July 6, 2020 Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) Milkweed has become well-known among landowners as an important host plant for the monarch butterfly. Less well-known however is that there are approximately 14 different species of native milkweed found in Virginia. While some are much more common and widespread than others, we will just highlight a couple in this post. Common Milkweed (Asclepias […]
June 18, 2020 Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) Landowners often ask us about this plant as it is quite common and often found spreading throughout fields in our area of Virginia. Known as hemp dogbane and other common names, this native perennial is found throughout all of the continental United States and most of Canada. It thrives in damp areas near […]
June 9, 2020 Blue-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium spp.) This Virginia native perennial is not actually a grass, but a member of the Iris family. It is found in the southeastern United States and north through Ontario. The leaves of the Blue-eyed-grass are straight and thin, resembling a patch of grass. It typically grows in meadows and wooded areas with moist, well-draining soil […]
June 1, 2020 Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis) is a bushy perennial herb native to the eastern and central United States. Its asparagus-like shoots, showy racemes of deep blue to purple flowers, and inflated black seed pods give the plant ornamental interest through its growing season. Yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), with its bright yellow flowers and purple seed pods, is similar […]
May 27, 2020 Black Cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) The black cherry tree is native to large areas of North America with populations scattered from Mexico to Canada. This tree belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). There are multiple species variations depending on geographic range. The trees can grow to be about 100 feet tall and flower in late spring. The […]
May 18, 2020 Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) Philadelphia fleabane can be spotted blooming throughout spring along roadsides, clearings, fields and meadows throughout a good portion of the United States. In some parts of Virginia it blooms as early as March. A member of the Aster family, this fleabane is native to Virginia along with a few other fleabanes in the […]
May 13, 2020 Black Willow (Salix nigra) Black willow is a fast-growing tree that grows 30 to 60 feet tall. It is native to the eastern United States and Canada. It is the most common willow in Virginia, and flowers across the state in early spring. Like many other willow species black willows have narrow, lance-shaped, alternately arranged leaves with […]
May 6, 2020 Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) Golden ragwort, also known as heartleaf ragwort, golden groundsel, and butterweed, is a member of the aster or sunflower family (Asteraceae). Of the 8 packera species native to Virginia, golden ragwort is one of the more common. Its bright golden flowers begin to bloom in our region of northern Virginia in early April […]