Top native heathers, balsams, primroses, and allies

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

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6 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 3 Part shade 6 Dappled shade 2 Full shade 1

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 2 Well drained 5 Moist 5 Wet 1

Water use

Low 1 Medium 1 High 1

Soil

Rocky 1 Sand 4 Loam 4 Clay 3 Organic 4

Soil pH

Acid 6 Neutral 2

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Erosion 2 Heavy shade 2 Diseases 1 Dry soil 1 Fire 1 Heat 1 Insect pests 1 Salt 1 Wet soil 1

Form

Habit

Erect 53 Spreading 34 Rounded 26 Clumping 19 Multi stemmed 19 Dense 17 Open 8 Creeping 7 Horizontal 7 Arching 6 Mounding 6 Oval 6 Pyramidal 6 Prostrate 5 Multi trunked 4 Columnar 3 Irregular 3 Ascending 2 Vase 1

Plant type

Perennial 4 Shrub 4 Poisonous 3 Ground cover 2 Wildflower 2 Annual 1 Herbaceous perennial 1