Yardley: Lower Makefield Township Native Plant Demonstration Garden

This Native Plant Demonstration Garden is maintained by the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Bucks County for the enjoyment of all LMT residents and visitors.

Master Gardeners beautify LMT. Photo credit: Lynn Daddario

Address: 1100 Edgewood Road, Yardley, PA 19067

Hours: The garden is accessible to the public Monday-Sunday, dawn to dusk.

Parking: The garden is along the walking path between the Yardley Library and the Lower Makefield Township Building, closest to the tax office side. Parking is available on both sides of the building. If visiting M-F 9-5, please park further from the entrances so that residents doing business at the offices have first dibs on the closest parking spots.

Established: 2009 by the Environmental Action Council. Master Gardeners of Bucks County became involved in 2018.

Type of garden: Native plants

Volunteers maintaining the garden: Nine Master Gardeners

Description of the garden: This is a public garden along a busy road and a path used by walkers, runners, and bicyclists. The garden was created to benefit birds and demonstrate that native plants could be incorporated into residential and public gardens.

The plant list incorporates all of the plants, including both scientific and common names and was used to create the plant labels. There are a few plants that have come up which were not on the list such as phlox and willow oak, which were introduced by birds.

Plant List: (updated May 2024)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Flower; Folliage	Wildlife Value*
Amsonia hubrichtii	Blue Star	Blue flower; yellow folliage in Fall	Flowers attract butterflies.
Amsonia x 'Blue Ice'	Blue Star 'Blue Ice'	Blue flower; yellow folliage in Fall	Flowers attract butterflies.
Anemone canadensis	Canada Anemone	White flower with yellow center	Flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly weed	Orange flower	Flowers: nectar source for butterflies. Plant: larval host for monarch and moth caterpillars.
Carex pensylvanica	Pennsylvania sedge	Bright green foliage	Supports various butterfly larvae.
Carex plantaginea	Plantain-leaf sedge	Bright green foliage	Supports various butterfly larvae.
Carex stricta	Tussock sedge	Bright green foliage	Crown used for nesting habitat.
Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey Tea	White flower	Flowers: nectar source for butterflies. Plant: Larval host. Seeds: food for birds.
Cercis canadensis	Eastern Red Bud	Pink flower; yellow foliage in Fall	Flowers for nectar. Pods picked by birds for seed.
Chasmanthium latifolium	Northern Sea Oats	Flat nodding seed heads	Larval host plant. Seeds used by small mammals and birds.
Chrysogonum virginianum 'Allen Bush'	Green and Gold	Yellow; bright green foliage	Flowers for bees and butterflies. Seeds for birds.
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'	Threadleaf coreopsis 'Moonbeam'	Yellow flower	Flowers for bees and butterflies. Seeds for birds.
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'	Threadleaf Coreopsis 'Zagreb'	Yellow flower	Flowers for bees and butterflies. Seeds for birds.
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'	Variegated dogwood	White flower	Flowers attract butterflies and pollinators. Fruits attract birds. Also provides nesting sites.
Cornus alternifolia	Pagoda Dogwood	White flower	Flowers attract butterflies and pollinators. Fruits attract birds.
Cornus florida	Flowering Dogwood	White Flower	Berries are food for birds and small mammals.
Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire'	Redosier Dogwood 'Artic Fire'	White flower	Flowers attract butterflies and pollinators. Fruits attract birds.
Diervilla splendens 'Nightglow'	Bush Honeysuckle 'Nightglow'	Yellow flower; burgundy leaves	Flowers attract butterflies.
Echinacea purpurea	Purple Coneflower	Purple flower	Flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Seedheads attract goldfinch.
Echinacea tennesseensis 'Rocky Top'	Tennessee coneflower 'Rocky Top'	Pink flower	Flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Seedheads attract goldfinch.
Fothergilla gardenii	Fothergilla	White flower. Fall Orange/red folliage	Flowers provide nectar for bees and pollinators.
Geranium maculatum	Wild Geranium	Lavender Blue flower	Nectar from flowers attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds.
Helianthus angustifolius	Swamp sunflower	Yellow flower	Attracts pollinators and songbirds.
Heuchera villosa 'Carmel'	Coral Bells 'Carmel'	Lt. Pink flower	Nectar from flowers attracts bees and pollinators.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee'	Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Pee Wee'	White flower. Fall Burgundy foliage	Flowers attract butterflies and other insects. Songbirds eat the seeds.
Hypericum kalminanum Gemo	Kalm's St. John's Wort	Yellow flower	Attracts pollinators
Hypericum prolificum	Shrubby St. John's wort	Yellow flower	Fruits attract birds.
Iilex opaca 'Maryland Dwarf'	Maryland Dwarf holly	Red berries fall/winter	Berries are food for birds and small mammals.
Ilex verticillata 'Jim Dandy' (male)	Winterberry Holly 'Jim Dandy'	Red berries fall/winter	Male pollinator for Red Sprite Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' (female)	Winterberry Holly 'Red Sprite'	Red berries fall/winter	Berries are food for birds and small mammals.
Iris cristata Powder Blue Giant	Dwarf Crested Iris	Blue flower	Flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.
Leucothoe axillaris ‘Rejoyce’	Dog Hobble 'Rejoyce'	Red foliage spring and fall	Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Liatris spicata 'Kobold'	Blazing Star 'Kobold'	Purple flower	Flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Goldfinches eat the seeds.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'	Southern Magnolia 'Teddy Bear'	White flower	Evergreen
Oxydendron arboretum	Sourwood	White flower	Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue'	Moss Phlox 'Emerald Blue'	Blue flower	Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, skippers, and bees.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Raspberry Lemonade’’	Ninebark 'Raspberry Lemonade'	White flower. Chartruese foliage	Attracts birds and bees
Polemonium reptans	Jacob's Ladder	Blue flower	Attracts pollinators.
Prunella vulgaris	Selfheal	Purple flower	Attracts bees and butterflies.
Quercus bicolor	Swamp white oak	Insignificant	Attracts larval moths and butterflies. Acorns feed birds and small mammals.
Quercus phellos	Willow oak	Insignificant	Attracts larval moths and butterflies. Acorns feed birds and small mammals.
Rhododendron spp	Rhododendron	Purple flower	Flowers attract humingbirds and bees.
Rudbeckia laciniata	Cutleaf coneflower	Yellow flower with green center	Nectar and pollen attract butterflies and bees. Songbirds, especially Goldfinches, eat the seed.
Ruellia humilis	Wild Petunia	Purple flower	Nectar source for butterflies.
Solidago canadensis	Canadian Goldenrod	Yellow flower	Pollen and nectar attract pollinators. Seeds eaten by birds.
Spigelia marilandica 'Little Redhead'	Indian pink	Red/yellow flower	Attract hummingbirds.
Symphyotrichum n.b. 'Alert' (Aster novi-belgii)	New York Aster 'Alert'	Purple flower	Flowers attract bees and butterflies. Seeds eaten by birds and small mammals.
Symphyotrichum o. 'Raydon's Favorite' (Aster oblongifolius)	Aster 'Raydon's Favorite'	Purple flower	Supports many specialized bees.
Tiarella cordifolia 'Brandywine'	Foamflower 'Brandywine'	White flower	Flowers attract pollinators.
Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur'	Possumhaw Viburnum	White flower	Host for Spring Azure butterfly and hummingbird clearwing moths. Fruits eaten by songbirds.
Zizia aurea	Golden Alexander	Yellow flower	Attracts butterflies and bees.

Lower Makefield Township Native Demonstration Garden Plant List (May 2024)

* Sources:

NC State Extension. Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/

Native Plant Trust. https://plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/plant/

Mt. Cuba Center. https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/

Missouri Botanical Garden. Plant Finder. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/