CIPWG Native Alternative Perennial Plants List

By CIPWG Native Alternatives Committee

9-23-2016

The plants listed below meet the following criteria:
* Native to Connecticut (according to Arthur Haines’ 2011 botany manual for New England, Flora Novae Angliae)
* Not of conservation concern in New England (i.e., not rare or vulnerable to poaching)
* “Straight” species (not cultivars)
* Suited to nursery propagation (able to be produced in a nursery in an economically viable way)

Before planting, look into site requirements, potential weediness and livestock or other hazards

* indicates potential weediness

Scientific Name

Traditional Common Names

Common Name from Haines 2011

Actaea pachypoda Ell. Doll’s Eyes White baneberry
Actaea racemosa L. Black Cohosh Black bugbane
Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. Red Baneberry Red Baneberry
Ageratina altissima (L.) King & H.E. Robins. var. altissima Snake Root White snakeroot
Allium canadense L. var. canadense Wild Garlic Meadow garlic
Allium tricoccum Ait. Ramps Wild leek
Anaphilis margaritacea (L.) Benth & Hook Pearly Everlasting Pearly Everlasting
Anemone americana (DC.) H. Hara Round-lobed Hepatica Blunt-lobed hepatica
Anemone quinquefolia L. var. quinquefolia Wood Anemone Wood windflower
Anemone virginiana L. Thimbleweed Tall windflower
Angelica atropurpurea L. Purple-stemmed Angelica Purple-stemmed Angelica
Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (Greene) Bayer & Stebbins Plantain Pussytoes Parlin’s pussytoes
Apocynum cannabinum L. Indian Hemp* Hemp dogbane
Aquilegia canadensis L. Columbine Red columbine
Aquilegia canadensis L. Bearberry Red bearberry
Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott Jack-in-the-Pulpit Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum ssp. pusillum (Peck) Huttleston Swamp Jack Jack-in-the-pulpit ssp. pusillum
Arisaema triphyllum ssp. Stewardsonii (Britt.) huttleston Jack-in-the-Pulpit Jack-in-the-Pulpit ssp. stewardsonii
Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (Greene) Bayer & Stebbins Plantain Pussytoes Parlin’s pussytoes
Apocynum cannabinum L. Indian Hemp* Hemp dogbane
Aquilegia canadensis L. Columbine Red columbine
Aquilegia canadensis L. Bearberry Red bearberry
Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott Jack-in-the-Pulpit Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum ssp. pusillum (Peck) Huttleston Swamp Jack Jack-in-the-pulpit ssp. pusillum
Arisaema triphyllum ssp. Stewardsonii (Britt.) huttleston Jack-in-the-Pulpit Jack-in-the-Pulpit ssp. stewardsonii
Asarum canadense L. Wild Ginger Canada wild ginger
Asclepias exaltata L. Poke Milkweed Poke Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata L. Swamp Milkweed Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca L. Common Milkweed* Common Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa L. Butterfly-weed Butterfly milkweed
Asclepias vertillicata L Whorled Milkweed Whorled Milkweed
Astragalus canadensis L. var. canadensis Canada Milkvetch Canada Milk-vetch
Aureolaria virginica (L.) Pennell Downy Yellow False Foxglove Downy false foxglove
Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. Ex Ait.f. Wild Indigo Yellow wild indigo
Caulophyllulm thalictroides  (L.) Michx. Blue Cohosh Blue Cohosh
Chamaepericlymenum canadense (L.) Aschers. & Graebn. Bunchberry Canada dwarf dogwood
Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub ssp. circumvagum Fireweed Narrow-leaved fireweed
Eurybia macrophylla (L.) Cass. Big Leaf (-Leaved) Aster Large-leaved wood-aster
Euthamia caroliniana  (L.) Greene ex Porter & Britt. Slender Goldentop Coastal plain grass-leaved goldenrod
Euthamia graminifolia  (L.) Nutt. Grass Leaved Goldenrod Common grass-leaved goldenrod
Eutrochium dubium (Willd. Ex Poir.) E.E. Lamont Joe Pye Weed Coastal plain Joe-Pye weed
Eutrochium fistulosum  (Barratt) E.E. Lamont Joe Pye Weed Hollow Joe-Pye weed
Chelone glabra L. White Turtlehead White Turtlehead
Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh Spotted Wintergreen Spotted prince’s pine
Chimaphila umbellata  (L.) W. Bart. ssp. Cisatlantica  (Blake) Hultén Pipsissewa; Prince’s Pine Noble prince’s pine
Claytonia caroliniana  Michx. Spring Beauty Carolina spring beauty
Claytonia virginica L. Spring Beauty Virginia spring beauty
Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf. Blue Bead Lily Yellow bluebead-lily
Coptis trifolia  (L.) Salisb. Goldthread Three-leaved goldthread
Cypripedium acaule  Ait. Pink Lady Slippers Pink lady’s-slipper
Dicentra cucullaria  (L.) Bernh. Dutchman’s Breeches Dutchman’s breeches
Doellingeria umbellata  (P. Mill.) Nees var. umbellata Flat-topped Aster Tall white aster
Epigaea repens L. Trailing Arbutus Trailing-arbutus
Erigeron philadelphicus  L. Philadelphia Fleabane Philadelphia fleabane
Erigeron pulchellus  Michx. Var. pulchellus Robin’s Plantain Robin’s plantain fleabane
Erythronium americanum Ker-Gawl. ssp. Americanum Trout Lily American trout lily
Eupatorium hyssopifolium  L. Hyssop-leaved Boneset Hyssop-leaved thoroughwort
Eupatorium perfoliatum L. Boneset Boneset thoroughwort
Eurybia divaricata  (L.) Nesom White Wood Aster White wood aster
Eurybia macrophylla (L.) Cass. Big Leaf (-Leaved) Aster Large-leaved wood-aster
Euthamia caroliniana  (L.) Greene ex Porter & Britt. Slender Goldentop Coastal plain grass-leaved goldenrod
Euthamia graminifolia  (L.) Nutt. Grass Leaved Goldenrod Common grass-leaved goldenrod
Eutrochium dubium (Willd. Ex Poir.) E.E. Lamont Joe Pye Weed Coastal plain Joe-Pye weed
Eutrochium fistulosum  (Barratt) E.E. Lamont Joe Pye Weed Hollow Joe-Pye weed
Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. maculatum Spotted Joe Pye Weed Spotted Joe-Pye weed
Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. maculatum or E. purpureum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. purpureum Joe Pye Weed

Note:  seller did not distinguish between E. maculatum & E. purpureum.

Spotted & Purple Joe-Pye weed
Eutrochium purpureum (L.) E.E. Lamont var. purpureum Joe Pye Weed Purple Joe-Pye weed
Fragaria virginiana Duchesne Wild Strawberry Common strawberry
Galium boreale  L. ssp. Septentrionale Northern Bedstraw Northern bedstraw
Gaultheria procumbens L. Wintergreen Eastern spicy wintergreen
Gentiana clausa Raf. Closed Gentian Meadow bottle gentian
Gentianopsis crinita  (Froel.) Ma Fringed Gentian Greater fringed gentian
Geranium carolinianum  L. Carolina Cranes-bill Carolina crane’s-bill
Geranium maculatum L. Wild Geranium Spotted crane’s-bill
Geum aleppicum  Jacq. var. strictum (Aiton) Fern. Yellow Avens Yellow avens
Geum rivale  L. Water Avens Water avens
Helenium autumnale  L. Sneezeweed Fall sneezeweed
Helianthus divaricatus  L. Woodland Sunflower Woodland sunflower
Helianthus giganteus L. Wild Sunflower Tall sunflower
Helianthus strumosus  L. Woodland Sunflower Pale-leaved sunflower
Heuchera americana L. var. americana Alumroot Common alum-root
Houstonia caerulea L. Bluets Little bluet
Houstonia purpurea L. var. calycosa  Gray Purple Bluets Large bluet
Hypericum punctatum Lam. Spotted St. John’s-wort Spotted St. John’s-wort
Hypoxis hirsuta  (L.) Coville Yellow Star Grass Common star-grass
Impatiens capensis  Meerb. Spotted Jewelweed Spotted touch-me-not
Ionactis linariifolia  (L.) Greene Stiff-leaved Aster Flax-leaved stiff-aster
Iris versicolor L. Blue Flag Iris Blue iris
Isotria verticillata  (Muhl. Ex Willd.) Raf. Atlantic Pogonia Large whorled pogonia
Lespedeza capitata  Michx. Roundheaded Bushclover Round-headed bush-clover
Lespedeza virginica (L.) Britt. Slender Bush Clover Slender bush-clover
Lilium canadense L. Canada Lily Canada lily
Lilium philadelphicum  L. Prairie Lily Wood lily
Lilium superbum  L. Turk’s Cap Lily Turk’s-cap lily
Lobelia cardinalis L. Cardinal Flower Red lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica  L. var. siphilitica Blue Lobelia Great lobelia
Lupinus perennis L. ssp. perennis Wild Blue Lupine Sundial lupine
Lysimachia borealis L. Starflower Starflower
Maianthemum canadense  Desf. Canada Mayflower Canada-mayflower
Maianthemum racemosum  (L.) Link ssp. Racemosum False Solomon’s Seal Feathery false Solomon’s-seal
Maianthemum stellatum  (L.) Link Star Flowered False Solomon’s Seal Star-like false Solomon’s-seal
Medeola virginiana L. Indian Cucumber Root Indian cucumber root
Menyanthes trifoliata L. Bog Buckbean Buck-bean
Micranthes pensylvanica (L.) Haw. Swamp Saxifrage Swamp small-flowered saxifrage
Micranthes virginiensis  Michx.) Small Early Saxifrage Early small-flowered saxifrage
Mimulus ringens  L. Allegheny Monkeyflower Allegheny monkeyflower
Mitchella repens L. Partridgeberry Partridgeberry
Mitella diphylla  L. Mitrewort Two-leaved bishop’s-cap
Monarda fistulosa L. Wild Bergamont Wild beebalm
Monarda punctata L. ssp. Punctata var. villicaulis Dotted Mint Spotted beebalm
Nabalus albus (L.) Hook. Lion’s Foot White rattlesnake-root
Oxalis montana  Raf. Mountain Wood Sorrell Northern wood sorrel
Packera aurea  (L.) A. & D. Lӧve Golden Ragwort Golden groundsel
Panax trifolius  L. Dwarf Ginseng Dwarf ginseng
Penstemon hirsutus  (L.) Willd. Hairy Beardtongue Northeastern beardtongue
Penthorum sedoides  L. Ditch Stonecrop Ditch-stonecrop
Persicaria pensylvanica (L.) G. Maza Pinkweed Pennsylvania smartweed
Persicaria virginiana (L.) Gaertn. Woodland Knotweed Jumpseed
Phlox pilosa  L. spp. Pilosa Prairie Phlox Downy phlox
Phytolacca americana L. var. americana Pokeweed American pokeweed
Platanthera grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindl. Large Purple Fringe-orchid Greater purple fringed bog-orchid
Platanthera lacera  (Michx.) G. Don Ragged Fringe-orchid Green fringed bog-orchid
Platanthera psycodes  (L.) Lindl. Small Purple Fringe-orchid Lesser purple fringed bog-orchid
Podophyllum peltatum  L. Mayapple May-apple
Pogonia ophioglossoides  (L.) Ker-Gawl. Rose Pogonia Rose pogonia
Polygala paucifolia  Willd. Fringed Polygala Fringed milkwort
Polygonatum biflorum  (Walt.) Ell. Small Solomon’s Seal King Solomon’s seal
Polygonatum pubescens (Willd.) Pursh Hairy Solomon’s Seal Hairy Solomon’s Seal
Pycnanthemum incanum  (L.) Michx. var. incana Hoary Mountain Mint Hoary mountain-mint
Pycnanthemum muticum  (Michx.) Pers. Short-toothed Mountain Mint Clustered mountain-mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium  Schrad. Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint Narrow-leaved mountain-mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum (L.) T. Dur. & B.D. Jackson ex
B.L. Robins & Fern.
Virginia Mountain Mint Virginia mountain-mint
Pyrola americana Sweet Roundleaf Pyrola American shinleaf
Pyrola elliptica Nutt. Shinleaf Elliptic-leaved shinleaf
Ranunculus fascicularis Muhl. Ex Bigelow Early Buttercup Early crowfoot
Ranunculus hispidus  Michx. Swamp Buttercup Hispid crowfoot
Ranunculus sceleratus  L. var. sceleratus Annual Buttercup Cursed crowfoot
Rhexia virginica L. Meadow Beauty Virginia meadow-beauty
Rumex altissimus  Wood Pale Dock Pale dock
Sagittaria latifolia Willd. Common Arrowhead Common arrowhead
Sanguinaria canadensis L. Bloodroot Blood-root
Sanguisorba canadensis L. Canada Burnet Canada burnet
Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh Early Figwort Lance-leaved figwort
Scrophularia marilandica L. Late Figwort Eastern figwort
Scutellaria lateriflora  L. Mad-dog Skullcap Mad dog skullcap
Silene caroliniana  Walt. ssp. pensylvanica (Michx.) Clausen Wild Pink Wild campion
Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill. Blue-eyed Grass Narrow-leaved blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium montanum  Greene Common Blue-eyed Grass Strict blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium mucronatum  Michx. Slender Blue-eyed Grass Needle-tipped blue-eyed grass
Sium suave Walt. Tall Water Parsnip Water-parsnip
Solidago bicolor L. White/Silverrod Goldenrod White goldenrod
Solidago caesia  L. var. caesia Bluestemmed Goldenrod Axillary goldenrod
Solidago canadensis L. Canada Goldenrod* Canada goldenrod
Solidago flexicaulis  L. Zig Zag Goldenrod Zig-zag goldenrod
Solidago gigantea  Ait. Late Goldenrod Smooth goldenrod
Solidago juncea  Ait. Early Goldenrod Early goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis  Ait. ssp. Nemoralis Old Field Goldenrod Gray goldenrod
Solidago odora  Ait. ssp. odora Sweet Goldenrod Licorice goldenrod
Solidago rugosa P. Mill. Rough-stemmed Goldenrod Common wrinkle-leaf goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens L. Seaside Goldenrod Seaside goldenrod
Solidago speciosa Nutt. var. speciosa Showy Goldenrod Showy goldenrod
Solidago uliginosa  Nutt. Bog Goldenrod Bog goldenrod
Solidago ulmifolia  Muhl. ex Willd. var. ulmifolia Elm-leaved Goldenrod Elm-leaved goldenrod
Spiranthes cernua  (L.) L.C. Rich. Nodding Lady’s Tresses Nodding ladies’-tresses
Streptopus lanceolatus (Ait.) Reveal Rosy Twisted Stalk Lance-leaved twisted stalk
Symphyotrichum cordifolium  (L.) Nesom Heart-leaved Aster Heart-leaved American aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides  (L.) Nesom var. ericoides Heath Aster Heath American aster
Symphyotrichum laeve  (L.) A. & D. Lὂve var. laeve Smooth Aster Smooth American aster
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum  (Willd.) Nesom ssp. Lanceolatum Panicled Aster Lance-leaved American aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum  (L.) A.& D. Lὂve Calico Aster Calico American aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae  (L.) Nesom New England Aster New England American aster
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii  (L.) Nesom New York Aster New York American Aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum  (Willd.) Nesom Hairy White Field Aster Awl American aster
Symphyotrichum puniceum (L.) A. & D. Lὂve var. puniceum Swamp Aster Purple-stemmed American aster
Symphyotrichum tenuifolium  (L.) Nesom var. tenuifolium Marsh Aster Perennial saltmarsh American aster
Tephrosia virginiana (L.) Pers. Goat’s Rue Wild goat’s rue
Teucrium canadense L. Germander American germander
Thalictrum dioicum  L. Early Meadow Rue Early meadow rue
Thalictrum pubescens Pursh Tall Meadow Rue Tall meadow rue
Thalictrum thalictroides  (L.) Eames & B. Boivin Meadow Rue Anemone meadow rue
Tiarella cordifolia L. var. cordifolia Foam Flower Foamflower
Tradescantia ohiensis  Raf. Ohio Spiderwort Smooth spiderwort
Tradescantia virginiana L. Spiderwort Virginia spiderwort
Trillium cernuum  L. Nodding Trillium Nodding wakerobin
Trillium erectum  L. Purple Trillium Red wakerobin
Uvularia perfoliata  L. Bellwort Large-flowered bellwort
Uvularia sessilifolia  L. Sessile-leaved Bellwort Sessile-leaved bellwort
Veratrum viride  Ait. ssp. Viride False Hellebore American false hellebore
Verbena hastata L. var. hastata Blue Vervain Blue vervain
Vernonia noveboracensis  (L.) Michx. New York Ironweed New York ironwood
Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw. Culvers-root Culver’s root
Viola affinis  Le Conte Beechwoods Violet Le Conte’s violet
Viola blanda  Willd. Sweet White Violet Sweet white violet
Viola blanda  Willd. var. palustriformis Bigleaf Violet Sweet white violet
Viola cucullata  Ait. Marsh Blue Violet Blue marsh violet
Viola labradorica  Schrank American Dog Violet American dog violet
Viola palmata L. Early Blue Violet Wood violet
Viola pedata  L. Birdfoot Violet Bird-foot violet
Viola primulifolia  L. Primrose-leaved Violet Primrose-leaved violet
Viola pubescens  Ait. Smooth Yellow Violet Yellow forest violet
Viola rostrata Pursh Long-spurred Violet Long-spurred violet
Viola rotundifolia  Michx. Round-leaved Violet Round-leaved violet
Viola sagittata  Ait. var. ovata Ovate-leaved Violet Arrowhead violet
Viola sagittata  Ait. var. sagittata Triangle Leaf Violet Arrowhead violet
Viola sororia  Willd. Blue Violet Woolly blue violet
Zizea aurea  (L.) W.D.J. Koch Golden Alexanders Common golden Alexanders
If you have comments, see typos or have additions that meet the criteria, please contact cipwg@uconn.edu
**  http://plants.usda.gov gives synonyms of scientific names and is useful for when the currently-used scientific names are unfamiliar