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Plant Sale 2025 — Erythronium americanum

March 27, 2025

Erythronium americanum (trout lily) common name refers to the mottled appearance of its leaves. It prefers woodland soils that are moist and rich. It blooms in the early spring, appearing under deciduous trees before they leaf out. When young, Erythronium americanum only has one leaf but once it matures it…

Plant Sale 2025 — Sedum ternatum

March 27, 2025

We plan to offer Sedum ternatum (Wild Stonecrop Sedum) at our April 27th native plant sale. It is a low growing semi-evergreen succulent groundcover that forms large mats covering rocks, tree roots or mossy areas near streams. This plant flourishes in part to full shade in thin moist soils and…

Plant Sale 2025 — Mertensia virginica

March 26, 2025

Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells) is also known as Virginia-cowslip, Roanoke-bells, Lungwort, and Oysterleaf. Growing up to 2 feet, Mertensia virginica thrive in part shade to shade in moist, rich soil. The leaves are a lovely shade of purple as they break ground quickly turning a medium green. The showy nodding…

Plant Sale 2025 — Claytonia virginica

March 25, 2025

Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty, Virginia Spring Beauty or Eastern Spring Beauty) is an early bloomer (March to April) and by the time of our plant sale this plant is often done blooming and both the flowers and foliage are beginning to fade away for the year. This small native plant…

Wildflower of the Year 2025: Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Coming soon: VNPS offers Mayapple artwork on T-Shirts and other apparel. Mayapples are perennial herbaceous plants with thick fibrous roots that arise from a creeping rhizome. Each year the rhizome elongates about 6 to 20 cm in length, terminating in a bud for the subsequent year’s leafy stem and one or more buds for continuation…... Read more
February 8, 2025
Source: VNPS Blog
Red Maple, Acer rubrum
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Red Maples, also called Swamp or Scarlet Maples, are known for their brilliant fall color. Now they may seem to be a surprising choice for the February Plant of the Month, but they are a true harbinger of spring, blooming in late winter often as early as…... Read more
February 5, 2025
Source: VNPS Blog
Inkberry, Ilex glabra
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Inkberry or Gallberry is a great choice for the December Plant of the Month. This handsome broadleaf evergreen shrub typically grows slowly to about 5 – 8’ high and wide and has plenty of winter interest with its small narrowly ovate to lance-like dark green leaves that…... Read more
December 26, 2024
Source: VNPS Blog
Winged Sumac, Rhus copallinum
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Winged Sumac is a beautiful large deciduous shrub that shines throughout the year but is especially vibrant when it ignites into a fiery crescendo in fall. Typically growing from 7 – 15’ tall, this sumac often spreads into large colonies by root suckers. As fall turns into…... Read more
November 20, 2024
Source: VNPS Blog
Sweet Goldenrod, Solidago odora
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Sweet or Anise-scented Goldenrod is one of the earliest fall blooming Goldenrods to grace our open areas including open woods, fields, powerline cuts and roadsides each fall. Its golden plumes light up much of the Eastern United States from New Hampshire south to Texas on dry, often…... Read more
September 13, 2024
Source: VNPS Blog
Common Cut-leaf Coneflower, Rudbeckia laciniata
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Common Cut-leaf Coneflower is a tall statuesque late summer-fall bloomer found throughout Virginia and stands above most perennials at heights 5 to 9 feet. Also known as Green-headed, Tall Coneflower, or Wild Golden Glow, it is widely distributed in open floodplain forests, alluvial swamps, seepage swamps, wet…... Read more
August 22, 2024
Source: VNPS Blog
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society The July Plant of the Month, Common Milkweed, is a lovely, robust, herbaceous perennial festooned with showy clusters of flowers from June to August. A member of the Milkweed genus, Asclepias, it often gets a bad rap for its rhizomatous roots that can spread aggressively; however, this…... Read more
July 20, 2024
Source: VNPS Blog
Southeastern Prickly-pear Cactus, Opuntia mesacantha
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Southeastern Prickly-pear Cactus is certainly eye-catching when in bloom in late May and June and curious and just plain cool at any time of year. This native evergreen is technically a “shrub” although it grows only 6 – 12” high. It is indeed a member of the…... Read more
June 21, 2024
Source: VNPS Blog