Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Euthamia graminifolia (syn. Solidago graminifolia)

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3.5′. Lance-leaved Goldenrod. North America. Upright, slender branching stems with many thin, grass-like, pointed leaves topped by irregular, loose, flattish cymes of small, golden yellow flowers in late summer. Its tendency to form attractive, airy clumps and prolonged season of bloom makes it an attractive addition to the garden. Well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia cardinalis

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 3′. Cardinal Flower. An American native with racemes of brilliant scarlet, fan-shaped flowers. Green leaves remain basal. A “must-have” for the red bed and the woodland. Hummingbirds love their nectar. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia siphilitica

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 3′. Great Blue Lobelia. A native of eastern North America. Clear blue, sometimes white, inch-long, fan-shaped flowers with small, white stamens bloom on dense racemes from July to September. Brings a feeling of coolness to the garden in the hottest part of summer. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Monarda fistulosa

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 4′. Wild Bergamot. Distinctive, sweetly aromatic foliage reminiscent of Earl Grey tea with lovely pale violet-pink blooms in terminal clusters of tubular, lipped flowers. Usually found in dry open fields and meadows, so it makes a good plant for the wildflower or natural garden. Blooms midsummer. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Penstemon digitalis

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 3′. Foxglove Beard-Tongue. Eastern and Southeastern US. A very pretty, clump-forming Penstemon with basal, bronze foliage. Panicles of white flushed rosy-pink, two-lipped, tubular blooms with purple nectar guides. Flowers in mid-summer. Comes true from seed. Sun. 3 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Phytolacca americana

Family: (Phytolaccaceae)

(P) to 12′.  Pokeweed.  An American native.  Long, spike-like racemes of small, white, apetalous flowers have five petal-like sepals with numerous stamens and a large, green, globose, compound superior ovary resembling a segmented green pumpkin.  After flowering comes the Pokeweed’s raison d’être.  Many-seeded, shining, blackish purple berries follow, which hang in drooping clusters on bright, pink-red inflorescence stalks and produce deep red juice.  The juice from the fruit was used to colour wine and as ink.  The early-season green leaves are ovate-lanceolate and rather fleshy, and turn a reddish purple in autumn.  We love it only in our Flower Garden, in the back of the Red Bed.  BEWARE, all parts of this plant are poisonous!  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Pycnanthemum muticum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 4′. Mountain Mint. North America. Flat-topped clusters of white to pale violet flowerheads are surrounded by large, silvery bracts that give the plants a delightful, frosted appearance. Pointed, oval, very aromatic, deep green leaves with a clean, pungent, minty fragrance. Midsummer. Moist, well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 3′. Slender Mountain Mint. North America. A very aromatic plant with a peppermint scent and taste. Narrow, linear leaves. Flat-topped clusters of white to pink flowers. Long lasting and great in arrangements. A tough and easy plant to grow. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ruellia pedunculata

Family: (Acanthaceae)

(P) to 3′. Stalked Wild Petunia. Solitary, pale lavender-violet, petunia-like blooms open in summer all along the leaf axils of upright, bushy plants. The paired, opposite leaves are a lustrous dark green. Sun/partial shade. 3 &T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Solidago caesia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′. Blue-stemmed Goldenrod. Eastern North America. A plant of the woodland edge and clearings. Graceful, arching, bluish tinged stems with small, golden yellow flowers clustered in the leaf axils. The narrow, dark green, lance-shaped leaves are sharply toothed and slightly hairy. Blooms August through September. Well-drained soil. Partial shade. 4 & T2