Wisconsin Native
Showing 17–24 of 104 results
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Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed, Pleurisy-root Z 4-9
Gorgeous - July - September bright orange cymes
Gorgeous – July – September bright orange cymes
Size: 2-3' x 12"
Care: Sun in moist well-drained to dry soil
Native: East and south North America, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Host for Monarch caterpillars and its nectar is a favorite for 13 different butterflies: 4 Swallowtails, 2 Fritillaries, Checkered white, Spring azure, Small copper, Sachem, Monarch, and Coral and Gray hairstreaks. Attracts Ladybugs that eat many insect pests.
Awards: Great Plants for Great Plains; Perennial Plant Assn. Plant of the Year 2017.Named after Asclepias, a Greek god of medicine. Omaha Indians ate the raw root to cure bronchial and pulmonary ailments, their Shell Society was the authorized guardian of the plant, taking 4 days to dig, prepare and distribute the root. Most important medicine for Menominee Indians. The Iroquois smashed roots on legs to impart strength to runners. Navajo cured coyote bites and flu with Butterfly weed. Millspaugh said used as “subtonic, diaphoretic, alternative, expectorant, diuretic, laxative, escharotic, carminative, anti-spasmodic, anti-pleuritic, stomachic, astringent, anti-rheumatic, anti-syphilitic and what not?” 1st collected by Rev. John Banister in colonial Virginia c. 1680. A gunman mistakenly shot and killed him while he collected plants. Used by natives for Bloody Flux; the Root must be powdered and given in a Spoonful of Rum, or rather as the Indians give it, bruise the Root, and boil it in Water, and drink the Decoction: Pehr Kalm saith it is excellent for the hysteric Passion.” HoChunk placed masticated root into wounds. Cultivated by Jefferson. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.
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Aster cordifolius syn. Symphyotrichum cordifolium Blue wood aster Z 3-8
Heart-shaped foliage smothered with blue daisies from late summer into fall, perfect companion for anemones.
Heart-shaped foliage smothered with blue daisies from late summer into fall, perfect companion for anemones.
Size: 2-3' x 2-3'
Care: Sun to full shade in moist well-drained to dry soil
Native: Canada to Florida, west to Oklahoma, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Aster species are nectar sources for many butterflies – Checkered white and Checkered skippers, Spring azure, Pearl crescent, Buckeye, Painted lady, Fiery skipper, Sachem, Sleepy orange, Silver-spotted skipper and Monarch.Winnebago used this in the sweat bath. 1st described by Jacques Philippe Cornut in 1635. Likely collected and transported to France by Samuel de Champlain. Grown in Jardin du Roi in Paris.
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Aster divaricatus syn. Eurybia divaricatus White wood aster Z 4-8
Loose white corymbs from August to October
Loose white corymbs from August to October
Size: 12" x 12" and spreading
Care: part shade to shade in moist well-drained to dry soil.
Native: East No. America Quebec to Alabama and west to Ohio
Wildlife Value: Aster species are nectar sources for many butterflies – Checkered white and Checkered skippers, Spring azure, Pearl crescent, Buckeye, Painted lady, Fiery skipper, Sachem, Sleepy orange, Silver-spotted skipper and Monarch.
Awards: Recipient Great Plant Pick Award from Elizabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden.Sold in America’s 1st plant catalog, Bartram’s Broadside, 1783. Gertrude Jekyll, mother of the perennial border, often used Aster divaricatus in combination with Bergenia. Collected by John Bartram before 1776.
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Aster novae angliae syn. Symphyotrichum New England Aster Z 4-8
Masses of violet, pink or magenta daisies cloak bushy New England asters from August to October.
Masses of violet, pink or magenta daisies cloak bushy New England asters from August to October.
Size: 3-5' x 24"
Care: Full sun dry to moist soil. Drought tolerant.
Native: Vt to Alabama, west to N. M., Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesIntroduced to gardens by Englishman Tradescant the Younger in 1637 when he carried it from Virginia Colony to England. Cultivated by George Washington.
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Aster oblongifolius syn. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Aromatic aster Z 3-8
Purplish blue daisies with yellow center blooming in September to November. Good, bushy mound shape.
Purplish blue daisies with yellow center blooming in September to November. Good, bushy mound shape.
Size: 1-2’ x 1-3’
Care: sun to shade in well-drained to moist well-drained soil
Native: Pennsylvania to No. Carolina west to Wyoming & Texas, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Bees collect pollen and nectar from it. Medium sized butterflies collect its nectar. Its leaves support Silvery checkerspot and some moth caterpillars, Deer resistant.
Size: Navajo made a decoction of this to protect against witches.Meriwether Lewis collected this on the Expedition September 21, 1804, the day after nearly being swept away while Lewis and the Corps of discovery slept on the eroding sandbar, near the Big Bend of the Missouri River in South Dakota. 1st described by planthunter Thomas Nuttall in 1818(1786-1879).
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Baptisia australis syn. Saphora australis False Indigo Z 3-9
Indigo blue racemes in June followed by ornamental black seed pods on this perennial that looks like a shrub. Internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013).
Indigo blue racemes in June followed by ornamental black seed pods on this perennial that looks like a shrub. Internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013).
Size: 3' x 3'
Care: Full sun sandy soil. Heat and drought tolerant, with no staking needed.
Native: Eastern United States, Wisconsin native.
Wildlife Value: Food source for several caterpillars and nectar for a number of butterflies.
Awards: Received England’s Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit. Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year Award, 2010. Missouri Botanic Garden Plant of MeritBaptisia is Greek meaning to dye referring to use of the plant as a substitute for indigo dye. Cherokee used Baptisia australis to cease mortification and cure toothaches. Collected by John Bartram, colonial nurseryman by 1748.
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Baptisia leucantha syn. Baptisia lacteata, Baptisia alba White Wild Indigo, Prairie wild indigo Z 3-9
Gorgeous creamy white flower spikes in May & June followed by pods.
Gorgeous creamy white flower spikes in May & June followed by pods.
Size: 3-5' x 2-3'
Care: full sun to part shade in rich well-drained soil.
Native: Wisconsin native – from Minnesota to Texas.
Wildlife Value: food source for several caterpillars and nectar for a number of butterflies.For the HoChunk “(t)he root is a single remedy to use for injured womb alone. Cook the root and mash it to form a poltice to bind on. Wash with water and draw out the inflammation.” Winnebago mashed cooked root to make a poltice applied to remedy inflammation of the womb. Baptisia is Greek meaning to dye referring to use of Baptisia australis as a substitute for indigo dye. Leucantha means white flowered.
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Baptisia sphaerocarpa Yellow wild indigo Z 5-8
Spikes of yellow pea-like flowers, a legume, in spring.
Spikes of yellow pea-like flowers, a legume, in spring.
Size: 2-3’ x 2-3’
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained to dry soil
Native: Missouri to Mississippi to TX
Awards: Missouri Botanic Garden Plant of Merit.Baptisia is Greek meaning “to dye” referring to use of Baptisia australis as a substitute for indigo dye. Sphaerocarpa means “round seed.” Collected by English planthunter Thomas Nuttall before 1834.
