Our partnership with Van Berkum Nursery continues as we open the late summer plant sale! These plants were selected for their benefits to the watershed, particularly for waterfront property owners looking to revegetate their shores. The benefits of these perennials include providing ground cover to prevent erosion, soaking up stormwater to filter runoff, attracting and supporting pollinators, and even deterring geese when planted as part of a shoreline buffer. Explore the options below and visit the form here to place your order. You can check out online by card or pay upon pick-up by cash or check. The sale ends August 25th, and plants will be available for pick-up on August 28th and 29th at 16 Allen Rd, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. Pick-up will be self-serve, and orders will be grouped and tagged with your name.
Hyssop – Agastache foeniculum
A native of the Great Plains that is fantastic for naturalizing. Unlike it’s cultivated offspring, this species variety can vary in height and flower color—just a little more wild than other Agastache.
Wild Ginger – Asarum canadense
A woodland northeastern native of great merit! Large heart-shaped ‘eggshell satin’ leaves make a lovely deciduous ground cover. Nice with other wildflowers, or in rocky areas.
Common Milkweed – Asclepias syriaca
This northeastern native has stout, upright stems with thick, oblong leaves and umbels of fragrant, dusty pink blooms. Seed pods are covered in soft hair and spikes. The most recognizable species of milkweed due to its ubiquitous presence in fields and on roadsides.
Blue Wood (Heartleaf) Aster – Aster cordifolius
This wonderful native has light blue flowers, each about a half inch across. Lower leaves are heart-shaped and serrated, with plants getting about two to three feet in height. Plants will reseed and spread through rhizomes. This is a very important flower for native pollinators, and is one of the host plants for the Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies. Also known as blue wood aster.
Smooth Aster – Aster laevis
These northeastern natives are robust plants with blue-gray glaucous foliage and violet-blue starry flowers on panicle-like clusters. Provides a heavy dose of purple flowers in August and blooms for weeks. Sturdy and clump-forming, and highly adaptable to many garden situations.
Stiff-Leaved Aster – Aster linariifolius
This Aster never has a mildew problem! It has unusual, needle-like foliage and stays neat and low. Small flowers have yellow centers. Thrives in full sun, but tolerates part shade very well. Commonly found in pine woods, it works as a great ground cover. Works well in dry, sandy soils.
New England Aster – Aster novae-angliae
Found along roadsides and fields, this garden-worthy native will flower predominantly purple, but you should also expect a range of pinks to show up. New England Aster can get up to 72 inches tall, but several pinches before mid-summer will control height and promote a well-rounded shape. A wonderful addition for fall color, this After is an important late-season source of nectar and pollen for pollinators. Tolerates clay soil, likes good air circulation, and will seed in if left uncit through the winter. Looks great with grasses or other native shrubs that have strong fall foliage colors.
Parasol Whitetop – Doellingeria umbellatus
Formerly called Aster umbellatus, this native perennial bursts into bloom in July through the end of summer. Flat-topped flower clusters with white to cream petals and yellow centers. Grows to great heights in most soils and full sun, but is widely adaptable to many soils and light situations; it just won’t get as tall.
Clematis virginiana
One of our native vines, this wonderful small-flowered clematis will twine itself up through shrubs and trees, but never strangles branches. Also ideal on a trellis, this native vine is dioecious, so male and female plants are needed for viable seed to be produced. Both will form white flower-like displays. We recommend buying two plants if seedlings are desired.
Three-Nerved Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium dubium
This New England local ecotype plant boasts bright green leaves that are whorled around purple spotted stems and bear large clusters of mauve-pink flowers starting in summer. A naturally compact grower, and prefers sunny, moist sites.
Spotted Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium maculatum
This northeastern native is tall and clump-forming, with whorls of large, bold green foliage and sturdy pink-tinted stems. Large clusters of mauve-pink flowers top unbranching stems. Prefers consistently moist soils, but can tolerate wet conditions as well. During periods of drought, this plant will need supplemental water.
Common Boneset – Eupatorium perfoliatum
A favorite nectar source of many butterfly species with a showy white flower and large hairy narrow leaves that seem to be perforated by the stem. Late blooming for borders, woodlands gardens, or ponds. Prefers medium to wet soil.
Common Sneezeweed – Helenium autumnale
This northeastern native has large, yellow, single daisy-like flowers that are held on strong stems. Responds well to pinching and has low fertilizer needs. Prefers moist soils, even clay, in full sun, but will tolerate periods of drought with a reduction of flowers. Great for the butterfly garden.
Swamp Rose Mallow – Hibiscus moscheutos
This native hibiscus features pink, sometimes white, flowers with bright green foliage. With a long bloom time, this stately plant is slow to emerge in spring but will fill a large area. It prefers medium to wet soils and regular deep watering in a garden situation.
New England Blazing Star – Liatris novea-angliae
Considered rare and endangered, this native wildflower has tall spikes of red-purple button-like flowers. Likes drier conditions and can be found wild in sand barrens and coastal habitats. Will not tolerate wet winter soils.
Blue Cardinal Flower – Lobelia siphilitica
A clump-forming native that thrives in boggy situations. Short-lived but reseeds readily. Thick stems are topped with light blue flowers. Best in masses. Occasionally has white flowers from a naturally occurring gene.
Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa
A widespread native with a long history. Popular in the ethnobotany of the Native Americans, M. fistulosa has long been used as a holistic remedy. Tolerant of clay soil, deer browsing, and dry periods, it does appreciate some mulch in the spring as it will spread through shallow runners in loose soil and topdress. Up to four feet tall with lavender-pink tubular flowers and shiny pink bracts. Lightly deadhead throughout the season to prolong flowering, and it will spread seed if left for winter interest. Likes good air circulation, and is a great addition and talking point for any garden.
Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum muticum
This native mint likes moist woods and meadows; it has fragrant, local, pointed leaves that turn silver in late summer. Spread on long rhizomes. It serves as a nectar plant for butterflies and predatory wasps.
Slender Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum tenufolium
This erect perennial has narrow leaves and soft white-lavender flowers that often have purple spots. It has an airy appearance and will spread to form a nice, tall ground cover. Long blooming season so bees and other pollinators are sustained by its nectar and pollen into the fall.
Virginia Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum virginianum
Stout and multi-branched, this native mint has strongly scented green foliage with silver bracts when in flower. Tolerates wet and moist sites with ease, and is great for erosion control in wet areas. Not as aggressive as other species. Tiny white flowers sometimes age with a lavender tint.
Cutleaf Coneflower – Rudbeckia lanciniata
Tall and clump forming, with four-inch sunflower-like flowers with domed green centers. Leaves are deeply divided, and in cultivation, it usually tops out at five feet tall. Can tolerate moderate dryness, but prefers moist soils. Indigenous to wet meadows and shady banks, and colonized by rhizomes. Great for erosion control.
Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod – Solidago caesia
Native to the central and eastern US and tolerates dry, poor soils. Clump forming and will not spread aggressively. Has arching and wiry glabrous blue-tinged stems. Flowers are strongest in full sun, but will grow happily in part-shade.
Zigzag Goldenrod – Solidago flexicaulis
Stems have a distinct zig-zag pattern, with delicate yellow flowers in each axil. Perfect in sun-dappled settings and looks lovely in open shade areas at the base of trees. Tolerant of clay soils and deer browsing. Substantial basal foliage helps control erosion.
Grass-Leaved Goldenrod – Solidago graminifolia
Grass-like stems with smooth and narrow leaves hold up showy flat-topped flower clusters of bright yellow. Tough and vigorous, and adaptable to many soil types. Happiest in moist, sunny sites, but can take dry conditions with part shade.
Sweet Goldenrod – Solidago odora
A stately plant for the fragrant garden, this is a clump-forming, slowly enlarging perennial boasting upright stems clad with lance-shaped, dark green leaves that smell like anise when crushed. In midsummer to early fall, it bears densely packed clusters of yellow flowers along one side of slightly arching branches. Attractive to birds, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Sweet Goldenrod provides a bold splash of color in the late-season garden. Easy to grow, it is a great choice for sunny beds and borders, or open woodland gardens. Its leaves and dried flowers may be used in teas.
Culver’s Root – Veronicastrum virginicum
This northeastern native has elegant white spires and deep green leaves for a specimen or back-of-border. Vertical and erect, its stiff seed head spikes provide winter interest. Some variability as they are grown from seed, and a few will be shades of violet.
Fragrant Sumac – Rhus aromatica Gro-Low
A compact, fast-growing, fragrant Sumac that is great for stabilizing embankments even in poor soil. This is one of the woody ground covers that will solve landscape problems. It has handsome, glossy foliage and nice fall color. This Sumac is mostly dioecious.
Lowbush Blueberry – Vaccinium angust. Burgundy
A carefree, woody native ground cover with a long list of attributes. Lowbush Blueberry produces delicious blueberries, grows in dry, poor soils, and has crisp, glossy foliage that erupts into brilliant autumn colors. This ‘Burgundy’ variety has slightly smaller leaves and burgundy-colored new growth, with lighter blue fruit.
Bearberry – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Evergreen, drought-tolerant ground cover that loves sandy soil. Long, prostrate stems with shin,y small leaves. Red berries and bronze foliage in fall. Good for hot, dry slopes and rocky areas.
Cinnamon Fern – Osmunda cinnamomea
Vase-shaped, upright. Unusual ‘cinnamon stick’ fertile fronds. Clump forming.
Royal Fern – Osmunda regalis
A unique-looking fern that requires a very wet site. Clump forming.
Male Fern – Dryopteris filix-mas
Clump-forming New England native that will tolerate some sun, especially if the soil is somewhat moist. Drought-tolerant in shady areas. Male Fern will form a large colony, or you can divide it regularly to maintain the symmetry of a specimen. Creeps moderately.
Sensitive Fern – Onoclea sensiblis
Deciduous native fern that is happiest in bogs and woodlands. Leathery, triangular, light-green leaflets. Short, woody-like fertile fronds persist into the winter like beads on a stick. Very vigorous, creeps quickly.
Pennsylvania Sedge – Carex pennsylvanica
Great native ground cover for shady sites. Spreads slowly to form a uniform carpet of soft green. It can be a lawn substitute for smaller areas and is quite drought-tolerant.
Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum
With a strong, vase-like shape and airy clouds of pink-tinged flowers, it’s hard to go wrong with this easy-to-grow native. Tolerant of a wide variety of soil types, and fall color goes from yellow-orange to tawny-beige.
Could you make a recommendation for grassed areas? A specific grass seed?
For lakeside erosion control, the best grass seeds have deep, fibrous root systems to anchor the soil without requiring heavy fertilization that can pollute the water. A mix of turf-type tall fescue and native grasses is often recommended, as they thrive in the conditions typically found near shorelines.
Low-maintenance turf blends
If your primary goal is to establish a manicured, lawn-like area that minimizes upkeep and fertilizer use, consider these options:
Turf-type tall fescue: This cool-season grass has the deepest roots of any lawn turf, anchoring soil and reaching deep for water, which increases its drought tolerance. Blends like Scotts Drought Tolerant Mix combine tall fescue with other grasses for self-repair and durability.
Fine fescues: Creeping red fescue and Chewings fescue spread via rhizomes and are tolerant of shade, poor soils, and low moisture. They are low-maintenance and mix well with tall fescues for a denser, more resilient cover.
Clover and grass mixes: To reduce or eliminate the need for fertilizer, use a blend with white clover. Clover is a legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil, naturally fertilizing the grass around it.
Native grasses for naturalized areas
For a more naturalized shoreline that requires little to no mowing or fertilization, native prairie grasses are excellent for erosion control.
Switchgrass: A warm-season, native prairie grass with an incredibly deep and extensive root system, switchgrass is highly effective for stabilizing soil and preventing erosion. It is drought-tolerant and also provides good wildlife habitat.
Big bluestem and Indiangrass: These tall, warm-season native grasses also have deep roots that excel at soil stabilization. They form robust root masses that are perfect for stabilizing slopes.
Buffalo grass: A warm-season grass native to the Great Plains, buffalo grass has deep roots and is extremely drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. It is best suited for sunny areas.
Canada wildrye: This native, cool-season grass establishes quickly and has an extensive fibrous root system, making it great for stabilizing disturbed ground.
Grasses for specific conditions
For high-traffic areas: A mix of perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass offers high durability and fast recovery.
For wet or periodically flooded soils: Consider a mix that includes varieties like tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and timothy grass, which can tolerate saturated soils.
For sandy or salty soils: If your lakeside area has brackish water or sandy soil, seashore paspalum is an excellent choice. It has a deep root system and high tolerance for both salt and drought.
Tips for creating a lake-friendly lawn
To prevent runoff of fertilizers and pesticides into the lake:
Choose the right seed: Select drought-tolerant and low-nitrogen grass blends to minimize your needs for water and fertilizer.
Limit your lawn: The University of New Hampshire recommends a no-mow zone of native vegetation within 25 feet of the lake to act as a filter for runoff.
Fertilize minimally: Follow soil test recommendations and use phosphorus-free fertilizer, as phosphorus is a common lake pollutant.
Establish a buffer zone: Plant a buffer strip of native grasses and wildflowers along the shoreline to filter nutrients from stormwater runoff, stabilize the soil, and provide wildlife habitat.