butterflies – Plants Identified

Lobelia cardinalis

Cardinalflower Family: Campanulaceae Native Region: Eastern US and Canada, Southern US Plant Community: Red Maple Swamp Size: 1-6′ tall Hardiness Zone: Habitat: Prefers full sun to very light shade in constantly wet soil. Soil should be kept cool and moist, and requires disturbance to sprout. Found in woodland edges, ditches, ravines, depressions, openings in forests, streamContinue reading “Lobelia cardinalis”

Pinus echinata

Short-Leaf Pine Family: Pinaceae Native Region: Southeastern and eastern US Plant Community: Oak Hickory Size: 50-60′ tall, 20-35′ wide Hardiness Zone: 6-9 Habitat: Found in dry, sandy, and rocky condition; wooded ravines; bluffs & upland plains. Prefers average, dry to medium moisture, sandy, acidic, well-drained soil in full sun. Will tolerate some shade and a rangeContinue reading “Pinus echinata”

Solidago rugosa

Common Wrinkle-leafed Goldenrod Family: Asteraceae Native Region: Eastern US and Canada Plant Community: Old Field, Red Maple Swamp Size: 2.5-3′ tall and wide Hardiness Zone: 4-8 Habitat: Found in anthropogenic habitats, meadows and fields, swamps, and wetland margins. Prefers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil in full sun, but also tolerates light shade. This is a colonizingContinue reading “Solidago rugosa”

Pieris “Brouwers Beauty”

Cultivar of Pieris Family: Ericaceae Native Region: Cultivar, not native Plant Community: Old Field Size: 5-7′ tall, 5′ wide Hardiness Zone: 5-8 Habitat: Does well in areas of partial sun and good drainage. Leaf: Greenish blue to greenish yellow, evergreen. Flower: Arching panicles white, yellow-gold, and lander flowers with deep purplish buds, blooming in spring.Continue reading “Pieris “Brouwers Beauty””

Kalmia latifolia “Firecracker”

Cultivar of Mountain Laurel Family: Ericaceae Native Region: Eastern US Plant Community: Oak Hickory, Red Maple Swamp, Northern Hardwood Size: 5-15′ tall and wide Hardiness Zone: 4-9 Habitat: Found in forest edges, forests, meadows and fields, swamps, wetland margins, and woodlands. Prefers cool, moist, rich, acidic, humusy, well-drained soils in part shade, but tolerates aContinue reading “Kalmia latifolia “Firecracker””

Myrica pensylvanica

Northern Bayberry Family: Myricaceae Native Region: Eastern North America Plant Community: Barrier Beach Size: 5-10′ tall and wide Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Habitat: Found in areas close to the shore. Prefers moist, sandy, acidic soils in full sun to partial shade. Can also thrive in a range of soil conditions, like dry, wet, drought, high winds,Continue reading “Myrica pensylvanica”

Vaccinium corymbosum

Highbush Blueberry Family: Ericaceae Native region: NE US and Canada, Western Canada, SE US, naturalized in Washington Plant Community: Oak Hickory and Red Maple Swamp Size: 6-12′ tall, 8-12′ wide Hardiness Zone: 5-8 Habitat: Found in bogs, fens, forests, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, and woodlands. Prefers rich, acidic, moist to wet, well-drained soil in full sun toContinue reading “Vaccinium corymbosum”