Silene regia

Royal catchfly

Where can you find this plant? In Ohio: Prairies of southwest Ohio. At HF&G: Arlene & Arthur S. Holden, Jr. Butterfly Garden; Wildflower Garden, south end, and Prairie Garden. Bloom... more

Rhododendron calendulaceum

Flame azalea

Where can you find this plant? In Ohio: Only in unglaciated southeastern parts on rock outcrops. At HF&G: Holden Arboretum, Wildflower Garden, Rhododendron and Discovery Gardens. Bloom time: May-June, usually... more

Physostegia virginiana

Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant)

Physostegia virginiana is a robust perennial wildflower with bold lance shaped leaves.  In late summer and early fall, foliage is topped by lavender, pinkish or white spikey inflorescences.  The individual florets are... more

Phlox paniculata 'Laura’

Phlox paniculata ‘Laura’ (garden phlox)

This garden phlox cultivar is easy to grow and purportedly mildew resistant, preferring full sun and moist, humus-rich soil. The dense flowers of phlox ‘Laura’ are deep lavender purple with a white eye... more

Lobelia siphilitica

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)

Lobelia siphilitica is a clump forming perennial that thrives in a moist location.  It adapts well to different light conditions like sun or shade as long as it has consistent moisture.  The tubular blue flowers start to bloom in July and continue into September.  Hummingbirds are enticed by these flowers. ... more

Liatris microcephala

Liatris microcephala (Appalachian blazing star)

Liatris microcephala is a small upright, clump former.  This super cute perennial has grass like foliage with miniature purple flowers that bloom in late summer.  This small but mighty plant tolerates xeric growing conditions and is best suited for... more

Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’

Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ (blue flag iris)

Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ is a great choice for the edge of a pond or along a stream bank.  In early spring deep purple foliage emerges.  As the plants begin to mature the foliage... more

Ionactis linariifolius

Ionactis linariifolius (stiff aster)

Stiff aster is an excellent, long-blooming, compact aster ideal for rock gardens or the front of the border and look great massed in groups. Ionactis linariifolius is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun.  The rather distinctive linear leaves are narrow and almost needle-like.  Small... more

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ (coral bells)

 This cultivar is a clump-forming perennial featuring a mound of maple-shaped basal leaves which are an attractive deep purple above and red beneath. Tiny, pinkish white, bell-shaped flowers adorn dark red stems extending well above... more

Helianthus helianthoides (ox-eye daisy, false sunflower)

Ox-eye daisy is an upright, clump-forming, sunflower-like perennial that persists in the garden when it can seed in freely.  Daisy-like flowers bloom in summer, with yellow-orange rays surrounding brownish-yellow center cones appear. Plants in the genus Heliopsis are both similar in appearance to and closely related... more

Helenium MARIACHI ‘Salsa’

Helenium MARIACHI ‘Salsa’ (Helen’s flower, sneezeweed)

A bold compact selection of our native Helenium autumnale, ‘Salsa’s’ vibrant red daisy-like flowers with orange highlights surrounding a chocolate brown center provide a late season lure for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. ‘Salsa’ adapts to most soil types, is mildew resistant, and the... more

Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’

Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’ (tall tickseed)

Although a shorter version of the straight species, at nearly 6 feet tall, ‘Gold Standard’ is still a large and lofty plant with strong stems and upright blue-green foliage that yield a bounty of bright... more

Asclepias verticillata

Asclepias verticillata (whorled milkweed) 

One of the most charming species of milkweed, A. verticillata’s finely textured needle-thin leaves whorl around its stem towards clusters of dainty white fragrant flowers that bloom between June and September. Both drought and deer resistant, “Whorled” milkweed... more

Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella’

Asclepias incarnata ’Cinderella’ (swamp milkweed) 

‘Cinderella’ features clusters of 2 in. wide vanilla-scented flower heads. Individual flowers within each cluster boast deep pink reflexed petals and a pink to white crown. This selection of swamp milkweed is easily grown in medium to wet soils... more

Indigofera heterantha

Indigofera heterantha (Himalayan indigo)

This shrub in the pea family is native to Himalaya as well as Afghanistan and Tibet. It is suited to a wide range of soil conditions but prefers slightly moist, well-drained soil.  Grows in full to part... more

Fothergilla ‘Mt. Airy’ (dwarf fothergilla)

Dwarf fothergilla is a deciduous shrub with great fall color and fragrant flowers. It prefers acidic soils with high organic matter that are consistently moist but with good drainage. Flowers best in full sun... more

Deutzia ‘Nikko Blush’

Deutzia ‘Nikko Blush’ (deutzia)

This new hybrid from the National Arboretum welcomes spring with a profusion of soft pink blooms. It has a compact, low-growing form perfect for a foundation planting or low hedge. Deciduous green... more

Callicarpa b. ‘Profusion’

Callicarpa b. ‘Profusion’ (beautyberry)

Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ features an outstanding display of violet-purple fruits in fall. Forms a vigorous bushy shrub with small lavender flowers in July and August.  New leaf growth has a bronze tinge. Easily grown in sun or... more

Zizia aurea

Golden Alexander

Golden Alexander is a member of the carrot family and is easy to grow. Although short-lived, it will self-seed and adapt to a variety of soil and light conditions. It has persisted in the Wildflower Garden in full shade for many years but is much... more

Vaccinium macrocarpon

Large cranberry

Large cranberry is a creeping shrub with small alternate oval leaves.  The delicate pink to white flower petals recurve to form a Turk’s cap and bloom in mid to late... more

Thelypteris palustris

Marsh fern

This perennial fern has upright compound leaves whose leaflets are often slightly curved and twisted. The root system is rhizomatous and fibrous and can form dense colonies and performs as a wonderfully as a ground cover. Marsh fern... more

Evergreen azalea ‘Compacta’

A long name for a short plant. The Korean azalea, Rhododendron yedoense, is one of the main sources of cold hardiness for the evergreen azaleas grown in our area. ‘Compacta’ is a dwarf selection of the otherwise large-growing species. Lavender flowers are produced... more

Rhododendron vaseyi ‘Spring Spangle’

Deciduous azalea ‘Spring Spangle’

This is a deciduous azalea that produces clusters of pink flowers in mid-spring and has wonderful red-purple fall color. Can take sun or shade. An excellent azalea for our area. Only... more

Rhododendron ‘Bowie’

Lepidote rhododendron

‘Bowie’, pronounced like “buoy”, is an intraspecific hybrid, scaly-leaved rhododendron, meaning it is the result of crossing the Appalachian native Rhododendron minus with the Florida Panhandle endemic Rhododendron minus var. chapmanii. Flip the leaves over and you’ll see tiny scales across the surface. A good... more