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Landscape Plugs™

Our best low-maintenance native perennials and grasses are available in plugs designed to be planted directly in the ground. We offer a wide selection of Eastern US natives and their cultivars selected for beauty and durability. Two sizes are available for direct planting, LP50 and LP32. LP50 items are generally forb and grass species with taproots or deep fibrous root systems. Our LP50 plugs are 5.00" deep by 2.00" square and come 50 to a standard nursery liner. The LP32 plant palette contains species with lateral root systems and are generally more fibrous and shallowly rooted species. Our LP32 plugs are 4.00" deep by 2.22" square and come 32 per to a standard nursery liner. Landscape Plugs™ offer an exciting alternative for quick establishment of plants in landscapes and containers.

Plant Selection
We are very selective in our choices for the Landscape Plugs™ program so that your planting gets off to a great start. All plants in our plug program are native to the midatlantic states, well suited to this climate and tolerant of drought and extreme temperature fluctuations. Robust root systems make for quick establishment and less initial watering. Plants purchased in spring are vernalized and ready to grow.

Why Use Landscape Plugs™?

  • Plants usually reach flowering size in first season and have a high transplant success rate.
  • Quicker and more reliable than seed, with erosion control starting in weeks rather than months.
  • LP50 plugs have deep (5") roots that establish quickly.
  • Compact size is easy to transport - a real cost saver.
  • Plants are chosen for wide adaptability and ease of transplanting and establishment.
  • Excellent choices for wildlife habitat development, providing food & shelter for many species.
  • Plugs come in flats made of 100% recycled plastic and are #6 recyclable.

Many thanks to the Biota of North America Program (BONAP) for the use of their North American Plant Atlas species distribution maps, which can be found on each native Landscape Plug™ species page. Click the map image to enlarge and view the plant's distribution status by county via link to the BONAP site. All map images are courtesy: Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2013. Taxonomic Data Center. (http://www.bonap.net/tdc). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2013. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)] 

Botanical Name     Common Name
A B C D E F-G H I J-L M-O P Q R S T U-Z ALL

Caltha palustris

marsh marigold

Native to northern states and Canada, this little beauty is at home at pond's edge or along a stream. It is clumping by nature, but can seed in to form a dense groundcover in a consistently moist site. In early spring, hundreds of bright yellow buttercup flowers dot the green carpet of cordate foliage. Deer usually leave this alone! Found in marshes, swamps, and wet meadows from North Carolina to Alaska.

Caltha palustris '' marsh marigold from North Creek Nurseries

Carex 'Silver Sceptre'

Japanese sedge

This beautiful selection has narrow (1/4") leaves with white margins, giving it a very fine texture overall. Rhizomatous, forming thick silvery clumps. A bright addition to the shade palette!

Carex 'Silver Sceptre' Japanese sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex amphibola

creek sedge

Carex amphibola is a widely adaptable native sedge naturally occurring from Texas to Quebec and Georgia to New Hampshire. Its forms a compact and semi-erect mound. Proven to be semi evergreen (zone 6b) and prefers deciduous shade in upland or even floodplain conditions; easily adapts to fine or medium textured soils. Creek sedge lends itself well to native shade gardens, along wood paths or as a slope stabilizer. It is a vigorous clump former with shiny, narrow green foliage 1/8" wide by up to 12" long. C. amphibola is an excellent companion for Phlox divaricata, Chrysogonum and Polygonatum...among others!

Carex amphibola '' creek sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex appalachica

Carex appalachica

Appalachian sedge

This lovely sedge is native to the dry woods of eastern North America. Its fine texture and fountaining habit make it a lovely groundcover in dry shady sites, even in the root zone of trees. Its tidy clumping habit makes it a perfect feature in a container, rock or stump, or in a border planting along a walkway.

Carex appalachica '' Appalachian sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex cherokeensis

Cherokee sedge

Carex cherokeensis is a native sedge with a soft-medium texture. It prefers moist conditions but is adaptive. Grows in part shade but tolerates full sun in the morning. The inflorescence has been noted as insignificant but, we like the little wispy spikes that add a interest in the spring. 

Carex cherokeensis '' Cherokee sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex eburnea

bristleleaf sedge

A wonderful naturalizer, Carex eburnea is the ideal native groundcover for the woodland or rock garden. Petite colonies of 6-8 inch long soft, thread-like foliage takes on a spherical shape as inconspicuous whitish-green flower spikes appear in early spring.

Carex eburnea '' bristleleaf sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex flaccosperma

blue wood sedge

A beautiful native groundcover with striking glaucus blue foliage, Blue wood sedge is easy to grow and evergreen in warmer zones, though it benefits from a late winter cut back. Early spring flowers are slender and form interesting seed heads. Forms tidy clumps and spreads by seed.

Carex flaccosperma '' blue wood sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex laxiculmus Bunny Blue® 'HOBB'

Carex laxiculmus Bunny Blue® 'HOBB'

Bunny Blue sedge

Bunny Blue® is a low growing, evergreen, native sedge with silver-blue foliage. Use as a ground cover or specimen plant for moist to average shady areas. 

Carex laxiculmus Bunny Blue® 'HOBB' Bunny Blue sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

Japanese sedge

A bright groundcover for a shady spot, 'Ice Dance' has long shiny leaves trimmed in bright white. It spreads slowly to fill in and make a tidy cover that discourages weeds. Deer and disease resistant, it is long-lasting and easy to grow!

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' Japanese sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex muskingumensis

Muskingum sedge

A fine-textured sedge that resembles palm fronds? How strange! Naturally occuring in moist habitats such as low, swampy woods and wet meadows, this native cool-season sedge adds textural interest to any planting. 

Carex muskingumensis '' Muskingum sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex pensylvanica

Carex pensylvanica

oak sedge

With its tough disposition and spreading habit, this native sedge makes an excellent shade groundcover. Fine texture and fountaining habit give this sedge a soft appearance that is lovely as an underplanting for bolder shade perennials or on its own as a shade lawn. Great in containers too! Easy to grow. Happiest in the company of oaks, but who isn't?

Carex pensylvanica '' oak sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex plantaginea

seersucker sedge
Shiny deep green leaves are unusually broad (to 1 1/8") and puckered like Christmas ribbon. An excellent, mostly evergreen (the basal foliage overwinters) groundcover for average to moist shade, provides unique texture. Flowers occur in early to mid-spring, thin and black-tipped, not especially showy. Found in moist woods from Canada to Alabama.
Carex plantaginea '' seersucker sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex radiata

eastern star sedge

An attractive native sedge that forms dense tufts of foliage reaching 1–2' in height with an equal spread. Inflorescences range from 1-3" in length; blooming late spring. Very adaptable, dappled sunlight to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant organic matter. Incorporate with native ferns or spring ephemerals like Mertensia virginica. Seeds are enjoyed by various songbirds.

Carex radiata '' eastern star sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex stricta

tussock sedge

A wetland native that forms dense tussocks of straw-colored leaves at the base with bright green new growth emerging from the top. Spreads via rhizomes. Found in wet meadows. Emergent aquatic.

Carex stricta '' tussock sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Carex vulpinoidea

fox sedge

One of the most widespread species of Carex in North America, growing in wet meadows, prairies, swamps and marshes.  The seedheads mature in late summer and resemble fox tails, hence the common name.

Carex vulpinoidea '' fox sedge from North Creek Nurseries

Chasmanthium latifolium

Chasmanthium latifolium

northern sea oats

A versatile native grass with bamboo-like foliage and delightful nodding seed heads that rustle in the breeze from late summer to winter. It grows in most sites and is a quite vigorous groundcover when given consistent moisture and sun. It is better behaved in average garden conditions and in shade. A unique cut flower in fresh or dry arrangements.

Chasmanthium latifolium '' northern sea oats from North Creek Nurseries

Chelone glabra

Chelone glabra

turtlehead

Spikes of elegant white flowers top shiny green foliage in late summer and early fall. Grows best in moist meadows, stream banks, and swamps. Favorite breeding site for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly.

Chelone glabra '' turtlehead from North Creek Nurseries

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips'

turtlehead

Lustrous, deep green foliage is topped in August and September with rose pink, turtle-head-shaped flowers. Red stems persist most of the season. Bronze green early season growth is another distinctive feature.

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' turtlehead from North Creek Nurseries

Chrysogonum virginianum var. australe

green and gold

One of our favorite native groundcovers for the woodland garden. Yellow daisy-like flowers cover 6" evergreen foliage in spring. Rosettes of leaves slowly spread stoloniferously. Looks great with columbine and Virginia bluebells. This golden star is very similar to Chrysogonum virginianum 'Allen Bush', but has shorter stems and stolons that spread above ground. With a compact and low growing form, this plant has deep, shiny green foliage and golden, star shaped flowers.

Chrysogonum virginianum var. australe '' green and gold from North Creek Nurseries

Coreopsis verticillata

Coreopsis verticillata

whorled tickseed

This hardy species is a delightful and tough landscape solution. Taller and more vigorous than 'Moonbeam' or 'Zagreb', it has bright yellow flowers for 8 weeks or more, from late May to early August and often later. Drought tolerant and easy to grow in a garden or along the roadside.

Coreopsis verticillata '' whorled tickseed from North Creek Nurseries