Guide to Northern Ohio Native Plants

Growing native plants in Northern Ohio is beneficial in many ways. Native plants are better adapted to local environmental conditions. Native plants may solve landscape problems such as a wet or shady area. Growing native plants help to preserve native species. Carefully placed native plants are of great value to wildlife.

Key to planting and growing native plants is carefully choosing plants which match your site conditions. Most native plants are quite habitat specific. Northern Ohio is quite diverse with areas of prairies, meadows, woodlands and wetlands. Know your site conditions including light, soil, pH, moisture, fertility and history. By using soil amendments, mulch, fertilization and other solutions native plants may adapt to a new habitat.

Five native Northern Ohio plants which you may want to consider are:

Butterfly Weed which is a prairie species suited well for a dry area. Orange in color the butterfly weed will attract butterflies to your garden or landscape. The butterfly weed grows 1 - 3 feet in height. Blooms are abundant June - September.

Prairie Coneflower as its name suggests is well suited for the prairie and dry to medium moisture. The prairie coneflower blooms July - September with yellow flowers. The prairie coneflower grows 3 - 6 feet in height.

Buttonbush is a shrub which grows up to 15 feet in height. Buttonbush requires a medium to wet soil. The buttonbush displays white blooms in May.

Virginia Bluebells is a woodland species best suited for medium to wet soil. The Virginia bluebell grows 1 - 2 feet in height and displays blue blooms from April through May.

Cardinal Flower is a wetland species. The cardinal flower grows 2 4 feet in height and displays red blooms from July through September.

All of these native plants may be purchased locally. By selecting and purchasing a local cultivar expect to obtain more attractive flowers, better form or even better disease resistance. The local cultivar will be better suited to Northern Ohio conditions.

Several local centers, societies, organizations and state resources offer plant sales as well as workshops and seminars to help you with your naïve plants:

The Wilderness Center Native Plant Sale

9877 Alabama Avenue S.W. Gardening Seminar

Wilmont, Ohio 44689-0202

Secrest Arboretum

Part of Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center

1680 Madison Avenue Plant Discovery Day, plant and art sale

Wooster, Ohio Annual Event

Gorman Nature Center

2295 Lexington Avenue

Mansfield, Ohio 44907

The Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio