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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Tuesday - May 25, 2010

From: Lovettsville, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Plants for bird garden in Virginia
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am expanding on a bird attracting garden and would like to know what plants to plant. It is a shade to partial sun area, in an approx. 9' circle, both small shrubs and flowers would be nice.

ANSWER:

Here are some plants native to Virginia that attract birds and do well in shade or part shade.

Herbaceous Plants:

Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)

Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (cayenne pepper)

Small Shrubs:

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)

Ceanothus herbaceus (Jersey tea)

Sedges and Grasses :

Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)

Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)

You can visit our Virginia Recommended species page to see more possibilities.

Here are photos of the plants above from our Image Gallery:


Aquilegia canadensis

Asclepias tuberosa

Comptonia peregrina

Lobelia cardinalis

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Ceanothus herbaceus

Carex cherokeensis

Carex pensylvanica

Chasmanthium latifolium

Elymus canadensis

 

 

 

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