Blooming in late summer, this mat-forming perennial is a source of late-season forage for pollinators. ‘Golden Fleece’ performs best in full sun conditions, and is a Mt. Cuba Center introduction.
View More DetailsSarracenia oreophila
For gardeners who enjoy the curious or are wild about carnivorous plants, the green pitcher plant is a perfect garden candidate. This rare native plant of the south is easy to grow in acid boggy conditions.
View More DetailsHydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the most useful native shrubs for the garden. With its unique deeply lobed, oak-like leaves, large white flower clusters, and attractive exfoliating bark, oakleaf hydrangea is impressive when massed or used as a specimen.
View More DetailsNelumbo lutea
This striking aquatic plant sends up large, round leaves on sturdy stalks above the water that are towered over by enormous, white, pleasantly fragrant blooms in midsummer. The flowers bloom for about three days, closing each night and opening each morning. Following their bloom, the lotus’ distinctive seed pod develops, then detaches and floats on to disperse seeds.
View More DetailsFranklinia alatamaha
Named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, this tree has garnered attention because it was last seen in nature in 1803 and survives only because of plants originally propagated by John Bartram. In late summer, it produces pure white, 3″ flowers over several weeks, followed by excellent fall foliage ranging from yellow to orange, red, and purple.
View More DetailsRudbeckia fulgida
Black-eyed susan is one of our best known wildflowers, delighting us with long lasting, boldly colored blooms year after year. In mid-summer the first golden yellow to tangerine daisy-like blossoms emerge, continuing for many weeks to attract a wide array of insects.
View More DetailsBigelowia nuttallii
The adorable and virtually unknown Nuttall’s rayless-goldenrod is very much at home in any rock garden. From mid-summer through autumn, soft clusters of bright yellow flowers float over small tufts of soft green, thread-like foliage.
View More DetailsLobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower is a sure bet for gardeners anxious to have hummingbirds visit their gardens. Stream banks, water’s edge, meadow margins, and garden soils less prone to drought stress are excellent sites to grow this impressive herbaceous perennial.
View More DetailsVernonia noveboracensis
New York ironweed is a robust wildflower with saturated-violet and narrow petaled flowers. Normally found in nature in wet swales, Vernonia novaboracensis also grows well in drier sites in the garden without extra care.
View More DetailsGentiana clausa
Among the finest perennials to grace the garden in late summer is the dark blue-flowered closed bottle gentian. Densely packed clusters of upright, 1-2” long pleated blooms borne in the axils of upper leaves and terminally swell, but remain closed on multi-stemmed plants with lance-shaped dark green foliage.
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