Andropogon gerardii
Big Bluestem is a tall, attractive, drought-tolerant native grass with colorful foliage and enormous benefits for wildlife.
Big Bluestem is a tall, attractive, drought-tolerant native grass with colorful foliage and enormous benefits for wildlife.
Nannyberry is a deciduous shrub, which features white flowers blooming early to mid-May. The flowers provide a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. The fruits ripen September-October, changing color from green to yellow, rose, and pink, before maturing as blueish-black. The berries provide winter food for birds. Nannyberry is a host plant to butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon). Plant Nannyberry in your shrub border, or in natural areas of your yard.
Withe-rod, or Witherod Viburnum, features white flowers with yellow stamens, which bloom June-July. The fruit is very ornamental, changing from green, to pink, to red, to blue, finally to black, and all colors may be present in the fruit cluster at one time. The berries persist after the leaves drop, and provide a good food source for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is orange-red, crimson, and purple. Witherod Viburnum is a good choice for naturalizing, mass plantings, and as a shrub border around your yard. It is very similar to Viburnum nudum.
Mapleleaf Viburnum features yellowish-white flower clusters blooming April-August. The flowers are followed by red berries, which turn blue-black when ripe. Fall foliage is reddish-purple. Mapleleaf Viburnum is a nectar and fruit source for bees, butterflies, birds, and wildlife. Mapleleaf Viburnum is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon).
Heartleaf Foamflower features tiny, pink blossoms, which open into white flowers on airy, terminal clusters in May. It prefers organically rich, moist soil; the soil should not be allowed to dry out. This plant spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) to form colonies. Use Heartleaf Foamflower in your shade garden, rain garden, along edges of ponds, or as a groundcover.