Top 5 Native Plants To Add To Your Garden In Columbus, OH
Columbus, Ohio is located in the Midwestern region of the United States, which means it has a climate that experiences cold winters and warm summers. If you're looking for some great native plants to add to your garden in Columbus here are some of our top 5 picks:
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) - This is a classic prairie plant that adds a pop of bright yellow to any garden. Black-Eyed Susan is easy to grow and attracts butterflies and bees. It’s a popular wildflower native to North America that is widely grown in gardens and landscapes for its attractive yellow and brown flowers. Here are some key facts about Black-eyed Susan:
Appearance: Black-eyed Susan has bright yellow petals surrounding a dark brown center disk. The flowers are typically 2-3 inches in diameter and appear from mid-summer to early fall. The plant typically grows to 2-3 feet tall and has hairy stems and leaves.
Growing conditions: Black-eyed Susan is a hardy plant that grows well in a variety of conditions. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, but can tolerate drought and poor soil. It is also tolerant of heat, humidity, and wind.
Maintenance: Black-eyed Susan is a low-maintenance plant that requires little care once established. It does not require fertilizer or pruning, and can be left to naturalize in a garden. Deadheading the flowers can encourage more blooms.
Wildlife benefits: Black-eyed Susan is a great plant for attracting wildlife to a garden. The flowers are a food source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, while the seeds are a food source for birds.
Uses: Black-eyed Susan is a popular plant for borders, meadows, and wildflower gardens. It is also used in cut flower arrangements.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - Also known as bee balm, this plant has lavender-pink flowers and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Wild Bergamot a perennial wildflower native to North America that is commonly grown in gardens and landscapes for its attractive flowers and fragrant foliage and is a great option for adding some height to your garden. Here are some key facts about Wild Bergamot:
Appearance: Wild Bergamot has lavender-pink flowers that are arranged in dense, spherical clusters atop tall stems. The flowers have a unique shape that is reminiscent of a pompom, and are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The plant typically grows to 2-4 feet tall and has fragrant, lance-shaped leaves.
Growing conditions: Wild Bergamot is a hardy plant that grows well in a variety of conditions. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, but can tolerate drought and poor soil. It is also tolerant of heat, humidity, and wind.
Maintenance: Wild Bergamot is a low-maintenance plant that requires little care once established. It does not require fertilizer or pruning, and can be left to naturalize in a garden. Deadheading the flowers can encourage more blooms.
Wildlife benefits: Wild Bergamot is a great plant for attracting wildlife to a garden. The flowers are a food source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, while the leaves are a food source for caterpillars. The plant also has medicinal properties and was historically used by Native Americans to treat a variety of ailments.
Uses: Wild Bergamot is a popular plant for borders, meadows, and wildflower gardens. It is also used in herbal teas and has a pleasant, minty flavor and aroma.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - is a perennial herbaceous plant native to North America that is widely grown in gardens and landscapes for its attractive pink or purple flowers and medicinal properties. Here are some key facts about Purple Coneflower:
Appearance: Purple Coneflower has large, daisy-like flowers with prominent, spiky central disks surrounded by drooping petals. The flowers are typically pink or purple, but can also be white, and appear from mid-summer to early fall. The plant typically grows to 2-4 feet tall and has rough, hairy stems and leaves.
Growing conditions: Purple Coneflower is a hardy plant that grows well in a variety of conditions. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, but can tolerate drought and poor soil. It is also tolerant of heat, humidity, and wind.
Maintenance: Purple Coneflower is a low-maintenance plant that requires little care once established. It does not require fertilizer or pruning, and can be left to naturalize in a garden. Deadheading the flowers can encourage more blooms.
Wildlife benefits: Purple Coneflower is a great plant for attracting wildlife to a garden. The flowers are a food source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, while the seeds are a food source for birds. The plant also has medicinal properties and was historically used by Native Americans to treat a variety of ailments.
Uses: Purple Coneflower is a popular plant for borders, meadows, and wildflower gardens. It is also used in herbal remedies and supplements, as it is believed to have immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) - is a native herbaceous perennial plant that is commonly found in meadows, prairies, and along roadsides throughout the eastern and central United States. Here are some key facts about Ohio Spiderwort:
Appearance: Ohio Spiderwort has striking blue to purple flowers that bloom in early to mid-summer. The flowers are arranged in clusters at the end of stems that can reach up to 3 feet tall. The plant has long, narrow leaves that are up to a foot long and slightly hairy.
Growing conditions: Ohio Spiderwort is a hardy plant that is adaptable to a range of growing conditions. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, but can tolerate a variety of soil types and moisture levels. It is also tolerant of heat and drought.
Maintenance: Ohio Spiderwort is a low-maintenance plant that requires little care once established. It can self-seed and spread quickly, so it may need to be thinned or divided every few years to prevent overcrowding. Deadheading the flowers can encourage more blooms.
Wildlife benefits: Ohio Spiderwort is a great plant for attracting pollinators to a garden. The flowers are a food source for bees, butterflies, and other insects. The plant also has some medicinal properties and was traditionally used by Native Americans to treat insect bites and other ailments.
Uses: Ohio Spiderwort is a popular plant for wildflower gardens, prairie restorations, and naturalized areas. It can also be used as a border plant or in mixed perennial beds. Its striking blue flowers make it a standout plant in any landscape.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) - is a native herbaceous perennial plant that is commonly found in meadows, prairies, and along roadsides throughout the eastern and central United States. Here are some key facts about Butterfly Weed:
Appearance: Butterfly Weed has vibrant orange to red flowers that bloom in early to mid-summer. The flowers are arranged in clusters at the end of stems that can reach up to 3 feet tall. The plant has long, narrow leaves that are up to 6 inches long and slightly hairy.
Growing conditions: Butterfly Weed prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but can tolerate a range of soil types and moisture levels. It is also tolerant of heat and drought. Once established, Butterfly Weed is fairly low-maintenance and can grow in a range of climates.
Maintenance: Butterfly Weed is a low-maintenance plant that requires little care once established. It can self-seed and spread quickly, so it may need to be thinned or divided every few years to prevent overcrowding. Deadheading the flowers can encourage more blooms.
Wildlife benefits: Butterfly Weed is a great plant for attracting pollinators to a garden, especially butterflies. The plant is a host plant for the larvae of the Monarch butterfly and provides nectar for adult butterflies, bees, and other insects.
Uses: Butterfly Weed is a popular plant for wildflower gardens, prairie restorations, and naturalized areas. It can also be used as a border plant or in mixed perennial beds. Its vibrant orange flowers make it a standout plant in any landscape.
By adding these native plants to your garden, you can create a beautiful and ecologically-friendly landscape that supports local wildlife and is well-suited to the climate of Columbus, Ohio.
