Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Large fragrant bouquets of purple flowers make this shrub the queen of spring in the northern garden.
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Wildlife: Hummingbirds
Maltese Cross
Lychnis chalcedonica
Bright orange flowers offer a sharp contrast to the pinks and purples that proliferate in the early summer border. Maltese cross reseeds fairly easily, but can be choked out by more aggressive perennials.
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Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
This tall Virginia native has spires of bright pink flowers and can be seen growing along waterways and woodland trails. It makes an excellent addition the back of the border, but be prepared for some spreading. It does not earn its name by staying in one place, but due to the ability to manipulate the flowers in different directions.
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Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa atropurpurea
These airy, colorful flowers are mildly fragrant and a pleasant addition to the flower border.
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Scarlet Rose Mallow
Hibiscus coccineus
This plant is the largest hibiscus grown at Mount Vernon, as well as the longest flowering. Its brilliant red blooms are a bold statement in the summer border. It is native to the swamps and marshes of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
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Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
This colorful cool season annual is a charmer in the middle of the flower border during the spring and fall.
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Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia
This dense suckering shrub tolerates wet soils and shade. In late summer it bursts into bloom, with long panicles of fragrant white flowers, followed by attractive yellow fall color.
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Sweet William
Dianthus barbatus
This old-fashioned biennial with its cheerful pink and white blossoms in the late spring is a mainstay of cottage gardens.
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Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera
One of the largest native trees in North America, the tulip poplar can reach heights of 150 feet in nature. It is actually a member of the magnolia family, and named for its distinct tulip-shaped leaves and flowers. These showy, goblet-shaped, orange-yellow-green flowers appear in late spring after the leaves, although on a mature specimen they can be hard to see.
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Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A more delicate species than its red-flowered cousin, bergamot has lovely lavender flowers and a more graceful look. It is attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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