Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The native plant bed goes out in a blaze of glory as cooler weather arrives in the Midwest


Goldenrod
Ohio Goldenrod
Solidago ohioensis
     
Sun:
Full 
Soil:
Sand,Loam,Clay 
Moisture:
Medium,Moist 
Height:
3'-4' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Sep 
Color:
yellow 
Root:
Fibrous 
Zone:
Spacing:
18"  

Ohio Goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis) is the largest of the goldenrod flowers. The compact form misrepresents the exuberant late season floral display. The foliage is superb, with lush, lance-like leaves radiating out from the base. Excellent for moist clay, it also thrives in good garden soil. Hardy to Zones 4 - 5

Goldenrod
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
    
Sun:
Full 
Soil:
Sand,Loam,Clay 
Moisture:
Dry,Medium 
Height:
3'-5' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Sep 
Color:
yellow 
Root:
Fibrous 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'  
A Monarch Favorite, Stiff Goldenrod, Solidago rigida, is a widely adaptable and thrives in even the most inhospitable soils, from clay to dry sand. The stems serve as perches for songbirds, and the seeds are an important late season bird food. The dried heads are lovely in arrangements. Hardy to Zones 3-9

Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana

Sun:
Full 
Soil:
Sand,Loam,Clay 
Moisture:
Medium,Moist 
Height:
1'-2' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Sep 
Color:
pink 
Root:
Rhizome 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'  
The Obediant Plant (Physostegia virginiana) makes a great groundcover for damp soils. This showy member of the mint family thrives in moist soil and creeps rapidly by rhizomes to keep weeds at bay. An excellent groundcover for wet areas that are difficult to mow, plant it with Great Blue Lobelia for a great late summer color combination. Hardy to Zones 3 - 9.

Sky Blue Aster
Sky Blue Aster
Aster azureus*

Sun:
Full,Partial 
Soil:
Sand,Loam 
Moisture:
Dry,Medium 
Height:
2'-3' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Oct 
Color:
blue 
Root:
Fibrous 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'  
Aster azureus is bright and showy from late August into October when it is covered with brilliant blue blooms. Combine Sky Blue Aster with the White Aster or Showy Goldenrod for a fabulous fall show! Thrives in almost any soil, from dry sand to moist loam, in full sun to light shade. Hardy to Zones 3 - 8.


New England Aster (top left)
New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae*
   
Sun:
Full,Partial 
Soil:
Sand,Loam,Clay 
Moisture:
Medium,Moist 
Height:
3'-6' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Oct 
Color:
pink,blue 
Root:
Fibrous 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'-18"  
Tall and majestic, the New Englad Aster's deep blue, purple, and sometimes pink flowers are highlights of the late season landscape. Aster novae-angliae is a critical fall nectar source for butterflies, especially Monarchs as they stock up for their long migration to Mexico. Zones 3 - 7.

Heath Aster

Heath Aster
Aster ericoides*

Sun:
Full 
Soil:
Sand,Loam 
Moisture:
Dry,Medium 
Height:
1'-3' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Oct 
Color:
white 
Root:
Rhizome 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'  
Not only does Heath Aster produce a blizzard of bright white flowers in late summer and early fall, it will thrive on the driest sandy and gravelly soils. Creeping slowly by rhizomes to form small "bushes," Aster ericoides is one of our longest lived Asters. Plant with Sky Blue Aster and Smooth Aster for a great fall show. Hardy to Zones 3 - 9.

Anise hyssop
Lavender Hyssop 
Agastache foeniculum
   
Sun:
Full,Partial 
Soil:
Sand,Loam 
Moisture:
Dry,Medium 
Height:
1'-3' 
Bloom Time:
Jul-Sep 
Color:
purple 
Root:
Fibrous 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'  

Also known as Anise Hyssop, the crushed leaves have a fragrance of mint and licorice. The bright purple flowers and textured foliage make this an excellent choice for sunny prairies, open oak woodlands, and savannas. Biennial, it self-sows readily on open soil. Hardy to Zones 2 - 6.


Bottle Gentian

Bottle Gentian
Gentiana andrewsii

Sun:
Full,Partial 
Soil:
Sand,Loam,Clay 
Moisture:
Moist,Wet 
Height:
1'-2' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Oct 
Color:
blue 
Root:

Zone:
Spacing:
1'  
Bottle Gentian has deep blue flowers never actually open, giving them their bottle-like appearance. The blooms are pollinated exclusively by bumblebees, which pry open the flowers to gain entry into the inner sanctum. Bottle Gentian are slow-growing but long-lived and require little care once established. Blooming late into the fall, Gentiana andrewsii seems impervious to the effects of Jack Frost. Hardy to Zones 3 - 6

Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem Plant
Schizachyrium scoparium*
  
Sun:
Full 
Soil:
Sand,Loam 
Moisture:
Dry,Medium 
Height:
2'-3' 
Bloom Time:
Aug-Oct 
Color:
crimson-red 
Root:
Fibrous 
Zone:
Spacing:
1'  
Incomparable Fall Color! The blue-green foliage provides a great backdrop for prairie flowers in summer, and then turns a striking crimson in fall. A patch of Little Bluestem waving in the wind is truly a wondrous sight, resembling ocean waves. A clump former, it combines nicely with prairie flowers. Excels in dry sandy soils. Not recommended for heavy clay or damp soils. Zones 3 - 10

Vernal Witchhazel
Vernal Witchhazel 
Hamamelis vernalis

Size of Leaves: Medium
Exposure/ Light Requirements:  Full Sun / Partial Sun/Shade
Hardiness Zone:
5 - 8 
Mature Height:
6-10 Feet
Mature Width:
6-12 Feet
Features:
Fragrant flowers (ranging from red to yellow) with narrow petals, in early spring (as early as March); autumn color is yellow.
Culture:
Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil is best, but tolerates wet sites; tolerates alkaline soils.

Mature Form:
Rounded to slightly broad rounded.

Soil Conditions:
Dry
Moist, Well-Drained
Wet
Tolerance:
Alkaline Soil
Dry Sites
Salt
Soil Compaction
Wet Sites
Wind
Uses:
Barrier
Border
Foundation
Hedge
Massing
Naturalizing
Screen
Specimen
Foliage Color:
Green

Fall Foliage Color:
Yellow
Glossy Black Chokeberry
Black Chokeberry 
Aronia melanocarpa

Flowers of Black Chokeberry
Size:  Small
Exposure/ Light Requirements:  Full Sun / Partial Sun/Shade
Hardiness Zone:
3 - 8 
Mature Height:
3-6 Feet
Mature Width:
3-6 Feet
Features:
Clusters of small, white flowers in mid-spring; small, round dark purple to black fruit in late summer and autumn; autumn color is red.


Mature Form:
Multi-stemmed with suckers; stems are upright and the shrub tends to form broad thickets.
Soil Conditions:
Dry
Moist, Well-Drained
Wet
Tolerance:
Dry Sites
Salt
Soil Compaction
Wet Sites
Wind
Uses:
Massing
Naturalizing
Foliage Color:
Green

Fall Foliage Color:
Purple
Red

Additional No
Chokeberry fruit are very astringent and will not be eaten by birds, so they are ornamental through much of winter.

Staghorn Sumac

Staghorn Sumac 
Rhus typhina


Hardiness
Zone:

4 - 8 
Mature Height:
15-25 Feet
Mature Width:
15-25 Feet
Features:
Dense, upright clusters of yellow green flowers in early to mid-summer; upright clusters of red, hairy fruit (on female plants only) in late summer, persisting into winter; autumn color is yellow, orange and red.
Culture:
Full sun; moist, well-drained soil is best, but tolerates dryness; prefers acid soils, but tolerates slightly alkaline soils.
Cultivars:
  • 'Laciniata'- Leaflets are deeply cut.
Mature Form:
Broad spreading due to suckering.
Native To:
United States (and Illinois)
Soil Conditions:
Dry
Moist, Well-Drained
Wet
Tolerance:
Alkaline Soil
Dry Sites
Salt
Uses:
Barrier
Border
Foundation
Hedge
Massing
Naturalizing
Screen
Specimen
Foliage Color:
Green

Fall Foliage Color:
Orange
Red
Yellow

Additional Notes:
Male and female flowers on separate plants. Fruit will be produced only if a male plant is available to pollinate the females.





White Oak in fall (on right)

White Oak 
Quercus alba

Hardiness Zone:
4 - 8  

Mature Height:
50-75 Feet
Features:
Purplish red fall color; form.
Culture:
Full sun; moist, well drained soil; prefers slightly acid soil pH.
Mature Form:
Broad rounded

Soil Conditions:

Moist, Well-Drained
Tolerance:
Salt
Wind
Uses:

Shade
Specimen
Foliage Color:
Green
Fall Foliage Color:
Purple
Red

Additional Notes:
Very difficult to transplant due to deep taproot.





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