Yup, the common name nails it, this is a tall white aster! I remember looking forward to this imposing plant as a child, knowing that school was...
Plants
Dryopteris marginalis-Marginal wood fern
Don't let the name fool you, the only thing "marginal" about this superb fern is the location of the sori on the pinnae. The sori, or spore bearing...
Echinacea pupurea-Purple coneflower
Purple coneflower is a species that is native to the Ozark and mid-western areas of our country and and can be found across MI, KY, TN, GA and into...
Eupatorium perfoliatum-Boneset
This is one of my favorite natives. The appearance of the plant is so intriguing; the stem seems to shoot right up through multiple whorls of...
Eurybia macrophylla-Big leaf aster
This is an ecotonal species; defined as the transitional area of vegetation between two plant communities. It grows on the edge of the field/ forest...
Eutrochium fistulosum-Hollow stem Joe Pye
This is a species that is confined to southern Maine. It's a lot shorter then spotted Joe Pye, getting about waist high instead of...
Eutrochium pupureum-Purple Joe Pye
This species of Joe pye is tolerant of much more shade than the previous two species. It can be found growing in the woods in wet to drier, mesic...
Fragaria virginiana-Wild strawberry
Tiny intensely sweet and flavorful berries come out in early summer. Once you eat a few precious hand-fulls you won't want to eat the store bought...
Geranium maculatum-Wild geranium
An ecotonal species, liking the area at the forest field edge or in a forested glade. Likes the shade but not too much, likes a bit of sun, but only...
Hamamelis virginiana-Witch hazel
Tall multi-stemmed understory shrub of deciduous forests. I have one growing in my front yard that started its life in shade, but is now in full sun...
Ilex verticilata-Winterberry
A common shrub of wetlands and poorly drained areas. I have a wonderful scrub-shrub/Black tupelo wetland in back of my house that is thickly...
Iris versicolor-Blue flag
When in bloom, you can't just walk by this blue flag, the mesmerizing purpley-blue color will have you staring in admiration for a few spell bound...
Juniperus communis-Pasture juniper
We native plant folks are always on our soapbox telling you "Don't plant this, plant this! You don't have to plant those non-native cultivar big box...
Larix laricina-Larch
This is a deciduous conifer; we associate conifers as being evergreen, like pines and hemlocks, but not this one. The needle shedding probably...
Lindera benzoin-Spicebush
Splendid medium to large shrub of shady forested wetlands. At the northern end of its range here in southern Maine, it's starting to pop up more and...
Lobelia cardinalis-Cardinal flower
Spectacular red spikes of flowers form in mid to late summer and are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. In the wild we find cardinal flower...
Lobelia siphilitica-Great blue lobelia
It is said that blue is one of the rarest colors in nature, so that makes great blue lobelia even more appealing with its stunning spikes (up to 4...
Monarda fistulosa-Wild bergamot
This versatile member of the mint family grows across much of North America in full sun to part shade sporting unique pinkish to purple flowers...
Oclemena acuminata-Sharp toothed nodding aster (NEW!)
Sharp toothed nodding aster is the "other" species of wood aster besides Eurybia. Often found growing singly or in loose colonies, this woodland...
Opuntia humifusa-Eastern prickly pear cactus
We have native cacti that are growing in northern New England. When you first read that statement, it's kind of a hard pill to swallow isn't it?...