Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Much as we would like to, we really can't give you a landscape plan without seeing the property. However, you have given us enough information that we can probably suggest some native plants that will thrive in Virginia, and you can either select from our ideas or search our Native Plant Database for more ideas of your own. First suggestion: perhaps you can talk your husband out of a patch of turf by suggesting a wildflower meadow in that space, instead. This will be good for the environment, because it will take less watering, fertilizer and maintenance than a conventional turf, which is usually a non-native grass and sometimes invasive. Read our How-To Article on Meadow Gardening. You could put a path of stepping stones or gravel through the garden for maintenance, and goodbye, turf.

What we are going to do is search our Native Plant Database Recommended Species list, searching on Virginia, and then selecting Herbs (growth habit), Perennial (duration), and sun (exposure 6 or more hours a day). On separate searches, we will look for shrubs, trees and grasses or grasslike plants, picking four of each category. You can follow the link to a webpage on each plant and see if it suits your purposes. Then, you can broaden your search, again going to Recommended Species, clicking on Virginia, and then on Narrow Your Search, which will give you an opportunity to name the category you want to see more of, as well as sun exposure, soil moisture, etc. When you've got your ideas together, go to our Native Plant Suppliers for suppliers near Alexandria, and visit them in person or online to determine what they have in stock.

HERBS (flowering plants)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) - pink, purple blooms June to October, attracts butterflies

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower) - blue, purple blooms July to November, attracts butterflies

Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower) - pink, purple April to September

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - red blooms May to October

SHRUBS

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) - evergreen, fragrant leaves, attracts birds, butterflies

Physocarpus opulifolius (common ninebark) - deciduous, white, pink blooms May & June, attracts birds

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) - deciduous, Fall color, attracts birds, butterflies

Ilex glabra (inkberry) - evergreen, attracts birds

TREES -

Prunus americana (American plum) - deciduous, Fall foliage, conspicuous flowers April & May

Prunus serotina (black cherry) - deciduous, white blooms March to June

Thuja occidentalis (arborvitae) - Images. evergreen, food and cover for birds

Taxodium distichum (bald cypress) - deciduous, attracts birds

GRASSES

Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) - 3 to 6 ft. tall, good to screen air conditioner

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - to 3 ft. tall, tolerates shade

Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - shade tolerant, attractive in Winter

Asclepias incarnata

Conoclinium coelestinum

Echinacea purpurea

Lobelia cardinalis

Morella cerifera

Physocarpus opulifolius

Rhus glabra

Ilex glabra

Prunus americana

Prunus serotina

Taxodium distichum

Andropogon gerardii

Bouteloua curtipendula

Carex blanda

Chasmanthium latifolium