Northern White-Cedar or arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis). I have scored a DNR grant for deer exclosures and am re-introducing this beautiful species to my 30 acre bog-riverine-wetlands complex. There is something wonderfully human-like in the white cedar's nodding form, smooth bark, and finger-like foliage. They have a very appealing child-like blond/green-eyed personality unusual for the plant kingdom. The ojibwe Indians considered them sacred and I can see why....

Hi Ralph -- You're here in NC for good--yay! I will keep the hibiscus in position for a bit, then I can dig when you're ready for it. I'm hoping in the next two-three weeks. Could be I could leave it in place until the April 29 place and bring it then, if you plan to attend. You are also welcome to hostas and goldenrod. I'll go ahead and pot up some of the GR roots, now that I know someone wants it. I'm definitely interested in the brug. What color is it? Also, which trilliums do you have? I have cuneatum that are blooming now. Last year you traded me a black EE. I left it in the ground, though I was advised it might not be hardy enough. And I also left an Illustris out because i was told they hang on pretty well through the winter. Whaddya think about the black one? If it doesn't come back, and you have a root to spare, I'd be happy for another. It was one of my faves in the garden last year. Really gorgeous, though I put it too close to the front of the border. You'd think I'd have been industrious enough to dig it up for winter, but things got away from me!

Solidago caesia is called bluestem or wreath goldenrod. Zigzag goldenrod is S. flexicaulis. I grow them both and neither is invasive for me. Both are fine garden plants for shade, along with S. erecta, wand goldenrod. All three offer different form and leaf color as well as flower presentation. Here in middle TN they bloom in August and September, which isn't that late in this climate, anyway. Soeur

Thanks Terrene! I have zinnias, tithonia, verbena bonariensis and two Pink Delight butterfly bushes. I have never gotten even one seedling from my butterfly bushes on our entire property so they stay, although I'm not going to plant any more. I'm afraid if I plant another variety, they could pollinate each other. Verbena bonariensis reseeds very heavily for me but only right under the plants so I'm not getting rid of that either. The seedlings come up almost as thick as grass They bloom their heads off all summer even though I don't thin them at all. I just let them duke it out. There is always a constant swarm of Buckeyes and Variegated Fritillaries on them but the larger butterflies such as Swallowtails and Monarchs were mostly going to my zinnias. It's wonderful that one of the easiest and cheapest things to grow is also one of the best things to plant for butterflies. I plan to plant a lot of zinnias next summer. We have an 8 acre hayfield that has a long line of trees along the north property line and I'd like to plant some native perennials along the south side of that tree line. I will have to use stuff that's pretty drought tolerant because the tree roots make the soil dry in late summer. The perennials would get plenty of sun though. I can water until they're established but don't want to plant stuff that I'd have to water forever. Do you have to keep your Cup Plant watered in the summer Terrene? I think I'll add that one to my wish list. I already have Liatris ligulystylis on there. : ) I have Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) on my wish list as well. If you have both and the Cup Plant seems to be more attractive to butterflies than Compass Plant, I should probably stick to that.