Why Some Native Plants Stay in the Shadows
Walk into any garden center in spring and you will see the same faces. Purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, butterfly weed. These North American natives have earned their popularity, and deservedly so. But the continent holds hundreds of lesser-known species that offer just as much beauty, resilience, and ecological value. A newly redesigned podcast from Fine Gardening called Super Cool Plants has dedicated its first episode to exactly this topic. Formerly known as Let’s Argue About Plants, the show now brings fresh voices to the conversation. Episode 1 features Melissa Starkey from Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware and Amy Galloway Medley from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas. Together they reveal eight underappreciated native plants that deserve a spot in more gardens across the country.
The term underappreciated native plants can feel subjective. One gardener’s overlooked treasure is another’s familiar friend. Yet the guests on this episode argue that a handful of species remain genuinely underused in mainstream horticulture. These plants do not suffer from weak genetics or fussy habits. They simply lack the marketing push that flashier non-natives enjoy. This article walks through the key picks from the episode and explores why these species deserve a second look.
What Makes a Native Plant Underappreciated
Before diving into the specific species, it helps to understand the pattern. A plant becomes underappreciated for several overlapping reasons. Availability is the most obvious barrier. Many native plants never make it into commercial propagation because nurseries stick with proven sellers. A plant like heartleaf skullcap might thrive in gardens across the eastern United States, but if no local nursery offers it, gardeners simply never encounter it.
Perception also plays a role. Some native species carry reputations as weeds or aggressive spreaders. Goldenrod, for example, has long been blamed for hay fever despite the fact that ragweed is the actual culprit. Others, like frostweed, bloom late in the season when most gardeners have already stopped shopping for plants. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle. Gardeners do not ask for these plants because they do not know them. Nurseries do not stock them because nobody asks.
There is also the question of aesthetics. Many underappreciated native plants do not shout for attention. Jacob’s ladder produces delicate blue flowers rather than giant neon blooms. Plains fleabane forms low, airy mounds instead of bold vertical statements. These plants work beautifully in designed compositions, but they do not jump off the shelf the way a daylily or a hydrangea does. The podcast guests argue that this subtlety is precisely their strength.
Melissa Starkey’s Picks from the Episode
Melissa Starkey works at Mt. Cuba Center, a botanical garden in Delaware that focuses entirely on native plants of the eastern United States. She brought four species to the conversation, each one representing a different niche in the garden. Three of them appear in this selection of five underappreciated native plants.
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)
Jacob’s ladder earns its common name from the ladder-like arrangement of its leaves, but the flowers deserve equal attention. Clusters of soft blue bells rise above the foliage in mid-spring and last for several weeks. This plant thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, which makes it a natural choice for woodland edges and shaded borders.
Despite its charm, Jacob’s ladder remains uncommon in commercial trade. Many gardeners default to hostas or ferns for shade, overlooking this native alternative that offers both foliage texture and seasonal color. It spreads gently by rhizomes without becoming aggressive. Over time a single plant develops into a modest colony that fills bare spots under deciduous trees. The flowers attract bumblebees and other early-season pollinators that emerge before summer species become active.
One detail that surprises many gardeners is the hardiness range. Polemonium reptans performs reliably from Zone 3 through Zone 8, which covers most of the continental United States. A gardener in Minnesota can grow it just as easily as a gardener in Georgia. This wide adaptability makes the plant a strong candidate for national distribution, yet it remains underutilized.
Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)
Most gardeners know the common bleeding heart with its arching stems and pink heart-shaped flowers. That species is Dicentra spectabilis, a native of Asia. Wild bleeding heart, by contrast, comes from the Appalachian region and offers distinct advantages. The foliage is fern-like, blue-green, and finely cut. It stays attractive all season long rather than going dormant in summer heat.
The flowers appear from late spring through early fall, a bloom period that far exceeds its Asian cousin. Each stem carries clusters of elongated pink hearts that dangle above the leaves. Hummingbirds visit regularly, and the plant tolerates drier shade once established. For a gardener with a tricky spot under a maple tree where little else thrives, wild bleeding heart provides a reliable solution.
Dicentra eximia runs from Zone 3 to Zone 9, an even broader range than Jacob’s ladder. Yet most nurseries still stock the Asian bleeding heart almost exclusively. The podcast episode makes a strong case for switching to the native version, especially for gardeners who want extended bloom and summer foliage that does not vanish.
Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Honeysuckle has a complicated reputation in North America. Several invasive Asian species, including Japanese honeysuckle, have escaped cultivation and overtaken natural areas. Many gardeners therefore avoid all honeysuckles out of caution. Coral honeysuckle offers a native alternative that behaves well and provides spectacular flowers.
The tubular blooms appear in shades of coral red and orange from spring through early summer, with sporadic rebloom later in the season. Hummingbirds cannot resist them. The vine grows to about 15 feet and climbs by twining rather than by rooting into surfaces. It does not smother trees or tear down fences. In the wild it scrambles over shrubs and up tree trunks along woodland edges. In a garden setting it works beautifully on a trellis, arbor, or fence.
Coral honeysuckle is evergreen in warm climates and semi-evergreen in cooler zones. It prefers full sun to light shade and tolerates average soil. The species ranges from Zone 4 through Zone 9, which again covers a vast portion of the country. The podcast guests emphasize that more gardeners should consider this vine as a replacement for invasive honeysuckles and even for non-native climbers like clematis that require more fussy care.
Amy Galloway Medley’s Picks from the Episode
Amy Galloway Medley works at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, where she manages the living plant collections. Her selections lean toward the southern and central parts of the country, but several have broader potential. Two of her picks round out this list of five.
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)
Frostweed earns its name from a phenomenon that feels almost magical. On the first hard frost of autumn, the stems split open at the base and extrude ribbons of ice that curl and twist into elaborate shapes. These ice formations, sometimes called frost flowers, last only a few hours before melting. Gardeners who witness this event often become obsessed with the plant for life.
Apart from the winter show, frostweed produces domed clusters of white flowers in late summer and early fall. The blooms attract migrating monarchs and other butterflies that need late-season nectar. The plant grows tall, reaching five to seven feet, and performs best in full sun to partial shade with moist soil. In garden design it works as a back-of-border specimen where its height and late bloom add vertical interest when many other plants have finished.
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Frostweed is listed for Zones 6 through 9, but gardeners in slightly colder zones have reported success with winter protection. The plant dies back to the ground each winter and emerges again in spring. It self-seeds moderately but not aggressively, and seedlings are easy to remove or relocate. The podcast episode highlights it as one of the most underappreciated native plants for gardeners who enjoy seasonal surprises.
Heartleaf Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata)
Heartleaf skullcap does not receive much attention from the gardening world, and that is a shame. This low-growing perennial produces spikes of deep blue flowers that appear in late spring and continue into summer. The leaves are heart-shaped, as the common name suggests, and have a soft, slightly fuzzy texture. The plant spreads by underground rhizomes to form a dense ground cover in shaded conditions.
Most gardeners looking for a shade ground cover reach for ajuga, lamium, or pachysandra. All of these are non-native. Heartleaf skullcap offers a native alternative that competes well with tree roots and tolerates dry shade once established. The blue flowers provide a color that few shade plants can match. Bees and other pollinators visit the blooms regularly.
The hardiness range runs from Zone 4 to Zone 8, so this plant works across a wide swath of the country. It prefers part shade to full shade and average to dry soil. In a shaded garden where grass refuses to grow, heartleaf skullcap can fill the space with both foliage and flowers. The podcast guests note that its potential for replacing invasive ground covers like English ivy or wintercreeper.
Designing with Underappreciated Natives for Year-Round Interest
One challenge that gardeners face with underappreciated native plants is knowing how to combine them into a coherent design. The five species described above bloom at different times, have different growth habits, and thrive in different light conditions. That variety is actually an advantage. A well-planned garden using these plants can offer something interesting in every season.
For spring interest, Jacob’s ladder and wild bleeding heart provide early color in shaded areas. Coral honeysuckle climbs a nearby trellis and starts blooming as the weather warms. In summer, heartleaf skullcap carries the blue theme forward in the shade while coral honeysuckle continues to produce flowers for hummingbirds. Late summer and early fall belong to frostweed, whose white blooms feed monarchs preparing for migration. Winter brings the spectacular ice formations of frostweed, while the dried stems, while the seed heads of goldenrod and the persistent berries of coral honeysuckle provide food for birds.
A gardener who wants to test these plants can start with one or two and expand over time. The podcast episode suggests visiting a local native plant sale or contacting a regional native plant society for sourcing. Some species may require ordering from specialty nurseries or participating in plant swaps. The effort pays off in a garden that stands out from the neighborhood and supports local wildlife in meaningful ways.
Common Mistakes When Growing Underappreciated Natives
Even experienced gardeners make mistakes when trying species they have never grown before. The most common error is treating these plants like typical garden perennials that want rich soil and regular water. Many underappreciated native plants evolved in lean conditions. Jacob’s ladder does best in woodland soil with moderate moisture. Heartleaf skullcap tolerates dry shade once established. Overwatering or overfeeding can lead to weak growth, flopping stems, and reduced bloom.
Another mistake is planting in the wrong light exposure. Coral honeysuckle needs full sun to produce its best flower display. Frostweed also prefers sun but will tolerate partial shade. Wild bleeding heart, on the other hand, needs shade to look its best, especially in warm climates. Planting a shade lover in full sun results in scorched leaves and stress.
Timing also matters. Frostweed should be planted in spring so it has time to establish before winter. Heartleaf skullcap can be planted in spring or early fall. The podcast guests recommend checking the specific needs of each species before buying and paying attention to the conditions in your own garden rather than assuming a plant will adapt to anything.
A final mistake is giving up too soon. Some native plants take a season or two to settle in. Wild bleeding heart may produce only a few flowers in its first year while it develops a root system. Jacob’s ladder might spread slowly at first and then accelerate. Patience is essential. The payoff is a garden that becomes more interesting and more ecologically valuable with each passing year.
The Super Cool Plants podcast episode on underappreciated native plants reminds us that the horticultural world still holds surprises. Jacob’s ladder, wild bleeding heart, coral honeysuckle, frostweed, and heartleaf skullcap each offer something that the usual garden perennials cannot. They fill gaps, support wildlife, and bring unexpected beauty to every season. The next time you plan a garden bed, consider skipping the usual suspects and reaching for one of these overlooked treasures instead.
