The Swamp Sunflower, as the name implies, is grown best in wet soil. It is a good addition to a rain garden. It grows up to 6 feet tall and blooms from mid-summer to first frost. This sunflower is an important ecological resource for many pollinators and birds. It is the host plant for butterflies such as the Painted Lady, and is an important nectar source for Monarchs migrating south. The seeds are eaten by birds, helping to sustain them over the winter. Safe for pets.

Coastal Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 5 feet tall. This is one of the smaller plants in the genus. It is loved by all kinds of pollinators, such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Carpenter Bees. The pale pink to purple flowers open late summer to early fall, and the fruit that follows is nutritious for songbirds before winter. It is tolerant of deer, salt, and high moisture, being found in the wild in coastal swamps. The leaves will crisp if allowed to dry out. Safe for pets.

The Sensitive Partridge Pea, Chamaecrista nictitans, is an annual wildflower in the Legume family, Fabaceae. In the wild, this legume grows with native grasses such as Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans. The yellow flowers are loved by pollinators, and the nutritious seeds are eaten by birds such as the Eastern Mourning Dove and the Eastern Meadowlark. It is the host plant for the Little Sulphur and Cloudless Sulphur. It readily reseeds, providing food and habitat to native fauna for many years.

Purple Joe-Pye Weed, also called Sweet Joe-Pye Weed, is named after its purple stems and/or vanilla-scented, pink flowers. The fragrant blooms help deter deer. This plant likes moist soil and can tolerate clay soil. Part shade is where this Joe-Pye Weed prefers, but can also handle full sun. Safe for pets.

Also known as the hairy white old-field aster, a common aster that grows more compact than others in the species.  Its name comes from its very hairy stems.  Many clustered small white flowers adorn its stems during late summer through fall, attracting pollinators.  Many birds such as turkey, grouse, and sparrows enjoy its seeds during the winter.

Also known as Cottongrass Bulrush or "Teddy-bear paws."  This is a densely-tufted, clumping rush that can be found in our wetlands.  Many brown, woolly bristles surround its nutlets giving a fuzzy appearance.  Good for moist gardens and alongside ponds.  Woolgrass is the host plant for the Dion Skipper butterfly and provides food for waterfowl.

Also known as Summersweet, Clethra is a common flowering bush found along the shores of our freshwater features (ponds, lakes, rivers) and wetter woodland edges.  Aptly named, its narrow clusters of blooms are quite fragrant during mid to late Summer, attracting copious bees and other pollinators.  These flowers grow into peppercorn-shaped seeds in late Summer.  A great addition to any rain garden and hedgerows.

Partridge pea is a readily self-seeding annual legume that is easy-to-grow and enjoys disturbed soil areas.  It has feather-like leaves and small yellow flowers.  Great to mix amongst other plantings.  

Also known as pasture rose, this native rose is an easy-to-grow shrub.  It prefers dry, rocky, sunny locations but tolerates most conditions and is good for neglected areas.  Its flowers attract bees and butterflies.  It also provides nesting structure for bumblebees and its rose hips are food for birds.  Rose petals and hips are also edible by humans!

Ironweed is a tall, deep-rooted, moisture-loving wildflower that can be found near streams and ponds.  It is great for the rear of your pollinator garden or rain garden.  Like many other natives, it can be pruned down before blooming for a shorter plant ('Chelsea chop').  Produces many purple flowers on its tall stalks.  In the Fall, Ironweed generates lots of seed which is a great food source for birds.