Wisconsin Native

Showing 33–40 of 107 results

  • Clematis occidentalis var. occidentalis Purple clematis. Short-styled bluebell  Z 4-8

    Four petaled (sepals), purple, down-facing, 4” long bells flowering in spring encircling a bundle of styles and stamens.

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    Four petaled (sepals), purple, down-facing, 4” long bells flowering in spring encircling a bundle of styles and stamens.

    Size: 3-12” x 2’
    Care: sun to shade in moist well-drained to well-drained, alkaline soil
    Native: Maine to Minnesota south to Illinois and South Carolina and all states between, Wisconsin native. Endangered in three states; “of special concern” in Wisconsin and gone in Ohio.

    The species first described by Danish botanist Jens Wilken Hornemann in 1805. var. occidentalis is the eastern variety of the species (peculiarly called occidentalis meaning west.) The species and other varieties are native in western US.

  • Clematis virginiana Virgin’s bower, Devil’s darning needles Z 4-8

    July-September star-like white blossoms

    $13.25/bareroot

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    July-September star-like white blossoms cover this vine – good for clambering up small trees.

    Size: 12-20’ x 4’
    Care: Sun to shade moist well-drained soil. Flowers on new stems so cut back in late winter or early spring to 6-8” above the ground.
    Native: Nova Scotia to Georgia and as far west as Kansas, Wisconsin native

    The genus Clematis was named by Dioscordes, physician in Nero’s army, from “klema” meaning climbing plant. One of 1st No. American plants sent to Europe – grew in Tradescant the Elder’s South Lambeth nursery in 1634.  Grown by Jefferson at Monticello in 1807.  Described by Breck in his 1851 book The Flower Garden: “The flowers are white borne upon cymes, and make a handsome appearance.”  Cherokee mixed this plant with milkweed to remedy backaches.  A root extract cured stomach aches, nervous conditions and kidney ailments.  For the Iroquois powdered root fixed venereal disease sores and an extract of the stem brought on strange dreams.  Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

  • Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf tickseed Z 4-9

    Golden yellow daisy-like flowers with pleated petals, jagged at their tips, June to September

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    Golden yellow daisy-like flowers with pleated petals, jagged at their tips, June to September

    Size: 24” x 18”
    Care: sun to part shade, moist well-drained soil
    Native: Central and southeastern U.S., WI native
    Wildlife Value: caterpillar food source

    Coreopsis is Greek meaning “buglike” referring to the seeds looking like little black bugs.  Cultivated in America since the 1700’s. Sent to England in 1724 by English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749).

  • Cornus canadensis Bunchberry, Creeping dogwood Z 2-7Cornus canadensis syn. Chamaepericlymenum canadensis Bunchberry, Creeping dogwood Z 2-7

    Four white, pointed petal-like bracts in spring and showy scarlet berries in fall

    $10.25/each

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    Four white, pointed petal-like bracts in spring and showy scarlet berries in fall

    Size: 6” x spreading slowly
    Care: part shade in moist, ACIDIC soil. Needs moisture to establish
    Native: Northern areas from the east to the west coasts of No. America, Wisconsin native.
    Wildlife Value: Host for the caterpillar of the Spring azure butterfly. Pollen and nectar for many bees, wasps, ants, butterflies and beetles. Deer and rabbit resistant

    Flowers open faster than any other flower, in less than ½ millisecond. Abnaki Indians used it to cure side pains.  Algonquin made a cathartic tea, cured colds, and stomach aches with this.  Delaware reduced body pains with it. Chippewa, Cree and Eskimo smoked the berries.  Probably 1st collected for gardens by John Bartram (1699-1776).  Offered for sale at his nursery near Philadelphia. Sent to Dr. Fothergill in London in 1774. “One of the prettiest plants for the bog garden or the cool parts of the rock garden.” William Robinson 1899.  Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

  • Corydalis sempervirens syn. Capnoides sempervirens, Fumitory, Rock harlequin RESEEDING SHORT-LIVED PERENNIAL

    Pink tube-shaped flowers with flaring yellow ends bloom from spring to summer

    $10.75/pot

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    RESEEDING SHORT-LIVED PERENNIAL

    Pink tube-shaped flowers with flaring yellow ends bloom from spring to summer

    Size: 10-12” x 10-12”
    Care: Sun to part shade in moist well drained soil
    Native: from Nova Scotia west to Alaska, south to North Carolina, Wisconsin native

    Corydalis is Greek for “lark” korydalos, referring to the shape of flower resembling a lark’s spur.    First described and named (name now changed) in 1753. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

  • Dalea purpurea syn. Petalostemon purpurea Violet prairie clover Z 4-9

    Vase shaped clump with wands of violet to purple encircling tall coneheads mid-summer

    $10.75/bareroot

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    Vase shaped clump with wands of violet to purple encircling tall coneheads mid-summer

    Size: 2’ x 18”
    Care: full sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil.
    Native: Canada to Texas, Wisconsin native
    Wildlife Value: Host for caterpillars of Dogface Sulphur, Striped blue & Mexican blue butterflies. Supports over 80 bee species including endangered Rusty patched Bumble Bees

    Dalea named to honor English botanist Dr. Samuel Dale (1659- 1739.)  Chippewa, Meskwaki and Navajo used medicinally – as remedies for heart ailments, pneumonia, diarrhea and measles.  Comanche and Lakota chewed the root like gum, for its sweet taste. Sioux combined it with Amorpha canescens, Leadplant to ambush bison. Sioux also treated fevers and stomach disorders with an infusion made from the plant. Pawnee made brooms from the flexible stems.  1st collected by French botanist André Michaux (1746-1802) who spent 11 years in America collecting hundreds of new plants.

  • Delphinium exaltatum Tall Larkspur, American larkspur Z 4-8

    Graceful, lavender or purple spikes of trumpets on tall stems in July to August.

    $13.25/bareroot

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    Graceful, lavender or purple spikes of trumpets on tall stems in July to August.

    Size: 3-4' x 9"
    Care: Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil. Withstands winds, no staking needed. Not fussy like fancy hybrids. Tougher and much longer living than modern hybrids. Let the seeds drop & you’ll get some babies.
    Native: Pennsylvania to No. Carolina west to Ohio & Alabama
    Wildlife Value: attract hummingbirds

    Delphinium, named by Dioscorides, is Greek for “dolphin” due to the resemblance of the flower shape.  According to Aiton, early director at Kew Royal Garden, John Bartram (1699-1777) sent it to England.  London’s Chelsea Physic gardener Philip Miller grew it in 1758. Jefferson planted this at Monticello in the NW quarter of the outer border in March 1811.

  • Delphinium tricorne Dwarf larkspur, Spring larkspur Z 4-8

    Spring ephemeral of blue delphinium elf-cap spikes. Substitute these for tulips, a favorite food of deer and rabbits

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    OUT OF STOCK – Available to order in Spring only

    Spring ephemeral of blue delphinium elf-cap spikes. Substitute these for tulips, a favorite food of deer and rabbits

    Size: 18-24” x 6-9”
    Care: sun to shade in moist well-drained to moist soil
    Native: Pennsylvania to Iowa, south to Alabama and Oklahoma and states in between
    Wildlife Value: food for hummingbirds and butterflies; deer & rabbit resistant.

    Collected by André Michaux c. 1800. Cherokee used this for heart ailments and reported that it makes cows intoxicated and they die. The name tricorne comes from the 3-cornered shape of its seeds, like the shape of colonial hats with brims turned up on three sides. This is breathtakingly beautiful but slow to grow.  It is also an ephemeral and dies back after going to seed so mark it or have a good memory where it is so you don’t dig into it planting something else. It comes back in spring.