Top native heathers, balsams, primroses, and allies

20 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.

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20 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 10 Part shade 13 Dappled shade 8 Full shade 6

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 7 Well drained 15 Moist 14 Wet 6

Water use

Low 4 Medium 4 High 2

Soil

Rocky 5 Sand 12 Loam 15 Clay 8 Organic 13

Soil pH

Acid 17 Neutral 5 Alkaline 2

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Dry soil 6 Erosion 5 Fire 4 Heavy shade 4 Salt 4 Black walnut 3 Humidity 3 Poor soil 3 Diseases 2 Heat 2 Pollution 2 Wet soil 2 Compaction 1 Insect pests 1 Rabbits 1 Urban conditions 1

Form

Habit

Erect 12 Dense 7 Spreading 7 Rounded 6 Arching 3 Clumping 3 Oval 3 Creeping 2 Horizontal 2 Mounding 2 Multi stemmed 2 Open 2 Pyramidal 2 Irregular 1 Multi trunked 1 Prostrate 1

Plant type

Perennial 14 Shrub 12 Tree 6 Herbaceous perennial 4 Poisonous 4 Ground cover 3 Wildflower 3 Carnivorous 1