22 Native Virginia Perennials (Pictures & Care Tips)
Annuals and biennials die off each year, but perennials do not, so you can count on them year after year to spruce up your garden and yard with vibrant color and texture.
If you live in Virginia and are looking for some new perennials to add to your garden, you are in luck. There are a lot of perennials that thrive in Virginia soil and conditions. And, in fact, the state has hundreds of natives under its name.
In this article, I will walk you through 22 of the most commonly found native Virginia perennials that you can add to your garden pretty easily. All of these plants, from tiny wildflowers to big shrubs, will add color, texture, and visual interest to your yard.
So, let’s get started.
1. Eastern Red Columbine
- Scientific Name: Aquilegia canadensis
- Common Name: Wild or Eastern Red Columbine
- Plant Mature Height: 1-3 ft
- Flowers: Red & Yellow
- Blooming Season: March-May
Aquilegia canadensis, also known as the Wild or Eastern Red Columbine, is a beautiful flower that attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hawk moths.
Furthermore, Columbine Duskywing uses it as a host plant for its larvae.
The plant reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet, and between March and May, it bears nodding, bell-shaped flowers in shades of red and yellow, with petals that are spurred upward.
It does best in partially shaded areas and on sandy, well-drained soils or a mix of medium loam and sandy loam. Its preferred environment ranges from rocky woodlands with little moisture to dense, well-drained forests.
Although its lifespan is short, it readily self-sows. The nectar is in the backward-pointing tubes, or spurs, of the flower. Hummingbirds and other insects with long tongues are drawn to this nectar.
2. Swamp Milkweed
- Scientific Name: Asclepias incarnata
- Common Name: Swamp Milkweed
- Plant Mature Height: 4-6 ft
- Flowers: Pink, Purple
- Blooming Season: May-August
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a beautiful perennial, can reach heights of 4-6 feet. Its breathtaking blossoms in shades of pink and purple usually appear in the period from May to August.
This plant prefers areas with full sun to part shade and moist, rich soil, as its usual habitat is comprised of wet, freshwater spots such as meadows, fields, swamps, riparian areas, and marshes.
Gardeners who have wetland areas in their properties are sure to appreciate the addition of this lovely specimen, as its vivid flower clusters are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. The genus was given its name in honor of Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, as certain species of this plant have long been used for medicinal purposes.
Moreover, its leaves are an essential food source for Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus).
3. Blue Wild Indigo
- Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
- Common Name: Blue Wild Indigo
- Plant Mature Height: 5 ft
- Flowers: Blue-purple, Pea-like
- Blooming Season: April & May
The Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a tall, hardy perennial that can reach up to 5 feet in height. With beautiful blue-purple and pea-like flowers, it blooms in April and May and loves full sun.
Its ideal soil is usually moist and sandy, slightly acidic, and it can be found in dry to moist areas such as open woods, streambanks, and floodplains.
Don’t forget that this plant is in the pea family and needs microorganisms in its roots to live. It’s also a great choice for attracting bumble bees and other native bees.
4. Butterfly Weed
- Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
- Common Name: Butterfly Weed
- Plant Mature Height: 1-3 ft
- Flowers: Yellow-Orange, Bright Orange
- Blooming Season: May – September
The gorgeous perennial Asclepias tuberosa, more commonly known as Butterfly Weed, reaches a height of between one and three feet.
It produces yellow-orange to brilliant-orange flowers from May through September and provides a wonderful source of nectar for Monarchs.
It endures drought and thrives in full sun to part shade, and in sandy soils that are either moist or dry. Butterfly Weed is native to dry, rocky woods, glades, fields, and roadsides. It is not called Orange Milkweed for no reason – it does not contain any milky sap.
This plant makes a wonderful cut flower and would be a great addition to any garden.
5. Yellow Wild Indigo
- Scientific Name: Baptisia tinctoria
- Common Name: Yellow Wild Indigo
- Plant Mature Height: 1-3 ft
- Flowers: Yellow Pea-Like
- Blooming Season: May – September
The beautiful perennial plant Baptisia tinctoria, or yellow wild indigo, blooms with pea-like flowers from May to September.
It can reach a height of 1–3 feet and thrives in sunny locations. Because of its affinity for acidic soils, it thrives in dry, open woods and clearings.
Some species are used as an inferior substitute for true indigo dye, which is reflected in the genus name, which comes from the Greek baptizein (to dye).
Both the Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus) and the Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) use it as a larval host plant.
6. White Turtlehead
- Scientific Name: Chelone glabra
- Common Name: White Turtlehead
- Plant Mature Height: 2-4 ft
- Flowers: White, Pink
- Blooming Season: July – September
Perennial White Turtlehead is a sight to behold from July through September when its delicate pink and white flowers bloom.
Depending on the variety, it can reach a height of 2–4 feet and thrives in full sun rather than partial shade. This native Virginia perennial does best in soils that are light, rich, and wet to moist. Brushy marshes, stream banks, wet ditches, low meadows, and wooded areas are all part of its natural habitat.
The name of this genus of flowers comes from the Greek word chelone, which means “shape” (tortoise). Chelone lyonii, a related species, has pink flowers. Butterflies love the nectar of this particular flower.
7. Virginia Spring Beauty
- Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica
- Common Name: Spring Beauty, Virginia Spring Beauty
- Plant Mature Height: 12 in
- Flowers: Pink, Whitish, Striped with Dark Pink
- Blooming Season: March-May
Claytonia virginica, or Spring Beauty, is a gorgeous perennial plant with light pink or whitish flowers that have dark pink stripes. It can grow to heights of 4-12 inches and does best in part shade.
Rich, moist soils with high humus are the ideal home for this flower, as its natural habitat is found in lush woods and thickets.
This plant has an interesting trait in that it disappears from the surface of the soil after the seed capsules have ripened, but the area it leaves behind is not a large one. It grows from an underground tuber similar to a small potato and features a sweet, chestnut-like flavor.
Native Americans and colonists used it for food. This visually appealing spring perennial looks great when planted in large patches, and spreads quickly.
8. Wild Bleeding Heart
- Scientific Name: Dicentra eximia
- Common Name: Wild Bleeding Heart
- Plant Mature Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Flowers: Deep Pink to Red, Drooping Heart-shaped
- Blooming Season: April-June
Dicentra eximia, commonly known as wild bleeding heart, is a beautiful perennial that can reach a height of 1.5 to 2 feet.
Blooming from April to June, its heart-shaped flowers range in color from a deep pink to a deep red.
This requires moist soil and does best in partial to full shade. Its flowers close at night, and it grows naturally in salt marshes, rocky woods, cliffs, and rich woods.
If you want to attract birds and bees, then the wild bleeding heart is one of the best native Virginia perennials.
9. Wild Geranium
- Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum
- Common Name: Wild Geranium, Spotted Geranium
- Plant Mature Height: 8-28 in
- Flowers: Lavender
- Blooming Season: April-June
The beautiful Geranium maculatum, also known as the “wild geranium,” can reach a height of 8 to 28 inches. It blooms loose clusters of 2-5 flowers in lilac color from April to June and does best in full sun to partial shade.
This plant does best in moderate to dry, highly acidic to calcium-rich soils. Upland and floodplain forests are their preferred environment. Bumble bees and other native bees appreciate wild geranium even more than other birds do.
10. White Wood Aster
- Scientific Name: Eurybia divaricata
- Common Name: White Wood Aster
- Plant Mature Height: 3.5 ft
- Flowers: White
- Blooming Season: August – October
The stunning white flowers of the perennial plant Eurybia divaricata appear in late summer and early fall.
It is a taller variety that can reach a height of 3.5 feet and thrives in partial to full shade. This Virginia perennial plant does best in well-drained, acidic soils like loam, sand, and loam. Medium- to dry-humidity forests are its natural habitat. It is a great plant for attracting butterflies and its name, “divaricata,” comes from its sprawling habit.
11. Wild Strawberry
- Scientific Name: Fragaria virginiana
- Common Name: Wild Strawberry
- Plant Mature Height: 1 ft
- Flowers: White
- Blooming Season: April – June
Fragaria virginiana, commonly known as Wild Strawberry, is a local species of strawberry often used to create hybrid cultivars.
It’s a relatively small plant, growing up to one foot in height, with an open cluster of tiny, white, five-petaled flowers. From April to June, these blooms are followed by edible wild strawberries.
Wild Strawberry is best grown in full sun to partial shade, in dry soil conditions, and can be found in woodlands, open areas, and meadows. Furthermore, because it attracts beneficial insects, which can help control pest populations, this species is beneficial to conservation biological control.
It is a great choice for butterfly gardens and is a host for the Gray Hairstreak caterpillar. Native bees also find particular value in Wild Strawberries. It should not be confused with Duchesnia India, which is a yellow-flowered groundcover.
12. Narrow-leaved Sunflower
- Scientific Name: Helianthus angustifolius
- Common Name: Narrow-leaved Sunflower, Narrowest-leaved Sunflower
- Plant Mature Height: 6 ft
- Flowers: Yellow
- Blooming Season: September & October
Narrow-leaved sunflower is a gorgeous perennial plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in September and October. Its ideal environment is a partially shaded spot, where it can reach its full height of 3–6 feet.
This is one of the native Virginia perennials that thrives in wet soils. They belong to habitats like bogs, ditches, and open areas. Birds and native bees will love this plant. Its narrow leaves are what inspired the species name “angustifolius.”
13. American Alumroot
- Scientific Name: Heuchera americana
- Common Name: American Alumroot
- Plant Mature Height: 1–5 ft
- Flowers: Greenish, Cup-Shaped
- Blooming Season: April to June
The American Alumroot (Heuchera americana) is a stunning perennial that features leafless, hairy, and sticky flower stalks that can reach heights of 18-36 inches. Sprinkled atop are loosely arranged, cup-shaped, greenish flowers that bloom from April to June.
The plant has 6 inches of foliage and can reach up to 1-5 feet in stem length. It loves part shade to full shade, as well as dry to moist soils.
You can find it in rocky woodlands and outcroppings, and it can handle a variety of rock types and chemistries. It’s perfect for rock gardens, pots, and shady gardens, plus its deer resistant and attracts small bees. This makes it an excellent choice for any garden.
14. Turk’s-cap Lily
- Scientific Name: Lilium superbum
- Common Name: Turk’s-Cap Lily
- Plant Mature Height: 4-8 ft
- Flowers: Red, Orange, Yellow
- Blooming Season: July-September
The Turk’s-Cap Lily, or Lilium superbum, is a beautiful native type of lily with petals and sepals that curve back in a way that reminds some people of the traditional hats that some Turks wear.
It grows from 4-8 feet tall and in peak season, it’s covered with up to 40 blooms in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
This lily prefers full sun and moist, loamy, sandy, or acidic soils with good drainage. Indians used to cook soup with the bulbs of this plant, which are known for their striking stamens that stick out of the flower.
It grows in meadows, swamps, and woods in its natural habitat.
15. Eastern Rose-mallow
- Scientific Name: Hibiscus moscheutos
- Common Name: Swamp or Eastern Rose-mallow
- Plant Mature Height: 3-8 ft
- Flowers: Creamy-white
- Blooming Season: July to September
The Swamp or Eastern Rose-mallow is a vibrant plant that draws in hummingbirds with ease. It can reach heights of 3-8 feet and does best in full sun, though partial shade is fine.
This native Virginia perennial thrives in wet or moist alkaline soils, and its native habitat includes wet meadows, mesic forests, and the margins of wet freshwater marshes.
Eastern Rose-mallow starts to develop late in the season and bloom for an extended time in the summer, typically from July to September.
16. Dwarf Crested Iris
- Scientific Name: Iris cristata
- Common Name: Dwarf Crested Iris
- Plant Mature Height: 4-16 in
- Flowers: Blue-Violet, White
- Blooming Season: April & May
The Dwarf Crested Iris, also known as Iris cristata, is a lovely perennial that blooms in April and May with blue-violet or, less frequently, white flowers. It is a dwarf variety that can reach a maximum height of 16 inches and does best in partial shade.
This plant thrives in a range of soil conditions, including those that are dry to moist, rocky, and acidic to basic. The woods, including the clefts and ravines of mountains, are its preferred environment.
This plant spreads by rhizomes, so divide it up however you like. Just like most other native Virginia perennials in this list, Dwarf Crested Iris is loved by hummingbirds and bees.
17. Cardinal Flower
- Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis
- Common Name: Cardinal Flower
- Plant Mature Height: 6 ft
- Flowers: Red
- Blooming Season: July to October
obelia cardinals, more commonly known as the Cardinal Flower, is a tall perennial plant that can reach heights of 1-6 feet.
It blooms bright red flowers from July to October and likes to be in either full sun or full shade. It enjoys wet and moist soils that are high in humus and are either sandy or clay.
The Cardinal Flower can be found in low areas, woodlands, stream banks, roadsides, and meadows. It is popular for its blooms and colo.
They are known to be one of the popular flowers that hummingbirds depend on for their nectar and are responsible for their pollination. The name of the flower is believed to come from the bright red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.
18. Blue Lobelia
- Scientific Name: Lobelia siphilitica
- Common Name: Blue Lobelia
- Plant Mature Height: 6 ft
- Flowers: Lavender-Blue
- Blooming Season: July to October
The Lobelia siphilitica, commonly called Blue Lobelia, is an eye-catching perennial plant that can reach heights of 1.5 to 6 feet. From July to October, there are a lot of lavender-blue, tube-shaped flowers on the top branches.
This flower flourishes in full sun to part shade and moist to wet clay, loam, or sandy soils of woodlands, meadows, and swamps.
It is not drought tolerant, however, it supports Conservation Biological Control, which attracts beneficial insects that feed on pests. This species is also attractive to birds and hummingbirds, as well as bumble bees and other native bees. Its bright blue blooms in late summer will add a beautiful touch to any garden.
It is one of those native Virginia perennials preferred for woodland gardens.
19. Virginia Bluebell
- Scientific Name: Mertensia virginica
- Common Name: Virginia Bluebell, Virginia Cowslip
- Plant Mature Height: 8-28 inches
- Flowers: Lavender-blue, bell-shaped
- Blooming Season: March-May
The Mertensia virginica, or Virginia bluebell, is a stunning annual or short-lived perennial flower.
It has bell-shaped, lavender-blue flowers from March through May and a mature plant can reach heights of 28 inches. This plant thrives in medium, well-drained soil and partial to full shade. The floodplains and slope forests are their preferred habitat.
The Virginia bluebell is a plant that spreads by sending out seeds. When allowed to grow, it makes a beautiful display.
Additionally, Long-tongued bees are the main pollinators, but it also attracts and supports other early pollinators.
20. Wild Blue Phlox
- Scientific Name: Phlox divaricata
- Common Name: Wild Blue Phlox, Woodland Phlox
- Plant Mature Height: 2 ft
- Flowers: Lavender, Pink
- Blooming Season: April & May
Perennial phlox (Phlox divaricata) is a sight to behold in April and May when its fragrant, lavender, or pink flowers bloom. It’s a taller variety, reaching heights of up to 2 feet, and it does best in filtered sunlight or partial shade.
This flower thrives in soil that is rich, sandy, or rocky and has good drainage. Its native habitat ranges from wetland forests to open woodlands.
It is a great plant for attracting hummingbirds, long-tongued bees, and butterflies, and its name, “divaricata,” comes from its sprawling habit. Also, keep in mind that this plant is not deer or rabbit resistant.
21. Eastern Prickly-pear
- Scientific Name: Opuntia humifusa
- Common Name: Eastern Prickly-Pear
- Plant Mature Height: 1-2.5 ft
- Flowers: Yellow
- Blooming Season: Late Spring – Mid Summer
The Eastern Prickly-Pear (Opuntia humifusa) is an attractive and eye-catching plant, with flattened pads which can range from one to three levels, each measuring up to 10 inches long, 7 inches across, and 1.5 inches thick.
In late spring to mid-summer, the pads produce yellow buds and single yellow flowers that are around 3-4 inches across.
These flowers attract pollinating bees and last for only one day. If you’d like to grow more of these plants, the easiest way is to take pads rather than using seeds. This plant is best suited to full sun and dry, sandy soil.
22. Southern Sundrops
- Scientific Name: Oenothera fruticosa
- Common Name: Narrow-leaf Sundrops, Southern Sundrops
- Plant Mature Height: 3 ft
- Flowers: Golden-yellow
- Blooming Season: May to September
Narrow-leaf Sundrops, or Oenothera fruticosa, is a beautiful perennial plant with bright golden-yellow flowers blooming from May to September.
It can reach heights of 1–3 feet and thrives in sunny locations. It does best in slightly acidic, well-drained soils but can handle brackish and lime conditions as well. Its natural environment includes forests, hedgerows, and grassy fields.
The plant can spread quickly in ideal conditions, but it is not typically invasive. In addition, it serves as an excellent hummingbird and bird feeder.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- The Virginia Department of Forestry
- The Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Virginia Native Plant Society
- The US Forest Service
- Virginia Natural Heritage Program
- Virginia Tech Dendrology
