We are growing plants for you!
We would like to see more and more patches of native plants re-established in Floyd to support our struggling pollinator insect and bird populations. Volunteers from Floyd Native Plants and SustainFloyd have been growing and caring for a number of varieties of natives, including flowers, ferns, and trees. Available plants include:
Flowers
- Spotted Bee Balm
- Black-eyed Susan
- Frost Aster
- Calico Aster
Trees
- Red Oak
- Red Maple
- Gray Dogwood
- Arrowwood Viburnum
- Chestnut Oak
- Witch Hazel
Pick up your native pollinator plants at the Thursday Farmers Market on July 3rd, 2025. We will be there from 4:00 to 6:00pm, or earlier if all the plants are gone.
Detailed descriptions of the plants available for reserve are below. We will also bring additional plants to the Thursday market which can be picked up on a first come first served basis—these include some native ferns and other species of native trees. If you are unable to pick up your reserved plants on Thursday we may be able to make arrangements for a pick up at the Saturday market.
How to Order Your Plants
Step 1: Submit the Request form using the button below.
ALL PLANTS HAVE BEEN RESERVED. We will bring additional plants to the Thursday market which can be picked up on a first come first served basis.
Step 2: Make your donation on our Support page.
Step 3: Pick up your trees on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at the Floyd Farmers Market between 4:00 – 6:00pm.
Thank you for planting more native pollinators!
Flowers
Spotted Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)
Perennial, 2′-3′ tall x 2′-3′ wide, unique intricate flowers in shades of pink, gold, and off-white atop soft gray-green foliage in June-August. Thrives in dry sandy soil and full sun, attracting many native bees and wasps (beneficial predators). Does not tolerate grass and weeds so must be kept free of competition by mulching, perhaps by growing beside a sunny gravel driveway. Is delicate when young and needs extra care to get established, but after maturing is tough and blooms prolifically. Native to the Piedmont and Coastal regions of Virginia, plus a few western counties, but does grow well here with the above support and feeds many pollinators.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Biennial, 2′-3′ tall x 1′-2′ wide, many large-ish yellow flowers with blackish brown cone-shaped centers bloom from June – August without need for deadheading, adding cheerful color through the summer. Prefers average garden soil, full sun. This year’s seedlings may bloom briefly this year, then overwinter and grow large and bloom abundantly next year. After flowering, the plant will die and self-sow if permitted. Keep Black-eyed Susans in your garden by allowing to self-sow or by planting seedlings every year. To encourage self-sowing, do not work the soil after seeds fall when the plants die so as not to cover the seeds and prevent germination.
Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum)
Perennial, 2′-3′ tall x 1′ wide, small white daisy-like flowers bloom abundantly in August – October attracting many native bees and wasps (beneficial predators). Narrow foliage can be pruned hard to keep it low and wide, and to stimulate many more flowers. Tough, hardy, tolerates the poorest soil, full sun and dry conditions, will flourish in average garden soil and will bloom even in part-shade. Having many interspersed among your earlier blooming flowers can have a charming effect like Baby’s Breath. Self-sows readily, so plant where this will be an advantage rather than a hassle.
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
Perennial, 2′ tall x 1′ wide, small multi-colored daisy-like flowers in shades of pale pink and white bloom September – October attracting many native bees and wasps (beneficial predators), can be pruned hard to keep it low and wide, and to stimulate many more flowers. Tough, hardy, tolerates the poorest soil, full sun and dry conditions, will flourish in average garden soil and will bloom even in part-shade. Tends to grow smaller and more compact than Frost Aster, with dark purple stems. Self-sows readily, so plant where this will be an advantage rather than a hassle.
Trees
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Qualities: A fast-growing, long-lived deciduous tree valued for its strong central trunk, broad crown, and brilliant red fall foliage. Its acorns are a vital food source for wildlife and are produced abundantly starting around 40 years of age. Commonly used in landscaping and timber production.
Form/Habit: Typically reaches 50–90 ft tall with a broad, often irregular crown. Grows rapidly—15–20 ft in the first 10 years under optimal conditions. Young trees have smooth bark, which becomes deeply ridged with age.
Soil/Climate: Prefers fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained soils but tolerates a wide variety, including loamy, sandy, clay, and urban environments. Thrives in full sun and is adaptable to pollution and moderate drought once established.
Notes: Leaves are dark green above and grayish white below, with 7–11 sharply pointed lobes. In spring, it produces male and female catkins; acorns develop singly or in pairs and mature in early fall. Bark and wood are valued by lumbermen; the tree is a favorite for shade and urban landscapes.
Wildlife: Acorns are a favorite of blue jays, turkeys, squirrels, rodents, deer, raccoons, and bears. Deer browse on twigs and buds in winter.
Problems: Susceptible oak wilt and may experience chlorosis in alkaline soils.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Qualities: Known for vibrant red coloration in leaves, twigs, flowers, and fall foliage. One of the most widely distributed and adaptable deciduous trees in eastern North America. Appreciated for its shade, attractive form, and fall interest.
Form/Habit: Grows 40–60 ft tall (can exceed 100 ft) with a rounded or oval crown. Fast-growing with reddish young twigs and smooth gray bark that becomes ridged with age.
Soil/Climate: Tolerates a wide range of soils but prefers moist, well-drained conditions. Cold-hardy and adaptable. Grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Notes: Leaves are 2–5 in long, with 3–5 lobes and toothed edges. Red to yellow flowers appear in hanging clusters in late winter or early spring. Fruits are samaras (½–1 in) maturing in late spring. Useful in landscaping and for small-scale syrup production.
Wildlife: Provides important winter food for elk and white-tailed deer.
Problems: Generally trouble-free but can be affected by Verticillium wilt, scale, aphids, borers, leafhoppers, fungal leaf spots, and root issues.
Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Qualities: A native deciduous shrub prized for its red-stemmed white berries and wildlife value. The fruit persists into winter, providing ornamental interest and sustenance for birds. Tolerant and low maintenance.
Form/Habit: Grows 10–15 ft tall and wide with dense, thicket-forming habit. Slow growing (less than 12 inches per year). Autumn foliage is a muted red.
Soil/Climate: Adaptable to both moist and dry conditions. Prefers partial shade and is native from Maine to Manitoba.
Notes: Leaves are narrow to oval, 1–5 in long. White berries on red stalks appear in fall and last into early winter. Well-suited for naturalized plantings or hedgerows.
Wildlife: Fruits and buds are favored by ruffed grouse, turkeys, bobwhite, pheasants, and woodcock. Provides both food and cover for many bird species.
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
Qualities: A hardy, adaptable deciduous shrub known for its dense branching, seasonal foliage color, and value to pollinators and birds. Springtime white flowers are followed by dark purple to black berries that are highly attractive to wildlife.
Form/Habit: Grows 6–15 ft tall with an equal spread. Forms dense thickets that provide excellent cover for birds. Medium growth rate of 13–24 inches per year.
Soil/Climate: Tolerates a wide range of soil types and moisture levels. Especially well-suited for wetter sites where other shrubs may struggle. Thrives in Zones 3–8.
Notes: Leaves are dark green in summer, turning reddish to yellow in fall. Clusters of white flowers bloom in spring, followed by attractive dark fruit. Makes an excellent hedge, screen, or wildlife planting.
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and hummingbird moths. Dense form provides shelter for birds, which also feed on the berries in fall and winter.
Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana)
Qualities: A rugged, long-lived deciduous tree in the white oak group, prized for its deeply ridged bark, high wildlife value, and tolerance of dry, rocky soils. It produces some of the largest acorns among native oaks. Historically valued for its tannin-rich bark and durable wood.
Form/Habit: Typically grows 50–70 ft tall and wide, occasionally exceeding 100 ft in optimal conditions. Develops a rounded crown in open areas and a more upright form in forests. Moderate growth rate. The thick, dark bark is the most massive among eastern oaks.
Soil/Climate: Highly adaptable to poor, rocky, or sandy upland soils. Prefers full sun and tolerates drought. Native from southern Maine to central Mississippi and southern Michigan, especially common along the Appalachian ridges. Best suited to USDA Zones 4–8.
Notes: Leaves are obovate, leathery, 5–9 in long, with rounded teeth and pubescent undersides. Fall color is yellow to brown. Acorns are 1.25–1.5 in long, sweetish, and mature in one season. Flowers are inconspicuous, appearing in May. Wood is dense, rot-resistant, and marketed as “mixed white oak.”
Wildlife: Acorns provide a crucial food source for deer, turkeys, squirrels, bears, and numerous bird species. The tree offers excellent cover and nesting habitat in upland forests. Stump sprouting allows for natural regeneration, supporting forest resilience.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Qualities: A native deciduous shrub or small tree best known for its unique late-fall to early-winter blooms, with yellow, ribbon-like flowers that add color to dormant landscapes. Also valued for its medicinal uses, particularly in skincare. Adaptable, cold-hardy, and low maintenance.
Form/Habit: Grows 12–20 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide, occasionally reaching up to 25 ft in ideal conditions. Displays an upright, rounded form with an open branching structure. Slow to moderate growth rate (6–12 in/year), taking 5–10 years to mature fully.
Soil/Climate: Prefers moist, well-drained soils with slightly acidic to neutral pH. Tolerant in sandy or loamy conditions. Thrives in temperate climates (Zones 3–8) with cold winters and moderate humidity. Avoid poorly drained or compacted sites.
Notes: Blooms in late fall, often after leaf drop, making its spidery yellow flowers stand out. The foliage turns golden in autumn. Used ornamentally in woodland gardens, borders, or as a specimen plant. Bark and twigs are traditionally used in astringents and anti-inflammatory skincare products.
Wildlife: Flowers attract late-season pollinators, especially bees. Seed capsules, which explosively release seeds in fall, provide food for birds. Also offers seasonal cover in naturalistic plantings.
