Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. palustris Pink

Family: (Malvaceae)

(P) to 7′. Swamp Rose Mallow. Eastern US. It is hard to believe this robust, lush-foliaged plant with incredible saucer-sized, rose-pink, crepe-paper blooms is in fact a hardy native. Late to emerge in spring, but once they do, they grow quickly and so require a moist fertile soil to really thrive – the edge of a pond or marsh, rich in organic matter is ideal. Late summer bloomer. 1 & 2B, then 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbena hastata

Family: (Verbenaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Simpler’s Joy.  Eastern North America.  Tall, erect stems with a branched inflorescence of tiny, tubular, purplish pink blooms in dense terminal panicles.  The lance-shaped, toothed foliage is rough textured and somewhat coarse in appearance, making this a better candidate for informal plantings.  Blooms July to September.  Sun.  Moist soil.  Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eupatorium hyssopifolium

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′.  Hyssop-leaf Thoroughwort.  A plant of sandy soils and coastal areas from New England to Florida.  Large, flat-topped inflorescences of white flowers up to one foot across.  Fine textured foliage of narrow, whorled, grey-green leaves.  Easy and a good late summer bloomer.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eryngium yuccifolium

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 4′.  The Rattlesnake-Master of North America.  Greenish, prickly, thistle-like flowers on a towering branched stalk.  Broad, blade-like, blue-grey serrated leaves form large striking rosettes.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & 6 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache nepetoides

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Yellow Giant Hyssop.  South Canada to Southeast US.  Whorls of tiny, greenish-yellow flowers closely packed into five-inch terminal spikes appear on stiff, square stems. Toothed, arrowhead-shaped leaves are up to five inches long. Whilst the leaves lack the strong smell like other species in the mint family, the bitterness of its leaves make it deer resistant.  Tolerant of summer heat and humidity, this late summer bloomer is a favourite of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.  Grows best in rich, open woodlands. Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sanicula canadensis

Family: Apiaceae

(B) to 2′.  Canadian Black Snakeroot.  Eastern US and Canada.  This common woodland wildflower produces umbels of tiny five petalled, greenish white flowers with a green calyx.  Each umbel consists of one to four umbellets.  Each umbellet has five male flowers and two or three perfect flowers.  The perfect flowers are very short stalked and have a prominent ovary covered in rows of hooked bristles.  The green bristly fruit splits into two seeds.  Leaves are alternate and palmately compound with three leaflets.  Useful for naturalizing in woodland areas and native gardens.  Blooms late spring to early summer.  Shade to part shade.  Moist to dry, loamy soil.  Best sown in situ.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eupatorium fistulosum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 8′.  Hollow-stemmed Joe Pye Weed.  A tall, striking addition to the late summer border.  Fluffy, rounded domes of pinkish mauve to soft purple flowers.  Leaves whorl in groups of six to seven around the unspotted, hollow stem.  A great butterfly plant.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helenium autumnale

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 5′.  Sneezeweed.  Eastern North America.  A plant of swamps and wet meadows.  The branching sprays of warm, golden yellow daisies have prominent yellow centres and distinctive, reflexed, notched petals.  The lance-shaped leaves are decurrent, extending down the stiff, branched stems, giving them a noticeable “winged” appearance.  The dried leaves were once used as snuff, hence the name.  Blooms late August through September.  Prefers moist or wet soil.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Triodanis perfoliata (syn. Specularia perfoliata)

Family: (Campanulaceae)

Native Annual to 18″.  Venus’ Looking Glass.  A charming wildflower that appears in waste places, disturbed sites, pastures, prairies, roadsides and railroads across a broad native range spanning from Canada to Central America.  Purple, five petalled, open bell-shaped blooms are ½-inch wide and arise stalkless from the leaf axils along the flowering spike.  Throats of the flowers are whitish and reveal a prominent white pistil.  The lower flowers never open and are cleistogamous, with self-pollination occurring in the closed flower.  Small, ¾-inch long leaves clasp and surround the heavily grooved stem (perfoliate), are broadly ovate, shiny green and alternately arranged.  Leaf margins are coarsely serrate to crenate.  Perfect for an open meadow with well-draining soil.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Solidago rugosa

Family: (Asteraceae)

P to 5′.  Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod.  Central and eastern North America.  This clump-forming plant has numerous, narrow, deeply toothed, dark green leaves with a wrinkled appearance to the upper surface. Tall, rough, hairy stems bear arching branches with panicles of small, light yellow flowerheads concentrated on the upper side.  Physicians in ancient times believed that goldenrod had healing powers; in recent times these plants have been commonly blamed for causing hay fever, but its irritating symptoms are actually caused by ragweed (Ambrosia species), whose pollen is abundant when goldenrod is in flower. All parts of this plant are useful in the native ecosystem, from the nectar and pollen of the flowers, to the foliage and seeds, even to the roots that act as a soil stabilizer.  Blooms July to October.  A “must have” for the wildflower garden.  Sun.  4 & T2