West Virginia Natives

Early Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a short-lived native perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers from early summer into early fall. Upright clumps reach about 5 feet tall and support bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds. Plants perform best in full sun and tolerate loam, clay, or sandy soils with medium moisture. Seed requires 30 days of cold, moist stratification before germination.

Wild Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata) is a tall native perennial with bright yellow flowers that bloom from midsummer into fall. Plants reach about 7 feet and spread by rhizomes, making them well suited to moist naturalized gardens, woodland edges, and rain-garden plantings. The flowers support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, while mature seed heads provide food for birds. Seed requires 30 days of cold, moist stratification and should be surface sown.

Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii) is a native perennial with golden-orange flowers and a compact, mounding habit. Plants reach about 3 feet and bloom from midsummer into early fall in full sun or partial shade. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, and the mature seed heads provide food for birds. Seed requires 60 days of cold, moist stratification and should be surface sown.

Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a North American native perennial that sends up graceful spikes of white, bell-shaped flowers with a soft pink blush. The upright blooms brighten prairie gardens, rain gardens and naturalized borders from late spring into early summer. Plants establish into durable clumps that tolerate a range of soils when drainage is adequate. The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) is a native perennial with flat-topped clusters of bright yellow flowers in spring to early summer. It grows well in moist to mesic meadows, open woods, and woodland edges in full sun to partial light. The flowers provide early forage for bees and butterflies, while the upright foliage adds structure to native plantings. Plants typically reach about 18 to 24 inches tall once established.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a native North American herb with a rich history and distinctive characteristics. Historically used by Indigenous peoples for its medicinal properties, Boneset earned its name from its traditional use in treating fevers and musculoskeletal ailments. Originating from the eastern United States, this perennial plant is recognized for its unique features and growing habits. Boneset typically grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and has a bushy, upright growth habit.

The Canada Wildrye is a cool-season bunchgrass grain variety that can be found throughout Canada and the U.S. except in the southeastern states. It is typically found in prairies, open woods, fields and disturbed sites. This grain tends to be short-lived but provides quick stabilization for erosion control seedings, and it makes a good, early successional component of prairie mixtures. The Canada Wildrye provides quality forage for livestock and wildlife.

Look closely at each cup-shaped bloom and you'll find a charming star-like pattern, one reason Mountain Laurel ranks among the most beautiful native evergreen shrubs of eastern North America. Kalmia latifolia forms a rounded mound of glossy, leathery leaves topped in late spring with clusters of pink to white flowers. It thrives in dappled shade and acidic soil, making it a natural partner for woodland gardens, foundation plantings and naturalized slopes. Slow and steady, it rewards patient growers with decades of reliable bloom.

From the northern plains to mountain foothills, this hardy, adaptable native thrives. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) bears fragrant, bottlebrush-like spikes of white flowers in spring, followed by clusters of glossy, dark red to black cherries in late summer. The tart fruit makes wonderful jelly and syrup, and birds flock to it. Its suckering, thicket-forming habit is excellent for windbreaks, wildlife plantings and stabilizing slopes.

Acorns from this handsome tree are a key food for wildlife, and it supports an enormous variety of native insects and birds. Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) is a fast-starting native shade tree with a broad, rounded crown and glossy, pointed-lobed leaves that turn russet to bright red in fall. It is one of the most widely planted oaks for lawns, parks and streets, valued for its strong wood and tolerance of urban conditions.

Creamy, custard-like fruit with a flavor often compared to banana and mango ripens in late summer on this small understory tree. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is North America's largest native fruit, with big, tropical-looking leaves and a tidy, pyramidal habit. Its maroon spring flowers and golden fall foliage add ornamental value, and it is the only host plant for the zebra swallowtail butterfly. Plant two or more for best fruit set.

Late Figwort, also called Maryland Figwort, is an eastern and central North American perennial whose genus name recalls its long history in herbal use. Tall square stems carry small reddish-green, nectar-rich flowers from midsummer into fall. Native bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the blooms, while birds use the plant for food and shelter. Grow it in loamy or sandy soil from full sun to shade after 60 days of cold, moist stratification, and surface sow the tiny seeds.

Virginia Wild Rye has long filled forest edges and damp clearings in eastern North America. Its quick growth and ready reseeding make it useful as a native cover crop and for streambank stabilization. Birds use the seed-bearing stems for food and cover, and insects inhabit the grass. It tolerates sun to shade and moist ground, with tan and crimson fall color.

Bottlebrush Grass was once classified as Hystrix patula, a historical name that points to its bristly, brush-shaped seed heads. This native of eastern North American woods grows during cool spring and fall weather. Northern Pearly-eye caterpillars use it as a host, and birds forage among its stems and seeds. Grow in partial shade to shade on medium to moderately dry soil.

Nodding Bur Marigold is a native annual of North American wet meadows and marsh edges. Its old names Beggar's Tick and Sticktight recall the hooked seeds that cling to passing animals. Golden, sunflower-like flowers feed bees, butterflies, skippers, and moths; later, ducks and songbirds eat the seeds. Plant in full sun and wet to moist ground, where it can reseed naturally.

Bog Goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa) is a distinctive North American native plant. Sturdy stems and yellow flower clusters suit boggy ground, rain gardens, and other consistently moist native landscapes. It matures at approximately 48 inches tall and flowers from mid to late summer through early to mid fall. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in medium through wet conditions, with loamy soil or wet soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) is a distinctive North American native plant. Silvery upper foliage surrounds small white flowers, creating a striking landing platform for bees, wasps, and butterflies. It matures at approximately 36 inches tall and flowers from early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry-medium to medium conditions, with loamy soil or sandy soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Great Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) is a distinctive North American native plant. Large greenish umbels rise on burgundy-tinged stems, giving moist borders and streamside plantings dramatic height. It matures at approximately 84 inches tall and flowers from mid to late spring through late spring to early summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in medium through wet conditions, with loamy soil, clay soil, wet soil or alkaline soil. Space plants 36–48 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Carex comosa is a large tufted wetland sedge. The narrow leaves are lime green and shiny. In late spring triangular culms rise above the foliage to 5’ bearing large chartreuse bottlebrush shaped spikes. Attractive warm brown seed spikes follow. This bold sedge flourishes in sun or part sun in damp or wet sites. Plants prosper in difficult wet mucky soils or even in shallow water.

A special mix of flowers that grab everyone's attention. The species in this mix are native to or naturalized to the Northeast US, east of Ohio and north of North Carolina.

The Eastern Pollinator Blend is a wildflower mixture for pollinator conservation in the eastern United States and southeast Canada. The western planting boundary would be a line straight south from the eastern borders of North and South Dakota. This mix contains a balanced blend of native annuals and perennials that provide nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. If you have specific mix requirements for pollinator conservation projects, please contact us regarding a custom mix for your area. Plant at 5 oz. per 1,000 sq.ft. or 7-14 lbs. per acre.

Deep in shady mountain forests, dense thickets of long, leathery evergreen leaves mark Rosebay Rhododendron, the hardiest and largest of the native eastern rhododendrons. Rhododendron maximum blooms in early summer, later than most rhododendrons, with rounded trusses of pale pink to white flowers often freckled with green or gold. It is a superb choice for screening and naturalizing in deep shade, along streams and under tall trees.

Every season brings something new from Black Chokeberry, a hardworking native shrub. Aronia melanocarpa opens clusters of white spring flowers, then sets glossy black berries packed with antioxidants that are great in juice, jams and baking. In fall, the leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange. This multi-stemmed shrub adapts to both wet and sandy soils, making it ideal for rain gardens, hedges and naturalized plantings.

Distinctive corky, warty bark sets this tough, adaptable native shade tree apart at a glance. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) handles wind, drought, poor soil and city conditions with ease, and its small, sweet purple fruits are relished by birds through fall and winter. Its spreading, elm-like crown makes it a dependable choice for shade, windbreaks and street plantings. This seed was collected in the northern part of the species' range for extra cold hardiness.

Fragrant white blossoms cover this tough, thicket-forming native in early spring, before the leaves emerge. American Plum (Prunus americana) follows its flowers with small, sweet-tart red to yellow plums in late summer, perfect for fresh eating, jams and pies. It is extremely hardy and drought tolerant, and its dense growth makes a great windbreak, wildlife shelter or edible hedge on farms and larger properties.

Among the tallest trees in eastern North America, this towering native hardwood has straight trunks and uniquely shaped, four-lobed leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) blooms in late spring with tulip-like flowers of yellow-green banded in orange, rich in nectar for bees. Fast growing and long lived, it is a superb shade tree for large properties, parks and reforestation projects.

Rustling softly in the wind, golden bronze leaves often hang on through winter on this majestic native shade tree. American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) has smooth, silver-gray bark and a broad, rounded crown, and its silky green leaves turn golden bronze in fall. Its small triangular beechnuts are edible and feed a wide range of wildlife. Slow but long-lived, it makes a legacy tree for large yards, parks and woodland gardens.

Windbreaks, screens and erosion control plantings rarely get a better candidate than this tough, adaptable native evergreen. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) has dense, aromatic foliage and a neat pyramidal to columnar shape, and it shrugs off cold, heat, drought, wind and poor soil. Female trees carry dusty blue berries through fall and winter that birds love, and the fragrant reddish wood has been prized for generations.

Northern wild senna produces clusters of butter-yellow flowers above handsome divided foliage in midsummer. Dark anthers add contrast, followed by flat seedpods that remain ornamental into autumn. This durable prairie plant handles heat and supports sulphur butterfly caterpillars.

Water Horehound is native to nearly all of the contiguous United States and has long occupied open marshes, fens, and wet meadows. Although it belongs to the mint family, its foliage lacks the strong mint scent; small white flowers sit in the leaf axils. Those flowers can serve small pollinating insects, while the stems add cover in wetland habitat. Give it sun or partial shade and moist to wet soil.

Seedbox is a North American native of moist prairies and marsh edges, named for its distinctive cube-shaped seed capsule. Small yellow flowers appear at the leaf joints on reddish stems. Bees visit the blooms and leaf-feeding insects use the foliage. Grow it in sun to partial shade in medium-wet soil or a rain garden.