Full sun

6+ hrs direct sunlight

Rhus typhina

Attracts birds, Dry, Dry Meadow, Food source, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Low-Elevation Dry to Dry-Mesic Forest, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Mesic, Part shade, Rocky, Screening, Tree, Understory, Wide amplitude, Woody

staghorn sumac

Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)

overview

 Staghorn sumac is one of the largest native sumacs reaching up to 25 feet tall and wide, and its open habit and hairy stems resemble horns on a male deer, hence its name.   It is one of the last plants to leaf out in the spring with bright green leaves that change to an attractive yellow, orange, and scarlet in fall. Among the most recognizable characteristics are large, upright clusters of fuzzy red fruits that appear above the branches in late summer on female plants.

wildlife value

Sumac serves primarily as a winter emergency food for wildlife. Ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and about 300 species of songbirds
include sumac fruit in their diet.

maintenance

Very adaptable to most growing conditions, from poor soils to drought conditions. Spreads by root suckers to form large colonies. Unwanted suckers can be mowed or removed to keep plants manageable.

Considered invasive in some regions.

Does not tolerate wetness- moisture increases likelihood of leaf spots, rust, and verticillium wilt.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

The most popular + commercially available is the cultivar of Rhus Typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’

references

Juniperus virginiana

Acidic, Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Clay, Deer-resistant, Dry, Dry Meadow, Food source, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Mesic, Moist, Noteworthy foliage, Overstory, Part shade, Rocky, Sandy, Screening, Tree, Wet Meadow, Wide amplitude

eastern redcedar

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

overview

A moderate to long-lived evergreen tree that is a tough-as-nails pioneer species. The foliage of scale-like needles is attractive but prickly. In late summer and fall, many junipers have blue-green berry-like fruits, which are actually modified cones, that attract birds.

Because they are quite salt-tolerant, they can be used near roads, driveways, and sidewalks.

For a recommended comprehensive overview, please visit: https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-eastern-redcedar/

wildlife value

A significant source of food and shelter for wildlife. The blue fruits on the female trees are consumed by a wide variety of wildlife, including the Cedar Waxwing songbird, which is named for this tree.

Junipers Help Birds Cope with the Cold

https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2015/FebMarch/Gardening/Junipers

maintenance

Tolerant of dry, windy conditions once established. Prune in early spring.

Regularly mow or dig out unwanted young seedlings. The seedlings can rapidly take over unmanaged meadows or sites.

The eastern redcedar should be planted a minimum of 500’ away from apple trees as it is also an alternate host for cedar-apple rust, a Gymnosporangium pathogen that is destructive to pome fruit trees such as apple, pear, and quince. 

While relatively free of serious problems, they are susceptible to bagworms which should be picked off and destroyed before the eggs hatch. Don’t put the bagworms in the compost. The eggs can live in the compost and hatch out later. Seal them in a plastic bag and put them in the trash or place them in a pail of soapy water so that they drown.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

There are many cultivars of the native species commercially available, though not advised — this is in reference to the “straight” species only.

references

Rosa carolina

Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, larval host, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Noteworthy blooms, Part shade, Rocky, Screening, Shrub, Wide amplitude, Woody

pasture rose

Rose family (Rosaceae)

overview

A relatively slow spreader by rhizomes, this compact wild rose is it is generally very upright, occasionally sprawling. Rosa Carolina has fragrant 2” pink flowers with yellow centers. Bright red rosehips appear in autumn and offer a popular source of food for the birds. 

wildlife value

The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by bumblebees and other long-tongued bees. Many insects feed on the foliage, flowers, and other parts of this and other roses. Larval host of Apple Sphinx Moth (Sphinx gordius).

maintenance

Good air circulation promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps control foliar diseases. Prune as needed in late winter. Plants slowly spread by suckers.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
X Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Andropogon virginicus

Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Grass, Ground layer, larval host, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Noteworthy foliage, Rocky, Sandy, Screening, Wet Meadow, Wide amplitude

broomsedge

Grass family (Poaceae)

overview

A clump forming perennial grass that grows in narrow upright tufts to 4 feet.  Leaves are medium green through summer when spikelets appear, turning and maintaining a beautiful orange-golden hue in fall and through the winter.

Broomsedge is extremely adaptable to poor soil and it is drought tolerant.

Striking when planted in large masses.

wildlife value

Provides cover and nesting material for Quail and other birds. Birds eating the seeds of Broom Sedge during the winter include the Slate-Colored Junco, Field Sparrow, and Tree Sparrow. It’s also the larval host for the Zabulon skipper.

maintenance

Plants need little maintenance except can be cut or burned to the ground in late winter.

This grass tolerate drought, infertile soils, seasonal flooding and adapt to sites disturbed by grading, construction or overgrazing. 

In meadow gardens or in natural areas it helps with soil retention.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Tridens flavus

Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Grass, Ground layer, larval host, Noteworthy blooms, Rocky, Wide amplitude

purpletop

Grass family (Poaceae)

overview

Tridens flavus is a tall, warm season bunchgrass. When planted in mass its purple spikelets will create a floating purplish haze for several weeks mid-summer.

https://www.izelplants.com/tridens-flavus-purpletop-tridens.html
https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/297130/

The purple seed heads are covered with an oily substance inspiring another common name, Grease Grass. 

wildlife value

This species is the larval host of a number of butterflies and moths, including Cercyonis pegala (Common Wood Nymph), Polites origenes (Crossline Skipper), Pompeius verna (Little Glassywing), and Poanes viator (Broad-winged Skipper). Seeds are eaten by birds.

  • Caterpillar
  • Butterfly
Common Wood Nymph

maintenance

Easy to grow & self-seeds. It is attractive to browsing mammals, however, its ability to self-seed makes it easy to establish permanent colonies.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Eragrostis spectabilis

Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies, Deer-resistant, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Grass, Ground layer, larval host, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Moist, Noteworthy blooms, Rocky, Sandy, Wide amplitude

purple love grass

Grass family (Poaceae)

overview

 A warm season perennial grass with an incredible range of seasonal color and texture. 

In spring, the small plant forms a loose open mound of blue-green blades. 

http://hoffmannursery.com/plants/details/eragrostis-spectabilis

In summer, foliage is topped by delightful clouds of rosy-purple spikelets. 

In autumn, foliage develops a bronzy red sheen and seed ripens to a soft beige.

wildlife value

Hosts caterpillars of the Zabulon skipper.  Birds forage on the seed but foliage is not palatable to deer.

maintenance

This species is a fairly short lived perennial that will reseed to replenish the population.  If seeding is undesirable, deadhead after flowering.  In garden situations, cut dead foliage to the ground in early spring to make way for new growth.

In disturbed fields, this grass competes with weedy and exotic species and survives detrimental cultivation practices.  Plants are also salt tolerant enough to flourish on roadsides that receive winter salt. 

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Pycnanthemum incanum

Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Ground layer, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Noteworthy blooms, Noteworthy foliage, Part shade, Perennial, Rocky, Sandy, Wet Meadow, Wide amplitude

hoary mountain mint

Mint family (Lamiaceae)

overview

A profusion of small white to purple flowers bloom mid- to late summer. The flowers are an excellent source of nectar for butterflies. The foliage is fragrant and grows in a clump, up to 4 feet. It is also called “Snow of the Mountains” because of the whitish leaves towards the end of the stem below the flowers.

wildlife value

The dense head-like flowers make this plant a pollinator magnet.  Native bees, beneficial wasps, flies, beetles, skippers and small butterflies (especially hairstreaks) frequent the blossoms.

Source: Hummingbird Hill Native Plant Nursery

maintenance

This species will ramble and expand to form colonies.  The rhizomes are shallow, though, so unwanted plants are easy to pull.  Plants can be divided every 3-5 years to curb aggressive growth. To make divisions, lift the clump in late fall or early spring and use pruning shears to divide the shallow root system.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
X Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Ground layer, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Moist, Noteworthy blooms, Part shade, Perennial, Rocky, Sandy, Wet Meadow, Wide amplitude

New England aster

Aster family (Asteraceae)

overview

 This one is a robust upright perennial with pubescent gray-green leaves.  Flowering plants are majestic in fall when crowned with sprays of large starry purple daisies.

wildlife value

Like most asters it blooms late in the season and provides a critical fall nectar source for pollinators, especially Monarchs as they stock up for their fall migration to Mexico. Plants host caterpillars of several different moths.

maintenance

Plants tolerate some drought but unattractive or diseased foliage may develop if drought is severe.  Plants may also die out in the center if they are not divided periodically.

Aster novae-angliae sometimes has issues with powdery mildew.  To prevent the disease give plants good growing conditions and space for air circulation.  In gardens, locate this aster in plenty of sun, irrigate during drought and limit overcrowding by using appropriate spacing for companion plants.  

Plants can be pruned back to 6” early in the season to control height and promote stronger stems. Cutting should be curtailed by the end of June so that flowers have time to develop.  Prune again after flowering if self-seeding is a problem or if foliage is bedraggled.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Solidago juncea

Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Ground layer, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Mesic, Moist, Noteworthy blooms, Part shade, Perennial, Rocky, Sandy, Wet Meadow, Wide amplitude

early goldenrod

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

overview

wildlife value

Native bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles and pollinating flies seek nectar and pollen from the flowers. Plants host the caterpillars of several moth species. Seed are eaten by songbirds like Eastern Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow. 

maintenance

Plants proliferate from rhizomes but are generally not considered to be overly aggressive.  In ideal conditions (moist, fertile soils), this species can spread somewhat aggressively or can flop due to weak rapid growth.

If seedlings are a problem, deadhead to remove spent flower before the seed ripen. 

This species is relatively disease free except for an occasional bout with powdery mildew.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
X Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references

Solidago erecta

Acidic, Attracts butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Dry, Dry Meadow, Full sun, Good for urban sites, Ground layer, Low-Elevation Mesic Forest, Mesic, Moist, Noteworthy blooms, Part shade, Perennial, Rocky, Sandy, Wet Meadow, Wide amplitude

Erect goldenrod

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Also often conflated with Solidago speciosa, showy goldenrod

overview

This wonderful little goldenrod is an unbranched clumping perennial with a cluster of basal leaves and slender flower stalks covered in bright yellow flowers in late summer through autumn.

Stems and foliage are often purple tinged. 

wildlife value

​G​oldenrods are among the most important late-season pollinator plan​t. Used by long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and butterflies. Honeybees collect ​the nectar for winter, and other bees use the pollen to supply late-season nests. The caterpillars of many moths feed on the foliage.

Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod is not a source of fall allergies because its pollen is not light enough to be transported on the wind. Fall allergies are associated with wind-pollinated plants such as ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), an annual plant with greenish flowers that is often unnoticed.

maintenance

Plants proliferate from rhizomes but are generally not considered to be overly aggressive.  In ideal conditions (moist, fertile soils), this species can spread somewhat aggressively or can flop due to weak rapid growth.

If seedlings are a problem, deadhead to remove spent flower before the seed ripen. 

This species is relatively disease free except for an occasional bout with powdery mildew.

sources

Availability Vendor Website 
X Earth Sangha (VA) https://www.earthsangha.org/
Hill House Farm & Nursery (VA) http://hillhousenativeplants.com/plant_list
Nature By Design (VA) http://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2019.html

X		 Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (Region) http://chesapeakenatives.org/plant-list/

references