Forbs
Showing all 8 results
-
Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Description: Long spikes of lavender to blue, tubular flowers makes this plant a showy perennial in the late summer. Blue Lobelia is a great partner to Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and is terrific for woodland gardens. Attracts pollinators including hummingbirds and native bees and is on Dr. Robert Gegear’s plant list. Note: this plant is not drought tolerant and must keep the soil moist. Water if necessary in average soil conditions. Endangered in Massachusetts. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Wet meadows, river and stream corridors, floodplain forests (FACW)
Light: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Clay, loam, sand. Moist to wetCharacteristics
Bloom Color: Blue, Purple
Bloom Period: July, August, September, October
Mature Height: 4 feetWildlife: Attracts birds including hummingbirds. Special value to native bees. Nectar source for the Half-Black Bumblebee. Supports conservation biological control.
Other Features: Deer Resistant, Shade TolerantSold As: each
-
Blue-flag Iris
Iris versicolor
Description: Popular with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, this wet-footed lovely iris has graceful, sword shaped leaves and delicate looking violet flowers. This non-demanding iris can tolerate complete submergence but can easily be grown in most gardens. Warning: poisonous to livestock and people. Interesting note: The name “flag” comes from the middle English word, “flagge”, meaning reed or rush.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Wetlands, swamps, marshes, river and stream corridors (OBL)
Light: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Moist, rich soils. Moist to Wet.Characteristics
Bloom Color: White, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Violet
Bloom Period: May, June
Mature Height: 3 feetWildlife: Attracts birds including hummingbirds. Special value to native bees. Nectar source for the Dion Skipper.
Other Features: Anaerobic Tolerant, Deer Resistant.Sold As: each
-
Hairy Beardtongue (Now Foxglove Beardtongue)
UPDATE: Nursery had crop failure of Hairy Beardtongue, this is being substituted with Foxglove Beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis.
Penstemon hirsutus
Description: Beloved by both gardeners and wildlife, this late spring bloomer makes a great addition to woodland gardens or low meadows. Watching bees climb inside the flower is quite a delight! It is endangered in Massachusetts, so please keep seeds from your plants in your personal garden. On Dr. Robert Gegear’s plant list.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Disturbed habitats, cliffs, balds or ledges, meadows, fields, ridges or ledges, woodlands (NI)
Light: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Thin, well-drained soils. Dry.Characteristics
Bloom Color: Purple, White
Bloom Period: May, June
Mature Height: 2 feetWildlife: Attracts Hummingbirds. Special value to native bees. Nectar source for Golden Northern Bumblebee, Yellow-banded bumblebee, and Half-black bumblebee.
Other Features: Deer Resistant, Shade TolerantSold As: each
-
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Description: Another late season bloomer with stunning bright purple flowers. Easily to identify pre-bloom by leaves that nearly encircle a hairy stem. Another attractor of numerous pollinators and a host plant for the Crescent butterfly. Serves as a nectar source for monarchs. Best planted in meadow gardens or as backdrop to shorter plants such as the purple coneflower due to leaves dropping as it grows. Prune this plant early in the season to promote bushy growth. Notice: does not do well in dry soils. Also a prolific self-seeder; prune seed heads before they are ripe to decrease unwanted seedlings.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Disturbed habitats, meadows, and fields (FACW).
Light: Sun, Part Shade.
Soil Type and Moisture: Moist soils. Moist.Characteristics
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Period: August, September, October
Mature Height: 6 feetWildlife: Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Nectar source for Monarch butterflies. Host to the Pearl Crescent and Checkerspot butterflies. Special value to native bees and honey bees.
Other Features: Drought Tolerant, Salt TolerantSold As: each
-
Purple Joe-Pye Weed
Eupatorium purpureum / Eutrochium purpureum
Description: This vanilla scented joe-pye weed has a large, domed, flower head that contains several branches of small, pale pink to purple florets. It makes a great ornamental perennial and is a favorite of a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds and bumblebees. It can also serve as a backdrop for other perennials. It is also on Dr. Robert Gegear’s plant list.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Forests, meadows, fields, woodlands (FAC)
Light: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Moist soils.Characteristics
Bloom Color: Pink to Purple
Bloom Period: July, August, September
Mature Height: 8 feetWildlife: Attracts birds including hummingbirds. Special value to native bees. Nectar Source to Yellow Banded Bumblebee and Half Black Bumblebee.
Other Features: Deer Resistant, Salt TolerantSold As
each -
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Description: This stunning red flowering plant can be used just about any garden, be it formal or natural. It is a pollinator attractor, a favorite for bees , hummingbirds, and butterflies. The scent of scarlet beebalm can be described as a minty-orange tea. Can be used in Earl Grey tea. Interesting fact: it is named beebalm because people would use the poulticed leaves for bee stings. On Dr. Robert Gegear’s plant list.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Moist open meadows, disturbed habitats, meadows, stream banks, mountains to 6,500 ft. (FACU)
Light: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Rich, moist, acid soils. Juglone tolerant. Medium to WetCharacteristics
Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Period: July, August, September
Mature Height: 3 feetWildlife: Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Special value to native bumblebees and other bees. Nectar source for Golden Northern Bumblebee, Yellow-banded Bumblebee, and Half-black Bumblebee.
Other Features: Deer ResistantSold As: each
-
Slender Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Description: A small white flower producing plant that has a long blooming season, sustaining pollinators with both nectar and pollen through the early fall. It is able tolerant of fairly intense conditions and can grow in the sunniest and driest areas of your yard. Though as a mint, it can be aggressive. Crushing these thin, narrow leaves yields a sweet minty aroma. Edible leaves can be used both as flavoring and for teas. Leaves can also be used on skin to repel mosquitos. On Dr. Robert Gegear’s plant list.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Disturbed habitats, meadows, and fields (FAC).
Light: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Various moist to dry soils. Dry, Moist.Characteristics
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Period: July, August, September
Mature Height: 3 feetWildlife: Attracts birds and butterflies. Special value to native bees and honey bees. Supports Conservation Biological Control.
Sold As: each
-
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Description: Often used as an ornamental, this pretty, purple perennial has distinctively aromatic foliage Attracts numerous pollinators and is a host plant for the Raspberry pyrausta moth. Leaves are edible and are oregano scented/flavored. On Dr. Robert Gegear’s plant list. Also commonly known as Bee Balm or Horse-Mint.
Habitat
Habitat and Wetland Indicator Status: Grasslands, meadows, old fields, woodland edges (UPL)
Light: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Type and Moisture: Thrives in wide range of soils from acid to lime to rich to poor to sand to clay. Dry, Moist.Characteristics
Bloom Color: Lavender
Bloom Period: July, August, September
Mature Height: 4 feetWildlife: Nectar source for Golden Northern Bumblebee, Yellow-banded Bumblebee, and Half-black bumblebee.
Other Features: Anaerobic tolerant, Deer Resistant.Sold As: each