Buzzworthy Blooms in Our Native Gardens This Week

August 27, 2025| Education, Environment

By: Laurie Kane

As cooler weather begins to approach, we see the benefit of including a wide variety of plants in our native gardens. While many species have completed their growing season and are now going dormant, others continue to provide color and pollinator support well into autumn. New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) blooms prolifically from mid-summer to fall. This tall perennial, a member of the aster family, has stalks of dark green foliage with clusters of striking purple disc-shaped flowers from July to October. The nectar provides a valuable food source to beneficial insects, including butterflies and native bees. Dried seed heads will attract birds and are a favorite of goldfinches and hummingbirds.

Growing 5’ to 8’ tall, New York Ironweed is well-suited for borders and in mass plantings in naturalized areas. It is deer resistant and does well in full sun to partial shade, preferring well-drained soil. Historically, Native Americans made a tea from the plant to treat conditions including labor pains, stomach ulcers, and loose teeth.

By choosing a diverse mix of native plants with different bloom times for your own yard you can enjoy a colorful visual display from spring to fall, while also helping to support local wildlife and a healthy ecosystem throughout the year. We invite you to visit our native gardens at 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ, to enjoy the early fall color of these and other buzzworthy native plants in bloom. We hope you’ll be inspired to incorporate native plants into your yard or garden.