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Native Plants in St. Louis, Missouri

The City of St. Louis Department of Streets, Refuse Division highly recommends using native plants in local gardens. Native plants are adapted to the conditions found in St. Louis and around the entire state and don't require the harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides needed for non-native species. The state has an abundance of interesting and attractive species to make gardening simple and safe.
  1. Virgin's Bower

    • Also known as the Devil's darning needle, the Clematis virginiana is the only white clematis native to Missouri. Its preferred habitats are the moist and low ground of woodlands, stream banks, and moist slopes. It flowers from July to September and has white bursts of thin, delicate petals.

    Naked-Flowered Tick Trefoil

    • Desmodium nudiflorum is found throughout Missouri, except in the northwest quarter of the state. It can be distinguished from other plants in its genus by the lack of leaves on its long, graceful flowering stems. Its flowers are a light pinkish lavender with one large petal at the top of the flower and two at the bottom. The naked-flowered tick trefoil prefers the acidic soil of the open woods.

    Yellow Lady's Slipper

    • This fascinating member of the orchid family can be found throughout Missouri. It has been harvested almost to extinction in the wild due to its purported use as a remedy for headaches, hysteria, insomnia, and depression. Found on the north and east facing slopes of ravines and in upland woods, Cypripedium calceolus has a yellow, bell-shaped petal at its center flanked by spiraled, purple petals. Flowers will grow from seed pods collected in late fall.

    Missouri Gooseberry

    • Yep, you can eat the smooth purple berries this plant produces from June through September, but watch out for its thorns. This multi-trunked shrub grows to be about 3 feet tall and produces delicate clusters of drooping white flowers from April through May. It grows well in full sun or part shade in well-drained soil.

    Wahoo

    • Also known by its scientific name, Euonymus Atropurpureus, the wahoo is small tree known for its striking fall colors. In spring it presents small purple flowers followed by scarlet red fruit and flame red foliage in the fall. This tree is highly adaptable to gardens and its fruit is a favorite of Missouri's songbirds.


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