Our Plants
Native perennial plants are lovely to look at, but more importantly they fill a vital role in nature. Native animals such as butterflies need native plants for food and reproduction. As native woodlands, prairies and wetlands become overrun by human infrastructure, invasive alien plants and other disturbances, it is even more important to include some native plants in your garden. Using native plants helps to bridge the gaps between forestland, parks and residential areas. This encourages beneficial wild animals and native plants to establish in your area.
Native plants can also be used in the problem areas of the garden, such as shady or very wet areas. Think of these areas as an opportunity to promote biodiversity. An ecologically sound landscape benefits you because it is easier to care for; as native plants have adapted to pests, disease, and climate stresses and they cope well with these problems.
Below you will find several photo galleries with brief descriptions of our native plants grown and propagated at Amanda's Garden. For full descriptions of our plants and to purchase plants directly online, visit our online store. You can also email us, call 585-750-6288 or visit our nursery!
Native Woodland Plants
Uvularia grandiflora Great Merry Bells
White baneberry -Baneberry has very interesting attractive fruit, they are poisonous -Very neat, dark green leaves -The berries add color to the shade garden -Creamy white flowers -Height: 1 to 3 feet -Zone: 3 to 8
Black cohosh -Pure white candle-like flower illuminate the garden -Black Cohosh attracts beneficial insects -Easy to grow in shade or partial sun -Height: 3 to 6 feet -Zone: 3 to 9
American bugbane -American Bugbane flowers in late summer -Tall plant for woodland garden -Excellent maple shaped foliage -Zone 4 -8 -Grows from 4 to 5 feet tall
Red baneberry -Baneberry has very interesting attractive fruit, they are poisonous, very similar to the white baneberry -Very neat, dark green leaves -The berries add color to the shade garden -Creamy white flowers -Height: 1 to 3 feet -Zone: 3 to 8
Maidenhair fern -Unique fronds arranged in a horse-shoe shaped pattern -Ground cover for banks with shade and moist rich soil -Attractive bright green fronds -Height: 12 to 20 inches tall -Zone: 2 to 8
Wild leek -Early Spring leaves -Interesting flowers -Shiny seed heads -White flowers -Height: 8 to 10 inches -Zone: 3 to 9
Canadian anemone -Excellent ground cover for sun or semi-shade, also found in meadows -Attracts beneficial insects -Beautiful pure white flowers -Aggressive in rich organic soil -Height: 1 to 2 feet -Zone: 2 to 9
-White flowers produced in mid-summer -Deer generally do not eat -Bees visit for pollen -Height: 1 to 2.5 feet -Zone: 3 to 8
Anise Hyssop -Anise Hyssop is a bumble bee magnet - Purple flowers in summer - Anise smell when leaves are crushed
Jack-in-the-pulpit -An unusual and interesting plant -Grows in shade to part shade -Produces bright red berries in the fall -Grows from a corm -Will grow in very moist soils -Green and brown flowers -Height: 1 to 1.5 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Goats beard -Interesting plant that has plumes of creamy white flowers -Insects use it as a plant for nectar -Makes a great boarder or back drop plant -Height: 3 to 5 feet tall -Zone: 4 to 8
Wild columbine -Provides early spring food for humming birds -Flowers are unusual in shape -Excellent rock garden plant -Height: 1 to 2.5 feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Ebony spleenwort -A unique evergreen fern -Ebony Spleenwort is a clumping fern -Has a reddish brown stem -Height: 12 to 15 inches -Zone: 4 to 8
Asplenium platyneuron
Hart's tongue fern -A very unique evergreen fern -Hart's tongue fern is a clumping fern -The fronds are very shiny and look like tongues -Height: 8 to 15 inches -Zone: 5 to 9
Wild ginger -An excellent ground cover. -Wild ginger is an alternate food source for Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies -Very shade tolerant, interesting leaf shape -Brown flowers -Height: 6 to 10 inches -Zone: 3 to 8
Blue cohosh -Lovely bright blue berries in August -Unusual plant -Fascinating flowers -Height: 1 to 3 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 8
Northern sea oats -A clumping grass that grows in shade or part shade -Birds will use for nesting material -Provides cover for animals -Larval host for butterflies -Height: 30 to 36 inches -Zone: 4 to 8
Green and gold -Very cute, low growing attractive ground cover -Prolific bloomer in the spring, blooms sporadically in the fall -Bright attractive flowers that attract butterflies and insects -Yellow daisy-like flowers -Height: 6 to 10 inches tall -Zone: 4 to 9
Squirrel corn -Lovely spring flower -Nice edger plant for early spring beauty -Heart shaped blossoms -Height: 3 to 6 inches tall -Zones: 3 to 8
Dutchman's breeches -Dutchman's breeches is a dainty, white. early spring flower -Seeds are ant dispersed -Foliage is toxic to deer and is not eaten by them -Nectar attracts pollinators -Height: 3 to 8 inches tall -Zone: 3 to 8
Shooting star -Has unusual flowers -Grows in partial shade to full sun -Early spring flower, goes dormant in the summer -White to pink flowers -Height: 8 to 12 inches -Zone: 4 to 9
Bottlebrush grass -A grass that grows in shade or part shade -Birds will use for nesting material -Provides cover for animals -Larval host for butterflies -Height: 3 to 5 feet -Zone: 5 to 9
White wood aster -Wood asters light up the woodland garden in the fall -Wood asters are very shade tolerant -Butterfly larva use wood asters for food -Height: 1 to 2 feet -Zone: 3 to 8
Wild geranium -A beautiful May flowering perennial -The leaves are deeply lobed and add a nice texture to the garden -Wild geranium forms clumps that can be divided in the spring -Attractive drought tolerant and tough plant -Flowers are lavender -Height: 1 to 1.5 feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Barren Strawberry -An excellent evergreen ground cover -Bright yellow flowers -Deer resistant -Zone: 4 to 8 -Height: 3 to 6 inches
Water avens -A low growing ground cover -Deeply textured leaves add interest to a garden -Will grow in most soil -Attractive to bees and other pollinating insects -Red and yellow flowers -Height: 12 to 14 inches -Zone: 3 to 9
Liverleaf -Hepatica is an early spring blooming plant -The 3 lobed leaves persist through the winter -The colors of the petals vary -Height: 6 to 10 inches tall -Zone: 3 to 8
Goldenseal -This plant has beautiful red berries in August -Maple-like foliage with prominent veining -Very interesting plant -Grows 10 to 14 inches -Zone: 4 to 8
Twinleaf -Twinleaf has lovely pure white flowers -Very interesting twin leaves -Great woodland plant -Height: 12 to 18 inches -Zone: 4 to 9
False solomon's seal -Beautiful three season plant -Creamy white spray of flowers in the spring -Arching stems that develop green berries with red dots in the summer -Bright red berries in the fall -Height: 1-1.5 feet -Zone: 3 to 8
Allegheny Pachysandra -Deer resistant -Fragrant flowers -Semi Evergreen -Height: 6 to 9 inches -Zone: 4 to 9
Woodland phlox -A wonderful ground cover -Spreads fairly quickly -Will not crowd out companions -Attracts butterflies and other beneficial insects -Height: 6 to 10 inches tall -Zone: 4 to 9
May apple -An interesting and unusual ground cover -Bright white flower in May -Food source for insects and small mammals -Height: 6 to 18 inches. -Zone: 3 to 9
In late August the fruit or "apple" develops and ripens to the color of a Bartlett pear, it smells wonderful. All parts of the plant are poisonous and the fruit is as well until it is fully ripe. I say let the animals have it. I'll have a real apple.
Interrupted fern -An elegant plant -Excellent filler for a woodland garden -Can tolerate drier soils flourishes in moist soils -Height: 2 to 4 feet -Zone: 2 to 8
Christmas fern -Christmas fern is a beautiful evergreen fern -Is a clumping fern -The fronds are very shiny -The name Christmas fern comes from the subleaflets that shaped like Christmas stockings -Height: 1 to 2 feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Bowman's root -White star shaped blossoms cover the plant in June -Excellent golden fall color -Rich Green foliage in summer -Height: 2 to 3 feet -Zone: 4 to 9
Bloodroot -Beautiful bright white flowers in early spring -Unusual scalloped leaves that last into August. -Bloodroot provides interesting leaves in the shade garden -Provides early spring nectar and pollen for bees and flies -Height: 6 to 11 inches tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Blue-stemmed goldenrod -Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod Is a great plant for the pollinator garden -Golden flowers are clustered along the stem. -Brightens up the woodland garden -Height: 2 to 3 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Yellow wood poppy -Produces bright yellow blossoms in late spring -Yellow wood poppy blooms in the spring and sporadically in the fall -Deer rarely eat this plant -Height: 1 to 2 feet tall -Zone: 4 to 8
Blue wood aster -Wood asters light up the woodland garden in the fall -Wood asters are very shade tolerant -Butterfly larva use wood asters for food -Height: 1 to 2 feet -Zone: 3 to 8
Early meadow rue -This plant has lacy foliage that moves in the wind -Excellent backbone plant of the woodland garden -Stays green all summer -Tolerates dry soils
Rue anemone -A dainty woodland plant that tolerates part sun -Flowers sporadically through out the summer when it gets enough water -Excellent edger plant for the woodland garden -White flowers -Height: 6 to 8 inches -Zone: 4 to 8
Native Wetland & Wet Meadow Plants
Willow blue amsonia -Has beautiful steel blue flowers -Butterflies and hummingbirds use it for nectar -Excellent foliage plant, turns yellow in the fall -Height: 2 to 3 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Swamp milkweed -An excellent butterfly plant -The bright pink flowers are stunning -Upright plant with interesting seed pods -Height: 2 to 4 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 8
Marsh marigold -An excellent plant for the problem wet area -Used by bees and other insect in spring for nectar -Bright yellow color brings a cheeriness to the garden -Height: 1 to 2 feet tall -Zone: 1 to 8
Palm sedge -Grows form 2 to 3 feet high -Leaves are arranged in a whorled pattern -Naturally grows in very wet woodlands but does very well in moist soils in full sun -Zone: 4 to 9
White turtlehead -Has unusual shaped flowers -This is a host plant for the Baltimore Checker-spot butterfly -Tolerates very moist to wet soils -Height: 2 to 4 feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Boneset -Attracts beneficial insects -Attractive foliage and flowers -Attracts bees and butterflies -Deer resistant -Zone: 3 to 8 -Height: 3 to 6
Joe-Pye weed -An excellent plant for massing -Attracts large numbers of beneficial insect -Attracts butterflies -Joe-Pye weed is a very versatile plant, it grows in sun, shade, moist or dry soil -Mauve flowers -Height: 2 1/2 to 6 feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Bottle gentian -Has attractive blue flowers in the fall -It is deer resistant -Grows in a very Moist soil -Zone: 3 to 9 -Height: 1 to 2 feet
Blue flag iris -An excellent plant for moist or wet areas -Attractive flowers in shades of blue -This iris is quite drought tolerant once established -Height: 1 to 2 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Turk's cap lily -Naturally grows in wet areas -Produces a multitude of bright orange blossoms -Humming birds, butterflies and moths use Turk's cap lily as a source of nectar -Interesting orange flowers -Height: 3 to 8 feet -Zone: 4 to 9
Red cardinal flower -Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden -Stunning bright red flowers really light up the garden -Tolerates very moist soil -Grows in full sun to part shade -Height: 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Great blue lobelia -Provides great summer color -Blue flowers vary in color -Hummingbirds and butterflies use plant for nectar -Height: 3 to 3 Feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Virginia bluebells -Provides early spring nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies -Grows in very moist or wet soil -Cheers up the early spring garden -Height: 12 to 24 inches -Zone: 3 to 9
Monkey flower -Thrives in moist to wet soils -Delicate blue flowers -Host plant for Chalcedony Midge moth and Common Buckeye, Baltimore Checker-spot butterflies -Height: 1.5 to 3 feet -Zone: 4 to 9
Golden groundsel -Long bloomer for moist areas -Tolerates full sun or full shade -Attracts bees -Semi-evergreen -Height: 1 to 2 feet -Zone: 5 to 8
Green coneflower -A tall stately plant -Provides food for butterflies -Grows in very moist soil or ordinary garden soil -Flowers for a long period of time mid summer -Yellow flower with green center -Height: 3 to 7 feet -Zones: 3 to 9
-Stunning yellow flowers with purple spots -Butterflies and hummingbirds use it for nectar - Host plant for Cloudless Sulphur -Excellent foliage plant, turns yellow in the fall -Height: 3 to 5 feet tall
Skunk cabbage -Adds interest to the garden -Very early spring flowering -Food for native insects in the very early spring -Height: 2 to 3 feet -Zone: 3 to 7
Tall meadow rue -Shows off its bright white flowers in mid-summer -Grows in very moist areas but will tolerate ordinary garden soils -Adds height to the garden -Height: 3 to 7 Feet -Zone: 3 to 9
Netted chain fern -Makes a great ground cover in moist soil -Provides cover for small animals -Grows 12 to 24 inches tall -Zones: 3 to 9
Heartleaf golden alexanders -Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars use this plant for food -Heart shaped basal leaves -Lovely yellow flowers that attract pollinating insects -Height: 1 to 3 feet -Zone: 4 to 9
Native Plants for Prairie & Full Sun Gardens
Anise hyssop -A bee and butterfly magnet -Pleasant anise fragrance -Showy purple flowers -Self sows in the garden -Zone: 4-8 -Height: 2 to 3 feet
Nodding pink onion -Flowers in the summer -Beautiful nodding flower heads -Deer resistant -Zone: 4 to 8 -Height: 12 to 18 inches
Butterflyweed -Is a host plant for the Monarch Butterfly -Bright orange flowers -Attracts a wide variety of insects -Zone: 3 to 9 -Height: 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall
Common milkweed -Is a host plant for the Monarch Butterfly -Beautiful dusky rose flowers -Attracts a wide variety of insects -Zone: 3 to 9 -Height: 2 to 3 feet
Showy Tick Trefoil - Bright pink to purplish panicles of tubular flowers - Flower in the summer - Provides food for pollinators - Host plant for two butteries, skipper and some moths - Height: 3 to 4 feet - Zones: 3 to 8
Purple cone flower -Blooms for a long period of time -Attracts butterflies -Provides seed for birds -Height: 2 to 3 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Scarlet beebalm -An excellent plant for a pollinator garden -Easy to grow, tolerant of many conditions -Member of the mint family with an nice fragrance -Scarlet-red flowers -Height: 3 to 4 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Stiff Goldenrod
Wild bergamot -An excellent plant for a pollinator garden -Easy to grow, tolerant of many conditions -Member of the mint family with an nice fragrance -Lavender- violet flowers -Height: 3 to 4 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Wild Quinine -White flowers make other flowers color stand out -Provides pollen and nectar for insects -Deer resistant -Height: 1 ½ feet to 3 feet -Zone: 4 to 8
Summer phlox -Beautiful summer color last for a long time -Attracts many pollinators, butterflies and moths -Great cut flower -Height: 3 to 5 feet -Zone: 3 to 9 -Variety of bloom color cultivars available
Flowering raspberry -produces beautiful rose pink flowers at the end of June into July -Excellent for shady or sunny banks, spreads by runners and fills in nicely -Provides food for birds -Height: 3 to 5 feet -Zone: 4 to 6
Showy goldenrod -Beautiful yellow flowers -Attracts pollinators -Works in dry soils -Height: 2 to 5 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9 (photo credit - www.wildflower.org)
New England aster -Has elegant bright blue to deep purple flowers -Flowers in the late summer into the fall -Provides food and nectar for butterflies and other insects -Drought Tolerant -Height: 2 to 5 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
New England Aster -Has elegant bright blue to deep purple flowers -Flowers in the late summer into the fall -Provides food and nectar for butterflies and other insects -Drought Tolerant -Height: 2 to 5 feet tall -Zone: 3 to 9
Smooth aster -A host plant for the pearl Crescent butterfly -Beautiful gray green foliage -Plant is very bushy and full -Height: 2 to 4 feet -Zone: 4 to 8
New York aster -Has lovely light blue flowers -Flowers in the late summer into the fall -Provides food and nectar for butterflies and other insects -Drought tolerant -Height: 24 to 36 inches tall -Zone:3 to 9