A Hundred Native Perennials for the Wild Garden 
By Norman Taylor, Brooklyn Botanic Garden 
T HE following selection of native 
perennials, lists only those most 
easily grown, the most satisfac- 
tory and the showiest. Among 
several hundred relatives, these have been 
selected for general excellence and their 
availability. All can be purchased from 
dealers in native plants, many of them the 
wild-gardener will delight to collect from 
the field and wood. They are all native 
in eastern North America and are per- 
fectly hardy. 
Perhaps no form of gardening is so per- 
manently satisfactory as the collection of 
native plants, many of which are just as 
fine as the sorts from foreign countries, 
and artistically much more fitting to the 
average American country home. Many of 
the species, listed in the table, can be 
grown, too, in ordinary city gardens, not- 
ably Nos. 3, 5, 17, 20, 24, 25, 35, 38, 40, 43, 
44, 45, 46, 49, 68, 69, 70, 76, 85, 87, 88, 89, 94, 
and some others. Cultural requirements 
will be found in the column Remarks and. 
Notes. 
To the wild-gardener with more scope, 
many ways of using the table will suggest 
themselves. For instance, late autumn 
effects can be secured by selecting Nos. 24, 
25, 4.3, 44, 45,. 46, 52, 69, 70, 71, 72, 85, 87, 
and 88. Again, for tall bold effects Nos. 
20, 21, 24, 25, 38, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 50, 52, 
and 71 will be found useful. 
Some of the plants require for perfect 
development a situation imitating, as 
closely as possible, the forest-tloor con- 
ditions of our woodlands. For these a 
mixture of leafmold and sand is almost 
necessary, and shade. As a general rule 
it is better to let them grow and spread 
naturally than to attempt to confine them. 
A mulch of leaves is advisable in the fall, 
removing not quite all the leaves early in 
the spring. A list of these natural wood- 
land species includes Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 
10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 26, 27, 
28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 47, 57, 58, 61, 62, 64, 66, 
73, 89, 95, 97, . 98, 99, and . IO °- 
The increasing popularity of bog gar- 
dening has led to the selection of Nos. 39, 
54, 59, 60, 65, 67, and 72. These should 
not be grown unless one has an undrained 
swamp or bog, preferably in the open sun- 
light. If grown in living sphagnum moss 
so much the better. There are a score or 
more other bog species, that should be 
added if one is going to develop a really 
good collection, including some of the sun- 
dews. 
For carpeting open ledges or other places 
Nos. 37, 49, and 82 may be used to ad- 
vantage, depending on the locality and 
habitat-preference of each. For those who 
are interested in the medicinal qualities 
of plants, and medicinal-herb growing is 
becoming increasingly profitable, Nos. 2, 
4, 5, 6 , 8, 10, 17, 19, 20, 22, 27, 34, 40, 50, 
58, 61, 76, 81, 93, and 100 will form the 
nucleus of such a garden. Numberless 
other ways of using the table will sug- 
gest themselves to the ingenious wild 
gardener. 
The plants are arranged under their 
respective colors, about in the order of 
their flowering, so that by using the list as a 
planting table the gardener can have a 
succession of flowers for each color, 
throughout the season. 
COMMON NAME 
BOTANICAL NAME 
HEIGHT IN 
INCHES 
TIME OF 
BLOOMING 
SPECIAL REMARKS AND CULTURAL NOTES 
WHITE 
Early Spring 
• 
1. Early Saxifrage 
Saxifraga virginiensis 
4-6 
April-May 
On rocky ledges in the open the plant is at home, but may be grown in shady places. A profuse bloomer. 
2. Trailing Arbutus 
Epigtea repens 
Prostrate 
April-May 
Hard to naturalize. Keep transplanted clumps covered with oak leaves for one year. Most fragrant native flower. 
3. Shooting Star 
Dodecatheon Meadia 
6-10 
April-May 
Will do best in moist open places but can be grown in ordinary garden soil. Petals reflexed and showy. 
Mid-Spring 
4. Bloodroot 
Sanguinaria canadensis 
6-8 
May-June 
Prefers rich, moist places, under trees or shrubs. Best used in masses. Leaves follow the flowers. 
5. Mandrake 
Podophyllum peltatum 
8-12 
May 
Prefers shade, but may be grown in open sunlight. Flowers half hidden by large showy leaves. Fruit edible. 
6. Mitre wort 
Mitella diphylla 
5-9 
June 
Shaded banks or under deciduous trees the best spot for growth. Raceme long and showy. Plant in masses. 
7. Anemone 
Anemone nemorosa 
6-8 
May 
More hardv than the delicate, wind flower. Best grown in shade but partial sunlight will serve. 
8. Indian Cucumber 
Medeola virginica 
9-15 
May 
The flower borne from among the whorl of dark green leaves. Shade and moisture preferable. 
root 
9. False Lily-of-the- 
Valley 
10. Gold-thread 
Smilacina bifolia 
4-7 
May 
Best grown in large clumps, in moist shaded places. The dark glossy foliage is an effective contrast with the flowers. 
Coptis trifolia 
4-6 
May 
In masses it makes beautiful showing, the sturdy flowers standing well above the glossy green foliage. 
xi. Rue Anemone 
Thalictrum anemonoides 
4-7 
May 
Delicate and must be shielded from high winds. Does best in leaf-mold under shade. Do not water too freely. 
12. Wake Robin 
Trillium cernuum 
6-9 
May 
Not so showy as No. 18 but a profuse bloomer. Flower-stalks recurved and half concealing the blooms. Shade best. 
13. Toothwort 
Dentaria diphylla 
4-6 
May 
Must be grown under shade. Several wild relatives may be collected. Not very showy but good. 
14. White Violet 
Viola blanda 
4-8 
May 
Can be grown in ordinary garden conditions, but prefers some shade. Seeds very freely and makes clumps. 
Late Spring 
15. Foam Flower 
Tiarella cordifolia 
6-8 
May-June 
Planted in large mats the profusion of feathery white flowers suggest its common name. Does best in shade, away 
from coast. 
16. Star-flower 
Trientalis americana 
6-8 
June 
Best naturalized in masses under trees. Leaf-mold and moisture best for its growth. Keep from sweeping winds. 
17. Baneberry 
Actaea alba 
10-20 
June 
Loves leaf-mold and shade, but can be grown in more open places. Persistent white berries, showy. 
18. Showy Trillium 
Trillium grandiflorum 
8-12 
June 
The most beautiful of all the tribe; flowers 1-2 in. across. Best grown on shaded banks or under trees. 
19. Dwarf Cornel 
Comus canadensis 
6-8 
June 
A miniature dogwood. Like No. 18 it is partial to moderate elevations. If near the coast plant on north slope. 
20. Snakeroot 
C'imicifuga racemosa 
20-35 
June 
Can be grown anywhere. Its tall spikes very effective in clumps. Many other “snakeroots” can be collected. 
Summer 
21. Stenanthium 
Stenanthium robustum 
12-30 
June- July 
Large clusters of flowers overtopping the long grass-like leaves make this little known plant attractive. Open places. 
22. Colic root 
Aletris farinosa 
4-10 
June-July 
Its long spike erect from a rosette of sword shaped leaves. In open places, with sand, and moisture. 
23. Dalibarda 
Dalibarda repens 
Prostrate 
July-Sept. 
Does not grow well too near the coast. Its profusion of small blossoms useful after the spring exodus. 
Autumn 
24. Culver’s Root 
Veronica virginica 
10-25 
July-Aug. 
The large showy spikes last for 2 to 3 weeks. Can be grown in open beds or under shade. Seeds sparingly. 
25. Aster 
YELLOW 
Aster corymbosus 
18-25 
Aug.-Oct. 
A profuse bloomer that can be grown in dry and sandy places. Dozens of wild relatives can be collected. 
Spring 
26. Dutchman’s 
Breeches 
Dicentra Cucullaria 
4-6 
Early April 
Should be grown in moist rich places. Flowers often more cream than yellow. Leaves feathery. 
27. Dog’s-tooth 
“ Violet ” 
28. Yellow Violet 
Erythronium Americana 
4-7 
May 
Best planted in masses. The underground stems tend to make the clumps migrate. Moist places preferable. 
Viola rot undifolia 
5-8 
May 
Will not grow luxuriantly near the sea. Plant in shade, with plenty of leaf-mold. Leaves dark glossy green. 
29. Yellow Violet 
Viola pubescens 
6-9 
May 
Can be grown in ordinary garden soil, with or without moisture. Spreads rapidly and seeds freely. 
30. Belhvort 
Uvularia grandiflora 
10-15 
June 
In deep shade or under shrubs this best of all the wild bell worts will grow nicely. Leaf-mold is best. 
31. Clintonia 
Clintonia borealis 
6-9 
June 
Must not be grown near the sea. Deep shade and leaf-mold the best. Flowers in terminal umbels. 
32. Yellow Lady’s- 
Slipper* 
Cypripedium parviflorum 
5-8 
May-June 
Treatment similar to No. 33. Flowers more delicate, but more free-blooming. A rare wild species. 
33. Yellow Lady’s- 
Slipper 
Cypripedium pubescens 
6-10 
June 
Must be grown in deep shade in soil made of leaf-mold and sand, equal parts. Mulch with leaves. 
34. Heuchera 
Heuchera americana 
15-20 
June 
Flowers, often tinged with brown, in long racemes. The mottled leaves are attractive. Garden conditions will do. 
Summer 
35- Loosestrife 
Lysimachia quadrifolia 
10-18 
June-July 
Its pretty, bright green leaves, verticillate in 4’s, half hide the pretty flowers. Open moist places best. 
36, Star-grass 
Hypoxis erecta 
4-7 
June-July 
Can be planted in individual clumps or for mass effects. Ordinary garden conditions will serve. 
37. Sedum 
Sedum acre 
Prostrate 
July 
Makes quick growing mats on rocky ledges or in ordinary garden soil. Can easily be divided any time. 
38. Thorneopsis 
39. Yellow fringed 
Orchid 
Thorneopsis cardiniana 
12-20 
July 
Ordinary garden conditions will serve. But do not disturb when once planted. Racemes tall and showy. 
Habenana ciliaris 
8-15 
July 
Must be grown in an undrained swamp or bog, preferably in sphagnum. One of the most beautiful native orchids. 
40. Senna 
Cassia marilandica 
30-50 
July-Aug. 
Large showy clusters of pea-like flowers. Can be grown in ordinary open beds. Profuse bloomer. 
41. False Indigo 
Baptisia tinctoria 
20-35 
July-Aug. 
Will thrive in dry, sandy open places and makes bushy plants. Flowers not large, pea-like. 
42. Coreopsis 
Coreopsis lanceolata 
10-18 
July-Oct. 
Can be grown anywhere. Profuse bloomer, even after first light frosts. Spreads rapidly, in patches. 
2U 
