Just curious about what people's lesser known or unsung heros are. I love bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) in my beds; interesting seed heads, good structure, and a wide tolerance of light levels and soil types. I feel like I don't see chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) in residential landscapes enough, it grows fast and makes a great living privacy fence (and is an absolute ecological powerhouse). And of course wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) can't be beat as an easy ground cover that feeds all sorts of critters (pictured above in my garden with a beautiful Feltia herilis moth).
by NorreyBorrey
8 Comments
I just planted several chokeberries this fall. So excited to see them grow in and see what critters they attract.
Arnoglossum atriplicifolium (pale Indian plantain). Deer proof, grows in sun or shade, great foliage, pollinator magnet, tolerates wet or dry soils…it’s a great plant.
Sedges. There’s so many it’s hard to pick just one, but in general people don’t plant grasses and sedges enough. Sedges are nice because most are clumping and don’t get super tall.
Edit: my favorites are Carex blanda, palm sedge, Carex brevior, and Carex davisii
Osoberry is my favorite springtime plant, and I’m pretty sure I’ve waxed romantic about it on here more than once. Like, it’s almost embarrassing how giddy I get about them.
This time of year really has me appreciating my highbush cranberries though. They have similar fall coloring to vine maples but can tolerate a lot more sun. They also stay fairly small (compared to say, a big leaf maple) so I can plunk them right in my front yard for a close-up color show every autumn.
The western azalea is also sorely under-appreciated. It’s deciduous and has gorgeous white and pink blooms that attract a large variety of pollinators and, once it’s deep roots are established, gives absolutely zero shits about being watered.
Blue sage (Salvia azurea) is extremely drought tolerant and has beautiful sky blue flowers in the fall. One of the longer blooming late summer to fall flowers I have.
My native elderberry has done really well, and my rose mallow loves the swampy areas of my yard.
I was saying blunt mountain mint but now that is fully appreciated… a tall ironweed? Penstemon grandiflorus? Also good growers like Goldenrod and Campsis are over-hated I think.
Prickly pear