Native Plants Nurseries
Ohio boasts a wide variety of native plants that best support the busy ecosystem of your yard. From bright flowers like black-eyed Susans and beebalm to important host plants like milkweed and spicebush, there are plenty of options to choose from to create a vibrant and diverse home garden.
Learn more about native Ohio plants from our various resources linked below.
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)
Joe-Pye weed is a prevalent meadow plant, one that is commonly visited by a variety of bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. It grows in damp and sunny areas, making it a common feature near roadsides and bodies of water. Joe-Pye weed can grow between 4-7 feet tall and can spread to be around 2-4 feet wide. They typically bloom in mid-summer to early fall with pleasant-smelling pink or purple-colored clustered flowers.
More information about Joe-Pye weed can be found in the Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Evaluations Notes on Joe-Pye Weed at https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no37_joepyeweed.pdf.
Photo courtesy of Mary Jackson
Beebalm/Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
A member of the mint family, wild bergamot, also known as beebalm, is a surefire way to attract a variety of pollinators to your garden. This plant is native throughout the United States and comes in a variety of species and subspecies to choose from.
More information on wild bergamot can be found in The Herb Society of America's guide found at https://www.ncherbsociety.org/uploads/8/4/4/3/84437124/monarda_fistulosa_fact_sheet.pdf.
Photo courtesy of Mary Jackson
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Milkweed is the sole host plant for the endangered monarch butterfly. There are a variety of different species, the most common being swamp milkweed and common milkweed in Ohio. This plant grows in many different environments, from roadsides and railways to pastures and meadows. Milkweed is commonly affected by commercial herbicides and constant moving, which has played a significant part in the decreasing monarch population over the years.
Information on milkweed can be found at https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/backyard-wildlife/Milkweeds%20and%20Monarchs.pdf.
Photo of common milkweed
More Information
Striving to provide quality park and recreational facilities and opportunities for all Ohioans while protecting and preserving Ohio's natural resources.
Provides safe haven for birds in face of climate change and works to fight the decline of birds across the Americas
Works to take on the interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss through conservation work.
A nonprofit organization working to improve and create pollinator habitat in the state of Ohio.
An international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.
To ensure a balance between the wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.