Native Trees, Plants & Flowers in Virginia

Perennial Flowers

• Southern blue flag (Iris virginica) is a native of Virginia's coastal plains, growing to 3 feet in wet, acidic soils set in full sun. Southern blue flag blooms during June, generating a yellow, blue and white flower. Use it in a water garden or place it close to ponds or spots that experience flooding on and off during the year. The mountainous terrain in Virginia supports creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), a suitable ground cover for shade gardens and rock gardens. It grows to 18 inches, blooms from July through September and has attractive blue-purple flowers. Creeping phlox tolerates shade and it is vulnerable to powdery mildew, which discolors its foliage.

Shrubs

• Growing throughout Virginia, silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) is a shrub that attains heights between 6 and 10 feet. It flowers late in May or at June's beginning, generating cream white flower clusters. Plant silky dogwood in bird gardens; wild birds will eat its blue-white berries. Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), also called Virginia willow, grows in sun or shade, giving it versatility. It grows between 3 and 5 feet high, has dark green foliage and changes to red in the fall. Virginia sweetspire flowers in June and is appropriate for naturalized, wet areas or shrub borders.

Trees

• All of Virginia except for the extreme southeastern counties is within the range of the Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana). Grow it in full sun and use it to define property lines or as a buffer. Virginia pine is a dark green evergreen conifer, growing between 10 and 50 feet high. It is a common type of Christmas tree in southern regions. Poor quality soil and the threat of droughts does not prevent southern red oak (Quercus falcata) from growing all over Virginia as a native species. The tree matures to 80 feet, with a straight trunk and green leaves. It is late to drop its foliage in fall and the southern red oak produces acorns that ripen during September and October. Plant it as a shade or street tree.

Vines

• Pergolas, terrace walls, arbors and trellises are great venues for the American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Grow this vine, capable of being 40 feet long, in full sun to achieve the best flowering effect. Known as Atlantic wisteria in Virginia, the vine features lilac-purple flowers in April and May. It grows clockwise around its support and fares poorly when transplanted from its original setting.Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are a vine native to most of the sate, as well as much of the East. It climbs up walls and across other surfaces with the help of grabbing tendrils. This makes it work as cover for stonewalls and upright brick ones. Its foliage changes from green to reds and purples in fall before dropping away.