Driving along sandy roadsides and fields of the coastal plain in summer, it is always a delight to find our native Purple Passionflower, a deciduous vine with dark green, three-lobed leaves and exquisite, showy flowers and edible fruit. This vigorous vine is native to the southeastern US from Kansas to Pennsylvania and southward and to Florida and Texas. In Virginia, it is most common in the southeastern coastal plain and outer Piedmont. Occurring in both Lancaster and Northumberland Counties, it is one of the hardiest Passionflower species.
Read MoreServiceberries are one of our loveliest small native trees with multiple seasons of ornamental interest. In the Northern Neck, we have several species found in our area in a range of sizes to fit any garden. Amelanchier arborea, the Downy Serviceberry, is also called Juneberry, Shadblow and Shadbush among other names and is one of the most beautiful and common species.
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The lovely Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, goes by many common names, including Sweet Magnolia, Swamp Magnolia, Swamp Bay, Laurel, White Magnolia, and Beaver Tree to name just a few. Regardless of the name, it is a spectacular small tree in every season and we are lucky it is a common understory tree along coastal areas of the Northern Neck.
Read MoreFound from New York to Georgia, these graceful deciduous shrubs flaunt eye-catching clusters of tubular rosy pink flowers at the tips of their branches. The shrub is sometimes called Wild Honeysuckle because of the trumpet shaped flowers with deep rosy red floral tubes flaring out into five lighter pink petals, all crowned by long curving rosy stamens that protrude out beyond the petals, resembling honeysuckle blooms.
Read MoreThe White Oak, Quercus alba, is one of our most stately, magnificent native trees, and one of our longest-lived. Specimens have been documented to be over 450 years old - already mature before the birth of our country. White Oaks are probably the most common and widespread oak in Virginia and are one of the most adaptable, able to grow in a wide variety of habitats from dry upland forests and ridges to moist slopes and well drained bottomlands and swamp margins.
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The American Holly, Ilex opaca, is one our few broad-leaf evergreen trees in the Northern Neck and is a fabulous landscape plant for our gardens. They have long been a symbol of renewal and life during the depths of winter. Hollies light up the gray and brown winter landscape of our coastal woodlands with their lustrous green leaves that catch the winter light, and scarlet berries.
Read MoreViburnums are attractive and adaptable native shrubs with plenty of landscape interest throughout the year from showy spring flowers, to colorful fruit and fall foliage. Of the 11 species native to Virginia, the stunning Possum-haw or Southern Wild Raisin (Viburnum nudum) is perhaps our loveliest.
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Of the many garden-worthy goldenrods, our beautiful local Seaside Goldenrod, Solidago sempervirens is a standout.
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Viburnums are beautiful native shrubs or small trees with 11 species native to Virginia and four native to the Northern Neck. All are wonderful but the native Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) stands out on all counts, with its multi-season landscape interest from showy flowers to conspicuous fall fruit.
Read MoreSeveral of our native Lobelias are well loved and absolutely beautiful. Cardinal Flower with its brilliant red flower spikes, and Great Blue Lobelia with its crowded spires of deep blue flowers, are familiar to many gardeners. Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula), which is less well-known, graces roadside ditches, low and upland woods, riverbanks and other boggy or damp areas.
Read MoreSwamp Rose-mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), also known as Eastern or Crimson-eyed Rose-mallow and one of our showiest native wetland plants, is in full bloom right now. It is found in both freshwater and tidal marshes along our rivers and creeks, open marshes and other damp areas.
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Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa), probably the most popular garden milkweed, has incredibly showy, brilliant orange to red-orange and even yellow flowers. In June and July or sometimes later, large flat-topped clusters of brightly colored flowers top softly fuzzy stems.
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Fringetree is one of our most beautiful and under-used, small flowering trees. It is breathtaking in full bloom in May when clouds of dainty, silky-white flowers are held in drooping clusters at the ends of branches.
Read MoreGolden Ragwort (Packera aurea) is a spring-blooming native wildflower with a lot of ‘wow’ power!
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Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in our area and is found in moist woodlands and floodplains.
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Ilex verticillata, Winterberry Holly, is a wonderful deciduous shrub that lights up a winter garden with its brilliant red berries.
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Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) is the second-most common tree in the entire United States (the most common is the Red Maple). This fast-growing evergreen can be up to 100 feet in height, with a trunk up to four feet in diameter, but most trees are smaller.
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Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium x. marianum, a hybrid of V. fuscatum and V. formosum), are versatile native shrubs or small trees which provide four seasons of interest in eastern Virginia. They can grow 10 feet or more in height, often with several trunks. Young branches are light green with a zigzag pattern which is more obvious in winter after leaf fall.
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