River Birch Trees (Betula nigra) River Birch Trees (Betula nigra) are basically one of the great success stories of wet ground. They love saturated soils, seasonal flooding, rain gardens, streambanks, and wetlands, and they do not merely tolerate these conditions, they rather thrive in them. In landscapes shaped by water, River Birch feels inevitable, as […]
Ecological Stormwater Solutions Rain Gardens, Native Plants, and Bioretention Ponds. Ecological stormwater solutions work by slowing water down, spreading it out, and letting living systems do the work. Rain Gardens with Native Plants. Rain gardens are shallow, bowl-shaped gardens placed where runoff naturally flows. When planted with deep-rooted Native Plants, they act like living sponges.
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Black Walnut Trees (Juglans nigra): Beauty, Habitat… and a Few Cautions. Black Walnut trees are certainly one of the most magnificent native trees in North America. Juglans nigra rises with a kind of quiet authority: stately form, deeply furrowed bark, and compound foliage that moves like lace in the wind. If you’re creating habitat, this
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Luna Moths: Moonlit Romance in the Night Garden. If any creature in our northeastern forests seems made of myth rather than biology, it’s the Luna Moths (Actias luna.) Pale green wings, long trailing tails, and a soft luminescence under moonlight make them one of the most romantic native species we can welcome into our gardens.
Little Joe Pye Weed: A Petite Powerhouse for Every Garden. Little Joe Pye Weed is one of the most versatile native wildflowers available to gardeners in the Northeast. This compact form of the Eutrochium family brings all the pollinator magic and ecological value of the taller species. However, all that action is packed into a
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Corporate campus landscaping Corporate Campus Landscaping: Transform Your Workplace into a Living Ecosystem. Surprisingly, corporate campuses across the country are beginning to rethink what landscaping can be. Traditional landscaping looks tidy from a distance, but it comes with constant mowing, chemical inputs, irrigation systems, and high maintenance costs. Native plant landscaping flips that script. A
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Winter Seed Sowing Instructions. Winter is the quiet season for gardens, but with winter seed sowing instructions there’s activity. Without doubt it is the most natural time to start next year’s plants. At Jessecology we treat winter sowing as an annual rite of passage. It’s a small act of ecological restoration you can do with
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Organic Plants Organic Plants: Why “Brown Thumbs” Aren’t Real. Many people insist they have a “brown thumb” or that they “just can’t grow anything.” But before anyone labels themselves as a plant failure, there’s a question worth asking. Where are those plants coming from? Most people buy plants from the big box stores. These plants
Rudbeckia triloba Wildflowers + Generosity. Tall Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) is one of the most generous New York native wildflowers you can grow. Moreover, this species stands taller than Rudbeckia fulgida or Rudbeckia hirta. It grows quickly, blooms abundantly, and produces an astonishing number of seeds. As a result, it behaves like a classic “pioneer
Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) is a very tall New York native wildflower that makes an unforgettable statement in any garden. It often grows well over six feet tall, and sometimes even taller. Because of its height and vigor, the plant quickly becomes a back-row champion in larger
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Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) is one of the most versatile New York native wildflowers you can grow. This species thrives in sun and shade alike, adjusting effortlessly to a wide range of light conditions. Moreover, Golden Ragwort grows in bone-dry soil and also flourishes in soggy rain-garden
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Monarda punctata Spotted Horsemint Spotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata). Taxonomy: Monarda punctata (Lamiaceae family). Common Names: Spotted Horsemint, Dotted Horsemint, Spotted Beebalm. Spotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata) is one of the most unexpectedly beautiful wildflowers in the New York native palette. This species stands out because of its layered, pagoda-like bracts and dotted tubular flowers. It carries
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Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) The Question Mark Butterfly is one of the most fascinating brush-footed butterflies in North America. Its name comes straightaway from a small silver punctuation-mark-shaped curve on the underside of its hindwings — a clear “question mark.” Once you see it, you’ll never forget it. This butterfly is easy to recognize
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Corporate Habitat Garden Projects. Corporate Habitat Garden Projects: Renewing the Local Ecosystem while Saving Money on Maintenance Costs. Corporate habitat garden projects are one of the most effective ways for a business to create visible, lasting good. When a company chooses to replace turfgrass with organic native wildflowers, the results ripple outward. A pollinator garden,
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New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) A Native Wildflower Worth Knowing. New England Aster is a tall, showy perennial wildflower native across much of North America, prized for its rich violet- to pinkish-purple blooms with bright yellow centers from late summer into fall. Key Characteristics. Height & form: Typically grows 3-6 ft tall (sometimes up
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Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana). Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) is one of New York’s most adaptable and graceful native wildflowers. Belonging to the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), this perennial species is found throughout much of eastern North America. It thrives in a wide range of habitats. From open woodlands and forest edges to sunny meadows and
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Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) Taxonomy: Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) Genus: Symphyotrichum Species: oblongifolium Common names: Aromatic Aster, Oblong-leaved Aster There’s something enigmatic about Aromatic Aster. It’s one of those late-season native plants that refuses to fade quietly. Just when most wildflowers are shutting down for the year, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium bursts into
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Heartleaf Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) Heartleaf Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) is also known as Bluewood Aster. Certainly, this species is one of the most abundant, reliable and flexible native wildflowers you can grow. Aster cordifolium brings a soft lavender-blue glow to the autumn landscape — shining bright in both woodland shade and full sun. It’s a favorite
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White Admiral Butterfly. The White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis) is one of the most elegant native butterflies in New York. As a matter of fact, it lives across the northern United States as well. Observers easily recognize Limenitis arthemis by its striking black wings banded with a clean white stripe. This woodland species is a frequent
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Fastest Growing Native Trees for New York Landscapes. “What are the fastest growing trees?” When homeowners dream of shade, a future canopy layer, and wildlife support in their yard, the question often comes up: “What trees grow the fastest?” Luckily, there are many native species that balance quick growth with ecological integrity—offering habitat, cooling shade,
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