A lot of folks have been asking for tips and tricks for this growing season. And we couldn’t be happier to help! For those of you that don’t know, Catherine and Brittany are educated in conservation. Catherine also holds a degree in landscape design. We are going to issue a series of blogs with native plants, cut perennials, tips and tricks, designs and more. These are intended to be low maintenance, fun and gardens that anyone can tackle! Let us know what you try in your gardens this year! We love to hear about flowers flourishing. Check out part 2 in the series below where we highlight cut flowers for your gardens.
One of our previous clients was kind enough to share an awesome book that we are using to share information about native plants. Check out Uli Lormier’s book “The Northeast Native Plant Primer” today to learn more. These plants that we are sharing are all North East native plants. If you can’t find them, reach out to your local garden center for recommendations on similar plants.
Shrubs:
Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) – These plants grow in full sun to part shade. If you buy both male and female plants you can ensure pollination!
Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) – These plants grow in full sun to part shade. They like moist soil. These bright flowers are a favorite of native pollinators.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) – The cousin of the Sheep Laurel, these plants grow 6-10’.
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustolifolium) and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) – These yummy edible plants add a great feature into any garden. Their leaves turn a fiery red in the fall, adding beautiful color to your garden throughout the seasons.
Vines: Remember with vines they love to travel. If you’re not interested in trellising or giving yearly haircuts, you might want to skip this section!
Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) – 20’ and growing! These plants love full sun to part shade. Looking for hummingbirds in your garden? This is a great plant to add as it has very flamboyant and showy flowers to attract these beautiful friends!
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) – Liking full sun to part shade, she’s a willing climber. While lush green in the growing season, she turns a brilliant red come fall. Adding to the beauty of your garden throughout the seasons! You’ve likely seen this growing across the face of the UNH Whittemore Arena.
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) – This plant likes full sun to part shade. This native honeysuckle grows in comfort, not conflict, with trees and shrubs in our area. Irresistible to hummingbirds, this vine also bears fruit for birds an is an essential habitat for strawberry clearwing moths.
Wildflowers
Wild Columbine (Aquelegia canadensis) – Growing 12-18” tall, they love part sun to part shade. These self-seeding showy flowers natrualize spaces quickly season over season. They are also very attractive to many pollinators. The native columbine is red. If you’d like other perennial cultivators, pop a note to your favorite realtor, she has seeds from her garden to share!
Goats Beard (Aruncus dioicus) – 3-5’ tall, this plant loves part sun to part shade. The plant is loved for its white feather flowers (think feather duster) that stick up from green basal foliage.
Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra exemia) – Standing 12” tall, they love part sun to part shade. HEAR ME OUT! This is far superior to the regular pink bleeding heart and here’s why – this native variety blooms nearly all summer! While the hearts on this one are more lacy, they last far long, continuing to bloom when my other varieties are long dead.
Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) – Loving full to part sun, this plant reaches 6-10”. Who can resist a delicate purple daisy-like flower? Kids love picking these as much as seeing pollinators at their viewing level. Want a taller version of this beauty? Try Flax-Leaved Stiffer Aster (Ionactis linarifolia) who gets to be about 2’ tall. You’ll also want to check out the New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) which is the tallest of them all at 3-6’. It’s a great plant for the back border of your garden.
Swamp Rose-Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) – They like full to part sun and grow 4-6’ tall. Yes! There’s a native HIBISCUS! With dinner-plate sized blooms, this is a showstopper in the back of the garden. This herbaceous flower dies back in the fall and then re-emerges in spring. You’ll be amazed how fast she grows!
Little Bluet (Houstonia caerulea) – Growing 3-4” tall and loving part shade we love this plant! These little charmers in the grass or along the edges definitely add personality to your garden.
Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) – This part sun loving plant grows 4-5’ tall. If you want to get Catherine excited, start talking irises! These are her favorite! While this is the native variety, irises come in thousands of heights, colors, scents and varieties (like bearded!).
Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) and Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium superbum) can get to be 6-8’ tall when happy. Brightly colored, these lilies love moist spots (think downspouts). Pollinators love them, as do deer.
Cardinal Flower – Red (Lobelia Cardinalis) and Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) – Growing 2-4’ tall, they love part sun to part shade. They are lovely additions to bouquets with petals reminiscent of a bird’s tail feathers.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda Fisulosa) – This favorite of pollinators grows 4-5’ tall. This lavender colored flower looks like fireworks. Pick the petals off and enjoy the taste of nectar at the tips!