Gardening With Native Plants
Contents
Native Plants of Indiana
Gardening with plants native to your area has many advantages. Native plants and wildflowers have adapted to the local environment and therefore thrive without a lot of care. This means that they require less physical maintenance, less watering and little or no use of chemical fertilizers. Additionally, if there are sudden changes in the weather (which if often the case in the midwest), native plants are more apt to handle these changes and survive whereas many nonnative plants would die out. Using native plants in your garden can also attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies and small mammals. By gardening with native plants, you are making a positive impact on the environment by keeping out non-native invasives, reducing chemical use, and helping natives thrive. The following list is a selection of plants native to Indiana and surrounding areas that are just as beautiful and enjoyable as the traditionally used non-natives.
Ground Cover
Common Cinquefoil
Potentilla simplex
http://www.colby-sawyer.edu/images/image_1189.jpg
Barren Strawberry
Waldsteinia fragarioides
http://www.greenmountainaccess.net/~hkarlson/oca/Barren%20strawberry%201.jpg
Wild Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
http://www.siskiyous.edu/beartrail/strawberry3.JPG
Wine Cups/Poppy Mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/Plants/Images/CallirInvo.jpg
Creeping Phlox
Phlox stolonifera
http://www.trotting-horse.com/garden/creeping_Phlox.jpg
Moss Phlox
Phlox subulata
http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/19613/files/moss%20phlox.jpg
Pussytoes
Antennaria plantaginifolia
http://www.mailbag.com/users/mnofsing/antennariaspecies.jpg
Dwarf Crested Iris
Iris cristata
http://www.tva.gov/river/landandshore/stabilization/plants/images/iris_cristata.jpg
Sand/Cleft Phlox
Phlox bifida
http://plants.usda.gov/gallery/standard/phbi3_002_shp.jpg
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
2-6 ft. tall
http://www.tva.gov/river/landandshore/stabilization/plants/images/rhus_aromatica.jpg
Prairie Cordgrass
Spartina pectinata
http://www.prairienursery.com/images/Species/SPP1.jpg
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
http://www.nps.gov/miss/restoration/images/sedges/switchgrass.jpg
Sweetgrass
Hierochloe odorata
http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/sweetgrass.jpg
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
http://www.marion.ohio-state.edu/prairie/cBig%20Bluestem.jpg
Trailing Arbutus
Epigaea repens
acidic soil
http://www.lynnbenevento.com/images/FLOW-Trailing-Arbutus.jpg
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
acidic soil
http://www.cycop.org/images/bunchberry.jpg
Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
acidic soil
http://www.phytochemicals.info/pictures/plants/wintergreen.jpg
Goldthread
Coptis groenlandica
acidic soil
http://www.herbsnhoney.com/Images/goldthread.gif
Green and Gold
Chrysogonum virginianum
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/groundcover/images/common%20names/green-and-gold-2.jpg
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
http://www.sunfarm.com/images/med/asarumcanadense-m.jpg
Canada Anemone
Anemone canadensis
http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/plants/wildflower/anemone.jpg
Allegheny Spurge
Pachysandra procumbens
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/groundcovers/directory/images/images/slide26.jpg
Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/img/tico1a.jpg
Partridge Berry
Mitchella repens
http://www.asergeev.com/pictures/archives/compress/2004/413/jpeg/17.jpg
Ferns
Leatherwood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
http://www.greatlakeslandscaping.net/images/leatherwood_fern.gif
Intermediate Shield Fern
Dryopteris intermedia
Spinulose Shield Fern
D. spinulosa
http://www.borealforest.org/ferns/spinulose_wood_fern.jpg'
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/pteridophytes/osmreg_aspect01.jpg
Interrupted Fern
Osmunda claytoniana
http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/pteridophytes/osmcla_fetile-pinnae01.jpg
Hayscented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
http://www.naturehills.com/Product_images/otherimages/hayscented_fern_2.jpg
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilus
http://www.seemegarden.com/images/plants/onoclea_sensibilis.jpg
New York Fern
Thelypteris noveboracensis
http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/img/Ferns/Thelypteris-noveboracensis-.jpg
Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
small
http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/img/Ferns/Asplenium-playtneuron-RHW.jpg
Walking Fern
Camptosorus rhizophyllus
small
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/veg/Cliffs_Dunes/Walking_fern_VK_c.low.jpg
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostienoides
http://www.k12.de.us/warner/fern.jpg
Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum pedatom
http://www.southerntropicals.com/galleries/Ferns/images/Southern%20Maidenhair%20Fern%20'Adiantum%20capillus-veneris'_jpg.jpg
Goldie's Fern
Dryopteris goldiana
http://www.grownative.org/image/plantlib/DETA-247.jpg
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/ferns/athyrium%20filix-femina-1sm.jpg
Ostrich Fern
Matleuccia struthiopteris
http://www.ontariowildflower.com/images/ostrichfern2.jpg
Cinnamon Fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
http://www.bergenswamp.org/images/cinnamon-fern.jpg
Plants that thrive in sand & gravel beds
Partridge Pea
Cassia fasciculata
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/wildflowers/images/common%20names/partridge_pea_cassia.jpg
Lupine
Lupinus perennis
http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/wildflowers/lupine.jpg
Rough Blazing Star
Liatrisaspera
http://www.grownative.org/image/plantlib/DETA-4.jpg
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
http://www.rowesanctuary.org/wild%20bergamot%20stand%203.JPG
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/Vascular_plants/solidago/solrig_aspect_01.jpg
Smooth Aster
Aster laevis
http://www.dyckarboretum.org/image/lib/plants/DETA-163.jpg
Side Oats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
http://people.uis.edu/braeb1/uisprairieproject/images/sideoats.jpg
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
http://www.littlered.ecasd.k12.wi.us/naturearea/naturehome/plantpage/forbs/psmoke.jpg
Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium albidum
http://www.gardencrossings.com/_ccLib/image/plants/DETA-191.jpg
Coneflowers
Echinacea spp.
http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps.news/2003-04_aaps_gardens/da.data/13437/Photo/coneflowers.jpg
Lead Plant
Amorpha canescens
http://www.co.washburn.wi.us/images/landwatercons/shrubs/lead-plant.jpg
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
http://www.signaturelandscapes.com/plants/plant_images/perennials_gc/blackeyed%20susan.jpg
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
http://www.chicagowilderness.org/images/photos/Showy-goldenrod.jpg
Prickly Pear
Opuntia humifusa
Plants that attract wildlife
Indian Pink
Spigelia marilandica
humming birds
http://www.rubythroat.org/images/PinkIndian01.jpg
Purple Milkweed
Asclepias purpurascens
butterflies
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/milkweedf4.jpg
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
larvae
http://savetheprairiesociety.org/virtual/images/goldalexcluster.jpg
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
http://www.michiganaudubon.org/bakersanctuary/images/rattlesnake_master.jpg
Sweet Cicely
Osmorhiza claytoni
http://www.etsu.edu/biology/friendsofnature/Species/Wildflowers/Pictures/sweet%20cicely%20usda.jpg
Black Snakeroot
Sanicula spp.
http://john.walker.name/photoblog/archives/flowers/BlackSnakeroot.jpg
Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
http://bwca.cc/wildflowers/flowerimages/lorrainespictures/redosierdogwood.jpg
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
http://www.ontariowildflower.com/images/serviceberrytree.jpg
Coralberry
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
http://www.theeagle.com/homegarden/photos/021105coralberry.jpg
Nectar Providing Plants
Royal Catchfly
Silene regia
http://biology4.wustl.edu/tyson/flora/catchfly1.jpg
New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae
http://www.tva.gov/river/landandshore/stabilization/plants/images/aster_novae-angliae.jpg
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
http://www.suhsd.k12.ca.us/mvm/netlinks/1cather/wild%20columbine.jpg
Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/plants/wildflower/bergamot.jpg
False Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides
http://personalpages.tds.net/~savanasp/image3ET.JPG
Plants that provide for larvae
Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/ceoc5242.jpg
Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/Plants/Highbush%20Blueberry/TS0223_1l.jpg
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
http://www.ontariowildflower.com/images/milkweedswampfl.jpg
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
http://indianspringherbs.com/Images/Spicebush2.jpg
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
http://www.co.washburn.wi.us/images/landwatercons/shrubs/new-jersey-tea.jpg
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
http://gypsymoth.ento.vt.edu/vagm/Treeimages/pawpaw_leaves.jpeg
