Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - May 12, 2007
From: Philadelphia, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Meadow Gardens, Planting, Wildflowers
Title: Late-blooming flowers for Northeast PA
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We have a weekend house in Northeast PA...Poconos. Pretty rocky terrain....when can we plant wildflowers? Is it too late to plant in late May? If so, when is best? What variety do you recommend for this region and this terrain? thank you!!!ANSWER:
Most wildflowers are best planted when the seeds naturally ripen and distribute themselves. Generally, this is summer and fall. It is really too late to sow seeds for late spring flowers, but you could probably still sow some late bloomers. Here are some suggested species for your area that bloom in late summer and fall and are native to northeastern Pennsylvania that might produce flowers if sown in May:
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Astragalus canadensis (Canadian milkvetch)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)
There are many possibilities for wildflowers for next year if they are sown this fall. Mr. Smarty Plants recommends that you read the following articles in our How to Articles: "Wildflower Meadow Gardening" and "Large Scale Wildflower Planting".
In addition to the plants listed above, here are a few other recommendations for wildflowers to include in your seed sowing for the fall:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower)
Chelone glabra (white turtlehead)
Erigeron philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane)
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)
Sisyrinchium angustifolium (narrowleaf blue-eyed grass)
You can find other possibilities on our "Mid-Atlantic Recommended Native Plant Species List" from our Regional Factpacks page.
From the Image Gallery
More Meadow Gardens Questions
Wildflowers for April wedding near Austin TX
August 31, 2015 - Home wedding April 2016. Live North of Austin.on 200 acres ranch and would like to plant wildflowers. What to plant? When to plant? Flowers that will sustain in vase or bouquet?
view the full question and answer
Planting a meadow garden in Pennsylvania
November 16, 2014 - I live in Saxonburg PA near Pittsburgh PA. I want to put a meadow garden in my back yard. We are building a home so there is no established yard yet just trees and weeds. Where do I start . What...
view the full question and answer
When to reseed wildflowers in a drought year?
October 18, 2011 - My acreage with extensive wildflowers was mowed in 2010 before annuals had seeded. Only a few returned this year. Considering the predicted lonterm drought should I postpone reseeding this fall?
view the full question and answer
Non-native, invasive rescue grass in meadow garden in Smithville TX
September 20, 2012 - Despite numerous efforts, a solid field of cool weather rescue grass keeps desired wildflower and grass seeds from successfully growing on my "vacant" lot in town. I plan to I put out a 6 ml plasti...
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers for an Indiana septic drain field
August 29, 2015 - We just had to have a septic system replaced due to our state highway consuming some of our front yard along with our original septic. Since this has happened, our lateral lines now lie in our back ya...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |