Hairy Beardtongue 

Scientific Name: Penstemon hirsutus 

June is typically a quieter time in my gardens, with the rush of spring ephemerals long done and the riot of summer colours not quite upon us yet. Perhaps that is why I find Hairy Beardtongue so appealing. It starts its long blooming period, with its soft, powdery purple and white flowers, when most of my garden is still rather green.  

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shawn Booth from In Our Nature. The content of this article is excerpted from our book The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region (Firefly Books), available wherever you buy your books. 

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Hairy Penstemon, Dwarf Hairy Penstemon, Eastern Penstemon, Northeastern Beardtongue, Pride of the Mountain 

Plant description: Hairy Beardtongue features green to reddish brown, hairy stems. Along the stems are opposite, lance-shaped leaves with pointed tips and toothed edges. Leaves clasp the stem. Stems terminate with clusters of slender, tubular flowers. Flower stalks also emerge from upper leaf axils. Each flower is purple to violet with white tips and has 5 petals with a protruding lower lip. You will notice that the flowers are hairy inside. Flowers turn into brown, teardrop-shaped seed pods. They split open when ripe to release many small irregularly angled seeds. 

In the Garden: Hairy Beardtongue transitions the garden into early summer with a fantastic display of tubular, pink flowers. It maintains a well-behaved, clumping habit and adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. The seed heads provide reliable winter interest. Plants may suffer from a reduced lifespan if grown in rich soil. 

Skill level: beginner 

Lifespan: perennial 

Exposure: full sun to full shade 

Soil Type: thin, well drained soils 

Moisture: medium wet to dry 

Height: 45 cm 

Spread: 25-30 cm 

Bloom Period: May, Jun 

Colour: pink, purple 

Fragrant (Y/N):

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: no serious pests 

Natural Habitat: fields and open areas 

Wildlife value: attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and native bees 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton

Moth Larva Host Plant For: Chalcedony Midget (Elaphria chalcedonia), Verbena Bud Moth (Endothenia hebesana), Sparganothis Leafroller Moth (Sparganothis sulfureana

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 

Propagation: Direct sow in late fall through to late winter, pressing seeds into the surface of the soil without covering as seeds need light to germinate. For starting indoors, germination is enhanced with 60 days of cold, moist stratification. Slow to germinate and will spend its first year getting established, then flower in year two. Plants seem to germinate best in cool soil. Penstemon readily self seeds. Mature clumps of plants can be divided in early spring or late fall. Plants may also be propagated by layering (pinning the stem down and covering the leaf nodes with soil, which will then root) or by stem cuttings using sections of stem with 2-4 nodes. 

Additional Info: This low maintenance plant blooms in my southwestern Ontario garden in the early summer, after the spring ephemerals are done and before the bulk of the colour of my other natives begins, providing a wonderful splash of colour during the “quiet” period before the blooms of summer reach their peak. As a result, it has become one of my favourites. 

Native Range:  

Wild Strawberry/Woodland Strawberry 

Almost everyone loves strawberries (unless you’re one of those unfortunate few who are allergic to them). Our store-bought strawberries are large, sometimes juicy, and taste pretty good. The modern cultivated strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa, is a hybrid of two wild species – Fragaria virginiana from North America and Fragaria chiloensis from Chile. This hybridization (first achieved in the 1750s in Brittany, France) led to the creation of the garden strawberry which became the dominant commercial variety. 

Now, imagine a much smaller strawberry, not much larger than a pea, but packed with all the concentrated flavour of the store-bought fruit. That’s our Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiensis) and also it’s close relative, the Woodland Strawberry (F. vesca). This month I will compare these two delicious fruits, and you can decide which is best in your garden. (Keep in mind, birds and squirrels also love them, so you may not get many for your own table – just saying.) 

Common Name: Wild Strawberry Woodland Strawberry 
Scientific Name: Fragaria virginiana Fragaria vesca 
Family: Rosaceae (Rose family) 
Alternate Common Names: Blue-leaf Strawberry, Common Wild Strawberry, Scarlet Strawberry, Virginia Strawberry California Strawberry, Starvling Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Wood Strawberry 
In the Garden: Wild Strawberry is a dependable ground cover for sunny sites. The bright white flowers are found in abundance and the semi-evergreen leaves provide excellent fall color. Suitable as a no-mow lawn alternative and for erosion control.  Woodland Strawberry is a reliable ground cover for shady areas and will spread indefinitely by runners. Its charming white flowers and vibrant red berries brighten up shady corners of the garden. Great for erosion control or as a no-mow lawn alternative.  
Appearance Comparison: The two species can be distinguished by carefully observing the leaf and the fruit. On F. vesca the terminal tooth on the leaf is more or less equal in size to the side teeth but are almost always smaller on F. virginiana. As well on F. vesca the leaflets are sparsely hairy, more prominently veined with large teeth, whereas F. virginiana is more softly veined and toothed and hairier overall. Woodland Strawberry fruit tends to be oblong with the seeds raised on the surface, while Wild Strawberry fruit is more round, with seeds in shallow pits. Finally, F. vesca usually has fewer flowers than F. virginiana and these are usually positioned above the leaves, while F. virginiana flower stems are typically shorter than the leaf stems. Both species are vigorous growers, so be sure to give them room to spread. 

Note of interest – Woodland Strawberry also comes in a natural white fruited variation. I have not tasted these to see if they are as good as the red ones (the birds and squirrels get them before they are even ripe in my garden), but they make an interesting plant in the shady woodland garden.  

 Wild Strawberry Woodland Strawberry 
Skill Level: Beginner 
Lifespan: Perennial 
Exposure: Full sun to part shade Full shade to part shade 
Soil Type: Sand, Loam, Clay 
Moisture: Moist to Mesic Wet to Moist   
Height: 5-15 cm 10-20 cm 
Spread: 60+ cm  (with runners) 100 cm (with runners) 
Bloom Period: Apr, May May, Jun 
Flower Colour: White 
Showy Fruit: Yes – edible red “berry” (actually a fruit) 
Cut Flower: No 
Pests: Seldom bothered by the pests and diseases that affect commercial strawberries 
Natural Habitat:  Fields, prairies, and woodland edges Rich, shady woodlands 
Wildlife Value: Many bees rely on the nectar and pollen, and many birds and small mammals and some turtles feed on the strawberries 
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 3-10 
 Wild Strawberry Woodland Strawberry 
Butterfly Larvae Host Plant for: Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus centaureae), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus
Moth Larvae Host Plant for: Garden Webworm (Achyra rantalis), Smeared Dagger Moth (Acronicta oblinita), Strawberry Leafroller Moth (Ancylis comptana fragariae), Red-headed Ancylis (Ancylis muricana), Omnivorous Leafroller Moth (Archips purpurana), Celypha Moth (Celypha cespitana), Blackberry Looper Moth (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria), Common Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma truncata), Wild Strawberry Seed Borer (Grapholita angleseana), Spotted Straw (Heliothis turbatus), Green Cloverworm (Hypena scabra), Drab Brown Wave (Lobocleta ossularia), Olivaceous Olethreutes (Olethreutes olivaceana), Variegated Leafroller Moth (Platynota flavedana), Garden Tortrix (Ptycholoma peritana), Purple-lined Sallow (Pyrrhia exprimens), Clandestine Dart (Spaelotis clandestina), Sparganothis Leafroller Moth (Sparganothis sulfureana), Strawberry Crown Borer (Synanthedon bibionipennis), Tinagma obscurofasciella (no common name) 

 Wild Strawberry Woodland Strawberry 
Propagation: Germination of wild strawberry seeds is very poor and may be enhanced with 60 days of cold, moist stratification. Vegetative propagation — by separating rooted plantlets in spring or early summer, or by taking cuttings of stolon internodes — is the most effective method of multiplying plants. 

Native Range:

Evening Primrose 

Scientific Name: Oenothera biennis 

I have never planted Evening Primrose in my gardens, yet they show up faithfully every year. In fact, this was the first native species to make an appearance before I even got into growing native plants. That’s because the seeds remain viable in the soil for many years, waiting for a disturbance, and when I dug a small patch of earth to plant vegetables shortly after moving into my house, Evening Primrose popped up with their lovely lemony yellow flowers.  

Evening Primrose has a very deep taproot, and being short-lived (a biennial), the decaying root helps to aerate and take nutrients deep into the soil profile. The only potential downside to them is that they are a favourite of Japanese Beetles. However, I use that to my advantage because the Evening Primrose brings the beetles to a single eye-level location where they’re easily picked off into a bucket of soapy water.  

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shawn Booth from In Our Nature. The content of this article is excerpted from our book The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region (Firefly Books), available wherever you buy your books. 

Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Bastard Evening Primrose, Common Evening-primrose, Evening Star, Fever Plant, Four-o’clock, German Rampion, Golden Candlestick, Hoary Evening Primrose, Hog Weed, King’s Cure-all, Night Primrose, Night Willow-herb, Sand Lily, Scabish, Scavey, Scurvish, Speckled John, Tree Primrose, Weedy Evening Primrose, Wild Beet, Wine-trap 

Plant description: Evening Primrose has a two-year life-cycle. During the first year it produces a low rosette of basal leaves. During the second year, it sends up a light green to red central stems covered in white hairs. Lance-elliptic leaves are found in an alternate pattern along the stem and measure up to 20cm long and 5cm wide (they are usually smaller than this). They are hairless to finely hairy, toothless or with small teeth and borne on little to no leaf stalk. Stems terminate with spike-like clusters of many yellow flowers each about 5cm across. Each flower has 4 heart-shaped petals surrounding 8 yellow stamens and a cross-shaped stigma. Each flower appears to be borne on a long stalk but this is actually an elongated calyx tube (the part that bears the sepals and stamens). Four sepals are found behind each flower, measuring about 3cm long and bending backwards as the flower matures. As the flowers fade, they produce 3-4cm long, tubular seed pods that contain hundreds of tiny seeds. 

In the Garden: Evening Primrose features a spire of vibrant, lemon-yellow flowers. These flowers open up in the evening and stay open until hit by the morning sun. They also stay open to brighten up cloudy days! A dependable choice for nutrient poor soils and the sturdy stems will persist into the winter months to extend interest. 

Skill level: beginner to intermediate 

Lifespan: biennial 

Exposure: full sun to full shade 

Soil Type: rocky, gravelly or sandy soils. 

Moisture: dry to medium 

Height: 90-150 cm (up to 210 cm in ideal conditions) 

Spread: 30-90 cm 

Bloom Period: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep 

Colour: yellow 

Fragrant (Y/N): Y (lemon scent) 

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: no serious insect or disease problems though leaf spot and powdery mildew may occur; this plant is a favourite of the invasive Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica

Natural Habitat: occurs throughout the region in disturbed areas, along roadsides, lakeshores and river valleys 

Wildlife value: Moths are the main pollinators of the flowers, especially Sphinx Moths. The high oil-content seeds are eaten by goldfinches and other small birds. It is the host plant for a number of moths including the Primrose Moth (Schinia florida), Pearly Wood Nymph (Endryas unio) and White-Lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata). 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: none 

Moth Larva Host Plant For: Pearly Wood Nymph (Endryas unio), Grape Leaffolder Moth (Desmia funeralis), White-Lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata), Sparganothis Leafroller Moth (Sparganothis sulfureana),  and Red-Streaked Momphid (Mompha eloisella

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 

Propagation: the very small seeds need light to germinate (surface sow) but do not need to be stratified. Store in a cool, dry environment if spring sowing. Stem cuttings can be taken in spring. 

Native Range: 

Woodland Anemone

All spring, summer and fall, I can simply walk out into my garden to get inspiration for which plant should be plant of the month. I simply look around and whichever one catches my attention is the one I choose. As I write this just a few days before Christmas, there is nothing flowering so I have to flip through my copy of The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region and see which plant speaks to me. Today is was the lovely, but shy, Wood Anemone – Anemone Quinquefolia. This gorgeous spring bloomer is ideal for a moist shady garden that mimics it forest home. If you have such a setting, see if you can find some of this anemone to brighten up the shade. 

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shawn Booth from In Our Nature. The content of this article is excerpted from our book The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region (Firefly Books), available wherever you buy your books. 

Scientific Name: Anemone quinquefolia 

Common Name: Wood Anemone 

Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Five Leaved Anemone, Herb Trinity, Mayflower, Nightcaps, Nimbleweed, Wood Flower, Wood Windflower 

Plant Description: Wood Anemone features a finely hairy stem with a group of three compound leaves and one basal leaf. Each leaflet is up to 4 cm long, deeply divided into two or three parts, coarsely toothed, finely hairy and wedge shaped at the base. Some leaves are so deeply cleft that they give the impression of having four to five leaflets. Leaflets are attached by very short leaf stalks. A flower stalk arises from the center of the whorled leaves and terminates with a single 2.5 cm wide flower. Flowers are characterized by four to nine sepals (usually five) surrounding a cluster of many white-tipped stamens. Flowers give way to a round seed head containing tiny, hairy, beaked, oval seeds. 

In the Garden: Wood Anemone is a true spring ephemeral, meaning it emerges early in the spring to take advantage of the extra sunlight coming down through the leafless trees above it. The delicate-looking flowers bloom for a short time, then the whole plant goes dormant by midsummer. Because of this, it is recommended that it be planted with long-lasting plants that can fill in the gap it leaves behind. The short and sweet springtime display of Wood Anemone encourages us to stop and truly appreciate the cycles of nature. 

Skill Level: Beginner 

Lifespan: Perennial 

Exposure: Full shade to part shade 

Soil Type: Rich, well drained 

Moisture: Moist to medium 

Height: 10–20 cm 

Spread: 10–20 cm 

Bloom Period: Apr, May, Jun 

Color: White (pink) 

Fragrant (Y/N):

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: Pest free and deer resistant 

Natural Habitat: Deciduous or mixed evergreen-deciduous forests and forest edges, riverbanks, and fields 

Wildlife Value: A variety of native bees collect the pollen 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: None 

Moth Larva Host Plant For: None 

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8 

Propagation: Very little information is available on starting seeds for Anemone quinquefolia, except that it is difficult to germinate, and artificial stratification may not work. It apparently requires a cold period, followed by a warm, and then another cold (i.e., two successive winters) before seeds germinate. Fortunately, this plant can be propagated by dividing the root as it spreads naturally by rhizomes into thick mats. 

Additional Info: Contact with the sap of this slow-growing plant may irritate skin. 

Native Range: 

Jack in the Pulpit

As I put this post together in mid-November, most of the plants in my southwestern Ontario gardens have packed it in for the winter and are now just lumps of foliage in various states of demise. As they get ready for a long winter’s nap, I’m starting to think about spring and what excitement lies ahead – especially in the shade gardens where spring ephemerals will make their brief appearances. And to me, one of the more interesting spring ephemerals is Arisaema triphyllum – Jack in the Pulpit.

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shawn Booth from In Our Nature. The content of this article is excerpted from our book The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region (Firefly Books), available wherever you buy your books.

Scientific Name: Arisaema triphyllum

Common Name: Jack-in-the-pulpit

Family: Araceae (Arum Family)

Alternate Common Names: Indian Turnip, Small Jack-in-the-pulpit

Plant Description: From Jack-in-the-pulpit’s corm (a bulb-like tuber) emerge one to two leaves and a single flowering stalk. The leaves are divided into three leaflets that each measure up to 18 cm long and 7.5 cm wide. Leaflets are oval-shaped, glossy and have smooth margins. A single flower occurs on a separate stalk. It consists of the spadix (a spike of tiny flowers) that is enclosed by the spathe (a leaf-like sheath), which forms a hood over the top. The spadix and spathe are nicknamed “Jack” and the “pulpit,” respectively. The spathe is usually green with variably colored stripes that can be maroon, dark purple or dark green. Tightly packed clusters of smooth, green berries ripen into red to reddish-orange berries in mid to late summer.

In the Garden: Jack-in-the-pulpit is an intriguing spring wildflower with a unique bloom. It is valued by gardeners for its lush appearance and tropical feel. Most plants will disappear by mid to late summer, leaving behind their red berries, which add interest and wildlife value to shade gardens. Due to its ephemeral lifecycle, it is best planted with other shade-tolerant species that can fill in the gap when it goes dormant.

Lifespan: Perennial

Exposure: Full shade to part shade

Soil Type: Rich in organic matter, does poorly in heavy clay soils

Moisture: Wet to medium

Height: 75 cm

Spread: 30–45 cm

Bloom Period: Apr, May, Jun

Color: Green, purple

Fragrant (Y/N): N

Showy Fruit (Y/N): Y

Cut Flower (Y/N): N

Pests: No serious insect or disease problems

Natural Habitat: Forests, woodlands, swamps, and marshy areas

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: None

Moth Larva Host Plant For: None

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9

Jack-in-the-pulpit has both male and female plants, and they can change sex from one year to the next depending, apparently, on the previous year’s reproductive success. Another adaptation for reproductive success is the presence of a small hole at the base of the smaller male flower that allows pollinators to exit more easily, laden with pollen. Female plants do not have this hole so, with only one way out, pollinators are more likely to pollinate the female flower.

Native Range:

Blue-stemmed Goldenrod

In my mind, fall is the season of Asters and Goldenrods.

Smooth Aster, New England Aster, Sky Blue Aster, Gray Goldenrod and Blue-stemmed Goldenrod are in full bloom in my garden as I write this.

Smooth Aster, New England Aster, Sky Blue Aster, Gray Goldenrod and Blue-stemmed Goldenrod are in full bloom in my garden as I write this.

As I looked through my previous Plant of the Month posts, I realized I’ve covered a couple of Asters (Smooth and New England) but I have not yet talked about any Goldenrods.
Of the 140 species of Goldenrods worldwide, 115 are native to Canada and the US. Where I live in southern Ontario, we have at least 25 species that are indigenous to the region and I have at least 16 of them planted in my garden.
There’s a goldenrod for every garden. Some, like Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) or Grass-leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) are probably too aggressive for most garden spaces, but we have many well-behaved goldenrods to choose from. And there is a goldenrod for shade, sun, dry, moist and everything in between so you can add some to your garden, too.
This month I’ve picked one of my long-time favourite goldenrods – Solidago caesia, or Blue-stemmed Goldenrod. It is easy to grow, loves part shade, and produces beautiful sprays of yellow all fall.

Solidago caesia produces beautiful sprays of yellow

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shawn Booth from In Our Nature. The content of this article is excerpted from our book The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region (Firefly Books), available wherever you buy your books.


Scientific Name: Solidago caesia

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Woodland Goldenrod, Wreath Goldenrod 

Plant description: Bue-stemmed Goldenrod has sparingly branched, arching stems that are green when young but turn blueish purple with age.  Leaves are alternate, elliptic-oblong (long and rounded) in shape and measure about 12cm long, 2cm wide and become smaller as they ascend the stem. They are stalkless, hairless and have serrated edges. Small clusters of 1-12 yellow flowers develop from upper leaf axils (where the leaf meets the stem) and at the very tip of the stem. Each flower is 3mm wide and has 4-5 ray flowers (petals) surrounding 4-5 disk flowers. At the base of each flower, you will notice small bracts that are overlapping, smooth and oblong. Flowers mature into small, finely hairy seeds that have small tufts of hairs attached to them. 

Solidago caesia flowers

In the Garden: Blue-stemmed Goldenrod is a shade-loving goldenrod with a well-behaved clumping habit. As if its graceful, arching stems and dark green leaves aren’t reason enough to love this plant, it is adorned with bright yellow flowers late in the season that make it a real crowd-pleaser.

In the Garden: Bue-stemmed Goldenrod is a shade-loving goldenrod with a well-behaved clumping habit. As if its graceful, arching stems and dark green leaves aren’t reason enough to love this plant, it is adorned with bright yellow flowers late in the season that make it a real crowd-pleaser. 

Skill level:  beginner 

Lifespan: perennial 

Exposure: medium shade to full sun 

Soil Type: most well drained soils; tolerates poor soil 

Moisture: medium to dry 

Height: 45-90 cm 

Spread:  30-60 cm 

Spacing: 45 cm 

Bloom Period: late-Aug, Sep 

Colour: yellow 

Fragrant (Y/N):

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: no serious insect or disease problems though rust may be an occasional problem 

Natural Habitat: rich, deciduous or open woods, the edges of woods and in clearings 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: none 

Wildlife value: attracts native and honeybees, wasps, flies and butterflies and the seeds are occasionally eaten by the several small songbirds 

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8 

Propagation: Small seeds need light to germinate and benefit from 90 days cold, moist stratification. Mature plants may be divided and new plants may be started from stem cuttings. 

Solidago caesia seeds are dispersed by wind.

Additional Info: This species is primarily clump-forming and does not spread aggressively as do some of the other goldenrod species and hybrids. 

Native Range:  

Shaded area is considered the native range of Solidago caesia.

Large Leaf Aster 

Fall is the time for asters and goldenrods. One of the first asters to bloom in my garden each autumn is Eurybia macrophylla – the Large Leaf Aster. It flowers range from pale blue to pink to white, depending (it seems) on its growing conditions. In my garden, they’re mostly pale pink to white.   

This flower is quite the trooper – loving it in full to part shade and dry to fairly moist sandy soils. (A friend grows it in heavy clay soil where it does OK – it just doesn’t flourish as well as it does in my sandy loam soil.) 

Blooms start in August and often keep going till the first good frost.  

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shawn Booth from In Our Nature. The content of this article is excerpted from our book The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region (Firefly Books), available wherever you buy your books. 

Scientific Name: Eurybia macrophylla 

Common Name: Large Leaf Aster 

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Bigleaf Aster, Large-leaf Wood Aster 

Plant Description: Large Leaf Aster features large, heart-shaped basal leaves that measure about 20 cm long, 15 cm wide and are coarsely toothed, sparsely hairy, and borne on long leaf stalks. As the leaves ascend the stem they decrease in size and become shorter stalked to the point where the uppermost leaves are reduced to stalkless bracts. Leaf stalks are narrowly winged but become broadly winged as they ascend the stem. Stems are upright, rigid, sparsely hairy, and unbranching except for at the top where they branch out to support open, flat-topped flower clusters. Each cluster can have eight to 90 stalked flowers that measure up to 4 cm across. Individual flowers are characterized by nine to 20 unevenly spaced, thin ray florets (petals) that surround a yellow centre disk that turn a brownish red with age. Tightly packed, stout, hairy bracts surround the base of each flower and are found in four to six layers. They are green with a purple tinge and have whitish edges. Flowers give way to dry, brown, narrow seeds with tufts of white hairs that allow them to be carried by the wind. 

In the Garden: Large Leaf Aster is valued by gardeners looking for a lush, reliable woodland groundcover with a bold texture. It spreads non-aggressively by rhizomes to form dense colonies over time. It is tolerant of dry shade and will grow in the dense shade under pine or spruce trees but with reduced flowering and vigour. 

Skill Level: Beginner 

Lifespan: Perennial 

Exposure: Full shade to part shade 

Soil Type: Sandy loam to rich loam 

Moisture: Moist to dry 

Height: 15–110 cm 

Spread: 60 cm 

Bloom Period: Aug, Sep, Oct 

Colour: White, blue 

Fragrant (Y/N):

Showy Fruit (Y/N): N  

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: No serious insect or disease problems 

Natural Habitat: Open woods, thickets, and clearings 

Wildlife Value: Nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a large number of native bees and other insects, and Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) eat the seeds and foliage 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos

Moth Larva Host Plant For: Aster Borer Moth (Carmenta corni),  Asteroid Moth (Cucullia steroids), Arcigera Flower Moth (Schinia arcigera), others  

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7 

Propagation: Sow seeds outside in fall or, if starting indoors, provide 60 days cold, moist stratification for any seeds that haven’t germinated in three to four weeks. Do not cover the seeds as they require light to germinate. Also can be propagated by stem cuttings taken in late spring or by dividing mature clumps. 

Additional Info: Individual plants don’t flower every year, which means that in a patch of Large Leaf Aster only a few plants will bloom each year, and therefore it is best used as a groundcover for its heart-shaped leaves. 

Native Range: 

Silphium perfoliatum – Cup Plant 

It is mid-summer and my southern Ontario garden is dominated by yellows.

On the short end of the spectrum are Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata – up to 45 cm), Orange Coneflowers (Rudbeckia fulgida – 60 to 90 cm), Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta – up to 100 cm) and Grey-headed Coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata – up to 150 cm).  

A few mid-height yellows are also blooming, such as False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides – up to 180 cm), Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale – up to 130 cm) and Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium – up to 180 cm).  

But there are also a few yellow giants, such as Yellow Giant Hyssop ((Agastache nepetoides – up to 210 cm), Tall Tickseed (Coreopsis tripteris – up to 240 cm), Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia – the books say up to 240 cm but in my garden this plant often tops 340 cm) and Green-headed Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata – up to 360 cm). 

Among the giants is Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and it is this one that I will focus on today. This is one of the first of the yellow giants I planted in my garden and it holds a special place in my heart (despite the fact that is can be fairly aggressive – especially in a smaller garden). As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shaun Booth from In Our Nature. 

Scientific Name: Silphium perfoliatum 

Common Name: Cup Plant 

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Carpenter’s Weed, Cup Rosin Weed, Indian Cup, Ragged Cup 

Plant Description: Cup Plant features thick, four-sided, smooth stems that are green to reddish. Along the stem you will find large, opposite leaves that measure up to 20 cm long and just under 13 cm wide. These leaves are fused together around the stem and form a distinctive “cup” that holds rainwater. Leaves are coarsely toothed with pointed tips and rough surfaces. Stalked basal leaves also occur, but they usually die back by flowering time. Upwards of 30 sunflower-like flowers are found in branching clusters at the tops of the stems. Each flower is up to 9 cm wide with 17 to 40 yellow ray florets (petals) surrounding a green to yellow centre disk. Behind the flowers are smooth, egg-shaped bracts with flaring tips. Ray florets mature into flat, black, winged seeds that can be carried by the wind. 

In the Garden: Cup Plant towers above surrounding plants to boast its bright yellow flowers. It makes for a dramatic structural plant, and the rigid stems persist well into the winter months. Great for the back of a border or used as a privacy “hedge.” Make sure to give it space! 

Skill Level: Beginner 

Lifespan: Perennial 

Exposure: Full sun to part shade 

Soil Type: Clay to sand — prefers loamy soil 

Moisture: Wet to dry (may lose lower leaves if dry for too long) 

Height: 75–270 cm though in my garden it has topped 350 cm (11’6”) in some years 

Spread: 60–90 cm 

Bloom Period: Jul, Aug, Sep 

Colour: Yellow 

Fragrant (Y/N):

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: No serious pests or diseases; however, Cup Plant is sometimes attacked by red aphids, which gather on the underside of the leaves.  

Natural Habitat: Moist woods, prairies, lowlands, river floodplains, forest openings, and forest edges 

Wildlife Value: The flowers attract many native bees and several butterflies — it seems to be a favourite of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) in my garden — and goldfinches are very fond of the seeds. I have often witnessed a variety of insects and small birds drinking water from the “cup” formed by the leaves 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: None 

Moth Larva Host Plant For: None 

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9 

Propagation: The seeds need to be cold, moist stratified for 60 to 90 days for successful germination, or you can sow them outdoors in the fall. 

Additional Info: Cup Plant is reportedly sensitive to herbicide drift. Note that this plant is a very prolific spreader and is considered an invasive species in New York where it is illegal to grow it for sale or distribution. 

Native Range: 

Scarlet Beebalm 

Every July, my garden lights up with the brilliant red of Monarda Didyma – Bee Balm (or Beebalm), sometimes referred to as Scarlet Beebalm. Except in very dry years, this plant is always a showstopper in my garden. With 2024 being a fairly wet year, it is no exception this year. This plant is so easy to propagate – the roots run just below the surface of the soil and can be lifted in chunks and replanted elsewhere. I now have it growing in at least 6 different flower beds in my yard – from full shade to full sun. Definitely one of my top 10 favourites. 

Scientific Name: Monarda didyma 

Common Name: Bee Balm 

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) 

Alternate Common Names: American Beebalm, Crimson Beebalm, Oswego Tea, Firecracker Plant, Fragrant Balm, Red Bergamot, Scarlet Beebalm, Scarlet Monarda, Wild Oregano 

Plant description: Bee Balm features square, reddish-brown stems that are slightly hairy and branch occasionally. Along the stem you will find opposite leaves that each measure up to 13cm long and 5cm wide with 2.5cm long leaf stalks. Leaves are ovate to heart shaped with pointed tips, toothed edges and may have a purple/reddish tint to them. Stems are topped with a single cluster of tubular red flowers that measures up to 10cm wide with each individual flower measuring just under 4cm long. Each flower is characterized by an upper lip with two stamens protruding from it and a lower lip that arches downwards. The outer surface of the upper lip is finely hairy. Each flower head is backed by multiple leaf-like bracts that are tinted with red or purple. Each flower produces small, dry, ovoid seeds. 

In the Garden: Reminiscent of jester hats, the vivid scarlet flowers of Bee Balm contrast beautifully with surrounding foliage. Brush up against the leaves and you will notice a pleasant minty smell. The rigid stems and rounded seed heads persist into winter months to provide wonderful textural interest, especially when covered in frost or snow. 

Skill level: beginner 

Lifespan: perennial 

Exposure: full sun to part shade 

Soil Type: well drained sand, clay or loam 

Moisture: medium to wet 

Height: 120 cm 

Spread: 90 cm 

Bloom Period: Jun, Jul, Aug 

Colour: red 

Fragrant (Y/N): no floral scent but foliage is aromatic 

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: susceptible to powdery mildew (full sun and good air circulation will help) 

Natural Habitat: moist, open woods and meadows and along stream banks 

Wildlife value: Hummingbirds and Swallowtail butterflies are especially attracted to the red flowers. The flowers are of special value for bumblebees and other native bees but the strongly scented leaves and stems are avoided by mammalian herbivores. A small black bee (Dufourea monardae) specializes in the pollination of Monarda flowers. 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: none 

Moth Larva Host Plant For: Gray Marvel (Anterastria teratophora), Hermit Sphinx (Sphinx eremitus), Raspberry Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta signatalis), and Orange Mint Moth (Pyrausta orphisalis

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-7 

Propagation: No treatment needed for seeds to germinate. Store seeds in a cool dry environment for spring sowing. Plants may be propagated by softwood cuttings taken in late spring. Mature clumps of plants can be divided in the spring before they send up stems, although I have had great success dividing the clumps at almost any time of the year – the later the division, though, the less likely you will have blossoms in the first year. 

Additional Info: This species blooms more vigorously if divided in spring or fall every 3-4 years – the very shallow root system is easily lifted and divided. It will spread into a large colony in just a few years if left alone. Although this plant typically has a single flower-head, it is not that uncommon for it to have a “double decker” flower, or on a rare occasion, a “triple decker”. 

Native Range:  

Early Buttercup 

As I write this in mid-June, my Early Buttercups are long finished blooming and have gone to seed. However, I chose to include them this month simply because I captured an amazing photo of the seed head a couple of weeks ago (which was the subject of this month’s jigsaw puzzle elsewhere on my website – you can access it at https://nativeplantgardener.ca/june-jigsay-puzzle/) and it has me thinking about this plant. 

As usual, the Plant Description and In the Garden sections are courtesy of Shaun Booth from In Our Nature. 

Scientific Name: Ranunculus fascicularis 

Common Name: Early Buttercup 

Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) 

Alternate Common Names: Acrid Crowfoot, Bundle-root Buttercup, Cowslip, Dwarf Buttercup, Early Crowfoot, Low Buttercup, Prairie Buttercup, Thick-root Buttercup, Tufted Buttercup 

Plant description: Early Buttercup features both basal leaves and stems. Basal leaves are borne on long, hairy leaf stalks and divided into 3-5 leaflets that each measure about 2.5cm long. Each leaflet is lobed into 3-5 parts and has rounded tips that sometimes have a sharp point. Leaf surfaces are silky-hairy. Flowering stalks rise up from the basal leaves, bearing 1-2 stalkless leaves themselves. These stalks are green to purplish-brown and hairy. At the top of each stalk is a single flower characterized by 5 shiny yellow, oblong petals surrounding a yellow center that turns green with age. Each flower is about 2.5cm wide. Behind the flowers are 5 yellowish-green bracts that are shorter than the petals and covered in spreading hairs. The center of the flower matures into an oval shaped cluster of beaked seeds. 

In the Garden: The radiant yellow flowers of Early Buttercup are some of the first blooms you will see in the spring. Great for rock gardens and borders where it can be paired with plants of similar height. Herbivores leave this plant alone. 

I have found that my Early Buttercup plant is quite happy in a shallow planter on my deck (along with some other alvar plants). 

Skill level: beginner 

Lifespan: perennial 

Exposure: full sun to full shade 

Soil Type: any well drained soil, prefers a rather poor soil containing rocky material or sand 

Moisture: dry to medium 

Height: 15-20 cm 

Spread: 15 cm 

Bloom Period: mid-Apr, May 

Colour: yellow 

Fragrant (Y/N):

Showy Fruit (Y/N):

Cut Flower (Y/N):

Pests: no serious pests 

Natural Habitat: dry, open woods and prairies 

Wildlife value: a source of pollen for native bees and the seeds are eaten to a limited extent by various game birds and small mammals 

Butterfly Larva Host Plant For: none 

Moth Larva Host Plant For:Sparganothis Leafroller Moth (Sparganothis sulfureana) –

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 

Propagation: The seeds are viable for a relatively short period only. Ideally propagate by sowing just before seeds ripen and keep the soil moist. Germination may take some time. Seeds need 60 days of cold moist stratification if starting indoors. 

Additional Info: This spring ephemeral goes dormant in the summer. Caution – in some people, contact with cell sap can result in skin redness, burning sensation and blisters. It does not like competition from taller plants. Note: this plant is considered Threatened in Ohio and Endangered in Pennsylvania. 

Native Range: