ABOUT THE NATIVE PLANTS FOR CONSERVATION, WHAT ARE NATIVES? For more information, refer to field guides and publications RESTORATION AND LANDSCAPING PROJECT Native species evolved within specific regions and dispersed on local natural history for color, shape, height, bloom times This project is a collaboration between the Virginia Depart- throughout their range without known human involvement. and specific wildlife value of the plants that grow in your ment of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Native They form the primary component of the living landscape region. Visit a nearby park, natural area preserve, forest or Plant Society. VNPS chapters across the state helped to fund and provide food and shelter for wildlife management area to learn about common plant the 2011 update to this brochure. native animal species. Native associations, spatial groupings and habitat conditions. For The following partners have provided valuable assistance plants co-evolved with specific recommendations and advice about project design, throughout the life of this project: native animals over many consult a landscape or garden design specialist with thousands to millions of experience in native plants. TheNatureConservancy–VirginiaChapter•Virginia years and have formed TechDepartmentofHorticulture•VirginiaDepartmentof complex and interdependent WHAT ARE NON-NATIVE PLANTS? AgricultureandConsumerServices•VirginiaDepartment relationships. Our native Sometimes referred to as “exotic,” “alien,” or “non- of Environmental Quality, Coastal Zone Management fauna depend on native indigenous,” non-native plants are species introduced, Program•VirginiaDepartmentofForestry•Virginia flora to provide food and DepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries•Virginia Native intentionally or accidentally, into a new region by cover. Many animals require specific Department of Transportation humans. Over time, many plants and animals have plants for their survival. expanded their ranges slowly and without human assistance. As people began cultivating plants, they BENEFITS OF NATIVE PLANTS brought beneficial and favored species along when they Using native species in landscaping moved into new regions or traded with people in distant Plantsfor Conservation, reduces the expense of maintaining lands. Humans thus became a new pathway, enabling cultivated landscapes and minimizes many species to move into new locations. Restoration & Landscaping the likelihood of introducing new invasive species. It may provide a few WHAT ARE INVASIVE PLANTS? unexpected benefits as well. Invasive plants are introduced species that cause health, Native plants often require less water, economic or ecological damage in their new range. More fertilizer and pesticide, thus adding than 30,000 species of plants have been introduced to the fewer chemicals to the landscape United States since the time of Columbus. Most were and maintaining water quality in introduced intentionally, and many provide great benefits nearby rivers and streams. Fewer to society as agricultural crops and landscape ornamentals. inputs mean time and money Some were introduced accidentally, for example, in ship saved for the gardener. ballast, in packing material and as seed contaminants. Of these introduced species, fewer than 3,000 have FOR MORE INFORMATION Native plants increase the naturalized and become established in the United States Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation presence of desirable wildlife, outside cultivation. Of the 3,500 plant species in Virginia, Natural Heritage Program such as birds and butterflies, and provide sanctuaries for more than 800 have been introduced since the founding 804-786-7951 these animals as they journey between summer and winter of Jamestown. The Virginia Department of Conservation www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/nativeplants.shtml habitats. The natural habitat you create with native plants and Recreation currently lists more than 100 of these can become an outdoor classroom for children, or a place species as invasive. FOR A LIST OF NURSERIES THAT PROPAGATE for you to find peace and quiet after a busy day. NATIVE SPECIES, CONTACT: In the United States, invasive species cause an estimated Native plants evoke a strong sense of place and regional Virginia Native Plant Society $120 billion in annual economic losses, including costs to character. For example, live oak and magnolia trees are 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2 manage their effects. Annual costs and damages arising strongly associated with the Deep South. Redwood trees Boyce, VA 22620 from invasive plants alone are estimated at $34 billion. 540-837-1600 | [email protected] characterize the Pacific Northwest. Saguaro cacti call to www.vnps.org mind the deserts of the Southwest. NATIVE PLANTS VS. INVASIVE PLANTS Invasive plants have competitive advantages that allow BUYING AND GROWING NATIVE PLANTS FOR A LIST OF NURSERIES IN A PARTICULAR them to disrupt native plant communities and the wildlife More gardeners today are discovering the benefits of native REGION OF VIRGINIA, CONTACT: dependent on them. For example, kudzu (Pueraria plants and requesting them at their local garden centers. Because The Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association montana) grows very rapidly and overtops forest canopy, of this increased demand, retailers are offering an ever-widening 383 Coal Hollow Road thus shading other plant species from the sunlight selection of vigorous, nursery-propagated natives. Christiansburg, VA 24073 necessary for their survival. A tall invasive wetland grass, 540-382-0943 | [email protected] Once you’ve found a good vendor for native plants, the next common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis), invades To search for species in VNLA member catalogs, visit: step is choosing appropriate plants for a project. One of the and dominates marshes, reducing native plant diversity www.vnla.org/search.asp greatest benefits of designing with native plants is their and sometimes eliminating virtually all other species. adaptation to local conditions. However, it is important to select Invasive species can marginalize or even cause the loss of ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF plants with growth requirements that best match conditions in native species. With their natural host plants gone, many THE FLORA OF VIRGINIA PROJECT. the area to be planted. insects disappear. And since insects are an essential part Illustrators: Lara Gastinger, Roy Fuller of the diet of many birds, the effects on the food web and Michael Terry. To learn more, visit: If you’re planning a project using native plant species, use the www.floraofvirginia.org list in this brochure to learn which plants grow in your region become far reaching. Habitats with a high occurrence of Virginia Mountain Region of Virginia. Next, study the minimum light and moisture invasive plants become a kind of “green desert.” requirements for each species, noting that some plants grow Although green and healthy in appearance, far fewer well under a variety of conditions. Many of the recommended native species of plants and animals are found in such species are well-suited to more than one of these categories. radically altered places. 9/2011 Scientific NameCommon Name Uses Light Moisture Scientific NameCommon Name Uses Light Moisture W HCDSPFLMH W HCDSPFLMH Herbs Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem •••••••• Virginia Scirpus cyperinus woolgrass bulrush ••••••• Achillea millefolium common yarrow •••• Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass •••••••• Ageratina altissima white snakeroot •••• Tridens flavus redtop •••••••• Mountain Anemone quinquefolia wood anemone ••••• Tripsacum dactyloides gama grass •••••••• Anemonella thalictroides rue anemone ••• Typha latifolia broad-leaved cattail ••••• Antennaria neglecta field pussytoes •••••• Region Aquilegia canadensis wild columbine •••••• Vines Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-pulpit ••• Bignonia capreolata crossvine •••••• Aruncus dioicus goatsbeard •••• Celastrus scandens climbing bittersweet •••••• Asarum canadense+ wild ginger •••• Clematis virginiana virgin’s bower •••• Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed ••••• • Lonicera sempervirens trumpet honeysuckle •••• The Mountain region Asclepias syriaca+ common milkweed ••••• Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper •••••• Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed ••••• is comprised of three Baptisia australis* blue wild indigo ••••• Shrubs & Small Trees physiographic provinces: Baptisia tinctoria yellow wild-indigo ••••• Acer pensylvanicum striped maple ••••• Bidens cernua+ nodding beggar-ticks •••••••• Alnus serrulata hazel alder ••••••• Blue Ridge, Ridge and Caltha palustris marsh marigold •••• • Aronia arbutifolia red chokeberry •••••• Chamaecrista fasciculata+ partridge pea •••• Aronia melanocarpa black chokeberry ••••••• Valley, and Appalachian Chelone glabra white turtlehead •••• • Castanea pumila Allegheny chinkapin ••••••• Chrysogonum virginianum green and gold •••• Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea •••••• Plateau. The Blue Chrysopsis mariana Maryland golden aster •••••• Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush ••••• Cimicifuga racemosa black cohosh •••• Comptonia peregrina sweet fern •••• Ridge Mountains are a Clitoria mariana Maryland butterfly pea ••••• Cornus amomum silky dogwood •••••• wedge of ancient rocks Conoclinium coelestinum blue mistflower •••••• Crataegus crus-galli cockspur hawthorn ••••••• Convallaria majuscula American lily-of-the-valley •••• Eubotrys racemosa fetterbush ••••• that were uplifted over Coreopsis lanceolata longstalk coreopsis ••• Euonymus americanus American strawberry-bush •••• Coreopsis tripteris tall coreopsis ••••• Gaultheria procumbens wintergreen •••••• younger rocks when the Coreopsis verticillata threadleaf coreopsis ••••• Gaylussacia baccata black huckleberry ••••••• Delphinium tricorne dwarf larkspur •••• Gaylussacia frondosa dangleberry ••••••• Appalachian Mountains Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman’s breeches ••• Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel •••••• Dicentra eximia wild bleeding heart •••• Hydrangea arborescens wild hydrangea •••• were formed. Occurring as Dodecatheon meadia shooting star •••• Hypericum prolificum shrubby St. Johnswort ••••• a narrow ridge of peaks in Equisetum hyemale horsetail •••••• Ilex verticillata winterberry ••••••• Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus Joe-pye weed ••••••• Kalmia latifolia mountain laurel •••••• the north, the Blue Ridge Eupatorium perfoliatum common boneset ••••• Lindera benzoin spicebush ••••• Eurybia divaricata white wood aster ••••••• Physocarpus opulifolius ninebark •••••••• widens south of Roanoke Geranium maculatum wild geranium ••••• Pieris floribunda evergreen mountain fetterbush •••• Gillenia trifoliata bowman’s root •••• Ptelea trifoliata hop tree •••••••• Gap into a broad plateau Helenium autumnale sneezeweed •••••• Rhododendron calendulaceum flame azalea ••• topped by the highest peak Helianthus decapetalus ten-petaled sunflower •••••• Rhododendron catawbiense Catawba rhododendron ••••• Helianthus divaricatus woodland sunflower ••••• Rhododendron cumberlandenseCumberland flame azalea ••• in Virginia, Mount Rogers, Heliopsis helianthoides oxeye sunflower ••••••• Rhododendron maximum great rhododendron ••••••• Heuchera americana alumroot ••• Rhododendron periclymenoidespinxter flower •••••• rising 5,728 feet above sea Hibiscus moscheutos Eastern rosemallow •••• • Rhododendron prinophyllum rose azalea ••••••• Iris cristata dwarf crested iris •••• Rhododendron viscosum swamp azalea •••••• level. The Ridge and Valley Lespedeza capitata round-head bush clover •••• Rhus aromatica fragrant sumac •••• Liatris pilosa var. pilosa grass-leaf blazing star ••••••• Rhus copallinum winged sumac •••••• Province is characterized Liatris spicata spiked blazing star •••••• Ribes rotundifolium Appalachian gooseberry •••• by long, even-crested, Lilium canadense Canada lily ••••• Rosa carolina pasture rose •••••• Lilium philadelphicum wood lily •••• Rubus allegheniensis Alleghany blackberry ••••• parallel ridges rising Lilium superbum Turk’s cap lily ••••• Rubus odoratus purple flowering raspberry ••• Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower ••••• • Salix humilis prairie willow •••• above intervening Lobelia siphilitica great blue lobelia ••••• • Salix sericea silky willow ••••• Lupinus perennis lupine •••• Sambucus canadensis common elderberry •••••• valleys, including the Maianthemum racemosum false Solomon's seal ••••• Spiraea alba narrow-leaved meadowsweet •• ••• Great Valley of Virginia. Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells •••••• Spiraea latifolia broad-leaved meadowsweet ••••• Mimulus ringens monkeyflower ••• • Staphylea trifolia bladdernut ••• The Appalachian Plateau Monarda didyma bee balm •••••• Vaccinium angustifolium Northern lowbush blueberry ••••• Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot ••••••• Vaccinium corymbosum highbush blueberry ••••••••• Province in southwestern Nymphaea odorata American water lily •••• • Viburnum dentatum Southern arrow-wood viburnum ••••••• Oenothera fruticosa sundrops •••••• Viburnum nudum possum-haw viburnum ••••• Virginia is a high, dissected Packera aurea+ golden ragwort •••••• Viburnum prunifolium black-haw viburnum •••••• Penstemon canescens gray beardtongue ••• Medium Trees plateau of nearly horizontal Penstemon digitalis foxglove beardtongue ••••••• rock layers. The rugged, Penstemon laevigatus smooth beardtongue ••••• Amelanchier arborea downy serviceberry •••••• Phlox divaricata woodland phlox ••••• Amelanchier canadensis Canada serviceberry •••••• mountainous topography Phlox paniculata summer phlox ••••• Amelanchier laevis smooth serviceberry ••••••• Phlox stolonifera creeping phlox ••••• Asimina triloba paw paw •••••• was created by streams Phlox subulata moss phlox •••• Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam ••••• Physostegia virginiana+ obedient plant ••••• Cercis canadensis Eastern redbud ••••• cutting deeply into the Polemonium reptans Jacob’s ladder •••• Chionanthus virginicus fringetree •••• Cornus alternifolia alternate-leaf dogwood plateau, forming an Polygonatum biflorum Solomon’s seal ••••• ••••••• Pycnanthemum tenuifolium narrow-leaved mountain mint ••••••• Cornus florida flowering dogwood ••••••• intricate network of Rhexia virginica Virginia meadow-beauty ••• • Crataegus viridis green hawthorn ••••••• Rudbeckia hirta black eyed Susan •••••• Halesia tetraptera common silverbell •••• narrow, steep valleys. Rudbeckia triloba three-lobed coneflower •••••• Ilex opaca American holly ••••• Sagittaria latifolia broadleaf arrowhead •••• • Morus rubra red mulberry •••••• The diverse landscape Salvia lyrata+ lyre-leaf sage •••• Ostrya virginiana Eastern hop-hornbeam •••• Sanguinaria canadensis bloodroot ••• Prunus americana American wild plum •••• of this region supports Saururus cernuus lizard’s tail •••• • Prunus virginiana choke cherry ••••• a rich array of natural Sedum ternatum wild stonecrop •••• Rhus glabra smooth sumac •••••• Senna marilandica Maryland wild senna ••••• Rhus typhina staghorn sumac ••••• communities, ranging from Silene virginica fire pink ••••• Salix nigra black willow ••••• Silphium perfoliatum cup plant •••••• Viburnum lentago nannyberry •••••• rocky barrens in the Blue Solidago caesia bluestem goldenrod •••••• Large Trees Solidago odora sweet goldenrod •••••• Acer negundo ash-leaf maple •••• Ridge to mixed woodlands Solidago puberula downy goldenrod ••••• Acer rubrum red maple ••••• Solidago rugosa+ rough-stemmed goldenrod ••••• Acer saccharum sugar maple •••••• and sinkhole ponds in the Symphyotrichum cordifolium heart-leaved aster ••••• Aesculus flava yellow buckeye ••• Symphyotrichum laeve smooth blue aster Ridge and Valley. ••••• Betula alleghaniensis yellow birch •••••• Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England aster •••••• Betula lenta sweet birch •••••• Thalictrum dioicum early meadowrue ••• Betula nigra river birch •••••• Tiarella cordifolia foamflower ••• Carya cordiformis bitternut hickory •••••• Tradescantia virginiana+ Virginia spiderwort •••••• Carya glabra pignut hickory •••••• Trillium erectum wakerobin ••• Diospyros virginiana persimmon •••••••• Trillium grandiflorum white trillium ••• Fagus grandifolia American beech •••••• Uvularia grandiflora bellwort ••• Fraxinus americana white ash ••••• Verbena hastata blue vervain •••••• Fraxinus pensylvanica green ash •••••• Vernonia noveboracensis New York ironweed ••••• • Juglans nigra black walnut ••••• Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s root ••••••• Juniperus virginiana Eastern red cedar •••••• Viola pedata bird’s foot violet ••••• Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum ••••••• Viola pubescens yellow violet •••••• Liriodendron tulipifera tulip poplar ••••• Yucca filamentosa common yucca •••• Magnolia acuminata cucumber magnolia ••• Ferns & Fern Allies Nyssa sylvatica black gum •••••• Adiantum pedatum maidenhair fern •••• Oxydendrum arboreum sourwood ••• Athyrium asplenioides Southern ladyfern ••••• Picea rubens red spruce ••••••• Botrychium virginianum rattlesnake fern ••••• Pinus echinata shortleaf pine •••• Dennstaedtia punctilobula+ hay-scented fern ••••• Pinus rigida pitch pine •••• Dryopteris intermedia evergreen wood-fern ••••••• Pinus strobus white pine ••••• Dryopteris marginalis marginal shield-fern ••••• Platanus occidentalis sycamore ••••• Onoclea sensibilis+ sensitive fern •••••• Prunus pensylvanica pin cherry ••••• Osmunda cinnamomea cinnamon fern •••••• Prunus serotina wild black cherry ••••• Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern •••• Quercus alba white oak •••••• Thelypteris palustris marsh fern ••••• Quercus bicolor swamp white oak ••••• Quercus coccinea scarlet oak ••••• Recommended Uses Grasses, Sedges & Rushes Quercus falcata Southern red oak ••••••• W = Wildlife Agrostis perennans autumn bentgrass ••••••• Quercus ilicifolia bear oak •••• Quercus muehlenbergii chinkapin oak H Andropogon gerardii big bluestem •••••••• •••• = Horticulture & landscaping Andropogon glomeratus bushy bluestem •••••• Quercus palustris pin oak ••••••• C = Conservation & restoration Andropogon virginicus broomsedge ••••••• Quercus prinus chestnut oak ••••• Quercus rubra Northern red oak D = Domestic livestock forage Arundinaria gigantea wild cane ••••••• ••••••• Calamagrostis canadensis bluejoint reedgrass •••••• Quercus stellata post oak ••••• Carex crinita long hair sedge ••••••• Quercus velutina black oak ••••• Minimum Light Carex lurida sallow sedge •••••• Robinia pseudoacacia black locust •••• Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge ••••••• Sassafras albidum sassafras ••••• Requirements Carex plantaginea plantain-leaved sedge •••• Thuja occidentalis white cedar •••••• S = Shade Carex stricta tussock sedge •••••• Tilia americana American basswood ••• Chasmanthium latifolium+ river oats, spanglegrass •••••• Tsuga canadensis Eastern hemlock •••••• P = Partial sun Danthonia sericea silky oatgrass •••••• F = Full sun Danthonia spicata poverty oatgrass ••••••• Dichanthelium clandestinum deer-tongue •••••••• Dichanthelium commutatum variable panicgrass ••••••• Moisture Requirements Dulichium arundinaceum dwarf bamboo ••••• • Elymus hystrix bottlebrush grass ••••••• L = Low moisture Elymus virginicus Virginia wild rye •••••• M = Moderate moisture Juncus effusus soft rush •••••• Leersia oryzoides rice cutgrass •••••• H = High moisture Panicum virgatum switch grass ••••••••