Short-Grass Meadow Blend
Species: little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), red top (Agrostis alba), yellow Maryland aster (Chrysopsis mariana), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), pussytoes (Antennaria plaginifolia), crested iris (Iris cristata), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), bird’s-foot violet (Viola pedata), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).
Native: all
Height: 1 1/2-2 feet
Maintenance: Mow no lower than 4-6 inches once a year, best in late winter/early spring.
Ground Covers
1. Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Native: no
Characteristics: light blue-gray, evergreen, woolly-leaved herb, mat-forming, aggressive spreader; white blooms in early summer
Maintenance: Trim back after blooming
2. Bearberry (Arctostyphylos uva-ursi)
Native: yes
Characteristics: spreading, prostrate shrub with glossy bright green leaves that turn bronze to red in fall and winter; can tolerate light foot traffic; white flowers in spring followed by red berry; prefers poor sandy soil
Maintenance: None except to remove weeds that might spring up
3. Pussytoes (Antennaria dioica)–see under Southeast.
4. Scotch heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Native: no, but has naturalized in northeastern North America
Characteristics: to use this plant, soil must be pH 6 or less, sandy, rich in organic matter, moist but well-drained; plants form a thick mat; foliage is medium green changing to bronze in winter; cultivars may be silver, yellow, or red; rose to purple blooms from July to September
Maintenance: shear after blooming to keep plants tidy