Invasive exotic plants are plants that are not indigenous to an area but nevertheless have established themselves and reproduced. Not being indigenous to an area, the plants have no natural predators or diseases. This freedom from predators and diseases enables the exotic plants to spread unchecked. Exotic invasive plants run rampant and inhabit space that […]
plant lists
Native Plants with Neat Growing Habits
In helping clients decide which native plants to place in gardens, I am often asked for plants that are “neat” in habit. I don’t know if this is because they fear native plants are “messy” or they are just neatniks. What I suggest are these plants which grow in easily managed clumps. When you choose […]
Plants for a Sunny and Dry Garden
Sometimes there is a spot that is like its’ own mini-desert. The soil is thin and dry and the spot receives full sun all day. What is a native plant lover to do? Plant the toughest customers you can find, that’s what. Curl up with a good native plant book, like Native Plants of the […]
Long Bloomers: Native Flowers That Bloom A Long Time
There are few perennials that bloom for more than a month or two. Generally, to get a long season bloom, gardeners may have to resort to annuals from other places. But native plant gardeners have plants that will bloom for a long time. Many of the native perennials listed below have been tinkered with. Breeders […]
Native Street Trees for Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic
Spring and Fall are the ideal times to plant trees here on the east coast. The City of Philadelphia gives out free native trees to city residents every spring and fall through the Tree Philly Campaign. The times I have volunteered during giveaway days, only native trees were given out. Residents had a choice between […]
Clumping for Neatness: Tidy Native Plants
Being known as a “plant person”, I am often asked for plants that are “neat” in habit. I don’t know if this is because they fear native plants are “messy” or they are just neatniks. The “messy”, unattractive plants we often see by waysides and roadsides are often non-native plants brought here from far away […]
Native Plants for a Sunny, Dry Garden
Sometimes there is a spot that is like its’ own mini-desert. The soil is thin and dry and the spot receives full sun all day. What is a native plant lover to do? Plant the toughest customers you can find, that’s what. The native plants included on this list have the genes of thousands of […]
Summer-into-Fall Blooming Native Plants for Philadelphia
In late summer, native plant sales are held at environmental centers and nurseries across the country. After a season of bloom, sometimes I notice that I don’t have enough blooms during particular times. I created several lists of blooming native plants for each season. For those of you who need more plants that bloom in […]
Garden Flowers to Attract Birds.
Plants are very useful in attracting birds to your garden. I snapped this photo of a male American Goldfinch eating Purple Coneflower seeds. Seeing a Goldfinch dining on flower seeds, lets us know that it is time to stop deadheading the flowers. Finches and other seed eating birds like House Finches will eat the seeds […]