Have you seen any of these plants on the Greenway? Please let us know where.
September 2023
Solidago spp.
Native perennial wildflower
Will grow in sun or partial shade and in all types of soils
Very drought tolerant
Important source of food for pollinators
August 2023
Lobelia cardinalis
Native perennial, 12-48" in height
Showy red blooms July thru September. Especially noticeable along the Greenway this year!
Usually pollinated by hummingbirds as their long beaks can penetrate the flower tubes down to the nectar.
Prefers moist soil in sun, shade or part-shade.
Along the Greenway, look for Cardinal flower in the wooded or natural growth just beyond the mowed trail border.
July 2023
Monarda fistulosa
Native perennial wildflower
Will grow in sun or partial shade and in all types of soils
Important source of food for pollinators
Deer resistant and tolerant of black walnut
Edible and medicinal!
June 2023
Packera glabella
Native annual wildflower
Will grow in sun or shade so long as soil is moist!
Important source of food for pollinators in the spring
Excellent form of natural groundcover
Pairs well with native red columbine that blooms at the same time and provides gorgeous color combination!
May 2023
Liriodendron tulipifera
Native deciduous tree
Prefers full sun and grows in mixed forests
Important source of food for pollinators in the spring
Larval host for Eastern Swallowtail and Tuliptree Silk moth
Beautiful golden foliage in the fall
Also called tulip tree and several other names
Excellent shade tree, can grow up to 150’!
April 2023
Cerastium fontanum
Native herbaceous perennial
Will grow in sun or shade in prostrate mats
Bird and pollinator attractor
Edible and medicinal!
Blooming early spring through early summer
March 2023
Veronica americana
Native creeping perennial
Hardy and forgiving of foot traffic
Full sun to part shade
Host plant for Common Buckeye butterfly
Blooms first thing in the spring with lovely little bluish purple flowers, making it an important early food source for pollinators!
February 2023
Juniperus virginiana
Native evergreen tree
Prefers dry soils, but at least needs good drainage
Sunny to part shade
Bird attractor, cedar wax wings love this one!
Lovely blue berries are edible to humans as well
Height and shape greatly affected by pruning choices
January 2023
Ilex decidua
Native perennial understory tree
Handles a variety of soil conditions
Sun to part shade
Bird and mammal attractor
Reliable green foliage and gorgeous red berries in winter
For best berry production you must plant a male and female tree
December 2022
Aronia arbutifolia
Native perennial shrub
Can handle damp or dry soils as long as they are well drained
Full sun to part shade
Deer resistant
Bird and pollinator attractor
Particularly good for winter interest and as a food source for migrating birds!
Fruits appear in late summer and can persist through winter
November 2022
Sassafras albidum
Native understory tree
Can handle damp or dry soils as long as they are well drained
Full sun to part shade
Roots can be used to make root beer!
Attracts swallowtail butterflies
Particularly good for fall leaf color
October 2022
Eupatorium fistulosum
Native perennial (not a weed)
Prefers moist rich soils and full sun
Can get several feet tall!
Bird and pollinator attractor
Blooming through late summer and early fall
September 2022
Lobelia cardinalis
Native perennial, 12-48" in height
Showy red blooms July thru September
Usually pollinated by hummingbirds as their long beaks can penetrate the flower tubes down to the nectar.
Prefers moist soil in sun, shade or part-shade.
Along the Greenway, look for Cardinal flower in the wooded or natural growth just beyond the mowed trail border.
August 2022
Vernonia noveboracensis
Native perennial
Prefers moist rich soils and full sun
Deer resistant
Bird and pollinator attractor
Specialist pollinator:
The long-horned bee (Melissodes denticulatus)
July 2022
Pontederia cordata
Native aquatic plant
Full sun
Fresh water up to 12” deep
Pollinator attractor
Blooms late summer all the way through early fall
June 2022
Sambucus canadensis
Native perennial shrub
Forgiving of soil conditions but prefers moist areas
Full sun to part shade
Amazing bird, insect, and wildlife attractor
White flowers in early summer with purple berries in late summer
Excellent for erosion control
April 2022
Lindera benzoin
Native perennial understory shrub
Dioecious: need a male and female for good fruit set
Full sun all the way to full shade
Beautiful yellow flowers are a first sign of spring and an early butterfly nectar source!
Aromatic foliage and berries that attract wildlife
February 2022
Juniperus virginiana
Native evergreen tree
Prefers dry soils, but at least needs good drainage
Sunny to part shade
Bird attractor, cedar wax wings love this one!
Lovely blue berries are edible to humans as well
Height and shape greatly affected by pruning choices
December 2021
Ilex decidua
Native perennial understory tree
Handles a variety of soil conditions
Sun to part shade
Bird and mammal attractor
Reliable green foliage and gorgeous red berries in winter
For best berry production you must plant a male and female tree
November 2021
Hamamelis virginiana
Native perennial understory tree; sometimes written as Witch Hazel
Forgiving of poor soil conditions but doesn’t like extremely dry soil
Part shade to shade
Bird attractor
Beautiful fall foliage and thread-like winter blooms make this a tree worth having!
The unusual blossoms appear in late fall and continue into winter
October 2021
Aronia arbutifolia
Native perennial shrub
Can handle damp or dry soils as long as they are well drained
Full sun to part shade
Deer resistant
Bird and pollinator attractor
Particularly good for winter interest and as a food source for migrating birds!
Fruits appear in late summer and can persist through winter
September 2021
Vernonia noveboracensis
Native perennial
Prefers moist rich soils, full sun
Deer resistant
Bird and pollinator attractor
Specialist pollinator: The long-horned bee (Melissodes denticulatus)
Blooms here August into Fall