Smaller
American
Lawns
Today
MENU
Please visit:
Most of the following plants are native to the northeastern United States; those introduced are so indicated. All, including the exotics, are extremely hardy and free of insect pests that frequently plague many ornamental plants. All have usefulness in naturalistic landscaping or in decreasing the size of one's lawn. Some of their additional attributes are indicated. List taken from Energy Conservation on the Home Grounds: The Role of Naturalistic Landscaping The Connecticut College Arboretum Bulletin No. 21, 1975.
New! Looking for Connecticut native trees and shrubs for your natural landscape? Click here to view the Connecticut Native Tree and Shrub Availability List which cross-references native species with nurseries where they are available. This list was produced by the Connecticut DEP, Bureau of Natural Resources, Wildlife division.
Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula): Attractive, delicate, yellow-green fern, tolerant of dry, sunny openings.
Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) : Typical of wet spots. After the first frost the interesting brown bead-like stalks of the fertilefronds stand out strikingly.
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) : Charachteristic of wet, swampy areas. A large fern found in clumps with tan cinnamon-like fuzz on the fronds. Fertile frond is a seperate tan-colored stalk providing spores.
Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) : Similar in habit and general appearance to the cinnamon fern except for a distinctive interruption in the frond by several spore-bearing leaflets.
New York fern (Dryopteris noveboracensis) : A small, light green fern loving moist situations, with fronds that taper to a point at both ends.
Red top (Agrostis alba) : A fine, delicate, perrenial grass of great beauty, found in open fields.
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) : Late summer maturing, tussock-forming grass with striking yellowish-tan winter tones. Typical of dry fields. Periodic burning increases vigor and beauty as shown from Arboretum research on prescribed burning. Fire breaks are needed where there are sizable stands, since it is a fire type.
Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) : Spring flowering, sweet-smelling grass of old fields. Native of Eurasia.
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) : Low growing, 3-ranked, yellow-green grass-like tufts of leaves. May develop in open, dry woods, especially on dry, sunny slopes or in fields.
Hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) : Hair-like grass with fine, delicate flowering clusters of great beauty. Typical of dry, sunny openings.
Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis): Ideal ground cover; self-sustaining. Japan.
Myrtle, Periwinkle (Vinca minor): Creeping, dark green plant with attractive blue flowers. Ideal substitute for grass, especialy in shady spots. Europe.
Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) : Aromatic fern-like foliage, tending to form clones. Tolerates poor soils and provides good cover for wildlife.
Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) : Yellow to reddish flowers.
Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) : One of the most brilliant autumn shrubs in the Arboretumn, exibiting remarkable stability in arresting tree establishment. Indications are that a chemical leached from the foliage and intense root competition may be factors in arresting tree invasion.
Pasture Juniper (Juniperus communis) : A spiny-leaved evergreen of old fields. Often resembles Japanese yew in general growth habit.
Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) : A much neglected acid-loving evergreen, ideal in open or semi-open natural landscapes.
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) : An aromatic deciduous shrub spreading in circular patches in old fields. Gray, wax-covered fruit from which candles can be made by boiling and floating off wax.
Wild roses (Rosa carolina, R. palustris) : Fragrant pink roses.
False spiraea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) : Compound leaves and ascending clusters of small white rosaceous flowers.
Spiraeas - meadowsweet, steeplebush (Spiraea latifolia, S. tomentosa) : Two native species, one white (S. latifolia) with flat clusters of flowers; the other pink (S. tomentosa), named steeplebush from the shape of the pointed flower clusters.
Low blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium, V. vacillans) : Several species, all of which produce delicious, edible fruit. Very stable in resisting tree invasion.
Maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) : A typical forest shrub with maple-like leaves. Distinctive pinkish-purple autumn color.
Alders (Alnus rugosa, A. serrulata): Catkin-producing shrubs typical of wet or poorly drained sites. Provide habitat for woodcock.
Shadbush (Amelanchier spp.): Earliest white flowering shrub. Excellent autumn color.
Sweet pepperbush (Clethera alnifolia): A fragrant late summer flowering clonal shrub especially adapted to shaded wet spots.
Shrubby dogwoods (Cornus ammomum, C. stolonifera): Two species with red twigs. Those of C. stolonifera are most brilliant red, especially in winter. Also produce fruit for wildlife.
Hazelnut, beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta): Clonal upland shrub tolerant of intermediate shade.
Witch-hazels (Hamamelis virginiana, H. vernalis): Yellow flowers either in fall (H. virginiana) or spring (H. vernalis).
Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens): Straggling shrub with clusters of white flowers.
Winterberry, black alder (Ilex verticillata): Red fruit spectacular into late fall. Ideal as accent shrub.
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia): Excellent evergreen for winter contrast with showy pink flowers in June.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): Brightens the woodlands in early spring with its subtle, diffuse yellow flowers.
Chokeberry (Pyrus arbutifolia, P. melanocarpa): Clonal spiecies with shiny, dark green leaves and white rosaceaous flowers, Reddish-orange autumn color.
Great laurel (Rhododendron maximum): Large broad-leaved evergreen that will whithstand forest shade. Ideal planting for winter contrast. Large masses of white flowers in early July.
Azaleas (Rhododendron nudiflorum, R. viscosum): Spectacular pink woodland azalea or pinxter flower (R. nudiflorum) which transplants easily and should be and should be used more frequently in naturalistic landscaping. In wetter spots the clammy azalea (R. viscosum) is an extremely fragrant flowering shrub.
Sumacs (Rhus glabra, R. copallina): Several species of sumac occur as clones in abandoned fields. They exibit a striking red autumn color but may crowd out the more desirable species, especially grasses and forbes. The smooth sumac (R. glabra) produces the most striking red fruiting clusters.
Bristly locust (Robinia hispida): Clonal habit, producing beautiful pendulous clusters of pink flowers in spring. Excellent for dry sites.
Roses (Rosa rugosa): The shore rose is typical along sand dunes and is tolerant of salt spray. Beware of the multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) as it is a very agressive introduced exotic which is very difficult to conrtol.
Blackberries (Rubus spp.): These are usually considered undesirable. However, they can yield fruit and have high wildlife food and cover value.
Pussy willow (Salix discolor): The opening of the gray, wooly catkins is another signal of spring on your homegrounds.
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): A shrub with striking autumn coloration in our naturalistic landscape area.
Viburnums (Viburnum lentago, V. prunifolium, V. cassinoides, V. alnifolium, V. recognitum, V. opulus): A large group of flowering shrubs with high cover and wildlife value. Most produce bluish-black fruit. The introduced V. opulus has red fruits.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis): A small gray-barked tree with showy clouds of white flowers in early spring. Excellent near coast.
Gray birch (Betula populifolia): Multi-stemmed gray-white bark. Excellent for winter and fall accent. Short lived, about 30 years.
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida): One of the finest small trees, with landscape interest at every season of the year - flowers, fruit, autumn foliage and interesting branching habit.
Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana): Columnar growth form can lend a striking focal point in naturalistic landscaping.
Wild plum (Prunus americana, P. nigra, P. maritima): Showy, spring-flowering, small trees with white (P. americana) or pink (P. nigra) flowers. The beach plum (P. maritima) is typical along sandy costal areas and is salt tolerant.
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens): A native vine with fruit of considerable fall and winter interest. An introduced species (C. orbiculatus) is a serious invasive exotic pest which has rapidly replaced the native bittersweet in the wild, quicly transforming the make-up of our local plant communities.
Clematis, Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana): Native from Nova Scotia to Georgia, with clusters of tiny whitish-green flowers. Fruits collectively make fluffy balls. Easily propagated.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): A woody vine with five leaflets, especially brilliant in the fall within red cedar of Arboretum naturalistic landscape demonstration area.
Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) : An introduced vine with seven to nine pairs of leaflets and hanging clusters of lavender pea-like flowers.
Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa): An especially showy orange milkweed. Ideal for open fields.
Asters (Aster spp.): Many species of blue or white composites, flowering profusely in autumn. The New England aster (A. novae-angliae), with large blue flowers, is particularly spectacular.
Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum): Attractive white and yellow perennial daisy of open fields. Native of Europe.
Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis): Introduced member of the lily family with fragrant, white, bell-like flowers and dense green leaves. Forms a good ground cover. Eurasia.
Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota): Member of the carrot family, typical of old fields. Umbel of tiny white flowers forms the flat-topped flower cluster. Finely dissected leaves. Native of Europe.
Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) : Tall-growing native sunflower flowering September through October.
Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) : Several species, found in old fields, that add yellows to the naturalistic landscape.
Orange daylily, yellow daylily (Hemerocallis fulva, H. flava): Showy kikies, introduced from Europe and Eurasia.
Irises (Iris kaempferi, I. pseudoacorus, I. siberica): A showy group, certain of which do well in wild grasslands. Introduced.
Wild lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum canadense): A superb low ground cover, with small white flowers, to be found in dry forests. Selective clearing of undergrowth will help perpetuate this species.
Mints (Mentha spp.): Aromatic plants with square stems. Mostly introduced.
Moss pink (Phlox subulata): A showy, moss-like member of the phlox family forming carpets of pink flowers.
May apple (Podophyllum peltatum): Up to 18 inches tall, with one or two umbrella-shaped leaves that are deeply lobed. Single large white flowers beneath. Typical of moist forests, but tolerant of fairly open situations.
Solomon's seals (Polygonatum canaliculatum, P. biflorum): Showy liliaceous spring woodland plants. The larger species (P. canaliculatum) is especially showy in the Arboretum Wildflower Garden.
Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum): An edible member of the buckwheat family, native of Asia. Petioles boiled and sweetened make a fine dessert. Leaves contain oxalic acid and soluble oxalates that can cause death. Siberia.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): A showy biennial brown and yellow daisy typical of open fields.
Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis): Clusters of white-pink flowers. Tolerant of dry, gravelly soils in open, sunny areas. Native of Europe.
Goldenrods (Solidago spp.): These yellow composites lend much color to our old fields in autumn. They are not generally associated with hay fever but rather are insect-pollinated.
Loosestrifes (Steironema ciliatum, Lysimachia quadrifolia): Attractive yellow flowers, typical of old fields.
Foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia): A lovely woodland ground cover with a showy white flower. Tolerant of shady conditions.
Return to the Top