Native Plants on trial in the Michigan State University Gardens

In 2009, we initiated a new program within the trial gardens here at Michigan State University.  With the support of Bill Schneider at Wildtype Nursery, we planted our first 18 Michigan native plants in trial format.  Recognizing that most will not fulfill their full ornamental potential for a year or more, no specific trial data was collected the first year.  Both Lobelia cardinalis and Lobelia siphilitica had plenty of color the first year as did the Senna hebecarpa! 

The complete list of natives on trial is as follows:

Allium cernuum Nodding Wild Onion

Aralia racemosa Spikenard

Eragrostis spectabilis Purple Love Grass

Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium

Heuchera americana Alum Root

Koeleria macrantha June Grass

Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower

Lobelia siphilitica Blue Lobelia

Monarda punctata Horsemint

Penstemon hirsutus Penstemon

Rudbeckia laciniata Green Headed Coneflower

Senecio obovatus Round Leaved ragwort

Senna hebecarpa Wild Senna

Smilacina stellata Starry Solomon Seal

Solidago flexicaulis Zig-Zag goldenrod

Verbena stricta Hoary Vervain

Vernonia missurica Ironweed

Veronicastrum virginicum Culvers Root