Native Plants

The show begins in early spring as the deep purple fans of foliage emerge from the ground eventually maturing to green and it crescendos in late spring to early summer with the plants producing deep purple, 24-30" high stems that are adorned with elegant purple, white, and yellow flowers. Purple Flame Blue Flag, a unique selection of the native Iris versicolor, was selected in 2020 as part of the American Horticulture Society's Mt. Cuba Collection™ after literally decades of garden trials. This is a slowly spreading, clump-forming, rhizomatous, herbaceous, winter deciduous perennial that is a reliable performer under average moisture conditions, although it may be at its best in moist to wet to submerged sites like rain gardens, bogs, and near the edge of ponds and other water features. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile soil for optimum growth and vigor. Deer resistant, a good cut flower, and requires almost no maintenance. Images courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center, all rights reserved. Item# 13343

The rich-purple tubular flowers arch outward from the center of the ball like clusters of buds that are perched atop sturdy stems and are produced for weeks in summer often lasting into fall and attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Purple Rooster Bee Balm, a selection of the native Monarda didyma, has outstanding disease resistance as well as some of the deepest purple flowers among its peers. This is a slowly spreading, winter deciduous, herbaceous perennial that will prefer a moist, well-drained, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Purple Rooster won high marks in Monarda trials at Mt. Cuba Center, the headquarters for the American Horticulture Society. Item# 12317

Radio Red Salvia is a hybrid selection with crisp apple green foliage and non-fading deep brilliant red 1" long two-lipped tubular flowers on a compact plant with exceptional flower power. The spikes of flowers are produced from spring to fall, unlike on the typical Autumn Sages (Salvia greggii) which shut down during summer, this Salvia keeps on trucking! The clean tidy habit lend it to use as a container plant where you can draw the hummingbirds and other pollinators in close or use it near the front of the garden or landscape for full season long color. This has quickly become one of our favorite small growing red Salvias! Give Radio Red Salvia a full to mostly sunny location in a well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Item# 10755

Loads of upward facing deep orange-red tubular buds open to show off thier contrasting starry yellow petals in spring atop a neat rounded mound of foliage. Ragin' Cajun Indian Pinks, a Plant Delights introduction that originated near St. Francisville, Louisiana, was selected for its neat and compact rounded habit, high bud count, orange-red flowers, and long flowering season. This is an easy and reliable long-lived clump forming, native perennial that is tolerant of full sun to light or bright shade. It goes fully dormant in winter dying back to near ground level then returning in early spring. Indian Pinks, Spigelia marilandica, will do best in a fertile, acidic, well-drained soil with average moisture. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other long tongued pollinators. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13100

Rounded clusters of raspberry colored buds open to 2" long tubular, nectar rich, raspberry wine colored flowers in summer. Raspberry Wine Monarda is a disease resistant selection with strongly fragrant, deer and rabbit resistant foliage that can be used to flavor teas. Bee Balm is a clump forming, slowly spreading perennial well suited to moist, well-drained soils in a sunny garden setting whether in the herb garden or in mass as an informal groundcover. Item# 11400

Masses of 1" wide yellow-eyed bluish purple daisies absolutely cover this plant for weeks in late summer and fall. Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium and the big brother of the slightly more compact October Skies, is a medium-sized, herbaceous, densely mounding shrub-like perennial that matures to about 3' x 3' at the time of flowering. Excellent fall color for the garden as well as drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance make this an excellent addition to the perennial or wildflower border and landscape. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but seems to be especially popular with bees. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Prefers good to excellent drainage and a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Named the 2016 Plant of the Year by the Garden Club of America and selected for the 2003 Theodore Klein Award. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13164

Deep red to near maroon, starry flowers to 2" across are borne in late spring and early summer on this moderately dense naturally rounded evergreen shrub. The Red Star Anise's medium to dark green foliage has a licorice or anise-like scent when crushed. This Louisiana native is a natural component of the understory along drainages and flood zones in the southeastern portion of the US and generally prefers light shade, morning sun, to filtered shade over full sun as well as a moist well-draining acid soil. These plants originated from an eastern Louisiana native population. Not a spice plant. Item# 596

A tough native shrub that produces spikes of deep red tubular flowers touched with yellow that begin to open in early spring just as the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds begin to arrive. The Red Buckeye is typically a medium to large growing deciduous shrub that is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions although it will grow and flower best in full sun it is also tolerant of some shade. This tough little native begins flowering at a young age and is easy to grow and establish. Moderately drought resistant once well-established with few pests and diseases. Item# 3047

Huge deep scarlet red, 10" wide, widely flaring flowers with overlapping petals are borne from summer to fall on this beautiful perennial Hibiscus cloaked in rich apple green foliage. Red Flare Hardy Hibiscus is a showstopper with its continuous display of massive cranberry red flowers thanks in no small part to being nearly sterile and rarely producing seed. The Flare Hibiscus series have been selected as Texas Superstar© Plants due to their toughness, reliability, and performance in the garden and landscape throughout the state. These root hardy, 4-5' high and 4-6' wide herbaceous perennials will die-back to the ground in fall returning from the crown the following spring. Provide a richly fertile, moist, wet, to average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and to maximize flowering. Easy and reliable! Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 13129

It's hard to beat Turk's Cap for sheer flower power! From summer to fall the brilliant red flowers just keep coming. Red Hot, a.k.a. Red Spreader, is a lower growing and more spreading form of Turk's Cap with slightly larger red flowers that was selected by plantsman Greg Grant who also developed Pam Puryear's Pink, and Big Momma. Greg says that Red Hot has a more noticeable lower and spreading habit when grown in full sun. Excellent for Hummingbirds and Butterflies, especially the Sulphurs. Item# 9726.

Each golden yellow petal is heavily splashed with burgundy and surround the tall brown central cone of each daisy-like flower. Finely textured blue-gray foliage on a plant that becomes more dense with age. Blooms from late spring through summer. This is a tough and hardy, perennial US Native. Great for smaller pollinators. Item# 9141.

Deep dark red, nearing maroon, 2-3" wide daisies with a contrasting orange-gold eye are borne all summer long on this easy perennial. Red Satin Permathread™ Threadleaf Coreopsis, a hybrid selection from plant breeder Darrel Probst with obvious Coreopsis verticillata in its parentage, is a slowly spreading clump-forming perennial with excellent hardiness and reliable longevity, a long season of flowering, and the dark green, finely textured foliage has improved disease resistance. The upward facing flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Provide this Tickseed with an average moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10619

Extra large, reportedly to nearly 1/2" in diameter, brilliant red berries literally cover up this dwarf and compact deciduous shrub throughout much of winter and may last into spring. Red Sprite Dwarf Winterberry Holly, a.k.a 'Nana', 'Compacta, and 'Macrocarpa', is a USDA release that won the 2010 Holly of the Year Award from the Holly Society of America. This adaptable native shrub drops its foliage early to better show of its display of colorful berries. It can be used en masse to great effect, as a low informal hedge, or as a specimen plant near the front of the garden or landscape. Red Sprite is even small enough to enjoy as a medium-sized container plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist acidic soil. Needs a male holly, of any species, for pollination that flowers at the same time. 'Southern Gentleman' and 'Apollo' are two males that are recommended. Item# 11887

Giant 6" scarlet pinwheels are produced throughout summer and often well into fall on sturdy stems with finely cut darkly tinged foliage. The Red Texas Star or Scarlet Swamp Mallow is a vigorous sun loving perennial which is native to the swampy soils of the southeastern US but is somewhat drought resistant once well-established in the garden. The brilliant red flowers attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, bees, and the occasional butterfly. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 672.

A multitude of upward facing, sleepy, scarlet blooms are born among the soft, dark green foliage from late spring to frost. A hardy and long-lived, spreading to upright perennial, Turk's Cap is an easy to grow heirloom that will flower in sun or light shade. An excellent nectar plant for hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. Resistant to browsing by deer and moderately drought resistant once well-established. The ripe fruits are readily consumed by birds and other wildlife, along with the occasional curious human. Item# 691.

Ooh la la! This award winning Louisiana Iris boasts deep velvety red falls with just a touch of golden yellow at their base for contrast, and these are centered by three more deep rich velvety purplish-red standards. Awarded the highest award a Louisiana Iris cultivar can receive from the American Iris Society, Red Velvet Elvis won the Mary Swords DeBaillon Medal in 2005. Louisiana Irises generally flower between March and May. Item# 10814.

Dense bottlebrush-like flowers composed of fragrant frilly white to cream colored flowers are produced atop the tips of the bare stems in late winter or early spring. Redneck Nation Fothergilla or Witch Alder is a moderately dense growing small to medium sized deciduous suckering native shrub with showy gray-green and bronze new growth that matures to blue-green in summer and produces fall color in shades of red, orange, and yellow. This species is new to science as of 2020! The the cultivar name is in honor of its original discovery by botanist and naturalist Fred Nation in Baldwin County, Alabama and the species name honors Dr. Ron Miller. Provide an average moist, well-drained, acidic soil in full to partly sunny location for optimum vigor and flowering. Redneck Nation Fothergilla can be used as a low growing and low maintenance informal hedge or as a specimen plant in the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings. Flowers will be similar to those shown although this is an image of Mt. Airy Fothergilla. Item# 12165

The show starts in early summer and may last nearly until the first frost with this reliable and fragrant Garden Phlox. It produces large domed clusters of bright purplish pink flowers on tall sturdy stems with mildew resistant, deep green foliage. Phlox is adored by butterflies and hummingbirds alike! Robert Poore is one of only a handful of Garden Phlox cultivars recommended for southern gardens by noted Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Item# 10161

The large flowers are composed of dark indigo-blue outer falls that are centered with dark blue inner standards creating full nearly rounded flowers. This is a vigorous and hardy, early to midseason flowering Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearhouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9205

Yes it fruits but it's fine textured evergreen foliage is fantastic! The bright pink new growth of spring matures to a dusty blue-green with hints of pink in summer, followed by deep purplish-blue in fall which deepens through winter. Clusters of 3/8" edible blue fruit that ripen in May-June, follow the light pink bell-shaped flowers of early spring. Rosa's Blush is grown mainly for its compact habit and beautifully colored, fine textured, ever-changing foliage as the berries ripen a few at the time over a long period. Pick the blue-black fruit once fully soft for the best flavor and like most blueberries a cross pollinator is required for the best fruit set. Item# 9206.

Deep rose pink, fuzzy tubular flowers are produced in spikes atop the tall stems of this vigorous and free flowering hummingbird magnet! Rosebud Sage is a vigorous and hardy Salvia that begins flowering in early summer and continues into fall on a plant that can easily reach 6' x 6' so allow for plenty of room. A native of Mexico it is a die-back perennial into zone 7 if give protection and a winter mulch. Provide a moderately fertile, well-drained, average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny location for the best results. Item# 11143

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies are produced atop sturdy stems emerging from the rosettes of rounded low growing deep green foliage in early(8B) to late spring or early summer(3) depending on your cold hardiness zone. Roundleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera obovata, is very similar to the cutleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea, but is more tolerant of full sun as well as light shade and drier growing conditions. This stoloniferous native perennial develops into an evergreen to semi-evergreen mat of low rich green foliage and its flowers attract many early season pollinators, especially bees. Use Roundleaf Golden Groundsel as a groundcover in informal and naturalistic garden settings as well as in roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is native to much of the central and eastern US.   Item# 12249

The dense 18" high flowers spikes are composed deep violet-purple pea-shaped flowers are held well above an among the blue-green foliage on this vigorous Baptisia hybrid. Royal Purple Prairieblues™ Baptisia or False Indigo, is a complex hybrid developed by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Chicagoland Grows that exhibits a strong resemblence to the Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, including sharing this parent's vigor on this clump-forming herbaceous perennial. The Prairieblues™ Baptisias were selected not only for their unique colors but also for their extra large flower spikes, durability, and vigor. These are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, all rights reserved.  Item# 12463