A Parting Gift for
MG Appreciation Day Attendees
As a free “parting gift” for attending the 2024 Master Gardener Appreciation Day, be sure and pick up a free native plant or a native seed packet at the end of the day, compliments of the Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists Native Plant Project.
When you check in at Appreciation Day, you will be given a checklist of available plants and seed packets as seen below. When you’re ready to head home, check off your top three plant or seed packet choices and turn in your checklist to the cheerful Master Naturalist volunteer, who will present you with a parting gift based on the current availability of plants/seed packets.
NATIVE PLANTS
NOTE: The number in parentheses after a plant’s common name is the number of plants we will have on hand.
1. Beautyberry (35), Callicarpa americana. At its peak in early October with its masses of lovely purple fruits; not picky about growing conditions.
2. Bradbury’s beebalm (40), Monarda bradburiana. Shorter beebalm that provides nectar in the spring; tolerates some shade.
3. Cardinal flower (5), Lobelia cardinalis. Beautiful red flowers are a hummingbird magnet. Prefers moist soil; sun to part shade.
4.Dutchman’s pipevine (20), Aristolochia tomentosa. Host plant for the pipevine swallowtail; grows best in afternoon shade.
5. Eastern columbine (21), Aquilegia canadensis. Versatile plant which provides early season color in sun or part shade.
6. Foxglove beardtongue (26), Penstemon digitalis. Bright white blooms attract bees and butterflies in early summer.
7. Golden Alexander (6), Zizea aurea. Native host plant for eastern black swallowtail butterflies; lovely yellow bloom in early spring. Tolerates some shade.
8. Lanceleaf coreopsis (36), Coreopsis lanceolata. Early summer nectar plant for sunny situations.
9. Pale purple coneflower (10), Echinacea pallida. Lovely coneflower that is often seen at the edge of woodlands, so can tolerate some shade. Blooms early summer.
10. Purple coneflower (24), Echinacea purpurea. Everybody’s favorite nectar plant. Long bloom period in summer sun.
11. St. Andrew’s-cross (24), Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule. Low-growing plant, forms a mat with yellow blooms from July to September.
12. Swamp milkweed (45), Asclepias incarnata. Favorite of monarchs, also a wonderful nectar plant. Tolerates a variety of growing conditions.
13. Serviceberry (6), Amelanchier arborea. Early white blooms for pollinators in the spring, followed by berries for the birds—or for you! (Note: small tree in 3-gallon pot.)
14.. Elderberry (6), Sambucus canadensis. A must for bird lovers, this plant provides berries and cover. (Note: Shrub/small tree in 3-gallon pot.)
NATIVE SEED PACKETS
15. Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
16. Bradbury beebalm, Monarda bradburiana
17. Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis
18. Eastern columbine, Aquilegia canadensis
19. Foxglove beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis
20. Gray-headed coneflower, Ratibida pinnata. Long-blooming bright yellow coneflower, summer.
21. Missouri ironweed, Vernonia missurica. Not your tall ironweed; showy late summer bloom.
22. Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea
23. Scarlet penstemon, Penstemon murrayanus. Striking red bloom accompanied by interesting leaf structure. Tolerates dry soil and part shade.
24. Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
25. Yellow coneflower, Echinacea paradoxa. Early summer yellow pollinator plant.
The NWA Master Naturalists Native Plant Project team suggests these websites as educational resources about native plants: