Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2019 - 45

LET'S PLANT NATIVE
Blue Ridge hardiness zones are mostly 6a,
6b, 7a, and 7b with some fives in the upper elevations. To begin the transformation of your backyard into a haven for
birds, bees and butterflies, our local experts offer the following suggestions for
these zones. For your specific property,
visit the Native Plant Database at Audubon.org for lists of plants, their attributes,
ideal growing conditions, and the critters
that love them.

ANNUALS
* Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
Blooms from June to October. Seeds for
birds, nectar for insects.
* Purple Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida). Biennial. Blooms March to June. Special value to native bees.

PERENNIALS
* Orange and Green-Head Coneflowers
(Rudbeckia fulgida and Rudbeckia laciniata).
Blooms throughout summer. Attractive to
birds, butterflies, and caterpillars.
* Virginia Mountain-Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum). Blooms July and
August. Especially valuable to butterflies
and bees.

* Sweet William (Phlox divaricata).
Blooms early summer. Nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds.
* Sweet-Scented Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium purpureum). Vanilla-scented blooms
mid-summer through fall with winter
seed heads. Beneficial for butterflies, caterpillars, and birds.
* Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis).
Blooms bright red mid-summer to early
fall. Hummingbird favorite.
* Anise-Scented Goldenrod (Solidago
odora). Blooms mid-summer to early fall.
Of particular value to native honey bees.
* Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Blooms May to September. Nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds;
larval host for several species including
Monarchs.
* Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa). Blooms
May to September. Nectar source for birds,
bees and butterflies.
* Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Blooms late summer into fall.
Seed heads for birds; special value to bees;
cover foliage.

EVERGREENS
* Eastern Red-Cedar (Juniperus virginiana).
Reaches 30-40 feet tall, up to 90 feet; extreme drought, heat, and cold resistant.
Dense foliage, fruit, and seeds for birds,
butterflies, and caterpillars.

* Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Grows 40-70 feet tall with 25-35 feet
spread. Seeds for birds; beneficial for butterflies, caterpillars; larval host for Columbia silkmoth.
* Eastern White and Virginia Pines
(Pinus strobus and Pinus virginiana). Stately
canopy pine and scrubby pine respectively. Both attract birds for food and shelter.
* American Holly (Ilex opaca). Need
both male and female plants for berry
production. Attractive to birds, butterflies;
provides cover and nesting; larval plant
for Henry's Elfin butterfly.
* Spruce (Picea rubens). Only Southern
spruce in eastern mountains; 60-100 feet
tall. Twigs, leaves, and seeds are wildlife
food; valuable nesting cover.

GRASSES
* Little False Bluestem (Schizachyrium
scoparium). Dense mounds of slenderstemmed bunchgrass. Highly beneficial
for nesting; seeds for birds; larval host for
several butterfly species.
* Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans).
Tall, easy-to-grow sod-former. Attractive
to birds and butterflies for food and cover.
* River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium).
Grows 2-4 feet in clumps with drooping
flower spikelets. Seeds attract birds; stems
and leaves used as nesting materials; larval
host for butterflies.

A bee enjoys a visit on butterfly milkweed.

MARCH/APRIL 2019

45
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2019
