CT Native Plant & Sustainable Landscaping Guide

By Victoria Wallace​ and Alyssa Siegel-Miles
UConn Extension​

Connecticut Native Plant & Sustainable Landscaping Guide cover
Photographs: (clockwise from top left) Cephalanthus occidentalis, Aronia arbutifolia, Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’, Viburnum acerifolium, Prunus pumila var. depressa, Juniperus virginiana, Rhus aromatica ’Gro-Low’, Vaccinium corymbosum, Asclepias syriaca, Coreopsis lanceolata; (center) Chionanthus virginicus. Photographs on front cover are by Alyssa Siegel-Miles, Victoria Wallace, and Jessica Lubell-Brand.

Funding for this program is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2017-70006-27201/project accession no. 1013777] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and by a grant from UConn Extension. It is a cooperative effort of UConn Extension and the Risk Management Agency/USDA. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These institutions are affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employers and program providers. ©UConn Extension. All rights reserved.

Authors:

Victoria Wallace
Senior Extension Educator, Sustainable Turf & Landscape
victoria.wallace@uconn.edu

Alyssa Siegel-Miles
Research Technician
alyssa.siegel-miles@uconn.edu

Special Thanks to:

Jessica Lubell-Brand, Ph.D.
Mary Concklin
Donna Ellis
Dustyn Nelson
Charlotte Pyle, Ph.D.
Mike Emmons
W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D.
Jacob Ricker

U.S Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency

Page 3. SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

MOISTURE/WATER NEEDS: Dry = D Medium = M Wet = W
SUNLIGHT NEEDS: Full sun Part sun Full shade
WILDLIFE/POLLINATORS
ATTRACTED/SUPPORTED:		 birds =birds bees = bees Butterflies and moths (larval or adult stages) = butterflies

 

GRASSES AND
COVER CROPS:		 Warm Season = WS Cool Season = CS Summer Annual = SA Winter Annual = W

DEER RESISTANT: *Note that no plant is deer-PROOF. Plants that are less palatable to deer and less likely to be eaten are labeled as deer resistant in this document. Plants with only moderate deer resistance are noted. In harsh winters or other times of scarcity, deer may eat any plant that is accessible to them.

GLOSSARY:

1. Allelopath: a plant that produces and releases chemicals that inhibit the germination or growth of nearby plants (or another organism)

2. Bunch-type grasses (also known as bunchgrasses): grow in clumps. Produce tillers from the crown of the plant, with minimal lateral spreading.

3. Catkin: cylindrical flower cluster/spike, with inconspicuous or no petals; plants with catkins are usually wind-pollinated

4. Cool Season Grasses: grasses that thrive in areas with cold winters and hot summers, including Northeast U.S., with optimum growth in the cool temperatures of spring (with fertilization) and fall. Cool season grasses start growth start growth in early spring when soil temperatures reach 40-45°F (4.5-7°C) and reach optimal growth at air temperatures between 60-75°F (15.5-24°C). Cool season grass species include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, and creeping bentgrass.

5. Dioecious: having separate male and female plants. Both male and female plants needed for fruit production. Seeds and fruit on female plants only.

6. Forbs: herbaceous flowering plants; other than grasses.

7. Monoecious: having both male and female organs in the same individual.

8. Nativar: a cultivar of a native plant.

9. Rhizomatous (sod-forming) grasses: produce either rhizomes (underground “stems”) or stolons, which extend laterally, enabling the grass to develop a firm sod. Rhizomatous grasses form a tight-knit and dense turf.

10. Rhizome: an underground, elongated stem (or shoot) that grows horizontally. Adventitious roots arise from the nodes.

11. Stolon: an elongated stem (or shoot) that grows along the surface of the ground, from which leaves and adventitious roots develop at the nodes, producing a dense stand of turf/plants.

 

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Species Index

Page numbers in bold indicate a photograph or species description.

 

Latin Name Common Name Pages
Acer rubrum red maple 30, 31
Acer saccharum sugar maple 30, 31
Achillea millefolium yarrow 6, 7, 14, 15, 19, 25
Actaea racemosa black cohosh 9
Aesculus parviflora bottlebrush buckeye 34, 35
Agastache foeniculum anise hyssop 8, 9, 19
Ageratina altissima white snakeroot 7, 19, 20, 21
Agrostis gigantea red top 38, 39
Alnus incana ssp. rugosa speckled alder 35, 38
Amelanchier arborea downy serviceberry 29
Amelanchier canadensis shadbury serviceberry 28, 29
Amelanchier laevis Allegheny serviceberry 29
Amsonia hubrichtii blue star 7, 21
Amsonia tabernaemontana eastern blue star 7, 20, 21
Andropogon gerardii big bluestem 7, 19, 25
Anemone canadensis windflower 7, 17
Anethum graveolens dill 23
Aquilegia canadensis columbine 7, 24, 25
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
'Massachusetts'		 bearberry,
kinnikinnick		 10, 11, 25
Aronia arbutifolia red chokeberry 1, 3, 27
Aronia melanocarpa black chokeberry 26, 27
Aruncus dioicus goat’s beard 8, 9, 21
Asarum canadense wild ginger 10, 11
Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed 19, 20, 21
Asclepias syriaca common milkweed 1, 3, 16,
17, 19, 38
Asclepias tuberosa butterfly milkweed 7, 8, 9, 19
Asimina triloba pawpaw 30, 31
Avena sativa annual oats 39, 40, 41
Baccharis halimifolia groundsel bush 27
Baptisia australis blue false indigo 8, 9
Betula lenta sweet birch 31
Betula nigra river birch 31
Betula populifolia gray birch 31
Bouteloua curtipendula sideoats grama 7, 38, 39
Bromus biebersteinii meadow brome 39
Calendula officinalis calendula 23
Carex crinita fringed sedge 21, 38
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge 7, 14, 15, 21
Carex praegracilis field sedge 15, 19, 21
Carex stipata awl sedge 15, 21
Carpinus caroliniana ironwood 31
Carya ovata shagbark hickory 31
Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea 35
Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush 1, 3, 27
Cercis canadensis redbud 31
Chaenomeles speciosa flowering quince 26, 27
Chamaecrista fasciculata partridge pea 6, 7, 19, 38
Chamaecyparis pisifera Japanese false cypress 29
Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar 31
Chelone glabra white turtlehead 21
Chelone lyonii pink turtlehead 21
Chionanthus virginicus American fringetree 1, 3, 30, 31
Chrysogonum virginianum green and gold 7, 11
Clethra alnifolia summersweet 1, 3, 21, 26, 27
Comptonia peregrina sweetfern 26, 27
Coreopsis grandiflora large tickseed 7
Coreopsis lanceolata lanceleaf coreopsis 1, 3, 7, 19
Coreopsis verticillata threadleaf tickseed 24, 25
Coriandrum sativum cilantro 23
Cornus alternifolia pagoda dogwood 31
Cornus amomum silky dogwood 34, 35, 38
Cornus canadensis bunchberry 10, 11
Cornus florida dogwood 31, 38
Cornus racemosa gray dogwood 21, 27, 38
Cornus sericea red-osier dogwood 35
Corylus americana American hazelnut 35
Corylus cornuta beaked filbert 35
Cotinus obovatus American smoketree 35
Cupressus nootkatensis
'Pendula'		 weeping Alaskan
cedar		 29
Dactylis glomerata orchard grass 38, 39
Dasiphora fruticosa shrubby cinquefoil 34,
Dennstaedtia punctilobula hay-scented fern 17
Deschampsia cespitosa tufted hair grass 7, 14, 15
Desmodium canadense showy tick-trefoil 7, 18, 19
Dianthus spp. cheddar pinks 24, 25
Dicentra eximia fringed bleeding heart 7, 8, 9, 17
Diervilla lonicera bush honeysuckle 26, 27
Dryopteris marginalis marginal shield fern 11
Echinacea pallida purple coneflower 7
Echinacea paradoxa yellow coneflower 19
Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye 7, 19, 38, 39, 41
Eragrostis spectabilis purple lovegrass 7, 15
Eubotrys racemosa sweetbells 35
Eupatorium perfoliatum American boneset 7, 21, 38
Eurybia divaricata white wood aster 6, 7
Eutrochium purpureum Joe Pye weed 18, 19, 20, 21, 25
Fagopyrum esculentum buckwheat 39, 40, 41
Fagus grandifolia American beech 31
Festuca brevipila hard fescue 14, 15
Festuca ovina sheep fescue 38, 39
Festuca rubra red fescue 15, 38
Filipendula rubra queen of the prairie 21
Foeniculum vulgare fennel 23
Fothergilla gardenii dwarf fothergilla 34, 35
Fragaria virginiana meadow strawberry 17
Geranium maculatum wild geranium 9
Ginkgo biloba ginkgo 29
Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis honey-locust 29
Hamamelis virginiana common witch hazel 35
Helenium autumnale sneezeweed 21
Helianthus annuus sunflower 22, 23
Helianthus mollis downy sunflower 7
Heliopsis helianthoides false sunflower 8, 9
Hibiscus moscheutos swamp mallow 21
Hydrangea quercifolia oakleaf hydrangea 34, 35
Hypericum prolificum shrubby St. John's wort 27
Iberis sempervirens candytuft 25
Ilex glabra inkberry 35
Ilex verticillata winterberry 20, 21, 27
Ilex opaca American holly 33
Iris cristata dwarf crested iris 11
Itea virginica Virginia sweetspire 35
Juglans nigra black walnut 33
Juniperus communis common juniper 29
Juniperus horizontalis creeping juniper 11
Juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar 1, 3, 29
Kalmia latifolia mountain-laurel 36, 37

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Leucothoe fontanesiana drooping laurel 37
Liatris scariosa northern blazing star 19
Liatris spicata blazing star 8, 9
Limonium carolinianum sea lavender 25
Lindera benzoin spicebush 36, 37
Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum 28, 29
Liriodendron tulipifera tulip tree 32, 33
Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower 7, 21
Lobularia maritima sweet alyssum 22, 23
Lolium perenne perennial ryegrass 38, 39
Lonicera canadensis American honeysuckle 37
Lotus corniculatus birdsfoot trefoil 38, 39, 41
Magnolia virginiana sweetbay magnolia 33
Maianthemum canadense Canada mayflower 16, 17
Matteuccia struthiopteris ostrich fern 16, 17
Medicago sativa alfalfa 39, 41
Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells 11
Monarda punctata spotted beebalm 7, 19
Morella pensylvanica bayberry 27
Muhlenbergia capillaris pink muhly grass 7, 9
Myrica gale sweet gale 37
Nyssa sylvatica black tupelo 32, 33
Onoclea sensibilis sensitive fern 16, 17
Opuntia humifusa prickly pear 10, 11
Ostrya virginiana hop-hornbeam 33
Oxydendrum arboreum sourwood 33
Pachysandra procumbens Allegheny spurge 10, 11
Packera aurea golden ragwort 11, 21
Panicum virgatum switchgrass 7, 19, 21, 24, 25, 38
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper 17, 38
Penstemon digitalis beardtongue 9, 10
Phleum pratense timothy 39
Phlox divaricata wild blue phlox 11
Phlox pilosa downy phlox 6, 7
Phlox stolonifera creeping phlox 11
Phlox subulata moss phlox 7, 12, 13, 25
Physocarpus opulifolius eastern ninebark 32, 37
Pinus strobus eastern white pine 30, 33
Pisum sativum field peas 40, 41
Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass 39
Podophyllum peltatum mayapple 16, 17
Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern 9, 24
Prunus maritima beach plum 27
Prunus pumila var. depressa creeping sand cherry 1, 3, 13
Prunus serotina black cherry 25, 32, 33, 38
Prunus virginiana chokecherry 28, 29
Puccinellia distans alkaligrass 25
Pycnanthemum muticum mountain mint 7, 19
Pycnanthemum virginianum American mountain mint 18, 19
Quercus alba white oak 29
Quercus bicolor swamp white oak 33
Quercus rubra northern red oak 33, 38
Quercus velutina black oak 33
Raphanus sativus oilseed radish 41
Rhododendron maximum rosebay rhododendron 37
Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' fragrant sumac 1, 3, 12, 13
Rhus glabra smooth sumac 17, 30, 38
Rhus typhina staghorn sumac 17, 32, 38
Rosa virginiana Virginia rose 36, 37
Rudbeckia fulgida orange coneflower 7, 21
Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan 7, 18, 19
Ruellia humilis wild petunia 7, 13
Salix discolor pussy willow 38
Salix nigra black willow 38
Sambucus canadensis elderberry 37
Sanguinaria canadensis bloodroot 7, 13, 16, 21
Sassafrass albidum sassafras 28, 33
Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem 24, 25, 38
Scolochloa festucacea tall fescue 38
Scutellaria incana downy skullcap 7, 9, 19
Secale cereale cereal ryegrass 39, 41
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' Autumn Joy stonecrop 24, 25
Sedum spp. stonecrop 12, 13
Senna hebecarpa wild senna 38, 41
Solidago canadensis Canada goldenrod 7, 16, 17
Solidago rugosa rough goldenrod 7, 16, 17
Solidago sempervirens seaside goldenrod 7, 16, 25
Solidago speciosa showy goldenrod 7, 16, 19
Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass 18, 19, 25, 38
Sorghum bicolor x S. bicolor var. sudanese sorghum-sudangrass 41
Spartina patens saltmeadow cordgrass 25
Spiraea alba meadowsweet 37
Sporobolus heterolepis prairie dropseed 19
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum calico aster 7
Symphyotrichum
novae-angliae		 New England aster 18, 19, 21
Tagetes spp. marigold (yellow) 22, 23
Thuja occidentalis arborvitae 33
Thymus spp. thyme 14, 15
Tiarella cordifolia foamflower 24, 25
Tilia americana American linden 33
Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio spiderwort 6, 7, 19
Tradescantia virginiana spiderwort 7
Trifolium incarnatum crimson clover 39, 41
Trifolium hybridum alsike clover 39, 41
Trifolium pratense red clover 39, 41
Trifolium repens white clover 39, 41
Trifolium repens ‘Pirouette’ or ‘Pipolina’ microclover 15
Trillium grandiflorum wood lily 13, 17
Triticum aestivum wheat 39, 41
Uvularia grandiflora large-flowered bellwort 13
Vaccinium angustifolium lowbush blueberry 12, 13
Vaccinium corymbosum highbush blueberry 1, 3, 21, 26, 27
Vaccinium stamineum deerberry 29, 37
Verbena hastata blue vervain 7
Vernonia noveboracensis New York ironweed 7, 19
Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s root 9, 20, 21
Viburnum acerifolium maple leaf viburnum 1, 3, 36, 37
Viburnum cassinoides witherod viburnum 37
Viburnum dentatum northern arrowwood 27, 28
Vicia villosa hairy vetch 41
Waldsteinia fragarioides barren strawberry 13, 25
Xanthorhiza simplicissima yellowroot 13
Yucca filamentosa Adam’s needle 36, 37
Zinnia elegans zinnia 22, 24
Zizia aurea golden Alexander 12, 13

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Page 7. Forbs That Grow Easily From Seed

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States.

Botanical Name​

Common​ Name​

Flower​ Color​

Flower​ Time​

Mature ​Height​

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs​

Wildlife Attracted​

Notes​

Deer Resistant?

Achillea
millefolium​

​yarrow​

white, pink, red​

June - Sept.​

​3’​

D​

M​

​

​Full sun

​butterflies, bees, and birds

Perennial. Thrives in poor, well-drained soils. Salt tolerant. Fragrant, showy flowers. Good cut flower.​

​YES

Ageratina altissima​

white snakeroot​

​white​

Sept. - frost​

​3-5’​

 M W ​Full sun butterflies and bees Perennial. Prolific self-seeder; deadhead if unwanted. Prefers part shade in moist, rich soils; tolerates moderately dry soils. YES

Chamaecrista fasciculata​

partridge pea​

​yellow​

June - Sept.​

​1-3’

D​

​​Full sun,
Part shade

​butterflies, bees, and birds

Annual. Seed late March-May. Used for erosion control. Improves soil fertility (fixes nitrogen). Readily self-seeds.​

 NO

Coreopsis grandiflora​

large tickseed​

​yellow​

June - August​

​1.5- 2.5’​

D​

M​

W​

​​Full sun

​butterflies, bees, and birds

Short-lived perennial. Rabbit resistant. May self-seed and spread by rhizomes, forming colonies.​

 YES

Echinacea pallida​

pale purple coneflower​

pale purple​

June - July​

​2-3’​

D​

M​

W​

​​​Full sun,
Part shade

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Mixes well with grasses. Showy, fragrant, good cut flowers. Self-seeds freely.​

 YES

Eurybia
divaricata​

white wood aster​

​white​

August- October​

​1-3’​

D​

M​

​

​Part shade, Full shade

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Attracts many pollinators. Self-seeds. Naturalize for best effect. Appears delicate; tough, vigorous.​

 YES

Helianthus mollis​

downy sunflower​

​yellow​

July - Sept.​

​2-4’​

D​

M​

​

​Full sun,
Part shade

​butterflies, bees, and birds

Perennial. Plants spread by rhizomes and self-seeding to form colonies.​

 NO

Pycnanthemum muticum​

mountain mint​

white, pink​

July - Sept.​

​1-3’​

​

M​

W​

​​​​Full sun,
Part shade

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Attracts butterflies and honeybees. Attractive silver-blue foliage. Best flowering in full sun.​

 YES

​Phlox pilosa​

​downy phlox​

​pink​

May - July​

​1-2’​

D​

M​

​

​​​​Full sun

butterflies, bees, and birds

Perennial. Attracts hummingbirds. Showy, fragrant, saucer-shaped flowers. Likes mulch in summer.​

 YES

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum​

​calico aster​

​white​

Sept.- October​

​2-3’​

D​

M​

​

​​​​​Full sun,
Part shade

​butterflies and bees

Syn. Aster lateriflorus. Perennial. Self-seeds. Attracts and supports native bees and predatory/parasitic insects.​

 NO

Tradescantia ohiensis​

Ohio spiderwort​

​blue​

May - July​

​2-3’​

D​

M​

​

​​​​​Full sun,
Part shade

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Tolerates part shade but with fewer blooms. Prefers moist, acidic, sandy soil. Self-seeds aggressively.​

 NO

Tradescantia
virginiana​

​spiderwort​

blue to violet​

May - July​

​1.5-3’​

M​

​Part shade, Full shade

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Long-blooming for native plant, shade, or wild gardens or meadows. Unattractive mid-summer foliage.​

 NO

​Verbena hastata​

blue vervain​

purplish-blue​

July - Sept.​

​2-6’​

​

M​

W​

​Full sun

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Preferred nectar source for hover flies, bee flies. Verbena stricta is a good alternative for drier soils.​

 YES

Vernonia
noveboracensis​

New York ironweed​

​purple​

August- Sept.​

​4-8’​

​

M​

W​

​Full sun

​butterflies and bees

Perennial. Aggressively self-seeds. Use for back of borders, meadows, pollinator gardens.​

 YES

Others: Amsonia spp. (21), Anemone canadensis (17), Andropogon gerardii (19), Aquilegia canadensis (25), Asclepias tuberosa (9), Bouteloua curtipendula (38), Carex pensylvanica (15), Chrysogonum virginianum (11), Coreopsis lanceolata (19), Deschampsia cespitosa (15), Desmodium canadense (19), Dicentra eximia (9), Elymus canadensis (38), Eupatorium perfoliatum (38), Eragrostis spectabilis (15), Lobelia cardinalis (21), Monarda punctata (19), Muhlenbergia capillaris (9), Panicum virgatum (25), Phlox subulata (13), Rudbeckia spp. (21, 23), Ruellia humilis (13), Sanguinaria canadensis (13), Scutellaria incana (9), Solidago spp. (17).

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NATIVE PERENNIALS FOR GARDEN BEDS

Page 9. NATIVE PERENNIALS FOR GARDEN BEDS

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3		 DEER
RESISTANT?
Actaea
racemosa		 black
cohosh		 white June -
July		 4-6’ M Part shade, full shade butterflies, bees, and birds Architectural texture. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Slow to establish. Shelter from strong winds. Foliage may scorch if soil dries. Butterfly larval host plant (e.g., spring azure, holly blue). YES
Aruncus dioicus goat's
beard		 creamy
white		 April -
May		 4-6' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Thrives in shady, moist spots in borders, woodland edge. Long lasting blooms. Do not allow to dry out. Also, for rain gardens. Native to PA south to southeast US. YES
Asclepias
tuberosa		 butterfly
milkweed		 orange June -
August		 1-2.5’ D M Full Sun butterflies and bees Essential food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars. Good cut flower. May re-seed. Good soil drainage essential. YES
Agastache
foeniculum		 anise
hyssop		 lavender
- purple		 June -
Sept.		 2-4’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Good cut flower. May re-seed. Good soil drainage is essential. Attracts hummingbirds; nectar supports native bees. YES
Baptisia
australis		 blue false
indigo		 blue,
purple		 May -
June		 3-4' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Does not respond well to transplanting. Attractive seed pods in fall. Tolerates poor soils. In shade, may require staking. YES
Dicentra
eximia		 fringed
bleeding
heart		 rose pink April -
July		 1-1.5’ M Part shade, full shade bees and birds Prefers moist, rich soils. Good soil drainage is essential for plant survival. Intolerant of wet soils in winter and dry soils in summer. Will self-seed in optimal conditions. YES
Geranium
maculatum		 wild
geranium		 pink, lavender March -
July		 1-3’ M W Part shade, full shade bees and birds Deadheading prolongs bloom. Native to dry or moist woods. woodland edges; dappled meadows. Thrives under variety of conditions - rich, acidic. Seeds attract doves, bobwhite quail. YES
Heliopsis
helianthoides		 false
sunflower		 yellow June -
August		 3-6' D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Attracts hummingbirds. Long summer bloom; good cut flower. Remove spent flowers to extend bloom season. NO
Liatris spicata blazing star red-purple July -
August		 2-4’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Tolerant of drought, also clay soil. Intolerant of wet soils in winter. Adds architectural texture to the garden. NO
Muhlenbergia
capillaris		 pink muhly
grass		 pink, red Sept.-
Nov.		 2-3’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Clump forming. Best grouped or en masse for late season color. Tolerates poor soils. May be grown from seed. WS. YES
Penstemon
digitalis		 beard tongue white April -
June		 1-3’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Good cut flower. Drought tolerant. Root rot can occur in wet, poorly drained soils. YES
Polystichum
acrostichoides		 Christmas
fern		 N/A N/A 1-2’ D M Part shade, full shade birds Clumping fern that will not spread; clumps will increase in size over time. Mass on slopes to combat soil erosion. YES
Scutellaria
incana		 downy
skullcap		 purplish blue June -
Sept.		 2-3’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Drought tolerant. Attractive wildflower that creates interest in the garden. Ideal for shady spots. YES
Veronicastrum
virginicum		 Culver’s root white,
blue		 June -
August		 4-7’ M W Full Sun butterflies and bees Takes several years to establish. Also used in rain gardens. Deadhead flowers to extend bloom period. Cut back after flowering for new foliage growth and fall bloom. NO

 

MANY other plants in this document are also suitable for garden beds.

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LOW-GROWING GROUND COVERS

Page 11. LOW-GROWING GROUND COVERS

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States. All are perennials unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3		 DEER
RESISTANT?
Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi
'Massachusetts'		 bearberry,
kinnikinnick		 white April -
May		 0.5-1‘ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Salt tolerant. Four seasons of interest. Do not fertilize. Roots dislike disturbance. Slow to establish. Requires excellent soil drainage. Likes infertile, acidic, sandy soils and slopes. YES
Asarum
canadense		 wild ginger inconspicuous April -
May		 0.5-1‘ M W Part shade, full shade butterflies and birds Low mat-forming; Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Prefers acidic soils, consistent moisture. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Chrysogonum
virginianum		 green and
gold		 yellow May -
October		 0.5-1’ M W Part shade, full shade butterflies and birds Spreads vigorously to form an attractive ground cover, but is easily controlled. Prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils. Grows easily from seed and may self-seed in good conditions. NO
Cornus
canadensis		 bunchberry white May -
July		 0.25-
0.75’		 M Part shade, full shade butterflies and birds Prefers moist, organically rich, acidic soils in part shade including sun-dappled conditions in close to full shade. Showy foliage in fall. Rabbit resistant. YES
Dryopteris
marginalis		 marginal
shield fern		 N/A N/A 1.5-2’ D M Full sun, part shade N/A Tolerates dry shade once established. Thrives in rocky, woodland settings. Protect from wind. YES
Iris cristata dwarf
crested iris		 pale
blue		 April 0.5-1' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Spreads quickly; forms dense colonies. Snails and slugs may cause damage. Dry to moist soils. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Juniperus
horizontalis		 creeping
juniper		 N/A N/A 0.5-1.10’ D M Full sun butterflies and birds Evergreen shrub. Drought tolerant. Erosion control. Requires well-drained soils. Dark blue, berry-like cones persist in winter. YES
Mertensia
virginica		 Virginia
bluebells		 blue March -
April		 1.5-2’ M W Part shade, full shade bees and birds One of the easiest spring ephemerals to grow. Dormant in summer; overplant with annuals or perennials (e.g., ferns). NO
Opuntia
humifusa		 prickly pear yellow June -
July		 0.5-1‘ D Full sun bees Syn. Opuntia compressa. Evergreen. Attractive, edible fruit. Grow in rock gardens, stone walls, sandy slopes, dry prairies. YES
Packera aurea golden
ragwort		 yellow April 1-2’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Semi-evergreen for moist, shady, rich, acidic areas. Tolerates seasonal flooding. Spreads by seed and roots. YES
Pachysandra
procumbens		 Allegheny
spurge		 white March -
April		 0.10-1’ D M Part shade, full shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good air circulation beneficial - avoid overhead watering; thin plants periodically. Showy, fragrant flower. Mass on slopes. YES
Phlox divaricata wild blue
phlox		 white,
purple		 March -
May		 0.10-1’ M Part shade, full shade butterflies, bees, and birds Native to moist, rich, deciduous woods. Flowers attract swallowtails, gray hairstreaks, and western pygmy blue butterflies. NO
Phlox
stolonifera		 creeping
phlox		 purple,
violet		 July -
Sept.		 0.10-1’ D M Full sun, part shade birds Tolerant of drought, air pollution. Prefers acidic, rich, shady,
organic soils, continuous moisture. Spreads by stolon & seed.		 YES

 

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LOW-GROWING GROUND COVERS

Page 13. LOW-GROWING GROUND COVERS

All plants listed are perennials and native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

NAME COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Phlox
subulata		 moss phlox purple,
pink,
red,
white		 March -
May		 0.5’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Tolerant of salt, drought, erosion, and air pollution. Requires good soil drainage. Grows well in sandy soils, sunny borders, slopes, draped over rock walls. May self-seed. Shear stems after flowering by 1/2 for denser growth and light rebloom. YES
Prunus
pumila var.
depressa		 creeping
sand
cherry		 white late May
- June		 1.5' D M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Widely adaptable to full sun sites. Orange fall color. Dark red cherries provide important forage for many animal species. Fruits persist June through August. NO
Rhus
aromatica
'Gro-Low'		 fragrant
sumac		 yellow
(small)		 April -
June		 1.5-2' D M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Low-growing shrub. If stems die back, cut dead stems to 6" for regrowth. Drought tolerant. Showy red fruit in fall; fast spreader. YES
Ruellia
humilis		 wild
petunia		 lavender, blue May -
October		 1.5-2’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Blooms throughout summer. Can be an aggressive grower. Readily  reseeds. Host plant for larvae of common buckeye butterfly. NO
Sanguinaria
canadensis		 bloodroot white March -
April		 0.5-0.75’ M Part shade, full shade bees and birds Spreads rapidly. Mulch with a thin layer of deciduous leaves during the winter. Groundcover for around the base of trees. Seeds dispersed by ants. Rhizome poisonous - may be fatal if ingested. NO
Sedum spp. stonecrop pink,
purple		 August -
October		 0.25-0.5’ D Full sun butterflies and bees Many groundcover cultivars; most are not native to U.S. Tolerant of rabbits, drought, and air pollution. Soil must be well-drained. YES
Trillium
grandiflorum		 wood lily white,
pink		 April -
June		 1-1.5’ M Part shade, full shade butterflies and bees Benefits from mulch in fall. Prefers moist, acidic, humus-rich soil. Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Does not transplant well. NO
Uvularia
grandiflora		 large flowered
bellwort		 yellow April -
May		 1.5-2’ M Part shade, full shade bees Good cut flower. Effective en masse under trees or along wood margins. Prefers humus-rich soils and good drainage. Benefits from compost and leaf mulch in winter. Favored by deer. NO
Vaccinium
angustifolium		 lowbush
blueberry		 white May -
June		 1-2’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Shrub. Edible fruit. Glossy foliage turns maroon-purple in fall. Ideal soil is moist, high in organic matter, and well-drained, pH must be very acidic (4.5 to 5.5). Use mulch. NO
Waldsteinia
fragarioides		 barren
strawberry		 yellow April -
May		 0.5’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Syn. Geum fragarioides. Evergreen foliage turns bronze in winter. Salt tolerant. Can substitute for grass and aid in transitioning turf  areas to ground cover. Spreads slowly by rhizomes. YES
Xanthorhiza
simplicissima		 yellowroot purple.
insignificant		 April -
May		 0.5-2.5’ D M V Part shade, full shade bees and birds Spreading shrub. Excellent fall color. Performs best in woodlands, moist areas. Drought tolerant. Adapts to wide variety of conditions. Stabilizes slopes. YES
Zizia aurea golden
Alexander		 yellow May -
June		 1.5-2’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Showy flowers. Will re-seed in optimal conditions. Beautiful en masse. Attracts beneficial bees, wasps, flies. NO

​

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LOW-MAINTENANCE & ALTERNATIVE LAWN OPTIONS

Page 15. Low-Maintenance & Alternative Lawn Options

Not adapted to close mowing (less than 3”), but all may be maintained at a 3-4” height of cut, except where noted. All plants listed are perennials and native to northeastern U.S. unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3		 DEER
RESISTANT?
Achillea
millefolium		 yarrow white June -
Sept		 2-3’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Commonly grown as garden ornamental; can persist when mown and maintained as lawn. Mow with rotary mower on high setting. YES
Carex stipata awl sedge green,
golden		 May -
June		 1.5-3’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Tolerates drier conditions in shaded locations. Sprawling habit. Spiky seed heads. Beneficial to grasshoppers, birds, ducks. Foliage is eaten by caterpillars of several skippers and other butterflies. YES
Carex
pensylvanica		 Pennsylvania
sedge		 insignificant May 1' D M W Part sun, full shade N/A Lawn substitute for dry soils in shady areas; Can be left unmown or mow 2-3 times a year to 3-4”. Cascading growth habit. Tolerates heavy shade and wet soil. Plugs are best; does not grow well from seed. YES
Carex
praegracilis		 clustered
field sedge		 green May 2’ M W Full sun, part shade N/A Salt tolerant. Also useful for meadows, green roofs, bio-swales, erosion control. Tolerates moderate drought, flooding, poor soils, heat, cold, shade and moderate foot traffic. Spreads by rhizomes and may self-seed in optimum conditions. YES
Deschampsia
cespitosa		 tufted hair
grass		 gold,
silver,
purple		 July -
Sept.		 2-3’ M W Full sun, part shade birds Bunch-type grass; clump-forming with a mounding habit. Grows in average, medium, well-drained soils. Tolerates range of soil conditions. Acid soil, salt, and heavy metal tolerant. May retain green color in mild winters. CS. YES
Eragrostis
spectabilis		 purple
lovegrass		 purple red July -
August		 1-2’ D M Full sun butterflies and birds Performs best if left unmown in sandy or gravelly loam in hot, dry locations. Very drought tolerant. Excellent late summer color. Excellent dried flower. Crucial food source for many butterflies and native songbirds. WS. YES
Festuca
brevipila		 hard
fescue		 green May -
June		 1-2’ D M Full sun, part shade N/A Syn. Festuca longifolia. Drought tolerant. Improved drought tolerance if left unmown. Does well in shade or full sun; persists in soils of low fertility. Clump-forming. Not Native to U.S. CS. YES
Festuca rubra red
fescue		 yellow May -
July		 1-3’ M Full sun, part shade birds Spreads by rhizome or stolons. Has distinct subspecies; may tolerate mild foot traffic. Slow to recuperate when damaged. Can tolerate lawn height of cut or be left unmown. CS. YES
Thymus spp. thyme purple June -
Sept.		 0.5’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Evergreen; fragrant foliage. Tolerates low fertility soils. Thrives in sandy or rocky soils with excellent drainage. Can be seeded into a low maintenance/input lawn. Not Native to U.S. YES
Trifolium
repens
‘Pirouette’ or
‘Pipolina’		 microclover white May -
June		 0.25-0.5’ M Full sun bees Less aggressive than straight species of white clover. Clump-forming with moderate stolon activity. Limited erosion control value. Combine with turfgrasses. Legume (nitrogen fixing); can support reduced fertilizer applications. Not Native to U.S. NO

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AGGRESSIVE GROUND COVERS SOLUTION PLANTS

Page 17. AGGRESSIVE GROUND COVERS: SOLUTION PLANTS

These plants function as “living mulch. “They generally will monopolize a landscape bed, choking out and outcompeting other species (except where noted) which can provide helpful solutions for tough spots! Some are taller than what has traditionally considered “ground covers.” All plants listed are native to northeastern United States.

NAME COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Anemone
canadensis		 windflower white April -
June		 1-2’ D M W Full sun, part shade, full shade N/A Spreads vigorously by rhizomes. Most aggressive in sunny, moist soils; grows more slowly in dry, shady locations. Good cut flower. Attracts predatory/parasitoid insects. YES
Asclepias
syriaca		 common
milkweed		 purple,
white		 June -
August		 3-5’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Thrives in poor soils, roadsides, and waste places. Spreads vigorously by rhizomes and seed; forms colonies. Monarch butterfly larvae host plant. Flowers are fragrant. YES
Dennstaedtia
punctilobula		 hay-scented
fern		 N/A N/A 1.5-2' D M W Full sun, part shade, full shade N/A Spreads vigorously by rhizomes; forms colonies and can dominate. Tolerates full sun if moisture is consistent. Grows in a wide range of soils - dry or poor, rocky soils. Fragrant foliage. YES
Fragaria
virginiana		 meadow
strawberry		 white April -
May		 0.5-.75’ D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Edible berries in summer. Prefers full sun and organically rich, sandy loams. Drought tolerant. Use for erosion control on slopes. After fruiting, may go dormant in hot summer months. YES
Maianthemum
canadense		 Canada
mayflower		 white May -
June		 0.5’ D M W Part shade, full shade birds Spreads by rhizomes; forms carpet-like colonies. Native to deciduous woods, floodplains, and bog margins. Red berries in fall are eaten by birds and small mammals. YES
Matteuccia
struthiopteris		 ostrich or
fiddlehead
fern		 N/A N/A 3-6’ M W Part shade, full shade N/A Clumps form a colony over time. Fiddleheads edible. Moist soils best. Plant with spring wildflowers that go dormant (e.g., trilliums, bloodroot, trout lilies, Dicentra spp.). YES
Onoclea
sensibilis		 sensitive
fern		 N/A N/A 0.5-3’ M W Part shade, full shade N/A Roots colonize, but are usually shallow. Native to moist woodlands, floodplains, stream banks, swamps, marshes. Shelters salamanders and frogs. YES
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia		 Virginia
creeper		 greenish
white		 May -
August		 30’ M Full sun, part shade, full shade birds Vine. Ornamental fall foliage and fruit (fruit toxic to humans). Tolerates full shade; best fall leaf color in sun. Groundcover, erosion control on slopes, or climber for fence or large trellis. YES
Podophyllum
peltatum		 mayapple white April -
June		 1-2’ D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Rhizomes spread quickly, forming dense mats in damp, open woods. Leaves, roots, seeds poisonous if ingested in large quantities; fruit is edible and used in jams. YES
Solidago
canadensis		 Canada
goldenrod		 yellow August -
October		 4-5’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Can rapidly colonize an area. Goldenrods are the most beneficial native perennial to native butterflies/moths [4]. YES
Solidago
rugosa		 rough
goldenrod		 yellow Sept. -
October		 3’ D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Can rapidly colonize an area by creeping rhizomes and self-seeding. Goldenrods do not cause allergies or hay fever. YES

​Other aggressive ground covers/solution plants: Rhus glabra (31), Rhus typhina (31).

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​

Page 19. NATIVE FORBS FOR MEADOWS

All plants listed are perennials and native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3		 DEER
RESIST.
Andropogon
gerardii		 big
bluestem		 purplish red Sept.-February 4-5' D M Full sun butterflies and birds Drought tolerant. Cut stems to base-late winter. Good fall color.
Likes infertile soils. Good for erosion control. Self-seeds. WS.		 YES
Coreopsis
lanceolata		 lanceleaf
coreopsis		 yellow May -
July		 1-2’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Short-lived perennial in a garden bed setting. Deadhead to extend
flowering: cut back hard in late summer when plants become
unkempt. Divide every 2-3 years to encourage robustness.		 YES
Desmodium
canadense		 showy tick trefoil rose purple,
lavender		 July -
August		 2-6 ‘ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Fixes nitrogen in the soil (legume). Plentiful flowers. More
attractive when planted in large groups, not single specimens.
Attracts hummingbirds, butterfly host plant.		 NO
Echinacea
paradoxa		 yellow
coneflower		 yellow June -
August		 2-3’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Very drought tolerant. Attracts goldfinch and other birds.
Echinacea purpurea and E. angustifolia are other good options.		 YES
Liatris
scariosa		 northern
blazing star		 pink -
purple		 August -
Sept.		 2-4’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Large, dense flower spikes. Prefers dry, sandy or rocky soils.
Adds vertical accent and late summer to fall bloom.		 NO
Monarda
punctata		 spotted
beebalm		 yellow,
purple,
white		 June -
August		 1-3’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Showy bracts; aromatic foliage. Attracts and supports many pollinators. Good cut flower. Drought tolerant. Best in sandy soils with
consistent moisture. Alternate options: M. didyma, M. fistulosa.		 YES
Pycnanthemum
virginianum		 American
mountain
mint		 white July -
Sept.		 2-3’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Fragrant foliage. Self-seeds. Attracts many beneficials, including
honeybees, cuckoo bees, sweat bees, solitary wasps, tachinid
flies, wedge-shaped beetles, and pearl crescent butterflies.		 YES
Sporobolus
heterolepis		 prairie
dropseed		 pink,
brown		 August -
October		 2-3’ M Full sun birds Adds winter interest. Slow to establish. Can be sown by seed but
does not freely self-seed. WS.		 YES
Solidago
speciosa		 showy
goldenrod		 yellow July -
Sept.		 2-3’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Attracts numerous pollinators. Does not cause allergies or hay
fever and is not overly aggressive like some goldenrods.		 YES
Sorghastrum
nutans		 Indian
grass		 brown, yellow Sept.-
February		 3-5’ D M Full sun butterflies and birds Prefers infertile soils. Attractive blue-green foliage. Orange yellow
fall color. Cut stems to ground late winter. Salt tolerant. WS.		 YES
Symphyotrichum
novae-angliae		 New
England
aster		 purple,
blue		 August -
Sept.		 3-6' D M W Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Syn. Aster novae-angliae. Showy, good cut flowers. Nectar source
for monarch butterflies. Larval host plant for pearl crescent and
checkerspot butterflies. S. lateriflorum is also good for meadows.		 YES
Rudbeckia
hirta		 black-eyed
Susan		 yellow June -
Sept.		 2-3’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Biennial (short-lived perennial). Use for early meadow establishment. Self-seeds freely. YES

Other meadow plants: Achillea millefolium, Agastache foeniculum, Ageratina altissima, Asclepias spp., Carex praegracilis, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Elymus canadensis, Eutrochium purpureum, Panicum virgatum, Pycnanthemum muticum, Scutellaria incana, Tradescantia ohiensis, Vernonia noveboracensis.

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NATIVE PERENNIALS FOR RAIN GARDENS

Page 21. NATIVE PERENNIALS FOR RAIN GARDENS

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Amsonia
hubrichtii		 blue star light blue April -
May		 2-3’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good fall color. Native to south-central U.S. Also grown in borders, gardens, or open woodlands. Best en masse. 2011 Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year. YES
Amsonia
tabernaemontana		 eastern
blue star		 blue May 2-3’  M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good cut flower and fall color. Tolerates some drought. Native to central U.S. Cut stems after flowering to promote bushy growth. Best flowering in full sun; may require staking in part shade. YES
Asclepias
incarnata		 swamp
milkweed		 white,
pink		 July -
August		 4-5’ M W Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Attracts hummingbirds. Essential food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Showy, fragrant, flowers. Deep taproots - best left undisturbed once established. Foliage is slow to emerge in spring. YES
Carex crinita fringed
sedge		 green May -
June		 1-3 M W Full sun birds Useful in moist garden areas or for naturalizing. Tolerant of standing water. Spreads by rhizomes to form large colonies. Also valuable for wetland restoration and soil retention. YES
Chelone glabra white
turtlehead		 white w/
pink
tinge		 August -
October		 2-3' M W Part shade butterflies and bees Thrives in moist to wet, rich soils in part shade. Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Also grown in woodland, bog, or wildflower gardens; by ponds or water garden peripheries. NO
Chelone lyonii pink
turtlehead		 pink July -
Sept.		 2-4’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Native to southeastern U.S. Pinch stems in spring to encourage bushiness, especially if in very shady areas. Does not need staking in full sun. Compost enhances growth. Will self-seed in moist soils. YES
Eutrochium
purpureum		 Joe Pye
weed		 mauve
pink		 July -
Sept.		 5-7' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Syn. Eupatorium purpureum. Prefers moist soils that do not dry out. Cut plants to ground in late winter. Several improved cultivars are available, such as 'Gateway' or E. dubium 'Little Joe' NO
Filipendula
rubra		 queen of the prairie pale pink June -
August		 6-8’ M W Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Attracts hummingbirds. Fragrant foliage. Showy, fragrant flowers. Intolerant of drought. YES
Helenium
autumnale		 sneezeweed yellow August -
October		 3-5' M W Full sun butterflies and bees Can remove spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. Does not cause sneezing. Intolerant of dry soils. YES
Hibiscus moscheutos
 swamp
mallow		 white,
pink		 July -
Sept.		 3-7' M W Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Nectar source for hummingbirds, other pollinators. Tall stems provide over-wintering sites for beneficial insects. Birds use stem fibers for nesting material. Preferred pollen source - native bees. NO
Lobelia
cardinalis		 cardinal
flower		 red, white July -
Sept.		 2-4’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Pollinated by hummingbirds. Prefers part shade. Needs constant moisture. Will self-seed in optimal conditions. YES
Rudbeckia
fulgida		 orange
coneflower		 yellow,
orange		 June -
October		 2-3’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Prefers consistent moisture; some drought tolerance once established. Good cut flower. Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Plant in upper, dryer sections of rain garden. YES

Other plants for rain gardens: Ageratina altissima, Aruncus dioicus, Carex stipata, Carex pensylvanica, Carex praegracilis, Clethra alnifolia, Cornus racemosa, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Ilex verticillata, Lindera benzoin, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Packera aurea, Panicum virgatum, Salix discolor, Sanguinaria canadensis, Spiraea alba, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, Vaccinium corymbosum, Veronicastrum virginicum.

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ANNUALS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL GARDENS

Page 23. ANNUALS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL GARDENS

All plants listed are not native to the U.S., except where noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Anethum
graveolens		 dill yellow August -
Sept.		 3-5’ M Full sun butterflies and bees Attracts lacewings, tachinid flies, hoverflies, and lady beetles. Larval host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly. Fragrant. Edible. Self-seeds aggressively. YES
Calendula
officinalis		 calendula
or pot
marigold		 yellow,
orange		 May -
June		 1-2’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Attracts small native solitary bees. Attracts aphids, providing a food source for beneficials. Fragrant.  Edible, somewhat bitter foliage and flowers. May reseed. Start seed indoors or sow directly in garden. YES
Coriandrum
sativum		 cilantro white May -
August		 1.5-2’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Attracts hoverflies and many beneficials. Fragrant. Edible. Attracts swallowtail butterflies. Plants bolt in hot summer weather. Seeds may be planted directly in garden or in pots. YES
Cosmos bipinnatus cosmos white, pink June - frost 1-4' M Full sun butterflies and bees Attracts hoverflies and lacewings. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. May self-seed. Avoid rich, fertile soils. Direct seed or start seeds indoors. YES
Foeniculum
vulgare		 fennel yellow June -
July		 4-6’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Attracts hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings. Fragrant. Edible. Self-seeds freely. Remove spent flowers before seed production to avoid self-seeding. Larval host plant for swallowtail butterfly. YES
Helianthus
annuus		 sunflower yellow, red July -
August		 3-10’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Attracts hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings. Tolerates poor, somewhat dry soils. Plant seeds directly in garden; fast grower. Native to North America, including Connecticut. YES
Lobularia
maritima		 sweet
alyssum		 white, pink April -
June		 0.5-
0.75		 M Full sun butterflies and bees Attracts hoverflies and other beneficials. Fragrant. Moderate drought tolerance. One of the easiest annuals to grow. May be cut back after first bloom to encourage more flowering. YES
Tagetes spp marigold
(yellow)		 yellow June -
frost		 0.5-1’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Attracts hoverflies, ladybugs. Attracts spider mites, providing a food source for beneficials. Fragrant. Pinch young plants to promote bushy growth. YES
Zinnia
elegans		 zinnia pink, yellow June -
frost		 1-4’ M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Habitat plant - attracts many beneficial insects. Grows easily in humus-rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils. Pinch young plants to promote compact, bushy form. Maintain good air circulation to prevent fungal leaf diseases. YES

Many beneficial insects rely on plants as a food source (nectar and pollen) or shelter. Many natural enemies are omnivores, requiring nectar and pollen as well as insects in their diet. Habitat and “banker plants” provide alternative food sources for omnivorous beneficial insects to support populations when insect pests are limited.

In order to attract beneficial predators and pollinators to create landscape biodiversity, the inclusion of habitat and banker plants is critical. Landscapes with a diverse selection of plant species that incorporate a variety of flowering plants, with an emphasis on native trees, shrubs, and perennials of varying sizes are less likely to have major pest problems than homogeneous landscapes.

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SALT TOLERANT & COASTAL-AREA PERENNIALS

Page 25. SALT TOLERANT & COASTAL-AREA PERENNIALS

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3		 DEER
RESISTANT?
Aquilegia
canadensis		 columbine red,
pink,
white		 April -
June		 1-1.5’ D M Part shade bees and birds Prefers moist, average to rich soils. Water well during periods of drought. Leaf miners only significant pest. If seen, simply cut foliage to ground and discard. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Coreopsis
verticillata		 threadleaf
tickseed		 yellow June -
Sept.		 2-2.5’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Drought tolerant. Reblooms in September if sheared lightly in August. Self-seeds. Good plant for areas with poor, dry soils. Attracts beneficial syrphid flies, yellow-collared scape moth. YES
Dianthus spp. cheddar
pinks		 pink-red,
white		 late June
- August		 0.5-1’ D M Full sun butterflies Drought tolerant; many cultivars. Makes a good ground cover or front of border plant. Not native to U.S. Mod. deer resistance. YES
Iberis
sempervirens		 candytuft white July -
Sept.		 0.5-1’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies Evergreen. Well-drained soil is important for plant health. Slow spreader. Not native to U.S. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Limonium
carolinianum		 sea
lavender		 pale
purple		 July -
Sept.		 1-2’ M W Full sun, part shade bees Native habitat is irregularly flooded, high salt marshes. Grows in clay, loam, and sand soils. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Panicum virgatum switchgrass amber July -
February		 2-4’ D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Attractive as an accent, screen, or massed. Wide range of soil condition tolerance. Attractive amber seedheads. Good fall color. Also appropriate for meadows and rain gardens. WS. YES
Puccinellia distans alkaligrass green June -
July		 1-2 M W Full sun N/A Bunching habit. Used for erosion control, roadsides, disturbed sites. Can be left unmown or mown as turf. Extremely salt tolerant; will outcompete other turfgrasses in salty soils. NO
Schizachyrium
scoparium		 little
bluestem		 purplish-bronze August -
February		 2-4' D M Full sun butterflies and birds Beautiful inflorescence. Cut to the ground in late winter to early spring. Tolerant of sandy or droughty, infertile soils. Bronze orange fall foliage color. WS. YES
Sedum
'Autumn Joy'		 autumn joy
stonecrop		 pink,
copper		 August -
Nov.		 2' D M Full sun butterflies and bees Late season resource for pollinators. Divide every 3-4 years to maintain compact growth habit. Older plants may split in center if not divided. Not native to U.S. YES
Spartina patens saltmeadow
cordgrass		 yellow April -
May		 1-3’ W Full sun birds Used for beach front stabilization. Native habitat includes salt marshes, sea beaches, edges of wetlands. May also be grown in freshwater environments; the size of the plant will be larger. NO
Solidago
sempervirens		 seaside
goldenrod		 yellow August -
October		 1-6’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Sandy soils. Does not spread aggressively. Native to coastal dunes, maritime wet grasslands, tidal marshes. YES
Tiarella
cordifolia		 foam-flower white,
pink		 May 0.5-1' M Part shade butterflies and bees Forms attractive ground cover - grow en masse. Good fall color. Maintain even, steady moisture; do not allow to dry out or become water-logged. Spreads by stolons and seed. YES

Other salt tolerant plants: Achillea millefolium, Andropogon gerardii, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Eutrochium purpureum, Phlox subulata, Prunus serotina, Sorghastrum nutans, Waldsteinia fragarioides

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SALT TOLERANT AND COASTAL-AREA SHRUBS

Page 27. SALT TOLERANT AND COASTAL-AREA SHRUBS

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Aronia
arbutifolia		 red
chokeberry		 white-pink April 6-10' M Full sun, part shade birds Suckers form colonies; can be removed to prevent spread if desired. Excellent fall color; edible red fruit in winter. Mod. deer resistance. YES
Aronia
melanocarpa		 black
chokeberry		 white May 3-6' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Tolerates many soils types, including wet; root suckers form colonies. Used for hedges, rain gardens, naturalizing. Excellent fall color. NO
Baccharis
halimifolia		 groundsel
bush		 white August -
October		 6-12’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Prefers sandy soil. Silvery, plume-like flat seed pods in fall. Showy fruit. Dioecious. Fast grower. Short-lived; wood is brittle. Self-seeds. NO
Cephalanthus
occidentalis		 buttonbush white June 5-12' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Grows well in wet soils. Adapts to wide range of soils except dry. Pruning unnecessary. Fruit attractive in winter. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Chaenomeles
speciosa		 flowering
quince		 orange,
red, pink		 March-April 3-10' D M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Blooms on old growth. Prune to shape as needed, in spring after flowering. Avoid heavy pruning. Not native to U.S. YES
Clethra
alnifolia		 summer-sweet white;
pink		 July -
August		 4-8' D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Prefers part shade and moist, rich acidic soil. Fragrant flowers; good fall color. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Comptonia
peregrina		 sweetfern yellow
(small)		 April -
May		 2-5' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies Thrives in dry, infertile soils. Difficult to transplant; best container grown. Good for naturalizing and embankments. Fragrant foliage. YES
Cornus
racemosa		 gray
dogwood		 white May -
June		 10-15' D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Most drought tolerant of the native shrub dogwoods. Spreads by root suckers to form thickets. Good fall color. NO
Diervilla
lonicera		 bush
honeysuckle		 yellow June -
July		 3-4' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good fall color. Spreads quickly; root suckers may be transplanted. Prune, if needed, right after flowering. Fruit valuable for songbirds. YES
Hypericum
prolificum		 shrubby St.
John's wort		 yellow June -
August		 3-5’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Tolerant of aerial salt spray. Tolerates both brief flooding and mild drought. Adapts to many soil conditions. Butterfly larvae host plant. YES
Ilex verticillata winterberry greenish-white June -
July		 6-10' M W Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Prefers moist, rich, acidic soils. Dioecious - both male and female needed for showy red fruit production. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Morella
pensylvanica		 bayberry yellow-green May 5-10' D M W Full sun, part shade birds Tolerates drought, erosion, wet soils. Roots form suckers. Best en masse. Showy fruit-winter interest. Dioecious. Widely adaptable. YES
Prunus
maritima		 beach plum white April -
June		 6-10’ D M Full sun bees and birds Dense, suckering. Edible fruit in August. Native to coastal, sandy, infertile soils. Short-lived species. Protect from insects and diseases. NO
Vaccinium
corymbosum		 highbush
blueberry		 white May -
June		 6-12' D M W Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Native to swamps but does well in dry, acidic, poor, sandy soils. Use mulch. Edible fruit. Good fall color. Can be used as a hedge. NO
Viburnum
dentatum		 northern
arrowwood		 white May -
June		 6-10' M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Adaptable; forms colony. Showy fruit. High susceptibility to Viburnum leaf beetles. Monitor for eggs after the first frost in fall or winter. YES

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SALT TOLERANT AND COASTAL-AREA TREES

Page 29. SALT TOLERANT AND COASTAL-AREA TREES

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RES.
Amelanchier
arbore		 downy
serviceberry		 white March-April 15-25' M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Remove root suckers to produce a more tree like form; otherwise will become shrubby. Attractive fall color, fragrant flower; edible red berries. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Amelanchier
canadensis		 shadblow
serviceberry		 white April-May 25-30' M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Attractive fall color, fragrant flower. Edible red berries. Tolerates air pollution. Multi-stemmed tree or large shrub. Larval host for striped hairstreak butterfly. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Amelanchier
laevis		 Allegheny
serviceberry		 white April 15-40' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Attractive fall color, fragrant flower; edible red berries. Prefers moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soils, but is adaptable to dry, poor, alkaline, compacted soils. YES
Chamaecyparis
pisifera		 Japanese
false-cypress		 N/A N/A 3-20' M Full sun, part shade N/A The species (60' x 20') is rarely available in the nursery trade, but many small, medium, and large cultivars, from 3' to 20' tall, are available. Wind tolerant. Not native to U.S. NO
Cupressus
nootkatensis
'Pendula'		 weeping
Alaskan
cedar		 N/A N/A 35' M Full sun, part shade N/A Syn. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Evergreen. Grow in average to acidic, well-drained soils. ‘Pendula' more common in the trade than the species. Royal Hort. Society & Cary Award winner. Native to Northwest U.S. NO
Ginkgo biloba ginkgo green April 50-80' D M Full sun N/A Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Dioecious - fruit from females have unpleasant odor. Good fall color. Not native to U.S. YES
Gleditsia
triacanthos
f. inermis		 honey-locust green-yellow,
white		 May-June 30-70' D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Good street and parking lot tree. Tolerant of drought, air pollution, clay soil. F. inermis is a thornless and nearly seedpod-free variety. Native to southeast U.S. YES
Juniperus
communis		 common
juniper		 N/A N/A variable D M Full sun birds Evergreen. Drought tolerant. Showy fruit. Grows in nutrient-poor soils. Wind tolerant. Select disease-resistant cultivars. YES
Juniperus
virginiana		 eastern
red-cedar		 N/A N/A 30-65' D M Full sun birds Evergreen. Adapts to poor, droughty soils; pH adaptable. Very tough; screening, naturalizing, coastal planting. Best drought resistance of any conifer native to U.S. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Liquidambar
styraciflua		 sweet gum yellow-green April -
May		 60-80’ M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Excellent shade, lawn or park tree. Tolerate a wide range of soils, including poor drainage and occasional flooding. Good fall color. Spiky fruit may be considered messy. Takes time to establish. NO
Prunus
virginiana		 chokecherry white April -
May		 20-30’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Often forms thickets; parts of plant are toxic to animals. Tolerates salt spray. Prefers rich, moist soils, but will grow under a wide variety of soil types. Good fall color. Best flowering in full sun. NO
Quercus alba white oak yellow-green May 50-80' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Prefers rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils. Tolerant of drought, rocky or clay soils. Large shade tree, street or lawn tree. Needs a large space in which to grow. Brown to dark red fall color. NO

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TOUGH NATIVE TREES FOR CT LANDSCAPES

Page 31. TOUGH NATIVE TREES FOR CT LANDSCAPES

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT NEEDS WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER RESISTANT?
Acer rubrum red maple red March -
April		 40-80' D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Adaptable; tolerant of many conditions. Relatively fast growing. Red-orange showy fall color. Ornamental bark. Shallow roots. YES
Acer
saccharum		 sugar maple yellow-green April 40-90’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Great fall color. Requires root space; great for parks. High heat, pollution, compaction intolerant. Native maples are important early food sources for bees; host plants to 284 caterpillars. NO
Asimina triloba pawpaw purple May 15-30’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Edible fruit; tastes like banana/custard. Will spread by suckers. More than one (genetically distinct) plant required for fruit set. YES
Betula nigra river birch brown,
green		 April -
May		 40-70' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Most adaptable, heat tolerant birch. Tolerates poor drainage. Ornamental bark provides winter interest. Less prone to storm damage than other native birches. Native to southeast U.S. YES
Betula
populifolia		 gray birch brown,
green		 April 20-40 M W Full sun, Part shade butterflies and birds Ornamental bark provides winter interest. Intolerant of high heat, pollution. Fast growing; short-lived. Spreads by suckers. Alternate option to consider: Betula papyrifera. YES
Carpinus
caroliniana		 ironwood white,
green		 April 20-30' M Part shade, full shade butterflies and birds Slow-growing. Prefers fertile, moist, acidic soil. Attractive bark. Sensitive to drought, heat, compaction. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Carya ovata shagbark
hickory		 yellow green April -
May		 70-90' M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Adaptable to sand, clay. Showy, edible fruit. Good fall color. Deep taproot. Large trees may produce litter-twig, leaf, fruit (nut) drop. NO
Cercis canadensis redbud purple pink April -
May		 20-30' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Showy flowers appear before foliage. Prefers moist, well-drained soils. Avoid very dry, hot locations. Use as specimen or in small groups. Protect from strong wind. Good fall color (yellow). NO
Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic
white cedar		 N/A N/A 30-50' M W Full sun, part shade N/A Evergreen, narrow, columnar tree. Prefers full sun; sandy, peaty, moist to wet soils. Bluish-green needles. Preferred food for deer. NO
Chionanthus
virginicus		 American
fringetree		 white May -
June		 12-20’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Small tree or large shrub. Air pollution tolerant. Adapts well to urban settings. Fragrant flowers. Good fall color (yellow). Dioecious. Fruit Aug.-Sept. when both male and female plants present; valued by birds. Male flowers showier. Native to Southern U.S. NO
Cornus
alternifolia		 pagoda
dogwood		 white May -
June		 15-25’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Small tree or large shrub. Fragrant flowers. Part shade best. Good fall color. Attractive horizontal branching. NO
Cornus florida dogwood white,
pink		 April -
May		 15-30’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Prefers cool, moist, acidic soil and part shade. Select disease resistant cultivars. Ornamental fruit, bark - 4 season interest. Good fall color (red). Leaf litter decomposes rapidly, improving soil. Used for abandoned strip mines and urban forestry projects. YES
Fagus
grandifolia		 American
beech		 yellow green April -
May		 50-80’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Best growth in moist, well-drained, acidic soils. Intolerant of wet or compacted soil. Prefers sun; will tolerate shade. Golden bronze foliage in fall. Forms colonies via root suckers in the wild. YES

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TOUGH NATIVE TREES FOR CT LANDSCAPES

Page 33. TOUGH NATIVE TREES FOR CT LANDSCAPES

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Ilex opaca American
holly		 white May 15-30' M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Evergreen. Slow growing. Dioecious. Females have attractive red berries. Male that blooms at same time needed for fruit set. YES
Juglans nigra black walnut yellow green May -
June		 75-100’ M Full sun butterflies and birds Ornamental, edible nuts mature in autumn (large crops typically on 15+ yr. old trees). Allelopathic. Nut litter can be messy. NO
Liriodendron
tulipifera		 tulip tree yellow,
orange		 May -
June		 70-90’ M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Large shade, lawn tree. Not recommended as a street tree. Fast-growing; susceptible to limb breakage in storms. Good fall color. YES
Magnolia
virginiana		 sweetbay
magnolia		 white May -
June		 10-35’ D M V Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Soil must be acidic. Fragrant foliage, flowers; fruit and foliage ornamental. Not a heavy bloomer. Good specimen tree. YES
Nyssa sylvatica black
tupelo		 yellow green May -
June		 30-50’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Adaptable to varying conditions. Tolerates brief flooding. Good lawn or street tree. Slow growing. Site in location suitable for eventual size; difficult to transplant. Dioecious. Good fall color. NO
Ostrya
virginiana		 hop-hornbeam red brown,
green		 April 25-40’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Native habitat is dry woodland understory. Tolerates dry soils in part shade, once established. Slow growing. Avoid roadside– NOT salt tolerant. Fruit appears similar to fruit of hops. Ornamental bark. YES
Oxydendrum
arboreum		 sourwood white June -
July		 25-30’ M Full sun, part shade bees Good specimen, lawn tree. Excellent red fall color. Not pollution or drought tolerant. Slow growing. Native to southeastern U.S. YES
Pinus strobus eastern
white pine		 50-80’ M Full sun, part shade birds Evergreen. Prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Good specimen for parks or other large spaces. Fast-growing. YES
Prunus
serotina		 black cherry white May 60-90’ D M  Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Exceptional wildlife value; butterfly larval host. Fast-growing. adaptable. Edible fruit matures in August. Fragrant foliage. Used for reclamation of surface my spoil. Will self-seed. NO
Quercus
bicolor		 swamp
white oak		 yellow green April -
May		 50-60’ D M W Full sun butterflies and birds Good lawn or street tree. Some drought tolerance but prefers swampy, low spots. Tolerates compaction and temporary flooded conditions. Good fall color. Oaks may be considered messy. NO
Quercus rubra northern
red oak		 yellow green May 60-100' D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Best growth in well-drained, slightly acidic, sandy loam. Tolerates urban conditions: dry, acidic soil; air pollution; salt. One of the most shade tolerant and quick-growing oaks; can be transplanted. NO
Quercus
velutina		 black oak yellow green April -
May		 50-60’ D M  Full sun butterflies and birds All oaks have exceptional wildlife value. Good lawn or street tree. Slow growing. Oaks have a taproot; most are difficult to transplant. NO
Sassafras
albidum		 sassafras yellow green April -
May		 30-60’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Aromatic. Long tap root; difficult to transplant. Spreads by suckers. May colonize. Allelopathic. Dioecious. Excellent fall color. YES
Thuja
occidentalis		 arborvitae 20-50' M Full sun, part shade birds Evergreen. Best in full sun. Easily transplanted. Susceptible to drought injury. Avoid exposed, windy sites. Air pollution, heat tolerant when sited correctly. Protect young plants from deer. NO
Tilia
americana		 American
linden		 white,
yellow		 June 50-80’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Wide-spreading branches form dense crown. Fragrant, nectar-rich flowers. Best growth in moist, well-drained, loamy soils. NO

 

TOUGH NATIVE SHRUBS FOR CT LANDSCAPES

Page 35. TOUGH NATIVE SHRUBS FOR CT LANDSCAPES

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Aesculus parviflora bottlebrush buckeye white June -
July		 8-12’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Multi-stemmed; suckering. Requires large space - spreads. Good erosion control, soil stabilization. Pest resistant. Native to Southeast US. YES
Alnus incana ssp. rugosa speckled alder purple, green March 15-25’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Wide tolerance to soil types. Fast grower. Forms thickets. Root nodules fix nitrogen. Good erosion control-water edges. NO
Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea white May - July 3-4’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good cut flower. Drought tolerant. Best with good drainage. Useful for hard-to-grow areas such as dry, rocky slopes and banks. Difficult to transplant. NO
Cornus amomum silky dogwood yellow - white May - June 6-12’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Copious blue fruits, red fall color. Adaptable to a range of cultural situations. Can be used as hedge or in rain garden. YES
Cornus sericea red-osier dogwood white May - June 6-9’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Use as hedge, screen or in rain garden. Good fall color. Red stems provide winter interest. YES
Corylus americana American hazelnut red, brown March - April 10-16’ D M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Great for dry, infertile sites. Edible nuts. Hedge. Good fall color. Forms thickets; remove suckers if spread undesired. Dioecious. NO
Corylus cornuta beaked filbert yellow (small) April 4-8’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Edible and ornamental nuts; important food source for hares, birds, squirrels, many other animals. Good fall color. NO
Cotinus obovatus American smoketree yellow, pink May - June 15-30’ D M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Adaptable to wide range of soils. Prefers well-drained, low fertility. Tree or large shrub. Best in groups. Excellent fall color. Ornamental bark. Moderate deer resistance. Native to Southeast U.S. YES
Dasiphora fruticosa shrubby cinquefoil yellow June - Sept. 2-4’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Syn. Potentilla fruticosa. Abundant, long-lasting blooms. Very tough; good for parking lots. Good erosion control. YES
Eubotrys racemosa sweetbells white May - June 5-12’ D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Found in wet areas but performs well in much drier soils. Bell-shaped flowers; red fall color. Suckers form colonies. YES
Fothergilla gardenii dwarf fothergilla white May 2-3’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Dense, compact; spreads by suckers. Good fall color. Fragrant flowers. Native to Southeast U.S. Alternate option: Fothergilla major (6-10’). YES
Hamamelis
virginiana		 common witch hazel yellow October - December 15-20’ D M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Long-lived; best in rich, moist, well-drained sites. Tolerates wet and poor soils, pollution. Avoid extremely dry conditions. Provides winter interest. Unique, fragrant flowers. NO
Hydrangea quercifolia oakleaf hydrangea white, purplish May - July 6-8’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies Thrives in moist soils; use mulch. Protect young plants from winter injury. Good massed; informal hedge. Native to southeastern U.S. Alternate option: H. arborescens. NO
Ilex glabra inkberry insignificant May - June 5-8’ M W Full sun, part shade bees and birds Evergreen. Cultivars (e.g. 'Shamrock') more compact than species. Prefers rich, moist, acidic soils. Use for hedge, rain garden. Dioecious. Suckers form colonies. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Itea virginica Virginia
sweetspire		 white June 3-6' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Multi-stemmed. Spreads by suckers; forms colony. Best en masse. Grows in areas with poor drainage. Spectacular fall color. Good erosion control. Native to eastern U.S. south of New York. YES

 

TOUGH NATIVE SHRUBS FOR CT LANDSCAPES

Page 37. TOUGH NATIVE SHRUBS FOR CT LANDSCAPES

All plants listed are native to northeastern United States unless otherwise noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES DEER
RESISTANT?
Kalmia
latifolia		 mountain-laurel white,
pink, red		 late May-June 5-12’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Evergreen. Solution plant for dry, acidic shade locations. Requires a cool, moist, acidic, organic soil for best performance. Avoid windswept sites. CT state flower. YES
Leucothoe
fontanesiana		 dog hobble,
drooping
laurel		 white May 2-3’ D M Part shade, full shade butterflies, bees, and birds Evergreen. Good fall color; winter interest. Spreads by suckers; forms colonies. Erosion control; stabilizes banks. Provide winter mulch. Alternate option: Leucothoe axillaris. Native to southeast U.S. NO
Lindera
benzoin		 spicebush yellow March -
April		 6-12' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Used as hedge, in rain gardens, woodland borders. Good fall color (best in full sun). Butterfly larval host plant. Fragrant. YES
Lonicera
canadensis		 American
honeysuckle		 yellow April -
June		 5-8’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Valuable pollinator support species. Thrives in fertile, well-drained soil. Used in restoration of natural areas. NO
Myrica gale sweet gale yellow March -
May		 3’ D M W Full sun, part shade birds Dense; candelabra shoots. Scented lime green foliage. Found in wet areas but performs well in much drier soils. Dioecious. NO
Physocarpus
opulifolius		 eastern
ninebark		 white,
pink		 May -
June		 5-8’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Attractive fall color and bark. Insect, disease resistant. Mass in borders; use as hedge. Erosion control. Mod. deer resistance. YES
Rhododendron
maximum		 rosebay
rhodo-dendron		 pink,
white		 June -
July		 5-15' M Part shade, full shade butterflies, bees, and birds Evergreen. Maintain moist soil; well-drained soil essential. Shallow root system; mulch recommended to retain moisture. Alternate option: Rhododendron viscosum. NO
Rosa
virginiana		 Virginia rose pink June -
August		 5-6' D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good choice for dry, sandy locations. Rose hips edible; persist into winter. Good fall color. Alternate option: R. palustris. NO
Sambucus
canadensis		 elderberry white June -
July		 5-12’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good as informal hedge or massed. Attractive, edible fruit. Spreads by root suckers. Provides erosion control. NO
Spiraea alba meadow-sweet white June -
August		 3-4’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Good for naturalistic landscaping. Native to wet meadows, swamps. Butterfly larval host. Alternate option: Spiraea tomentosa. YES
Vaccinium
stamineum		 deerberry white April -
June		 3-6’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Bluish foliage, red fall color. Dense mounded habit. Adaptable to dry, infertile full sun sites. Showy fruit. Drought tolerant. Moderate deer resistance. YES
Viburnum
acerifolium		 maple leaf
viburnum		 white June 3-6’ D M part shade, full shade butterflies and birds Maple-like leaves. Black fruits; good fall color. Colonizing. Can be used as hedge. Prefers moist loams; tolerates wide range of soils. NO
Viburnum
cassinoides		 witherod
viburnum		 creamy
white		 May -
June		 5-12’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Less susceptible to viburnum leaf beetle than many other native viburnums. Can be hedged. Fragrant flower. Good fall color and persistent fruit. Alternates: Viburnum nudum, V. trilobum. NO
Yucca
filamentosa		 Adam's
needle		 creamy
white		 June -
July		 4-8’ D M Full sun butterflies and birds Fragrant, spectacular flowers. Architectural foliage. Use in parking lots, rock gardens, borders. Salt tolerant. Native to southeast U.S. NO

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Page 38. PLANTS FOR RECLAMATION AREAS

Plants listed have the ability to prevent soil erosion, fix nitrogen, improve soils, and/or extract toxins from the soil. All are native to N.E. U.S. except where noted.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOW.
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MAT.
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3		 DEER
RESISTANT?
Agrostis
gigantea		 red top silver-red June -
July		 2-3’ M W Full sun butterflies Perennial grass. Valuable species to recapture very acidic sites, land polluted by heavy metals, such as mine spoils. and locations with poor soil quality. Provides erosion control. Not Native to U.S. YES
Bouteloua
curtipendula		 sideoats
grama		 purplish July -
August		 1.5-2.5’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Perennial grass. Tolerates wide range - sandy to clay soils. Good erosion control. Self-seeds in in optimum growing conditions. Attractive inflorescence into fall. Good fall color. Also forage grass. YES
Elymus
canadensis		 Canada
wild rye		 green July -
Sept.		 2-5’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies and birds Perennial grass. Self-seeds. Good ground cover for dry, sunny slopes. Foliage and flower/seed spikes lend aesthetic interest. CS. YES
Eupatorium
perfoliatum		 American
boneset		 white July -
Sept.		 4-6’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies Perennial. Needs constant moisture. Pair with native grasses; colonizes moist, recently disturbed sites. Quick growth stabilizes the soil surface. YES
Festuca ovina sheep
fescue		 green May -
June		 1-2’ D M Full sun, part shade Perennial grass. Bunch-type. Does well in full sun or shade. Drought tolerant; improved drought tolerance when left unmown or plantedin shade. Tolerates soils of low fertility. Not Native to U.S. CS. YES
Scolochloa
festucacea		 tall fescue green May -
June		 2-3’ D M W Full sun Perennial grass. Syn. Festuca arundinacea. Dense root system minimizes soil erosion. Establishes quickly. Does well in sandy, dry soils; strong drought and heat tolerance. Can tolerate wet soils. Good salt tolerance and roadside value. Not native to U.S. CS. YES
Rhus
typhina;
Rhus glabra		 staghorn
sumac,
smooth
sumac		 greenish
- white		 June -
July		 10-20’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Shrub. Showy fruit provides winter interest and supports beneficial wildlife. Excellent fall color. Aggressively forms thickets by self-seeding and root suckering. Dioecious. Provides erosion control on slopes or in hard-to-cover areas with poorer soils. YES
Salix
discolor		 pussy
willow		 green -
yellow		 March -
April		 6-15' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Shrub. Dioecious. Male trees produce showy catkins on leafless stems inearly spring. Cost-effective stabilizer for disturbed landscapes, phytore mediation, erosion control, and biomass production. Also useful for garden settings. Nectar-rich, early season flowers for many pollinators. YES
Salix nigra black
willow		 greenish
- yellow		 March -
April		 30-60’ M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Tree. Tolerates flooding, silting. Shallow, spreading root system stabilizes soils; effective for erosion control. Prefers full sun. Highly resistant to several toxic metals; accumulated more metals than other species. Not recommended for residential landscapes-weak wood, pests.
Senna
hebecarpa		 wild senna yellow July -
August		 4-6’ M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Perennial. Versatile. Attractive flower, foliage, and seed pods in fall. Good fall color. Horizontal root system provides strength against winds. Can be used as a hedge. Host plant for sulphur butterflies. Fixes nitrogen. YES

Other Plants for Reclamation Areas: Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, Asclepias syriaca, Carex crinita, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Cornus amomum, Cornus florida, Cornus racemosa, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, Lonicera canadensis, Lotus corniculatus, Panicum virgatum, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans

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Page 39. PASTURE CROPS

Not native to U.S. unless noted. Proper fertilization is imperative to maintaining high quality forage in pastures. Performing a soil test before selecting and planting pasture plants is essential to accurately determine the nutrients needed and pH of the soil. Information about soil testing is available at www.soiltest.uconn.edu.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3
Bromus
biebersteinii		 meadow
brome		 green June 2-5’ D M Full sun, part shade birds Perennial grass. Pasture, hay; highly palatable. Adapted to broad range of soil conditions. Thrives in fertile, well-drained soils. Good erosion control. CS.
Dactylis
glomerata		 orchard
grass		 green May -
Sept.		 1.5-4’ D M W Full sun, part shade birds Perennial grass. Quick spring establishment. Valuable for high nutritional yield. Recovers quickly after grazing or mowing. More coarse, less palatable as it matures. Mixes well with legumes. Maintain soil pH 6.0-7.0. CS.
Lolium
perenne
(forage-type)		 perennial
ryegrass		 green May -
July		 1-2' M W Full sun birds Perennial grass. Quick establishment; high yield. Valuable for grazing, hay, or silage and soil stabilization. Good source of protein. Wide range of adaptability; thrives on fertile, well-drained soils. Compatible with legumes.
Lotus
corniculatus		 birdsfoot
trefoil		 yellow June -
Sept.		 0.5-2’ D M Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Perennial legume. Green chop, hay, and pasture. Seed in combination with grass. Non-bloating. Less productive than alfalfa on fertile well-drained soils; performs well on soils too shallow or too poorly drained for alfalfa. Also used in roadside mixtures to help with soil stabilization. May become weedy or invasive if not properly managed.
Medicago
sativa		 alfalfa purple,
yellow		 May -
October		 2-3’ D M Full sun butterflies, bees, and birds Perennial legume. Harvested as hay; nutritious forage. Grown with grasses. Caution required due to high bloat hazard. Prevent self-seeding; potential invasiveness. Deep taproot loosens compacted soil; also good cover crop. For soil pH > 6.5. Moderate salt tolerance.
Phleum
pratense		 timothy green July 2-4' M W Full sun butterflies and birds Perennial grass. Thrives in cool, moist areas. Tolerates acidity, wetness, and some flooding. Avoid sandy soils. Best pH 5.4-6.2. Use for hay, silage and pasture. Harvest for hay before blooming to preserve protein quality. Grow with alfalfa, trefoil, or clover. Also used for erosion control. CS.
Poa pratensis
(forage-type)		 Kentucky
bluegrass		 green May -
July		 1-2.5’ M W Full sun butterflies and birds Perennial grass. Rhizomes form dense sod. Highly palatable. Tolerates close and frequent grazing; a component of continuously grazed permanent pastures. Heat limits production in summer. Provides erosion control. CS.
Trifolium
hybridum		 alsike
clover		 pale
pink		 June -
Sept.		 2-4’ M W Full sun, part shade bees Perennial legume. NOT for horses. Bloat potential for cattle. Uses: hay, pasture, cover crop - soil improvement. Preferred for very wet or acidic soils. Grows well in mixtures with low growing grasses (e.g., timothy), red clover.
Trifolium
pratense		 red clover pink purple May -
Sept.		 0.5-2' M W Full sun, part shade butterflies, bees, and birds Biennial legume or short-lived perennial. Quick-growing, high quality forage. Maximum yields in soil with pH of 6.0+. Will grow moderately well in slightly acid and poorly drained soils. Thick, well-branched taproot. Select disease resistant varieties. May be planted alone or with grasses. May be planted as a cover crop under silage corn. Should be inoculated.

Other plants for pastures: Agrostis gigantea, Avena sativa, Bouteloua curtipendula, Elymus canadensis, Fagopyrum esculentum, Festuca ovina, Scolochloa festucacea (forage-type), Secale cereal, Sorghum bicolor (forage-type), Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium repens, Triticum aestivum.

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COVER CROPS

Page 41. COVER CROPS

All cover crops listed are not native to the U.S. Cover crops are used to slow erosion, improve soil health, enhance water availability, smother weeds, help control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity and bring a host of other benefits to a farm, home, vegetable garden, or other growing area. Most cover crops must be cut down when they begin to flower to prevent them from spreading unwanted seed. Legume cover crops are used to: fix atmospheric nitrogen for use
by subsequent crops, reduce or prevent erosion; produce biomass and add organic matter to the soil; and attract beneficial insects.

BOTANICAL
NAME		 COMMON
NAME		 FLOWER
COLOR		 FLOWER
TIME		 MATURE
HEIGHT		 WATER
NEEDS		 SUNLIGHT
NEEDS		 WILDLIFE
ATTRACTED		 NOTES
*Glossary of abbreviations is on pg. 3
Avena sativa oats green -
blue		 summer 1-4’ D M Full sun butterflies and birds Annual. Suppresses weeds, stabilizes soil, pulls up excess nutrients, adds biomass. Mixes well with clover, pea, vetch, other legumes or other small grains. For winter cover, sow by early Sept. CS.
Fagopyrum
esculentum		 common
buckwheat		 white July –
Sept.		 5' M Full sun, part shade bees and birds Annual. Quick-growing green manure. Grown as grain crop, soil improver, wildlife cover, weed suppressor, topsoil loosener. Rejuvenates low fertility soils. Sow late May-July; till 1 month after germination, after flowering. WS.
Pisum
sativum		 field peas purple,
white		 spring or
fall		 3-4’ M Full sun, part shade butterflies and bees Annual. Legume. High nitrogen fixer. Sow in spring or fall to reduce weeds. Grow alone or mixes well with vetch, oats, or rye; grasses provide vertical support. Flowers provide early and long-blooming nectar for bees. SA or WA.
Raphanus
sativus		 oilseed
radish		 white,
pale
violet		 June -
August		 0.5-1’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Annual. Reduces compaction. Long taproot aerates soil, draws nutrients to the surface. Use as alternative to tillage. Avoid using in close rotation with other brassica family crops (increased pests, disease pressure).
Secale
cereale		 cereal
ryegrass		 green May-July 6’ D M Full sun, part shade birds Annual. Very hardy; can be seeded later into fall than other cover crops. Grows well in sandy, infertile, or acidic soil. Pair with a winter annual legume to offset nitrogen intake. Prevents soil erosion and adds organic matter. Do not allow to set seed (seeds ripen Aug-Sept). CS.
Sorghum
bicolor x S.
bicolor var.
sudanese		 sorghum-sudangrass yellow,
brown		 August -
October		 5-12’ D M Full sun N/A Annual. Most heat and drought-tolerant cover crop for Northeast U.S. Requires warm soil to germinate. Large biomass producer; reduces compaction; weed suppressor. Mow when stalks 3-4’ to encourage deeper root growth.
Trifolium
incarnatum		 crimson
clover		 red May 1–3' D M Full sun bees and birds Annual. Legume. Fast, vigorous grower. Nitrogen source, soil builder, erosion prevention, ground cover, forage. Grows well in combination with rye, vetches, red clover, black medic. 70-90 days to maturity. WA.
Trifolium
repens		 white
clover		 white May -
June		 0.25-0.5’ D M W Full sun, part shade bees Perennial. Legume. Dutch white clover most commonly available by seed. Spreads aggressively by stolons and seed. Popular for home gardens.
Triticum
aestivum		 wheat green June-July 5’ D M Full sun, part shade birds Annual. Widely used for temporary pasture crop. Do not allow to set seed (seeds ripen Aug-Sept). CS.
Vicia villosa hairy vetch purple April -
October		 10’ D M Full sun butterflies and bees Annual. Legume. Nitrogen source, weed suppressor, topsoil conditioner. Sow spring, late summer or fall. Grow alone or mix with grain, grass, or field peas. Vigorous spring growth of fall-seeded vetch out-competes weeds. SA or WA.

Other cover crops: Elymus canadensis, Lotus corniculatus, Medicago sativa, Senna hebecarpa, Trifolium hybridum, Trifolium pratense.

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Page 42. NATIVE PLANT NURSERIES AND VENDORS

Inclusion in this document does not equate endorsement. Those vendors that are listed as having “natives available” also sell non-native species.

COMPANY NAME ADDRESS PHONE WEBSITE PRODUCTS
Atlantic Golf & Turf 27 Industrial Blvd., Turners Falls, MA (413) 863-4444 atlanticgolfandturf.com Wholesale. Seed. Natives available.
Ballek’s Garden Center 90 Maple Ave., East Haddam, CT (860) 873-8878 balleksgardencenter.org Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
Bell Nurseries 1301 Hartford Tpke., North Haven, CT (203) 248-5086 bellnurseriesct.com Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
Blue Moon Farm Perennials 173 Saugatucket Rd., Wakefield, RI (401) 284-2369 bluemoonfarmperennials.com Retail. Container plants. Primarily natives.
Broken Arrow Nursery 13 Broken Arrow Rd., Hamden, CT (203) 288-1026 Welcome to Our Nursery Broken Arrow Nursery Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
Canterbury Horticulture 351 Brooklyn Rd., Canterbury, CT (866) 287-0893 anterburyhorticulture.com Wholesale. Container plants. Natives available.
Eden’s Natives Tolland, CT (860) 325-2012 EdensNativeNursery on FB Retail. Container plants. Local eco-type natives.
Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery 212 Grassy Hill Rd., Woodbury, CT (203) 263-6626 earthtonesnatives.com Retail. Container plants. Exclusively natives.
Ernst Seeds 8884 Mercer Pike, Meadville, PA (1-800) 873-3321 Ernst Conservation Seeds offers hundreds of species of native & naturalized seeds & live plant materials Retail. Seed. Natives available.
Farmer’s Daughter 716 Mooresfield Rd., S. Kingstown, RI (401) 792-1340 thefarmersdaughterri.com Retail. Seed & container plants. Natives available.
F.M. Brown’s 205 Woodrow Ave., Sinking Spring, PA (1-800) 334-8816 fmbrown.com Retail. Seed. Conservation grasses; cover crops.
Garden in the Woods 180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham, MA (508) 877-7630 nativeplanttrust.org Retail. Container plants. Exclusively natives.
Judge’s Farm Perennials 3 Old Shore Rd., Old Lyme, CT (860) 434-0822 Judge's Farm – Premium Wholesale Plants Wholesale. Container perennials. Natives available.
Lavoie Horticulture East Granby, CT (413) 355-0200 lavoiehorticulture.com Retail. Seed and container plants. Natives available.
Monrovia 41 Floydville Rd., Granby, CT (860) 844-6051 monrovia.com Wholesale. Container plants. Natives available.
Nasami Farm 128 North St., Whately, MA (413) 397-9922 nativeplanttrust.org Retail. Container plants. Exclusively natives.
Native 2940 Redding Rd., Fairfield CT (203) 658-7475 anativeplantnursery.com Retail. Container plants. Exclusively natives.
Natureworks 518 Forest Rd., Northford, CT (203) 484-2748 naturework.com Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
New England Wetland Plants 820 West St., Amherst, MA (413) 548-8000 newp.com Wholesale. Seed & container plants. Natives focus.
North Creek Nurseries 388 North Creek Rd., Landenberg, PA (610) 255-0100 northcreeknurseries.com Wholesale. Container plants & plugs. Natives focus.
Perennial Harmony Garden Center East Lyme, CT (860) 961-4439 facebook.com/perennialharmony Retail. Landscaping. Natives available.
Planters’ Choice Nursery Newtown, CT and Watertown, CT (203) 426-4037 planterschoice.com Wholesale. Container plants. Natives available.
The Plant Group Perennial Nursery 117 Pond Rd., Route 207, Franklin, CT (1-800) 864-2670 plantgroupnursery.com Wholesale. Container perennials. Natives available.
Prides Corner Farms 122 Waterman Rd., Lebanon, CT (1-800) 437-5168 pridescorner.com Wholesale. Container plants; B&B. Natives available.
Rhody Native Kingston, RI (401) 874-5807 rhodynative.org Wholesale. Retail options. Exclusively natives.
Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouse 437 North St., Greenwich, CT (203) 869-3418 sambridge.com Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
Sprucedale Gardens 20 E. Quasset Rd., Woodstock, CT (860) 974-0045 sprucedalegardens.com Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
Summer Hill Nursery 888 Summer Hill Rd., Madison, CT (203) 421-3055 summerhillnursery.com Wholesale. Container plants. Natives available.
Toadshade Wildflower Farm 53 Everittstown Rd., Frenchtown, NJ (908) 996-7500 toadshade.com Retail. Mail-order container plants. Exclusiv. natives.
Warner Nursery 76 Riverside Rd., Simsbury, CT (860) 651-0204 warnernursery.com Retail. Container plants. Natives available.
Wild Seed Project Portland, Maine; info@wildseedproject.net wildseedproject.net Retail. Seed. Exclusively natives.
Winterberry Gardens 2070 West St., Southington, CT (860) 378-0071 winterberrygardens.com Retail. Container plants. Natives available.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES

WEBSITES:

UConn Integrated Pest Management Program. ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu

UConn Home and Garden Education Center. homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu

UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources Plant Database. hort.uconn.edu

CT NEMO. Rain gardens; stormwater management. nemo.uconn.edu

Center for Land Use Education and Research. clear.uconn.edu

CT Sea Grant. seagrant.uconn.edu

CT Agricultural Experiment Station. Pollinator Resources. portal.ct.gov/CAES/Publications/Publications/Pollinator-Information

Pollinator Pathways CT Native Plant Lists. pollinator-pathway.org

Native Plant Trust Plant Search. plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/Plant-Search

Go Botany. Simple and Advanced Plant ID. gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/

Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). Index of Species Information. feis-crs.org/feis

World Flora Online. A Working List of All Known Plant Species. wfoplantlist.org

North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Rhody Native; Rhode Island Native Plant Society. rinhs.org/projects-and-publications/rhody-nativetm

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Center Plants Database. plants.sc.egov.usda.gov

CT Botanical Society. ct-botanical-society.org

Sustainable CT. sustainablect.org

Audubon Native Plant Database. audubon.org/plantsforbirds

CT Northeast Organic Farming Association. ctnofa.org/ecotypeproject

Plants for Pollinators. University of Minnesota. Department of Horticultural Sciences. Display and Trial Garden. plantsforpollinators.weebly.com

Illinois Wildflowers. illinoiswildflowers.info

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. wildflower.org

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. missouribotanicalgarden.org

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education. Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations. sare.org/resources/cover-crops

[1] Cornell University, Managing Viburnum Leaf Beetles. cals.cornell.edu/insect-diagnostic-laboratory/factsheets#pest

Penn State Extension. Rain Garden Plants. extension.psu.edu/trees-lawns-and-landscaping/home-gardening/eco-friendly-gardening

NewCROP, the New Crop Resource Online Program. Center for New Crops & Plant Products. Purdue University. hort.purdue.edu/newcrop

Plant Spacing Calculator. midwestgroundcovers.com/plant/calculator

 

BOOKS AND ARTICLES:

Barrett, J. 2011. Connecticut Coastal Planting Guide. Connecticut Sea Grant, University of Connecticut. seagrant.uconn.edu

Burghardt, K. T., D. W. Tallamy, and W. G. Shriver. 2009. Impact of Native Plants on Bird and Butterfly Biodiversity in Suburban Landscapes. Conservation Biology. Vol. 23, No. 1 (Feb.,
2009), pp. 219-224. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/29738707.

Clausen, R. R. 2013. 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants. Timber Press. Portland, OR; London, UK. Print.

Dole, C.H. Ed. 2003. The Butterfly Gardener's Guide. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, NY. Print.

Dunne, N. Ed. 2009. Great Natives for Tough Places. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, NY. Print. bbg.org/gardening/handbook/great_natives_for_tough_places

Fiedler, A., et al. 2007. Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants. Michigan State U. Extension.

[2] Kuzovkina, Yulia A. and M. F. Quigley. 2001. Willows Beyond Wetlands: Uses of Salix L. Species for Environmental Projects. Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio

State University, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A. www.researchgate.net/publication/226165275_Willows_Beyond_Wetlands_Uses_of_Salix_L_Species_for_Environmental_Projects

[3] Kuzovkina, Yulia A., M. Knee, and M. F. Quigley. 2004. Cadmium and Copper Uptake and Translocation in Five Willow (Salix L.) Species. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 6:3, 269-287. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16226510490496726

Lubell-Brand, J. 2013. Native Shrubs: Guide to Landscape Uses. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. cipwg.uconn.edu

MacDonagh, P. and N. Hallyn. 2010. Native seed mix design for roadsides. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Research Services Section.

Marinelli, J. Ed. 2008. The Wildlife Gardener's Guide. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, NY. Print.

Rainer, T. and C. West. 2015. Planting in a Post-Wild World. Timber Press. Portland, OR. Print.

Salon, P. A. and C.F. Miller. 2012. A guide to conservation plantings on critical areas for the Northeast. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/nypmspu11417.pdf

Siegel-Miles, A., P. Picone, V. Wallace, and S. Tomis. 2026 Native Perennial, Tree and Shrub Availability List. 20 pp. ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/connecticut-native-availability

Stoner, K. A Citizens’ Guide to Creating Pollinator Habitat in Connecticut. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

[4] Tallamy, D. 2009. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded. Timber Press. Portland, OR. Print.

Withrow-Robinson, B. and R. Johnson. 2006. Selecting native plant materials for restoration projects. Oregon State University Extension Service. EM 8885-E. November 2006.

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Pollinator Plants. xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/17-051_03_XercesSoc_PollinatorPlants_Northeast-Region_web-4page.pdf

Zimmerman, Catherine B. 2010. Urban & Suburban Meadows: Bringing Meadowscaping to Big and Small Spaces. Silver Spring, MD: Matrix Media. Print.

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