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Native Plant Suggestions

Click on site description below for suggested native plants appropriate to each. Need more ideas? Go to our New York City-area native plants' chart. Wondering where to buy these plants? Check out "Native Plant Gardening Resources" on Drosera's resources page.

• Sunny window boxes (and other dry sites)
• Potted shade gardens
• Blanketing a bare spot (groundcovers)
• Showy shrubs and small trees for a front yard

Sunny window boxes (and other dry sites)

The majority of these are low-growing and naturally thrive in low nutrient soils (like sandy sites). The container should comfortably hold at least 5" of soil, filled with a growing medium that will drain well, and placed in full sun. This assemblage is based on plants found along the sandy, forest edges of Richmond Valley, Staten Island.

~Wildflowers~ (forbs)

• Field pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) Aster family. Grows to 16 in. tall. Small, white clusters of flowers like Q-tips in May-July.

• Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Milkweed family. Grows to 2 ft. Showy, bright orange flowers in July-August. Attracts butterflies, favorite food plant of Monarch caterpillars.

• Smooth blue aster (Aster laevis or Symphyotrichum laeve) Aster family. Grows to 3 ft. Showy, blue flowers in Aug.-Oct., excellent in arrangements. Attracts butterflies. Smooth blue-green stems & foliage.

• Panicled tick-clover (Desmodium paniculatum) Pea family. Grows to 3 ft. Flowers pink-purple, July-Sept., fruit Aug.-Oct. Attracts butterflies.

• Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata or Cassia chamaecrista) Pea family. Annual growing to 30 in. Showy, yellow flowers in July-Sept. with pinnately-divided leaves.

• Wild blue lupine (Lupinus perennis) Pea family. Grows to 2 ft. Spire of blue flowers in May above dissected foliage. Attracts butterflies. Sole food source of the endangered Karner blue butterfly.

• Spotted bee-balm (Monarda punctata) Mint family. Grows to 3 ft. Flowers yellowish with purple spots, July-Oct. Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds.

• Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) Cactus family. Grows prostrate to 1 ft. Evergreen stems ("paddles"). Large yellow flowers in June-July, edible fruits in Oct.-Nov.

• Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) Aster family. Grows to 3 ft. Plume of sunny yellow flowers Aug.-Oct. Attracts butterflies. Also try showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. speciosa).

•Birdfoot violet (Viola pedata) Violet family. Grows to 6 in. Violet-lilac flowers with conspicuous orange centers in spring above dissected foliage. Attracts butterflies.

~Shrubs~

• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) Heath family. Grows prostrate to 6 in., evergreen leaves on trailing woody stem. White flowers in late spring, red fleshy fruits in late summer persist into winter.

~Grasses~

• Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) Grass family. Grows to 2 ft. Airy plume of tiny purple flowers in late summer.

• Puffsheath dropseed (Sporobolus neglectus) Annual growing to 20 in. Blooms Aug.-Oct. Also try poverty-grass (Sporobolus vaginiflorus)

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Potted shade gardens

"Shade" does not mean "utter darkness". Dappled sunlight throughout the day or attenuated light for at least 4 hours is the minimum required. Soils should have a healthy dose of organic material and be kept consistently damp (i.e., do not allow to dry out completely).

As you scroll down, note the many members of the Lily Family, a group well-represented on our forest floors. Consider a collection of lilies. Another lovely combination is ferns mixed with spring ephemerals. The fronds begin to expand as the flowers die out. Enough with the Hostas already.

~Wildflowers~ (forbs)

• Wild leek (Allium tricoccum) Lily family. Grows to 1 ft. Broad leaves die back before white flowers bloom in April-May. Spring ephemeral.

• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) Arum family. One of the few native species of this tropical family (kin to skunk cabbage). Grows to 2 ft. Unique flowers bloom in May.

• Heart-leaved aster (Aster cordifolius or Symphyotrichum cordifolium) Aster family. Grows to 4 ft. Showy powder blue flowers in Aug.-Oct. Attracts butterflies. Also try white wood aster (Aster divaricatus) {syn. Eurybia divaricata}. These two species are very common in the city's woodland understory.

• Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) Lily family. Grows to 8 in. Beautiful mottled leaves. Cheery yellow flowers with reflexed petals bloom in April-May. Spring ephemeral.

• Round-lobed hepatica (Hepatica americana) Buttercup family. Grows to 6 in. Delicate blue-lavender flowers in March-April. One of our first wildflowers to bloom. Mottled semi-evergreen leaves unfurl after petals have dropped. Spring ephemeral.

• Smooth Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum) Lily family. Grows to 3 ft. Gracefully arching stems punctuated by bell-shaped greenish-white flowers in May-June. Red berries follow in late summer. Try also hairy Solomon's seal (P. pubescens) & false Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa).

• Blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia) Aster family. Grows to 3 ft. Whorls of yellow flowers at leaf axils in Aug.-Oct. Attracts butterflies. Also try zig zag goldenrod (S. flexicaulis).

• Wake robin (Trillium erectum) Lily family. Grows to 16 in. Large and showy flowers with maroon-colored reflexed petals bloom in April-June. Spreads slowly. Our hardiest trillium. NYC once had many species of this quintessential wildflower growing in its forests. Today, they are all gone.

• Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata) Lily family. Grows to 1 ft. Bell-shaped pale yellow blossoms in May-June. Also try wild oats (U. sessilifolia).

• Yellow forest violet (Viola pubescens) Violet family. Grows to 18 in. Flowers yellow, showy, April-May. Attracts butterflies. There are many species of shade tolerant violets that are native to our area. Try also V. blanda (white flowers) & V. palmata (purple flowers).

~Ferns~

• Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) Flowering fern family. Fronds to 3 ft., growing in clumps. Cinnamon-colored chaff mid-frond. Tolerates wet soils. Leave dead fronds to protect plant. Also try O. claytonia.

• Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) Flowering fern family. Fronds to 4 ft., growing in clumps. Tolerates wet soils. Very attractive and distinctive sterile fronds.

• Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) Maidenhair fern family. Fronds to 3 ft. A delicate spire of airy leaflets above black, wiry stems. Spreads slowly; drought tolerant once established. One of our most beautiful native ferns.

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Blanketing a bare spot (groundcovers)

~Wildflowers~ (forbs)

• Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) Ginseng family. Grows to 15 in. Large compound leaves hide small ball-shaped inflorescences of creamy white flowers in May-June. Berry-like dark blue fruits follow. (N.B. male and female flowers are on separate plants, both sexes must be present for fruit production).

• Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) Birthwort family. Grows to about 8 in. Leaves lustrous green. Unique deep purple-brown flowers hidden below foliage in April-May. Very shade tolerant.

• Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) Geranium family. Grows to 22 in. Showy pink-purple flowers held aloft cut foliage in April-June. Attracts butterflies. Very shade tolerant. Spreads slowly.

• Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) Lily family. Grows to 8 in. Egg-shaped leaves to about 4 in., spreads slowly. Tiny spire of fragrant white flowers in May-June. Red berries follow soon after if visited by pollinators. More on Canada mayflower.

• Twoleaf mitrewort (Mitella diphylla) Saxifrage family. Grows to 16 in. Flowers white, scattered along inflorescence in April-May. Also try foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia).

• Mountain phlox (Phlox subulata) Pink family. Grows to 8 in. Five-petaled purplish-pink flowers attract butterflies in May-July. Prefers dry, non-fertilized soils. Great for rock gardens.

• Old field cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex) Rose family. Grows to 1 ft. Leaves are semi-evergreen. Flowers yellow, April-June. Try also silverweed (P. anserina).

• Common blue violet (Viola sororia) Violet family. Grows to about 6 in. Flowers violet April-May. Attracts butterflies. Tolerant of partial shade. Freely self-sows, naturalizing in most areas.

• Barren strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides) Rose family. Grows to 6 in. Small clusters of yellow flowers in April-May. Evergreen foliage turns bronze in winter.

~Ferns~

• Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) Hay-scented fern family. Fronds to 32 in. Colonial, forming a carpet over time. Light green, lacy fronds sweet smelling early in season. Extremely drought tolerant once established.

• Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) Sensitive fern family. Fronds to 1 ft. Very attractive reproductive fronds, like a cluster of small, black beads. Also does well in full sun, but keep it moist, it's sensitive to drought.

• New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) Marsh fern family. Fronds to 18 in. Colonial, forming a carpet over time. Fronds taper to base.

~Graminoids (grasses & sedges)~

• Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) Grass family. Grows to 8 in. Mat-forming. Blooms April-July. Attractive seedheads can be used in dried arrangements.

• Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) Sedge family. Grows to 12 in., leaves semi-evergreen, forming patchy ground cover. Blooms April-July. Seeds eaten by songbirds.

• Wire-stem muhly (Muhlenbergia frondosa) Grass family. Grows to 40 in. Blooms Aug.-Oct.

~Vines~

• Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) Madder family. Grows to 8 in. Small, oval evergreen leaves with pairs of white flowers in summer, red berries all winter. Tolerates shade and dry soils.

• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Grape family. Climbing woody vine or ground cover, quick growing. Foliage turns scarlet in autumn. Deep blue fruits on red stems are an important food source for migratory birds in fall.

• Allegheny pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens) Boxwood family. This pachysandra is native to PA and south, whereas the one sold at most nurseries is from Japan and can be invasive. The native vine has attractive foliage, two-toned leaves.

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Showy shrubs and small trees for a front yard

Small trees & tall shrubs

• Shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis) Rose family. Grows to 25 ft., Multistemmed with showy white flowers that attract pollinators in April-May; edible purple fruits June-July. Fall foliage, attractive bark.

• Gray birch (Betula populifolia) Birch family. Grows to 30 ft., often multi-stemmed, bark white with black markings. Adds winter interest to the garden or yard. Fall foliage.

• Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Elm family. Grows to 70 ft., flowers April-May; black fruits Sept.-Oct. Beautiful silvery bark becomes corky and textured with age. Host to larvae of some butterflies.

• Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) Dogwood family. Grows to 40 ft., shade tolerant. Fall foliage. Showy white (sometimes pink) flowers in April-June; red fleshy fruit in Oct.-Nov. valuable to fall migrating birds. Bark ages into an attractive patchwork of squares.

• Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Witch-hazel family. Grows to 25 ft., shade tolerant. Multi-stemmed shrub with unusual yellow flowers that bloom late, in Sept.-Nov. Smooth gray bark. Gorgeous plant.

Smaller stature shrubs

• New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) Buckthorn family. Grows to 4 ft.; creamy white flowers in June-July, when blooms are few. Attracts butterflies.

• Inkberry (Ilex glabra) Holly family. Grows to 6 ft., evergreen; insignificant white flowers June-July; black fleshy fruits in Sept.-Nov., eaten by birds. (N.B. male and female flowers are on separate plants, both sexes must be present for fruit production).

• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) Holly family. Grows to 15 ft., insignificant white flowers June-July, red fleshy fruits in Sept.-Oct, eaten by birds. (N.B. male and female flowers are on separate plants, both sexes must be present for fruit production).

• Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) {syn. Morella p.} Bayberry family. Grows to 10 ft., tends to sucker into large colonies. Silvery bark. Holds leaves through winter. Waxy, fragrant berries provide food for winter resident and spring migratory birds. (N.B. male and female flowers are on separate plants, both sexes must be present for fruit production). Also try sweetgale (Myrica gale).

• Beach plum (Prunus maritima) Rose family. Grows to 6 ft., attractive, dark bark. Beautiful sculpted branching patterns. Showy white flowers in early summer before leaves, edible fruits mid-summer.

• Pinkster azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) Grows to 6 ft.; gorgeous pink tubular flowers, lightly fragrant, in April-May. Attracts hummingbirds. Will spread through stolons if conditions are right.

• Smooth rose (Rosa blanda) Rose family. Grows to 6 ft., thorns; large, showy, fragrant rosy-pink flowers with visible yellow centers in June-July; fruit fleshy, red Aug.-Nov. Also try Rosa caroliniana and R. virginiana.

• Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Heath family. Grows to 9 ft., fall foliage; small, bell-shaped white flowers May-June, blue edible fruits July-Aug., eaten by wildlife. Host to larvae of some butterflies. Has year-found interest in the garden.

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Content & photos © 2005-06 Marielle Anzelone & Drosera, unless otherwise noted.
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Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)