Longwood Park Pollinator Habitat & Native Plant Garden

Patience is a virtue…

Establishment of a native plant garden is a long-term investment towards sustainability practices and creating a habitat and food-source for pollinators and other species. These areas require less maintenance over the lifetime of the garden; however, the first few years of maintenance are critical for the fledgling plants as they are competing with other weed species that grow very quickly.

Most of these native perennials devote the first years of their lives creating and establishing their vast root systems which will ensure their viability and longevity to outcompete other annual/biennial weeds. Because there is little energy put towards the foliage and flowers during their first years, these native gardens may not have the “wow factor” until they become established. So, there may be a period where this naturalized area will look slightly weedy and unkept; however, with time and proper management of this garden, these natives will reward us with a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors, textures, food sources and biodiversity quintessential for a naturalized garden that not only looks good, but also serves as a way of helping our pollinator friends.

Thanks for your support and your patience!

Species List

Scientific name (Common Name)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed)
Aster laevis (Smooth Aster)
Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster)
Aster oblongifolius (Aromatic Aster)
Aster pilosus (Heath Aster)
Aster prenanthoides (Zigzag Aster)
Baptisia australis (False Indigo)
Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats Gramma)
Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor’s Button)
Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea)
Chrysanthemum maximum (Shasta Daisy)
Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Tickseed)
Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains Tickseed)
Delphinium ajacis (Rocket Larkspur)
Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William)
Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower)
Elymus virginicus (Virginia Wildrye)
Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Lovegrass)
Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master)
Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)
Heliopsis helianthoides (Oxeye Sunflower)
Lespedeza capitata (Roundhead Bushclover)
Liatris spicata (Blazing Star)
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)
Oenothera fruticosa (Sundrops)
Papaver rhoeas (Red Poppy)
Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Narrowleaf Mountainmint)
Ratibida pinnata (Gray-Headed Coneflower)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-Eyed Susan)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
Senna hebecarpa (Wild Senna)
Solidago bicolor (White Goldenrod)
Solidago juncea (Early Goldenrod)
Solidago nemoralis (Gray Goldenrod)
Solidago odora (Sweet Goldenrod)
Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio Spiderwort)
Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander)

Additional Links

US Department of Agriculture
Virginia Native Plant Society
VA Department of Conservation & Recreation