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Connecticut Botanical Society |
| Gardening with Native Plants | ||
| Chart of Perennials | List Plants by Common Name | |
Don't take plants from the wild!
Nursery-propagated plants are available for every species listed on this page. There is no reason to despoil wild areas by removing plants.
Statement on collecting plants.
| Name | flower color | bloom time | height | sun | soil conditions | zones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actaea pachypoda doll's eyes (photo) | white | May-Jun | 2-3' |   | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Actaea rubra red baneberry (photo) | white | May-Jun | 2' | | avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Agastache scrophulariifolia purple giant hyssop (photo) | purple | Jul-Sep | 3-4' |  | dry, avg | 4-9 | |
| Anaphalis margaritacea pearly everlasting (photo) | white | Jul-Sep | 2' | | dry, avg | 4-8 | |
| Anemone quinquefolia wood anemone (photo) | white | Apr-Jun | 6" | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Anemonella thalictroides rue anemone (photo) | white, pale pink | Mar-May | 6" | | moist not very acidic | 4-7 | |
| Antennaria plantaginifolia plantain pussy-toes (photo) | white | Apr-Jun | 3-12" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Aquilegia canadensis wild red columbine (photo) | red | Apr-Jul | 1-2' | | avg, moist not very acidic | 3-9 | |
| Aralia nudicaulis wild sarsaparilla (photo) | white | Jul | 1' | | dry, avg, moist | 4-7 | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi bearberry (photo) | white, pink | May-Jul | 4" | | dry, avg | 2-6 | |
| Arisaema dracontium green dragon (photo) | green | May-Jun | 2' | | avg, moist | 4-9 | |
| Arisaema triphyllum jack-in-the-pulpit (photo) | green | Apr-Jun | 1-2' | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed (photo) | pink | Jun-Aug | 3-5' | | moist, very wet | 3-9 | |
| Asclepias purpurascens purple milkweed | purplish- pink | Jun-Jul | 2-3' | | dry, avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed (photo) | orange | Jun-Sep | 2-3' | | dry, avg | 3-9 | |
| Aster cordifolius blue wood aster (photo) | blue | Aug-Oct | 2-4' | | dry, avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Aster divaricatus white wood aster (photo) | white | Jul-Oct | 1-2' | | dry, avg | 4-8 | |
| Aster ericoides heath aster (photo) | white | Jul-Oct | 2-3' | | dry, avg | 5-8 | |
| Aster laevis smooth aster (photo) | blue-purple | Aug-Oct | 2-3' | | dry, avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Aster lateriflorus calico aster (photo) | white | Aug-Oct | 2-4' | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Aster linariifolius stiff aster (photo) | purple | Sep-Oct | 1-2' | | dry, avg | 4-8 | |
| Aster novae-angliae New England aster (photo) | purple | Aug-Oct | 3-5' | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Aster novi-belgii New York aster (photo) | purple | Jul-Oct | 3' | | avg, moist | 3-9 |
| Name | flower color | bloom time | height | sun | soil conditions | zones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptisia australis blue false indigo (photo) | blue | May-Jun | 3-5' | | dry, avg | 3-9 | |
| Blephilia ciliata downy wood-mint | blue-purple | Jun-Aug | 2' | | dry, avg | 4-7 | |
| Caltha palustris marsh marigold (photo) | yellow | Apr-Jun | 1' | | moist, very wet | 2-7 | |
| Campanula rotundifolia harebell (photo) | blue | Jun-Sep | 1' | | dry, avg, moist | 3-7 | |
| Chamaelirium luteum fairy wand | white | May-Jul | 1' | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Chelone glabra turtlehead (photo) | white, pale pink | Jul-Sep | 2-3' | | moist, wet good in clay | 4-9 | |
| Chrysopsis falcata sickle-leaved golden aster (photo) | yellow | Jul-Sep | 6-12" | | dry good in sand | 5-9 | |
| Cimicifuga racemosa black cohosh (photo) | white | Jun-Sep | 4-6' | | moist | 3-9 | |
| Claytonia caroliniana Carolina spring beauty (photo) | pale pink | Mar-May | 6" | | moist | 4-9 | |
| Claytonia virginica spring beauty (photo) | pale pink | Mar-May | 5" | | moist | 4-9 | |
| Clintonia borealis yellow clintonia (photo) | yellow | May-Jul | 1' | | moist acidic | 3-8 | |
| Coptis trifoliata goldthread (photo) | white | May-Jul | 3" | | moist acidic | 2-7 | |
| Dentaria diphylla toothwort (photo) | white | Apr-Jun | 8" | | moist, wet | 2-8 | |
| Dicentra canadensis squirrel corn (photo) | white, pale pink | Apr-May | 6" | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Dicentra cucullaria dutchman's breeches (photo) | white | Apr-May | 8" | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Erigeron philadelphicus common fleabane (photo) | pink | Apr-Jul | 6-30" | | avg | 2-7 | |
| Erigeron pulchellus robin-plantain (photo) | pink, lavender | Apr-Jun | 6-20" | | avg | 4-8 | |
| Eupatorium fistulosum hollow Joe-Pye-weed (photo) | pink | Jul-Sep | 3-8' | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Eupatorium maculatum spotted Joe-Pye-weed (photo) | pink | Jul-Sep | 3-6' | | avg, moist | 3-7 | |
| Eupatorium perfoliatum boneset (photo) | white | Jul-Oct | 3-4' | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Eupatorium purpureum sweet Joe-Pye-weed | pink | Jul-Sep | 3-7' | | avg | 3-9 | |
| Eupatorium rugosum white snakeroot (photo) | white | Jul-Oct | 3-4' | | avg | 4-9 | |
| Gaultheria procumbens wintergreen (photo) | pale pink, white | Jul-Aug | 4-6" | | dry, avg acidic | 2-8 | |
| Gentiana andrewsii closed gentian | blue | Aug-Oct | 1-2' | | moist, wet | 3-9 | |
| Gentiana clausa bottle gentian (photo) | blue | Aug-Oct | 1-2' | | moist, wet | 3-9 | |
| Geranium maculatum wild geranium (photo) | lavender | Apr-Jun | 1-2' | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Helenium autumnale sneezeweed (photo) | yellow | Aug-Nov | 3-5' | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Helianthus decapetalus thin-leaved sunflower (photo) | yellow | Aug-Oct | 4-5' | | moist | 5-8 | |
| Helianthus strumosus pale-leaved sunflower | yellow | Jul-Sep | 3-6' | | dry, avg | 4-9 | |
| Hepatica acutiloba sharp-lobed hepatica | blue,pink, white | Mar-Apr | 6" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Hepatica americana round-lobed hepatica (photo) | blue,pink, white | Mar-May | 6" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Hibiscus palustris swamp rose-mallow (photo) | pink | Aug-Sep | 6' | | moist, wet | 4-9 | |
| Houstonia caerulea bluets (photo) | pale blue | Apr-Jul | 4" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Houstonia longifolia long-leaf bluets (photo) | pale purple | Jun-Sep | 8" | | dry well drained | 3-9 | |
| Hypoxis hirsuta yellow stargrass (photo) | yellow | May-Aug | 6" | | dry, avg | 4-8 |
| Name | flower color | bloom time | height | sun | soil conditions | zones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iris prismatica slender blue flag iris (photo) | blue-purple | May-Jul | 1-2' | | moist, very wet acidic | 4-9 | |
| Iris versicolor larger blue flag iris (photo) | blue-purple | May-Jul | 2-4' | | moist, very wet | 3-9 | |
| Liatris scariosa eastern blazing-star (photo) | purplish- pink | Aug-Sep | 2-3' | | dry, avg | 4-9 | |
| Lilium canadensis Canada lily (photo) | orange | Jul-Aug | 5-8' | | moist well drained acidic | 4-7 | |
| Lilium philadelphicum wood lily (photo) | red-orange | Jun-Jul | 1-3' | | dry, avg, moist well drained | 3-9 | |
| Lilium superbum American Turk's-cap lily (photo) | orange | Jul-Aug | 4-8' | | moist | 4-8 | |
| Linnaea borealis twinflower (photo) | pale pink | Jun-Aug | 3" | | avg, moist acidic | 2-6 | |
| Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower (photo) | red | Jul-Sep | 3' | | moist, very wet | 3-9 | |
| Lobelia siphilitica lobelia, great (photo) | blue-purple | Aug-Sep | 2-3' | | moist, very wet | 3-9 | |
| Lupinus perennis wild blue lupine (photo) | blue-purple | Apr-Jul | 2' | | dry, avg well drained acidic | 4-9 | |
| Lysimachia ciliata fringed loosestrife (photo) | yellow | Jun-Aug | 4' | | moist | 3-9 | |
| Maianthemum canadense may lily (photo) | white | May-Jul | 6" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Maianthemum racemosum Solomon's plume (photo) | white | May-Jul | 2-3' | | dry, avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Maianthemum stellatum starry Solomon's plume (photo) | white | May-Aug | 1-2' | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Mimulus ringens Allegheny monkey flower (photo) | purple | Jun-Sep | 2-3' | | wet | 3-8 | |
| Mitchella repens partridgeberry (photo) | white | Jun-Jul | 2" | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Monarda fistulosa wild bee-balm (photo) | lavender, pink | Jul-Aug | 3' | | dry, avg | 3-9 | |
| Monarda punctata bee-balm, spotted (photo) | pink and yellow | Jul-Oct | 2' | | dry, avg, moist well drained | 4-9 | |
| Oenothera fruticosa sundrops (photo) | yellow | Jun-Aug | 1-3' | | dry, avg | 4-9 | |
| Oenothera perennis sundrops (photo) | yellow | Jun-Aug | 5-8" | | dry, avg | 5-8 | |
| Opuntia humifusa prickly-pear (photo) | yellow | Jun-Aug | 6-12" | | very dry, dry sandy | 5-8 | |
| Penstemon digitalis foxglove beardtongue (photo) | white | May-Jul | 2-4' | | avg | 2-8 | |
| Penstemon hirsutus hairy beardtongue (photo) | pale purple, pink | Jun-Jul | 2' | | dry, avg well drained | 3-9 | |
| Phlox divaricata wild blue phlox (photo) | pale blue-purple | Apr-Jun | 1' | | avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Phlox maculata meadow phlox | pink | May-Sep | 1.5-3' | | moist | 5-8 | |
| Phlox pilosa prairie phlox | pink | May-Jun | 1-2' | | dry, avg, moist | 4-9 | |
| Podophyllum peltatum mayapple (photo) | white | Apr-Jun | 1' | | dry, avg, moist | 4-9 | |
| Polygonatum biflorum Solomon's-seal (photo) | greenish | Apr-Jun | 1-6' | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Potentilla tridentata three-toothed cinquefoil (photo) | white | Jun-Aug | 3-8" | | avg well drained acidic | 2-7 | |
| Pycnanthemum incanum hoary mountain-mint | white, pale purple | Jul-Sep | 3' | | dry, avg | 4-9 | |
| Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia mountain-mint (photo) | pink, white | Jul-Sep | 2.5' | | dry, avg | 4-8 |
| Name | flower color | bloom time | height | sun | soil conditions | zones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhexia virginica meadow beauty (photo) | pink | Jul-Sep | 12-18" | | moist, wet | 4-8 | |
| Rudbeckia laciniata green-headed coneflower (photo) | yellow | Jul-Sep | 4-8' | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Sabatia dodecandra large marsh-pink | pink | Jul-Aug | 1-2' | | moist, wet | 5-9 | |
| Sanguinaria canadensis bloodroot (photo) | white | Mar-May | 6" | | avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Sanguisorba canadensis Canadian burnet (photo) | white | Jul-Oct | 2-6' | | moist, wet | 3-8 | |
| Senecio aureus golden ragwort (photo) | yellow | May-Jul | 2' | | avg, moist, wet | 4-7 | |
| Senna hebecarpa wild senna (photo) | yellow | Jul-Aug | 4-6' | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Silene caroliniana wild pink (photo) | pink | Apr-Jun | 6" | | dry, avg | 4-8 | |
| Silene stellata starry campion (photo) | white | Jul-Sep | 2' | | dry, avg, moist | 4-9 | |
| Sisyrinchium angustifolium blue-eyed grass (photo) | blue | May-Jul | 1.5' | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Solidago caesia bluestem goldenrod (photo) | yellow | Aug-Oct | 2-3' | | dry, avg | 3-9 | |
| Solidago flexicaulis zigzag goldenrod (photo) | yellow | Jul-Oct | 3' | | avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Solidago nemoralis gray goldenrod (photo) | yellow | Jul-Nov | 1-2' | | dry, avg | 3-8 | |
| Solidago odora sweet goldenrod | yellow | Jul-Sep | 2-4' | | dry, avg | 3-9 | |
| Solidago patula rough-leaved goldenrod (photo) | yellow | Aug-Oct | 5-6' | | moist, wet | 4-8 | |
| Solidago sempervirens seaside goldenrod (photo) | yellow | Aug-Nov | 2-6' | | avg poor, sandy soil | 3-9 | |
| Tephrosia virginiana goat's rue (photo) | pink and yellow | May-Aug | 1-2' | | dry, avg | 4-9 | |
| Thalictrum dasycarpum purple meadow rue | white | May-Jul | 3-6' | | moist, wet | 4-9 | |
| Thalictrum dioicum early meadow rue (photo) | greenish | Apr-May | 2' | | moist | 4-9 | |
| Thalictrum pubescens tall meadow rue (photo) | white | Jul-Sep | 4-7' | | moist, wet | 3-9 | |
| Tiarella cordifolia foamflower (photo) | white | Apr-May | 8-12" | | avg, moist | 3-8 | |
| Tradescantia virginiana Virginia spiderwort (photo) | purple | Apr-Jul | 1-2' | | moist | 3-9 | |
| Trientalis borealis starflower (photo) | white | May-Jun | 6" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-7 | |
| Trollius laxus var. laxus globeflower (photo) | pale yellow | Apr-Jun | 10-20" | | moist, wet alkaline | 4-8 | |
| Uvularia grandiflora large-flowered bellwort (photo) | yellow | Apr-Jun | 1.5-2' | | moist neutral pH | 3-7 | |
| Uvularia perfoliata perfoliate bellwort (photo) | yellow | May-Jun | 1.5' | | moist | 3-7 | |
| Uvularia sessilifolia sessile bellwort (photo) | yellow | May-Jun | 6-12" | | avg, moist | 4-8 | |
| Vaccinium vitis-idaea lignonberry (photo) | pink, white | Jun-Jul | 3-6" | | avg, moist | 2-6 | |
| Veratrum viride false hellebore (photo) | green | May-Jul | 3-6' | | moist, wet | 3-8 | |
| Verbena hastata blue vervain (photo) | blue-purple | Jul-Sep | 3-5' | | moist, wet | 3-8 | |
| Vernonia noveboracensis New York ironweed (photo) | purple | Aug-Oct | 4-7' | | moist | 4-9 | |
| Veronicastrum virginicum culver's root (photo) | pink, white | Jun-Sep | 3-7' | | moist | 3-9 | |
| Viola blanda sweet white violet (photo) | white | Apr-May | 6" | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Viola canadensis Canada violet (photo) | white | Apr-May | 1' | | moist | 3-8 | |
| Viola cucullata marsh blue violet (photo) | purple | Apr-Jun | 8" | | moist, wet | 4-8 | |
| Viola pedata birdfoot violet (photo) | purple | Apr-Jun | 4-6" | | avg | 3-9 | |
| Viola pubescens downy yellow violet (photo) | yellow | Apr-May | 1' | | moist well drained | 3-9 | |
| Viola sagittata arrowleaf violet (photo) | purple | Apr-May | 5" | | dry, avg, moist | 3-9 | |
| Waldsteinia fragarioides barren strawberry (photo) | yellow | Apr-Jun | 4-8" | | dry, avg, moist | 4-9 | |
| Zizia aptera heart-leaf alexanders (photo) | yellow | Apr-Jun | 1-2' | | avg, moist | 4-9 | |
| Zizia aurea golden alexanders (photo) | yellow | Apr-Jun | 1-2' | | moist | 3-9 |
Flower color:
The table aims to provide simple and accurate descriptions of flower colors, but both flower color and people's definition of terms differ. The patches of color in the table are intended to make it easier to find flowers of a given color; they are only rough approximations of individual flower colors.
Height:
Heights are given in feet ( ' ) and inches ( " ). To convert to meters, multiply feet by 0.3 or inches by 0.025.
Light:
Full sun -- more than five hours of direct sun per day.
Part shade -- two to five hours of direct sun, or all-day dappled sun, as from sunlight shining through open trees.
Full shade -- less than two hours of direct sun per day.
Soil conditions:
"Avg." soil means average level of moisture found in our area.
"Dry," here, means soil that dries fairly quickly after a rain,
or soil dried out by shallow tree roots -- not desert conditions. Note that plants capable of growing in sun or shade prefer more moisture in full sun, less in shade. If a plants has requirement for soil texture and soil pH, they are noted. If you are unsure about your soil, a soil test will provide this information. Connecticut residents can get free soil testing from the
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
Hardiness zones:
These describe the plant's tolerance of winter cold.
Here is one site where you can look up your
hardiness zone. Connecticut is in zones 5 and 6; all plants listed are hardy throughout Connecticut.
Sources of information on this page.