Native Plants for Chevy Chase Gardeners

Whether you’re planning to sell your Chevy Chase home or add a little color to your yard, growing a garden is always a good start. Here are a few ideas for flowers that are native to Maryland’s piedmont region.

Sun-Loving Flowers

If you’re thinking of starting a front-yard garden, you may want to try these native varieties.

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are a popular yellow flower with namesake black center, perfect for a garden by the mailbox.

What kind of soil? Grows in both fine and medium textured soils.

When does it bloom? Midsummer

Other conditions: They have medium drought tolerance but still require a moderate amount of moisture. Black-eyed Susans won’t do well in the shade, so make sure they get plenty of direct sunlight.

Horsemint or beebalm (Monarda punctate) is a delicate looking flower with spiky purple, white or pink petals. Bees and butterflies love this wildflower, whose leaves smell like citrus when crushed.

What kind of soil? Grows in a variety of soils, from clay to sandy loam. Prefers dry conditions.

When does it bloom? May through July

Other conditions:  Horsemint doesn’t need a lot of water. It grows best in the sun or partial shade.

Smooth blue aster (Aster laevis) is a gorgeous lavender wildflower that shares a passing resemblance to a daisy. Bees and butterflies will be attracted to this perennial wildflower.

What kind of soil? Grows best in medium to coarse textured soils.

When does it bloom? Midsummer

Other conditions: Smooth blue asters have medium drought tolerance and require a moderate amount of water. Make sure they get plenty of direct sunlight.

Plants for the Shade

If you’ve got a lot of trees on your property, chances are your lawn doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight. Nevertheless, here are a couple of beautiful plants that grow well in the shade.

Virginia blue bells (Mertensia virginica) are a perennial that produces beautiful bell-shaped blue flowers. It grows approximately two feet tall.

What kind of soil? Grows in fine to medium textured soil.

When does it bloom? Spring

Other conditions: Has a very low drought tolerance and requires heavy watering.

Wild bleedingheart (Dicentra eximia) is a perennial, bushy plant with fern-like leaves and small pink or white flowers.

What kind of soil? Grows in moist, rich and rocky soils. Prefers acidic conditions.

When does it bloom? Spring and summer

Other conditions: Requires a moderate amount of watering and is tolerant to the cold.

Find out more about native Maryland plants, specific growing conditions or information on wild flowers.

Starting your own garden? Let us know how it’s going.