Woodie’s Picks: Native Favorites For Late Spring and Early Summer Gardens
Happy Earth Day! What better day than today to celebrate and highlight the plants that are most beneficial to our environment and delicate ecosystems? What plants might that be? Natives!
In this blog, we will highlight the significance of native plants and spotlight a few of our favorite late spring and early summer native plant varieties.
Why Native Plants Matter
A native plant is a plant species that naturally originates and grows in a particular region without human intervention. These plants have evolved and adapted to the local environment over time and act as essential support systems to local wildlife, soils, and other plant species.
Four Native Plants For Your Late Spring To Early Summer Landscape
Aquilegia Corbett
First on the list of native favorites for late spring is the buttery yellow wildflower that we can’t get enough of! Aquilegia canadensis ‘Corbett,’ more commonly known as yellow columbine, is a unique bloomer that features a prolific display of pale yellow bell-shaped blooms that arch tall above deep green foliage.
Gardeners love this perennial for its unique appearance, low-maintenance nature, and ability to attract a host of pollinators to one’s garden. 'Corbett' columbines readily self-seed, ensuring a continued display of flowers and foliage in subsequent years. Blooming in mid to late spring, Aquilegia is known to thrive in various garden settings and is popular for use in bed borders, cottage gardens, and shady woodland gardens.
White Flowering Dogwood
Nothing says landscape classic quite like the White Flowering Dogwood. Botanically referenced as ‘Cornus florida,’ the White Dogwood is native to the Eastern United States from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Texas. This small landscaping tree is the perfect option for a front or backyard statement! Providing interest in spring, summer, and fall, this unique specimen offers a magnitude of beauty!
The White Dogwood is most readily praised for its vibrant white spring blooms, which add a touch of elegance to any landscape. In the summer, you can then enjoy the tree’s vibrant green foliage that covers the branches. As you make your way into fall, you will enjoy an eye-catching show of color changes as the tree transitions from green to rich reds and purples.
Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vine
For the fairytale garden feel, look no further than Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vine. The Amethyst Wisteria is one of the few vining plants that is not considered invasive. Native from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas and Missouri, this trailing shrub is a welcome addition to any landscape. Boasting whimsical heads of lavender purple flowers that form long cascading clusters, the Amethyst Falls Wisteria brings such unique beauty and magic to an outdoor space.
The native vine grows best when given a structure like a trellis or pergola to climb. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, this fast-growing vine typically reaches 18-20 feet tall and 10- 15 feet wide. Blooming heavily in late spring and exhibiting a lighter rebloom in late summer, you have so much beauty to look forward to when you choose to plant Amethyst Falls Wisteria.
Annabelle Hydrangea
Native to the eastern and central regions of the United States, Hydrangea arborescens, better known as the Annabelle Hydrangea, is a grand choice for adding native beauty to the early summer landscape.
Discovered initially growing near Anna, Illinois, the Annabelle is known for its large snowball-like blooms, which are significantly larger than those of many other hydrangea varieties. The flowers can be up to 12 inches across and bloom in summer, persisting into the fall. The shrub itself typically grows to a mature size of 3-5 feet in height and width.
Celebrate Earth Day Year-Round with Native Plants
There’s no better way to honor Earth Day—and every day—than by planting native species that support your local ecosystem, promote biodiversity, and add effortless beauty to your landscape. From the pollinator-friendly Aquilegia Corbett to the stunning blooms of Annabelle Hydrangea, native plants offer sustainable solutions for vibrant gardens that thrive season after season.
Explore our full collection of native trees, shrubs, and perennials online, and let Woodie’s help you build a late spring and early summer garden that’s as eco-friendly as it is beautiful. Shop native plants online today and grow greener with Woodie’s!