{"title":"Lakewood Native Plant Fundraiser","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eThe ordering window for pickup in Lakewood has passed.\u003c\/span\u003e Orders will be dropped off on Saturday, May 16. But you can still place an order to pick up at our nursery in Cleveland! We are just 20 minutes away in the Waterloo Arts District.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis spring we are partnering with the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lakewoodoh.gov\/keep-lakewood-beautiful\/\" title=\"Keep Lakewood Beautiful\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKeep Lakewood Beautiful\u003c\/a\u003e on a special sale. Order online by May 11 using the code below and the organization will receive a portion of the proceeds! Pick up in Lakewood during the Keep Lakewood Beautiful humus and perennial flower sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrder online starting Sat, April 4 at 10 AM\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubmit your orders by Mon, May 11\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnter the coupon code KLB at checkout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePick up in Lakewood (May 16) or at Meadow City - leave note at checkout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNote: Any sold-out plants will be replenished on May 1. If the plant you want is sold out, you can sign up for a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/meadowcitynursery.com\/collections\/out-of-stock\" title=\"Back in stock alert\"\u003eback-in-stock alert\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLakewood pickup details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen: Saturday, May 16, 9 AM - 12 PM\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhere: \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Directions to Oldest Stone House\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/dir\/\/Oldest+Stone+House+Museum+of+the+Lakewood+Historical+Society,+14710+Lake+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44107\/@41.5428396,-81.8165082,43088m\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOldest Stone House (beside Lakewood Park), 14710 Lake Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStick around for Keep Lakewood Beautiful's humus and perennials flower sale!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eThe ordering window for pickup in Lakewood has passed.\u003c\/span\u003e Orders will be dropped off on Saturday, May 16. But you can still place an order to pick up at our nursery in Cleveland! We are just 20 minutes away in the Waterloo Arts District.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"clematis-virginiana","title":"Clematis virginiana","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn a slow but stunning transformation, virgin’s bower’s cascading white blossoms are consumed in a smoke-like mass of billowy seed by season’s end.* Growing prodigiously during the summer months, the stems of Virgin’s bower can extend 15 feet in a single growing season, but due to NE Ohio’s cold winters, will die back nearly to the plant’s base each year. As it grows, this climbing vine will sprawl along the ground until encountering a trellis, fence, or another plant, at which point it will grow upward by wrapping its leaf stalks around the object in question. When in flower, virgin’s bower’s abundant, bright white blooms attract primarily short-tongued pollinators such as sweat bees, wasps, and flies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the natural landscape, virgin’s bower displays broad soil moisture adaptability, and can be found in wet environments and also as a component of dry, forest edge communities. In the latter, it grows alongside plants like black oak and rhododendron, whereas in Ohio wetlands, it is found with wingstem, rough-leaved goldenrod, common boneset, spotted Joe-Pye, and other species. As a vigorous climbing vine, Virgin’s bower presents unique opportunities to diversify the garden structure in situations of full to partial sunlight and moderately wet to moderately dry soil moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Note: Male and female flowers are usually on separate plants for this species, and seed production only occurs on female plants following pollination. In order for a female plant to produce seed, there must be a male plant nearby to serve as a pollen source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/shrub\/virgins-bower\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ohiostatepress.org\/books\/titles\/9780814204979.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.missouribotanicalgarden.org\/PlantFinder\/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a379\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/1811\/22884\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/savanna\/plants\/virgin_bower.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/2464364\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/43477578\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriplants.com\/Clematis_virginiana_page.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 \u003cb\u003e© \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/josiep123\/54281289617\/in\/photostream\/\"\u003eJean Barrell\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\"\u003eCC BY-2.0.\u003c\/a\u003e Photo 2 by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763794585,"sku":"CLEVIR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198763827353,"sku":"CLEVIR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Clematus_virginiana_Jean_Barrel.jpg?v=1744748985"},{"product_id":"andropogon-gerardii","title":"Andropogon gerardii","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen winds swept over the vast tallgrass prairie, big bluestem would bow in response, and waves of motion would course across the plains as though the land itself were stirring. Under the current climate, Ohio lay east of the contiguous prairie region, but small areas of prairie are nevertheless indigenous to the state. Prairie plants like big bluestem can also be found in sunny zones of our primarily forested landscape, such as woodland gaps and edges. A sod-forming grass of tall stature (3’ – 8’), big bluestem is a competitive species that spreads via rhizomes and can form a continuous groundcover. Due to its aggressive nature, big bluestem is best planted in discrete patches, or – when interspersed in a mixed planting – combined with other tall, competitive plants like switchgrass, tall coreopsis, and cup plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, big bluestem is an important source of food and shelter to numerous species. The cavity-laden thatch that develops at the base of the plant shelters beetles as well as nesting and overwintering bumble bees. The plant’s dense stems offer the perfect cover to nesting grassland birds, such as sparrows and meadowlarks. During the fall and winter, birds and small mammals forage upon the ground for big bluestem’s seed, and in turn serve as prey to Cooper’s hawks and red-tailed hawks. Growing best under full sun in moderately wet to moderately dry soils, big bluestem is a majestic species that can foster important and fascinating wildlife interactions in your very own yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ohioplants.org\/prairie\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/database\/feis\/plants\/graminoid\/andger\/all.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Coopers_Hawk\/overview\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/blog\/5-ways-to-increase-nesting-habitat-for-bees\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/bumblebeenests\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Eastern_Meadowlark\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href='%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/home\/plantProfile?symbol=ANGE\"' target=\"_blank\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763729049,"sku":"ANDGER_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198763761817,"sku":"ANDGER_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Andropogon_gerardii_1_AK_397b51c2-740f-46ac-85db-5683307e965e.jpg?v=1744748984"},{"product_id":"elymus-hystrix","title":"Elymus hystrix","description":"\u003cp\u003eFringed by long, narrow points, bottlebrush grass’s striking seedhead offers an alternative to showy flowers as an ornamental focus of the native plants garden. The seedhead forms at the top of the plant early in the summer, offering visual interest at a time when few wildflowers are blooming in the shady zones where this grass grows. Bottlebrush grass fits the definition of a bunchgrass, which is a grass that forms bunches or tufts but lacks horizontal rooting stems and therefore has limited spread. Due to this growth habit, bottlebrush grass coexists well with other plants in the garden and tends not to outcompete wildflowers - a risk posed by some, usually sod-forming grasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother positive aspect of bottlebrush grass’s growth is that it sprouts relatively early in the year. This native of NE Ohio forests grows primarily during the mild temperatures of springtime, and is therefore categorized as a cool-season grass. In terms of wildlife value, insects such as leafhoppers consume various parts of bottlebrush grass, and white-footed mice eat the plant’s seed. Growing best in partial to full shade and soils of average to moderately dry moisture, bottlebrush grass adds a personality all its own to light-limited areas of the home landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/forages.oregonstate.edu\/regrowth\/how-does-grass-grow\/grass-types\/bunch-and-sod-forming-grasses\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/elymus-hystrix\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/open.lib.umn.edu\/nativegrasses\/chapter\/3-10-eastern-bottlebrush-grass-elymus-hystrix\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/grasses\/plants\/bottlebrush.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/grasses\/plants\/bottlebrush.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cb\u003e©\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/6778355\"\u003ejhubley\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"\u003eCC0 1.0\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":42481635295385,"sku":"ELYHYS_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43195465957529,"sku":"ELYHYS_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Elymus_hystrix_jhubley_in.png?v=1744748982"},{"product_id":"schizachyrium-scoparium","title":"Schizachyrium scoparium","description":"\u003cp\u003eForming shapely tussocks that display a series of subtle, attractive hues, little bluestem offers the perfect complement to the exuberant form and color of many native wildflowers. Sprouting in late spring and reaching a mature height of about 3’, little bluestem is bluish-green during the summer, takes on purplish highlights when in flower, and fades to a warm orange-tan in the fall and winter. Like all grasses, little bluestem is pollinated by wind rather than insects, but it still has much to offer in terms of wildlife value. The species’ dense, bunch-forming growth creates thatch-lined cavities near the ground surface that shelter beetles and nesting bees. Ground nesting birds also seek out little bluestem tussocks when selecting a nest site. Throughout the fall and winter months, the plant’s seed is a food source for small mammals as well as birds, including juncos, finches, and sparrows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA native constituent of NE Ohio meadows and old fields, little bluestem grows best in soils of average to dry moisture and under full sun. Known for its excellent drought tolerance, little bluestem is also well adapted to nutrient-poor conditions. In spite of this versatility, little bluestem is not overly aggressive in wildflower-focused gardens, unlike some native grasses. With its handsome appearance, excellent wildlife value, and agreeable growing habits, little bluestem is a great choice for pollinator gardens and other home landscaping projects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/grasses\/plants\/little_bluestem.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/blog\/5-ways-to-increase-nesting-habitat-for-bees\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/DocumentLibrary\/plantguide\/pdf\/pg_scsc.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/grass-sedge-rush\/little-bluestem\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.missouribotanicalgarden.org\/PlantFinder\/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f510\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/33590535@N06\/3484233733\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDrew Avery\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763532441,"sku":"SCHSCO_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198763565209,"sku":"SCHSCO_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Schizachyrium_scoparium_1_Drew_Avery_9d5f9060-0337-4c50-bc64-76e7c4803b23.jpg?v=1744748979"},{"product_id":"ageratina-altissima","title":"Ageratina altissima","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe shade of the forest floor seems to brighten for a time when the white snakeroot blooms, with clusters of white flowers appearing in luminous relief above dark green foliage. The timing of the flowering period makes white snakeroot an important resource for pollinators as summer transitions to fall. Small species of butterflies show a special affinity for white snakeroot, and other insects including moths, flies, wasps, and bees also utilize the plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA good competitor, white snakeroot is a major nonwoody constituent of forests throughout much of the eastern US, including Ohio. The plant is well adapted to disturbed landscapes and is a common volunteer in backyards, vacant lots, and other urban spaces, where it spreads through airborne seeds as well as underground stems. White snakeroot is tolerant of full sun through shade, but grows best under partial shade in soils of average to moderately dry moisture. One to four feet in height and resistant to mammalian herbivory, white snakeroot is a robust and handsome addition to the shade garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn natural areas that transition from sun to shade, such as forest edges, white snakeroot tends to occupy the shadier portions and its close lookalike, late boneset, the sunnier. The two plants share a late season bloom and distasteful foliage from the standpoint of deer. The latter quality is especially useful in the case of white snakeroot due to the tendency of deer to browse on woodland goldenrods and asters, the other showy late-blooming shade plants.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allianceforthebay.org\/2021\/10\/white-snakeroot-a-pollinator-pleasing-pant-with-a-nefarious-past\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/ageratina\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/wh_snakeroot.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/weedguide.cfaes.osu.edu\/singlerecord.asp?id=91\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbg.org\/news\/weed_of_the_month_white_snakeroot\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/ageratina\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763466905,"sku":"AGEALT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198763499673,"sku":"AGEALT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Ageratina_altissima_1_JS_f13425ca-6b6e-4d53-9cee-48f6598d2d6c.jpg?v=1744748978"},{"product_id":"asclepias-incarnata","title":"Asclepias incarnata","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eMeet the milkweed that has ventured into the wetlands of NE Ohio and is the special darling of the monarch butterfly! Monarchs depend on milkweeds as the sole food source for their caterpillars, and evidence suggests that female monarchs favor swamp milkweed over other milkweeds when egg-laying. The plant is also an outstanding nectar source for a wide range of bees, wasps, ants, flies, beetles, moths, and butterflies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eSwamp milkweed is distinguished among the milkweeds for its ability to tolerate temporarily flooded soils, and in the wild it grows in wetlands. In the garden, swamp milkweed does not require wet soil, and it will do well in any sunny area that isn’t extra dry. During summer droughts, though, swamp milkweed will likely require some water. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eUnlike common milkweed, swamp milkweed does not spread aggressively, instead forming a shrub-like cluster of stems over a period of years. Swamp milkweed provides a wonderful addition to the color palette of the midsummer garden, producing broad, eye-catching clusters of pink and cream-colored flowers in July. To anyone inclined to stop and smell the flowers, swamp milkweed is a special treat: the rich aroma is likened to cinnamon and vanilla.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/wildflowers\/pollinators\/Monarch_Butterfly\/habitat\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/ecs2.2064\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=qjUNAAAACAAJ\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/home\/plantProfile?symbol=ASIN\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/swamp-milkweed\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/sw_milkweed.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by Alyssa Zearley. Photos 2 and 3 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763335833,"sku":"ASCINC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198763368601,"sku":"ASCINC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Asclepias_incarnata_1_AZ_0fae8469-cdac-4c55-8235-f9bac6c524cf.jpg?v=1744748975"},{"product_id":"doellingeria-umbellata","title":"Doellingeria umbellata","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe shape of this whimsical wildflower has been likened to a small umbrella or parasol. The main stem branches outward to form a white floral canopy that blooms in August, attracting numerous bees, flies, wasps, and skippers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOccurring in fields, wet meadows, and open, moist woodlands, parasol aster grows well in full to partial sun and wet to moderate moisture. The plant makes an especially nice addition to partially shaded wet areas and rain gardens. In these places it provides a rare white floral option during the month of August.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParasol aster spreads by rhizome to form a slowly expanding cluster of plants. Its seeds are wind dispersed and may colonize nearby areas, especially patches of bare soil. This plant is not avoided by deer, but it also does not seem to be a target.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParasol aster provides pleasing late-summer blooms and structural interest to the home landscape. When planted with the likes of cutleaf coneflower, hollow Joe Pye, blue lobelia, and red lobelia, it is part of a colorful lineup that will buzz and flutter with pollinators.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/fltp_aster.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4289\/0013-8797.122.2.299\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hachettebookgroup.com\/titles\/douglas-w-tallamy\/bringing-nature-home\/9780881929928\/?lens=timber-press\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/31973680\"\u003eTom Norton\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763171993,"sku":"DOEUMB_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43192660918425,"sku":"DOEUMB_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Doellingeria_umbellata_Tom_Norton_in.png?v=1744748972"},{"product_id":"eurybia-divaricata","title":"Eurybia divaricata","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhere growing in abundance, white wood aster forms a knee-high groundcover that buzzes with foraging bumble bees in late summer. The bees eagerly visit the plant’s sprightly white flowerheads, which produce both nectar and pollen. Some of these bees are male drones and next-years queens who are seeking mates, and they will pursue their amorous encounters among the blooms. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite wood aster has good tolerance for dry soils as well as shade, and it often spreads to form an extensive colony. The plant can thus bring beauty and wildlife value to tough growing situations. A native of NE Ohio forests and forest edges, white wood aster attains a height of 1 to 2.5 feet and blooms during the late summer and early fall. It typically blooms earlier than other asters and goldenrods and is thus especially useful in the garden. The plant provides a lovely prelude to the arching blossoms of wreath goldenrod, a species which is also adapted to shady, rather dry environments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.proquest.com\/docview\/1927912255?pq-origsite=gscholar\u0026amp;fromopenview=true\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/eurybia-divaricata\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/what-role-native-bees-united-states#:~:text=About%2020%25%2D45%25%20of,removed%2C%20the%20bee%20goes%20away\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1656\/045.023.0210\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hachettebookgroup.com\/titles\/douglas-w-tallamy\/natures-best-hope\/9781604699005\/?lens=timber-press\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.missouribotanicalgarden.org\/PlantFinder\/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=290710\u0026amp;isprofile=1\u0026amp;basic=H170\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":42481636114585,"sku":"EURDIV_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43195428208793,"sku":"EURDIV_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Eurybia_divaricata_1_JS_499e0954-e6e0-4abf-b62f-03532f5f2aa0.jpg?v=1744748971"},{"product_id":"euthamia-graminifolia","title":"Euthamia graminifolia","description":"\u003cp\u003eGrass-leaved goldenrod’s yellow flower clusters have a rich, textured appearance that mimics the play of the late summer sunlight upon the wild meadow. Blooming for approximately one month, the plant provides nectar and pollen to a plethora of bees, flies, wasps, moths, and butterflies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn inhabitant of fields, wet meadows, and marsh edges, grass-leaved goldenrod prefers full sun and moist soil, but tolerates partial shade and drier soil. The plant’s narrow leaves and slender form make a fine textural component in the garden, and its broad yellow blooms provide color in August. When planted with tall ironweed and common boneset, grass-leaved goldenrod is part of a bold floral display.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrass-leaved goldenrod spreads quickly by rhizome to fill in any adjacent space that is bare of vegetation. The rhizomes are shallow, though, and the new stems are easily pulled in the springtime. This plant is highly recommended for gardeners who are looking for a plant to rapidly occupy an area. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrass-leaved goldenrod is commonly found growing on abandoned farmland in association with other goldenrod species, including tall goldenrod, giant goldenrod, wrinkleleaf goldenrod, and early goldenrod. Research suggests that soil factors including heightened moisture, acidity, and clay content increase grass-leaved goldenrod’s ability to compete with these other species.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/gr_goldenrodx.htm\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/gr_goldenrodx.htm\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=EUGR5\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=EUGR5\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1656\/045.023.0210\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1656\/045.023.0210\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11258-005-2069-2\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11258-005-2069-2\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e. Photos 2 and 3 by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763139225,"sku":"EUTGRA_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43243638128793,"sku":"EUTGRA_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Euthamia_graminifolia_1_AK_7074afd0-1285-4eb5-93c8-6707d7a19031.jpg?v=1744748970"},{"product_id":"eutrochium-fistulosum","title":"Eutrochium fistulosum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eLike clouds tinged pink in the evening light, the airy, dome-shaped flower clusters of hollow Joe Pye rise above the wet meadow. The plant is a beacon for butterflies and makes an outstanding centerpiece or back border for a butterfly garden. Despite its imposing size, hollow Joe Pye is not an aggressive plant, spreading minimally by rhizome to form a slowly-expanding colony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eNative to NE Ohio meadows, wet meadows, and forest edges, hollow Joe Pye grows well in conditions of full sun to partial shade and wet to moderate soil moisture. This plant is an especially good choice for wet places and can even tolerate brief periods of standing water. Blooming primarily during the month of August, hollow Joe Pye is a great option for late summer pink color. To add to the August show, plant with common boneset, grass-leaved goldenrod, and tall ironweed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eHollow Joe Pye’s wide-diameter hollow stems make perfect nesting sites for larger stem-nesting bees such as leafcutter bees. To encourage bee nesting, cut the prior year’s standing dead stems to approximately 1-2’ tall in March.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/hs_joepye.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/blog\/5-ways-to-increase-nesting-habitat-for-bees\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2018-05\/17-047_03_XercesSoc_Pollinator-Plants_Great-Lakes-Region_web-3page_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/hs_joepye.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e. Photos 2 and 3 by Alyssa Zearley. Photo 4 by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198763106457,"sku":"EUTFIS_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43201162117273,"sku":"EUTFIS_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Eutrochium_fistulosum_1_AK_1c516a13-b9fd-40fe-bbd2-7629d2488c59.jpg?v=1744748969"},{"product_id":"eupatorium-perfoliatum","title":"Eupatorium perfoliatum","description":"\u003cp\u003eCommon boneset’s leaves form a graceful series of crisscrossing arches along the plant’s stem. Opposing leaf bases are fused, creating a striking architectural effect. In August, common boneset’s fragrant white blooms are a nutritional resource for numerous pollinators, especially short-tongued bees, flies, and wasps*. Bonesets are also renowned as favorite nectar plants for monarch butterflies. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the garden, common boneset spreads via short rhizomes to form a tight colony of plants that develop flat-topped clusters of white flowers. It creates a tidy white patch and makes a fine complement to grass-leaved goldenrod and tall ironweed. It can spread aggressively via seed, so it may be a good idea to cut off the faded flowers before the seed develops. A well mulched garden bed will also discourage seed germination.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to NE Ohio wet meadows and the margins of water bodies, common boneset thrives in sunny, damp places, and can handle brief periods of standing water. The plant will tolerate light shade and will also do well in soils of moderate moisture, which is the typical condition of most yards. During summer dry spells, common boneset may need some supplemental watering, and if the plant gets too dry, its leaves may brown. Bonesets are highly resistant to deer browse and are great options for gardens that experience high deer pressure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Wasps do not behave aggressively towards humans when foraging for nectar. Instances of aggression are primarily limited to certain wasps (social wasps) that are defending their nest against a perceived threat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html%E2%80%9D\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/cm_boneset.htm%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2018-05\/17-007_02_XercesSoc_MonarchNectarPlants_Great-Lakes_web-3page.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/DocumentLibrary\/factsheet\/pdf\/fs_eupe3.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":42481636212889,"sku":"EUPPER_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43195468218521,"sku":"EUPPER_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Eupatorium_perfoliatum_3_JS_cropped.png?v=1777610472"},{"product_id":"eupatorium-serotinum","title":"Eupatorium serotinum","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn September, late boneset’s broad white flower clusters become a gathering place for pollinators. Here, one can observe the colorful locals – from hover flies to moths – foraging within inches of each other. Due to the plant’s abundance in disturbed, urban environments and its nutritional value for a diversity of organisms, it holds an important place within the food webs of our modern landscape.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing best in moderately moist soils and under full to partial sunlight, late boneset tolerates a range of conditions, especially when it comes to soil moisture. In NE Ohio, late boneset can be found in wetlands, meadows, abandoned fields, roadsides, and even gravel lots. In terms of form, the plant attains the shape of a large shrub within several years of planting. It spreads via short rhizomes to form a tight colony, and it will also deposit its light, fluffy seed on surrounding ground. Removing old flowers prior to seed formation will prevent seed dispersal. Frequent associates of late boneset which bloom at a similar time include heath aster, New England aster, grass-leaved goldenrod, wingstem, and tall ironweed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLate boneset is a top nectar plant of migrating monarch butterflies, and it is not uncommon to observe multiple monarchs visiting a single plant simultaneously. Late boneset is also a favorite of the blue-winged wasp, a non-aggressive wasp that preys on lawn grubs. This wasp is quite handsome, with iridescent, dark blue wings, and two bright yellow spots separating its black upper body from its rufous hind portion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/late_bonesetx.htm%E2%80%9D\" data-mce-href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/late_bonesetx.htm%E2%80%9D\" target=\"”_blanket”\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by Alyssa Zearley.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":42481636245657,"sku":"EUPSER_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43195468513433,"sku":"EUPSER_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Eupatorium_serotinum_1_AZ_cd50ac84-d8a5-4105-a508-a0578a775c00.jpg?v=1744748967"},{"product_id":"helenium-autumnale","title":"Helenium autumnale","description":"\u003cp\u003eHelenium’s yellow blooms possess a sweet, simple beauty that never fails to charm. Seemingly overnight, the plant produces a huge number of flowers, and it remains in bloom for over a month in late summer – early fall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to NE Ohio wet meadows, marshes, and stream and pond margins, helenium prefers full sun and consistently moist soil. In the home landscape, helenium is especially useful for planting in wet areas. If placed in a garden bed of average moisture, helenium will likely need to be watered during drier times of the summer. In wet places, helenium provides a bold yellow complement to other late season flowers such as New England aster, purple-stemmed aster, American burnet, and white turtlehead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelenium produces abundant seed which can lead to seedling growth in the near vicinity of the plant. Cutting off old flowerheads prior to seed formation will limit this type of spread. Helenium also has a tendency to flop or lean, especially in gardens that have not yet filled in with vegetation. To minimize flopping, cut Helenium to half its height in June. For gardeners who have issues with deer browse, helenium is a great choice. The foliage is highly unpalatable and rarely consumed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelenium has a great deal of pollinator value, providing both pollen and nectar to bees that are active late in the season. Bees that are especially attracted to helenium include small carpenter bees, metallic green sweat bees, bumble bees, and long-horned bees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/camp-joy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Bees-and-Wasps-of-Ohio-Guide.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/sneezeweed\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/sneezeweed.htm%E2%80%9D\" target=\"”_blanket”\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762975385,"sku":"HELAUT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198763008153,"sku":"HELAUT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Helenium_autumnale_1_AK_bd034cd1-ff4e-412e-8e15-c12740b6adcb.jpg?v=1744748965"},{"product_id":"liatris-spicata","title":"Liatris spicata","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: #FBFBFB;\"\u003eDense blazing star’s tall floral spike has a stunning presence in the pollinator garden. Rich with lavender color that shifts downward over time, the spike slowly fades near its tip like the darkening tail of a falling star. Its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eflowers serve as a continuous mid-to-late summer nectar source for a wide variety of pollinators, especially butterflies. Monarchs are frequent visitors, and including dense blazing star in the garden is recommended to aid monarch conservation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eA native of NE Ohio meadows, dense blazing star grows well in conditions of full sun and soil moisture ranging from moderately wet to moderately dry. Tall (3-6’) but by no means imposing, dense blazing star adds variety to both the structure and color of the native plants garden. Its vibrant, linear form punctuates its surroundings and contrasts well with the expansive shape of many prairie plants. If planting dense blazing star in an area frequented by white-tailed deer, gardeners should be aware, however, that the plant will likely be browsed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/blog\/plants-for-pollinators-blazingstar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2018-05\/17-007_02_XercesSoc_MonarchNectarPlants_Great-Lakes_web-3page.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/msh_blazingstar.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by Julie Slater. Photo 2 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762778777,"sku":"LIASPI_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198762811545,"sku":"LIASPI_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Liatris_spicata_1_JS_76b48848-94ac-49a3-8168-6c8a7b3dfa59.jpg?v=1744748962"},{"product_id":"lobelia-cardinalis","title":"Lobelia cardinalis","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe petals of this bird-pollinated plant flare softly from the stem like a layer of scarlet, gently-ruffled feathers. Although bees are the most important pollinators of plants overall, the primary pollinators of red lobelia are hummingbirds. Indeed, the plant’s searing red coloration – quite unusual among wildflowers – is visible to birds and butterflies but not to bees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to swamps, wet meadows, and openings in wet woods, red lobelia likes consistently moist soil and full sun to partial shade. In the home landscape, red lobelia is a great choice for wet areas, especially the edges of damp shade gardens. Red lobelia can even tolerate temporary flooding, and works well at the edges of ponds and other water features. If grown in average moisture, red lobelia may require regular watering.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed lobelia is not an aggressive spreader and each plant lives for just a few years. In order to keep red lobelia coming back, allow for some bare soil next to the plant where it can deposit its seeds. The plant pairs very well with blue lobelia, which is similar in growing preferences and life cycle. When planted together, the two plants provide stunning red and blue color during the month of August.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObserving as hummingbirds visit red lobelia reveals the elegant manner in which the flower conforms to the bird’s shape in order to achieve pollen transfer. As the hovering hummingbird inserts its bill into the plant’s long, tubular corolla to obtain nectar, the top of its head brushes against the plant’s anthers and receives a dusting of pollen. If the bird then visits a female-phase red lobelia, its head will brush against the plant’s stigma, transferring some pollen onto it and thereby pollinating the plant. In addition to hummingbirds, swallowtail butterflies show a strong attraction to red lobelia, providing an exquisite sight as they perch to take a nectar drink.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/why-are-pollinating-bats-birds-bees-butterflies-and-other-animals-important\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/cardinal.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/jimmccormac.blogspot.com\/2019\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-pollinates.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762713241,"sku":"LOBCAR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198762746009,"sku":"LOBCAR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Lobelia_cardinalis_1_JS_2a4411c3-495d-453e-a7c1-f8c0870b5032.jpg?v=1744748961"},{"product_id":"lobelia-siphilitica","title":"Lobelia siphilitica","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eAt times, blue lobelia’s stately blooms appear rather formal for their rough-and-ready guest, the bumble bee. Each flower possesses a blue-and-white striped space into which the bees crawl when seeking nectar. It’s amusing to watch the bumbles at work, rummaging for nectar in blooms that seem much too dainty for them, their hind portions protruding conspicuously from the flower openings. Although bumble bees are the primary pollinators of blue lobelia, the plant attracts a variety of bees of varying sizes, as well as butterflies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eA plant of woodland borders, especially along rivers, blue lobelia is perfectly suited for partially shaded wet spots in the garden. The plant will also do well in full sun, as long as the soil isn’t too dry. A layer of leaf mulch can help to conserve soil moisture for this and other plants. Blue lobelia is a short-lived species and is not very competitive. In order to keep it coming back, allow for some bare soil next to the plant where it can deposit its seeds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eAs a point of interest regarding local adaptation, some research suggests that naturally occurring blue lobelia populations have special relations with the soil fungi in their immediate area. The fungi help the plant roots absorb phosphorus, an important nutrient for growth and metabolism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href='%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\"' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href='%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/blue-lobelia\"' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href='%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\"' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/gb_lobeliax.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00442-019-04412-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762647705,"sku":"LOBSIP_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198762680473,"sku":"LOBSIP_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Lobelia_siphilitica_1_JS_5f1c56ca-1d23-421e-90f1-1b78995f6aaa.jpg?v=1744748960"},{"product_id":"ludwigia-alternifolia","title":"Ludwigia alternifolia","description":"\u003cp\u003ePerhaps no other plant offers its gifts to the world more politely than seedbox, which at fruiting time presents its seeds neatly packaged in a little box. In truth, seedbox’s offerings begin much earlier in the growing season, when it adorns its upper branches with delicate yellow flowers that are a pollen and nectar source to bumblebees, carpenter bees, halictid bees, and leafcutter bees. Once pollination occurs and the cube-like fruit begins to develop, it is sometimes fed upon by seed beetle larvae, which form a cocoon inside the cube. In the fall, foraging white footed mice scale the branches of seedbox, selectively removing and consuming the fruits that contain beetle larvae. During the winter, white-throated sparrows similarly may open the fruits in order to consume the larvae. With regards to aesthetic appeal, seedbox provides deep red fall foliage in addition to attractive flowers and fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall and shrubby in stature, seedbox grows to 1-3 feet in height, branches frequently in its upper portion, and often has multiple stems growing from its base. The plant prefers growing in wet to moderately wet soil under full sun, and within its native NE Ohio range, inhabits places such as wet meadows and the margins of ponds and streams. An unassuming, charming plant, seedbox is a great choice for adding some personality and wildlife value to a low, wet spot in the yard. The gardener should take note, though, that seedbox is sometimes a target of deer herbivory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/wetland\/plants\/seedbox.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ia801503.us.archive.org\/10\/items\/biostor-56539\/biostor-56539.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by Julie Slater. Photo 2 \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/fritzflohrreynolds\/7665690760\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFritz Flohr Reynolds\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 3 by Alyssa Zearley.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762582169,"sku":"LUDALT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198762614937,"sku":"LUDALT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Ludwigia_alternifolia_1_JS_7e042e4c-c42b-4453-80ef-91a5781e8357.jpg?v=1744748959"},{"product_id":"mimulus-alatus","title":"Mimulus alatus","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis plant's pink flowers resemble a monkey's face. The plant puts out its flowers a few at a time, extending its bloom for a month or more. A favorite of bumblebees, who pry open the closed flowers to reach the pollen and nectar the monkeyflower has saved for them. A good plant for wet spots, it can tolerate occasional flooding. It prefers a rich soil that does not dry out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mimulus_alatus,_2014-08-02,_Cranberry,_01.jpg\"\u003eCbaile19 \u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\"\u003eCC0 1.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mimulus_alatus_2.jpg\"\u003eEric in SF\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762418329,"sku":"MIMALA_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198762451097,"sku":"MIMALA_G_A","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Mimulusalatuswikimedia.png?v=1744748958"},{"product_id":"pycnanthemum-virginianum","title":"Pycnanthemum virginianum","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen viewed up close, Virginia mountain mint’s ruffled flowerheads reveal numerous white blossoms delicately spotted with violet. The flowers provide accessible nectar to short and long tongued pollinators, forming a nucleus for foraging bees, flies, wasps, and small butterflies in midsummer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn inhabitant of wet meadows, fields, and thickets, Virginia mountain mint prefers full sun and average – moist soil, but tolerates partial shade. The plant is at home in areas of consistent moisture and is a good choice for damp parts of the yard. When grown in the average moisture condition typical of most garden beds, Virginia mountain mint will do quite well but may require water during summer dry spells. Due to the plant’s fairly wide wetness tolerance it’s a great choice for a rain garden.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVirginia mountain mint spreads by short rhizomes to form a colony of plants that will slowly expand into adjacent unvegetated areas. To limit the plant’s spread, simply push a garden spade into the ground in the springtime, severing the rhizomes. Unwanted sprouts can then be hand-pulled. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVirginia mountain mint forms a shapely patch of plants that remains at a modest 2-3’ height. It provides an attractive white floral option in midsummer, and works very well in combination with purple coneflower, grey-headed coneflower, swamp milkweed, and many other July-blooming wildflowers. Due to the plant’s extremely high pollinator value, it is an outstanding addition to any pollinator garden.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/cmt_mintx.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/photos\/47591246\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ePobrito\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eCC0 1.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 3 by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198762156185,"sku":"PYCVIR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198762188953,"sku":"PYCVIR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Pycnanthemum_virginianum_inaturalist_Pobrito.png?v=1744748953"},{"product_id":"rudbeckia-laciniata","title":"Rudbeckia laciniata","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eAlong the wooded riverbank, a yellow wildflower rises above the nettles and looks out across the flowing stream. Tall, showy wildflowers typically reside in the field rather than the forest, but cutleaf coneflower breaks this trend. A resident of open, wet woods and streambanks, cutleaf coneflower makes a stunning centerpiece for a partially shaded garden, especially in places of wet soil. The plant will also perform well in full sunlight as long as the soil isn’t too dry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eSpreading by both seed and rhizome, cutleaf coneflower can be aggressive under ideal growing conditions. In the springtime, sever rhizomes with a shovel and remove unwanted sprouts to control spread. Plants that should compete well with cutleaf coneflower and also complement its light-yellow flowers include ironweed, hollow Joe Pye, and flat-topped aster.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eSimilar to other Rudbeckia species, black-eyed Susan and brown-eyed Susan, cutleaf coneflower’s petals display ultraviolet coloration invisible to the human eye, but visible to bees. To a bee, the petals are two-toned, like a bullseye indicating the presence of floral rewards. To judge from all the buzzing around the flowers, the bees are pretty good at hitting the mark! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/savanna\/plants\/cl_coneflower.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=RULA3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/23311054\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761959577,"sku":"RUDLAC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761992345,"sku":"RUDLAC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Rudbeckia_laciniata_1_AK_a3ec883e-534b-4c76-a0f1-c8745b996733.jpg?v=1744748950"},{"product_id":"scrophularia-marilandica","title":"Scrophularia marilandica","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn its understated way, Maryland figwort adds much to the personality and society of the pollinator garden. The plant’s small burgundy flowers appear to be many little mouths calling out for attention. And it seems they know how to get it! Throughout Maryland figwort’s midsummer bloom, the flowers teem with pollinators. Producing a copious amount of nectar, the little blossoms attract a wide variety of flies, ants, bees, and wasps, as well as Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recognition of Maryland figwort’s value to pollinators, the Xerces Society has included it in its “Plants for Pollinators” series, which highlights some of the best pollinator plants throughout the US. And although the plant is not showy, it is nevertheless a species of pleasing dimensions which enhances the structural interest of the pollinator garden. Encountered in NE Ohio habitats including forest edges and open-canopy woodlands, Maryland figwort is adaptable to full sun but seems to prefer partial shade and soils of average moisture. The plant ranges in height from approximately 3-6’, and as a final bonus, is resistant to deer-browsing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/maryland-figwort\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/late_figwort.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/blog\/plants-for-pollinators-figwort\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761894041,"sku":"SCRMAR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761926809,"sku":"SCRMAR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Scrophularia_marilandica_1_AK_77c60c8a-1b24-4944-a8f3-da211ebc72c8.jpg?v=1744748949"},{"product_id":"solidago-bicolor","title":"Solidago bicolor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\" lang=\"EN\"\u003eA fair-flowered maverick from a famously golden clan, white goldenrod offers all of the wildlife benefits of other goldenrods, but with an added dash of individuality. Try as it might to go its own way, though, it seems that Ohio’s only white goldenrod just can’t help drawing a crowd! Indeed, white goldenrod attracts an adoring plethora of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and wasps.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\" lang=\"EN\"\u003eIn recognition of the plant’s ecological importance, the Xerces Society has designated it as a plant of special value to native bees, as well as one that supports conservation biological control. The latter designation indicates that white goldenrod attracts predators of insects that can be detrimental to food gardens and crops, thus providing an important non-chemical means of pest management.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\" lang=\"EN\"\u003eA plant of open-canopied oak woodlands, sandy ridges, and rocky bluffs, white goldenrod’s ability to thrive on thin, dry soils has actually made it a plant of interest in the construction of green roofs. In the garden, white goldenrod attains a height of 2-3’, and grows well in soils ranging from average moisture to dry, and under full sunlight to partial shade. The plant is especially useful in dry woodland gardens, where it works nicely in combination with white wood aster and wreath goldenrod.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cmnh.org\/goldenrods\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=SOBI\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.landurbplan.2014.07.007\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/solidago-bicolor\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1\u003cb\u003e ©\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/135193498\"\u003eOwen Strickland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 \u003cb\u003e© \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/60469709\"\u003eRob Curtis\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761631897,"sku":"SOLBIC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761664665,"sku":"SOLBIC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Solidago_bicolor_Rob_Curtis.jpg?v=1744748945"},{"product_id":"solidago-caesia","title":"Solidago caesia","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eOn a wooded ridge in September, yellow blossoms arch brightly across the forest floor as though tracing the paths of unseen woodland sprites. The blossoms belong to wreath goldenrod, and as for the sprites - indeed, they are present, clad in black and yellow and buzzing from bloom to bloom.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eWith its arching form, this flower of the forest doesn’t match the common notion of a goldenrod. But like other goldenrods, wreath goldenrod is beloved by bees and a wide range of other pollinators. Bumble bees and metallic green sweat bees are some of the most frequent visitors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eIn the garden, wreath goldenrod grows well under part shade to shade and in soil moisture ranging from moderate to moderately dry. This plant is an especially good choice for drier woodland gardens, where it works well in combination with white wood aster and white goldenrod.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eResearch into goldenrod habitats and bloom times shows some of the ways these plants compete with one another for pollinators’ attention. When two goldenrod species occupy the same habitat, they will often bloom at different times. And when goldenrod bloom times overlap, the species in question typically occupy different habitats. Each goldenrod species thus attempts to ensure that when it blooms, it has maximum access to local pollinators with respect to other, nearby goldenrods. This point is well demonstrated by wreath goldenrod and zigzag goldenrod: although both are species of the forest with overlapping bloom times, wreath goldenrod tends to grow in drier upland woods whereas zigzag goldenrod tends to grow in wetter lowland woods, such as floodplain forests.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/bl_goldenrod.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/2483456\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cmnh.org\/goldenrods\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761566361,"sku":"SOLCAE_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761599129,"sku":"SOLCAE_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Solidago_caesia_2_JS_f189236b-78d0-4b4b-a6d2-f7ee849b583a.jpg?v=1744748944"},{"product_id":"solidago-rugosa","title":"Solidago rugosa","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter absorbing the sun’s rays for months, wrinkleleaf goldenrod erupts in golden-yellow color in September, as though saturated with light. The blooming of hundreds of yellow flowerheads along the plant’s branches is a windfall for pollinators. Goldenrods are among the most important plants for supporting pollen-specialist bees, which have strict pollen requirements. Considering that 20 – 45% of native bees are specialists, healthy bee populations can only be maintained by planting the plants that host these bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn inhabitant of meadows and open-canopied woodlands, wrinkleleaf goldenrod is quite adaptable, performing well under full sunlight to partial shade and in moderately wet to moderately dry soil. The plant will attain a mature height of 3-6’ and will likely spread via rhizome to form a small colony, though it is generally not aggressive. Look for wrinkleleaf goldenrod to produce its bright yellow blooms for approximately 1 month in late summer or early fall. For a stunning pairing, plant wrinkleleaf goldenrod with New England aster or purple-stemmed aster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1656\/045.023.0210\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691160771\/the-bees-in-your-backyard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/what-role-native-bees-united-states#:~:text=About%2020%25%2D45%25%20of,removed%2C%20the%20bee%20goes%20away\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hachettebookgroup.com\/titles\/douglas-w-tallamy\/natures-best-hope\/9781604699005\/?lens=timber-press\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/savanna\/plants\/wl_goldenrod.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href='%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/2483456\"' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761304217,"sku":"SOLRUG_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761336985,"sku":"SOLRUG_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Solidago_rugosa_1_JS_3b492742-43a7-4989-b8f7-5fc938c24e0a.jpg?v=1744748941"},{"product_id":"symphyotrichum-novae-angliae","title":"Symphyotrichum novae-angliae","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the meadow’s great color motifs can be achieved with this singular wildflower, whose golden-yellow discs and bold purple rays throw subtlety to the autumn winds. Monarchs and other butterflies are drawn to the plant’s flashy flowerheads, each of which offers an easy landing zone and multiple opportunities to probe for nectar. Green metallic sweat bees are also frequent visitors, adding to an already colorful scene.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn Ohio native that can be found in meadows and marshy areas as well as along roadsides, New England aster grows best under full sun and in soils of moderately wet to average moisture. The plant’s fairly broad moisture tolerance makes it a great choice for a rain garden, which will typically fluctuate from wet to rather dry. New England aster is one of the showiest autumn bloomers and it can be a fine focal point for both prairie-style and more orderly gardens. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the growing season progresses, New England aster’s lower leaves often turn brown, and this can be handled in a couple ways. Trimming the plant to half its height prior to mid-July will cause it to be shorter and shrubbier, and any dried foliage will be less conspicuous. This will also make the plant less likely to lean over later in the season. Planting a shorter plant in front of New England aster will also serve to conceal New England aster’s lower leaves. Mountain mints and early goldenrod work well in this role.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew England aster spreads slowly via rhizomes to form a patch of plants, but it can spread quite rapidly via seed. Spreading by seed is not an issue in gardens that are fully occupied by vegetation, but it can be problematic in areas of bare soil and to a lesser extent in mulched beds. Removing New England aster’s faded flowerheads will prevent seed formation, allowing one to enjoy the plant’s beauty and pollinator value without the headache of having to pull unwanted seedlings the following year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/ne_asterx.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1656\/045.023.0210\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/faqs\/what-role-native-bees-united-states#:~:text=About%2020%25%2D45%25%20of,removed%2C%20the%20bee%20goes%20away\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 by Alyssa Zearley.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761107609,"sku":"SYMNOV_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761140377,"sku":"SYMNOV_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Symphyotrichum_novae_angliae_1_AK_060f571b-b525-4a20-905f-14997bdc044d.jpg?v=1744748938"},{"product_id":"symphyotrichum-prenanthoides","title":"Symphyotrichum prenanthoides","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe subtle blue of crooked-stemmed aster’s autumn bloom hints of the sweet reward that awaits pollinators. Migratory butterflies like the monarch and common buckeye take notice, stopping by for a sip of sugary nectar on their southward flight. Fall mining bees visit as well, gathering the plant’s pollen in order to feed it to their offspring in their underground nests.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA NE Ohio native of woodland edges and wet woods, crooked-stemmed aster grows well in moderately wet to average moisture and under full to partial sunlight. The plant is especially fond of streamside habitats that provide moist, well-drained soil and a gap in the forest canopy. Attaining a mature height of 1-3’, crooked-stemmed aster often spreads to form a small colony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrooked-stemmed aster’s modest size and tolerance for partial shade make it especially useful in the autumn garden. Alongside calico aster and zigzag goldenrod, the plant is part of a colorful lineup that will be an absolute hit with pollinators. Like these other plants, crooked stemmed aster spreads by seed and rhizome and requires no extra care to keep coming back. The plant’s windborne seeds may lead to seedlings popping up throughout the garden, so removal of old flowerheads may be desirable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1656\/045.023.0210\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/entnemdept.ufl.edu\/creatures\/misc\/bees\/ceratina.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/crooked-aster\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/fieldbioinohio.blogspot.com\/2011\/11\/some-ohio-asters.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/DocumentLibrary\/factsheet\/pdf\/fs_sypr6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198761042073,"sku":"SYMPRE_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198761074841,"sku":"SYMPRE_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Symphyotrichum_prenanthoides_1_JS_f8e4f315-23eb-48e5-8d89-85d5960ce4a6.jpg?v=1744748937"},{"product_id":"verbesina-alternifolia","title":"Verbesina alternifolia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eLate in the summer, wingstem’s flowerheads appear like bursts of soft yellow light. Thriving under a range of conditions, wingstem can be found growing in meadows as well as streamside forests. The plant is tolerant of both wet and average soils and is thus a perfect choice for rain gardens, which typically show much fluctuation in terms of moisture. And wingstem is one of the rare wet-tolerant plants that can also handle shade.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eA competitive species, wingstem spreads via long rhizomes and often forms sizeable colonies. Its resistance to staying put makes it more fitting for a prairie-style garden than one that is more orderly. Including other vigorous species when gardening with wingstem will help to reign it in, leading to a more balanced outcome. Late boneset, grass-leaved goldenrod, New England aster, and tall ironweed are all robust, late season bloomers that can often be found growing alongside wingstem in nature. Ironweed, in particular, pairs very well with wingstem, creating a stunning magenta and yellow combo.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eWherever it grows, wingstem is an important plant for wildlife, especially bumble bees. The florets at the center of wingstem’s flowerheads have a long-tubular shape which is well-suited for the bees. Short-tongued pollinators can’t access the nectar contained in the florets, which leaves more for the bumble bees, which are long-tongued.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/e579ab31-72d8-43b8-9cf9-084dc568b0f4\/Landscaping-for-Biodiversity_2017-3.pdf.ashx%E2%80%9D\" target=\"”_blank”\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/savanna\/plants\/wingstem.htm%E2%80%9D\" target=\"”_blank”\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=VEAL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/verbesina-alternifolia\/%E2%80%9D\" target=\"”_blank”\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"%E2%80%9Dhttps:\/\/www.missouriplants.com\/Verbesina_alternifolia_page.html%E2%80%9D\" target=\"”_blank”\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198760911001,"sku":"VRBALT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198760943769,"sku":"VRBALT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Verbesina_alternifolia_1_AK_53635362-7b61-48bc-8af4-018d6972f7da.jpg?v=1744748936"},{"product_id":"vernonia-gigantea","title":"Vernonia gigantea","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eWith flowers that are among the most intensely purple of any in the state, tall ironweed makes a distinctive contribution to the color palette of the native plants garden. Adding to the plant’s appeal is its ability to draw in butterflies. During the month of August when tall ironweed is in flower, one may observe that swallowtail butterflies flutter from one cluster of searing purple blooms to another, seemingly oblivious to the other flowers of the meadow. Their appreciation may be due to the high concentration of amino acids contained in tall ironweed’s nectar. Research indicates that butterflies favor amino acid rich nectar, and such nectar may confer reproductive benefits, such as increased egg counts and larval mass. In addition to butterflies, tall ironweed also attracts bee flies, skippers, and various bees, primarily of the long-tongued variety.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eGrowing best under full sun to partial shade, tall ironweed is adapted to a wide range in soil moisture, from moderately wet to moderately dry. Within its native NE Ohio range, tall ironweed can frequently be found in meadows, along forest edges, and along roadsides, often in association with goldenrods, late boneset, and wingstem. These species all bloom around the same time and make good garden-mates for a naturalized look. The association of tall ironweed with wingstem is especially renowned, in part due to this pairing’s’ gorgeous purple and yellow color motif, but also due to the close resemblance between the two species when not in bloom. A good competitor, tall ironweed spreads by means of underground stems, attains a height of 3 – 7 feet, and is avoided by deer and other browsing mammals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriplants.com\/Vernonia_gigantea_page.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3732\/apps.1600148\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1086\/429150\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00442-012-2395-8\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/savanna\/plants\/tl_ironweed.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.marylandbiodiversity.com\/species\/Seasonality.php?species=4451\u0026amp;partofyear=Jan%20-%20Dec\u0026amp;startyear=1983\u0026amp;endyear=2023\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1046\/j.1365-2311.2000.00233.x\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e9\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/BF02430273\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e10\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by Julie Slater. Photo 2 by Alyssa Zearley.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198760845465,"sku":"VERGIG_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198760878233,"sku":"VERGIG_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Vernonia_gigantea_1_JS_c0dc6652-ff08-4ed4-b7a3-fe3cc470c925.jpg?v=1744748935"},{"product_id":"veronicastrum-virginicum","title":"Veronicastrum virginicum","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eWith their tall, tapering shape and soft white glow, the flowers of Culver’s Root rise above the garden like the spires of a palace in some mystic realm. The plant’s visitors are equally fantastical, including that famous orange and black traveler, the monarch butterfly. At the height of summer, monarchs are known to favor Culver’s root as a nectar source.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eNative to NE Ohio meadows and woodland edges, Culver’s root grows well in both partial shade and full sun, and soils of average moisture. Its tall, slender form adds variety to the garden structure, and the rings of leaves around its stem are a fun element as well. As a white midsummer bloomer, Culver’s root makes a fine contribution to the yellows and pinks of plants like wild bergamot and grey-headed coneflower. The plant may spread by rhizome and seed to form a small colony, but it is not aggressive toward its neighbors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eCulver's root is a top-rated plant for pollinators, attracting a wide range of bees, flies, and butterflies. The flowers provide easily accessible nectar and are thus a great resource for short-tongued pollinators.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovenativeplants.com\/nativemeadowscaping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/prairie\/plantx\/culverx.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2018-05\/17-007_02_XercesSoc_MonarchNectarPlants_Great-Lakes_web-3page.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/plants\/result.php?id_plant=VEVI4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.xerces.org\/blog\/5-ways-to-increase-nesting-habitat-for-bees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/59003943@N00\/4765596015\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eAaron Carlson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198760779929,"sku":"VERVIR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198760812697,"sku":"VERVIR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Veronicastrum_virginicum_1_Aaron_Carlson_cae0be1f-e546-406b-ae78-ad548c088952.jpg?v=1744748934"},{"product_id":"hypericum-ascyron","title":"Hypericum ascyron","description":"\u003cp\u003eGreat St. John's wort has attractive foliage, with blue-green, rounded leaves. It is a robust and adaptable plant which can tolerate rocky soils. Particularly loved by bumblebees, the large yellow flowers attract a variety of bees and beetles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cb\u003e© \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/44884771\"\u003eRob Curtis,\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43198760714393,"sku":"HYPASC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43198760747161,"sku":"HYPASC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Hypericum_ascyron_Rob_Curtis.png?v=1744748933"},{"product_id":"echinacea-purpurea","title":"Echinacea purpurea","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn making a list of organisms most attracted to purple coneflower, one would have to include the home gardener! The plant’s devotees include those gardening for wildlife as well as those interested simply in aesthetics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn outstanding ambassador for native plants, purple coneflower offers more color per unit area than perhaps any other native wildflower. Spreading by means of short rhizomes, a colony of purple coneflowers produces numerous 4” wide flowerheads, making an impressive patch of pink color. At the center of each flowerhead, a bristly cone shows iridescent hues of orange and green in the sunlight. In addition to drawing in a variety of bee species, purple coneflower is a favorite of butterflies, including monarchs, swallowtails, fritillaries, sulphurs, and red admirals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrimarily a forest edge species, purple coneflower likes partial or full sun and average soil moisture, but it has fairly good drought tolerance too. The plant blooms throughout the month of July and helps create a stunning floral palette alongside grey-headed coneflower, Virginia mountain mint, and wild bergamot, among others. Due to its tolerance for partial shade, purple coneflower works well near the edge of an overlying tree canopy, offering a rare option for midsummer color in this space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/150923916@N03\/36058347912\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eZoe Roane-Hopkins\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43199412928665,"sku":"ECHPUR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43199412961433,"sku":"ECHPUR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Echinacea_purpurea_1_Zoe_Roane_Hopkins_45e8fd5b-5d3a-4b03-a63f-887247ddd449.jpg?v=1744748925"},{"product_id":"geranium-maculatum","title":"Geranium maculatum","description":"\u003cp\u003ePhoto by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/139331970@N08\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAshley Keesling.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43199412994201,"sku":"GERMAC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43199413026969,"sku":"GERMAC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Geranium_maculatum_1_AK.jpg?v=1771172392"},{"product_id":"polemonium-reptans","title":"Polemonium reptans","description":"\u003cp\u003eDividing the shadows of the forest floor with clean, sharp lines, the handsome foliage of Jacob’s ladder is a stirring backdrop to the plant’s soft blue blossoms. Composed of numerous paired leaflets, the foliage persists throughout the growing season, adding a striking textural element to the home garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA native of NE Ohio forests, Jacob’s ladder grows well under conditions of full to partial shade and average to moderately wet soil moisture. In natural settings, Jacob’s ladder may be found growing alongside other spring blooming wildflowers such as foamflower, wild geranium, and ragwort species. In the home landscape, these plants complement one another quite well, bringing spring color to shady parts of the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJacob’s ladder’s bell-shaped blossoms open in mid-April, offering an early season source of pollen and nectar to many pollinators. In addition to moths and butterflies, the flowers attract bee species such as mason bees. These handsome bees have a metallic sheen and are famous for their pollination efficiency, with reports that as few as 300 mason bees can pollinate as effectively as 90,000 honey bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wackybadger\/52153437419\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJoshua Mayer\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43199413878937,"sku":"POLREP_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43199413911705,"sku":"POLREP_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Polemonium_reptans_1_AK_ebe4cca6-b999-4177-aed2-fdd3a2a9f82b.jpg?v=1744748917"},{"product_id":"pycnanthemum-muticum","title":"Pycnanthemum muticum","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the heat of summer, the silvery foliage of clustered mountain mint appears like a vision of winter frost. While this sight is briefly refreshing, the plant offers very real refreshment to a multitude of pollinators. Its small, purple-speckled flowers bloom in July, providing nectar to hover flies, wasps, beetles, moths, butterflies, and bees large and small. Wasps and hover fly larvae are predators of garden pests like aphids and stink bugs, and planting clustered mountain mint can thus promote the health of one’s vegetable and \/ or flower garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to its clonal growth pattern, clustered mountain mint will naturally form a colony that gets larger every year. The plant is not aggressive in the manner of exotic mints, however, and curtailing its spread is an easy matter. In the springtime, one should press a spade into the soil at the desired perimeter of the mint patch, severing the plant’s underground spreading rhizomes. The seedlings that are outside of this perimeter can then be pulled by hand. This technique is called root pruning, and it is useful for containing the spread of many plants that grow in a clonal manner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaching a height of approximately 3 feet, clustered mountain mint has a handsome, upright form which is resistant to blow-down and flopping. The plant grows well under both full sun and partial shade, and with the latter, it generally doesn’t lean towards the sun. Clustered mountain mint prefers soils of moderate moisture but has fairly good drought tolerance and is reported to grow well on slopes. The plant’s silvery foliage is a lovely counterpoint to the showy blooms of purple coneflower, gray-headed coneflower, swamp milkweed, wild bergamot, dense blazing star, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/rockerboo\/9402566705\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eDave Lage\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43199414010009,"sku":"PYCPMUT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43199414042777,"sku":"PYCPMUT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Pycnanthemum_muticum_1_Dave_Lage_bfa131d6-d997-45c4-be5a-f38a97afaa12.jpg?v=1744748916"},{"product_id":"rudbeckia-triloba","title":"Rudbeckia triloba","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs a light breeze passes through a patch of brown-eyed Susans, hundreds of dark-centered flowers swim before one’s eyes, conveying the plants’ motion as few other flowers can. Found in NE Ohio meadows, forest edges, and riparian areas, brown-eyed Susan lives for just a few years, relying on disturbance and re-seeding for its continuation. On streambanks, this takes the form of scouring floods, which remove competing plants and expose bare soil, where brown-eyed Susan then deposits its seeds. In keeping with this mode of existence, the plant is a prolific seed producer, and it germinates quite readily, generating hundreds of seedlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the garden, brown-eyed Susan’s offspring will soon appear in any bare soil which is adjacent to the plant. This is a positive attribute when using the plant in naturalized spaces – it rapidly fills in the space, but will lose ground over time to rhizomatous and longer-lived perennials. In a formal garden bed, however, where one intends to maintain a bit of distance between plants, brown-eyed Susan is probably not a good choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePossessing a long bloom period that centers on the month of August, brown-eyed Susan is a nice complement to late summer bloomers such as common boneset, tall ironweed, and obedient plant. The plant does well in soils of moderate moisture, and it can tolerate some drought. Brown-eyed Susan prefers full sun, but it tolerates partial shade, growing to a shorter stature and producing fewer blooms. If growing in a sparsely vegetated area, or in nutrient-rich soil, brown-eyed Susan may lean or flop. This can be prevented by cutting the plant to half its height in June.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, brown-eyed Susan attracts primarily short-tongued pollinators, such as sweat bees, wasps, hover flies, and tachinid flies. These visitors obtain pollen as well as nectar from the plant’s shallow flowers. Brown eyed Susan’s seed is a favorite of birds, especially sparrows, finches, and juncos, which can often be seen foraging for seed at the base of the plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=333188\"\u003esaharadesertfox\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43199414173849,"sku":"RUDTRI_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43199414206617,"sku":"RUDTRI_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Rudbeckia_triloba_2005_wikimedia_saharadesertfox.png?v=1744748915"},{"product_id":"symphyotrichum-lateriflorum","title":"Symphyotrichum lateriflorum","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the fall, numerous white-rayed flowers appear on the upper sides of calico aster's stems, suggesting branches lined with snow. The flowers supply pollen and nectar to wasps, hover flies, blow flies, honey bees, sweat bees, and bumble bees. In 2009, the Chicago Botanic Garden concluded a 7-year study aimed at identifying “outstanding asters for upper midwestern gardens.” Out of 119 asters and cultivars tested, the wild-type calico aster was one of just 7 plants that received the study’s highest rating of 5 stars. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInhabiting forests, forest edges, meadows, and wetland margins, calico aster displays broad adaptability in terms of sunlight and soil moisture. Growing best in consistently moist soils in partial sunlight, the plant also does well in full sun and can tolerate both moderately dry soils and periodic flooding. Although calico aster does spread via rhizome, it rarely forms large colonies and is not considered aggressive. Attaining a height of 2-3 feet, calico aster can form a fall-blooming border along paths and walkways. The plant also works well in shade gardens, where it adds fall color and pollinator value alongside plants like wreath goldenrod and zigzag goldenrod.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCalico aster and other asters have an especially fascinating way of communicating with pollinators. As the plant’s flowers become depleted of viable pollen, the flower centers turn from pale yellow to a rosy pink. The color change is the plant’s way of telling bees where to focus their pollen-gathering. This increases the plant’s reproductive efficiency, and the bees benefit from the greater nutritional value of the viable pollen. By keeping non-viable blooms open, the plant maximizes its visibility on the landscape, attracting more pollinators than it would if it shed its old blooms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/briangratwicke\/52395427314\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBrian Gratwicke\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 \u003cspan\u003e©\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/zharkikh\/15179728109\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAndrey Zharkikh\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43206115917977,"sku":"SYMLAT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43206115950745,"sku":"SYMLAT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Symphyotrichum_lateriflorum_1_Brian_Gratwicke_fcc56f9d-7c98-4d2d-bef3-5e12192c37a5.jpg?v=1744748910"},{"product_id":"carex-rosea","title":"Carex rosea","description":"Photo by \u003cspan class=\"mw-mmv-author\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/User:Kenraiz\" title=\"User:Kenraiz\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/User:Kenraiz\"\u003eKrzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43316658143385,"sku":"CARROS_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43316658176153,"sku":"CARROS_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/CarexroseaKrzysztofZiarnek.jpg?v=1775314049"},{"product_id":"sorghastrum-nutans","title":"Sorghastrum nutans","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Indiangrass is a common prairie grass species. This tall, upright grass sports blue-green leaves that are a pleasant gold in the winter. The plant provides excellent winter food and habitat to birds. A spreader that is best paired with other robust plants.\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":6785,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"14\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0},\"15\":\"Arial, sans-serif\"}'\u003eIndian grass’s bronze flower cluster contrasts beautifully with its tall, blue-green stems, and displays maize highlights when in bloom. The flowers are unusually showy for a grass, adorned with pendant little stamens of a soft yellow hue. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Indiangrass is a common prairie grass species. This tall, upright grass sports blue-green leaves that are a pleasant gold in the winter. The plant provides excellent winter food and habitat to birds. A spreader that is best paired with other robust plants.\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":6785,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"14\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0},\"15\":\"Arial, sans-serif\"}'\u003eIndian grass is one of the principal grasses of the North American tallgrass prairie, which was once extensive across the great plains states west of Ohio. Within the prairie, Indian grass occupies a very similar niche to big bluestem, occurring primarily in well-drained lowland areas under full sun. Neighboring prairie grasses include switchgrass in wetter lowland areas and little bluestem in dry uplands. In NE Ohio, Indian grass can be found growing in meadows and along roadsides.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Indiangrass is a common prairie grass species. This tall, upright grass sports blue-green leaves that are a pleasant gold in the winter. The plant provides excellent winter food and habitat to birds. A spreader that is best paired with other robust plants.\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":6785,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"14\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0},\"15\":\"Arial, sans-serif\"}'\u003eAt 5-7 feet tall, Indian grass is an impressive, colorful grass that will do well in any sunny home landscape of average moisture or drier. Caution must be exercised in placing Indian grass within a wildflower garden, however, due to the grass’s dominant nature. Indian grass is a sod-forming grass that spreads by short rhizomes and also by seeds which germinate readily. Only robust, usually tall flowers such as giant sunflower, prairie dock, and tall coreopsis are good at holding their own against Indian grass. In large gardens, Indian grass is a majestic plant for the back border, separate from the wildflowers and other plants of the garden interior. Indian grass also makes a great ornamental grass along paths and driveways. Due to good drought tolerance, Indian grass is quite useful for planting in dry parts of the yard.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Indiangrass is a common prairie grass species. This tall, upright grass sports blue-green leaves that are a pleasant gold in the winter. The plant provides excellent winter food and habitat to birds. A spreader that is best paired with other robust plants.\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":6785,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"14\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0},\"15\":\"Arial, sans-serif\"}'\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, Indian grass has a lot to offer, serving as a source of both food and shelter. The plant’s seed is consumed by a variety of songbirds and small mammals. The thatch of old stems which develops at the base of the plant provides cavities in which native bees nest and overwinter. Birds also find winter shelter among Indian grass stems and some species, such as field sparrows and grasshopper sparrows, nest within the cover that the grass creates.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usfwsmtnprairie\/52388748538\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMarcie Hebert\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44040205533337,"sku":"SORNUT_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44040205566105,"sku":"SORNUT_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Sorghastrum_nutans_1_Marcie_Hebert_55be0bce-87cd-4207-bb23-992ed0c1b786.jpg?v=1744748893"},{"product_id":"viola-cucullata","title":"Viola cucullata","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMarsh blue violet’s pretty blooms sit poised atop their delicate stems like fluttering creatures paused mid-flight. The stems are taller than those of many other violet species, reaching up to 10”, and giving an added touch of elegance to the plant. In nature, marsh blue violets tend to occur in wetland environments such as the edges of swamps and marshes and along streams. In the home garden, marsh blue violet prefers wet or consistently moist soils, and sunlight ranging from full exposure to shade. If planted in soils of average moisture, marsh blue violet may need to be watered during summer dry spells.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe plant spreads via both seed and rhizome to form small colonies, but it is not an aggressive plant and does not spread to the degree of the common blue violet, which frequently inhabits lawns. Marsh blue violet is appropriate for both formal and naturalized gardens, especially rain gardens and plantings in wet places. The plant’s diminutive size makes it suitable for areas reserved for short plants, and its tolerance for shade makes it useful for planting at the base of a tree. Marsh blue violet blooms in April and May, adding a lovely blue accent to spring plantings which include foamflower, wild geranium, spring beauties, ragwort species, and others.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, marsh blue violet benefits a number of species, including spring-foraging bees, for whom the flower provides both nectar and pollen. Like some other spring wildflowers, marsh blue violets have also evolved a mutually beneficial relationship with ants. The plant’s seeds have a fatty appendage called an elaiosome, which the ants consume. The ants transport the seed to their nest prior to removing the elaiosome, thereby aiding to disperse the seed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFinally, marsh blue violets – along with other violets – are the primary food source for caterpillars of the great spangled fritillary butterfly. When mature, these black and orange beauties may stick around in the garden to obtain nectar from their favorite plants: purple coneflower, mints, milkweeds, hollow Joe Pye, and ironweed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":43471617425561,"sku":"VIOCUC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":43471617458329,"sku":"VIOCUC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Viola_cucullata_1_JS_de0d1f88-4e4d-4513-8a5f-ed41b858b4c8.jpg?v=1744748892"},{"product_id":"carex-squarrosa","title":"Carex squarrosa","description":"\u003cp\u003eSquarrose sedge’s stout, spiny seedheads have a delightfully prickly appearance, providing a fascinating visual element to the native garden. The seedheads appear in springtime above the plant’s grass-like foliage, and they persist throughout the summer. In natural situations, squarrose sedge is a wetland plant, growing in wet woods, wet meadows, marshes, and along the margins of ponds and other water bodies. In the garden, squarrose sedge can grow in full sun as well as partial shade, provided that the soil remains consistently moist. If the garden soil dries out during the summer, squarrose sedge will likely need to be watered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForming attractive clusters that grow to about 2 feet tall, squarrose sedge makes a fine addition to both formal and naturalized plantings, especially within rain gardens and along water features. The plant spreads via short rhizomes, gradually enlarging its tussocks. In ideal growing conditions, it may self-seed, but it is not reported to be aggressive. Whereas the main aesthetic role of some grasses and sedges is to be a backdrop to wildflower species, squarrose sedge offers a charming focal point of its own with its eccentric seedheads.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, squarrose sedge produces seeds that under natural circumstances are food for waterfowl species, but in the garden will likely feed sparrows, juncos, and other songbirds. Numerous insects feed on the plant’s foliage, including the larvae of skipper butterflies, as well as leafhoppers and leaf beetles. Several species of katydids eat parts of the plant, and perhaps will grace one’s garden with their leaflike bodies and nocturnal percussive calls.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/216176800\"\u003eNathan Aaron,\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44040194982041,"sku":"CARSQU_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44040195014809,"sku":"CARSQU_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Carex_squarrosa_Nathan_Aaron.png?v=1744748883"},{"product_id":"eurybia-macrophylla","title":"Eurybia macrophylla","description":"\u003cp\u003eBig-leaved aster’s white flower petals are more widely spaced than those of many asters, creating an overall display that has an attractive lightness about it. The leaves at the plant’s base are heart-shaped and quite large, emerging in the spring. Due to big-leaved aster’s pleasing, low-growing foliage and tendency to spread via long rhizomes, it can function as a groundcover, especially in shady locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn natural situations, big-leaved aster is a woodland plant, growing under the forest canopy as well as in gaps and at the forest edge. In the garden, big-leaved aster prefers partial shade and tolerates full shade, though it will produce fewer flowers in the latter. The plant can handle soil moisture ranging from moderately wet to dry, and does best in the average moisture condition, which is typical of most yards. With its attractive foliage and bloom, bigleaf aster is a good choice for both formal and naturalized gardens, especially for filling in bare soil through the spreading action of its rhizomes. To complement bigleaf aster’s white, late-season blooms, one might want to plant heartleaf aster and\/or zigzag goldenrod.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, bigleaf aster supports numerous pollinators, including long and short-tongued bees, flies, wasps, beetles, and butterflies. The plant is one of the earlier blooming late season plants, and as such, it is especially important to aster-specialist bees when they first emerge in August. Many of these bees are fall mining bees, ground-nesters whose larvae have strict pollen requirements and often rely on the pollen from asters and goldenrods for their nutrition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhotos by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44040195899545,"sku":"EURMAC_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44040195932313,"sku":"EURMAC_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Eurybia_macrophylla_1_JS_d5041bf4-9736-4328-904b-0a10d1a7e3c2.jpg?v=1744748879"},{"product_id":"mitella-diphylla","title":"Mitella diphylla","description":"\u003cp\u003eBishop's cap's fringed white flowers line its stem like a trail of snowflakes drifting down to the forest floor. Soon, falling raindrops disperse the plant’s seeds from small cups that take the place of the blooms. When a raindrop strikes one of the seed cups, the impact tosses the seeds up to a meter. This is called splash-cup dispersal, and it is a technique that is also employed by some fungi and liverworts but is quite rare among vascular plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to NE Ohio forests, bishop's cap especially favors slopes and ravines, where it grows in moist but well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. In the garden, bishop's cap does best in partial shade and soils of average moisture, but it can tolerate full shade and somewhat drier soils. To mimic bishop cap's natural environment, plant it beneath trees that shed their leaves in the fall. Allowing a layer of leaf litter to persist on the ground is also a good idea, both for aiding the soil conditions that bishop's cap likes and also for providing habitat to beneficial insects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its delicate beauty and low-growing, maple-like foliage, bishop's cap is a charming addition to formal as well as naturalized shade gardens. Due to its small size and the fine detail of its bloom, bishop's cap is well suited for the garden edge, where it can be viewed up-close. In the company of other spring flowers like Jacob’s ladder, wild geranium, and foamflower, bishop's cap adds its own characteristic intricacy and fascination. Bishop's cap is not an aggressive plant, spreading primarily via short rhizomes to form a small colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of wildlife value, bishop's cap is a nice early-season source of pollen and nectar to small pollinators. The plant’s petite flowers don’t provide landing space for larger visitors, but little bees and flies have no problem perching on the filamentous petals. This is a welcome scenario for these pollinators, because it means they don’t have to vie with larger competitors for bishop's cap's floral resources. The most frequent visitors to bishop's cap are small sweat bees, hover flies, tachinid flies, and vinegar flies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 © \u003ca title=\"Mitella diphylla photo by Chris Evans\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChris Evans\u003c\/a\u003e, used with permission. Photo 2 by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ashleykeesling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eAshley Keesling\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44040197701785,"sku":"MITDIP_4_A","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44040197734553,"sku":"MITDIP_G_A","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Mitella_diphylla_Chris_Evans.jpg?v=1744748873"},{"product_id":"oenothera-fruticosa","title":"Oenothera fruticosa","description":"\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\" lang=\"EN\"\u003eSundrops’ light-yellow blooms have a mellow, easygoing beauty that takes the start of summer in stride. Unlike some other members of the evening primrose family, sundrops keeps its flowers open throughout the day. The blooming period is fairly early, peaking in June, and lasting for one to two months. The plant is recognized by the Xerces Society for providing special value to native bees, and researchers have noted that bees account for 83% of pollinator visits to the plant, and flies, the other 17%.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\" lang=\"EN\"\u003eA plant of the meadow, sundrops grows best in average to moderately dry soil and in full sun. Once established, sundrops has good drought tolerance, and is therefore a nice option for drier parts of the yard, such as tree lawns. During its first growing season, however, sundrops may require watering during dry spells.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\" lang=\"EN\"\u003eGrowing to just 2.5 feet tall, and possessing a multi-stem form and showy flowers, sundrops is appropriate for both formal and naturalized gardens, and it works well as a border. The plant is not aggressive, but it commonly spreads via self-seeding. Gardeners should remove the seed capsules before they mature if spreading is not desired. For a lovely show of color early in the growing season, plant sundrops with smooth penstemon, Ohio spiderwort, common yarrow, and black-eyed Susan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/25583457\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFrederick Nunley\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e CC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44040198357145,"sku":"OENFRU_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44040198389913,"sku":"OENFRU_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Oenothera_fruticosa_Frederick_Nunley_Inaturalist.png?v=1744748871"},{"product_id":"mertensia-virginica","title":"Mertensia virginica","description":"\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eVirginia Bluebells\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Mertensia virginica)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRing in the springtime with Virginia bluebells! Sky-blue flowers open\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e alongside pink \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflower \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebuds, for a textured pastel display. The bell-shaped blooms appear in April and are a favorite nectar source for queen bumble bees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA plant of moist woodlands, Virginia bluebells can form extensive colonies on forested floodplains. Although\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e it may be legion in the springtime, this plant is a true ephemeral, disappearing leaves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eall by the end of June. It persists from year to year underground, returning each spring to bask in the sunlight before the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eforest canopy sprouts leaves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVirginia bluebells can be an early season staple of the shade garden, provided that the shade is from a deciduous tree. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe plant may struggle if it doesn’t receive at least partial sun in the springtime. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVirginia bluebells is\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a great addition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a soft-landings garden, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoffering floral resources to butterflies, moths, and mason bees, in addition to queen bumble bees. As one of the first flowers \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eof the year \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eto \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eappear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, it can extend the season for a wildflower garden. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts blue blossoms are a perfect complement to the bright yellow blooms of golden or roundleaf groundsel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis plant will fare best in a moist soil \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethat’s rich in organic matter. A thin layer of fallen leaves on the ground surface will help promote these soil conditions. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDue to the fact that Virginia bluebells is only present in the springtime, it should be planted in the same space as a later blooming \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eplant, such as tall thimbleweed or white bergamot. Care should be taken, however, to avoid buildup of standing dead stems and debris from these other plants which could interfere with the growth of the Virginia bluebells. Trimming b\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eack last year’s dead stems \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eto approximately 8” in March\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and judiciously distributing the resulting debris will aid in the continued return of the Virginia bluebells.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bluebells are grown from seed and are never dug from the wild. They are second year plants and are priced to reflect this. They will bloom their first or second season after planting. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/bluebells.htm\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/bluebells.htm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e\u003ca name=\"_Hlk161213850\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691199535\/spring-wildflowers-of-the-northeast\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bumpedFont15\"\u003ehttps:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691199535\/spring-wildflowers-of-the-northeast\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dam.assets.ohio.gov\/image\/upload\/ohiodnr.gov\/documents\/wildlife\/backyard-wildlife\/Pub_5494_Spring%20Wildflowers%20of%20Ohio%20Field%20Guide.pdf\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003ehttps:\/\/dam.assets.ohio.gov\/image\/upload\/ohiodnr.gov\/documents\/wildlife\/backyard-wildlife\/Pub_5494_Spring%20Wildflowers%20of%20Ohio%20Field%20Guide.pdf\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/articles\/virginia-bluebells-mertensia-virginica\/\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003ehttps:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/articles\/virginia-bluebells-mertensia-virginica\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/virginia-bluebells\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/flower\/virginia-bluebells\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/mtcubacenter.org\/plants\/virginia-bluebells\/\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003ehttps:\/\/mtcubacenter.org\/plants\/virginia-bluebells\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growitbuildit.com\/virginia-bluebells-guide-mertensia-virginica\/#7\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003ehttps:\/\/growitbuildit.com\/virginia-bluebells-guide-mertensia-virginica\/#7\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehttps:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/taxa\/59771-Mertensia-virginica\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/111999931\"\u003e Kirk Gardner\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eCC BY 4.0.\u003c\/a\u003e Photo 2 \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/22486113\" style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eJudy Gallagher\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY 4.0.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44040290631833,"sku":"MERVIR_4","price":10.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Mertensiavirginicaccby4.0kirkgardnersquare.png?v=1773157018"},{"product_id":"penstemon-hirsutus","title":"Penstemon hirsutus","description":"\u003cp\u003eTrumpet-shaped flowers hang from the tops of hairy penstemon plants in shades of purple and white. This tiny penstemon grows just 1 or 2 feet high, making it a good choice for a tree lawn or rock garden. An early bloomer that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and humblebees. This plant will readily self-sow in open, unmulched areas in the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 © \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/lcd1863\/6066415801\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003elcm1863\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 © \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/zharkikh\/19797034330\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAndrey Zharkikh\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44066770485401,"sku":"PENHIR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon","offer_id":44066770518169,"sku":"PENHIR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Penstemon_hirsutus_1_lcm1863.jpg?v=1744748863"},{"product_id":"solidago-flexicaulis","title":"Solidago flexicaulis","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eZigzag goldenrod’s bright yellow blooms cluster at the base of its serrated leaves like mounds of shining riches. At the top of the plant, these flowers proliferate into a splendid crown. Numerous insects are drawn to the floral wealth, and many moth and butterfly caterpillars consume the plant’s foliage. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eNative to NE Ohio moist and mesic forests, zigzag goldenrod has outstanding shade tolerance. The plant is known to form extensive colonies through spreading rhizomes, and with its handsome form, it is well suited to be a cornerstone plant of the shade garden. Other woodland wildflowers that also display a strong colony-forming habit include white wood aster, foamflower, and jumpseed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\" style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eAmong the common bee visitors to zigzag goldenrod are the sweat bees of the genus Lasioglossum. The plant's shallow blooms make nectar and pollen available to these and other small pollinators who possess short mouthparts. These organisms rely on late-blooming plants like zigzag goldenrod to build their energy stores prior to hibernation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691160771\/the-bees-in-your-backyard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu\/id-native-bees-0#:~:text=Size%3A%20Small%20%2D%20medium%2C%202,(0.08%20%2D%200.2%20in.)\u0026amp;text=Common%20name%3A%20Sweat%20bees%20Lasioglossum%20spp.\u0026amp;text=Size%3A%20Small%20%2D%20medium%203%20%2D,(0.08%20%2D%200.2%20in.)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.clevelandmetroparks.com\/getmedia\/420fa064-156d-4ec2-a35a-39663c8d720a\/2017NR02_Landscaping-for-Biodiversity.pdf.ashx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos © \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/47140059\" title=\"iNaturalist Solidago flexicaulis\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMike Zifkin\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\" title=\"CC BY 4.0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44077664108697,"sku":"SOLFLE_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44077664141465,"sku":"SOLFLE_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Solidago_flexicaulis_2.jpg?v=1744748859"},{"product_id":"aquilegia-canadensis","title":"Aquilegia canadensis","description":"\u003cp\u003eWith red-and-yellow blooms nodding from its branch tips, wild columbine puts on a floral ballet each spring. Tall projections on the flower petals appear to mimic the posture of a dancer, arms upraised. These structures are called nectar spurs, and they tell an interesting evolutionary story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColumbines originated in Europe, spreading eastward to Asia, and then arriving in North America 40,000 to 10,000 years ago. In North America, columbines encountered a new pollinator: the hummingbird. In response to interactions with the birds, North American columbines evolved longer nectar spurs than their Eurasian ancestors, and some columbines, such as wild columbine, evolved red color. This is because hummingbirds, with their long mouthparts and affinity for the color red, favored flowers with these traits. Wild columbine’s springtime bloom coincides with the ruby-throated hummingbird’s northward migration, making the plant’s nectar resources especially valuable to the birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to NE Ohio woodlands, wild columbine is especially fond of rocky slopes and ledges. In the garden, wild columbine prefers partial shade and soils of average moisture or a bit drier, and it can handle sunnier or shadier conditions. It is important that the soil where wild columbine is growing doesn’t allow water to pool, because the plant requires good drainage. When growing in full sun, wild columbine may require supplemental watering during dry spells. Wild columbine is a short-lived species, but it self-seeds readily and will persist in this manner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/wild_columbine.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriplants.com\/Aquilegia_canadensis_page.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marylandbiodiversity.com\/species\/Seasonality.php?species=3014\u0026amp;partofyear=Jan%20-%20Dec\u0026amp;startyear=1929\u0026amp;endyear=2023\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mtcubacenter.org\/plants\/wild-columbine\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/growitbuildit.com\/columbines-how-to-grow-eastern-red-columbine\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/wildflowers\/beauty\/columbines\/flower.shtml\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/j.1442-1984.2004.00112.x\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/j.1537-2197.1966.tb07340.x\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e8\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691199535\/spring-wildflowers-of-the-northeast\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e9\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p5\/pollinatorsofnativeplants.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e10\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1 by Ashley Keesling, Photo 2 by Julie Slater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44712656404633,"sku":"AQUCAN_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44712656437401,"sku":"AQUCAN_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Aquilegia_canadensis_2_AK.jpg?v=1775698011"},{"product_id":"packera-aurea","title":"Packera aurea","description":"\u003cp\u003eA colony of golden ragwort in flower is a stunning sight: a dense layer of yellow-orange blooms sits elevated above a lush carpet of large, rounded leaves. The floral display can be seen for several weeks in the springtime in riparian forests and other moist woodlands across NE Ohio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the home landscape, golden ragwort grows well in soils of wet to average moisture and in full sun or shade. The plant may need to be watered during dry spells, especially if planted in a sunny spot. Golden ragwort makes an outstanding addition to the shade garden, where it looks especially striking in the springtime alongside the blue, bell-shaped blossoms of Jacob’s ladder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpreading by both seed and rhizome, golden ragwort tends to form a colony, and with its abundant basal foliage, it can even function as a groundcover under favorable conditions. The foliage is persistent throughout the growing season and well into the winter, displaying a semi-evergreen character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGolden ragwort’s blooms are an excellent springtime source of pollen and nectar for a variety of small bees and flies, such as the small carpenter bee. These important pollinators nest in hollowed-out plant stems and emerge from hibernation just about the time that golden ragwort is in full bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReferences: \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/referenceworkentry\/10.1007\/978-3-319-90306-4_106-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.missouribotanicalgarden.org\/PlantFinder\/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=l350\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mtcubacenter.org\/plants\/golden-ragwort\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/woodland\/plants\/gold_ragwort.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marylandbiodiversity.com\/species\/Seasonality.php?species=4354\u0026amp;partofyear=Jan%20-%20Dec\u0026amp;startyear=1876\u0026amp;endyear=2024\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pollinationpress.com\/store\/p7\/bees.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto 1\u003cb\u003e ©\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Golden_Ragwort_Senecio_aureus_Flower_Bunch_3264px.JPG\"\u003eDerek Ramsey\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.5\/deed.en\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.5\u003c\/a\u003e. Photo 2 \u003cb\u003e©\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Packera_aurea,_2024-04-30,_Kane_Woods,_02.jpg\"\u003eCbaile19\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\"\u003eCC0 1.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":44712658305177,"sku":"PACAUR_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":44712658370713,"sku":"PACAUR_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Packeraaureawikimedia1.png?v=1744748854"},{"product_id":"carex-radiata","title":"Carex radiata","description":"\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eA very fine-textured sedge, eastern star sedge grows in dense bunches of narrow, grass-like foliage. In late spring, tiny, star-shaped seedheads intermingle with the plant’s leaves and stems. Primarily a woodland plant, eastern star sedge may also be found growing along the shaded edges of ponds and wetlands. In the garden, this sedge should be planted under partial to full shade and in soil of moderate to moderately wet moisture. During summer dry spells, this sedge will likely need to be watered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #18191b;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eEastern star sedge makes a nice addition to shady garden settings, and it can be utilized in rain gardens and other wet areas. Planted between clusters of forb species, it helps create an attractive, fine-textured matrix to complement its neighbors’ showy flowers and broad leaves. Eastern star sedge remains at least partially evergreen throughout the winter, reminding us of the garden’s latent life. After the sedge’s spring flush of growth, its foliage tends to flatten, and gardeners may want to trim it at this time to give it a perkier look. Later in the year, this cool season plant will be rejuvenated with additional growth. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eOver successive growing seasons, eastern star-sedge’s tussocks may begin to hollow out near their center. Dividing the plant will reinvigorate it, returning it to a fuller appearance. With regards to spreading, eastern star-sedge is only weakly rhizomatous, relying on re-seeding in ideal conditions as its primary means of propagating. This is not an aggressive plant, and it will not overtake its neighbors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"background: white; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;\"\u003eLike other woodland sedges, eastern star-sedge produces seed that is consumed by a variety of birds, including sparrows, towhees, cardinals, and juncos. The stems and foliage of woodland sedges provide food for a number of insects, including the caterpillars of several species of grass-miner moths. The grass miner moths are fairy-like little fliers, with filamentous edges to their wings, giving them a distinctly feathered look.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cb\u003e© \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/24241912\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBonnie Semmling\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":45154027110553,"sku":"CARRAD_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":45154027143321,"sku":"CARRAD_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Carex_radiata_Bonnie_Semmling.png?v=1744748844"},{"product_id":"pycnanthemum-tenuifolium","title":"Pycnanthemum tenuifolium","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSlender mountainmint’s frilly white blooms are an elegant invitation to pollinators in July. The plant’s narrow foliage creates a pleasing, fine texture which contrasts with broader leaved plants and adds variety to the garden.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eA flower of meadows and forest openings, slender mountainmint produces its most abundant blooms in full sunlight, but will tolerate partial shade. The plant is adaptable to a wide range of moisture conditions and has good drought tolerance. Its short stature – typically under 2’ – makes it exceptionally useful in the garden, where it can be utilized along borders or to create patches between taller plants. When planted with natives like purple coneflower, early goldenrod, and dense blazing star, it is part of a knockout midsummer show.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSlender mountainmint spreads readily via rhizomes and is very good at filling in bare areas and preventing weed growth. Although this plant is a good competitor, gardeners shouldn’t be wary of it taking over, and indeed, curtailing its spread is an easy matter. One need only press a shovel into the soil at the desired perimeter of the mint patch to sever the plant’s spreading underground stems, and then pull the above-ground stems that are growing beyond this perimeter. This technique is called root-pruning, and it is typically done just once a year, early in the growing season.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIn terms of pollinator value, slender mountainmint is exceptional. Its blooms offer accessible nectar to both long and short-tongued pollinators, and it attracts a diversity of visitors ranging from sweat bees and hover flies to bumble bees and butterflies. Summer azures are small, light blue butterflies that have a special fondness for white flowers and they love to visit slender mountainmint. And gardeners needn’t worry about deer crashing the party – they find the plant to be highly distasteful and almost never browse it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto \u003cb\u003e©\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/douglas_mcgrady\/31324634884\/in\/photolist-7MWnw3-cs5zAy-fyhZim-fy3F3x-eT3gj4-UbNb5S-f1N65E-oF7RGC-f1N9D5-PJ3WBN-2jtK489-2oZqAJ7-949TZ9-vRGQFg-8GEmMs-2oWxDXt-946SFz-vzdqSk-2nzxuh9-8Fv9qE-2oMw3ir-vJzQHE\"\u003eDoug McGrady,\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Meadow City","offers":[{"title":"4 inch pot","offer_id":45154029502617,"sku":"PYCTEN_4","price":6.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallon pot","offer_id":45154029535385,"sku":"PYCTEN_G","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/1075\/5225\/files\/Pycnanthemum_tenuifolium_Doug_McGrady.png?v=1744748837"}],"url":"https:\/\/meadowcitynursery.com\/collections\/lakewood-fundraiser.oembed?page=2","provider":"Meadow City","version":"1.0","type":"link"}