25 native Ohio species selected for easy seed collection, pollinator value, and future propagation across the 93-acre property. All species are native to Ohio or the broader eastern US — no invasives.
Back Row (5-8 ft tall)
| # | Species | Scientific Name | Type | Bloom | Seed Collection | Propagation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cup plant | Silphium perfoliatum | Perennial | July-Sept | Fall — large seeds in dried heads | Division, seed |
| 2 | Sweet Joe Pye weed | Eutrochium purpureum | Perennial | July-Sept | Fall — fluffy seed heads | Division, seed |
| 3 | Prairie dock | Silphium terebinthinaceum | Perennial | July-Sept | Fall — large seeds on tall stalks | Seed (slow to establish) |
| 4 | Tall coreopsis | Coreopsis tripteris | Perennial | July-Sept | Fall — small seeds in dried heads | Division, seed |
| 5 | Wild senna | Senna hebecarpa | Perennial | July-Aug | Fall — rattling seed pods | Seed (scarify first) |
Middle-Back Row (3-5 ft tall)
| # | Species | Scientific Name | Type | Bloom | Seed Collection | Propagation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sunflower (native) | Helianthus annuus | Annual | July-Sept | Fall — large discs full of seeds | Seed |
| 7 | Blue false indigo | Baptisia australis | Perennial | May-June | Fall — black rattling pods | Seed (scarify), division |
| 8 | Rattlesnake master | Eryngium yuccifolium | Perennial | June-Aug | Fall — spiky seed heads | Seed |
| 9 | Anise hyssop | Agastache foeniculum | Perennial | June-Sept | Fall — aromatic spike seeds | Seed, division |
| 10 | Stiff goldenrod | Solidago rigida | Perennial | Aug-Oct | Late fall — flat-topped seed clusters | Division, seed |
Middle-Front Row (1-3 ft tall)
| # | Species | Scientific Name | Type | Bloom | Seed Collection | Propagation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Purple coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Perennial | June-Aug | Fall — spiky seed cones | Division, seed |
| 12 | Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | Short-lived perennial | June-Sept | Fall — dark cone heads | Seed (self-sows) |
| 13 | Wild bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | Perennial | July-Sept | Fall — seed heads like bee balm | Division, seed |
| 14 | Blanket flower | Gaillardia pulchella | Annual/short-lived | June-frost | Summer-fall — fuzzy seed heads | Seed |
| 15 | Butterfly weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Perennial | June-Aug | Fall — milkweed pods with silk | Seed, root cuttings |
| 16 | Mountain mint | Pycnanthemum virginianum | Perennial | July-Sept | Fall — silvery seed heads | Division, seed |
| 17 | Golden alexanders | Zizia aurea | Perennial | April-June | Summer — umbel seed heads | Seed (cold stratify) |
| 18 | Partridge pea | Chamaecrista fasciculata | Annual | July-Sept | Fall — seed pods | Seed (self-sows) |
Front/Edge Row (under 1 ft tall)
| # | Species | Scientific Name | Type | Bloom | Seed Collection | Propagation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Wild columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | Perennial | April-May | Summer — dangling seed pods | Seed (self-sows) |
| 20 | Wild blue phlox | Phlox divaricata | Perennial | April-June | Summer — capsule seeds | Division, seed |
| 21 | Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis | Perennial | March-April | Late spring — elongated capsules | Division, seed (ant-dispersed) |
| 22 | Marsh marigold | Caltha palustris | Perennial | April-May | Late spring — follicle seeds | Division, seed |
| 23 | Jewelweed | Impatiens capensis | Annual | July-Sept | Late summer — exploding pods | Seed (self-sows aggressively) |
| 24 | Wild petunia | Ruellia humilis | Perennial | June-Sept | Fall — exploding seed capsules | Seed, division |
| 25 | Wild bean/hog peanut | Amphicarpaea bracteata | Annual | Aug-Sept | Fall — small pods | Seed |
Type: In-ground bed, approximately 10×20 ft Orientation: Tall species on north side so they don’t shade shorter plants Soil: Amend with compost at planting. Most species prefer average to lean soil — don’t over-fertilize natives.
Moisture placement:
- Marsh marigold and jewelweed on the downhill/wet edge where water collects
- Bloodroot and wild blue phlox on the north side where tall plants cast afternoon shade (woodland edge species)
- Everything else in full sun
Irrigation: Netafim Techline CV at 12" spacing, surface under mulch. Most native perennials need irrigation only during establishment (first 1-2 seasons), then can be disconnected.
When to collect: Wait until seed heads are fully dry and brown on the plant. Seeds should be hard and dark. If you can shake the head and hear rattling, they’re ready.
How to collect: Cut the entire seed head with 6" of stem. Place upside down in a paper bag. Label with species name and date. Let dry for 1-2 weeks in a cool, dry place.
Storage: Clean seeds by rubbing dried heads over a screen or into a bowl. Store in labeled paper envelopes (not plastic — moisture causes mold). Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. Most native seeds remain viable 2-5 years.
Cold stratification: Many native Ohio species need 60-90 days of cold/moist treatment before germination. Species requiring stratification: golden alexanders, wild columbine, bloodroot, blue false indigo, rattlesnake master, butterfly weed. Method: mix seeds with damp sand in a zip bag, refrigerate Dec-Feb, sow in spring.
Self-sowing species (minimal effort): Black-eyed Susan, partridge pea, jewelweed, wild columbine, blanket flower. These will naturalize on their own once established.
This garden provides continuous bloom from March through October:
| Month | What’s Blooming |
|---|---|
| March-April | Bloodroot, marsh marigold |
| April-May | Wild columbine, wild blue phlox, golden alexanders |
| May-June | Blue false indigo, golden alexanders |
| June-July | Purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, butterfly weed, blanket flower, wild bergamot, rattlesnake master, mountain mint |
| July-Aug | Cup plant, Joe Pye weed, wild senna, anise hyssop, sunflower, tall coreopsis, partridge pea, jewelweed |
| Aug-Oct | Stiff goldenrod, wild petunia, asters (nearby) |
Host plants included: Butterfly weed (monarchs), golden alexanders (black swallowtail), wild senna (cloudless sulphur), partridge pea (cloudless sulphur), sunflower (silvery checkerspot).
Ohio-based native plant nurseries:
| Nursery | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Prairie Nursery | Hiram, OH | Plugs and seeds, Ohio ecotype |
| Scioto Gardens | Delaware, OH | Good selection of woodland natives |
| Prairie Moon Nursery | Winona, MN | Large catalog, ships bare-root and seed |
| Grosse Gardens | Novelty, OH | Perennials and natives |
| Natives in Harmony | Wadsworth, OH | Ohio-grown native plugs |
Prefer Ohio ecotype seed/plants when available — these are genetically adapted to local conditions and support local pollinator populations.