Here is the list of plants we recommend as part of our Native Plants for Any Garden presentation. These are all plants that are native to southern Wisconsin and are commercially available. They are also species that are showy and tidy. There are several "bonus species" on these lists that are not included in the presentation due to time constraints.
Designator Key:
D = Prefer dry soils.
E = Spring Ephemeral: Will not tolerate “hard shade” of buildings or evergreens.
G = Groundcover.
J = Juglone tolerant. Can be planted under walnut.
W = Suitable for rain gardens wet spots, or clay soils.
Full Sun-- Over 8 hours of direct sunlight
prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) D
June grass (Koeleria macrantha)
nodding wild onion (Allium cernuum)
butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) D
harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) D
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
prairie spurge (Euphorbia corollata)
wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) G
bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) W
rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)
great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) W
Balsam ragwort (Packera pauperacula) G
prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa) D
Riddell's goldenrod (Solidago riddellii) W
silky aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum)
aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
flax leaved aster (Ionactis linariifolia) D
common spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
Part Shade-- 4-8 hours of direct sunlight
Springell's sedge (Carex sprengellii) J
ivory sedge (Carex eburnea) G J
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) G J
rosy sedge (Carex rosea) G J
Gray's sedge (Carex grayi) W J
bottlebrush grass (Elymus histrix) J
nodding wild onion (Allium cernuum) J
downy wood mint (Blephilia ciliata) J
American bellflower (Campanula americana) J
eastern shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) D
big leaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla) D G J
woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) G
wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) J
blue flag iris (Iris virginica) W
great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) E
woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) E
Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) W J
elm-leaved goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia) J
heart-leaved (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) J
Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) J
arrow-leaved (Symphyotrichum urophyllum) J
great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) E J
red trillium (Trillium recurvatum) E J
culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) W
culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum) W
“Full” Shade-- 1-4 hours of sunlight
Springell's sedge (Carex sprengellii) J
doll's eyes (Actea pachypoda)
red baneberry (Actea rubra)
wild ginger (Asarum canadense) G J
big leaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla) D G J
wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) J
Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) G W J
great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) E J
woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) E
elm-leaved goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia) J
heart-leaved (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) J
Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) J
arrow-leaved (Symphyotrichum urophyllum) J
great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) E J
Dense shade-- less than 1 hour of direct sunlight
cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) J
marginal shield fern (Dryopteris marginalis) W J
doll's eyes (Actaea pachypoda)
red baneberry (Actaea rubra)
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema atrorubens) J
wild ginger (Asarum canadense) G J
Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) E J
big leaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla) D G J
wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) J
bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) E J
bishop's cap (Mitella diphylla) J
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum) J
heart-leaved (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) J
Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) J
arrow-leaved (Symphyotrichum urophyllum) J
rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) E J
Small Shrubs
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
hazelnut (Corylus americana)
bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) D
Kalm’s St. John’s-wort (Hypericum kalmianum)
shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) W
black currant (Ribes americanum)
early wild rose (Rosa blanda)
Large Shrubs / Small Trees
downy serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana)
pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
downy hawthorn (Crataegus mollis)
witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
wild plum (Prunus americana)
arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
nannyberry viburnum (Viburnum lentago)
Large Shade Trees
sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
river birch (Betula nigra) W
shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)
hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
white pine (Pinus strobus)
swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) R
northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)
bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
red oak (Quercus rubra)
eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) W
