Incorporating Mountain Mint into Your Garden Design

Mountain Mint is a versatile plant that can enhance a variety of garden styles! Below, we’ve outlined some of our favorite ways to incorporate this powerhouse plant into your garden design.

Create a Pollinator Paradise

Mountain Mint is a natural pollinator magnet, making it the perfect centerpiece for a buzzing, vibrant garden.

Design Tip: Plant a large swath of Mountain Mint as a backdrop, then layer in other native pollinator favorites like coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), and bee balm (Monarda). This creates a colorful, dynamic garden always alive with activity.

Natural Meadow Look

For a more relaxed, naturalistic garden, Mountain Mint fits right in with the meadow-inspired design.

Design Tip: Combine Mountain Mint with native grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Add pops of color with a blazing star (Liatris) and Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium). This combination creates a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant landscape that mimics natural ecosystems.

Edible and Medicinal Garden

Mountain Mint isn’t just pretty; it’s functional, too! Incorporate it into an edible or medicinal garden for both beauty and utility. This design is best for Narrow-leafed and Hairy Mountain Mint varieties.

Design Tip: Plant Mountain Mint near your vegetable garden to attract beneficial insects that help control pests. Pair it with other edible natives like wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) and New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) for a multi-functional space.

Woodland Edge Garden

Many Mountain Mint varieties can tolerate partial shade, making them a unique choice for woodland edge gardens.

Design Tip: Use Mountain Mint to create a transition between sunnier areas and shade gardens. Pair it with shade-tolerant natives like columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), and foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) for a diverse and attractive border.

Rain Garden Hero

Some Mountain Mint varieties, like Clustered Mountain Mint, can tolerate periodically moist soil, making them great additions to rain gardens.

Design Tip: Plant Mountain Mint on the upper edges of your rain garden, where it will receive moisture without becoming waterlogged. Combine it with rain garden favorites like swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) for an attractive, functional water management solution.

Cut Flower Garden

Don’t forget that Mountain Mint makes an excellent cut flower arrangement. Its long-lasting blooms and aromatic foliage can add interest to any bouquet.

Design Tip: Plant Mountain Mint in your cutting garden alongside other native flowers like purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), and New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) for season-long bouquets.

Design Considerations

• Spread: Some Mountain Mint varieties can spread vigorously. Consider planting it in containers or using root barriers to contain its growth in smaller gardens.
• Height: Most Mountain Mint varieties can grow 2-3 feet tall. Depending on your design, plant them in the middle or back of borders.
• Texture: Mountain Mint’s fine foliage texture contrasts beautifully with plants with bolder leaves, like Joe Pye weed or black-eyed Susans.
• Color: Mountain mint’s silvery-green foliage and white to pale pink flowers provide a neutral backdrop that complements any color scheme.

Bring Your Garden to Life with Mountain Mint – Visit Meadows Farms Today!

Mountain Mint is a versatile, beautiful, and ecologically valuable plant that can enhance any garden design. By incorporating native plants like Mountain Mint into your garden, you’ll create a vibrant space, support local ecosystems, and bring a buzz of life to your backyard.

Ready to start designing with Mountain Mint? Head to your nearest Meadows Farms location and explore our selection of Mountain Mint and companion plants. Our knowledgeable staff is here to help you bring your garden dreams to life!

The post Using Native Mountain Mint in Your Virginia Landscape Design appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

What is Mountain Mint?

Mountain Mint, despite its name, isn’t a proper mint. It belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) but is less aggressive than its well-known cousins. The genus Pycnanthemum means “many clustered flowers,” which perfectly describes the plant’s appearance when in bloom.

Native to meadows and open woodlands across the eastern United States, Mountain Mint has evolved to thrive in a wide range of conditions. This adaptability makes it an excellent choice for gardeners of all experience levels and for regions with varied climates.

Why You’ll Love Mountain Mint

• Pollinator Magnet: If attracting beneficial pollinators is a priority, Mountain Mint is a must-have. Its nectar-rich blooms are a favorite of bees, butterflies, wasps, and other essential pollinators. A study by Penn State University found that Mountain Mint was the top attractor for pollinators over three years of research!
• Low Maintenance: Once established, Mountain Mint is drought-tolerant and requires little care. It’s resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a worry-free addition to your garden.
• Deer and Rabbit Resistant: The plant’s aromatic foliage helps keep deer and rabbits at bay. Enjoy its beauty without the threat of wildlife nibbling on your plants.
• Versatile Uses: Beyond its ornamental appeal, Mountain Mint has culinary and medicinal benefits. Its leaves can be used to brew a refreshing tea or added to salads for a minty twist.
• Year-Round Interest: Mountain Mint offers visual interest throughout the seasons. Silver-tinged foliage emerges in spring, followed by clusters of tiny white or pink flowers in summer. Even in winter, its dried seed heads add texture to your garden.

How to Grow Mountain Mint

Mountain Mint thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to a variety of soil types. While it prefers well-draining soil, it can tolerate both dry and slightly moist conditions. For optimal growth, plant Mountain Mint in spring or fall, spacing the plants 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for spreading. Although it can spread via rhizomes like other mints, it’s generally well-behaved and easy to control or thin out when needed.

Shop Mountain Mint at Meadows Farms!

Mountain Mint is a hardworking, eco-friendly plant that supports local ecosystems while adding beauty to your landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or starting your gardening journey, Mountain Mint deserves a spot in your outdoor space. We’re currently offering pre-orders for this amazing plant. Visit our online store and pre-order yours today! We’ll contact you to let you know when they arrive for pick-up in about three weeks.

The post Blunt Mountain Mint – The 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Today, we’re going to focus on the fall blooming varieties of camellia and highlight some of the top choices you can find right now at Meadows Farms Nurseries.

What are Fall Camellias?

Camellia japonica is the spring-blooming varieties of camellia that begin their bloom cycle in late winter and continue through the first part of spring. For today’s post, we’re interested in Camellia sasanqua, the fall blooming varieties that begin their blooming in late fall and continue into the first part of winter.

Fall blooming camellias are generally hardier than their spring-blooming cousins, as well as being more drought and disease-tolerant. While most camellias prefer light shade, fall bloomers can tolerate more sun than spring-bloomers. It’s not all rosy for fall bloomers, as they tend to be smaller, both in growth and in flower size, than spring-blooming varieties.

Shop For Fall Blooming Camellia Varieties At Meadows Farms

Here are some of the best fall blooming camellias carried by Meadows Farms Nurseries. Please note that inventory varies between locations, so please contact your closest Meadows Farms location for availability information.

The post The 7 Best Varieties of Fall Blooming Camellia Flowers appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

As one of the most adaptable perennials, daylilies thrive in Virginia gardens. Once established, they’re highly drought-tolerant and can handle our intense summer sun while also enduring the Mid-Atlantic’s colder winters.

To keep your daylilies flourishing, remove dead flowers and trim back flower stalks throughout the season to encourage fresh growth and more blooms.

Daylily Varieties Available at Meadows Farms

Remember, the daylilies listed below are just a selection of the varieties that Meadows Farms carries. Please call your local Meadows Farms for other varieties or special requests.

The post 10 Daylily Varieties to Grow in Virginia appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Fall plantings are not limited to just mums anymore. This is just a small sampling of the many perennials you can plant in the fall found at any of our locations in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and DC. Many of these perennials either bloom in the fall or have great fall color in their foliage. Plus, all perennials benefit from being planted in the fall as the cool temperatures and abundant rainfall are perfect for perennial root growth. To learn more about these and many other varieties of perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs, visit our Plant Finder Tool.

Achillea (Yarrow)

Though typically thought of as a summer bloomer, many varieties of Yarrow bloom well into the fall. Yarrow is a herbaceous perennial with mounded forms of flowers. These flowers are irresistible to butterflies, making them a great plant for sustaining local pollinators. Yarrow is not particularly attractive to deer, making them a great color choice for deer-infested gardens. They also make a great cut or dried flower for indoor and patio arrangements. Plant them in full sun and you’ll have a colorful summer and fall display year after year.

Anemone

Fall-blooming Anemone is a perennial that comes in a multitude of colors which are a lovely accent to existing plantings. Anemone is great in partial shade but will tolerate full sun as well. Even when not in bloom, anemones have very attractive, glossy foliage that is relatively free of pest and disease damage during the worst of the summer months. The branching flower stems of an anemone are great for cutting for an indoor arrangement and are at peak performance from late summer into early fall.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

A prolific summer bloomer, coneflowers provide excellent color options into the fall season when planted in groupings of other coneflowers. In fact, there are so many colors now available through breeding over recent years that you’re sure to find a variety to suit your needs. They are great for areas of full sun, attract pollinators, and are deer resistant as well, so you really can’t go wrong. Most varieties produce large, showy blooms which are excellent for cuttings. Some varieties, such as the ‘Magnus,’ are natives to our area, and are great additions for those looking to start a perennial native garden. To learn more about the various varieties of Echinaceas, visit our Echinacea page for more.

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

This wonderful full shade to part sun perennial has excellent foliage for the fall (as well as the spring and summer). Heuchera comes in a multitude of different shades and hues giving you a full-color showing just with its foliage. This means that the color lasts throughout the entirety of the growing season. It tolerates dry soil and is deer-resistant, making them perfect for a woodland garden or any gardens plagued by deer. Some varieties even produce tiny flowers on tall, thin stalks during the spring and summer season, adding another layer of interest to these versatile plants. To learn more about the various varieties of Heuchera, visit out Heuchera page for more.

Planting Perennials in the Fall

The fall season is one of the best seasons for planting your perennials. By planting them in the fall, you’re helping them to establish healthy root systems.

Perennials planted in the spring only have a short amount of time to prepare their root systems to survive the summer heat and drought. Their young root systems must not only deal with these harsh conditions but must also produce enough nutrients and water to support months of growth and flowering as well.

By planting your perennials in the fall instead, their root systems will have ample time to grow throughout the fall and winter months. That’s right! Even when the perennial has died back for the winter it’s roots are still growing and expanding beneath the surface without the stress of having to provide nutrients like it must in the spring. This ensures that your perennials will have a head start next summer with a stronger and deeper root system that will give them a better chance of surviving the harsh conditions of our summers.

How to Plant Container-Grown Perennials

Fall is also a great time to start planting perennials in container gardens. Container-grown perennials are so easy to plant. Start by digging a hole that’s a little wider but no deeper than the growing pot of your new perennial. Loosen the roots by hand and spread them out prior to placing them in the hole. This will make sure the roots do not continue to grow in the shape of the container they were in but instead grow downward. Add some potting soil or planting mix and firm the soil around the roots. Top all new plant material with 2 – 3 inches of mulch for winter protection and then water well.

Maintaining Perennials in the Fall

Dividing

Among the most critical fall chores is splitting or dividing perennials. While many people divide their perennials in the spring, by doing it in the fall you are giving your plants ample time to reestablish their root systems throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons ensuring that they are well prepared for the ensuing summer heat and drought.

There are many reasons why dividing perennials are advantageous to the gardener. Some perennial plants become woody in the center and lose vigor over time causing them to grow and bloom less. Division of these plants encourages vigorous new growth and better blooming in future seasons.

Dividing perennials also allows you to control the spread of large, clumping perennials into areas of the garden that you don’t want them in. Finally, dividing perennials is the cheapest and easiest way to keep plants spread throughout your garden. A crop of well-established Hostas, Garden Phlox, or Black-eyed Susans can be easily divided and scattered throughout the garden, saving you money year after year.

Cutting Back

While our first instincts are to cut back perennials in preparation for the winter, you should think twice before reaching for the garden shears. Several varieties of perennials have beautiful forms and foliage in the wintertime, giving you an excellent focal point in your garden when everything else is barren.

If you’re a bird lover, leaving your flowering perennials uncut through the winter may attract birds to your yard. Leftover seed heads are an excellent source of nourishment for birds, while the leftover foliage provides some cover for them to hide as needed.

If your perennials are marginally hardy varieties such as chrysanthemums or trailing verbena, leaving the old stems intact helps the plant to overwinter and survive into the following spring. Plus, if you cut back your perennials too much, it might be difficult to determine where they are when you’re cleaning out your beds next spring. Don’t accidentally dig up a perennial because you couldn’t see where it was!

There are some instances where cutting back perennials may be beneficial. Any perennials you have that suffered through any sort of disease throughout the growing season should be cut back and the cuttings removed to help prevent spreading in future seasons. Perennials like Monarda, which deal with a common disease like powdery mildew, is a prime example of a perennial that could benefit from early cut back once it’s finished for the season. When cutting any perennials back, it is best to leave two to three inches above the crown to help prevent any winter damage.

Get Perennials from Meadows Farms Today

At Meadows Farms, we well many different types of perennials, along with the tools needed to plant and maintain. Come visit your local Meadows Farms store today to find the perfect perennials for your home or garden!

The post Best Types, Planting, and Maintenance for Fall Perennials in Virginia appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Creeping Phlox is a standout in the garden for its ability to provide stunning color and texture with minimal effort. It is best planted in spring, when it is at peak bloom, ensuring an effortless transition into your garden.

When to Plant Creeping Phlox

The ideal time to plant Creeping Phlox in Virginia is in early spring (March to April) when temperatures are cool, and the plant is actively blooming. Planting at this time gives the phlox plenty of time to establish its roots before the heat of summer.

How to Care for Creeping Phlox

The Mid-Atlantic’s hot summers and mild winters make Creeping Phlox an excellent choice for gardeners across the state. Follow these care tips to keep your plant thriving year-round:

• Watering needs: Once established, Creeping Phlox is a drought-tolerant plant that requires supplemental water only during warm, dry weather.
• How often to prune: A yearly pruning with a weed trimmer or garden clippers keeps Creeping Phlox looking neat and healthy year after year.
• When to prune: Prune creeping phlox after the blooms fade in late spring.

Creeping Phlox Varieties Available at Meadows Farms

Remember, the creeping phlox listed below is just a selection of the varieties that Meadows Farms carries. Please call your local Meadows Farms for other varieties or special requests.

The post A Virginia Gardener’s Guide to Creeping Phlox Varieties appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

The Benefits of Native Plants

Native Virginia plants offer a multitude of advantages for both your garden and the environment. Here are just a few reasons to consider incorporating them into your landscape:

• Support wildlife: Native plants provide food and shelter for a variety of birds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.
• Protect water quality: Their deep root systems help to prevent erosion and improve water filtration.
• Enhance biodiversity: By planting native species, you contribute to the overall health and diversity of your local ecosystem.

Explore Our Selection of Native Virginia Plants

Native plants are nature’s ideal source of food and protection for wildlife. The plants listed below are species and cultivars that have occurred naturally in the wild in our region. Because they are native to our area and have evolved in this climate and our soil they will generally require minimal fertilizer, no pest control, and very little supplemental watering once established. Look for our Native Logo on our signs in the nursery!

Native Virginia Perennials

• Aquilegia ‘Little Lanterns’
• Asclepias tuberosa ‘Butterfly Weed’
• Baptisia australis ‘Blue Wild Indigo’
• Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’
• Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise’
• Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’
• Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’
• Echinacea ‘Kim’s Knee High’
• Echinacea ‘Pow Wow White’
• Echinacea ‘Pow Wow Wild Berry’
• Echinacea ‘Ruby Star’
• Eupatorium ‘Chocolate’
• Eupatorium ‘Little Joe’
• Fern Athyrium Lady In Red
• Gaillardia ‘Goblin’
• Heuchera ‘Autumn Bride’
• Heuchera ‘Green Spice’
• Liatris ‘Floristan Violet’
• Lonicera ‘Major Wheeler’
• Monarda ‘Dark Ponticum’
• Monarda ‘Rasberry Wine’
• Phlox paniculata ‘David’
• Phlox paniculata ‘Franz Schubert’
• Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’
• Phlox paniculata ‘Laura’
• Phlox paniculata ‘Nicky’
• Phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’
• Phlox subulata ‘Cotton Candy’
• Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Blue’
• Phlox subulata ‘Fort Hill’
• Phlox subulata ‘Scarlet Flame’
• Phlox subulata ‘Snowflake’
• Polemonium ‘Stairway to Heaven’
• Rudbeckia ‘Autumn Colors’
• Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’
• Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’
• Rudbeckia ‘Indian Summer’
• Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’
• Sisyrinchium ‘Lucerne’
• Solidago ‘Fireworks’
• Spigelia marilandica ‘Indian Pink’
• Tradescantia ‘Purple Profusion’
• Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’

Native Virginia Grasses

• Chasmanthium latifolium ‘Northern Sea Oats’
• Muhlenbergia capillaries ‘Hairawn’
• Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’
• Panicum ‘Northwind’
• Panicum Shenandoah
• Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blues’ 
• Schizachyrium ‘The Blues’
• Sporobolus heterolepis ‘Prarie Dropseed’

Native Virginia Shrubs

• Myrica pensylvanica ‘Northern Bayberry’
• Myrica cerifera ‘Southern Bayberry’
• Ilex opaca ‘American Holly’
• Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’
• Ilex ‘Sparkleberry’
• Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’
• Kalmia latifolia ‘Bullseye’
• Kalmia latifolia ‘Olympic Fire’
• Kalmia latifolia ‘Raspberry Glow’
• Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry’
• Aronia melanocarpa ‘Black Chokeberry’
• Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Issai’
• Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’
• Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’
• Cornus ‘Red-Twig Dogwood’
• Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’
• Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
• Hydrangea ‘Alice’
• Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’
• Itea ‘Little Henry’
• Physocarpus ‘Coppertina’
• Physocarpus ‘Diablo’
• Physocarpus ‘Summer Wine’
• Viburnum ‘Dentatum’
• Viburnum ‘Winterthur’
• Hamamelis ‘Common Witchhazel’

Native Virginia Trees

• River Birch
• Black Gum
• Pink Dogwood
• Sweetbay Magnolia
• Pin Oak
• Red Oak
• Scarlet Oak
• White Oak
• Willow Oak
• Tulip Poplar
• Redbud
• American Sycamore

Native Virginia Vining Plants

• Dropmore Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle
• Amethyst Falls Wisteria

Know something is native but can’t find it on our list? There are so many species out there, that it would be nearly impossible for us to list them all! Don’t doubt the ‘nativeness’ of your plant just because it doesn’t appear here!

Meadows Farms, Your Local Source for Native Plants

Discover the perfect native plants for your garden and landscaping needs at Meadows Farms. We offer a wide selection of species from Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. Not sure what to get? No worries! Our knowledgeable staff can help you identify and source the perfect plants for your garden. Visit us today!

The post Native Virginia Plants for Your Yard & Garden appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Flowering Vinca

Flowering vinca is one of the premier flowering bedding plants for sunny, hot areas. Vinca is drought-tolerant and can thrive in any soil provided that it is well-draining. Vince is also a low-maintenance plant, so they are perfect for the gardener who does not have a lot of time to spend in the garden. Vince comes in many shades of pinks, mauves, and whites and blooms abundantly throughout the summer.

Lantana

Lantana is a showy, drought-tolerant woody annual with clusters of beautiful flowers that come in mixed shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. They work well in borders or mass plantings, and their trailing habit makes them prime candidates for hanging baskets or your favorite patio container. Lantana loves the heat, so plant them in well-draining soil and keep them watered regularly during the hottest days.

Lavender

If the soothing fragrance isn’t enough to convince you of the value of lavender in the landscape, perhaps its ease of maintenance will. Hardy perennial lavender is easy to grow and thrives in high heat conditions provided you plant it in well-draining soil. Because of the scent, lavender is also quite pest-resistant, and its blooms are a perfect attraction for pollinators like honey bees and butterflies.

Tropical Hibiscus & Mandevilla

Transform your patio into an oasis of color by adding pots of blooming tropical annuals like Hibiscus or Mandevilla vines. Fill a few ceramic pots with several of these blooming beauties and your patio will become an outdoor living room. These tropicals love the hot sun, but make sure they get ample water to keep them looking their best. We carry each in an array of colors which will provide an incredible show from now until the cold nights of October.

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are available in a wide array of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes. The flowers and subsequent seed heads are equally diverse, ranging from “ho-hum” to genuinely spectacular. Most ornamental grasses thrive in the hot, full sun. Many varieties are quite drought-tolerant, though a few can handle wet areas as well. Their adaptability and subtle beauty make them perfect companions to flowering plants and other woody ornamentals.

Coneflowers

Coneflowers are a native perennial to North America and have been a staple plant dating as far back as the Native Americans. However, it wasn’t until recently that coneflowers have been making a resurgence in home gardens. Once only pale pink, coneflowers are now available in a multitude of different varieties that provide a summer season’s worth of color year after year. They are also great plants to attract pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and birds love hanging around the large blooms.

Elephant Ears

Native to the warm and humid climate of tropical Southeast Asia, elephant ears are a showstopper in the garden. Varieties of elephant ears can reach anywhere from 6 to 10 feet in height, with massive sized leaves that give them their name. While Elephant Ears enjoy the hot and humid weather from our summers, they don’t enjoy direct sunlight. A shaded area or one that contains filtered sunlight is an ideal place to plant them.

SunPatiens

Have you ever wanted the elegant beauty of flowering impatiens or New Guinea impatiens, but the sun in your garden makes it impossible? SunPatiens are for you! SunPatiens have the same look of classic New Guinea impatiens but are grown with stronger foliage and thicker bloom petals to withstand high heat, sun, and disease. They make a great addition to any summer flower bed.

Find the Perfect Heat-Loving Plants at Meadows Farms

Don’t let the summer heat take a toll on your garden! Stop by your local Meadows Farms nursery today to explore our selection of vibrant, heat-tolerant plants. Whether you’re looking for stunning flowers, hardy perennials, or bold tropicals, we have everything you need to keep your landscape thriving all season long. Visit us now and bring home the best plants for summer success!

The post Heat-Tolerant Plants That Thrive in Virginia Summers appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

This list is just a glimpse of the many Heuchera and Heucherella varieties available throughout the season. While these are some of the most common, there are countless other varieties and color combinations to discover. Please call your local Meadows Farms for other varieties or special requests.

The post Heuchera and Heucherella Varieties for Shady Virginia Gardens appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Astilbe Varieties Available at Meadows Farms

Remember, the Astilbe listed below are just a selection of the varieties that Meadows Farms carries. Please call your local Meadows Farms for other varieties or special requests.

The post Colorful Astilbe Varieties to Bring Life to Your Shady Virginia Garden appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.