If you've been exploring the Hudson Valley this summer, you’ve probably seen cheery flowers like bee balm and black-eyed Susan popping up in parks, botanical gardens, and arboretums. Many of these flowers are actually native plants that grow naturally in our region and support the local ecosystem and its food webs better than introduced varieties.
To help identify some of these striking species, we turned to John Messerschmidt, a specialist in native gardens and owner of Hudson Valley Native Landscaping. Below are five native plants whose blooms you can spot outside this July, plus some helpful tips for adding them to your own garden. “All of these flowers are deer tolerant and will respond best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade,” he says. “But they’re all perfect for pollinators and will complement any garden.”
Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)
You'll find majestic queen of the prairie in naturally wet areas, like along streams or ponds. Its wild pink cloud-like flowers will surely elicit a “What’s that?” from everyone who sees it in your yard. Plant it near the back of your space, where the blooms can shoot up above the shorter plants in front.
Bunchflower (Melanthium virginicum)
Bunchflower grows naturally in wetter areas like low-lying marsh. It shows off its white spires in June and July, and after the blooms fade, its striking seed pods will contribute interesting texture and shape to your garden for the rest of the summer.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
