Phlox (Polemoniaceae). Genus: Phlox (P. subulata). Height: 6–9 inches. Ornamental Attributes: “Magnificent mantles of fluorescent pink, white and blue radiate from hills, roadsides and gardens everywhere in this country.”60 Needle-like foliage forms carpets. Cultivation: Sun. Well-drained soil. Note: See John Bartram note in the appendix. Nature Note: The Xerces Society recommends Phlox species as nectar plants for adult butterflies. Swallowtails, sulfurs, skippers, and native moths seek the nectar. Phlox species host native moths such as the spotted straw moth (Heliothis phloxiphagus) and the olive arches moth (Lacinipolia olivacea). The pollen attracts small syrphid flies. Specialist bugs include the phlox scarlet plant bug (Lopidea davisi). This genus attracts seed-eating birds.
Moss phlox (Phlox subulata)
CANADA GERMANDER, AMERICAN GERMANDER, WOOD SAGE. Family: Mint (Labiatae, Lamiaceae). Genus: Teucrium (T. canadense). Height: 3 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Spikes of lavender or pink, purple-spotted flowers late spring to late summer. Cultivation: Sun/light shade. Medium moist or average garden soil. Nature Note: Native mints attract nectar-seeking butterflies, skippers, long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, beneficial flies, beetles, plant bugs, and other interesting and beneficial insects. Also: SMOOTH HEDGENETTLE, p. 91.
Canada germander (Teucrium canadense)
SWEET CICELY. Family: Parsley/Carrot (Apiaceae, Umbelliferae). Genus: Osmorhiza (O. claytonii). Height: 2 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Clusters of tiny white flowers May, June. “The delicate fern-like leaves of the Sweet Cicely in early spring carpet the forest floor in open sunny woodlands.”61 Anise- or licorice-scented roots. Cultivation: Shade. Medium moist, or average garden soil. Nature Note: Members of the Parsley family are the sole hosts plants for the Missouri/Ozark woodland swallowtail (Papilio joanae) (p. 34) and the parsnip/black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) (p. 34). A variety of carrot/parsley species extends the breeding season for these butterflies. The flowers attract nectar-seeking and pollen-collecting bees, flies, and other beneficial insects.
Sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)
More Native Alternatives:
GREEK VALERIAN, p. 10; NORTHERN BEDSTRAW, p. 20.
Nonnative:
GLOBEFLOWER. Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae). Genus: Trollius; ASIAN GLOBEFLOWER (T. asiaticus); CHINESE GLOBEFLOWER (T. Chinensis); COMMON GLOBEFLOWER (T. europaeus). There are hybrids and cultivars including HYBRID GLOBEFLOWER (T. × cultorum). Origin: China, Europe. Height: 2–3 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Showy, solitary globular yellow flowers. Foliage is lobed and dark green. Cultivation: Sun/partial shade. Heavy moist soil.
Common globeflower (Trollius europaeus)
Native Alternative:
AMERICAN GLOBEFLOWER. Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae). Genus: Trollius (T. laxus). Height: 1–2 feet. Ornamental Attributes: Yellow flowers April to June. Cultivation: Sun. Wet soil. Note: In the Midwest, native only to Ohio.
More Native Alternatives:
CELANDINE POPPY, p. 21; MARSH MARIGOLD, p. 22.
Nonnative:
GLORY-OF-THE-SNOW. Family: Lily (Liliaceae). Genus: Chionodoxa (C. luciliae, C. forbesii). Origin: Asia Minor. Height: 4–6 inches. Ornamental Attributes: White-centered blue early spring flowers. Cultivation: Sun. Well-drained soil. Aggressive, self-seeding ephemeral. Invasiveness Note: Naturalized or invasive in parts of the Midwest.
Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbesii Baker syn. Chionodoxa luciliae)
Native Alternative:
TOADFLAX, BLUE TOADFLAX, CANADA TOADFLAX, OLD FIELD TOADFLAX. Family: Snapdragon/Figwort (Scrophulariaceae; Plantaginaceae). Genus: Nuttallanthus or Linaria (N. or L. canadensis). Height: 6–24 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Small tubular blue or violet flowers April to September. Masses create a haze of blue. Cultivation: Sun. Dry or rocky soil. Self-seeding biennial. Note: Endangered in parts of the Midwest. Nature Note: Hosts the buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia). Attracts nectar-seeking adult butterflies and skippers. Bumblebees and other long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators. Notes: Do not confuse with invasive toadflax from Europe (L. vulgaris). See Thomas Nuttall and John Josselyn notes in the appendix.
Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis)
More Native Alternatives:
BLUE-EYED GRASSES, p. 44; BLUETS, p. 32; HEPATICAS, pp. 51–52; SHOOTING STARS, p. 66; SNOW TRILLIUM, p. 67; SPRING BEAUTY, p. 65; VIOLET WOODSORREL, p. 72; YELLOW STAR-GRASS, p. 35.
Nonnative:
GRAPE HYACINTH, ARMENIAN HYACINTH, COMMON HYACINTH. Family: Lily (Liliaceae). Genus: Muscari Mill. (M. armeniacum, M. botryoides). There are many species and cultivars. Origin: Greece, Armenia. Height: 6–8 inches. Ornamental Attributes: Spikes of blue flowers April, May. Cultivation: Sun. Well-drained soil. Aggressive self-seeding ephemeral that is difficult to eradicate. Invasiveness Note: Grape hyacinth species are naturalized or invasive throughout most of the Midwest.
