This native plant has the coolest little red flowers that hummingbirds love. And they bloom in fall! Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) is native to the southern United States. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 through 11. It grows in both sun and part-shade, but plant it in more sun for the best flowers. It is a perennial, deciduous, shrub-like …
native plants
How to Grow Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed grows throughout most of the United States and parts of Canada. It attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and is especially beneficial for monarchs whose larvae feed on the plant's leaves. It also provides a nice splash of bright orange color for your garden. This native plant is drought tolerant and deer resistant. …
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Giant Coneflower – Rudbeckia maxima
Rudbeckia maxima, otherwise known as the giant coneflower, is in the Asteracea family. The flower resembles a brown-eyed Susan, but the petals hang down, and the center is much taller. This plant can grow up to 7 feet tall. Planted in a large group, it makes a nice visual impact. Other common names for this wildflower include cabbage …
How To Identify Poison Ivy
Every gardener will encounter poison ivy at some point. It’s an important plant to be able to identify – even when it doesn’t have leaves. All parts of the plant are poisonous. While some people may not have a reaction to this plant, many will get an itchy, painful rash. The substance (uroshiol) that causes the rash or blisters can be …
Philadelphia Fleabane – Erigeron philadelphicus
Philadelphia fleabane is a native wildflower in the sunflower family (Asteracea); it looks like a small feathery daisy or aster. Many may consider this flowering plant to be a weed, but it struck me as a nice addition to my yard. Although it’s not where I would like it to be at the moment, I will dig it up and transplant it. I have noted that …
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How To Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are so much fun to watch. Their mid-air acrobatics and daredevil combat flying can be very entertaining. We have planted the front yard to include many flowering plants that hummingbirds and butterflies can feed from. We also put up several feeders in the yard and have a bird bath as a water source. Hummingbirds spend …
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