Plants for School Grounds in the Mid-Atlantic Region
INTRODUCTION TO THE ECOREGION
The Mid-Atlantic region has four distinct seasons including hot, humid summers, and relatively mild winters with infrequent snow. The region includes West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania as well as the District of Columbia and includes USDA zones 6 and 7 with summer highs in the 90’s and winter lows in the 20’s-30’s. A large portion of the region is in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The suggestions below focus on plants that are native to the region*, then edibles, fragrant plants and others, but nothing that is considered remotely invasive, thorny or prickly, and nothing that is toxic.
*This list is in progress and we understand that only some plants are represented here. If you have had success with plants in other Mid-Atlantic ecologies, please let us know by sending an email so we can include them in this list.
© Green Schoolyards America, Arlington, Virginia
Fast Growing Shade Trees
River birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing single or multi-trunk native with curly bark that is interesting to children and attractive to wildlife.
Some smaller trees like Dogwood (Cornus florida--select anthracnose resistant cultivars like ‘Rutcans’, ‘Rutgans’ etc.) and Redbud (Cercis canadensis) have spring flowers, attractive fall color, and horizontally spreading forms that provide shade below.
Many varieties of maple (Acer species) and oak (Quercus species) are native to the region including sugar maple and red maple, red oak, white oak, willow oak, scarlet oak, pin oak, post oak, etc. They provide a great deal of wildlife value, but are relatively slow growing so plant these as an investment in the future.
Other native shade trees include: American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), American Linden (Tilia americana), Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana), Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica).
Thornless honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) is a cultivar that provides dappled shade.
River birch, Arlington, Virginia. © Lani Harmon EarlySpace
REDBUD, Arlington, VIRGINIA. © Nancy Striniste, EarlySpace
Vines for Shade and Screening
Vines can grow over a fence or trellis to provide shade, screening, wildlife value, and beauty. They can be planted in the ground or in containers.
VIBURNUM, Arlington, VirginIA. © Lani Harmon, EarlySpace
NATIVE PERENNIAL VINES
Some native perennial vines include:
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is an evergreen or semi-evergreen vine with orange flowers in late spring.
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is fast growing with yellow and orange flowers in summer attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It is considered an aggressive native species, but often in spaces for children plants encounter a lot of wear and tear, so it may not be a problem.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens): The native variety is not as fragrant as the invasive Japanese variety, but the flowers are lovely and attract wildlife.
ANNUAL VINES
Annual Vines are very fast growing, often from seed, and many have beautiful flowers and child friendly elements. There are many types but here are a few ideas:
Trumpet Vine, Arlington, Virginia. © Nancy Striniste, EarlySpace
Black-eyed Susan vine has yellow, orange, or white flowers with black centers.
Cardinal flower vine has soft feathery leaves and bright red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Morning glory has sky blue flowers that open in the morning and close by afternoon.
Mini pumpkins can be grown from seed. One yellow flowered, big leaved vine planted in spring will produce dozens of tiny orange pumpkins in time for Halloween.
Decorative gourds including birdhouse gourd, loofa, and others can be harvested, dried, and used for various purposes.
Hyacinth bean vine has gorgeous purple flowers and edible magenta bean pods
Cucumbers can be planted from seed and grown on a trellis.
Plants for Dividing Spaces and Screening
These are good plants for dividing spaces or screening the street. Plant these in beds, berms, or large containers. These plants are typically found in local nurseries. Larger species are going to need more root growth space, so plan on larger planters, such as concrete boxes, large metal troughs, and other containers that can be placed and not need to be moved. Smaller containers can be set on movable platforms with lockable caster wheels.
EVERGREEN SHRUBS
Evergreen shrubs provide good screening and year round shelter for wildlife. Some native varieties include:
Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is a non-prickly leafed holly shrub that comes in small, medium and large cultivars.
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a different variety that comes in different sizes, but can grow 3’ per year.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a variety of sizes and forms with short needles and fragrant blue berries.
GRASSES
Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) grows to 3-6’, but there are smaller varieties such as “Shenandoah”. The lacy seed heads are beautiful and provide food for birds.
Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) grows to 18-24” tall. It is the softest grass — good screening in a tall container, and also lovely to look at and touch.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grows 2-3’ tall. Starts out blue at the base but turns a striking shade of red in the fall and winter. Birds love the seeds.
Plants for Habitat and Pollinator Gardens
Whenever possible, select native plants for your area and provide good diversity of plants to promote healthy habitat for a wide range of pollinators. Avoid using chemicals of any kind in or around pollinator gardens. While there are many plants that provide pollinator habitat, the following list represents plants that perform well in schoolyard environments. These plants can be used in the ground or in containers.
NATIVE FLOWERING PERENNIALS
Native flowering perennials that attract caterpillars and butterflies:
Asters (Aster species)
Goldenrod (Solidago)
Violets (Viola species)
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
Sunflowers (Helianthus)
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum)
Milkweed (Asclepias)
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
SHRUBS
All of the following are shrubs that work in rain gardens, pollinator gardens, habitat hedges, and even in large containers.
Clethra (Clethra alnifolia) has white flowers in summer and yellow foliage in fall.
Itea (Itea virginica) has pink or white late spring flowers, bright red fall color.
Fothergilla (Fothergilla species) has fragrant white honeypuff flowers in spring, bright orange in fall.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) has bumpy round seed pods that were used by settlers to make buttons.
Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) has white spring flowers and shiny red bark in winter.
Sunflowers, Falls Church, Virginia. © Nancy Striniste, EarlySpace
MILKWEED, Arlington, Virginia. © Lani Harmon, EarlySpace
SPICEBUSh, Arlington, Virginia. © Nancy Striniste, EarlySpace
Plants for Fun
Consider a soothing sensory garden in a bed or a planter with plants that rustle in the wind, are fragrant, edible, colorful, and/or interestingly textured.
River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) a deep and dense rooted ornamental grass with dangling seed heads that rustle in the wind and are fun to pick and play with.
Herbs like lemon balm, mint, rosemary and thyme are edible and fragrant when touched, rubbed, stepped on, or just wafting through the air from a nearby bed or container.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier) Large shrub/small tree with white flowers in spring and edible berries in early summer. Also called Juneberry or Shadbush because the berries appear in June and when shad fish are running.
Plant non-native annuals like zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, and pansies to add color. All are pick-able for play.
Lambs ears (Stachys byzantina) is not native but not invasive and the fuzzy leaves are irresistible to touch.
Make Sure to Contact
School facilities department to coordinate with their maintenance so that gardens aren’t mowed down or removed.
Local landscape organizations, nurseries, and government environmental stormwater, soil and water, and sustainability agencies for support, funding, and information.
Resources
Native Plant Nurseries in your area
Nature by Design, Alexandria, Virginia
Earth Sangha, Fairfax, Virginia
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals
CBLP certifies landscape professionals with expertise in sustainable methods and native plants.
Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council
CCLC’s mission is to advance conservation landscaping, and protect the air, soil, water, and native plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
STORMWATER PROGRAMS
Local stormwater programs can sometimes help with the cost of conservation landscaping and other projects on your grounds.
RiverSmart Schools, Washington, D.C.
StormwaterWise Landscapes Program, Arlington, Virginia
Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate Program, Prince George’s County, Maryland
RainScapes Rewards Rebates Program, Montgomery County, Maryland
Conservation Assistance Project Options, Fairfax County, Virginia
BOOKS AND GUIDES
Striniste, Nancy. (2019). Nature Play At Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children with the Natural World. Timber Press.
Includes 21 themed lists of child-friendly plants, mostly native to the mid-Atlantic region. Comprehensive guidance for schools and child care settings, available in multiple languages.
List of retail and wholesale nurseries from the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association
Plant NoVA Natives
Great resources on native plants specifically for Northern Virginia, but relevant around the wider region
Credits
This list was compiled and curated by: Nancy Striniste, MLD, EarlySpace, LLC, Arlington, Virginia. It was reviewed by Joan Honeyman, RLA, ASLA, Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture LLC; Yoshihiko Kubota, RLA, SITES AP; and Anna Wik, RLA, ASLA, SITES AP.
National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.
