Impatiens capensis, commonly known as jewelweed, is a herbaceous annual that typically occurs in low woodlands and swampy areas throughout North America. This native plant is a member of Balsaminaceae (the Balsam family), and grows 2-5 feet tall and 1.5-2.5 feet wide and features funnel-shaped, spurred, orange flowers with reddish-brown spotting about 1 inch long in late summer. Pollinated flowers produce slender seed capsules that explosively split open at a touch when ripe to disperse the tiny seeds. Jewelweed is easily grown in medium to wet soils in part to full shade and often forms large colonies over time through self-seeding in ideal conditions, but it is easily controlled in cultivated gardens. Jewelweed attracts birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies has no serious disease problems and is tolerant of heavy shade and wet clay soil making it an excellent problem solver for difficult areas. The common name is descriptive of the way dew or rain beads up on the leaves forming sparkling droplets. Traditional medicine used the sap as a topical treatment to relieve itching associated with poison ivy and insect bites.

Helianthus maximiliani, commonly known as Maximilian sunflower or Threadleaf sunflower, is a herbaceous perennial in Asteraceae (the Aster family) that is native to broad regions in North America. Historically found mostly in tallgrass prairie regions; today, it is typically found in dry open areas such as prairies, balds, bluffs, limestone glades, and roadsides. Helianthus maximiliani grows 3-10 feet tall by 2-4 feet wide and features showy 2-3 inch diameter sunflowers with yellow rays and darker yellow center disks in August and September. It grows best in sunny locations with dry to average soils and is very drought tolerant once established. It is easily grown from seed and tolerates deer browse, drought, erosion, and poor soils. This tall perennial may need staking or other support in exposed areas, but it attracts birds and butterflies by the hundreds! Plant where it can naturalize for best effect.

Oenothera biennis, commonly called evening primrose, is an upright biennial in Onagraceae (the willowherb family or evening primrose family) that is native throughout eastern North America. It is most commonly found growing wild in fields, prairies, glades, thickets, and along road right-of-ways. In the first year, this biennial typically produces a basal rosette of shallow-toothed, lanceolate, light green leaves (no flowers) 2-3 feet wide. In the second year, an upright purple-tinged flower stem with spirally arranged leaves grows from the center of the rosette to 3-5’ tall, and features a multi-flowered terminal panicle of lemon yellow flowers (each to 1-2 inches across). Since the flowers open at dusk and close again in the morning when hit by sun, it is pollinated by night-flying moths (and bees in the early morning) which are attracted by fragrance before closure. Individual plants die after setting seed but remain in the landscape through self-seeding. Evening primrose grows well in average-medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Evening primrose has no serious insect or disease problems and is a low-maintenance addition to wildflower gardens, cottage gardens, or herb gardens for attracting birds and butterflies. The seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid and oil pressed from the seeds has been used in medicinal applications since the 1600s and is widely available in 15 countries. American Indians used all parts of the plant as food.

Actaea pachypoda, commonly known as White Baneberry or Doll’s Eyes, is a herbaceous perennial that typically grows to 1.5-2.5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. This member of Ranunculaceae (the buttercup family) is native to Eastern North America and is often cultivated in woodland gardens for its attractive white berries. It naturally occurs on north-facing wooded slopes and in ravines. It produces tiny fragrant white flowers in May or June in terminal clusters on floral stems rising above the astilbe-like foliage. Following pollination, the flowering stems turn an attractive red and the fertilized flowers produce pea-sized white berries in September. The common name, baneberry, is a reflection of the toxicity of the fruit which is extremely poisonous if eaten. Each berry has a distinctive small dark purplish spot, formed by the stigma, which gives it another common name: doll’s eyes. The fruit is ignored by wildlife so the ornamental berry clusters usually persist on the plants until frost. White Baneberry is best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils (that never fully dry out) in part- to full shade, and has no serious insect or disease problems. Good for woodland or shade gardens, native plant gardens, and shady border areas. Use with caution if children will be playing unattended in the garden.

Salvia coccinea, commonly called Texas sage or scarlet sage, is a herbaceous perennial native to southeastern North America. It is the only U.S. native sage to have red flowers and is typically found growing in forested areas, along roads, and in disturbed sites in the coastal plain. This member of Lamiaceae (the mint family) typically grows 1-2 feet tall and wide. In north Alabama, it generally will survive winter only in protected (frost-free areas), but often persists in the garden via seed bank. In Huntsville, treat this plant as an annual. Showy tubular flowers bloom in loose spikes September – October attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.  Scarlet sage tolerates deer browse and drought well. Deadheading will encourage longer bloom periods. Easily grown as an annual in average to evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

Don’t let the rain get you down -this month we are featuring a few plants that like it wet! Come to the Garden to see these shade-loving beauties in person! 

Clethra alnifolia, commonly known as Summersweet or, is a deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, and stream banks in eastern North America. This member of Clethraceae (the Clethra family) is a rounded, densely-branched, woody shrub that typically grows to 3-6 feet tall and forms colonies via root suckers. It produces showy, sweetly fragrant white flowers which appear in narrow, upright panicles (2-6 inch long racemes) July to August. ‘Ruby Spice’ is a cultivated variety noted for its fragrant rose-pink flowers that bloom in late summer. It was discovered in 1992 as a sport of Clethra alnifolia ‘Pink Spire’. The flowers (white or pink) are very attractive to butterflies and bees. Glossy dark green leaves turn attractive shades of yellow to golden brown in the fall. This low maintenance shrub is easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade with consistently moist, acidic soils. It tolerates heavy shade, clay soil, wet soil, and reduces erosion. If a naturalized look is not desired, root suckers can be removed without harm to the plant. It has no serious insect or disease problems and pruning is rarely needed. Sweet Pepperbush is a great problem-solver because of its ability to bloom in shady locations in late summer when few other shrubs are in bloom, and it thrives in troublesome boggy areas. It excels in cottage gardens, wild gardens or naturalized areas and its compact size makes it ideal for smaller gardens.

Hymenocallis occidentalis, commonly called White Spider Lily, is an herbaceous perennial bulb that occurs in swamps and moist woods. This member of Amaryllidaceae (the Amaryllis family) is native to the southeastern United States and looks like a spidery daffodil. Five to ten fragrant, white, spidery flowers (to 6 inches across) are held on an 18-22 inch stalk that emerges from the center of the strap-shaped, amaryllis-like foliage (each leaf gets up to 17 inches long) in August. This low maintenance plant is best grown in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade, and has no serious insect or disease problems. It should never be dug up for transplanting to a home garden from the wild because they are somewhat rare. Chose cultivated bulbs from reputable nurseries instead. Synonymous with and sometimes sold as Hymenocallis caroliniana. Best used in moist open woodland gardens, bog gardens or along streams and ponds. May also be grown in a border as long as the soil moisture requirements can be met – never let it dry out.

Rudbeckia laciniata, commonly known as Cutleaf Coneflower, is a herbaceous perennial which occurs in moist soils in woodlands, thickets, and along streams in North America. Also known as Tall Coneflower, it may grow to 9 feet tall in the wild, but typically only grows 3-4 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide in cultivation. This member of Asteraceae (Aster family) features long-blooming daisy-like flowers up to 3.5 inches across with drooping yellow rays and dome-like, green center disks. The foliage is striking – bold, pinnate, and deeply lobed light green leaves make a statement even before flowering July to September. Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates deer browse and hot and humid summers while attracting butterflies with its showy flowers. Great for naturalizing, it can colonize if conditions are favorable. Deadheading will encourage a fall re-bloom. No serious insect or disease problems. Taller plants may need support.

Onoclea sensibilis, commonly known as Sensitive Fern, is a large, coarse, deciduous fern that occurs in wet woods and thickets and in moist soils along streams and springs in eastern North America. This member of Onocleaceae (a small family of terrestrial ferns) grows up to 4 feet tall and wide. While it has no true flowers, it features long-stalked, deeply pinnatifid, bright green, vegetative (sterile) fronds with leathery, triangular leaflets (pinnae) which have distinctively netted veins. Shorter, erect, woody (fertile) fronds (to 12 inches tall) covered in brown bead-like segments emerge in late summer and persist through winter. The combination makes for a striking foliage plant for shady, moist borders. It is resistant to rabbit browse and tolerates heavy shade, clay soil, wet soil, and Black Walnut. It is called Sensitive Fern because the green vegetative fronds suffer almost immediate damage from the first fall frost.  Sensitive fern has no serious insect or disease problems, but it is intolerant of drought. Best grown in wet woodland gardens and moist locations along streams and ponds and shaded areas where it can naturalize.

Illicium floridanum, commonly known as purple anise, is an upright, rounded, aromatic, evergreen shrub that grows to 6-10 feet by 4-8 feet tall. Purple anise is a member of Schisandraceae, a family of three genera and approximately 90 species of flowering plants that consist of mostly tropical and subtropical woody plants that are primarily pollinated by beetles. Purple anise is native to wet soils in marshy areas, low wooded ravines, and stream banks in the southeastern United States and northern Mexico. Smooth, glossy dark olive-green leaves emit an anise-like aroma when crushed. While the dark red flowers with strap-shaped petals bloom April-May, the fruit is the star in August. The attractive and unusual fruit is literally a starburst-shaped cluster of follicles that split open when dry to release the seeds. Best grown in part- to full shade in medium to wet soils.  This is a great problem-solver for landscapes with heavy shade, erosion, and/or wet soil. It tolerates full sun as long as soils are kept uniformly moist, has no serious insect or disease problems, and makes an excellent care-free evergreen shrub for moist shady locations. Purple anise will colonize by root suckers if conditions are favorable. Purple anise is widely available in nurseries as both the species and cultivated varieties, but wild populations are protected in Florida as a threatened species.

Malvaviscus arboreusvar. drummondii, commonly known as Turk’s Cap, is native to the Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. This member of Malvaceae (mallow family) typically grows as a coarse deciduous shrub that reaches 3-6 feet tall and wide. Turk’s Cap is more common in south Alabama in light shade near streams. Showy red flowers bloom in the leaf axils on short stalks July – Sept (depending on weather and geographic position). The overlapping petals are fused with the calyx for 2/3rds of its length, making it appear as though it is never fully “open”, giving it a unique twisted shape. Turk’s Cap Mallow is widely available from nurseries and prefers a site with full to partial sun and well-draining soil. It is drought tolerant, deer resistant, and attracts large numbers of butterflies and hummingbirds. Close relatives include okra and cotton along with numerous genera that include herbs, shrubs, and small trees in tropical South America. 

Hydrangea quercifolia, commonly called oakleaf hydrangea, is an upright to rounded, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows 6-8 feet tall and wide.  This member of Hydrangeaceae (the Hydrangea family) is native to wooded bluffs, ravines, and stream banks in southeastern North America. It bears cone-shaped panicles of non-fragrant white flowers in the summer that are held on exfoliating branches with large oak-like, dark green leaves.  Oakleaf hydrangea is easily grown in average to moist well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Adding organic mulch will retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil, allowing this plant to thrive. This low maintenance plant needs little pruning to keep it in shape and it blooms on last year’s growth. It is effective as a specimen or accent, makes an excellent informal hedge, and is useful for naturalizing in open wooded areas. It has nice burgundy fall color and exfoliating mature branches provide interesting texture in winter. Makes a good cut flower fresh or dried.

Ruellia caroliniensis, commonly known as wild petunia, is an herbaceous perennial in Acanthaceae (often called the Bear’s breeches family). Wild petunia is one of only a few species in this family that are distributed in temperate regions, with the majority of genera found in  Indonesia and Malaysia, Africa, Brazil, and Central America. This plant is endemic to dry-mesic hammocks and upland open woods throughout the southeastern U.S.  It grows to 1-3 feet tall and 1.5-2 feet wide and prefers part shade and average to moist soils, but it is adaptable to full sun in clay soil. It features showy pale purple flowers that each only last for a day, but collectively they have a very long flowering period, starting in early June-August. A number of different varieties and forms occur throughout the eastern U.S. Wild Petunia is a host plant for the caterpillar of the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), and White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), butterflies, and attracts many other pollinators. Use this easy-to-grow native instead of its widely-sold relative, the invasive Mexican petunia!

Rudbeckia maxima, commonly called large coneflower or cabbage leaf coneflower, is an herbaceous perennial in Asteraceae (the Aster family) that is native to open wooded areas, prairies, and along roads in southern-central North America. It features a basal clump of huge, glaucous, bluish-green leaves up to 2 feet long and bloom stalks up to 7 feet tall bearing yellow-rayed coneflowers with tall, dark brown central cones up to 6 inches in length! This perennial coneflower blooms in June and July and is easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. This native wildflower is an excellent addition to naturalized areas, wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, and native plant gardens, especially toward the back of borders. It has no serious insect or disease problems when grown in average, moist, or well-drained soils in full sun.  It tolerates heat, drought, and deer browse very well and is somewhat adaptable to light shade. It attracts butterflies and birds. In particular, Goldfinches enjoy the seed if the bloom stalks are allowed to remain on the plant in the fall.  Cabbage leaf coneflower makes a good cut flower, fresh or dried.

Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ is a cultivar (cultivated variety) of a native coneflower that was introduced by Kieft-Pro Seeds in 2012. The Echinacea genus is composed of seven species of herbaceous perennials in Asteraceae (the Aster family) that are all native to eastern and central North America. ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ is a well-branched, sturdy coneflower that won the 2013 AAS (All-America Selections®) award and Europe’s FleuroSelect Gold Medal award for garden performance. It flowers the first year in a wide range of bloom colors and comes “true” from seed.  It grows 2-2.5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide, and blooms from June-August, in colors ranging from purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, cream or white with ray-like flowers featuring a brown cone center. Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, but best in full sun. This adaptable plant is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity, deer, and poor soils. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the residuals cones will be visited by goldfinches or other birds that feed on the seeds. It puts on the best show when planted in groups on border fronts, or in rock gardens or part shade areas of open woodland gardens and attracts birds and butterflies. ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ makes a good fresh cut or dried flower. Deadheading is not necessary for rebloom but may keep the plants tidy as summer wears on.

Asclepias tuberosa, commonly called butterfly weed, is a species of perennial milkweed native to eastern North America. This member of Apocynaceae (the dogbane family) has tuberous roots occurs in dry/rocky open woods, glades, prairies, and roadsides; typically growing clumps up to 1-3 feet tall and wide. Butterfly weed features very showy clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers on upright stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Butterfly weed is one of 23 species of milkweed that grow in Alabama. Unlike many of the other milkweeds, this species does not have milky-sapped stems. After pollination, the seed pods split open when ripe, releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Butterfly weed is favored for its long bloom period (June to August) and as a copious nectar source for many butterflies. The leaves are a food source for queen and monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars) and the toxins they ingest with the leaf tissue makes them poisonous to most predators.
This low maintenance plant has no serious insect or disease problems so long as it is not grown in wet, poorly drained soils. Butterfly weed does not transplant well due to its deep taproot and is best left undisturbed once established. Please purchase seed or plants from a reputable source, as poaching has been a problem in wild populations in the past. Butterfly weed is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It is tolerant of deer, drought, erosion, and poor shallow-rocky soil. Useful addition to butterfly gardens, meadows, prairies, or naturalized/native plant areas.

Monarda didyma, is commonly known by a number of different names including bee balm, Oswego tea, and bergamot. This member of Lamiaceae (the mint family) is native to eastern North America where it is broadly distributed in bottomlands, thickets, and moist woods and along streambanks. It is a coarse, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial that grows to 2-4 feet tall by 2-3 feet wide and features showy red-dark pink tubular, two-lipped flowers in a dense, globular, terminal inflorescence up to 3 inches across July to August. Blooms top upright square stems with opposite deep green leaves that emit a minty fragrance when bruised. Bee balm is prized for its long summer bloom period (up to 8 weeks) and attraction of pollinators; especially bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Best grown in rich, average to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates rabbit and deer browse, clay soil, wet soil, and resistant to the juglandins produced by black walnut. If conditions are favorable, it may spread by rhizomes and self-seed to form colonies, but it is easily controlled. Deadheading flowers can prolong summer bloom and can prevent spread from self-seeding. Makes a good fresh cut flower. Powdery mildew can be a serious problem, particularly in crowded gardens with poor air circulation.

Aster iinumae, widely known as False Aster, is an herbaceous perennial in Asteraceae (the Aster family that is native to hills and low mountains in central Japan and parts of China. It is synonymous with Kalimeris pinnatifida. ‘Hortensis’ is a cultivar that typically grows to 3’ tall and as wide with pure white semi- to fully-double daisy-like flowers featuring a yellow center disk.  This Aster relative blooms freely over a long season, often lasting from early June to October. The finely-cut basal leaves are pinnately lobed giving the plant a delicate, feathery texture.  It is easily grown in average to well-drained soils in full sun to part shade but watch for root rot in wet soils. Attracts pollinators and makes a good low maintenance cut flower.

Iris domestica, commonly known as blackberry lily or leopard lily, is an upright herbaceous perennial in Iridaceae (the Iris family) that is native to the Himalayas and eastern Russia. Blackberry lily typically grows 2-3 feet tall by 2 feet wide and sports flattened fans of medium green leaves with lily-like, deep orange with red speckles in June and July. Pollinated flowers produce pear-shaped seedpods that split open when ripe in late summer revealing a blackberry-like seed cluster. Easily grown in average to well-drained soils in full sun. While tolerant of moist soils during the growing season, poorly drained soils over winter will cause it to rot. The plant crown will slowly expand by creeping rhizomes, and it may self-seed in optimum growing conditions, but it is not an aggressive colonizer. Makes a good low maintenance, drought tolerant addition to the garden and the seedpods are good for dried flower arrangements.

Kalmia latifolia, commonly known as mountain laurel, is a multi-stemmed, broadleaf evergreen shrub in Ericaceae (the Heath family) that is native to Eastern North America in open rocky forests, mountain slopes, and riparian margins. It typically grows as a dense gnarled shrub 5-15 feet tall and wide. Mountain laurel can reach 30 feet tall on slopes in the Appalachian Mountains. Showy flower clusters appear at the branch tips of the shrub in late May-June for several weeks. Each parachute-shaped bud yields a five-sided cupped flower with fused petals and ranges in color from dark pink to white with darker markings inside. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, making it deer and rabbit resistant. Mountain laurel grows best in moist, rich, acidic well-drained soils in part shade. In cultivation, plant high in well-drained soil and use mulch to retain soil moisture and keep root zones cool. While it is not a plant for novice gardeners, it is worth the effort in woodland areas or naturalized areas.

Polygonatum odoratum, commonly known as Solomon’s seal, is a rhizomatous shade-loving herbaceous perennial in Asparagaceae (the Asparagus family) that is endemic to shaded slopes and woodland areas in temperate regions of Europe and Asia.  Solomon’s seal typically grows to 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide on nodding unbranched stems. Sweetly fragrant greenish-white narrow bell-shaped flowers droop from the leaf axils beneath the arching stems May-June. Pollinated flowers develop into attractive pendulous blue-black berries in late summer and the leaves have attractive yellow fall color. Solomon’s seal grows best in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in part- to full shade and will slowly spread by rhizomes to form colonies in optimum growing conditions. This is an easy beginner plant for shady gardens because it has no serious insect or disease problems and tolerates drought, heavy shade, erosion, dry soil, and wet soil. ‘Variegatum’ is a popular cultivar that features showy green leaves edged with white. The foliage is attractive in flower arrangements.

Blephilia hirsuta, commonly known as hairy wood-mint, is an herbaceous perennial in Lamiaceae (the Mint family) that is native to moist shady woods, slopes, and valleys throughout eastern North America. Hairy Wood-mint has fuzzy square stems and fragrant foliage rising to 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide and features pale white-purple two-lipped flowers in a tiered circular or globe-shaped clusters at the stalk tips that light up shady parts of the garden in June – August. Hairy wood-mint prefers average soils that are medium to well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. This plant is a nectar and pollen source for over 15 species of pollinating insects while being resistant to deer and rabbit browse damage.

Viburnum acerifolium, Mapleleaf Viburnum (Located on the Mathews Nature Trail)

Viburnum acerifolium, also known as Mapleleaf Viburnum, is a densely branched deciduous shrub, 4-12 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. This member of the Adoxaceae (Moschatel) family is native to eastern North America and features fragrant tiny white flowers in showy flat-topped 3-inch cymes in May that attract many kinds of pollinators and butterflies. Mapleleaf Viburnum is a larval host for Celastrina ladon (the Spring Azure butterfly); it will grow under Black Walnut and has nice pink-purple fall color.  More shade tolerant than many of the other species in its genus, it also thrives in a wide range of soils with good drought tolerance once it is established. It is useful for naturalizing in open woodland areas and adding interest in shrub borders with well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. The fruit provides excellent food for birds as they ripen in late summer.

Asclepias quadrifolia, Fourleaf Milkweed (Located on the Mathews Nature Trail)

Asclepias quadrifolia, commonly known as four-leaf milkweed, is an erect herbaceous perennial that grows to 12-30 inches tall and 9-18 inches wide. This member of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family is native to dry rocky woods in eastern North America. Plants in the Asclepias genus are known for their milky sap, complex floral structures, and the value of the leaves and nectar for butterflies and moths. Four-leaf milkweed grows best in full sun to part shade and dry to medium soil moisture and produces showy, fragrant, pale purplish-pink flowers May – July. The flowers are followed by interesting smooth, narrow seed pods which are valued in dried flower arrangements. Fourleaf Milkweed will naturalize in woodland gardens and is deer and drought tolerant and highly beneficial for pollinators. Danaus plexippus (Monarch butterflies) need milkweed plants in order to survive – the adult consumes the nectar and lays eggs on the leaves, and the emerging caterpillars consume the leaves, which serves as both a food source and protection since a diet of milkweed makes them poisonous to would-be predators. This is one of 23 species of milkweed known to grow in Alabama.

Spigelia marilandica, Indian pink (Located on the Mathews Nature Trail)

Spigelia marilandica, also known as Indian Pink, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial that has upright stalks that can grow 18 inches tall and wide. This member of the Loganiaceae family is endemic to moist woods and streambanks in southeastern North America. The upward facing trumpet-shaped red flowers are yellow inside, flaring at the top to give it the appearance of a five-pointed yellow star in May and June. Indian Pinks grow well in part shade to full shade in average to dry soils. It is a deer-resistant “star” performer in shade gardens or wildflower gardens and attracts hummingbirds. Some good companion plants are Phlox divaricate (Woodland Phlox), Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold), Iris cristata (Dwarf Crested Iris), Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) and Heuchera americana (Coral bells).

Ruellia caroliniensis, Wild Petunia (Located on the Mathews Nature Trail)

Ruellia caroliniensis, commonly known as Wild Petunia, is an upright non-branching perennial that grows to 2-3 feet tall. This long-blooming native perennial produces showy lavender – purple trumpet-shaped flowers in the leaf axils. Usually, only a few of the light purple flowers are open on any given day, so plant in masses for best effect. This member of the Acanthaceae family is found naturally occurring in dry-mesic forested areas in the southeast U.S. Most members of Acanthaceae are tropical herbs, shrubs, twining vines, or epiphytes. Wild Petunia tolerates disturbance and drought, naturalizes well, blooms May – September, and attracts many different types of pollinators. In particular, Wild Petunia is a host plant for the larva of the Junonia coenia (Common Buckeye butterfly) and Anartia jatrophae (White Peacock butterfly). R. caroliniensis is one of seven members of this genus occurring in eastern North America. It grows best in full sun to part shade in dry soils (suitable for xeriscaping).

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lynn’, Let’s Dance® Starlight Bigleaf Hydrangea (Located on the Bush Azalea Trail)

Hydrangea macrophylla, also known as Bigleaf Hydrangea, is a deciduous shrub with a rounded habit that typically grows 3-6 feet tall and wide. This member of the Hydrangeaceae family is native to Japan grows best in well-drained soils in part shade. Many cultivars, or cultivated varieties, exist.H. macrophylla ‘Lynn’, commonly sold under the trade name of Let’s Dance® Starlight, is a compact cultivar that flowers on both old and new wood (called re-blooming). It typically grows to 2-3 feet tall and wide that features lacecap-like blue or pink clusters of flowers (depending on the soil pH -blue in highly acidic soils and pink in slightly acidic to alkaline soils) May-August. Aluminum sulfate may be added to the soil to make the flowers bluer, or lime to make the flowers pinker starting in late autumn or early spring.

Clematis crispa, Swamp Leather Flower (Located on the Bush Azalea Trail)

Clematis crispa, commonly called Swamp Leather Flower, is a deciduous herbaceous twining vine that grows to 6-10 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide. This member of the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) family is native to the southeastern United States in floodplain forests, marshes, and swamps. Showy, pale violet bell-shaped flowers bloom at the tendril tips May to July. The slightly fragrant flowers produce attractive seed heads after pollination. Swamp Leather Flower needs consistently moist soils in full sun to part shade, and can be trained to climb a structure or allowed to sprawl as a ground cover. C. crispa tolerates deer browse, clay soils, and Black Walnut juglandins, making it a great plant for troublesome areas.