Native Plant Spotlight

Black Cherry, Blue-eyed Grass, Sweetspire

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Black Cherry- Prunus serotina

Black cherries are a fantastic native tree for attracting wildlife.  Its white flowers bloom from April to May and its dark fruit is a source of food for many birds and small mammals.
Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home listed this tree as one of the best plants to support wildlife, as the native insects that eat the fruits are a source of food for birds and mammals.  The cherry tree genus ranks 3rd in butterfly and moth support because of its foliage.

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Blue-eyed Grass- Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Blue-eyed grass is a bright an attractive late-spring blooming perennial with vibrant purple flowers.  Don’t let the name fool you!  This plant is actually part of the iris family, and is not actually a grass.

Sweetspire- Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’

Sweetspire is a highly tolerant, small deciduous shrub with bright green foliage in summer and a deep red in fall.  This shrub can tolerate a variety of conditions including heavy shade, clay soil, and wet soil, as well as help with erosion control.