Native Plants For All Seasons

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By Carla Burgess | March 2007

Perennial Wildflowers

With hundreds of gorgeous perennial wildflowers to recommend, it’s difficult to pick just a few. But baptisias (Baptisia spp.) sit at the back of the class raising their hands, begging to be called upon. With tall, luscious flower spikes (reminiscent of the harder-to-grow lupines) rising above blue-green pea-like foliage, this prairie native gets good grades all season. North Carolina has at least eight species of Baptisia, blossoming in hues of purple, white or yellow in late spring. Many wild variations have been cultivated for the nursery trade and hybridized as well. The most common baptisia on the market is B. australis, often called blue falso indigo, which has light-purple flowers and forms clumps of foliage 3 feet tall to 5 feet wide. B. alba is incredibly striking, with white flowers that contrast with smoky-colored stems. A coveted new variety is ‘Purple Smoke’, a variant discovered in Orange County that has the charcoal-colored stems of B. alba and flowers more violet than B. australis. Baptisias are sun-loving perennials that require a little patience as they mature to full advantage. Over the years, baptisias develop a deep taproot and form mature clumps. Baptisias flourish in average, well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant. The interesting, plump seed pods dry and darken in fall. The plant dies back to the ground in winter. New growth, resembling asparagus tips, emerges in spring.

Lobelia cardinalis, known as cardinal flower, revives the late summer garden with its tall, scarlet-red flower spikes. It likes moist soil in light shade to sun. Though it is short-lived, cardinal flower re-seeds prolifically. It looks equally good in drifts in a natural area or a formal border. The leaves form basal clumps (don’t mulch heavily in winter or the crowns will rot). It is typically 3 to 4 feet tall. This exceedingly carefree flower is a hummingbird favorite.

Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) is a versatile perennial with fine-textured foliage that would be handsome even minus its small but profuse buttery-yellow flowers. About 12 to 24 inches in height, it thrives in average soil in full sun to light shade. The tops may be sheared lightly to encourage season-long blooms. The most commonly sold variety is ‘Moonbeam’.

The low-growing green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) brightens up the semi-shady border or natural area with its star-shaped yellow flowers. Evergreen in some areas, it likes well-drained soil. About 6 inches tall, it is nice in rock gardens and makes an excellent groundcover for slopes. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is another woodland native, topped in spring with short, fuzzy, white flower spikes. Its heart-shaped leaves with prominent, dark veins are arranged in tidy clumps that are attractive all season. Many varieties are available, including some with light yellow-to-peach leaves. Foamflowers can tolerate full shade. They prefer moist, organic soil. They are 6 to 12 inches tall.

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are widely available in nurseries, and rightly so. There are dozens of varieties, but it’s hard to beat the basic model. The rosy-pink, daisylike petals have bronzy-orange, cone-shaped centers. Coneflowers average 2 to 3 feet in height. Grow them in average-to-poor, well-drained soil in full sun. They are very drought-tolerant. Purple coneflowers are homegrown bird feeders. When the seed heads mature, the goldfinches come calling.

Just because a plant species is native to a region does not mean it will perform well anywhere in that area. The important thing to consider is the specific growing conditions in your landscape. Some species native to wet areas, for example, will want to have wet feet in your garden too. Others, though, are adaptable to a range of growing conditions beyond that of their natural habitat. Bald cypress, for example, is thought of as a swamp species, but this tree is equally happy in yards and even along urban streets. Also, keep in mind that the sizes given here are guidelines; height and spread may vary depending on where a plant is sited.