Gardening with Native Plants - A Gardener’s Guide for Missouri

Chapter Four:
Landscaping with Native Plants
A Gardener’s Guide for Missouri


Introduction
Gardening with native plants is
becoming the norm rather than the
exception in Missouri. The benefits
of native landscaping are fueling a
gardening movement that says “no”
to pesticides and fertilizers and “yes”
to biodiversity and creating more
sustainable landscapes. Novice and
professional gardeners are turning to
native landscaping to reduce mainte-
nance and promote plant and wildlife
conservation. This manual will show
you how to use native plants to cre-
ate and maintain diverse and beauti-
ful spaces. It describes new ways to
garden lightly on the earth.

Chapter Four: Landscaping with
Native Plants provides tools garden-
ers need to create and maintain suc-
cessful native plant gardens. The
information included here provides
practical tips and details to ensure
successful low-maintenance land-
scapes. The previous three chap-
ters include Reconstructing Tallgrass
Native landscapes in the Whitmire
Prairies, Rain Gardening, and
Wildflower Garden, Shaw Nature Reserve.
Control and Identification of Invasive
Species. use of native plants in residential gar-
den design, farming, parks, roadsides,
and prairie restoration. Miller called his
History of Native work “The Prairie Spirit in Landscape
Landscaping Design”.

One of the earliest practitioners of
An early proponent of native landscap- Miller’s ideas was Ossian C. Simonds,
ing was Wilhelm Miller who was a landscape architect who worked in
appointed head of the University of the Chicago region. In a lecture pre-
Illinois extension program in 1912. He sented in 1922, Simonds said, “Nature
published a number of papers on the

Introduction

3

teaches what to plant. By going to prairies, wetlands, river-bottom for-
the neighboring woods and seeing ests, glades and upland savannas.
the trees and plants and shrubs they They have evolved with the extremes
contain, one can tell pretty accu- of our climate, a wide array of patho-
rately what plants will do well in any gens and a variety of soil and mois-
given locality.” Nearly 100 years ago ture types, creating a palette of
Simonds, Miller, and others understood durable and showy Missouri native
that native plants are a good choice for plants that are the focus of landscape
use in landscaping and they were right. gardening. Plants such as yellow wild
Today native plants are used in resi- indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa), native
dential and commercial landscaping, to the tallgrass prairie, and white-
highway projects, habitat restoration, tinged oak sedge (Carex albicans),
storm-water management, for parks which grows in dry woodlands, are
and corporate office buildings. easy-to-grow beauties being show-
cased in botanical garden displays,
Metro St. Louis Sewer District rain
gardens, and homeowners’ flower
Why Use Missouri Native beds. Gardeners who use Missouri
Plants? native plants have more success than
those who use plants from other
Local Ecotype Native Plants regions of the United States.

Missouri’s natural plant communities
offer a diversity of native plants to
gardeners. For thousands of years,
they have been adapting to life in

A typical Missouri creek in the Ozarks (left) and rocky glade (right) are homes
to many native plants that are useful in native landscaping.

4

ensures seasonal interest, with the
Eight Reasons to Use Native bonus of attracting colorful birds, but-
Plants terflies and insects.

For a Sense of Place For Stormwater Management

People who have lived in one place for Rain gardens, bioretention and wet-
a time develop images of their home land detention basins are a few best
that create a sense of belonging and management practices in use. They
familiarity. Those who have lived in slow down and absorb rain water, thus
rural Missouri know about flowering reducing the quantity and velocity of
dogwood. For instance, its blossoms stormwater runoff while improving
and berries have made their mark in water quality.
the hearts and thoughts of so many
Missouri residents that it is the state See Chapter Two – Rain Gardening
tree. Many people have recognized this and Storm Water Management for
heart-felt connection with nature, and it details on planning, constructing and
often is referred to as “sense of place”. maintaining rain gardens.

For Beautification
For Educational Opportunities
Wildflowers, flowering vines, shrubs
and trees offer a wide range of colors, Native plant gardens present end-
textures and forms to create dynamic less opportunities for learning about
seasonal displays. Grasses and sedges seasonal cycles, wildlife, and plant
have interesting flowers and seed life cycles. Quiet spaces outside can
heads and yellow–orange fall color. be used for art and reading classes.
Shrubs and trees have fall color and Environmental and conservation topics
berries that persist into the winter. are taught best outdoors.
Choosing a wide assortment of plants

Left: Luna moth perched on wood poppy. Right: Sulphur butterfly getting nectar
from a New England aster blossom.

5

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) and
round-leaved groundsel (Senecio obova-
tus) deter deer. Some plants repel deer
because of their coarse, rough, hairy or
spiny textures. This group includes rat-
tlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humi-
fusa). A deer-resistant garden includes a
high percentage of these types of plants.

See pages 32-33 for a list of deer resis-
Bioretention seeding in Columbia, Missouri tant native plants.
reduces maintenance costs associated with
mowing, mulching, and weeding.

For Erosion Control For Less Maintenance

Siltation is a main source of water pol- Compared with lawns and mulched
lution. Soil loss can be reduced by tree, shrub and perennial plantings,
using plants with strong, deep roots in landscapes planted with appropriate
place of turf, rock or concrete. Plants native plants require less maintenance.
hold the soil, absorb water and slow They require minimal watering (except
the flow of water over the surface. during establishment and drought peri-
Replacing turf with native plantings is ods) and they need no chemical fertil-
an effective way to help control erosion. izers or pesticides.

Characteristics of native plants that
To Create Wildlife Habitat
reduce maintenance include:
A native plant garden with a diversity
• Longevity: plants that live for
of trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses
many decades
provides food and shelter for insects,
• Three to four-season interest: plants
birds, amphibians and mammals
that are apealing most of the year
throughout the growing season.
• Variable conditions: plants that
Leaving seed heads and plant structure
tolerate a wide range of light and
throughout winter provides continuing
moisture conditions
food and shelter for many creatures
• Small and compact: plants that are
and provides opportunities to observe
in scale with a given space
nature up close.
• Weed elimination: plants that grow
into dense groupings and eliminate
For Resistance to Deer Browse weeds
• Seediness: plants that do not spread
Deer are adaptable and eat a wide vari- readily from seed
ety of plants. Forturately there are many
native plants that deer avoid. Deer See page 24 for a list of top performing
rely on their sense of smell to deter- native plants that reduce the amount of
mine whether an area is safe and which maintenance.
plants are desirable to eat. For instance,
plants with aromatic foliage such as

6 Landscaping with Native Plants

Cost comparisons:
This list provides many reasons to
use native plants in a landscape, but Turf
before you begin planting, think about • Average turf installation per
what you want the landscape to do acre (seed): $3,000
for you. You may want to reduce time • Average turf installation per
and money spent mowing a large acre (sod): $8,000
expanse of turf. Or you may want to • Annual turf maintenance per
reduce the expense of installing annu-
acre: $1,000
al flower beds. These numbers put the
• Annual turf maintenance
cost of mowing grass and maintaining
for homeowner:$500
standard planting beds into perspec-
tive.
Native Prairie Seeding
• Average prairie seeding per
acre: $1,500
• Annual prairie maintenance
per acre: $200

The proper handling of stormwater runoff is a significant issue for homeowners, neigh-
borhoods and communities. Left: a rain garden planted with Missouri native plants at the
Missouri Methodist Conference Center in Columbia, Missouri. Right: Missouri Botanical
Garden bioretention best managment practice (BMP) planted with natives in the main
entry parking lot (oak sedge (Carex albicans) in foreground).

7

Mulched Groundcover Planting
• Average planting per 1,000
sq. ft. $2,500
• Annual maintenance per

1,000 sq. ft. $200

Standard Mulched Planting Bed
• Average planting per 1,000
sq. ft. $3,500
• Annual maintenance per
1,000 sq. ft. $400

Native groundcovers require the least
amount of maintenance because they
establish quickly, are long-lived, sup-
press weeds and require little mulch
once established. Native groundcov-
ers also are an excellent alternative A site plan of your property will help you
to invasive wintercreeper euonymus, decide where to place gardens, walkways,
patios and stormwater features.
English ivy and periwinkle that have
escaped cultivation and invaded many
natural woodlands in Missouri. Indicate north, south, east, and
west, soil types, existing vegetation
See page 26 for a list of native and patterns of shade and sunlight.
groundcovers. Make copies of the drawing so
various versions of the planning
Site Evaluation process can be kept as the design
changes. As possibilities are pulled
Map the Area together, remember the saying
“don’t fight the site.” For most con-
Now that you’ve thought about ditions encountered, there is a list of
why to use native plants and what plants that will thrive there. It is
your goals are, it’s time to make simpler and less expensive to use
a map. A map, drawn to scale, this approach than to alter the site.
aids in determining plant numbers
as well as placement and the amount
of compost and mulch needed.
Slope, drainage and potential
for erosion should be noted and
reviewed for a possible bioswale or
rain garden. Indicate location of struc-
tures, utility lines and traffic use.

8

Survey of Existing Vegetation canadensis), that thrive in dry, rocky
soils but suffer in compost-rich soils.
A plant survey of the area may reveal By considering your soil, its structure,
remnants of the plant community fertility and pH, you will be able to
that once existed on the site. These compile an appropriate plant list for
remnant species are good sources for any soil type encountered.
seed to use in establishing new land-
scapes. For example, if native wetland
grasses and forbs grow nearby or on Soil Fertility and pH
the site, include those in the plant
list. Keep a close eye on the ripen- Get a general analysis of your garden
ing seeds of these plants for collect- soil with a basic soil test. Soil sample
ing. The site may be covered with information forms are available at
shrubs, vines or weedy vegetation. If University of Missouri Extension offices
so, determine which vegetation should and online at www.extension.missouri.
be removed. Identify trees and shrubs edu. When filling out the form select a
that will remain and remove weaker general analysis.
and undesirable species. Enlist the
help of an arborist if you are unsure pH is a measurement of a soil’s acidity
of which tree species are beneficial to or alkalinity on a scale where 7.0 is
the overall design. neutral. Results below 7.0 indicate an
acid (sour) soil, and soils above 7.0
are alkaline (sweet). Many plants do
Sunlight well in one or the other environment,
while a wide assortment thrive in the
Determine the quality of light on the pH range of 6.5 - 7.5. Basic soil tests
site. If shade exists, note when the also give a soil’s content of macronu-
shade occurs. Afternoon shade or trients such as nitrogen, phosphorus
dappled, occasional sunlight provides and potassium. A more complete soil
a good environment for many savanna test yields levels of the micronutrients
and woodland species. In contrast, hot in the soil (boron, magnesium, cop-
afternoon or all-day sun is best suited per).
to prairie, wetland and glade species,
depending on soil type.
Testing Water Infiltration to
Determine Soil Types
Soil
To determine soil type and how quick-
Many native plants are generalists; ly water drains through soil, do an
they tolerate a wide range of soil infiltration test. First, dig a hole one
types. However, there are some, such foot deep and eight inches wide. Fill
as the glade coneflower (Echinacea it with water and observe how quickly
simulata) or rose verbena (Glandularia the water disappears. Note: do infil-

9

tration tests when soil is moist, the of this, clay soil has poor drainage
day after a soaking rain or watering. and lower fertility. Clay soils often are
described as being heavy. The charac-
• If water drains within an few hours teristic color is reddish or grayish.
the soil is a well-drained sandy or
loamy soil. Select dry-loving native
plants listed on page 32. Silty soil feels smooth and silky but
• If it takes 24 hours or more to does not form a ribbon like clay. It
drain, it is a poorly drained clay has particles much smaller than sand.
soil, typical of where native wet- Fertility is slightly higher than sandy
land species thrive. See chapter soil. It drains relatively well and has a
two of this landscaping series: tan color.
Rain Gardening and Storm Water
Management for a list of appropri-
ate plants. Sandy loam soil is considered the
• Soils that drain in less than six ideal garden soil for the widest range
hours are considered satisfactory of plants. It is sold as topsoil. The soil
for growing most native plants. color is dark-brown and particle size
varies. It is among the healthiest of
soil types since it is well-draining with
Soil Texture ample air spaces, has good organic
content and fertility and has an abun-
Another way to determine soil type is dant population of beneficial soil
by feeling it with your hands. Hold a organisms.
small wet piece of soil in your hand
and rub it between your thumb and
index finger. Soil Structure
Sandy soil has obvious sand particles Soil structure indicates the effect
that feel and look like sand. It drains soil has on the movement of water,
well because of a large particle size amount of air in the soil and how
that is irregularly shaped. It feels well roots are able to penetrate into
coarse and doesn’t compact easily. the soil. It works in conjunction with
This soil type has low fertility because soil texture and is easy to deter-
of its low organic content. Soil color mine. A simple way is to form a ball
typically is light tan. of damp soil in your hand by squeez-
ing it. If you can’t make a ball, the
soil is sandy. If it is crumbly and has
Clay soil feels sticky and forms rib- dark color, it is a sandy loam. Clay
bons when forced between your soil remains in a ball. Soil structure
thumb and index finger. It has micro- can be improved with the addition of
scopic, flat-shaped particles. The compost. This increases particle size
shape and size of clay particles con- and encourages beneficial soil-borne
tribute to compaction, with little space organisms.
for air or water movement. Because


Soil Moisture patterns and storm water flow during
and after a heavy rain. Note sunny and
The moisture level in soil is determined shady areas and where water drains
by a combination of topography and and puddles. The plant list section on
soil structure. For example, a low-lying pages 24-34 groups plants by sunlight,
area with organic or clay soil stays soil types and tolerance to flooding and
moist for long periods of time. Wetland drought.
species are an appropriate choice for
this situation. The converse is a rocky Here is a list of landscape situations and
soil with low organic content at or near solutions that will help you select the
the top of a rocky slope. These sites right plants for your garden:
dry quickly after a rainfall. In this case,
upland prairie, savanna and glade spe- • If you have limited time to garden
cies are the best choices. keep the landscape style simple and
use native groundcovers. Reduce
Supplemental watering may be neces- plant diversity and mass single spe-
sary until plants are established and cies in larger spaces. Native ground-
mature. covers are an excellent alternative to
high-maintenance turf. They cover
areas quickly, suppress weeds and
reduce amounts of mulch needed.
• If you like to spend time in the gar-
Plant Selection den, you can incorporate higher
plant diversity, more garden fea-
tures and a more complex design
Right Plant, Right Place layout. This requires increased time,
labor, plants and maintainance.
Plants flourish with minimum mainte- • If you have exposed boulders, rocky
nance when appropriately chosen for a or gravely soil, or plants that grow
certain location. For small gardens and sparsely, choose plants that grow on
landscapes, determine sunlight and soil rocky glades.
moisture conditions by observing sun • If you have hard clay, select plants

Low-maintenance native groundcovers are used in simple massed plantings. When fully
mature they suppress weeds and reduce the amount of mulch needed. Left: yellow fox
sedge (Carex annectans) Right: prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

11

Plants growing in nature give us clues as to where they may be suited in a man-made
landscape like a rain garden. Left is yellow-fruited fox sedge growing in a sunny creek
bottom. Right is cardinal flower growing at the edge of a shady creek.

that tolerate low fertility and poor including prairie, woodland, wetland,
drainage. etc. Regional plant field guides typi-
• If your garden is in a low, wet cally describe general plant habitats
area, create a rain garden. in the front of the book. Once you
• If whitetail deer are a problem, determine your habitat type(s), begin
select native plants they avoid. selecting appropriate plants. Not all
plant species are available for sale so
See pages 24-34 for detailed lists of it is best to refer to nursery catalogs
plants for various garden conditions. as you select plants by habitat.

Select Local Ecotype Plants Sunny Environments

These plants originate from wild popu- Prairies
lations in your region, which means
they are adapted to Missouri’s climate.
This does not mean the plants you
purchase come directly from the wild.
Wild harvested plants should be avoid-
ed because they deplete native plant
populations. Local ecotype plants will
outperform non-local ecotype plants
in most cases because they are accli-
mated to Missouri’s soils, weather and
pests.

A prairie is an ecosystem of grasses
Plants for Larger Landscapes with herbaceous forbs. Few trees or
shrubs exist in this habitat. Typical
You may be able to select plants by prairie plants include Indian grass
identifying the original habitat type (Sorghastrum nutans), big bluestem


(Andropogon gerardii), rattlesnake and aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius).
master (Eryngium yuccifolium), aster, Many species encountered in dry upland
goldenrods and many Silphium spe- prairies also are found in glades.
cies. Some prairies have wet soils and
are host to plants such as prairie cord
grass (Spartina pectinata), wild bergamot Wetlands
(Monarda fistulosa) and marsh milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata). Upland prairies
exist where the bedrock is shallow and
soil is dry and glade-like. Shorter plants
predominate, such as little bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium), sideoats
grama (Bouteloa curtipendula) and but-
terfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Glades

Missouri has an abundance of wetlands,
from river edges to lake shores and wet
meadows. The list of plants well-adapted
to these alternating wet and dry condi-
tions is extensive. In addition, there are
many plants that flourish in permanently
wet areas and in ponds. Soil types range
from clayey to sandy loam and are sub-
ject to fluctuating moisture levels. A few
representative plants include the mighty
swamp oak (Quercus bicolor) and bald
cypress (Taxodium distichum), beauti-
Thin, rocky topsoil combined with out- ful irises such as blue flag (Iris virgi-
croppings of shallow bedrock creates this nica) and copper iris (Iris fulva) as well
desert-like environment. Glades typi- as cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
cally are found on south- and southwest- and rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus).
ern-facing slopes and ridgetops in the Sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (Juncus
Ozark Highlands. These areas are hot spp.) compose a large percentage of the
and sunny because the shallow, well- plant list. Wetlands offer a wide diversity
draining soil does not support growth of of plants, birds, mammals and insects.
large trees. Sunny south or west-facing Frogs and other amphibians are heard
slopes with thin soil and exposed rocks and seen frequently. Wetland plant lists
are areas in your landscape where glade are useful for rain gardens, bioswales
plants will thrive. When planted in rich and low areas that remain wet for long
soil, common in many gardens, glade periods.
plants deteriorate and die. Plants found
in a glade environment include rose ver-
bena (Verbena canadensis), Missouri eve-
ning primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)

13

Shady Environments Riverbottom and North-sloping
Forests
Upland Savannas

Riverbottom and north-sloping wood-
Many areas of Missouri were savannas lands tend to have soils that are rich
with widely spaced trees, predominant- in organic matter and hold moisture.
ly oak and hickory species. Savannas The tree canopy is heavy and produc-
are dominated by grass species and es medium to dark shade, with a thick
are interspersed with forbs (herbaceous understory. Typical species include
flowering plants) that fill the wood- ferns, wild geranium (Geranium macu-
land floor. The quality of light is bright, latum), Virginia bluebell (Mertensia
dappled shade with areas that receive virginica) and wild sweet William
sunlight for short periods. Typically (Phlox divaricata). Specific species
savannas occupy the higher and drier vary according to where they exist
soils of upper slopes and ridges of hills in the woodland - top of ridge versus
and are maintained with prescribed fire bottom of hill or north versus south
or annual mowing. The park-like setting facing slopes.
of suburban properties are reminiscent
of savannas. Plants such as smooth
hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), Planning and Site Preparation
coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), blaz-
ingstar (Liatris scariosa) as well as Layout and Estimating Square
many asters and goldenrods are appro- Footage
priate choices for savanna-like settings.
Outline the area to be planted with a
hose or rope. It is easier to move a hose
or line than to make changes after dig-
ging has occurred. Stakes are another
way to create an outline. Once you are
happy with the layout, measure and
multiply the length and width to get a
rough square footage. Most spaces have
round edges so keep in mind that this is
a rough estimation.


Remove Existing Vegetation

Removal of existing vegetation is impor-
tant for the successful establishment
of new plants and can be done in a
number of ways. For killing weeds on
large properties, refer to Chapter One
– Seeding a Tallgrass Prairie. For identi-
fication and removal of invasive species,
refer to Chapter 3 - ID and Control of
Invasive Species.

For smaller properties, the first step
Estimating Plant Quantities and is to mow or string-trim tall weeds
Spacing down to 4-12 inches. The second step
includes one or more of the following
If your garden layout is 10 feet by 10 techniques.
feet you have 100 square feet of space
(10x10=100). If you choose to plant on Herbicides Read herbicide labels before
12-inch centers, you need 100 plants. use. Apply a glyphosate herbicide
such as Roundup. Use Rodeo instead of
Plant Quantity Calculator Roundup if the area is near a pond or
creek. Less herbicide is required if veg-
Spacing in Inches etation has been mowed short. In two
weeks, the vegetation will brown and
8” 12” 18” 24” 36” die. Leave the dead stubble to prevent
erosion, especially on slopes. It also will
decay and add organic content to the
50 100 50 22 12 5 soil. Shredded leaf or bark mulch may
100 225 100 45 25 11 be applied over the dead vegetation.
150 350 150 67 37 16
200 450 200 90 50 22
250 550 250 112 62 28
300 675 300 135 75 33
400 900 400 180 100 44
500 1100 500 225 125 55
600 1350 600 270 150 66
700 1550 700 315 175 77
800 1800 800 360 200 88
900 2000 900 405 225 99
1000 2250 1000 450 250 110

Left colum is total square feet.

There are a number of plant calculators
on the internet. www.classygroundcov- Always wear safety glasses or goggles,
ers.com is one of the easiest to use. gloves and protective clothing when
applying herbicides. Read herbicide
labels before use.

15

Use a thick layer of compost or wood backfill with topsoil. This eliminates
chips over existing vegetation to air pockets and drought-related
smother it. In smaller gardens, a layer mortality and reduces establishment
of newsprint can be used before mulch- time.
ing. It takes a couple of months for the
vegetation to die. This method works
well for small to medium size gardens. Soil Compaction and Grading
Once undesired vegetation is killed, do
not till in uncomposted leaves, bark or Before grading soil or planting, it is
wood chips as they will cause the new important to contact the Missouri-1 Call
plants to turn yellow or die. System to locate underground utilities.
Call 1-800-DIG-RITE three days before
Put clear plastic over the mowed breaking ground. They will mark under-
vegetation, and sunlight will create ground utilities with colored spray paint
heat that kills the vegetation. However, and flags.
microorganisms in the upper layer of
soil are affected adversely so add com- Avoid compacting soil with heavy
post and earthworm castings to the soil equipment or foot traffic. Compacted
to replenish the microbial populations. soil drains poorly, has low oxygen con-
tent and is difficult to plant in. If soil
Remove sod with a desodding shovel or is compacted, loosen the soil before
machine. The top few inches of roots planting. Severe compaction may
and soil are removed, exposing the require digging deeply with shovels or
underlying soil. in large areas with a mini excavator or
backhoe. This is necessary for proper
drainage. Then till soil to create a loose
Soil Preparation soil that is easy to work with.

Amending soil should be done only Final soil grading typically is done on
under the most difficult circumstances small areas by hand with stiff gar-
because there are native plants that den or grading rakes after tilling. On
tolerate a wide variety of tough soil large areas this is done with a skid-
conditions. steer-mounted tiller or soil conditioner.
During the grading process, tough clods
• Severe clay subsoil that is remain- of dirt, clay, rocks, roots and stems
ing after construction should have are raked out and removed. Steep soil
a minimum of 3 inches of topsoil grades require the application of ero-
added and tilled into the surface. sion blankets.
• Severely compacted topsoil should
be loostened by hand with a shovel
or with a backhoe or mini-excavator Stabilizing Steep Slopes
for larger areas.
• Fertilizing is not normally recom- There are several brands of erosion
mended unless you have clay sub- control blankets available in garden
soil and choose not to add topsoil. centers. They typically are made of
• If planting in clay subsoil, remove straw, wood shavings, coconut fiber or
soil unearthed while planting and


Planting
Planting Seasons

Spring and fall are the best times to
install native plants, with spring being
the first choice. Containerized plants
and divisions establish quickly because
soil is cooler and moister. That said,
you may plant containerized plants in
Unroll erosion control blankets from top of summer as long as you water regularly.
slope to bottom and overlap edges to attain If water is not available, plant between
complete coverage. Pin down blankets late February and April.
securely.

jute and are woven into a plastic mesh
that should be biodegradable. Avoid Lay Out Plants
non-biodegradable or permanent fabrics
because birds and reptiles get tangled in Lay out plants (in their containers)
the mesh. on the ground to attain even spacing
before planting.
0 – 10% slope: 2 foot or less drop in
a 20 foot distance. Gentle slopes are Use a grid pattern similar to this when
ideal and easy to work with and do not planting larger areas and groundcovers.
require erosion control fabric.
X X X X X X
10 – 20% slope: 4 foot or less drop in
a 20 foot distance. Steeper slopes can X X X X X
present a challenge and use of erosion
control fabric should be considered. X X X X X X
Above 20% slope: 5 foot or less drop
in a 20 foot distance. Once the percent In hot sun keep plants watered as most
slope is above 20%, erosion control is plastic pots are black and absorb heat.
recommended. Now is the time to rearrange plants to
attain the best spacing.
(See graph below)

0
0 – 10%

2 ft.
10 – 20%

4 ft.
20% plus

6 ft.
20 ft. length

17

Planting in the Soil Mulching New Plantings

Plant first and then mulch. This Twice-ground leaf compost is rec-
ensures plant roots are in the soil and ommended for mulching perennials
not just in the mulch. and grasses. Shredded hardwood (or
cedar) bark mulch is recommended for
Insert the plant so the potting mix is trees and shrubs. Use these recom-
not exposed to the mulch or air, so mendations to prevent over-mulching
the rootball will not dry out. Cap the or burying plants too deeply in mulch:
potting soil with a thin layer of natural
soil to prevent moisture loss. Deep Cell Plugs....1.5 inches
Quart Pots...........2 inches
When planting in hard clay soil, have Gallon Pots..........2.5 inches
a bucket or wheelbarrow of rich, loos- Tree/Shrubs.........3 inches
ened topsoil handy to backfill planting
holes. Backfilling with hard clay clods Do not incorporate mulch into the
leaves air pockets that lead to des- soil as this leads to poor plant perfor-
sication or plant death. You may have mance and/or death.
good topsoil on your property to bor-
row or you may have to purchase top-
soil from a garden center. Watering New Plantings
If you mulch the planting area before Water new plantings immediately!
planting, do not exceed the mulch Don’t wait for rain since weather can’t
depths listed below and do not leave be predicted from hour to hour.
soil on top of the mulch as this
encourages weeds. Also be sure that During the first three weeks, water
plant roots are inserted in soil and not plantings every four days for about
in mulch. 60 minutes (the equivelant of about 1

Left: Carefully remove plant from container. If roots are spiraling around inside
the pot, cut the roots to prevent further spiraling. Middle: Remove loose potting
soil from the top of the potting soil ball. Insert plant so the top of the potting soil
is level or just below the top of the topsoil and fill in with loose topsoil. Lightly cap
potting soil with a thin layer of topsoil. Right: Firmly press down plant to remove air
pockets. Cover topsoil with 1-2 inches of mulch and water immediately.


inch of rainfall). A one-hour watering
will soak more deeply into the ground Maintenance
than daily 15-minute waterings. In
summer increase frequency to every
There is the misconception that
three days.
native landscapes require little or no
maintenance. In reality, some native
After three weeks reduce frequency to
gardens require a lot of maintenance
once per week until plants are estab-
and some don’t. This list describes
lished. Plants are established when
what makes a native landscape low-
roots have grown out of the container
maintenance and why:
soil and into the native soil to a depth
of two to four inches. This normally
• Plants that are long-lived do not
takes three to four months for peren-
need replacing.
nials and grasses and six months
• Plants that are selected properly
for trees and shrubs. With trees and
for a site will thrive.
shrubs, the larger the root ball the
• Plants that have few pest prob-
longer it takes to become established.
lems require no chemicals.
Extremely large trees may take years.
• Plants that are compact and
clump-forming work well in small
When plants are fully established,
places and don’t flop over.
watering is only necessary during dry
• Plants that sucker to form solid
or drought periods during summer.
ground-cover fill large spaces
quickly, keep weeds out and
require little mulch.
Planting Seed • Plants that do not spread agres-
sively from seed reduce weeds.
It is less expensive to plant large • Plants with clean, dense foliage
areas with seed than with plants. three to four seasons of the year
Seeded areas look natural and are prevent weeds and require little
usually in sunny areas (prairie), shady mulching.
woodlands (savanna), or wet areas
(wetlands, rain gardens, bioretention If your goal is to reduce maintenance,
or detention basins). When seeding be keep the landscape style simple and
certain weeds are eliminated, do not use native groundcovers. Reduce plant
till the soil, sow seed in early winter diversity and group single species in
and keep the seeding mowed to six large masses. Native groundcovers are
inches during the first growing season. an alternative to high-maintenance
It takes about three years for most turf and flower beds. They cover areas
seedlings to mature and flower. quickly, suppress weeds and reduce the
amount of mulch needed.
Please read Chapter One,
Reconstructing a Tallgrass Prarie for As with all gardens, a new plant-
a detailed description of how to sow ing requires attention as the plants
seed. become established. Once root sys-
tems are well developed, supplemen-
tal watering should be minimal or
only in periods of drought.

19

Weed Control down to subsoil clay after new con-
struction. These clay soils are impos-
It is likely weeds will grow in newly sible to dig in when dry. In these
planted areas the first and second extreme situations add a minimum of
years. Control them by handpulling three inches of topsoil before planting.
or spot spraying with a glyphosphate
herbicide such as Roundup. If you
have nut sedge, hand-pull repeatedly An application of one to two inches of
until it is gone or use the herbicide compost each fall helps maintain an
Sedgehammer. adequate level of fertility and organic
matter in the soil, which reduces or
By the second or third year, plants are eliminates the need for fertilizer.
more established and able to crowd
out weeds. Weeding becomes minimal
as the garden matures. Annual appli- Insect Problems
cations of compost and mulch in late
autumn help suppress weed growth In general, native plants are not
and make handpulling much easier. affected by insect damage. There are
exceptions, however. Japanese beetles
may devastate native roses, hazel-
nut and wild grapes in some years.
Dogwood sawflies denude swamp dog-
wood, but only in some years. It is
only a matter of time before beneficial
insects move in and control the prob-
lem naturally.

Developing a tolerance for small
amounts of damage and an under-
standing of the interaction of beneficial
insects eliminates the need for pest
control. There is a host of desirable
caterpillars that nibble native plants.
Monarch caterpillars eat milkweed
leaves, zebra swallowtails eat pawpaw
Yellow nutsedge is a common gar- leaves and giant swallowtails eat wafer
den weed that is difficult to control by ash shrubs. All of these turn into beau-
hand. Hand pull small infestations or tiful butterflies.
spray the herbicide Sedgehammer for
large-scale control. To control mosquitos use a diversity
of native plants in and around water
edges. This will attract native aquatic
Fertilization insects and frogs that eat mosquito
larvae.
Fertilizer is not necessary with most
native landscapes. The exceptions are
sites where topsoil has been removed

20

Mulching
Shredded hardwood or cedar bark
Mulch gives gardens a clean, tended mulch is also commonly used and
and intentional appearance. Other available. Cedar lasts much longer
benefits include preventing loss of than hardwood but costs more. Once
soil moisture, controlling soil tem- rained on, it tends to bind together
perature and suppressing weeds. and will not migrate. It is recom-
Mulch may be applied from late fall mended for use in rain gardens.
through spring. In areas where you
want to encourage seed germina- River gravel mulch comes in various
tion (woodlands, for example), apply sizes, from pea-sized gravel to three-
mulch after seeds have germinated in inch rock. A medium size of one or
spring and are tall enough to trans- two inches works best in rain gardens
plant. or where storm water will be flowing.
It is heavy to move around.
Never till mulch into topsoil because
mulch is not composted. As it breaks Pine bark chip mulch has large
down it starves plants of nutrients. pieces that migrate on slopes and
Mulch must be fully rotted (black in float. It is recommended for use on
color, the consistancy of sawdust and flat ground.
have no heat) before it can be incor-
porated into topsoil. Natural tree leaves raked up and
reused as mulch save money but do
Twice-ground composted leaf not look clean or intentional in plant-
mulch is one of the more commonly ing beds. They are best used in natu-
used mulches and is readily available ral wooded settings.
from compost suppliers or garden
centers. It is delivered warm or hot Wood chips from a tree chipper are
and has a slight to strong sour smell coarse, uneven and do not look as
because it is not composted com- clean as ground mulches. They work
pletely. This mulch can float so is not well, however, and are economical.
recommended for use near stormwa-
ter flows.

Left: Shredded hardwood bark mulch binds together to resist washing away. Middle:
River gravel mulch will not migrate where water flow is a problem. Right: Wood chip
mulch is inexpensive or often free but migrates and may float away where water flow
occurs.

21

Pruning growth is removed and old stems are
kept. Dogwood, fringetree, south-
Pruning involves the use of hand ern blackhaw viburnum, green haw-
pruners, hand saws, lopers, or thorne, serviceberry, pagoda dog-
shears. Here are some reasons to wood and buckeye benefit from this
prune. treatment.

• To remove damaged branches. If a shrubby screen-like appearance
Ice and wind storms may cause bro- is desired, older trunks are removed,
ken branches on trees and shrubs, leaving young stems. Hazelnut,
that should be removed before they rough-leaved and gray dogwood and
cause harm to people or property. sumac are used in this treatment.
When pruning tree limbs, be cau-
tious as limbs may fall at any time.
Contact a certified arborist if you are • To rejuvenate shrubs. Shrubs
unsure about safety issues. such as wild hydrangea, Alabama
snowwreath, golden currant, and
• To remove suckers and water Missouri gooseberry benefit from a
sprouts. Suckers are fast-growing rejuvinating pruning every three to
sprouts that emerge from the ground five years. First trim back shrub by
at the base of a tree or shrub. Water 40-60% with shears. Then remove
sprouts are similar but emerge from one third of the old canes to the
a stem or branch. Both are removed ground with hand pruners.
because they give a messy appear-
ance and increase disease problems.
They are removed with hand pruners
or hand saws on trees like hawthorn,
viburnum, fringetree and dogwood.

• To shape woody plants. As
young trees, shrubs and vines begin
to mature and gain height, lower
branches may be pruned off to cre-
ate space for planting beds under-
neath. Wide-arching side branches
are pruned when they grow out of
control. While this can be done at
anytime, it is best done just after
flowering to ensure blooming the When using hand pruners the cutting
next year. blade (black) is always on the side of the
cut that remains. The anvil (silver) is to
Multi-stemmed trees and shrubs are the outside. Always keep the blade sharp
and be careful not to cut yourself. Hand
pruned either to maintain an upright
pruner cuts are the leading cause of inju-
tree or low-bushy appearance. To
ry in most gardens.
create a tree-like look, new vigorous

22

• Thin growth. Trees and shrubs
growing in full sun often develop Deadheading also prevents reseed-
dense branching that requires thin- ing. If reseeding is a problem,
ning. The same tree, growing increase mulch frequency and depth
in shade, tends to remain open. or remove the reseeding plant. Keep
Remove all crossing, rubbing, dead in mind that birds and small mam-
or damaged stems in the interior mals depend on seeds for winter
of the plant and work outward. It food. Stop deadheading in late sum-
is desirable to open views into the mer to allow late crop seeds to ripen.
center of a tree or shrub to reveal
interesting bark and branching. • Control height. Spring top-
Hornbeam, southern blackhaw vibur- pruning (or spring haircuts) of the
num, spicebush, red buckeye, red- taller, late-summer-to-fall-blooming
bud, pagoda dogwood, yellowood, perennials and grasses reduces
and witchazel benefit from this treat- plant height and prevents flopping.
ment. Remove the top 40-60% of spring
growth late April through mid-May,
• Promote reblooming. using hedge shears or hand pruners.
Deadheading (removal of spent Plants pruned this way become multi-
flowers) on perennials and annuals branched, fuller and shorter overall.
stimulates more blooming. Be sure to Flowering species that respond well
remove faded flowers before seeds to this include aster, Joe-Pye weed,
ripen since ripe seed is a signal to sneezeweed, rose mallow, turtlehead,
the plant to stop blooming. This
method works well on Missouri eve- garden phlox, goldenrod, and iron-
ning primrose, rose verbena, core- weed. The grasses include big
opsis, black-eyed Susan, and native bluestem, Indian grass, switchgrass,
annuals such as sneezeweed and cordgrass, and eastern gama grass.
palafox.

When pruning medium-sized branches, always make a small undercut first (left)
and then finish the cut with an overcut (right). This prevents the bark from tearing
downward when the branch falls.

23

time).
• Layout the garden areas and
related elements of the site and
calculate square footage for each
portion individually. This number
helps you predict the number of
plants or materials needed.
• Remove weeds and undesirable
growth by hand, with Round-up
(glyphosphate) or by layering
newspaper and covering it with
mulch.
• Grade and amend soil if neces-
sary; then mulch if you will not be
Taller, late-summer blooming perenni-
planting right away.
als and grasses may be sheared back by • Autumn is the second best time
40-60% in late May to control height and to plant. Perennials and grasses
prevent flopping. can be planted in September and
October. Plant quart size contain-
ers or larger. Trees and shrubs
may be planted from September
through November.
• Mulch new plantings immediately
as mulch helps maintain soil mois-
ture and steadies soil tempera-
Typical Garden Schedule ture.
• Water new plantings immediately.
Summer and Fall - Year 1

• Map out the site, noting existing Winter - Year 1
and future use, traffic patterns,
utilities, trees, water flows, poorly • October through March is a good
drained areas, wildlife use, desir- time to construct patios, paths
able and undesirable views. and walls.
• Assess the site for drainage, soil • Fall-planted trees and shrubs may
type, sun, shade and utilities. need watering during severely dry
• Choose the site, the plant palette periods.
(plants you want to include), the
landscape style and layout for the
garden (you likely will be selecting
Spring - Year 2
hardscape features like pathways,
fences, patios, water features,
• Spring is the best time to plant.
walls, containers, outdoor pizza
Planting may begin in mid-March
ovens and other features at this
and continue until the end of May.

24

If you plant after June 1st, water
periodically during planting and Plant Selection Guide
then every three days until plants
are established.
• Remove weeds as they appear. Top Performing Native Plants
• Water as needed. for Landscaping
• Top-prune perennials and grass-
es late April through mid May to Based on:
reduce flowering height and pre-
vent flopping.
• 3-4 seasons of interest
• long life expectancy
• compact form or slow growth
Summer - Year 2
• availability from nurseries
• Be vigilant and remove weeds as
they appear. Full Sun
• Provide a deep watering when
needed rather than frequent, shal- Grasses and Sedges:
Carex albicans (oak sedge)
low watering.
Carex annectens (yellow-fruited fox
• Summer planting is not recom-
sedge)
mended due to heat and unpredict-
Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge)
able rainfall. Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Perennials:
Fall/Winter - Year 2 Amsonia illustris (shining bluestar)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
• Continue to be vigilant and remove Aster oblongifolius (aromatic aster)
winter weeds as they appear. Baptisia sphaerocarpa (yellow wild indi-
• Water newly planted trees and go)
shrubs by hand if winter drought Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppy mal-
occurs. low)
• Reapply mulch to thin areas. Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)
• Be careful to not mulch where you Iris fulva (copper iris)
want plants to spread by reseed- Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (slender
mountain mint)
ing. This is the trick to getting
Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower)
woodland plants like wood poppy,
Virginia bluebells, blue-eyed Mary,
Small Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
wild geranium, bloodroot and oth- Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry)
ers to spread. Callicarpa americana (beautyberry)
Cercis canadensis (redbud)
Crataegus viridis (green hawthorn)
Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea)
Ilex verticillata (winterberry holly)
Ribes odoratum (golden currant)

25

Heuchera Americana (American alum-
Part Shade root)
Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris)
Aster oblongifolius (aromatic aster) Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon’s seal)
Carex albicans (oak sedge) Solidago flexicaulis (zig-zag goldenrod)
Carex eburnea (ivory sedge) Spigelia marilandica (Indian pink)
Carex grayii (bur sedge)
Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge) Small Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry)
Heuchera americana (American alum- Callicarpa americana (beautyberry)
root)Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alum- Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)
root) C. florida (flowering dogwood)
Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon’s seal) Dirca palustris (leatherwood)
Solidago flexicaulis (broad-leaved gold- Hamamelis virginiana (Eastern witch
enrod)
hazel)
Spigelia marilandica (Indian pink)

Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry) Native Groundcovers
Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry)
Callicarpa americana (beautyberry)
Carpinus caroliniana (hornbeam)
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Hamamelis vernalis (Ozark witch hazel)
Ribes odoratum (golden currant)

Shade

Ferns:
Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair fern) The 12-inch native groundcover field sedge
(Carex praegracilis) growing in a solid
Athyrium pycnocarpon (silvery spleen-
mass at Shaw Nature Reseve reduces
wort)
maintenance, tolerates poorly drained clay
Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)
soils and suppresses weeds.
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas
fern)
*Plants that spread rapidly by rhizomes
Grasses and Sedges: and develop into large colonies. These
Carex albicans (oak sedge) species require large areas and contain-
Carex eburnea (ivory sedge) ment.
Carex grayii (bur sedge)
Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge) Shade

Perennials: Grasses & sedges:
Asarum canadense (wild ginger) Carex albicans (oak sedge)
Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) C. eburnea (ivory sedge)


C. emoryii* (riverbank sedge) Perennials:
C. grayii (bur sedge) Achillea millefolium (yarrow)
C. jamesii (James sedge) Amsonia illustris (shining bluestar)
C. muskingumensis (palm sedge) Anemone canadensis* (meadow anemone)
C. pennsylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge) Artemisia ludoviciana* (wormwood)
Diarrhena obovata* (beak grass) Aster oblongifolius (aromatic aster)
Chasmanthium latifolium (river oats) Chelone obliqua (rose turtlehead)
Fragaria virginiana* (wild strawberry)
Perennials: Helianthus occidentalis*(western sunflower)
Antennaria parlinii (pussytoes) H. mollis* (ashy sunflower)
Asarum canadense (wild ginger) Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)
Chelone obliqua (rose turtlehead) Iris virginica (southern blue flag)
Erigeron pulchellus (Robin’s fleabane) Iris fulva (copper iris)
Helianthus divaricatus* (woodland sun- Oenothera macrocarpa (Missouri evening
flower) primrose)
Hydrophyllum virginianum* (Virginia water- Parthenium hispidum (American feverfew)
leaf) Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower)
Heuchera americana (American alumroot) Verbena canadensis (rose verbena)
H. parviflora (littleflower alumroot)
Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris) Shrubs:
Isopyrum biternatum (false rue anemone) Andrachne phyllanthoides (Missouri maid-
Monarda bradburiana (Bradbury beebalm) enbush)
Sedum ternatum (woodland stonecrop) Hydrangea arborescens (w. hydrangea)
Senecio aureus* (golden groundsel) Ribes odoratum (golden currant)
S. obovatus* (round-leaved groundsel) Rhus copallina* (winged sumac)
Solidago flexicaulis (zig-zag goldenrod)
*Plants that spread rapidly by rhizomes
Ferns: and develop into large colonies. These spe-
Athyrium pynocarpon (narrow-leaved cies require large areas.
spleenwort)
Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) Clay Soil Conditions

*Plants that tend to spread from seed
Full Sun
Grasses and Sedges:
Grasses and sedges: Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Carex annectens (yellow-fruited fox sedge) Carex annectens (yellow-fruited fox sedge)
C. buxbaumii* (Buxbaum sedge) Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge)
C. emoryi* (Riverbank sedge) Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
C. hystericina* (bottlebrush sedge) Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)
C. lanuginosa* (wooly sedge)
C. muskingumensis (palm sedge) Perennials:
C. praegracilis* (tollway sedge) Allium cernuum (nodding wild onion)
C. stricta* (tussock sedge) Allium stellatum (fall glade onion)
Panicum virgatum (switch grass) Amsonia illustris (shining bluestar)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly flower)
Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Aster novae-angliae* (New Eng. aster)
Spartina pectinata* (cord grass)

27

Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heter- Palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis) tol-
olepis) growing as a groundcover at erates clay soils and can grow in sun or
Missouri Botanical Garden. shade.

Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea
(cream wild indigo) Small Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Coreopsis lanceolata* (lance-leaved core- Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry)
opsis) Crataegus viridis (green hawthorn)
Coreopsis palmata (finger coreopsis) Hamamelis vernalis (Ozark witch hazel)
Dalea candida (white prairie clover) Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea)
Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) Ilex verticillata (winterberry holly)
Echinacea purpurea* (purple coneflower)
Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake mas-
ter)
Heliopsis helianthoides (false sunflower)
Screening with Shrubs
Liatris pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)
Liatris spicata (marsh blazing star)
Arundinaria gigantea (giant cane)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)
Parthenium hispidum (American feverfew)
Cornus drummondii (rough-leaved dog-
Parthenium integrifolium (wild quinine)
wood)
Penstemon digitalis (smooth beard-
Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)
tongue)
Corylus americana (hazelnut)
Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum
(Solomon’s seal)
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. John’s
Ratibida columnifera (Mexican hat)
wort)
Ratibida pinnata* (grayhead coneflower)
Ilex decidua (deciduous holly)
Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower)
Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan)
Neviusia alabamensis (Alabama snow
Silphium integrifolium (rosinweed)
wreath)
Silphium laciniatum (compass plant)
Physocarpus opulifolius (ninebark)
Silphium perfoliatum* (cup plant)
Rhus copallina (winged sumac)
Solidago rigida* (stiff goldenrod)
Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)
Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod)
Salix humilis (prairie willow)
Tradescantia ohiensis* (Ohio spiderwort)
Sambucus canadensis (elderberry)
Vernonia arkansana (Arkansas ironweed)
S. racemosa (red-berried elderberry)
Zizia aurea* (golden Alexander

28

Staphylea trifoliata (bladdernut) Limestone Soils (7.5 pH or
Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood) higher)
Viburnum prunifolium (northern blackhaw)
Grasses and Sedges:
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Hedges Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)
Aesculus pavia (red buckeye 10-15’)
Amsonia illustris (shining bluestar 3-4’) Perennials:
Andrachne phyllanthoides (Missouri maid- Parthenium hispidum (American feverfew)
enbush 3-4’) Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (slender
Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry mountain mint)
5-6’) Salvia azurea (pitcher sage)
Callicarpa americana (beautyberry 4-5’) Sedum ternatum (wild stonecrop)
Dirca palustris (leatherwood 3-5’) Senecio obovatus (round-leaved ground-
Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea sel)
3-4’) Senna marilandica (wild senna)
Ilex verticillata cultivars (winterberry 4-6’) Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)
Neviusia alabamensis (Alabama snowreath Verbena canadensis (rose verbena)
6-8’) Verbesina helianthoides (yellow wingstem)
Ostrya virginiana (hop hornbeam 15-20’
Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry Small Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
3-4’, thorns) Andrachne phyllanthoides (Missouri maid-
Staphylea trifoliata (bladderpod 6-8’) enbush)
Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum Ilex decidua (possum haw)
5-7’) Juniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar)
Viburnum molle (Kentucky viburnum 6-8’) Physocarpus opulifolius (ninebark)
Ptelea trifoliata (wafer ash)

Bladdernut (Staphylea trifoliata) forms a Shining bluestar (Amsonia illustris)
dense screen with dark green leaves and hedge along walkway.
lime-green seed pods in summer.

29

Cercis canadensis (redbud) Carex lurida (sallow sedge)
Quercus meuhlenbergii (chinquapin oak) Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge)
Chasmanthium latifolium (creek oats)
Ferns:
Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern)
Acidic Soils (pH of 5.5 or lower) Athyrium filix-femina (lady fern)
Athyrium pycnocarpon (narrow-leaved
Grasses and Sedges:
spleenwort)
Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
Cystopteris fragilis (fragile fern)
Andropogon virginica (broomsedge)
Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern)
Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem)
Thelypteris hexagonoptera (broad beech
Carex hirsutella (fuzzy-wuzzy sedge)
fern)
Juncus biflorus (bog rush)
Woodsia obtusa (common wood fern)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Perennials:
Perennials:
Actaea pachypoda (dolls eyes)
Amsonia illustris (shining bluestar)
Arisaema dracontium (green dragon)
Chrysopsis camporum (golden aster)
Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the pulpit)
Coreopsis lanceolata (lance-leaf coreopsis)
Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard)
Juncus tenuis (path rush)
Asarum canadense (wild ginger)
Lespedeza virginica (slender lespedeza)
Aster drummondii (Drummond aster)
Lespedeza violacea (violet lespedeza)
Cacalia atriplicifolia (pale Indian plantain)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Cacalia muehlenbergii (great Indian plan-
Parthenium integrifolium (wild quinine)
tain)
Penstemon digitalis (smooth beard-tongue)
Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)
Solidago nemoralis (old field goldenrod)
Claytonia virginica (spring beauty)
Tephrosia virginiana (goats beard)
Collinsia verna (blue-eyed Mary)
Verbesina helianthoides (yellow wingstem)
Delphinium tricorne (dwarf larkspur)
Erigeron philadelphicus (Philadelphia flea-
Trees and shrubs:
bane)
Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry)
Erigeron philadelphicus (Philadelphia flea-
bane)
Itea virginica (Virginia sweet-spire)
Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)
Polygonella americana (jointweed)
Maianthemum racemosum (Solomon’s
Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak)
plume)
Nyssa sylvatica (black gum)
Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells)
Rhododendron prinophyllum (mountain
azalea)
Osmorhiza longistylis (sweet Cicely)
Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine)
Phacelia purshii (Miami mist)
Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple)
Polemonium reptans (Jacob’s ladder)
Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon’s seal)
Full Shade with Rich Moist Soil Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)
(all-day shade) Senecio aureus (golden groundsel)
Solidago flexicaulis (broad-leaved golden-
Grasses and sedges: rod)
Carex grayii (bur sedge) Solidago rugosa (rough-leaved goldenrod)
Carex jamesii (grass sedge) Spigelia marilandica (Indian pink)


Stylophorum diphyllum (celandine poppy) Perennials:
Tradescantia ernestiana (Palmer’s spider- Anemone virginiana (thimbleweed)
wort) Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine)
Tradescantia subaspera (zigzag spider- Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard)
wort) Asarum canadense (wild ginger)
Uvularia grandiflora (bellwort) Asclepias purpurascens (purple milkweed)
Viola pubescens (yellow violet) Aster anomalus (soft blue aster)
Viola striata (cream violet) Aster oblongifolius (aromatic aster)
Aster patens (purple daisy)
Small Flowering Trees and Shrubs: Aster turbinellus (prairie aster)
Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) Baptisia bracteata (cream wild indigo)
Aesculus glabra (Ohio buckeye) Blephilia ciliata (Ohio horsemint)
A. pavia (red buckeye) Camassia scilloides (wild hyacinth)
Aralia spinosa (Hercules’ club) Campanula americana (American bellflow-
Lindera benzoin (spicebush) er)
Magnolia acuminata (cucumbertree) Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh)
Sambucus racemosa (red-berried elder- Claytonia virginica (spring beauty)
berry) Delphinium exaltatum (tall larkspur)
Delphinium tricorne (dwarf larkspur)
Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)
Erigeron pulchellus (robin’s plantain)
Part Shade with Dry Soil Gentiana andrewsii (bottle gentian)
(morning or afternoon shade)
Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)
Heuchera parviflora (downy alumroot)
Grasses and Sedges:
Heuchera villosa (alumroot)
Carex albicans (oak sedge)
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal)
Carex eburnea (ivory sedge)
Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris)
Carex grayi (globe sedge)
Melica nitens (tall melic grass)
Carex jamesii (grass sedge)
Monarda bradburiana (Bradbury beebalm)
Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge)
Osmorhiza longistylis (sweet Cicely)
Chasmanthium latifolium (creek oats)
Penstemon pallidus (pale beard-tongue)
Diarrhena obovata (American beakgrain)
Phlox divaricata (wild sweet William)
Elymus hystrix (bottlebrush grass)
Phlox paniculata (garden phlox)
Polemonium reptans (Jacob’s ladder)
Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon’s seal)

Dry woodlands
often have
naturally grow-
ing white oak,
post oak, chin-
quapin oak,
and shagbark
hickory.

31

Polygonum virginianum (Virginia knot- Elymus hystrix (bottlebrush grass)
weed) Elymus virginicus (woodland wild rye)
Porteranthus stipulatus (Indian physic)
Pycnanthemum albescens (white moun- Perennials:
tain mint) Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine )
Scutellaria incana (hoary skullcap) Aster drummondii (Drummond aster)
Scutellaria ovata (heart-leaved skullcap) Campanula americana (Amer. bellflower)
Sedum ternatum (wild stonecrop) Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)
Senecio obovatus (round-leaved ground- Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)
sel) Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells
Senna marilandica (wild senna) Phlox divaricata (wild sweet William)
Silene stellata (starry campion) Phlox paniculata (meadow phlox)
Solidago caesia (blue-stemmed goldenrod) Polemonium reptans (Jacob’s ladder)
Solidago flexicaulis (zigzag goldenrod) Scutellaria incana (downy skullcap)
Solidago ulmifolia (elmleaf goldenrod) Solidago caesia (blue-stem goldenrod)
Spigelia marilandica (Indian pink) Solidago flexicaulis (zig-zag goldenrod)
Stylophorum diphyllum (celandine poppy) Stylophorum diphyllum (wood poppy)
Tradescantia subaspera (zig-zag spider- Tradescantia ernestiana (Palmer’s spider-
wort) wort)
Uvularia grandiflora (bellwort) Viola pubescens (yellow violet)
Verbesina helianthoides (yellow wingstem) Viola sororia (common violet)
Zizia aurea (golden Alexander) Viola striata (cream violet)

Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry)
Bumelia lanuginosa (gum bumelia)
Callicarpa americana (beautyberry)
Carpinus caroliniana (hornbeam)
Cercis canadensis (redbud)
Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)
C. florida (flowering dogwood)
Dirca palustris (leatherwood)
Neviusia alabamensis (Alabama snow
wreath)
Ostrya virginiana (hop hornbeam)
Viburnum molle (Kentucky viburnum)
V. prunifolium (northern blackhaw)
V. rufidulum (rusty blackhaw)

Wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) and
Woodland Plants that Spread Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) spread
by Seed from seed in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden.

Dry Soils:
Grasses and Sedges:
Bromus pubescens (woodland brome)
Chasmanthium latifolium (river oats)
Diarrhena obovata (beak grass)


Well-drained Dry or Rocky Soil Phlox bifida (sand phlox)
(full sun) Phlox pilosa (hairy phlox)
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (slender moun-
Grasses and Sedges: tain mint)
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) Ratibida columnifera (Mexican hat)
Koeleria macrantha (June grass) Rudbeckia missouriensis (Missouri black-
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) eyed Susan)
Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Ruellia humilis (hairy wild petunia)
Salvia azurea (pitcher sage)
Perennials: Sedum pulchellum (widow’s cross)
Allium cernuum (nodding wild onion) Senecio plattensis (prairie ragwort)
Allium stellatum (fall glade onion) Silene caroliniana (wild pink)
Amorpha canescens (leadplant) Silene regia (royal catchfly)
Amsonia ciliata var. filifolia (feathery blue Silene virginica (fire pink)
star) Silphium terebinthinaceum (prairie dock)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly flower) Solidago gattingeri (Gattinger’s goldenrod)
Aster oblongifolius (aromatic aster) Taenidia integerrima (yellow pimpernel)
Aster oolentangiensis (sky blue aster) Talinum calycinum* (rock pink)
Aster paludosus (prairie aster) Trichostema dichotomum* (blue curls)
Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo) Verbena canadensis (rose verbena)
Calamintha arkansana (calamint) Yucca glauca (soapweed yucca)
Callirhoe digitata (fringed poppy mallow)
Castilleja coccinea (Indian paintbrush) Annuals*
Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea)
star) Small Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Clematis fremontii (Fremont’s leather flow- Callicarpa americana (beautyberry)
er) Cercis canadensis (redbud)
Dalea candida (white prairie clover) Chionanthus virginicus (fringetree)
Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) Corylus americana (Hazelnut)
Delphinium carolinianum (Carolina lark- Cotinus obovatus (Smoke tree)
spur) Juniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar)
Echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower) Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)
Echinacea simulata (glade coneflower)
Erysimum capitatum* (western wallflower)
Hedyotis longifolia (longleaf bluet)
Liatris mucronata (bottlebrush blazingstar) Resistance to Deer Browse
Manfreda virginica (American aloe)
Marshallia caespitosa (Barbara’s buttons) Most Resistant:
Oenothera macrocarpa (Missouri evening
primrose) Achillea millefolium (yarrow)
Palafoxia callosa* (palafoxia) Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern)
Parthenium hispidum (American feverfew) Agastache nepetoides (giant hyssop)
Penstemon cobaea (showy beard-tongue)
Penstemon pallidus (pale beard-tongue)

33

Allium stellatum (fall glade onion) Somewhat Resistant to deer browse:
Amsonia ciliata (feathery bluestar)
Amsonia illustris (shining bluestar) Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine)
Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly flower)
Asclepias viridis (spider milkweed) Aster oblongifolius (aromatic aster)
Carex annectens (yellow-fruited fox Aster oolentangiensis (sky blue aster)
sedge) Aster patens (purple daisy)
Carex muskingumensis (palm sedge) Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo)
Carex stricta (tussock sedge) Blephilia ciliata (Ohio horsemint)
Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains coreopsis) Chelone obliqua (rose turtlehead)
Delphinium exaltatum (tall larkspur) Coreopsis lanceolata (lance-leaved core-
Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master) opsis)
Erysimum capitatum (western wallflower) Echinacea simulata (glade coneflower)
Helenium autumnale (autumn sneeze- Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye)
weed) Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye weed)
Hibiscus lasiocarpos (woolly rose mallow) Grindelia lanceolata (gum plant)
Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris) Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian sun-
Iris virginica (blue flag iris) flower)
Juncus effusus (soft rush) Heliopsis helianthoides (false sunflower)
Monarda bradburiana (Bradbury beebalm) Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)
Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) Liatris pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)
Palafoxia callosa (palafoxia) Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower)
Panicum virgatum (switch grass) Lobelia siphilitica (blue lobelia)
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant) Mimulus ringens (monkeyflower)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
fern) Penstemon digitalis (smooth beard-
Pycnanthemum pilosum (hairy mountain tongue)
mint) Phlox paniculata (garden phlox)
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (slender Polemonium reptans (Jacob’s ladder)
mountain mint) Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower)
Pycnanthemum virginianum (mountain Rudbeckia subtomentosa (sweet cone-
mint) flower)
Salvia azurea (pitcher sage) Ruellia humilis (hairy wild petunia)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) Silene regia (royal catchfly)
Scutellaria incana (hoary skullcap) Solidago caesia (blue-stemmed golden-
Scutellaria ovata (heart-leaved skullcap) rod)
Sedum ternatum (wild stonecrop) Solidago drummondii (cliff goldenrod)
Senecio obovatus (round-leaved ground- Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod)
sel) Solidago riddellii (Riddell’s goldenrod)
Senna marilandica (wild senna) Stylophorum diphyllum (celandine poppy)
Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Vernonia arkansana (Arkansas ironweed)
Verbena canadensis (rose verbena) Veronicastrum virginicum (culver’s root)
Verbesina helianthoides (yellow wing- Zizia aurea (golden Alexander)
stem)


Native Vines

Aristolochia tomentosa* (wooly pipe-vine)
Berchemia scandans** (supplejack)
Bignonia capreolata* (crossvine)
Brunnichia ovata* (ladies eardrops)
Campsis radicans* (trumpet creeper)
Celastrus scandens* ** (American bitter-
sweet)
Clematis pitcheri (Pitcher’s leather flower)
Clematis versicolor (pale leather flower)
Cocculus carolinus (Carolina moonseed)
Lonicera flava (yellow honeysuckle)
Matalea decipiens (climbing milkweed)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia* (Virginia
creeper)
Passiflora incarnata* (passionflower)
Passiflora lutea (yellow passionflower)
Rosa setigera (prairie rose, may be
trained like a vine)
Wisteria frutescens* (wisteria)

*Aggressive spreading, isolate or plant in
container

**Dioecious: Male and female flowers on
separate plants. Requires one male and
one female plant for fruit production.

Prairie Plants
see Chapter 1: Reconstructing
Tallgrass Prairies

Rain Garden Plants
see Chapter 2: Rain Gardening and
Stormwater Managment

Invasive Plants
see Chapter 3: Control and ID of
Invasive Species

Gardening with Native Plants - A Gardener’s Guide for Missouri

Gardening with Native Plants - A Gardener’s Guide for Missouri

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