

Attracts butterflies; pollinated by night-time insects and nocturnal moths. Deer resistant. Tolerates hot dry sites in the garden.

6”

6-8”

Dry Sites

Slow spreading, sun loving cactus for dry spots in the garden. Fills in over time and easy to transplant. Produces an edible fruit!

6-10”

1-2’

Groundcover: Part Shade

Provides cover for small mammals; attracts early pollinators. Adds beautiful color and texture to your shade garden.

12”

6-18”

Groundcover: Moist Shade Round, shiny basal foliage with stems of yellow flowers. Tolerates moist shade; strong growing groundcover. Good cut flower. Long bloom time.

3-5’

1.5-2’

Meadows

Clump-forming, showy flowers. Good for rain gardens and deer resistant. Tolerates dry soil.

2-3’

1-2’

Meadows

A shorter variety with maroon foliage and white to blush flowers. Tolerates a wide variety of sites; deer resistant.

12-15”

8-12”

Woodland Garden

Attracts butterflies and early pollinators. Beautiful fragrant flowers; spreads slowly in woodland garden.

12-15”

12”

Woodland Garden

Attracts butterflies and early pollinators; fragrant blooms; spreads slowly in woodland garden.

2-5’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Long blooming, fragrant flower attracts pollinators. Naturalizes in ideal conditions.

3-4’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts bees and butterflies; fragrant blooms make great cut flowers. Tolerates clay soils; foliage is very mildew-resistant.

4-5’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts bees and butterflies; fragrant blooms make great cut flowers. Tolerates clay soils.

4-5’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts bees and butterflies; fragrant blooms make great cut flowers. Tolerates clay soils; foliage is very mildew-resistant.

6-10”

8-18”

Deer Resistant

Attracts butterflies; fast spreader for woodland garden. Deer resistant.

8-12”

2’

Groundcover: Shade

Showy blooms, flourish in bright shade with well drained soils. Attractive winter rosettes.

6-10”

2’

Groundcover: Shade

A vigorous, creeping groundcover with early spring blooms and evergreen foliage.

Attracts early season pollinators.

6-12”

2’

Dry Sites

Forms dense mats of needle-like leaves and flowers. Great as a groundcover or for erosion control; tolerates rocky and poor soils.

18-24”

12”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

A clumping-forming cultivar with dark green foliage and upright flowering spikes that attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

6-12”

8-12”

Woodland Garden

Naturalizes slowly in woodland garden. Interplant with perennials that persist through summer.

12-18”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

Attracts bees; soft texture for woodland garden. Very easy to grow.

1-3’

1-1.5’

Woodland Garden

Beautiful arching form; a specimen for the shade garden.

2-4’

3’

Specimen

Great for borders when used en masse to accent dramatic effect of airiness in bloom.

Upright, clump-forming and bushy.

2-3’

3-4’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

White flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Host plant for Gray Hairstreak Butterfly larva.

2-3’

2’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Silvery pink flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; truly a pollinator favorite. Spreads in sunny garden.

HERBACEOUS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Ratibida pinnata

Prairie Coneflower

Yellow

May-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’

Black-Eyed Susan

Golden Yellow

June-Sept

Full Sun

D-M

Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida

Black-Eyed Susan

Golden Yellow

June-Oct

Full Sun

D-M

Rudbeckia grandiflora ‘Sundance’

Rough Coneflower

Yellow-Brown

Aug-Oct

Full Sun

M

Rudbeckia laciniata

Cutleaf Coneflower

Light Yellow

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Rudbeckia triloba

Brown-Eyed Susan

Yellow

June-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot

White

Mar-Apr

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Scutellaria incana

Downy Skullcap

Violet-Blue

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Sedum ternatum ‘Larinem Park’

Wild Stonecrop

White

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Silene caroliniana

Wild Pink

Pink

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Silene caroliniana ‘Short and Sweet’

Wild Pink

Pink

Apr-May

Sun- Shade

D-M

Silene virginica

Fire Pink

Red

June-July

Full Sun

D

Solidago caesia

Bluestem Goldenrod

Yellow

Aug-Sept

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Solidago hybrida ‘Little Lemon’

Dwarf Goldenrod

Light Yellow

Aug-Sept

Full Sun

D-M

Solidago nemoralis

Old Field Goldenrod

Yellow

Aug-Nov

Full Sun

D-M

Solidago odora

Sweet Goldenrod

Yellow

Aug-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Solidago puberula

Downy Goldenrod

Orange-Yellow

Aug-Oct

Full Sun

D-M

Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’

Rough-stemmed Goldenrod

Yellow

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Solidago shortii ‘Solar Cascade’

Short’s Goldenrod

Yellow

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Solidago sphaceleta ‘Golden Fleece’

Autumn Goldenrod

Yellow

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Spigelia marilandica

Indian Pink

Red-Yellow

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Blue Wood Aster

Light Blue

Aug-Oct

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Symphyotrichum ericoides

White Heath Aster

White

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Symphotrichum ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’

White Heath Aster

White

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Symphyotrichum laeve ‘Blue Bird’

Smooth Aster

Violet-Blue

Aug-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’

Calico Aster

White

Sept-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

M

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

3’

1.5-2’

Meadows

A slender, hairy-stemmed plant bearing flower heads with drooping, yellow rays.

Attracts bees.

18-24”

1-2’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

More compact variety with larger, brighter flowers. Adaptable to many site conditions, drought tolerant once established.

2-3’

1-2’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Provides nectar for pollinators and seeds for birds. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. Spreads slowly via rhizomes in the garden.

3-4’

2-2.5’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Vigorous late bloomer provides seed for birds through fall. High salt tolerance.

3-4’

1.5-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Can spread vigorously by rhizomes. The pollen and nectar attract a variety of pollinators including bees, moths,

3-4’

12-18”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts bees and butterflies; tolerates heat and drought well; deer resistant.

Naturalizes in garden.

4-6”

3-6”

Woodland Garden

Attracts early pollinators; one of the earliest woodland wildflowers to bloom; colonizes slowly.

2-3’

1.5-2’

Meadows

Great deer resistant wildflower favored by butterflies! Beautiful deep blue flowers on erect stems blooming mid to late summer. Plant in a sunny spot for best results.

6”

12-18”

Groundcover: Moist Shade Creeping, evergreen, succulent foliage tolerates drought when established. Tolerates more sun with plenty of moisture. Early spring bloomer perfect for woodland gardens.

8-12”

8-12”

Dry Sites

Great choice for dry sunny sites! Likes afternoon shade and requires excellent drainage.

8-12”

8-12”

Dry Sites

A highly versatile native replacement for Dianthus that tolerates a wide variety of conditions. Use it to naturalize an area, or stick it in a pot on the patio, this native can do it all.

12-18”

8-18”

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its intense scarlet red blooms.

18-24”

1.5-3’

Deer Resistant

A goldenrod that likes shade! This deer resistant plant attracts birds, bees, and butterflies to the garden.

12-18”

18-24”

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Attracts late season pollinators; a very compact species that tolerates clay soils.

6-24”

6-24”

Meadows

Attracts pollinators, one of the smallest goldenrods. Likes rocky, sandy soil. Will spread by seed, if not removed

12-24”

12-24”

Meadows

Anise-scented leaves distinguish this goldenrod from others. Leaves may be used in teas. Attracts pollinators. Not aggressive.

12-36”

12-36”

Meadows

Stems are covered with fine, soft hairs. Grows in sandy soil. Special value to native bees and honey bees!

3-4’

2.5-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Attracts late season pollinators; tolerates clay soil, drought, and deer. Excellent cut flower.

24-30”

1.5-2’

Deer Resistant

Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with bright yellow blooms on arching stems.

Deer and rabbit resistant. Tolerates hot dry sites once established.

18-24”

24-36”

Groundcover: Part Shade

Attracts late season pollinators; slow spreading ground cover; excellent cut flower.

18”

12”

Pollinator Favorite - Early

Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; unique bicolor flower. Very easy to grow in moist, organic soils.

2-5’

1.5-2’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Host plant of silvery checkerspot and pearl crescent; attracts bees and other pollinators; self-sows in garden; tolerates dry soils.

6-8”

12-18”

Groundcover: Part Shade

A dense ground cover that attracts bees and butterflies; larval host plant for pearl crescent.

6-8”

4-12”

Groundcover: Part Shade

A dense ground cover that attracts bees and butterflies; larval host plant for pearl crescent.

3-4’

2-2.5’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; long bloom time. Excellent cut flower.

2-3’

2-3’

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Bushy perennial with showy flowers that attracts butterflies in late summer.

SHRUBS

HERBACEOUS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’

New England Aster

Purple

Aug-Sept

Full Sun

M

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

New York Aster

Pink-Purple

Aug-Oct

Full Sun

M

Symph. oblongifolium ‘October Skies’

Aromatic Aster

Lavender

Sept-Oct

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Tiarella cordifolia

Foamflower

White

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’

Foamflower

White

May

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry’

Foamflower

White

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Tiarella cordifolia var. collina ‘Oakleaf’

Foamflower

Light Pink

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Trillium erectum

Red Wakerobin

Red-Maroon

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Trillium grandiflorum

White Wakerobin

White-Pink

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Trillium luteum

Yellow Wakerobin

Yellow

Apr-June

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Uvularia grandiflora

Merrybells

Yellow

Apr-May

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Vernonia noveboracensis

New York Ironweed

Violet

July-Sept

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Veronicastrum virginiana

Culver’s Root

White

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Xanthoriza simplicissima

Yellowroot

Purple

Apr-May

Pt Shade-Shade

M-W

Zizia aurea

Golden Alexanders

Yellow

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Aesculus parviflora

Bottlebrush Buckeye

White

June-July

Pt Shade

M

Aesculus pavia

Red Buckeye

Red

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Calycanthus floridus

Eastern Sweetshrub

Red

Apr-July

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Clethra alnifolia

Summersweet

White

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’

Summersweet

Rose-Pink

July-Aug

Sun- Shade

M-W

Clethra alnifolia ‘Sixteen Candles’

Summersweet

White

July-Aug

Sun- Shade

M-W

Diervilla splendens ‘Firefly Nightglow’

Bush Honeysuckle

Yellow

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Diervilla x splendens ‘Kodiak Orange’

Bush Honeysuckle

Yellow

July

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Euonymus americanus

Strawberrybush

Green-White

May-June

Pt Shade

D-M

Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’

Dwarf Witchalder

White

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

1.5-2’

2-3’

Meadows

Excellent fall bloomer brings color to the garden with a carpet of purple flowers over an erect upright form. Needs well-drained soil so avoid heavy clays.

3-4’

3’

Deer Resistant

A deer resistant, late-flowering perennial providing color to your fall garden. A source of late-season nectar for bees and butterflies.

18”

18”

Pollinator Favorite - Late

Attracts bees, butterflies, and skippers; good cut flower; tolerates dry sun; one of the latest asters to bloom. Long bloom time.

12-18”

12-18”

Container Garden

Small flower spikes in spring and bronze fall foliage makes this a great addition to containers. Spreads rapidly by runners; perfect for a ground cover.

12-18”

12-18”

Groundcover: Moist Shade Vigorous fast growing spreads via runners and features erect white flowers in the spring. Great fall and winter bronze foliage color. Use it in a woodland garden or pair it with Heuchera.

12-15”

12-18”

Groundcover: Shade

A quickly spreading groundcover with distinctive, red mottling on light green leaves.

Numerous bright white spikes of flower bloom early spring.

12-18”

12-18”

Groundcover: Shade

A long-blooming, clumping cultivar with bronze/burgundy fall color and oak-shaped leaves.

8-15”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

One of the first flowers of spring: supports early pollinators with its solitary, nodding flower.

8-15”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

Attracts early pollinators; prefers moist soil rich in humus. A must for any woodland garden!

12-18”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

Yellow flowers may produce a faint lemon scent. Needs regular watering and foliage may die to the ground by mid-summer.

18-24”

12-18”

Woodland Garden

Excellent early-blooming, shade loving plant. Slow spreading rhizomes will fill in under shade trees. Attracts bumblebees, Mason bees, and Halictid and Adrenid bees.

4-8’

2-4’

Meadows

Attracts butterflies, bees, and skippers; very easy to grow. Will self-sow where happy; shorter in drier sites.

4-5’

2-4’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts butterflies and bees; very adaptable. Tolerates wet and dry soils. Excellent cut flower.

1-3’

10’

Groundcover: Shade

Historically used to make yellow dyes. Shallow, suckering roots makes great groundcover. Brilliant bronze-purple fall color.

2-2.5’

3-4’

Pollinator Favorite - Early

A larval host and nectar source for the black swallowtail. Lacy, clustered flowerheads make good cut flowers.

8-12’

8-15’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

A mounding, slow-growing shrub with long ‘bottlebrush’ shaped flower clusters.

Blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

12-15’

12-15’

Specimen

Red flowers attract hummingbirds. Does well with afternoon shade as leaves scorch in too much sun. Also works well as a hedge or screen.

6-12’

6-12’

Woodland Garden

Deep red, aromatic flowers. Adaptable to many soils. Grows taller in shaded locations.

4-9’

4-6’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Attracts bees and butterflies to its sweet smelling blooms. A very adaptable shrub, good for both wet and dry areas in the garden.

8’

3-5’

Wet Shade

Fragrant rose-pink flowers bloom in late summer. Prefers moist soil and part shade, does tolerate clay soils and full shade.

4

3’

Wet Shade

Fragrant white flowers bloom in mid to late summer. Tolerates wet sites and salt. Deer resistant.

3’

3’

Specimen

This cross between D. sessifolia and D. lonicera features sulfur yellow flowers and stunning reddish purple foliage for great fall color.

4’

4’

Specimen

Another hybrid of the native northern and southern bush honeysuckles, this plant is a great subsitute for the invasive burning bush. Handles a variety of conditions; brilliant fall color.

4-6’

4-6’

Specimen

Attractive pink-red fruit opens to reveal orange berries. A unique addition to the garden!

3-5’

3-5’

Moist Part Shade

Profuse fragrant spring flowering, excellent summer foliage and fall color, consistently upright. Spreads by suckers if not pruned. Avoid heavy soils.

SHRUBS

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Hamamelis virginiana

Witchhazel

Yellow

Oct-Nov

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Hydrangea arborescens

Wild Hydrangea

White

July-Sept

Pt Shade

M-W

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’

Wild Hydrangea

White

June-July

Pt Shade-Shade

M-W

Hydrangea quercifolia’Pee Wee’

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Green-White

July-Sept

Shade

M-W

Hypericum prolificum

Shrubby St John’s Wort

Yellow

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Ilex galbra ‘Compacta’

Inkberry Holly

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Ilex glabra ‘Densa’

Inkberry Holly

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’

Inkberry Holly

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Ilex verticillata (male/female)

Winterberry Holly

White

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’

Winterberry Holly

White

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Itea virginica

Virginia Sweetspire

White

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

D-W

Itea virginica ‘Merlot’

Dwf VA Sweetspire

White

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

D-W

Kalmia latifolia

Mountain Laurel

Pink

May

Pt Shade

M

Myrica pensylvanica

Bayberry

Yellow-White

May

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Coppertina’

Common Ninebark

Light Pink

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’

Common Ninebark

Light Pink

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’

Common Ninebark

Pinkish White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Tiny Wine’

Common Ninebark

Pinkish White

May-June

Full Sun

D-W

Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’

Dwarf Fragrant Sumac

Yellow-Green

Mar-Apr

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Sambucus canadensis

American Elderberry

White

June-July

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Spirea latifolia

Meadowsweet

White-Pink

July-Sept

Full Sun

M

Vaccinium corymbosum (asst. cultivars)

Highbush Blueberry

Light Pink

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Viburnum nudum ‘Brandywine’

Possumhaw Viburnum

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’

Possumhaw Viburnum

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Viburnum prunifolium

Blackhaw Viburnum

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Viburnum trilobum

Cranberrybush Vib.

White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

15-20’

15-20’

Moist Part Shade

Wide spreading shrub or small multistemmed tree. Prefers most, acidic soils. Tolerates clay soils.

3-5’

3-5’

Moist Part Shade

Large clusters of creamy white flowers; use cut or dried in arrangements. Suckers freely; may be pruned to ground in late winter.

3-5’

4-6’

Moist Part Shade

White snowball flowers. Tolerates deer.

6-10’

2.5-3’

Specimen

Showy inflorescence of flowers persist from summer through mid-winter. Oak leaf shaped foliage has great fall color.

1-5’

1-2’

Rain Garden

Low-growing shrub tolerates drought, erosion and clay soil. Compact and rounded form. Blooms on new growth.

3-4’

4-6’

Rain Garden

Compact, rounded cultivar. Suckers less than straight species.

3-4’

3’

Rain Garden

Tolerates wet soils in full sun. Slow growing, upright, rounded form. Tolerates deer.

3-4’

3’

Rain Garden

Compact, rounded cultivar. Suckers less than straight species. Great for hedges and borders. Tolerates wet sites.

6-10’

3-12’

Rain Garden

Attracts pollinators; bright red berries of female plants provide winter food source for birds and small mammals. Great for rain gardens.

6-8’

6-8’

Wildlife Value

A variety noted for heavy fruiting and retention of berries. Provides winter interest and a food source for birds.

3-6’

3-5’

Pollinator Favorite - Mid Season

Produces fragrant 5” flower spikes that attract pollinators; excellent burgundy red fall color, stronger in full sun. Adaptable and easy to grow.

3’

4’

Deer Resistant

A compact variety; excellent for foundation plantings or hedge. Adaptable and easy to grow. Deer resistant.

5-15’

5-15’

Specimen

Beautiful spring flowering shrub that is excellent for hedges, foundation plantings, or woodland gardens. Does not grow well in heavy clay soils.

5-10’

5-10’

Rain Garden

Tolerates a variety of conditions including poor, wet soils, drought, salt spray. Will sucker and spread.

6-8’

6-8’

Specimen

This cultivar is most noted for its dramatic copper foliage that turns red by summer and its free-branching, mounding, compact growth habit.

4-8’

4-8’

Specimen

Purple leaved cultivar. Tolerates drought and clay soil.

4-6’

4-6’

Specimen

This cultivar is noted for its deeply cut, wine-red foliage and its dense, free-branching, mounded growth habit.

4’

3-4’

Specimen

Dwarf form does not require pruning. Reddish purple fall color. Resists deer.

1-2’

6-8’

Groundcover: Full Sun

Attracts birds and butterflies. Excellent red, yellow fall color. Use for groundcover or on slopes for erosion control.

5-12’

5-12’

Wet Shade

Blooms attract bees and butterflies; berries consumed by birds. Good choice for wet area of garden. Suckers freely.

3-4’

3-4’

Rain Garden

Perfect addition to rain gardens, likes wet feet and full sun. Needs consistent moisture; deer tolerant.

6-12’

6-12’

Understory: Edible

Larval host for several butterfly species. Edible blueberries consumed by wildlife.

Prefers moist acidic soils.

8’

4’

Rain Garden

Tolerates wet soils; attractive burgundy fall foliage. Produces deep-pink to purple berries in late summer. Attracts birds and small mammals.

8’

4’

Rain Garden

Tolerates wet soils; attractive burgundy fall foliage. Produces deep-pink to purple berries in late summer. Best fruit production occurs with a Brandywine and a Winterthur.

12-15’

6-12’

Specimen

Blue-black, berry-like drupes are a winter source of food for birds and wildlife. Tolerates drought.

8-12’

8-12’

Rain Garden

Attracts pollinators; berries consumed by birds and small mammals. Larval host for spring azure. Tolerates wet shade.

VINES

TREES

RECOMMENDED NATIVE PLANTS BOTANICAL NAME

COMMON NAME COLOR

BLOOM

LIGHT

SOIL

Acer pensylvanicum

Striped Maple

Yellow-Green

May

Pt Shade-Shade

D-M

Acer rubrum

Red Maple

Red

Mar-Apr

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Amelanchier laevis

Smooth Serviceberry

White

April

Pt Shade-Shade

M

Aronia arbutifolia

Red Chokeberry

White

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

D-W

Aronia melanocarpa

Black Chokeberry

White

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

D-W

Asimina triloba

Paw Paw

Maroon

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Betula nigra

Riverbirch

Yellow

May

Full Sun

M-W

Betula populifolia

Gray Birch

Green

April

Sun- Shade

M

Cercis canadensis

Eastern Redbud

Lilac Pink

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Cornus alternifolia

Pagoda Dogwood

Creamy white

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Franklinia alatamaha

Franklin Tree

White

July-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Gleditsia triacanthos inermis

Thornless Honeylocust

Pale Yellow

May-June

Pt Shade

M

Juniperus virginiana

Eastern Red Cedar

Yellow-Green

March

Full Sun

D-M

Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’

Eastern Red Cedar

Yellow-Green

March

Full Sun

M

Lindera benzoin

Spicebush

Yellow

Mar-Apr

Sun- Shade

D-W

Magnolia virginiana

Sweetbay Magnolia

Creamy White

May-June

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Picea glauca

White Spruce

Red-Yellow

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

D-M

Populus tremuloides

Quaking Aspen

Green

April

Full Sun

M

Prunus virginiana

Chokecherry

White

May-June

Sun- Shade

D-M

Quercus bicolor

Swamp White Oak

Yellow-Green

Mar-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress

Purple

Apr-May

Sun- Pt Shade

M-W

Gelsemium sempervirens ‘Margarita’

False Jasmine

Yellow

Feb-Apr

Full Sun

M

Lonicera semper. ‘John Clayton’

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Yellow

May-Frost

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Lonicera semper. ‘Major Wheeler’

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Coral-Red

May-Frost

Sun- Pt Shade

M

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

VA Creeper

Yellow-Green

June-Aug

Sun- Pt Shade

M

SOIL KEY | D = Dry | M = Moist | W = Wet HEIGHT SPREAD

CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

15-25’

12-20’

Understory

A slow-growing understory tree with unique striped bark and yellow fall foliage.

40-70’

30-50’

Canopy

This is a great shade or street tree. Highly adaptable will grow in a variety of conditions. Tolerates black walnut!

15-40’

15-40’

Understory: Edible

Provides nectar for early pollinators; berries eaten by birds and small mammals.

Attractive bronze fall color.

5-10’

3-6’

Wildlife Value

Attracts pollinators; ornamental red berries are consumed by wildlife in winter.

Attractive red fall color; very easy to grow.

3-6’

3-6’

Wildlife Value

Multistemmed suckering shrub; very adaptable to a range of growing conditions. Black berries consumed by wildlife in winter.

15-40’

15-30’

Understory: Edible

Attacts butterflies, birds, and small mammals. Produces largest edible fruit native to America; cross-pollination necessary.

40-70’

40-60’

Canopy

Provides cover for birds and small mammals. Very attractive exfoliating bark. Easy to grow, adaptable to both wet and dry soils.

20-40’

10-20’

Canopy

A fast growing tree with an upright, columnar form and white/gray bark. Larval host for the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly.

20-30’

25-35’

Understory

Attracts bees and other early pollinators; bright color of blooms is unmistakable in the landscape. A sure sign of spring!

15-25’

20-32’

Understory

Flowers attract bees; birds eat the blue berries. Architecture of branches resembles a Japanese pagoda.

10-20’

6-15’

Specimen

This beautiful specimen tree features camellia-like sweetly fragrant, white flowers.

Named in honor of Benjamin Frankin, this beauty disappeared from the wild in the 1800s.

30-70’

25-40’

Canopy

Fast growing tree with feathery, yellow-green leaves which create dappled shade.

Larval host for the silver-spotted skipper.

40-50’

8-25’

Understory

Colonizer of old fields; tolerates dry clay soils. Pyramidal shape in youth, becoming more open with age.

2-3’

4-6’

Specimen

Grey Owl is a broad, slow-growing cultivar with a compact, wide-spreading habit. Silver gray foliage.

6-12’

6-12’

Pollinator Favorite - Early

Larval host for spicebush and tiger swallowtail butterflies. One of the earliest native shrubs to bloom. Good fall color.

10-35’

10-35’

Understory

Larvel host for swallowtail. Fragrant flowers are followed by red fruits, consumed by birds and small mammals in fall.

40-60’

10-20’

Canopy

A dense-branching evergreen with white-green needles. Valuable as a nesting sites for birds; useful as a windbreak or for screening.

20-50’

10-30’

Understory

Known for the way its leaves quake in the breeze, this tree has stunning fall foliage.

Beautiful white bark lends interest year round.

20-30’

15-20’

Understory

A small understory tree with high wildlife value; white blooms in spring and deep red summer berries. Attracts butterflies and birds.

50-60’

50-60’

Canopy

Dark green leaves with silvery-white undersides. An oak species with tolerance for landscape use. Likes poorly-drained soils.

50-75’

20-45’

Canopy

A deciduous conifer with feathery leaves and exfoliating bark. Conspicuous rusty fall color. Seeds are eaten by mammals and birds.

12-20’

3-6’

Vine

Twining semi-evergreen vine. Fragrant yellow flowers grow on reddish-brown stems.

Northern edge of range, protect from winter winds.

6-12’

3-5’

Vine

Butter-yellow blooms attract butterflies. Vigorous grower and prolific bloomer.

Excellent on trellis, arbor, or fence.

10-15’

3-6’

Vine

Coral-red blooms attract butterflies. Vigorous grower and prolific bloomer. Excellent on trellis, arbor, or fence.

30-50’

5-10’

Vine

Fast growing, wall-climbing vine with unmatched deep red fall foliage. Its berries are a great food source for birds in winter.

MEET THE WCT STEWARDSHIP & FARM CREW ANDREW KIRKPATRICK, DIRECTOR OF STEWARDSHIP | Andrew’s been with the Trust since 2019, but before then, he worked as the Land Stewardship Manager at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Philadelphia, interned at The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, and ran his own landscape design company. With a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a passion for connecting people to nature that he developed while hiking the Appalachian Trail, Andrew now serves as the Trust’s Director of Stewardship, helping to manage our many nature preserves, private conservation easements, and dedicated volunteers. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, daughter, two dogs, and five cats. A fun fact about Andrew is that he appeared as a guest on WHYY’s “You Bet Your Garden” and WXPN’s “Kids Corner.”

BLAKE GOLL, EDUCATION PROGRAMS MANAGER | As the Education Programs Manager at the Trust since 2010, Blake Goll has developed the Trust’s Rushton Nature Keepers program and curriculum for children, as well as other various outreach education programs for all ages. She also assists with the daily operations of the songbird banding and owl banding stations throughout banding season, and provides outreach to help educate the community about conservation. Blake is a North American Banding Council certified bird bander, and some of her favorite activities include doing yoga, gardening, hiking with my shepherd mix, reading, cooking, and interior designing!

FRED DE LONG, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY FARM PROGRAM | After developing and managing farms for over 20 years, Fred came to Willistown Conservation Trust in 2007 and launched Rushton Farm on the 86-acre Rushton Woods Preserve to promote local food production while fostering an understanding of the interrelationship between agriculture and the surrounding ecosystem. In addition to overseeing the Community Farm Program and its many workers and volunteers, his work has helped to educate and underscore the importance of the mutually beneficial relationship between healthy local food and nature. Off the tractor, Fred enjoys spending time with his family and their many dogs, including Farmdog Wyatt, of course.

MIKE CRANNEY, PRESERVE MANAGER | Mike joined Willistown Conservation Trust as Preserve Manager in 2020 and quickly got to work managing the Trust’s many acres found across our public preserves: Ashbridge Preserve, Kirkwood Preserve, and Rushton Woods Preserve. Thanks to his Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a background in gardening at Morris Arboretum, he has passed on his passion for stewardship to our many volunteers and assisted with monitoring the Trust’s Conservation Easements held on private properties. When he’s not on the mower or trimming tree limbs, you can find Mike going to the movies or watching Philly sports teams.

NOAH GRESS, RUSHTON FARM FIELD MANAGER | Noah Gress began his farming career at the age of 19 at Solviva Farm in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, where he leased the land for 10 years before returning home to Chester County. After leasing land at Pete’s Produce Farm in Westtown where he grew salad mix for both the store and market gardening, he joined our staff in March 2011. As Rushton Farm Field Manager, he has been instrumental in Rushton Farm’s success, overseeing the day-to-day operations, property maintenance, and educational outreach at the farm. Off the farm and out of the greenhouse, Noah spends time with his family and owns and operates Raindance Apiaries, a beekeeping business focused on honey production and pollination.

SARAH HUTCHIN, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE COORDINATOR | Sarah has witnessed Rushton Farm blossom from rocky terrain and Canada thistle to lush and bountiful fields. As one of the very first volunteers at the Farm, she helped with the Farmshed Garden, managed Henry’s Garden and has since planted many of our native gardens and meadows, including the shade garden, Rushton meadow, and the rain garden by the Rushton Conservation Center. In addition to her experience working as a docent and mentor at Mt. Cuba Center from 2010 to 2020, Sarah is a graduate of the Barnes Arboretum School, and she holds certificates in ornamental flowers from Longwood Gardens. Today, Sarah serves on the Board of the National Horticultural Therapy Organization, and she loves taking on house and garden projects with her partner Jim and spending time with her family, most of whom are spread out all over the world!

W C T S TA F F FAVO R I T ES PLANT LIST

The plant list below includes a few Trust staff favorites. There are many available options when it comes to selecting native trees and shrubs, perennials, grasses and ferns. This plant list is intended to provide you with a starting point and inspiration as you enhance your landscape.

TREES & SHRUBS Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye) GA Native Plant Society

Diervilla lonicera (Bush Honeysuckle) Prairie Moon Nursery

Euonymus americanus (Strawberrybush) Arkansas Native Plant Society

Calycanthus floridus (Eastern Sweetshrub) Andrew Kirkpatrick

Ilex glabra (Inkberry Holly)

North Carolina Native Plant Society

Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) Andrew Kirkpatrick

Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress) Tree World Wholesale

PERENNIALS Eurybia macrophylla (Bigleaf Aster)

Andrew Kirkpatrick

Heuchera villosa (Hairy Alumroot) Andrew Kirkpatrick

Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)

Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium) R.W. Smith

Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)

Andrew Kirkpatrick

Alan Cressler

R.W. Smith

Porteranthus trifoliata (Bowman’s Root) North Creek Nursery

GRASSES & FERNS Carex appalchia (Appalachian Sedge) North Creek Nursery

Danthonia spicata (Curly Grass) Pinelands Nursery

Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern) Andrew Kirkpatrick

WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST | 925 PROVIDENCE ROAD NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | 610-353-2562 | WCTRUST.ORG

FRONT COVER: ANDREW KIRKPATRICK

Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)