Make your garden in Philadelphia come alive with these seven awesome native flowering plants!
First up, we have the vibrant Dense Blazing Star and the colorful Butterfly Weed—both will bring in lots of bees and butterflies.
Next, check out the striking Cardinal Flower and the graceful Smooth Penstemon, which add height and beauty to your garden.
Don't forget about Sweet Goldenrod, which has bright yellow flowers that butterflies just love!
The cute Eastern Columbine is perfect for attracting hummingbirds with its bright colors.
Lastly, Virginia Bluebells will cover your garden in pretty blue hues.
These plants not only make your garden look amazing but also help local wildlife thrive.
Keep reading to learn how to take care of each plant!
Key Takeaways
7 Best Native Flowering Plants for Philadelphia Gardens
- Dense Blazing Star: This plant has pretty deep purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It doesn't need a lot of water and blooms from the middle of summer to early fall.
- Butterfly Weed: With its bright orange flowers, this plant is a favorite for Monarch Butterflies. It's easy to take care of and doesn't need much water.
- Cardinal Flower: This plant stands out with its bright red flowers. It loves moist soil and is great for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies during summer and fall.
- Smooth Penstemon: This native plant has white flowers and brings in helpful insects. It grows well with very little care and water.
Dense Blazing Star
The Dense Blazing Star is a beautiful plant that can really brighten up your garden with its tall spikes of deep purple flowers. This native plant in Pennsylvania is great for attracting bees and butterflies, which helps bring your garden to life. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall, adding color when other flowers are starting to fade.
Once it gets established, the Dense Blazing Star doesn't need much water, so it's easy to take care of. By planting this flower, you're not only making your garden look nice, but you're also helping the local environment.
Enjoy the beauty of the Dense Blazing Star and watch your garden thrive!
Butterfly Weed
Add some color to your garden with Butterfly Weed! This beautiful plant has bright orange flowers that not only look great but also attract Monarch Butterflies, which are really cool to see. Butterfly Weed grows best in sunny spots and is important because it's a home for these butterflies.
What's neat about Butterfly Weed is its strong roots. These roots help it survive even when there's not a lot of water. It likes well-drained soil, so it's a good choice for gardens in places like Philadelphia. The plant can grow between 1 and 3 feet tall, making it a nice fit for different areas in your garden.
Once it's settled in, Butterfly Weed doesn't need much care. It's tough against bugs and diseases, so you can enjoy a lively garden without a lot of work. Bring in this colorful plant and see how it makes your garden come alive with butterflies!
Cardinal Flower
Cardinal Flowers are beautiful plants with bright red flowers that can make any garden look amazing. They grow well in moist soil and can reach heights of 2 to 4 feet, which makes them stand out in your yard.
During the summer and fall, these flowers provide important food for hummingbirds and butterflies, bringing more life to your garden. They can grow in full sunlight or partial shade, which means they can fit into different garden spots.
Once they're planted and settled, Cardinal Flowers don't need much care, so you can enjoy their beauty without a lot of work. By planting these native flowers, you can create a welcoming place for pollinators and help support the environment.
Smooth Penstemon
Smooth Penstemon is a fantastic plant that can really brighten up your garden! It has tall spikes of beautiful white flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer. This plant is native to the area, which means it's well-suited to grow in Philadelphia gardens, whether they get full sun or some shade.
Once it's settled in, Smooth Penstemon doesn't need a lot of care and can survive with little water, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners. Plus, its lovely flowers attract helpful insects like bees and butterflies, which are important for our environment.
Growing up to 2 to 3 feet tall, this plant adds some height and beauty to your landscape. If you plant Smooth Penstemon, you'll see your garden filled with life and color!
Sweet Goldenrod
Sweet Goldenrod is a plant that blooms with bright yellow flowers in late summer. It looks beautiful and smells nice, attracting butterflies and other helpful insects to your garden. This plant is great for butterfly gardens because it draws in so many pollinators.
One cool thing about Sweet Goldenrod is that it doesn't need a lot of water, making it easy to take care of, especially in cities where people want to be environmentally friendly. It can grow between 2 to 3 feet tall and spread about 2 feet wide, which means it can fill up garden spaces nicely.
Eastern Columbine
Eastern Columbine is a beautiful plant that brightens up your garden with its red and yellow flowers. These colorful blooms attract hummingbirds and bees, making your garden lively and full of activity. This plant is special because it can grow in both partial shade and full sunlight, so you can plant it in different spots around your yard.
The flowers appear in late spring, adding a stunning touch to your garden. Eastern Columbine is also important for nature, as it provides food for pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, which are essential for a healthy ecosystem.
It grows best in well-drained soil and can reach heights of 1 to 3 feet. This makes it a great option for garden borders or areas with trees.
If you decide to plant Eastern Columbine, you'll see your garden become more colorful and full of life!
Virginia Bluebells
Virginia Bluebells are beautiful flowers that bloom in light blue, creating a lovely scene in your garden. These plants are native to the area and come to life as winter ends. They like to grow in shady spots with moist, well-drained soil, making them great for woodlands or shady parts of your yard.
Virginia Bluebells can grow between 12 to 18 inches tall and spread out by sending out rhizomes, which are special roots. This helps them form pretty clusters. Their flowers bloom in early spring and provide important food for bees and butterflies, making your garden lively.
If you plant a lot of them together, they create a stunning display. After blooming, they'll fade away, giving space for other plants to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Planting Zone Is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7a and 7b. This means that in winter, it can get pretty chilly, with temperatures dropping between 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. But don't worry! This climate is great for growing all sorts of plants. You can choose from many different types to make your garden beautiful!
What Are Native Plants to Pa?
If you're looking into Pennsylvania's native plants, you'll find some really cool ones like the Eastern Red Columbine and Wild Blue Phlox. These plants grow easily and look great in your yard. They also help local animals and nature. Enjoy their beauty!
Is Garden Phlox Native to Pa?
Garden Phlox isn't originally from Pennsylvania. It's a pretty flower that adds color to gardens, but it can mess with local plants and animals. Instead, using plants that are native to the area is a better idea. Native plants work well with the local environment, support wildlife, and help keep nature balanced.
When Can I Plant Flowers in Philadelphia?
In Philadelphia, you can start planting flowers in the spring, which is from late March to early May. This is when the frost is gone, and it's safe to put your flowers in the ground. If you're planting perennials, the best time is in the fall, between mid-September and early November. Timing is really important if you want your flowers to look great!