Welcome to Awesome Native Plants

Wingstem - - NEW PAGE
Wingstem - Verbesina alternifolia

Consider these tall early fall blooming plants for your yard next year.
As a composite, they have flowers that are relatively easier to observe in detail. See the basic structure of composites. Did you know that all composites use the 'plunger' technique to expose their pollen like the cardinal flowers? Read more about basic composite features and wingstem. Click here.

Autumn Colors
Red Maple - Acer rubrum

Contributing deep reds to the collage of yellows and greens are the red maple leaves. Red maple is one of the most abundant trees in the east. It grows in a wide range of conditions. Click here to learn more about Red Maple. See also our collection of plants with colorful fall leaves: Click here.

Gentiana clausa - Closed Gentian

There are 7 species of gentians native to NJ. Three are presumed or possibly extirpated. Learn about the remaining 4:

• Gentiana clausa - Closed Gentian
• Gentiana andrewsii - Bottle Gentian
• Gentiana saponaria - Soapwort Gentian
• Gentiana autumnalis - Pinebarren Gentian

Clematis, Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana

These feathery fruit heads are now releasing their seeds. They are the native clematis vine.
The clematis produces lots of small white flowers in summer with separate male and female plants.
The plant is toxic if ingested but does support wildlife. This is very similar to the invasive C. terniflora. Read more. Click here.