Native plants are those that naturally grow in certain geographical areas or habitats and are already acclimated to the soil and climate.
Wisconsin has several native flowers and plants; you can see many of them growing wildly across prairies and other grasslands. You can also incorporate some of them in your home garden.
Here are 7 flowers that are native to Wisconsin that can add color to your landscape or garden.
1. White Yarrow
White yarrow is a spreading perennial that blooms in the summer. Its clusters of flat, white, or cream-colored flowers have slender leaves that resemble the fronds of a fern.
White yarrow is a hardy plant. Because of its resilience and prolific flowering, it’s easily a favorite among gardeners.
Plant white yarrow in full sun for optimal growth and maximum blooms. Although this plant grows in partial sunlight or shade, it will be lankier overall. It also thrives in well-drained soil and hot, dry climates.
White yarrow is a great addition in herbaceous landscaping borders, in gardens, or as a groundcover. Its flowers can be cut and added to bouquets or dry floral arrangements.
2. Anise Hyssop
Anise hyssop is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows 3 – 6-inch flowering spikes. Its tiny blue and purple flowers bloom beginning in early summer and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
This flowering plant naturally grows in grasslands, wooded areas, plains, and fields.
When planting them in your garden or landscape, only add water when the soil is mostly, but not completely, dry. This plant grows well in all soil types but grows especially well in dry soil and in full sun to partial shade.
Once established, anise hyssop plants are drought resistant. They add color and texture to landscaping borders and gardens. They also look great in planters.
3. Prairie Onion
The prairie onion is a perennial bulb. It grows a single blooming stalk above its long green leaves; this stalk is where its 4-inch lavender-pink and white flowers bloom during the summer.
Prairie onions are perfect for rock gardens because they grow well in rocky, dry soil. However, they are adaptable and grow well in almost any soil type. Full sun is ideal for optimal growth potential and blooms, but prairie onions can tolerate light shade as well.
Prairie onions look beautiful in flowerbeds and along landscaping borders, cottage gardens, and rock gardens. Plant them in clusters next to low-growing plants for a striking garden aesthetic.
4. Thimbleweed
Thimbleweed grows and spreads quickly. Its one-inch white flowers bloom atop tall stalks from spring until early fall.
Thimbleweed thrives in either full sun or partial shade and in dry to moderately moist soil. It also favors acidic, organic soil. Once it matures, thimbleweed can withstand cold temperatures and drought.
Thimbleweed grows naturally in rocky or dry forests or along wooded slopes. It is an ideal addition to wooded or shade gardens.
5. Pearly Everlasting
Pearly everlasting is a clump-forming plant with silver-gray foliage and clusters of small white-petaled flowers with yellow centers. These plants frequently grow on arid, rocky, or gravelly terrain and can reach a height of 3 feet.
Pearly everlasting plants grow best in full sunlight and wet, well-drained soil, but it tolerates any soil type and light shade. Avoid planting pearly everlasting under trees that cast heavy shade.
Plant pearly everlasting alongside other flowering plants, preferably those with vivid hues. They are also beautiful as cut flowers in living or dried floral arrangements.
6. White Snakeroot
White snakeroot has dark green leaves that grow around stalks that grow 3 – 4-inch clusters of small, fuzzy, white flowers.
These plants thrive in full sun and partial shade and can grow reasonably well in dry to moderately moist, well-draining soil.
White snakeroot offers a lovely garden presence with other flowering plants that bloom later in the season. It’s a great complement for accent plants in mixed landscaping borders, cottages, woodland, wild gardens, and in naturalized areas.
7. Red Baneberry
The herbaceous perennial red baneberry grows in bushy clumps. It produces small, fluffy white flowers in late spring and early summer. These flowers grow atop striking red stalks that grow from its thicket of green leaves.
In the summer, this plant produces red glossy pea-sized berries.
Red baneberry naturally grows in the moist land around forests, along the shaded banks of streams, and in shaded places where groundwater is present.
It prefers mild to moderate shade and grows best in wet, slightly acidic soil containing clay loam, sandy loam, or loam with decomposing organic matter.
Red baneberry is a plant to grow in shaded areas thanks to its gorgeous leaves, blossoming white flowers, and bright red berries. It’s a delightful addition to cottage gardens, flowerbeds, and landscaping borders.
