Possible species for planting
We want to find mixes of species that meet a number of criteria:
- visually attractive with year-round interest
- easy to establish in typical urban sites (disturbed or compacted soils)
- stable species composition after establishment
How far can these objectives be met with native species and what are the principles that should guide selection for particular situations? The mixes will be richer in flowers than "natural" vegetation but grasses will be an important component. Grasses help support weak-stemmed flowers, fill in areas between flowers and provide a textured background against for flowers. Bunch grasses are preferred to sod-forming types which would squeeze out flowers and are less visually interesting.
Many of the following species are native to Ohio, although seed is most readily available from sources in other states.
Ang Andropogon gerardi big bluestem Ans Andropogon scoparius little bluestem Bou Bouteloa curtipendula sideoats grama Boc Bouteloa gracilis blue grama Elc Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye Pav Panicum virgatum switchgrass Son Sorghastrum nutans indian grass Sph Sporobolus heterolepis prairie dropseed Spp Spartina pectinata prairie cordgrass Forbs (50-75%)
Alc Allium cernuum nodding onion Ast Asclepias tuberosa butterflyweed Anc Anemone canadensis Canada anemone Any Anemone cylindrica thimbleweed Baa Baptisia alba (leucantha) white wild indigo Bab Baptisia bracteata (leucophaea) cream wild indigo Col Coreopsis lanceolata lance-leaved coreopsis Cot Coreopsis tinctoria plains coreopsis Ecp Echinacea purpurea purple coneflower Eum Eupatorium maculatum Joe Pye Weed Ery Eryngium yuccifolium rattlesnake master Lip Liatris pycnostachya prairie blazing star Lis Liatris spicata marsh blazing star Mof Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot Nad Napaea dioica glade mallow Oeb Oenothera biennis evening primrose Rap Ratibida pinnata yellow coneflower Ruh Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan Sir Silene regia royal catchfly Sii Silphium integrifolium rosin weed Sit Silphium terebinthinaceum prairie dock Sor Solidago rigida stiff goldenrod Sos Solidago speciosa showy goldenrod Tro Tradescantia ohioensis Ohio spiderwort Ves Verbena stricta Hoary vervain Vef Vernonia fasciculata Ironweed Zia Zizia aurea Golden alexanders
Move on to Germination Studies.
Return to A Sense of Place.
