There are cultivars. Origin: Iberia, now known as Spain. Height: 9–12 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Mounds of white (sometimes red or pink) flowers. Needle-like foliage on woody stems forms carpets. Cultivation: Sun. Well-drained soil. Mulching. Pruning. Self-seeds profusely. Invasiveness Note: Naturalized or invasive in parts of the Midwest.
Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
Native Alternatives:
ROCKCRESS, ALPINE ROCKCRESS, WALL ROCKCRESS. Family: Mustard/Cabbage (Brassicaceae, Cruciferae). Genus: Arabis (A. albida, A. alpina). Height: 12–18 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Mounds of white or pink spring and early summer flowers. Woolly gray-green evergreen foliage. Cultivation: Sun. Well-drained soil; LYRE-LEAVED ROCKCRESS, LYRATE ROCKCRESS (A. lyrata). Height: 4–16 inches. Ornamental Attributes: White flowers April to July. Cultivation: Sun. Dry soil. HAIRY ROCKCRESS (A. hirsuta). Height: 2 feet. Note: Some species of native rockcress are threatened or endangered in parts of the Midwest. Nature Note: Arabis species host many species of butterflies including the mustard white (Pieris oleracea), falcate orangetip (Anthocharis midea), olympia marble (Euchloe olympia), and checkered white (Pontia protodice). The pupae of falcate orangetip overwinter in the plants. The small flowers attract butterflies and other interesting and beneficial nectar- or pollen-seeking insects including bees, flower flies, and dance flies.
Rockcress (Arabis alpina)
Falcate orangetip (Anthocharis midea)
Checkered white (Pontia protodice)
Flower fly (Syrphidae)
NORTHERN BEDSTRAW, WILD BABY’S BREATH. Family: Madder, Bedstraw (Rubiaceae). Genus: Galium (G. boreale). Height: 6–40 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Showy clusters of tiny white flowers June, July. Whorls of small, needle-like leaves that are fragrant when dry. Cultivation: Sun/light shade. Dry to wet soils. Nature Note: Attracts flower flies and other small nectarseeking insects. Native Note: There are other native species. Nonnative Note: Do not confuse with nonnative invasive yellow bedstraw (G. verum).
Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)
GROUNDPLUM MILKVETCH. Family: Pea/Bean (Fabaceae). Genus: Milkvetch (Astragalus) (A. crassicarpus). Height: 6–15 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Purple/white flowers in April/May; reclining plant. Cultivation: Sun. Dry soil. Nature Note: Plants in the Pea family host butterflies and enrich the soil with nitrogen. Notes: See Thomas Nuttall note in the appendix. Endangered in parts of the Midwest.
More Native Alternatives:
COMMON CINQUEFOIL, p. 16; GOLDEN RAGWORT, p. 35; GREEK VALERIAN, p. 10; MOSS PHLOX, p. 48; WOODLAND STONECROP, pp. 132–33.
Groundplum milkvetch (Astragalus crassicarpus)
Nonnative:
CELANDINE. Family: Poppy (Papaveraceae). Genus: Chelidonium (C. majus). Origin: Europe, Asia. Height: 1–2 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Yellow flowers are smaller versions of celandine poppy. Cultivation: Light shade. Moist soil. Invasiveness Note: Naturalized or invasive throughout the Midwest.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Native Alternatives:
CELANDINE POPPY, WOOD POPPY, FLAMING POPPY. Family: Poppy (Papaveraceae). Genus: Stylophorum (S. diphyllum). Height: 1–2 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Fuzzy buds produce large yellow flowers March to May and occasionally in summer. Hairy oval seedpods. Deeply lobed leaves remain intact to fall. Broken stems produce yellow sap. “People are invariably drawn towards the plants regardless of other plants in flower at the time. One of the finest wild flowers for bright, effective spring color.”17 The yellow flowers provide a striking color contrast to VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS, which bloom at the same time (p. 18). Cultivation: Dappled sun/light shade. Medium moist and well-drained average garden soil. Nature Note: It is believed that bees pollinate the flowers. Ants are attracted to the seeds’ fleshy edible appendages (elaiosomes) and distribute the seeds. Mammalian herbivores avoid the foliage.
Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
MARSH MARIGOLD, COWSLIP. Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae). Genus: Caltha (C. palustris). Height: 8–24 inches. Ornamental Attributes: “Clusters of brilliant yellow flowers of the buttercup type.”18 April to June. Round, glossy leaves. The plant goes dormant in summer. Cultivation: Sun/part shade. Extremely moist or wet soil. Nature Note: The nectar and pollen primarily attract bees such as honeybees and beneficial insects, including the giant bee fly (Bombylius major). Two leaf beetles species are sometimes found on the foliage. Chipmunks (p. 14) eat the seeds but mammalian herbivores avoid the foliage.
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
More Native Alternatives:
BUTTERCUPS, p. 14; COMMON CINQUEFOIL, p. 16; GOLDEN RAGWORT, p. 35.
Nonnative:
COLUMBINE, ALPINE COLUMBINE. Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae). Genus: Aquilegia
