Despite being native to wet areas, this herbaceous perennial has a surprisingly high tolerance for heat and drought once established. Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) is native to the Southeastern United States and grows in hardiness zones 5 to 9 with average moisture and well-drained soil. It grows to 2 feet tall and spreads 1 to…
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), or false dragonhead, is a very fun plant that has some very unique qualities. The common name comes from the flowers’ unique pliable nature: the flower heads can be pushed from side to side along the stem, and they will remain wherever they are moved. This makes the plant very useful…
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a 10- to 20-foot-long, twining evergreen vine native to the southeastern United States. As it is a southern species, in southeastern Pennsylvania it is best to use the cold-hardy variety called ‘Margarita’ and plant it in a location where it will be protected from harsh winter winds. Gelsemium is among…
Hubricht’s bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) is a beautiful clump-forming, herbaceous perennial that has many noteworthy characteristics. It is a member of the Dogbane plant family, or Apocynaceae. One trait expressed by members of this family is a milky/latex sap. Due to this, Hubricht’s bluestar is not preferred by deer. It is known for its elegant powdery…
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), like other goldenrods, has a long panicle of yellow ray and disk florets characteristic of the aster family, Asteraceae. But there are a few key features that distinguish wrinkleleaf goldenrod from the other goldenrods. The central stem, which can reach 1-5 feet, is covered in tiny hairs, or pubescence. The upper…