1) Rhynchospora colorata, White Topped Sedge. Inconspicuous wetlands sedge, until it blooms.
2) Hypoxis hirsuta, Eastern Yellow Star Grass. A great border plant. Spreads by cloning rhizomes. Tolerates all but complete shade.
3) Solanum americanum, American Black nightshade. I have yet to find a spot this guy won't grow. Perfect for those spots you haven't had any success with any other plant.
4) Cuphea hyssopifolia, Mexican False Heather. While slightly out of native range, this plant makes for an excellent border plant and is loved by pollinators. Not a prolific spreader, though it can reseed.
5) Centaurea americana, American Basket Flower. I mean, just look at this thing. Readily reseeds, a favorite of bumblebees. Grows tall and is drought tolerant. Easily my favorite.
6) Nothoscordum bivalve, False Garlic. For when nothing else is blooming, this guy will. Witb a wide spread yet it still plays nice with others.
7) Sisyrinchium spp, Blue eyed grass. Such a beautiful little "grass" this is actually a member of the lily family. Tolerant of all but the deepest shade and heaviest foot traffic. This is not a prolific spreader in my experience but I wish it was. Adds some subtle flowers to your early spring rotation.
8) Bidens Alba, Common Beggartick. Yeah, this thing sucks for a lot of reasons. But it's an amazing treat for pollinators. This will grow in fields, sidewalk cracks, gaps in brick mortar, and your Nana's ear if you let it. I feel no pain in pulling them up because I know there will always be more.
by GumboDiplomacy
3 Comments
I do love wayside flowers
Basketflowers make seeds like crazy. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of deadheaded flowers full of seeds. Every fall and early spring I just walk around the neighborhood throwing seed heads into abandoned lots and road sides. They are taking well and beginning to spread!
Slightly out of native range – aka exotic. I have that cuphea in my florida garden too, but I’m not going to put it in a made-up category of “almost native”.