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Native Plant Highlights of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden January Native Plant Highlight
February Native Plant Highlight
March Native Plant Highlight Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), a notable Plant of Merit, is a delightful, easy-to-grow, 15-25 foot small tree that is commonly found in the deciduous forests of the eastern half of the U.S. It favors growing in sites that are light sun to part shade with average soils and is one of the first understory trees to bloom in Missouri woodlands. Fragrant clusters of pure white, 5-petaled flowers appear in early spring, followed by small, round berries. These berries ripen in early summer—first bright red, then a dark purplish-black—and are not only edible but quite delicious, often used to make jams, jellies or pies. A wide range of birds also relish the sweet treats in June, hence alternate name for Amelanchier is juneberry. April Native Plant Highlight
May Native Plant Highlight
Copper iris (Iris fulva) is one of our showiest wetland species, it is a welcome compliment in any home garden. It is quite versatile as it is equally tolerant of both wet and average soil in full to part sun situations. In May, when copper iris is in full bloom (photo to right), hummingbirds are surprisingly drawn to rich, coppery-red flowers. The leaves are broad and strikingly vertical, an attractive contrast for almost any other foliage in the garden. This gem is a must to include in rain gardens as well as traditional gardens for its unique flower color.
Sedges are so closely related to grasses that at first glance they are mistaken for grasses. This Carex is one that is adaptable to moist or dry soil, in both sunny and shady locations. Due to its more clumping habit it is an ideal choice for small gardens as well as being a worthy alternative ground cover for along the edges of gardens. Carex albicans forms a low mound of delicately fine-textured leaves that make a striking contrast to many other woodland plants such as alum root (Heuchera) and wild ginger (Asarum canadense). Grass-like flowers tipped with suphury pollen appear in early spring.
June Native Plant Highlight
The magnificent red, tubular buds of Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) open in early summer to reveal bright yellow star-shaped flowers. When in bloom, it attracts the attention not only of visiting hikers but that of hummingbirds as well. Spigelia grows about two feet tall and is native to woodlands in the Ozark region of Missouri. It is a well-behaved, clump-forming shade perennial that is deserving of a prominent place in woodland gardens.
July Native Plant Highlight
This species grows 3’ tall and bears flat flower clusters in July and August. Its white flowers contain abundant nectar and pollen that attracts an amazing number of beneficial insects including many species of butterflies. Slender mountain mint is found in savannas and prairies, even along roadsides and grows in moist to average soil. The leaves of mountain mints have a minty fragrance when crushed and can be used to make a tea. An easy-to-grow perennial for full sun landscapes, it forms an upright, fine-textured bush. In gardens, contrast its fine leaves with larger leaved perennials such as rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) and rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus).
August Native Plant Highlight
Eastern blazingstar is native to much of the eastern U.S,, typically found in upland prairies and open woodlands in dry, sometimes rocky soil. It forms an upright clump that reaches a height of 3-4 ft. Tall rosy-purple flower spikes grace this blazingstar in late summer, adding a wonderful vertical element to the landscape in contrast to early blooming asters and sunflowers. Liatris is a butterfly magnet, offering nectar to many species. Later in the season, its seeds ripen and attract numerous birds, most notably the goldfinches.
September Native Plant Highlight
Also known as fall glade onion, this diminutive gem graces dry hillsides and glades of Missouri in late August and September. Its grass-like foliage is waxy with the taste of onion, making it both drought and deer resistant. Reaching 12-15” in height, its rich pink flowers resemble clusters of stars. While it was once used in cooking as an onion substitute, it is not considered to have much culinary value. Wild onion is an excellent choice for use in hot, sunny sites such as rock gardens and dry slopes.
October Native Plant Highlight
One of the last asters to bloom, aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius) is one of the showiest asters as well. It’s rich, sky-blue flowers have clear yellow centers atop two foot tall plants in October and November. It is not the flowers that have fragrance but the crushed foliage. This aster ranks high on the list for home gardens not just for fall color but also for its attractive low, shrub-like appearance. Adaptable to many soil and light situations, aromatic aster is found naturally in savannas, upland prairies and glades. This is indicative of its use in full sun to part shade dry gardens and it is even tolerant of clay soils. Butterflies love this aster for its late fall nectar and in winter the plants provide shelter and seed for small birds and mammals.
November Native Plant Highlight
The whorled clusters of small pink flowers appear along the stems of beautyberry in midsummer, attracting pollinators, hummingbirds and butterflies. The lustrous purple-lavendar berries that ripen in fall are the more conspicuous and attractive feature of this native shrub. Birds such as bluebirds that overwinter in our region forage on the berries. Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) forms a well-rounded, four to five foot shrub that adapts well to both sun and light shade situations in gardens and landscapes.
December Native Plant Highlight
Throughout the Whitmire Wildflower Garden the floral show of the seasons changes to the more subtle colors of winter. What becomes obvious is the abundance of interesting seed heads that linger on many of the summer and fall blooming plants. In the prairie can be seen the black pods of white indigo (Baptisia alba) in contrast to the orange-tan grasses. Round seed heads of rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) and chocolate-colored seed clusters of the round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) are both intriguing additions for a winter bouquet. Another prominent plant is the rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus) with its unique round seed pods arranged in clusters atop tall stems, each sporting a fuzzy halo in the winter sunlight. Goldfinches reveal the location of purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) as they glean the seed from the spiny seedheads. Soft fluff of asters and goldenrods blows around in the wind and the first snow rests atop the dome-shaped flower structures of wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). |
American filbert or hazelnut (Corylus americana) is an easy-to-grow, low maintenance shrub and a great choice for use as a hedge in native landscapes. Hazelnut forms a multi-stemmed thicket with a height of about eight to nine feet, creating a natural buffer or background in the garden. It is familiar in and around Missouri woodlands and prairies, thriving in both sun or shade sites. Though it grows best in well-draining, moist soils it is also tolerant of dry soils. There are several plants throughout the Whitmire Wildflower Garden and in March distinctive yellow male catkins, (photo on left), hang conspicuously from its branches. Female flowers, (photo on right), occur on the same plants and produce edible nuts, sought after by both wildlife and people for their sweet taste. In autumn an additional delight is its rich and variable leaf color that ranges from yellow-orange to rose and even purplish-red, (center photo).
Wild Sweet William (Phlox divaricata) is a favorite woodland perennial known commonly as Wild Sweet William. This low-growing phlox shows off its sky-blue flowers, (photo to left), in April and May, providing a delicate fragrance that fills the air. It is pollinated by bumblebees and swallowtail butterflies who seek out the flowers as a source of nectar. Wild Sweet William grows to 12 inches tall and loves shady locations and organic soils. It is desirable, easy to grow, and will be available at the Spring Wildflower Sale. 
Oak sedge (Carex albicans)
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) 
Slender mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
Eastern blazing star (Liatris scariosa)
Wild onion (Allium stellatum)
Aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) 
Dried seed heads