Appendix C
Recommended Plant Species Lists
Selected Species for Native Shade Communities
Always check the scientific name of a plant. A plant may have more than one common
name or the same common name may refer to more than one plant.
Scientific name
Common name (flower color)
Understory Trees
Carpinus caroliniana
Blue Beech or Musclewood
Ostrya virginiana
Ironwood
Shrubs
Tall (average mature height over 15 feet)
Allegheny Clump Serviceberry or
Amelanchier laevis
Juneberry
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda Dogwood
Medium (average mature height: 6-15 feet)
Amelanchier alnifolia
Regent Serviceberry
Cornus racemosa
Gray Dogwood
Low (average mature height: 5 feet and under)
Aronia melanocarpa
Black Chokeberry
Symphoricarpos albus
White Snowberry
Perennial Flowers (Full Shade)
Medium (most plants are 1-3 feet)
Aquilegia canadensis
Columbine (red-orange)
Arisaema triphyllum
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Aster macrophyllus
Large-leaved Aster (white)
Athyrium angustum
Lady Fern
Geranium maculatum
Wild Geranium (pink)
Podophyllum peltatum
Mayapple
Smilacina racemosa
False Solomon Seal (white)
Thalictrum dioicum
Early Meadowrue (green)
Uvularia grandiflora
Bellwort or Merrybells (yellow)
Low (plants are under 6 inches)
Asarum canadense
Wild Ginger (red)
Hepatica (purple ? spring
Hepatica Americana
emphemeral)
Bloodroot (white ? spring
Sanguinaria canadensis
emphemeral, foliage disappears by
mid-June)
C-1
Recommended
Space Between
Plants
15 feet
15 feet
10-15 feet
15 feet
5 feet
5 feet
3-5 feet
3 feet
12 inches
12 inches
24 inches
24 inches
12 inches
18 inches
12 inches
12 inches
18 inches
18-24 inches
6 inches
6 inches
Perennial Flowers (Partial Shade)
Tall (most plants are 3-5 feet)
Veronicastrum virginicum
Culver's Root (white)
Medium (most plants are 2-4 feet)
Aquilegia canadensis
Columbine (red-orange)
Aster laevis
Smooth Aster (lavendar)
Aster macrophyllus
Big-leaved Aster (white)
Geranium maculatum
Wild Geranium (pink)
Smilacina racemosa
False Solomon's Seal (white)
Low (plants are under 6 inches)
Blephilia ciliate
Downy Woodmint (purple)
Campanula rotundifolia
Harebells (purple)
Fragaria virginiana
Wild Strawberry (white
Gentiana andrewsii
Bottle Gentian (blue)
Gentiana alba
Cream Gentian (cream)
Grass-like Plants
Short
Carex pennsylvanica
Pennsylvania Sedge
Juncus tenuis
Path Rush
Vines (not shown on plan; could be grown along a fence or trellis)
Clematis virginiana
Virgin's Bower (white)
Vitis riparia
Wild Grape
C-2
12 inches
12 inches
18 inches
24 inches
12 inches
12 inches
12 inches
6-12 inches
12-18 inches
12 inches
12 inches
12 inches
6-12 inches
5-10 feet
5-10 feet
Selected Species for Evergreen Shaded Communities
Always check the scientific name of a plant. A plant may have more than one common name or
the same common name may refer to more than one plant.
Scientific name
Common name (flower color)
Overstory Trees
Picea glauca
White Spruce
Pinus strobus
Eastern White Pine
Thuja occidentalis
White Cedar or American Arborvitae
Shrubs
Tall (average mature height over 15 feet)
Amelanchier laevis
Allegheny Serviceberry
Viburnum lentago
Nannyberry
Medium (average mature height: 6-15 feet)
Amelanchier alnifolia
Regent Serviceberry
Cornus sericea
Isanti Dogwood
Ilex verticillata
Winterberry
Viburnum rafinesquianum
Arrowwood
Low (average mature height: 2-5 feet)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Bearberry
Diervilla lonicera
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
Symphoricarpos albus
White Snowberry
Vaccinium angustifolium
Blueberry
Perennial Flowers
Tall (most plants are 3-5 feet)
Aster cordifolius
Heart-leaved Aster (blue)
Matteccuia struthiopteris
Ostrich Fern
Polygonatum biflorum
Solomon's Seal (white)
Medium (most plants are 2-4 feet)
Athyrium angustrum
Lady Fern
Adiantum pedatum
Maidenhair Fern
Low (most plants are under 1 foot)
Gaultheria procumbens
Wintergreen
Maianthemum canadense
False Lily-of-the-Valley
Grass-like Plants
Short
Carex pennsylvanica
Pennsylvania Sedge
C-3
Recommended
Space Between
Plants
15 feet
15 feet
10 feet
10 feet
15 feet
5 feet
10 feet
5 feet
5-10 feet
11/2 feet
5 feet
3 feet
3 feet
12 inches
24 inches
12 inches
24 inches
12 inches
6 inches
6 inches
12 inches
Selected Species for Prairie Communities
Always check the scientific name of a plant. A plant may have more than one common
name or the same common name may refer to more than one plant.
Scientific name
Common name (flower color)
Recommended
space between
plants
Overstory Trees
Quercus ellipsoidalis
Northern Pin Oak
20 feet
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak
20 feet
Shrubs
Tall (average mature height greater than 15 feet)
Viburnum lentago
Nannyberry
15 feet
Medium (average mature height: 6-15 feet)
Corylus americana
Hazelnut
5-10 feet
Viburnum trilobum
American Highbush Cranberry
10 feet
Low (average mature height 5 feet and under)
Amorpha canescens
Leadplant
11/2 feet
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Bearberry
11/2 feet
Ceanothus americanus
New Jersey Tea
2 feet
Diervilla lonicera
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
5 feet
Perennial Flowers
Tall (most plants are 3-5 feet)
Aster novae-angliae
New England Aster (purple)
24-36 inches
Echinacea angustifolia
Purple Coneflower (purple)
24 inches
Liatris aspera
Rough Blazingstar (purple)
6 inches
Liatris pycnostachya
Prairie Blazingstar (purple)
6 inches
Silphium perfoliatum
Cup Plant (yellow)
24-36 inches
Solidago speciosa
Showy Goldenrod (yellow)
12 inches
Medium (most plants are 2-3 feet)
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Flower (orange)
12 inches
Aster oolentangiensis
Sky Blue Aster or Azure Aster (blue) 24 inches
Aster sericeus
Silky Aster (purple)
12 inches
Chamaecrista fasciculata
Partridge Pea (yellow - annual plant 12 inches
that reseeds)
Liatris punctata
Dotted Blazingstar (lavendar)
12 inches
Lobelia siphilitica
Great Blue Lobelia (blue)
12 inches
Penstemon grandiflorus
Showy Penstemon (pink)
18 inches
Zizia aurea
Golden Alexander (yellow)
18 inches
Low (most plants are 6 inches to 1 foot)
Antennaria neglecta
Pussytoes (white)
6 inches
Campanula rotundifolia
Harebells (blue)
6-12 inches
Geum triflorum
Prairie Smoke (pink to red)
9-12 inches
C-4
Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan (yellow)
Grass-like Plants
Tall (most plants are 3-6 feet)
Andropogon gerardi
Big Bluestem
Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Indiangrass
Medium (most plants are 2-4 feet)
Bouteloua curtipendula
Sideoats Grama
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem
Sporobolus heterolepis
Northern Dropseed
Short (most plants are 6 inches to 2 feet)
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Grama
Juncus tenuis
Path Rush
Koeleria macrantha
Junegrass
C-5
24 inches
24 inches
24-36 inches
24 inches
12 inches
18 inches
12 inches
6-12 inches
6-12 inches
12 inches
Selected Species for Suburban Plantings
Always check the scientific name of a plant. A plant may have more than one common
name or the same common name may refer to more than one plant.
Scientific name
Common name (flower color)
Recommended
Space Between
Plants
Large trees ? Bare in winter
Quercus ellipsoidalis
Northern Pin Oak
20 feet
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak
20 feet
Shrubs
Tall (average mature height greater than 15 feet)
Amelanchier laevis
Allegheny Clump Serviceberry or
10 feet
Juneberry
Viburnum lentago
Nannyberry
15 feet
Medium (average mature height: 6-15 feet)
Corylus americana
Hazelnut
5-10 feet
Viburnum trilobum
American Highbush Cranberry
10 feet
Amelanchier alnifolia
Regent Serviceberry
5 feet
Cornus racemosa
Gray Dogwood
5 feet
Low (average mature height 5 feet and under)
Ceanothus americanus
New Jersey Tea
2 feet
Diervilla lonicera
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
5 feet
Amorpha canescens
Leadplant
11/2 feet
Perennial Flowers
Tall (most plants are 3-5 feet)
Echinacea angustifolia
Purple Coneflower (purple)
24 inches
Liatris aspera
Rough Blazingstar (purple)
6 inches
Liatris pycnostachya
Prairie Blazingstar (purple)
6 inches
Silphium perfoliatum
Cup Plant (yellow)
24-36 inches
Solidago speciosa
Showy Goldenrod (yellow)
12 inches
Aster novae-angliae
New England Aster (purple)
24-36 inches
Aster cordifolius
Heart-leaved Aster, blue
12 inches
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed, pink
18 inches
Aster puniceus
Purple-stemmed Aster, light blue
18 inches
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower, red
12 inches
Medium (most plants are 2-3 feet)
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Flower (orange)
12 inches
Aster oolentangiensis
Sky Blue Aster or Azure Aster (blue) 24 inches
Aster sericeus
Silky Aster (purple)
12 inches
Chamaecrista fasciculata
Partridge Pea (yellow - annual plant 12 inches
that reseeds)
Liatris punctata
Dotted Blazingstar (lavendar)
12 inches
C-6
Penstemon grandiflorus
Zizia aurea
Lobelia siphilitica
Adiantum pedatum
Aquilegia candadensis
Aster macrophyllus
Athyrium angustum
Geranium maculatum
Iris versicolor
Showy Penstemon (pink)
Golden Alexander (yellow)
Great Blue Lobelia (blue)
Maidenhair Fern
Columbine, red-orange
Large-leaved Aster, white
Lady Fern
Wild Geranium, pink
Blueflag Iris, blue
Turk's Cap Lilly or Michigan Lily,
Lilium michiganese
orange
Low (most plants are 6 inches to 1 foot)
Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan (yellow)
Antennaria neglecta
Pussytoes (white)
Campanula rotundifolia
Harebells (blue)
Geum triflorum
Prairie Smoke (pink to red)
Grass-like Plants
Tall (most plants are 3-6 feet)
Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass
Andropogon gerardi
Big Bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans
Indiangrass
Spartina pectinata
Prairie Cordgrass
Medium (most plants are 2-4 feet)
Bouteloua curtipendula
Sideoats Grama
Sporobolus heterolepis
Northern Dropseed
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem
Short (most plants are 6 inches to 2 feet)
Koeleria macrantha
Junegrass
Juncus tenuis
Path Rush
Carex pennsylvanica
Pennsylvania Sedge
C-7
18 inches
18 inches
12 inches
12 inches
12 inches
24 inches
24 inches
12 inches
12 inches
12 inches
24 inches
6 inches
6-12 inches
9-12 inches
24-36 inches
24 inches
24 inches
24-36 inches
12 inches
12 inches
18 inches
12 inches
6-12 inches
12 inches
Selected Species for Wet Meadow Communities
Always check the scientific name of a plant. A plant may have more than one common name
or the same common name may refer to more than one plant.
Scientific name
Perennial Flowers
Tall (most plants are 3-5 feet)
Asclepias incarnata
Aster puniceus
Lobelia cardinalis
Medium (most plants are 2-3 feet)
Iris versicolor
Lilium michiganese
Chelone glabra
Grasses
Tall (most plants are 3-6 feet)
Andropogon gerardi
Sorghastrum nutans
Spartina pectinata
Medium (most plants are 2-4 feet)
Calamagrostis canadensis
Schizachyrium scoparium
Common name (flower color)
Recommended
space between
plants
Swamp Milkweed (pink
Purple-stemmed Aster (light blue)
Cardinal Flower (red)
18 inches
18 inches
12 inches
Blueflag Iris (blue)
Turk's Cap Lily or Michigan Lily
(orange)
Turtlehead (cream)
12 inches
12 inches
Big Bluestem
Indiangrass
Prairie Cordgrass
24 inches
24 inches
24-36 inches
Blue Joint Grass
Little Bluestem
12-18 inches
18 inches
C-8
6 inches
Metropolitan Region Native Tree Species Preferences
Hardwoods
Ash, black
Ash, green
Ash, white
Aspen, quaking
Aspen, bigtooth
Basswood
Birch, yellow
Birch, paper
Birch, river
Buckeye, ohio
Butternut
Cherry, black
Cherry, choke
Cherry, pin
Coffeetree, Kentucky
Cottonwood
Dogwood, gray
Dogwood, pagoda
`
Hackberry, common
Hickory, bitternut
Hornbeam, American
Ironwood
Maple, red
Maple, silver
Maple, sugar
Oak, bur
Oak, northern pin
Oak, red
Oak, swamp white
Qak, white
Serviceberry
Viburnum, American cranberrybush
Viburnum, nannyberry
Walnut, black
Willow, black
Fraxinus nigra
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Fraxinus americana
Populus tremuloides
Populus grandidentata
Tilia americana
Betula alleghaniensis
Betula papyrifera
Betula nigra
Aesculus glabra
Juglans cinerea
Prunus serotina
Prunus virginiana
Prunus pensylvanica
Gymnocladus dioica
Populus deltoids
Cornus racemosa
Cornus alternifolia
Celtis occidentalis
Carya cordiformis
Carpinus caroliniana
Ostrya virginiana
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum
Acer saccharum
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus ellipsoidalis
Quercus rubra
Quercus bicolor
Quercus alba
Amelanchier ssp.
Viburnum trilobum
Viburnum lentago
Juglans nigra
Salix nigra
Conifers
Cedar, red
Cedar, white
Fir, balsam
Fir, white
Hemlock
Larch, American
Juniperus virginiana
Thuja occidentalis
Abies balsamea
Abies concolor
Tsuga Canadensis
Larix laricina
C-9
Pine, jack
Pine, red
Pine, white
Spruce, black hills
Spruce, black
Pinus banksiana
Pinus resinosa
Pinus strobes
Picea glauca var. densata
Picea mariana
C-10
Native Plant References
A Garden of Wildflowers: 101 Native Species and How to Grow Them. 1986. H. W. Art. Garden Way
Publishing. ISBN 0882664050
The Benefits of Prescribed Burning on Private Land. 1994. Booklet produced by the Minnesota DNR
Section of Wildlife.
Collecting, Processing & Germinating Seeds of Wildland Plants. 1986. J. Young and C. Young.
Timber Press. ISBN 0881920576
Gardening with Native Wildflowers. 1991. S. Jones Jr. and L. Foote. Timber Press. ISBN
0881921750
Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers. 1985. H. R. Phillips. University of North Carolina Press.
ISBN 6807841315
Growing Woodland Plants. 1972. C. Birdseye and E. Birdseye. Dover Press. ISBN 0486206610
Landscaping with Wildflowers: An Environmental Approach to Gardening. 1992. J. Wilson. Houghton
Mifflin Company. ISBN 039566926X
The National Wildflower Research Center's Wildflower Handbook: A Resource for Native Plant
Landscapes. 2nd ed., 1992. Voyageur Press. ISBN 0896582019
Native Plants for Northern Gardens. 1991. L. Synder. Anderson Horticultural Library, University of
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. (651) 443-2460
Noah's Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Back Yards. 1993. S. Stein, Houghton Mifflin
ISBN 0395709407
Plants in Prairie Communities. R. Robison, M. H. Meyer and D. White. University of Minnesota,
Minnesota Extension Service, bulletin AG-FO-3238-C, 1995. This bulletin describes three typical
prairie communities: wet, mesic, and dry, and the plants found in each. Includes 158 of the more
significant north central U.S. species.
Plant Species Composition of Wisconsin Prairies: An Aid to Selecting Species for Plantings and
Restorations. 1995. R. A. Henderson. Technical Bulletin No. 188, Department of Natural Resources,
P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI, 53707. The Prairie Garden: 70 Native Plants you can Grow in Town or
Country. 1980. R. J. Smith. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299083047
Prairie Propagation Handbook. 1972. Wehr Nature Center, Whitnall Park, 5879 South 92nd Street,
Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130 (414) 425-8550 (part of Milwaukee County Dept. of Parks,
Recreation and Culture)
Prairie Wildflowers Native to Minnesota's Natural Regions Minnesota Dept. of Transportation.
Contains species lists for each ecological region of the state.
C-11
Recommended Trees For: Southeast Minnesota, an Ecosystem Approach. G. Johnson and K.
Himanga. University of Minnesota, Minnesota Extension Service bulletin FO-6575-S 1996. To order
bulletins call (651) 625-8173. For World Wide Web MES educational informationhttp://www.mes.umn.edu/
Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie: An Illustrated Manual for Iowa and the Upper Midwest. 1994. S.
Shirley. University of Iowa Press. ISBN 0877454698 Taylor's Guide to Natural Gardening. 1993. R.
Holmes editor. Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395607299
Trees and Shrubs For Minnesota Landscapes and Roadsides. Minnesota Dept. of Transportation.
Interactive CD-ROM searches its database for species meeting your criteria, including native to
Minnesota, site conditions and plant characteristics such as height. Color photos and facts available
for each species. Call (651)779-5076 for CD information or to order.
Trees and Large Shrubs: Species Native to Minnesota's Ecological Regions. DNR Forestry, 1200
Warner Road, St. Paul, MN 55106. (651) 772-7925 E-mail receptionist
[email protected]
Wetland Planting Guide for the Northeastern U.S.: Plants for Wetland Creation, Restoration, and
Enhancement. 1993. G. Thunhorst. Environmental Concern Press. ISBN 1883226023
Wildflower Gardening: Step by Step to Growing Success. 1991. Y. Rees. Crowood Press Ltd. ISBN
1852235241
The above and additional information is available from the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources at:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/index.html
Additional information on native plant species and communities is available from Great River
Greening at:
http://www.greatrivergreening.org/restoration_methods.asp
C-12