Folks often ask “What should I plant?” My first response is a Native!
Native simply means something that will thrive in your current conditions, based on year round temperature, water, sun, shade etc. It also means that pollinators use it as a source for food and habitat.
Native plants are often easy to grow and propagate. My top five are listed below.
TOP FIVE NATIVE PERENIALS FOR CUTTING GARDEN
Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum is fragrant foliage that is not the invasive mint. This plant attracts pollinators. It gets at least 24” tall and has stiff slender stems, that unlike typical culinary mints, hold up well once hydrated. Cut when small white flowers appear in mid-summer. Easy to dig and divide, it’s hardy and will grow easily.
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea is a true native flower in the Mid Atlantic, there are new varieties popping up all the time. The classic, purple, is perfect to start and easy to grow. Drought-tolerant, easy to dig and divide. The petals sometimes are nibbled by bugs, no matter, pluck the petals off and use the cones in arrangements for a textural element. Look for yellow finches enjoying the seed heads!
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia triloba aka Brown Eyed Susan is known for its sprays of small yellow flowers with brown centers. Rudbeckias (Black Eyed Susan) are notable native cut flowers. Triloba is especially productive, growing tall and bushy and will freely reseed showing up everywhere in the garden. Triloba is the perfect filler for summer arrangements.
Phlox
Phlox paniculata is not to be confused with the little annual phlox varieties. This perennial native is towering and productive. Two favorite cultivars are ‘Bright Eyes’ and ‘David.’ The flowers have a heavenly scent. Cut when buds are swollen and colored before blooms open.
Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium dubium has a delicate bloom of creamy pink flowers in late summer that are great in mixed bouquets. It grows tall with a first flush of straight stems and re-blooms with smaller side shoots. ‘Little Joe’ is preferred, and flowers can be used in bud stage. This native is drought tolerant and another butterfly magnet.
Honorable Mention
Sedum, Penstemon, Monarda, Baptisia, Yarrow, Aster
Shrubs and Trees- Holly, Serviceberry, Carolina Silverbell, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Viburnum.
To get your own curated list, try the Audubon Society and their Native Plant Database.
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