Allegheny monkeyflower. Culver’s root. Great Blue Lobelia. Do those names roll off the tongue like poetry? They should! They’re native plants which evolved in this region and know how to handle the intricacies of our climate. They support precious pollinators and beautiful birds. They are capable of re-seeding so that you have a new batch of flowers next year. And they’re downright gorgeous.
What Western Pennsylvania Native Plants Can You Grow?
If you’ve never thought about planting natives, check out the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s Native Plant Guides. They’re free online, and full of information and plant lists that will get you started. The first step is to decide where in your garden you want to sow local. Is it sunny or shady? Moist or dry? The next step is to choose your look. Do you want showy or subtle? Short or tall? Then dive into the list and make your picks.
Next step: go shopping. The Audubon Society’s Beechwood Farms may have what you’re looking for. They’re in Fox Chapel. After shopping, walk their lovely trails. But you can also purchase some amazing seeds online at places like Rust Belt Natives, Ernst Seeds, and Hungry Hook Farm. I had some amazing results from an Ernst seed mix designed for sunny hillsides. The areas where I planted it looked amazing for years and years.
Finally: watch your seeds grow into stunning flowers. Clip a few when they bloom to enjoy on your table. Let the rest go to seed so that the next growing season is even more beautiful than this one.
Story by Keith Recker
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