CIPWG Native Alternative Perennial Plants List
CIPWG Native Alternatives Committee 9-23-2016
The plants listed below meet the following criteria:
* Native to Connecticut (according to Arthur Haines' 2011 botany manual for New England, Flora Novae Angliae )
* Not of conservation concern in New England (i.e., not rare or vulnerable to poaching)
* "Straight" species (not cultivars)
* Suited to nursery propagation (able to be produced in a nursery in an economically-viable way)
This list will be augmented as more Connecticut native perennials are found to be able to be nursery propagated
Before planting, look into site requirements, potential weediness* and livestock or other hazards**
Scientific Name
Actaea pachypoda Ell.
Actaea racemosa L.
Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd.
Ageratina altissima (L.) King & H.E. Robins. var. altissima
Allium canadense L. var. canadense
Allium tricoccum Ait.
Anaphilis margaritacea (L.) Benth & Hook
Anemone americana (DC.) H. Hara
Anemone quinquefolia L. var. quinquefolia
Anemone virginiana L.
Angelica atropurpurea L.
Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (Greene) Bayer & Stebbins
Apocynum cannabinum L.
Aquilegia canadensis L.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.
Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott
Arisaema triphyllum ssp. pusillum (Peck) Huttleston
Arisaema triphyllum ssp. Stewardsonii (Britt.) huttleston
Asarum canadense L.
Asclepias exaltata L.
Asclepias incarnata L.
Asclepias syriaca L.
Asclepias tuberosa L.
Asclepias vertillicata L.
Astragalus canadensis L. var. canadensis
Aureolaria virginica (L.) Pennell
Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. Ex Ait.f.
Caltha palustris L.
Campanula rotundifolia L.
Capnoides sempervirens (L.) Borkh.
Cardamine concatenata (Michx.) Sw.
Cardamine diphylla (Michx.) Wood
Cardamine maxima (Nutt.) Wood
Traditional Common Names
Doll's Eyes
Black Cohosh
Red Baneberry
Snake Root
Wild Garlic
Ramps
Pearly Everlasting
Round-lobed Hepatica
Wood Anemone
Thimbleweed
Purple-stemmed Angelica
Plantain Pussytoes
Indian Hemp*
Columbine
Bearberry
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Swamp Jack
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Wild Ginger
Poke Milkweed
Swamp Milkweed
Common Milkweed*
Butterfly-weed
Whorled Milkweed
Canada Milkvetch
Downy Yellow False Foxglove
Wild Indigo
Marsh Marigold
Harebell
Pale Corydalis
Cutleaf Toothwort
Broad-leaved Toothwort
Large Toothwort
Common Name from Haines 2011
White baneberry
Black bugbane
Red Baneberry
White snakeroot
Meadow garlic
Wild leek
Pearly Everlasting
Blunt-lobed hepatica
Wood windflower
Tall windflower
Purple-stemmed Angelica
Parlin's pussytoes
Hemp dogbane
Red columbine
Red bearberry
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Jack-in-the-pulpit ssp. pusillum
Jack-in-the-Pulpit ssp. stewardsonii
Canada wild ginger
Poke Milkweed
Swamp Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Butterfly milkweed
Whorled Milkweed
Canada Milk-vetch
Downy false foxglove
Yellow wild indigo
Marsh Marigold
Scotch bellflower
Pink-corydalis
Cut-leaved toothwort
Two-leaved toothwort
Large Toothwort
Scientific Name
Caulophyllulm thalictroides (L.) Michx.
Chamaepericlymenum canadense (L.) Aschers. & Graebn.
Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub ssp. circumvagum
Chelone glabra L.
Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh
Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W. Bart. ssp. Cisatlantica (Blake) Hultén
Claytonia caroliniana Michx.
Claytonia virginica L.
Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf.
Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb.
Cypripedium acaule Ait.
Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.
Doellingeria umbellata (P. Mill.) Nees var. umbellata
Epigaea repens L.
Erigeron philadelphicus L.
Erigeron pulchellus Michx. Var. pulchellus
Erythronium americanum Ker-Gawl. ssp. Americanum
Eupatorium hyssopifolium L.
Eupatorium perfoliatum L.
Eurybia divaricata (L.) Nesom
Eurybia macrophylla (L.) Cass.
Euthamia caroliniana (L.) Greene ex Porter & Britt.
Euthamia graminifolia (L.) Nutt.
Eutrochium dubium (Willd. Ex Poir.) E.E. Lamont
Eutrochium fistulosum (Barratt) E.E. Lamont
Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. maculatum
Traditional Common Names
Blue Cohosh
Bunchberry
Fireweed
White Turtlehead
Spotted Wintergreen
Pipsissewa; Prince's Pine
Spring Beauty
Spring Beauty
Blue Bead Lily
Goldthread
Pink Lady Slippers
Dutchman's Breeches
Flat-topped Aster
Trailing Arbutus
Philadelphia Fleabane
Robin's Plantain
Trout Lily
Hyssop-leaved Boneset
Boneset
White Wood Aster
Big Leaf (-Leaved) Aster
Slender Goldentop
Grass Leaved Goldenrod
Joe Pye Weed
Joe Pye Weed
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. maculatum or E.
purpureum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. purpureum
Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. purpureum
Fragaria virginiana Duchesne
Galium boreale L. ssp. Septentrionale
Gaultheria procumbens L.
Gentiana clausa Raf.
Gentianopsis crinita (Froel.) Ma
Geranium carolinianum L.
Geranium maculatum L.
Joe Pye Weed
Wild Strawberry
Northern Bedstraw
Wintergreen
Closed Gentian
Fringed Gentian
Carolina Cranes-bill
Wild Geranium
Yellow Avens
Water Avens
Sneezeweed
Woodland Sunflower
Wild Sunflower
Woodland Sunflower
Geum aleppicum Jacq. var. strictum (Aiton) Fern.
Geum rivale L.
Helenium autumnale L.
Helianthus divaricatus L.
Helianthus giganteus L.
Helianthus strumosus L.
Note: seller did not distinguish
between E. maculatum & E. purpureum .
Common Name from Haines 2011
Blue Cohosh
Canada dwarf dogwood
Narrow-leaved fireweed
White Turtlehead
Spotted prince's pine
Noble prince's pine
Carolina spring beauty
Virginia spring beauty
Yellow bluebead-lily
Three-leaved goldthread
Pink lady's-slipper
Dutchman's breeches
Tall white aster
Trailing-arbutus
Philadelphia fleabane
Robin's plantain fleabane
American trout lily
Hyssop-leaved thoroughwort
Boneset thoroughwort
White wood aster
Large-leaved wood-aster
Coastal plain grass-leaved goldenrod
Common grass-leaved goldenrod
Coastal plain Joe-Pye weed
Hollow Joe-Pye weed
Spotted Joe-Pye weed
Spotted & Purple Joe-Pye weed
Purple Joe-Pye weed
Common strawberry
Northern bedstraw
Eastern spicy-wintergreen
Meadow bottle gentian
Greater fringed gentian
Carolina crane's-bill
Spotted crane's-bill
Yellow avens
Water avens
Fall sneezeweed
Woodland sunflower
Tall sunflower
Pale-leaved sunflower
Scientific Name
Heuchera americana L. var. americana
Houstonia caerulea L.
Houstonia purpurea L. var. calycosa Gray
Hypericum punctatum Lam.
Hypoxis hirsuta (L.) Coville
Impatiens capensis Meerb.
Ionactis linariifolia (L.) Greene
Iris versicolor L.
Isotria verticillata (Muhl. Ex Willd.) Raf.
Lespedeza capitata Michx.
Lespedeza virginica (L.) Britt.
Lilium canadense L.
Lilium philadelphicum L.
Lilium superbum L.
Lobelia cardinalis L.
Lobelia siphilitica L. var. siphilitica
Lupinus perennis L. ssp. perennis
Lysimachia borealis L.
Maianthemum canadense Desf.
Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. Racemosum
Maianthemum stellatum (L.) Link
Medeola virginiana L.
Menyanthes trifoliata L.
Micranthes pensylvanica (L.) Haw.
Micranthes virginiensis Michx.) Small
Mimulus ringens L.
Mitchella repens L.
Mitella diphylla L.
Monarda fistulosa L.
Monarda punctata L. ssp. Punctata var. villicaulis
Nabalus albus (L.) Hook.
Oxalis montana Raf.
Packera aurea (L.) A. & D. Lӧve
Panax trifolius L.
Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd.
Penthorum sedoides L.
Persicaria pensylvanica (L.) G. Maza
Persicaria virginiana (L.) Gaertn.
Phlox pilosa L. spp. Pilosa
Phytolacca americana L. var. americana
Platanthera grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindl.
Platanthera lacera (Michx.) G. Don
Platanthera psycodes (L.) Lindl.
Traditional Common Names
Alumroot
Bluets
Purple Bluets
Spotted St. John's-wort
Yellow Star Grass
Spotted Jewelweed
Stiff-leaved Aster
Blue Flag Iris
Atlantic Pogonia
Roundheaded Bushclover
Slender Bush Clover
Canada Lily
Prairie Lily
Turk's Cap Lily
Cardinal Flower
Blue Lobelia
Wild Blue Lupine
Starflower
Canada Mayflower
False Solomon's Seal
Star Flowered False Solomon's Seal
Indian Cucumber Root
Bog Buckbean
Swamp Saxifrage
Early Saxifrage
Allegheny Monkeyflower
Partridgeberry
Mitrewort
Wild Bergamont
Dotted Mint
Lion's Foot
Mountain Wood Sorrell
Golden Ragwort
Dwarf Ginseng
Hairy Beardtongue
Ditch Stonecrop
Pinkweed
Woodland Knotweed
Prairie Phlox
Pokeweed
Large Purple Fringe-orchid
Ragged Fringe-orchid
Small Purple Fringe-orchid
Common Name from Haines 2011
Common alum-root
Little bluet
Large bluet
Spotted St. John's-wort
Common star-grass
Spotted touch-me-not
Flax-leaved stiff-aster
Blue iris
Large whorled pogonia
Round-headed bush-clover
Slender bush-clover
Canada lily
Wood lily
Turk's-cap lily
Red lobelia
Great lobelia
Sundial lupine
Starflower
Canada-mayflower
Feathery false Solomon's-seal
Star-like false Solomon's-seal
Indian cucumber root
Buck-bean
Swamp small-flowered saxifrage
Early small-flowered saxifrage
Allegheny monkey-flower
Partridge-berry
Two-leaved bishop's-cap
Wild bee-balm
Spotted bee-balm
White rattlesnake-root
Northern wood sorrel
Golden groundsel
Dwarf ginseng
Northeastern beardtongue
Ditch-stonecrop
Pennsylvania smartweed
Jumpseed
Downy phlox
American pokeweed
Greater purple fringed bog-orchid
Green fringed bog-orchid
Lesser purple fringed bog-orchid
Scientific Name
Podophyllum peltatum L.
Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker-Gawl.
Polygala paucifolia Willd.
Polygonatum biflorum (Walt.) Ell.
Polygonatum pubescens (Willd.) Pursh
Pycnanthemum incanum (L.) Michx. var. incana
Pycnanthemum muticum (Michx.) Pers.
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Schrad.
Pycnanthemum virginianum (L.) T. Dur. & B.D. Jackson ex
B.L. Robins & Fern.
Pyrola americana Sweet
Pyrola elliptica Nutt.
Ranunculus fascicularis Muhl. Ex Bigelow
Ranunculus hispidus Michx.
Ranunculus sceleratus L. var. sceleratus
Rhexia virginica L.
Rumex altissimus Wood
Sagittaria latifolia Willd.
Sanguinaria canadensis L.
Sanguisorba canadensis L.
Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh
Scrophularia marilandica L.
Scutellaria lateriflora L.
Silene caroliniana Walt. ssp. pensylvanica (Michx.) Clausen
Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill.
Sisyrinchium montanum Greene
Sisyrinchium mucronatum Michx.
Sium suave Walt.
Solidago bicolor L.
Solidago caesia L. var. caesia
Solidago canadensis L.
Solidago flexicaulis L.
Solidago gigantea Ait.
Solidago juncea Ait.
Solidago nemoralis Ait. ssp. Nemoralis
Solidago odora Ait. ssp. odora
Solidago rugosa P. Mill.
Solidago sempervirens L.
Solidago speciosa Nutt. var. speciosa
Solidago uliginosa Nutt.
Solidago ulmifolia Muhl. ex Willd. var. ulmifolia
Spiranthes cernua (L.) L.C. Rich.
Streptopus lanceolatus (Ait.) Reveal
Traditional Common Names
Mayapple
Rose Pogonia
Fringed Polygala
Small Solomon's Seal
Hairy Solomon's Seal
Hoary Mountain Mint
Short-toothed Mountain Mint
Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint
Common Name from Haines 2011
May-apple
Rose pogonia
Fringed milkwort
King Solomon's seal
Hairy Solomon's Seal
Hoary mountain-mint
Clustered mountain-mint
Narrow-leaved mountain-mint
Virginia Mountain Mint
Roundleaf Pyrola
Shinleaf
Early Buttercup
Swamp Buttercup
Annual Buttercup
Meadow Beauty
Pale Dock
Common Arrowhead
Bloodroot
Canada Burnet
Early Figwort
Late Figwort
Mad-dog Skullcap
Wild Pink
Blue-eyed Grass
Common Blue-eyed Grass
Slender Blue-eyed Grass
Tall Water Parsnip
White/Silverrod Goldenrod
Bluestemmed Goldenrod
Canada Goldenrod*
Zig Zag Goldenrod
Late Goldenrod
Early Goldenrod
Old Field Goldenrod
Sweet Goldenrod
Rough-stemmed Goldenrod
Seaside Goldenrod
Showy Goldenrod
Bog Goldenrod
Elm-leaved Goldenrod
Nodding Lady's Tresses
Rosy Twisted Stalk
Virginia mountain-mint
American shinleaf
Elliptic-leaved shinleaf
Early crowfoot
Hispid crowfoot
Cursed crowfoot
Virginia meadow-beauty
Pale dock
Common arrowhead
Blood-root
Canada burnet
Lance-leaved figwort
Eastern figwort
Mad dog skullcap
Wild campion
Narrow-leaved blue-eyed grass
Strict blue-eyed grass
Needle-tipped blue-eyed grass
Water-parsnip
White goldenrod
Axillary goldenrod
Canada goldenrod
Zig-zag goldenrod
Smooth goldenrod
Early goldenrod
Gray goldenrod
Licorice goldenrod
Common wrinkle-leaf goldenrod
Seaside goldenrod
Showy goldenrod
Bog goldenrod
Elm-leaved goldenrod
Nodding ladies'-tresses
Lance-leaved twisted stalk
Scientific Name
Symphyotrichum cordifolium (L.) Nesom
Traditional Common Names
Common Name from Haines 2011
Heart-leaved Aster
Heart-leaved American aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) Nesom var. ericoides
Heath Aster
Heath American aster
Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) A. & D. Lὂve var. laeve
Smooth Aster
Smooth American aster
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Willd.) Nesom ssp. Lanceolatum
Panicled Aster
Lance-leaved American aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (L.) A.& D. Lὂve
Calico Aster
Calico American aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) Nesom
New England Aster
New England American aster
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (L.) Nesom
New York Aster
New York American Aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum (Willd.) Nesom
Hairy White Field Aster
Awl American aster
Symphyotrichum puniceum (L.) A. & D. Lὂve var. puniceum
Swamp Aster
Purple-stemmed American aster
Symphyotrichum tenuifolium (L.) Nesom var. tenuifolium
Marsh Aster
Perennial saltmarsh American aster
Tephrosia virginiana (L.) Pers.
Goat's Rue
Wild goat's rue
Teucrium canadense L.
Germander
American germander
Thalictrum dioicum L.
Early Meadow Rue
Early meadow rue
Thalictrum pubescens Pursh
Tall Meadow Rue
Tall meadow rue
Thalictrum thalictroides (L.) Eames & B. Boivin
Meadow Rue
Anemone meadow rue
Tiarella cordifolia L. var. cordifolia
Foam Flower
Foam-flower
Tradescantia ohiensis Raf.
Ohio Spiderwort
Smooth spiderwort
Tradescantia virginiana L.
Spiderwort
Virginia spiderwort
Trillium cernuum L.
Nodding Trillium
Nodding wakerobin
Trillium erectum L.
Purple Trillium
Red wakerobin
Uvularia perfoliata L.
Bellwort
Large-flowered bellwort
Uvularia sessilifolia L.
Sessile-leaved Bellwort
Sessile-leaved bellwort
Veratrum viride Ait. ssp. Viride
False Hellebore
American false hellebore
Verbena hastata L. var. hastata
Blue Vervain
Blue vervain
Vernonia noveboracensis (L.) Michx.
New York Ironweed
New York ironwood
Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw.
Culvers-root
Culver's root
Viola affinis Le Conte
Beechwoods Violet
Le Conte's violet
Viola blanda Willd.
Sweet White Violet
Sweet white violet
Viola blanda Willd. var. palustriformis
Bigleaf Violet
Sweet white violet
Viola cucullata Ait.
Marsh Blue Violet
Blue marsh violet
Viola labradorica Schrank
American Dog Violet
American dog violet
Viola palmata L.
Early Blue Violet
Wood violet
Viola pedata L.
Birdfoot Violet
Bird-foot violet
Viola primulifolia L.
Primrose-leaved Violet
Primrose-leaved violet
Viola pubescens Ait.
Smooth Yellow Violet
Yellow forest violet
Viola rostrata Pursh
Long-spurred Violet
Long-spurred violet
Viola rotundifolia Michx.
Round-leaved Violet
Round-leaved violet
Viola sagittata Ait. var. ovata
Ovate-leaved Violet
Arrowhead violet
Viola sagittata Ait. var. sagittata
Triangle Leaf Violet
Arrowhead violet
Viola sororia Willd.
Blue Violet
Woolly blue violet
Zizea aurea (L.) W.D.J. Koch
Golden Alexanders
Common golden Alexanders
If you have comments, see typos or have additions that meet the criteria, please contact [email protected]
** http://plants.usda.gov gives synonyms of scientific names and is useful for when the currently-used scientific names are unfamiliar