Monroe Conservation District Native Plants

Bergamot Monarda fistulosa: for drier gardens & sandy soils, Flowers July - August in dense clusters of pink-pale lavender with ragged heads. Can grow to 5' in full sun to partial shade. Photo by Thomas Barnes, University of Kentucky, © USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Great Blue Lobelia - Lobelia siphilitica: This Denizen of Dampness is covered in deep blue flowers in late summer and early fall. It is also adept at attracting hummingbirds. Grows one to four feet tall in damp sand, loam, or clay. Prefers full to partial sun.

Cardinal Flower - Lobelia Cardinalis: Cardinal flower with its brilliant red blossoms is very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. It grows best in moist, even wet soil in light shade to full sun. Once established, it usually will re-seed itself. Provides late summer bloom to the perennial border, wild garden, native plant or woodland garden.

Christmas Fern - Polystrichum acrostichoides: Classic evergreen fern. The clump of deep green, leathery fronds stays fresh all winter. Thrives in shade, rich, moist, well-drained soil. , Mulch well with chopped and fallen leaves.

Cinnamon Fern - Osmunda cinnamomea: Clumps of 3' to 5 ‘ tall fronds surround upright spikes of bright cinnamon-color. This plant makes a statement with groundcovers or among perennials. Habitat same as Christmas Fern.

Columbine - Aquilega Canadensis: The orange/yellow flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds. They have long tubes at the end of which are little storage places for nectar. The height is 1' to 3', blooming May - July. Grows in most soils, full sun to dappled shade. Do not over fertilize or you will get mostly leaves. Good for rock gardens.

Grey Headed Coneflower - Ratibida pinnata: This prairie native produces large pale-yellow petaled flowers with an elevated cone-like center varying from gray to light purple, showing off June to August. 3 to 5’ tall in well drained to dry soils, full sun.

Joe Pye Weed - 3 to 6’ tall. Lance shaped leaves are arranged in whorls, topped in late summer with huge round-topped panicles of mauve-purple flowers. Excellent nectar plants for butterflies. Sun to part sun. Moist to wet soil. Blooms July to August.

Lady Fern - Athyrium filix-femina: Grows 1' to 3' with 1' to 2 1/2' spread. Easily grown in rich, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Will tolerate drier soils than many other ferns. Tolerates full sun if soil is kept constantly moist. Shelter from wind to protect fronds from breaking. Divide clumps in spring every few years to reposition crowns at the soil level. Photo by Scott Peterson@ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

New England Aster - 3 to 6’ tall making it one of the tallest and most magnificent of the asters. Bright blue to purple flowers with orange centers cover the upper half of the plant, and serve as an important late season nectar source for a variety of butterflies. Very fast growing. Requires fertile soil with adequate moisture. Grow in full sun in average to moist soil.

Trillium - Trillium grandiflorum: 10” tall bearing a long-lasting white, three petaled flower that fades to pink when mature. Excellent for shady borders. Blooms early spring.

Wild Blue Iris - Iris virginica: 2’ tall with a flower that is light to dark violet and blooms in late spring. The new foliage has a purple/burgundy color. The flower is the size of Siberian Iris; about 3 inches.

Wild Ginger - Asarum canadensis: 4 to 8” tall. Delicate white blooms with lilac/magenta hoods suspended on 5 stems, glossy evergreen foliage. 10” wide. Prefers shade.

Woodland Phlox - Phlox divaricata: This phlox makes a low spreading mat-like groundcover that grows 8" to 12” tall & spreads several feet. Moist humus rich soil with adequate water & high shade. It is summer dormant in drought conditions. Photo by Jennifer Anderson@ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Native Wildflowers and Grasses