Baccharis halimifolia
Migrating butterflies and other pollinators nectar on the late summer blooming flowers, and birds eat the seeds.
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Baptisia australis
Blue Wild Indigo is a tall, bushy perennial with lupine-like, purple flowers, which bloom May-June. The flowers are borne in clusters at the top of tall stems, which extend above a mound of blue-green foliage. It tolerates both drought and poor soils.
Asclepias syriaca
Common Milkweed is a wildlife-friendly perennial. The large, thick leaves are light green with red veins. Rounded clusters of fragrant, pinkish-purple flowers bloom June-August. Large, bumpy seed pods split open when ripe to release silky, wind-dispersed seeds. The seed pods are used in dried floral arrangements. This plant’s nectar is a food source for butterflies, native bees, bumblebees, and honeybees. Common Milkweed is an important nectar source and larval (caterpillar) host plant for Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterflies. The leaves and stems have a milky sap, which contains cardiac glycosides. When ingested by Monarch butterfly larvae feeding on the leaves, the cardiac glycosides make them (and the adult butterflies) toxic to birds and other predators. Common Milkweed grows well in poor, dry soils. It spreads by self-seeding and rhizomes (underground stems) to form colonies. This plant is best used in wildlife gardens, meadows, and other naturalized areas.
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed is a wildlife-friendly perennial. Clusters of fragrant, pink flowers bloom at the top of stems, July-August. The flowers are followed by elongated seed pods, which are used in dried flower arrangements. The flower nectar is an important food source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; it has special value for native bees. Swamp Milkweed is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and Queen (Danaus gilippus). Stems and leaves have a milky sap, which contains cardiac glycosides. When ingested by Monarch butterfly larvae feeding on the leaves, the cardiac glycosides make them (and the adult butterflies) toxic to birds and other predators. As its name suggests, Swamp Milkweed prefers wet soils, but it will tolerate well-drained soils in cultivation. Its deep tap root makes it difficult to transplant once established. Use this plant in rain gardens, along edges of ponds or streams, and in other moist areas of the yard. It can also be used in the back of borders, in meadows, and butterfly gardens.
Aronia prunifolia
Purple Chokeberry is a wildlife-friendly, multiple-stemmed deciduous shrub. Clusters of white to light pink flowers bloom in April. The leaves turn purplish-red in the fall. Its edible, tart, purple-black berries can be used to make jams or jellies. The berries are a food source for birds and other wildlife. Plant Purple Chokeberry in groups to create native hedges, along the banks of ponds or streams, or in woodland areas around your yard.
Aronia melanocarpa
Black Chokeberry is a wildlife-friendly, multiple-stemmed deciduous shrub, featuring clusters of white flowers which bloom in May. The flowers are followed by blue-black berries. The edible, tart fruit can be used to make jams or jellies, and is a food source for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is red. Black Chokeberry has a colonial growth habit and may spread through suckers. Plant Black Chokeberry in groups to create native hedges, along the banks of ponds or streams, or in woodland areas around your yard.
Aronia arbutifolia
Red Chokeberry is a wildlife-friendly, multiple-stemmed deciduous shrub, featuring clusters of white to light pink flowers, which bloom in April. The flowers lead to red, showy berries, which persist in the winter; the berries are a source of food for birds in cold weather. The leaves turn bright red in the fall. The reddish-brown, exfoliating bark and the red berries both add winter interest to the yard. Red Chokeberry tolerates a variety of soils, including wet and boggy. It suckers to form colonies, making it a good choice for use as a native shrub border in your yard.
Aralia spinosa
Devil’s Walkingstick is a wildlife-friendly, large deciduous shrub with club-like branches and spiny stems. Its huge, compound leaves can reach 3-4 feet long and wide. Showy, umbrella-shaped clusters of small, white flowers bloom July-August. The flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies. Clusters of fleshy, black berry-like fruits on bright pink stalks ripen in late August-October; the fruits provide a food source for birds and other wildlife. This shrub spreads by suckering; it is best planted in areas of the yard where it can spread. Use Devil’s Walkingstick in shrub borders, wildlife gardens, or along edges of woodland gardens.
Andropogon virginicus
Broomsedge Bluestem is a wildlife-friendly, upright perennial bunchgrass. This grass turns a golden brown in the fall and maintains good color through the winter. Birds utilize plant parts for nesting materials, and the seeds as a winter food source. Broomsedge Bluestem provides nesting materials and structure for native bees. It is a host for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). It grows well in moist to wet soils, but also tolerates both poor soil and drought. Use Broomsedge Bluestem in masses in meadows or along edges of ponds or other water features. It can also be used for erosion control on sites with disturbed soil.