Native Plant of the Month
January 2026
Maple Leaf Viburnum
(Viburnum acerifolium)
If you’ve eradicated the buckthorn from your woods chances are this native beauty has shown up. A 4 to 6 foot tall shrub, 3 feet wide it has delicate maple shaped leaves, white blossoms and fall interest of pink to ruby leaves with dark berries. It spreads by suckers which are rhizomatous, so easily forms thickets and clumps in your woodland. Simple to transplant when you find it as it’s root system is shallow.
December 2025
Joe Pye Weed
(Eutrochium purpureum)
Let’s talk tall prairie beauties with blooms good enough for any ornamental garden. Birds and pollinators love this plant, it will be covered with moths, butterflies and bees in a sunny location. Joe Pye Weed stands a majestic 4-6 feet tall, so back of a border or along your shore - it loves damp feet. Maybe in your rain garden? It blooms August/September with light purple flowers atop stiff stems.
November 2025
Swamp White oak
(Quercus bicolor)
An extraordinarily long lived (300-350 years) native oak of medium size. It is known for it’s abilty to thrive in damp soils, so is found in wetlands, along streams, rivers and lakes. Consistently moist soil will allow it to thrive; consider this one along your shoreline or in the base of a kettle. Smaller than other oaks like species white oak and bur oak it will attain 50-80 feet in height and 40-70 feet in width. It grows faster than other white oaks. Native oaks support more wildlife than any other species.
See Doug Tallamy’s book The Nature of Oaks (2021.)
October 2025
Ironwood
(Ostrya virginiana)
Ironwood, aka American Hophornbeam is a small understory tree found on the edges of dry woodlands. It is pyramidal with maximum height and width of 25 by 15 feet. It is unusual in that it will grow in full sun to full shade conditions usually under oak or maple overstories. It’s shape, fall color (yellow to red) are value ornamental features as are it’s toothed leaves and hop like fruits. Small mammals and birds love the seeds.
September 2025
Pagoda dogwood
(Cornus alternifolia)
This smaller understory tree is a true four season beauty. Winter accentuates the horizontal branching it is known for, spring brings beautiful white flowers the bees love. In summer an explosion of blue berries will keep the birds happy, followed by autumn color of red to purple leaf change. Prefers moist, part shade edge conditions. Maximum 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
August 2025
Common Ninebarrk
(Physocarpus opulifolius)
This rangy beauty is perfect for your sunny buffer zone. Vase-like when young with arching branches, lovely foliage and spirea- like white blooms. Asks for little besides sun, space and well drained soil. Almost never needs pruning. The species is native, with less ecological value to be had from the plethora of cultivars. Roots 2 feet deep and 2-3 feet wide help stabilize slopes. A favorite of bees and butterflies. Can quickly attain 5-8 feet tall and wide under best conditions.