Native Plants In The Coastal Bays Watershed

Native Plants In The Coastal Bays Watershed: Herbaceous Species

Aquilegia canadensis - Wild columbine
red & yellow flowers bloom April to July, plants grow up to 24"
Habitat: tall forests and meadows
Benefits: flower nectar attracts hummingbirds

Aruncus dioicus - Goat's beard
white plume flowers bloom May to July, plants reach 4' to 5'
Habitat: forests and along streamsides

Asclepias incarnata - Swamp milkweed
pink or rose flowers bloom from June to Aug., plants range from 3' to 5'
Habitat: wet meadows and wetlands
Benefits: flowers attract butterflies

Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly weed
orange or yellow flowers bloom from June to Sept., plants grow up to 24"
Habitat: dry, open areas such as meadows or clearings
Benefits: flower nectar attract butterflies

Aster novae-angliae - New England aster
pink or purple flowers bloom from Aug. to Oct., height ranges from 2' to 4'
Habitat: moist soils and along shorelines
Benefits: flowers used by butterflies and birds, such as finches

Aster laevis - Smooth aster
blue or purple flowers bloom from Aug. to Oct., plants grow up to 4' dry, open areas
Benefits: flowers used by butterflies and birds such as finches

Aster novi-belgii - New York aster
blue or violet flowers bloom from July through Oct., height ranges from 2' to 5'
Habitat: marshes and meadows
Benefits: flowers used by butterflies and birds such as finches

Boltonia asteroides - Snowbank
white or yellow flowers bloom from July to Oct., plants range 4' to 5' in height
Habitat: moist, sandy soils

Cassia fasciculata - Partridge pea
yellow flowers bloom from July to Sept., height ranges from 3' to 4'
Habitat: sandy, dry soils

Chelone glabra - White turtlehead
white flowers bloom from July to Oct., height ranges from 3' to 4'
Habitat: along streamsides and in woods

Coreopsis vertecilla - Whirled tickseed
yellow flowers bloom from June to July, plants reach up to 15" tall
Habitat: meadows and along roadsides
Benefits: flowers attract hummingbirds

Eupatorium dubium - Joe-Pye weed
purplish flowers bloom from July to Sept., height ranges from 2' to 7'
Habitat: acid soils, swamps and bogs

Eupatorium maculatum - Spotted Joe-Pye weed
mauve flowers bloom from July to Sept., grow to 5' tall
Habitat: moist soils, also wet meadows
Benefits: flowers attract butterflies

Eupatorium perfoliatum - Boneset
white flowers bloom July to Sept., height ranges from 3' to 4'
Habitat: wetlands, woods, and meadows

Geranium maculatum - Wild geranium
lavender or pink flowers bloom from April to July, height reaches up to 18"
Habitat: woods and clearings

Helenium autumnale - Yellow sneezeweed
yellow flowers bloom from Aug. to Nov., height ranges from 3' to 4'
Habitat: wetlands and along shores
Benefits: flowers attract butterflies

Helianthus angustifolius - Sunflower
yellow flowers bloom from Aug. to Oct., height ranges 2' to 5'
Habitat: wet, acid soils
Benefits: flowers attract hummingbirds

Hibiscus moscheutos - Rose mallow
white or creamy flowers, height ranges from 3' to 6'
Habitat: wetlands, marshes

Iris versicolor - Blue flag iris
reddish, purple or blue flowers bloom from May - July, height ranges from 6" to 12"
Habitat: wetlands

Lobelia cardinalis - Cardinal flower
red flowers bloom from July - Sept., height reaches up to 36"
Habitat: wetlands and open areas such as meadows, clearings and ditches
Benefits: flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds

Lobelia siphilitica - Great blue lobelia
blue or violet flowers bloom from Aug. to Sept., height ranges from 2' to 3'
Habitat: moist soils and shaded areas
Benefits: flowers butterflies and hummingbirds

Monarda fistulosa - Wild bergamot
lavender or pink flowers bloom from July - Aug., height from 2' to 5'
Habitat: dry meadows and thickets
Benefits: flowers butterflies and hummingbirds

Oenothera biennis - Evening primrose
yellow flowers bloom from June to Oct., height can reach up to 6'
Habitat: dry soils, various open areas

Peltandra virginica - Arrow arum
white spadix found from April - July, height ranges from 2' to 3'
Habitat: poorly drained soils, wetlands and along streams

Pontederia cordata - Pickerelweed
violet or blue flowers seen from June - Nov., height ranges from 2" to 5"
Habitat: wetlands

Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed susan
yellow or orange flowers bloom from June - Oct., grow from 1' to 3' tall
Habitat: open areas and woods
Benefits: flowers attract hummingbirds

Sagittaria latifolia - Duck potatoe
white flowers bloom from July - Sept., height ranges from 4" to 2'
Habitat: wetlands

Saururus cernuus - Water dragon
white flowers bloom from June - Aug., grow from 1' to 2' tall
Habitat: wetlands

Sisyrinchium atlanticum - Atlantic blue-eyed grass
blue flowers seen from May - July, height reaches up to 1'
Habitat: marshes, meadows, and woods

Solidago rugosa - Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod
yellow and black flowers bloom from Aug. - Oct, height ranges from 1" to 3' .
Habitat: meadows and along wood edges
Benefits: flowers attract butterflies and birds such as finches

Solidago sempervirens - Seaside goldenrod
lush vegetation and bright yellow flowers from Sept. to Oct.
Habitat: sandy, well-drained soil, commonly found on dunes
Benefits: plants used by birds such as the goldfinch, junco, and pine siskin

Vernonia noveboracensis - New York ironweed
purple flowers bloom from Aug. - Oct., can reach height of 5' to 8'
Habitat: wetlands

Some Local Places To Buy Native Plants

Part of the National Estuary Program, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a cooperative effort between Worcester County, Berlin, and Ocean City which have come together to produce the first ever management plan for their bays.

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site Directory
Copyright 2003 - Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Questions? Email: mcbp@mdcoastalbays.org