PA Natives
Below is a list of the PA natives that we will be selling at our upcoming Plant Sale. These native perennials make your garden beautiful while providing food and habitat for native insects and birds. Our natives are provided by a local grower or planted from seed with seed kindly donated by Ernst Seeds, and are offered in partnership with Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Native plants will be available for $7.50 each, or 3 for $20.
Through this collaboration, native plants will be available for purchase both during the Student Farm Club plant sale on Friday, May 2, 11-5pm in the Tyson Greenhouses Headhouse I-III on campus, and also at the Shaver’s Creek Native Plants sale on Saturday, April 26, 10am-5pm at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.
Native Varieties
Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion)
Description: Nodding Onion is a perennial flower of the Allium (Amaryllidaceae) family that may invite pollinators such as bumble bees and honeybees to your garden with its small flower buds resembling dangling, or nodding, onions. You may notice a hint of an onion aroma. Flowers will bloom mid-season and the plant can grow up to 2 feet tall.
Planting Instructions: The allium prefers well drained soil in full sun, but can tolerate clay soil. This allium will self-seed, so deadhead flowers before seed sets to reduce unwanted spread.
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Description: Swamp milkweed is an herbaceous perennial in the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. It grows up to 5 feet tall and about 2-3 feet wide. This plant attracts pollinators with its attractive pink flowers that are in bloom from mid-spring to early fall.
Planting Instructions: This plant prefers damp-wet soil and full sun to partial shade. Used as an accent or border plant.
Ascelpias tuberosa (Butterfly milkweed)
Description: If you want to welcome butterflies to your backyard, Butterfly Milkweed is an obvious choice. This herbaceous perennial grows 1-2 feet tall. Enjoy its beautiful orange blooms from late spring throughout late summer.
Planting Instructions: Choose a place that gets lots of sunshine! This plant can tolerate a variety of soil types and even drought conditions due to its extensive taproot, so caretaking is minimal. Mature plants can do well with just monthly watering in arid conditions.
Aster oblongifolius
Baptisia australis
Campanula americana (American Bellflower)
Description: Native to moist open woods, meadows, streambanks and ditches in shady areas, the American Bellflower could easily make itself at home in a variety of backyard climates. The plant may grow 3-5 feet tall and produces violet blooms between July and October. The bellflower is a pollinator magnet: many species of bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds will visit and search for nectar and pollen.
Planting Instructions: American Bellflowers are best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in part shade. The plant may withstand more sun in cooler climates, but will need shade on hot summer afternoons.
Chelone (Turtle Head)
Heliopsis helianthoides (Ox-eye Sunflower)
Description: Ox-eye Sunflower is an herbaceous perennial in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. This plant may grow 3-5 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide. It has yellow daisy-like flowers with a golden center that are in bloom from mid-summer into the fall, attracting pollinators.
Planting Instructions: This plant flourishes in moist to dry soil in full sun to partial shade.
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
Description: Cardinal Flower is an herbaceous perennial in the Campanulaceae family. This plant grows about 4 to 5 feet tall. Brilliant red blooms are first seen in late summer and continue into mid-fall. The showy flowers begin opening at the bottom of a terminal flower spike and continue to the top.
Planting Instructions: It is easily grown in medium to wet soil in full sun to part shade. The soil should never be allowed to dry out, and it will tolerate brief flooding. Root mulch should be applied in cold winter climates to protect the root system and to prevent root heaving. Mulch will also help retain soil moisture.
Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)
Description: Great Blue Lobelia will add a touch of character to your landscape with its unique blue-purple flowers. An herbaceous perennial, the plant blooms from late summer to mid fall. It may grow around 3 feet tall. Enjoy visits from bees and hummingbirds throughout the summer season.
Planting Instructions: Great Blue Lobelia does best in partial to full sun and average to very wet soil. Occurring naturally in wet areas, this plant would thrive near ponds and riverbanks.
Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)
Description: Bee Balm is an herbaceous perennial in the Mint (Lamiaceae) family. Its bright red blossoms attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The leaves have a nice minty aroma when crushed. Leaves can be used in teas, flavor jellies, soups, stews, and fruit salads. The flowers are also edible.
Planting Instructions: Bee balm can reach a height of 4 feet and will spread rapidly by underground stolons. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun but will tolerate some shade.
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamont)
Description: Wild bergamot is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae family. Looks like Bee Balm. It is clump-forming and typically grows 2-4′ tall. This plant blooms from June to September and attracts lots of pollinators.
Planting Instructions: Enjoys full sun and can tolerate partial shade. This plant does not like overly wet soil. It is pretty drought tolerant but would like to be watered regularly. When planting, keep it about 1.5-2 feet away from other plants.
Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort)
Description: Golden Ragwort is an herbaceous perennial in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. It forms thick spreading mats, and in the spring, it sends up stalks of bright yellow flowers that attract many pollinators. The blooms will even appear in the shade which can add some color in darker areas. This plant attracts pollinators and songbirds.
Planting Instructions: The plant grows rapidly. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in average medium to wet soils. The flowers can look unkempt after they die so cut them down to the leafy base of the plant or leave the seeds for birds.
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)
Description: Hairy Beardtongue is a perennial in the Plantaginaceae family. These plants grow about 1-2 feet tall. This plant has trumpet-shaped, lavender-colored flowers that bloom from about late May to late June. The flowers have hairy lower lips, giving it its name. These flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds. In the fall the plants’ leaves turn a beautiful red.
Planting Instructions: If planting multiple, place about 1 foot apart. Enjoys medium-wet to dry soils and can live in a variety of sun conditions.
