Newaygo Conservation District Native Plant Picture Guide 1
Contents Foreword... 3 Grasses... 4 Wildflowers... 10 Woodland Rescues... 38 Ferns... 38 Other woodland plants... 40 Acknowledgements... 42 2
Foreword Every year Newaygo Conservation District hosts a Native Plant Sale to provide the community with high quality Michigan native plants. In 2017 the Native Plant Sale and Workshop will be June 9 th, 2017 at the Kropscott Farm and Environmental Center, 6523 Baseline Road, Fremont MI. Pre-order plants and various plants will be available starting at 3pm until 6pm. Starting at 1pm before the sale, there will be a 2 hour workshop by Vern Stephens on Designs by Nature on the benefits of native plants for your property. The proceeds of this sale go to the Conservation District to help fund the continuation of various conservation services to Newaygo County and other counties as well. If you have any questions about the sale or any other service the Newaygo Conservation District provides, feel free to call us at 231-225- 3072 or email us at newaygocd@macd.org 3
Grasses Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) Soil: Moist to dry soils Sun Exposure: Full sun to part sun Height: 3 8 ft Fall Color: Maroon-tan Prairie plant, erosion control, preferred by livestock, provides cover for 24 species of songbirds, host to 2 species of butterfly, high deer resistance Bottle Brush Grass (Hystrix patula) Soil: Moist to dry Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun Height: 2-3 ft Ornamental grass that does well mixed with woodland species, host to one species of butterfly 4
Canada Wild Rye (Elymus Canadensis) Soil: Moist Sun Exposure: Full to Part sun Height: 2 5 ft Cool season, clump-forming ornamental that provides nesting material and seeds for birds, host to one butterfly, high deer resistance. Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Soil: Moist to Dry Sun Exposure: Full to Part sun Height: 3-4 ft Fall Color: Deep orange to purple Tall, bunching prairie grass, yellow-golden tassels, provides seeds for small mammals and birds, host to 1 butterfly species, high deer resistance 5
June Grass (Koeleria macrantha) Soils: Moist and sandy Sun Exposure: Full sun Height: 1-2 ft Cool season grass that goes dormant mid-summer, best planted with other longer lasting plants Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Soils: Dry Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Height: 2-4 ft Fall Color: Reddish-tan persisting into winter Not ideal for small gardens as it reseeds readily, host to 6 butterfly species, high deer resistance 6
Prairie Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata) Soils: Wet Sun Exposure: Full sun Height: 4 6 ft Fall color: Yellow Very tall grass that spreads via rhizome, prefers wet areas Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis) Soils: Dry and sandy Sun Exposure: Sun Height: 1 3 ft Fall Color: Tan-bronze A clump-forming warm season grass, slow growing and slow to establish, uniquely fragrant tufts 7
Purple Top (Triodia flava) Soils: Dry Sun Exposure: Part shade Height: 2 6 ft Reddish purple seed heads give it an attractive purple top, host to 4 butterfly species Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) Soils: Moist to dry Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun Height: 1 3 ft More suited to being planted with spring flowers as it does not readily compete with tall grasses, attracts birds and butterflies 8
Sweet Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) Soils: Moist to wet Sun Exposure: Full sun Height: 1 2 ft Fragrant grass Switch Grass (Panicum vigratum) Soils: Moist to dry Sun Exposure: Sun to part shade Height: 3 6 ft Fall color: Yellow Clump forming, warm-season grass that provides cover for wildlife and is a host for several butterfly species, high deer resistance 9
Wildflowers Bergemot (Monarda fistulosa) Soils: Moist to dry Sun Exposure: Sun to part shade Height: 1 3 ft Bloom Time and Color: Blooms May to Sept., lavender/pink Aromatic; attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; medicinal uses; high deer resistance Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Soils: Dry to moist Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Height: 1-3 ft Blooms: Jun-Oct, Yellow A cheerful flower that attracts nectar and seed lovers alike including bees, butterflies and birds, high deer resistance 10
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastate) Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Jul-Sept, blue Height: 3-5 ft Attracts bees and butterflies Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Jun Oct, White Height: 3-6 ft Attracts butterflies and bees with its fuzzy, clustered blooms 11
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: Jun-Aug, Orange Height: 1-3 ft Prefers well-drained sandy soils, larval host to butterflies including the Monarch, highly attractive as a nectar source, high deer resistance Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Sun Exposure: Part sun to shade Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Jul-Sep, Red Height: 2-5 ft This plant relies heavily on hummingbirds for pollination, attracts other nectar lovers, prefers partial shade, moderate deer resistance 12
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) Sun Exposure: Full sun Soils: Dry Blooms: Jul - Sep, Yellow Height: 4-8 ft Threatened species in Michigan, tremendous tap root, gets its name from its leaves tendency to orient themselves north and south. Culver s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Jul - Sept, White Height: 2-6 ft Attracts birds and bees, adapts well to gardens but may do better at a woodland edge 13
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) Sun Exposure: Full sun Soils: Dry to wet Blooms: Jul-Sep, Yellow Height: 4-8 ft Nectar source for bees and butterflies, birds are attracted to its seeds and the water that collects in its cup-like leaves. Sun Exposure: Full sun Soils: Dry Blooms: Aug Sep, Cream Height: 1-3 ft. Prefers well-drained, nutrient poor soils, attracts bees and butterflies. More drought tolerant than other prairie plants. False Boneset (Khunia eupatoides) 14
False Dragonhead (Obedient Plant) (Physostegia virginiana) Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade Soils: Moist Blooms: Aug - Oct, Purple or white Height: 2-4 ft Adaptive plant that can tolerate dry to wet soils, attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, spreads easily, high deer resistance. Foxglove Beard Tongue (Smooth penstemon) (Penstemon digitalis) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Dry to wet Blooms: May-Jul, White Height: 2-4 ft Great for clay loam areas, attracts humming birds and bees 15
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Apr Aug, Yellow Height: 1-3 ft Larval host to the Black Swallowtail butterfly, attracts bees and butterflies Gray Headed Coneflower (Yellow Coneflower) (Ratibida pinnata) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: May Sept, Yellow Height: 3-5 ft Tall stems may need support, attracts birds and butterflies 16
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Jul-Sep, Blue Height: 1-4 ft. Not drought tolerant, keep soil moist, toxic if consumed in large quantities, attracts bees and hummingbirds Hairy Beard Tongue (Penstemon hirsutus) Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade Soils: Dry, well drained Blooms: Jun Jul, Pink, Purple Height: 1-3 ft Attracts hummingbirds and bees 17
Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Soils: Dry and sandy Blooms: Jun Sep, Purple Height: 2-4 ft Blooms attract bees and butterflies, seeds attract small mammals and birds, deer resistant Horsemint (Monarda punctata) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Soils: Dry, sandy Blooms: Apr Aug, varies; White, Pink, Yellow, Green, Purple Height: 1-2 ft Aromatic bloom that attracts bees and butterflies, deer resistant 18
Attracts bees and butterflies, tolerates periodic flooding, some deer resistance Ironweed (Vernonia missurica) Sun Exposure: Full to part shade Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Jul-Sept, Purple Height: 3-6 ft Jacob s Ladder (Polemonium Reptans) Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade Soils: Moist Height: 12-18 in Blooms: Apr-May, Blue Great nectar source for bees 19
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Aug-Sep, Pink Height: 4-7 ft Highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators *Deciduous shrub Sun Exposure: Full to Part sun Soils: Dry Blooms: Jun-Aug, Blue to Purple Height: 1-3 ft Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, drought tolerant and long lived, takes about 4 years to reach maturity and flower Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) 20
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) *Deciduous shrub Sun Exposure: Part sun to shade Soils: Dry to Moist Blooms: Jun-Aug, White Height: 1-3 ft Larval host to butterflies like the Spring Azure, great source for pollinators, leaves historically used for tea, massive root system makes it highly adaptable and hardy Northern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa) Sun: Full Sun Soils: Dry to Moist Blooms: Aug Sep, Purple Height: 2 4 ft Prefers dry, sandy or rocky soils, attracts pollinators, especially butterflies 21
Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum) Sun Exposure: Full to Part sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Jul-Aug, White to pink Height: 1-2 ft. Attracts bees, butterflies, best if grown in clumps, moderate deer resistance New England Aster (Aster novaeangliae) Sun Exposure: Full to part sun Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: Aug-Oct, Purple Height: 3-6 ft Nectar source for bees and butterflies, including Monarchs 22
Marsh Blazing Star (Dense Blazing Star) (Liatris spicata) Sun Exposure: Full sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Jul-Sep, Purple Height: 3-5 ft Great component in a pollinator garden as it attracts bees and butterflies as well as hummingbirds Prairie Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata) Sun Exposure: Full sun Soils: Dry to Moist Blooms: Jun-Aug, Yellow Height: 1-3 ft A great choice for dry, unstable soils, attracts pollinators with its bright blooms 23
Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) Sun: Full sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Jul-Sep, Yellow Height: 4-10 ft A unique, large plant that is extremely long-lived, attracts pollinators and birds love its seeds. Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) Sun: Full sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: May - Jun, Red, Pink Purple Height: 6-12 in Prefers dry soils and adapts well to rock gardens, does not compete well with taller plants, deer resistant 24
Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: Jun-Jul, Purple Height: 2-4 ft Attracts pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds, Goldfinches love the seeds later in the summer, adaptable to various soils but prefers it drier Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Jul - Sep, Purple Height: 3-5 ft Attracts bees and butterflies, can become aggressive if left alone, birds love the seeds, deer resistant 25
Queen of the Prairie (Fillipendula rubra) Sun: Full Sun Soils: Moist Blooms: Jun - July, Pink Height: 4-5 ft Loves rich garden soils and will reward you with attractive cotton candy blooms. Attracts pollinators. Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Sun: Full Sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: Jun Aug, White Height: 3-5 ft A unique wildflower with leaves like a yucca and golf-ball flowers, can become aggressive if seed heads are left to spread, attracts some bees, deer resistant 26
Rosin Weed (Silphium integrifolium) Sun: Full Sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: July-Sep, Yellow Height: 2-6 ft Grows well in a variety of soils, great for tough clay soils, attracts birds with its seeds Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) Sun: Full Sun Soils: Dry Blooms: Jul-Oct, Purple, Pink Height: 1-4 ft. Several species of butterflies frequent the blooms as well as bees and hummingbirds, prefers sandy or rocky soils, deer resistant 27
Round Leaf Ragwort (Packera obovata) Sun: Full sun to part shade Soils: Moist to wet Height: 1-2 ft Blooms: April-June, Yellow Adapts well and thrives in shade, has showy flowers and attracts butterflies Sand Tickseed (Lanceleaf Coreopsis) (Coreopsis lanceolate) Sun: Full sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: Jun Jul, Yellow Height: 1-2 ft Grows in any well drained soils but loves sandy soils, attracts butterflies and birds 28
Showy Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Sun: Full Sun to part shade Soils: Moist Blooms: Jul-Sep, Yellow Height: 2-4 ft Prefers moisture but can tolerate some dry times, visited by several types of butterflies and other pollinators Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciose) Sun: Full sun Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: Aug-Sep, Yellow Height: 1-3 ft Late season nectar source for bees, and butterflies, deer resistance 29
Sky Blue Aster (Aster azureus) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Dry to moist Height: 2-3 ft. Blooms: Aug-Oct, Blue Thrives in a variety of soils, attracts butterflies and other pollinators, very showy in late summer Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Dry to moist Height: 2-4 ft Blooms: Jun July, Blue Attracts pollinators such as native bees, blooms are short lived, especially in the heat 30
Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) Sun: Full Soils: Dry to moist Blooms: Aug-Oct, Yellow Height: 2-5 ft Highly adaptable and does well in various soils including clay and dry sand, flowers attract Monarchs, and seeds are an important late season food for birds, deer resistant Swamp Milkweed (Red Milkweed) (Asclepias Incarnate) Sun: Full sun Soils: Moist to wet Blooms: June-Aug, Red to pink Height: 3-5 ft Thrives in wet, muck soils, larval host to Monarchs and Queen butterflies, nectar source for multiple pollinators, deer resistant 31
Sweet Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia submentosa) Sun: Full sun to shade Soils: Moist Height: 3-5 ft Blooms: Aug Oct, Yellow Prefers a clay soil and moisture, blooms have a sweet smell and it attracts several pollinators Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Moist to dry Blooms: July-Sep, Yellow Height: 3-6 ft Thrives in poor, sandy or rocky soils, attracts birds and butterflies, deer resistant 32
Thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrical) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Dry Blooms: June-Aug, White Height: 1-2 ft Flowers fruit into an elongated green cluster that resembles a thimble, prefers dry, open spaces Western Sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis) Sun: Full sun Soils: Dry to moist Height: 1-3 ft Blooms: July Aug, Yellow Attracts birds and bees, prefers poor, dry, sandy soils but will grow on loam 33
White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Sun: Full sun to shade Soils: Wet to Moist Height: 1 4 ft Blooms: Jul Sep, White, Pink Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, larval host to the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly Wild Blue Iris (Blue Flag Iris) (Iris versicolor) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Moist to Wet Blooms: May - Aug Height: 2-3 ft Although it would make a great plant for a pond or wetland, also tolerates growing in gardens, attracts hummingbirds and some other pollinators 34
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Sun: Full sun to shade Soils: Dry to Moist Height: 1-3 ft Blooms: Apr Jul, Red and Yellow A nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, thin sandy soils will result in a healthier, longer-lived plant Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) Sun: Full to part sun Soils: Dry, Sandy Height: 1-2 ft Blooms: May June, Blue Only known food source of the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly, will not grow well in loam or clay. 35
Wild Petunia (Ruellia humills) Sun: Full sun Soils: Dry to Moist Blooms: Jun Aug, Purple Height: Up to 1 ft. A perfect plant for hot, dry areas, self-seeds, attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant Wild Senna (Cassia herbacarpa) Sun: Full sun Soils: Moist to wet Height: 3-5 ft Blooms: Jul Aug, Yellow Attracts pollinators, and birds with its seed pods that develop later, fond of clay and tolerant of periodic flooding 36
Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) Sun: Full to partial sun Soils: Dry to moist, sandy Height: 2-4 ft Blooms: Aug Sep Attracts various pollinators, birds are partial to the seeds, deer resistant 37
Woodland Rescues Ferns Cinnamon Fern (Osumunda cinnamomea) Soils: Wet to Moist Sun: Sun to shade Height: Up to 6 ft One of the largest of our native ferns, birds use fuzz on young fiddle heads as nesting material, deer ressitant Interrupted Fern (Osumunda clatyoniana) Soils: Wet to moist Sun: Part sun to shade Adapts well to garden soil but thrives in moderately damp, acidic soils, deer resistant 38
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) Sun: Part sun to shade Soils: Moist to wet Height: 1 3 ft Highly adaptable, fast growing, tolerates drier soils more than other ferns, used for soil stabilization, deer resistant Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) Soils: Moist Sun: Part sun to shade Height: 1 2 ft Has delicate 18 20 inch fronds with a unique fan-like pattern unique to native ferns. Does not tolerate being too wet or too dry. Deer resistant. 39
Ostrich Plume Fern (Royal Fern) (Osmunda regalis) Sun: Part sun to shade Soils: Wet to moist Height: 3 6 ft Tolerates various wet soils, as well as yearround shallow water, deer resistant Other woodland plants Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) Sun: Full sun to shade Soils: Dry to Moist Blooms: Apr May, Purple, Pink Height: 1 2 ft Grows well in a variety of conditions but prefers moist soils, not at all deer resistant, attracts some bird species and bees 40
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadensis) Sun: Part sun to shade Soils: Wet to Moist Blooms: Apr Jun, Brown to purple Height: 4 8 inches Host to the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly, roots produce a scent like ginger, some people may have an adverse reaction when touching this plant. Deer resistant. Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) Sun: Part sun to shade Soils: Wet to moist Blooms: Mar Jun, Purple/Green Height: 1 2 ft A unique shade plant that thrives most in moist, shady areas, preferably with a winter leaf layer, bright red fall fruit, non-edible. 41
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) Sun: Part sun to shade Soils: Moist Blooms: May Jun, White Height: 1 2 ft Readily eaten by deer, long lived, white flower turns pinkish towards the end of its bloom Acknowledgements Thank you to Vern Stephens of Designs by Nature for providing us with native plants. Photos courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and Google 42