Wisconsin Native
Showing 13–16 of 103 results
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Asarum canadense syn. Hexastylis canadense Wild ginger Z 3-7
brown bells with flared tips hide under this groundcover's lacquered, round leaves
Asarum canadense syn. Hexastylis canadense Wild ginger Z 3-7
Concealed brown bells with flared tips hide under this groundcover’s crinkled, lacquered, round leaves.Size: 6" x 6" spreading
Care: part shade to shade, moist well-drained soil
Native: Canada to North Carolina, Wisconsin nativeNative Americans used Wild ginger for such diverse purposes as flavoring food, cure heart palpitations, induce menstrual cycles, cure “the bite of the serpent,” mend broken bones and lure catfish. Colonists used the plant to break fever and stimulate the appetite.
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Asclepias incarnata Swamp milkweed Z 3-9
pink umbels, like an upside down ballerina’s skirt
Asclepias incarnata Swamp milkweed Z 3-9
Fragrant medium pink umbels, like an upside down ballerina’s skirt, July – September.Size: 3’-4’ x 2-3’
Care: Sun in moist to moist well-drained soil, deer resistant
Native: North America – all states (except along the Pacific coast) & eastern half of Canada, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: host for Monarch caterpillars, flowers are source of nectar for several butterfliesNamed after Asclepias, a Greek god of medicine. Native American groups used Swamp milkweed – Chippewa to increase their strength & the stems made into twine; Iroquois to heal navels in babies, to increase or decrease urine and to make a person strong enough to punish witches; Meskwaki to drive out tapeworms; and Menominee used it as an ingredient in food – added to deer soup & cornmeal mush. Listed as growing in England in Miller’s Gardeners’ Dictionary, 1768. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.
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Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed, Pleurisy-root Z 4-9
striking orange cymes in July-August
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed, Pleurisy-root Z 4-9
Striking orange cymes in July-August on this American native.Size: 2-3' x 12"
Care: Sun in moist well-drained to dry soil, Drought tolerant & deer resistant
Native: East and south North America, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: host for Monarch & Gray hairstreak butterfly caterpillars.Omaha Indian’s Shell Society took 4 days to dig, prepare and distribute the root to cure bronchial and pulmonary ailments. Most important medicine for the Menomonie. Iroquois smashed the root on runner’s legs to give them strength. Butterfly weed cured flu and remedied coyote bites for the Iroquios. 1st collected for gardens by Rev. John Banister in colonial Virginia in 1678 He died when he bent over to collect a plant and a gunman mistakenly shot him. Jefferson grew this at Monticello.
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Aster azureus syn. Symphyotricum oolentangiense var. oolentangiense Sky blue aster Z 3-9
Showy true cornflower-blue daisies in August-October
Showy true cornflower-blue daisies in August-October
Size: 2-3’ x 2’
Care: full sun to part shade in any soil
Native: NY to SD, FL to TX incl. WI
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.Collected before 1889.
