Buzzworthy blooms in our native gardens this week

September 13, 2024| Education, Environment

By: Laurie Kane

Our native plant gardens highlight a range of species that thrive in our area’s conditions. Right now, we have two varieties flourishing during these warm days and chilly nights: Great blue lobelia and dogtooth daisy. Both are easy to grow and could make excellent additions to your home garden, offering vibrant color and ecological benefits.

Great Blue Lobelia	Dogtooth Daisy

Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), also commonly known as blue cardinal flower, is easy to spot with its tall stems featuring whorled clusters of lavender blue flowers. Nectar from the tubular flowers is a food source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Growing up to three feet tall, this plant likes shade but will tolerate a good deal of sun. It is deer-resistant and a popular choice for rain gardens as it does well in moist areas. Native Americans used great blue lobelia as a pain reliever and treatment for many common ailments. They also smoked the dried leaves as a tobacco substitute. The plant has been used by individuals trying to break a tobacco habit.

With its bright yellow flowers, dogtooth daisy (Helenium autumnale), also known as sneezeweed or Helen’s flower, is one of the most striking species currently flowering in our gardens. It blooms prolifically from late summer through frost. The daisy-like flowers have distinctive indentations at the end of each petal. The nectar attracts bees and butterflies, and the seeds are a food source for birds. Dogtooth daisy will grow three to five feet tall and does best in full sun. Like great blue lobelia, it likes moist soil and is deer resistant. The “sneezeweed” name associated with this plant comes from its use as a snuff by Native Americans, who ground the dried leaves into a powder to induce sneezing as a relief for congestion and headaches. 

We invite you to visit our native plant gardens at 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ, to see these buzzworthy blooms firsthand.  We hope you will be inspired to incorporate native plants into your yard or garden, supporting local wildlife and contributing to a healthier environment!