Forrest Keeling Plants

Better seed sources, better plants

Sagittaria latifolia

Common Name: Arrowhead

Arrowhead leaves can vary considerably in appearance. Flowers are borne in whorls on leafless stems, each bearing three small, white petals. The round Arrowhead tubers provide an important food source for small mammals.

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Salix babylonica

Common Name: Green Weeping Willow

Green Weeping Willow is a small to medium-sized tree, often with several trunks. Twigs thin, flexible, shiny, gray or yellowish. Green Weeping Willow branches are spreading to drooping. Leaves are glabrous and yellowish, but will become dark brown wi

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Salix caprea

Common Name: French Pussy Willow

French Pussy Willow is a small, densely branched tree. In late February or early March the buds of pussy willow expand and reveal the characteristic fuzz beneath.

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Salix integra 'Hakura Nikishi'

Common Name: Hakura Nikishi Willow

Hakura Nikishi Willow is a rounded shrub composed of many thin, gracefully spreading branches. New foliage is splashed with tints of shrimp pink and creamy white. In winter, arching stems turn a striking red.

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Salix nigra

Common Name: Black Willow

Black Willow is the largest and the only commercially important willow. Short-lived and fast-growing, it is excellent for stabilizing eroding lands.

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Salix niobe

Common Name: Niobe Weeping Willow

Niobe Weeping Willow is an extremely fast-growing, golden-barked weeper that is very tolerant of wet sites.

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Sambucus canadensis

Common Name: Elderberry

Elderberry is a dramatic, thicket-forming shrub with bright green leaves. Showy clusters of fragrant white spring flowers followed by clusters of dark purple fall elderberry fruits.

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Sambucus pubens

Common Name: Scarlet Elder

Scarlet Elder is a large shrub, with creamy white spring flowers followed by small, scarlet fruit.

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Sassafras albidum

Common Name: Sassafras

In early spring, clusters of small yellow flowers smother the tree. In the summer, bright-green mitten-shaped fragrant leaves occur as right and left handed models. In the fall, Sassafras leaves take on colors ranging from purple to scarlet.

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Saururus cernuus

Common Name: Lizard's Tail

The long, creamy-white flowers of Lizard's Tail rest over heat-shaped leaves above six to eight inch long spikes. Grayish nutlets, similar to a lizard's tail, cover the spike when the flowers go to seed. All parts of the Lizard's Tail plant smell lik

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Schizachyrum scoparium

Common Name: Little Bluestem

Little Bluestem is a mid-height, non-spreading, clump-forming native grass with blue-green leaves that turn reddish orange in the fall. Fluffy silver seed heads are ornamental through winter. Little Bluestem is easy to establish and perfect in short-

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Schoenoplectus acutus

Common Name: Hardstem Bulrush

Hardstem Bulrush and Softstem Bulrushes are tall, stout, perennial plants. Both have round, olive green stems, drooping brown flower clusters near the stem tips, and a few inconspicuous leaves at the stem bases. Hardstem Bulrush is common in marshes

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Schrankia uncinata 'Sensitive Brier'

Common Name: Sensitive Brier

A member of the Mimosa family, leaves fold up when disturbed. Recurved thorns down the semi-woody vine makes it clear the Sensitive Brier, does not want to be disturbed.

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Scirpus acutus

Common Name: Hardstem Bulrush

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Scirpus americanus

Common Name: Olney's Bulrush

Olney's Bulrush is a robust sedge with triangular pale green stems.

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Scirpus atrovirens

Common Name: Great Green Bulrush

Great Green Bulrush is a native perennial sedge that prefers full sun in wet to moist soils. It can be found in wet prairies, sloughs, pond and river shorelines, drainage ditches, or marshes. The seeds are eaten by ducks, Canadian geese, and other fo

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Scirpus cyperinus

Common Name: Wool Grass

Wool Grass is a densely-tufted, clump-forming perennial with an erect stem that is leafy up to the flower cluster. Many brown, woolly bristles surround the nutlets giving the terminal inflorescense a fuzzy appearance and Wool Grass its common name.

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Scirpus validus

Common Name: Soft-stemmed Bulrush

Soft-stemmed Bulrush has rounded, triangular-shaped, smooth stems are up to one inch wide at the base, gradually tapering upward. Soft-stemmed Bulrush has no leaf blades, just sheaths, with inflorescence at stem tip.

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Scutellaria incana

Common Name: Downy Skullcap

Deep blue summer flowers are held above large square-stemmed stalks, typical of mint family plants. The six inch leaves are toothed and covered with fine hairs.

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Senecio obovatus

Common Name: Squawweed

Squawweed has loose umbels of flowers on 12" stems. Foliage basal rosettes are semi-evergreen, with rounded and serrated leaves. Squawweed grows well in dry shade and spreads by underground stems.

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Silene regia 'Royal Catchfly'

Common Name: Royal Catchfly

Sticky calyx can trap or "catch" small insects, hence the name Royal Catchfly. Royal Catchfly prefers sandy, gravelley soils, and adequate drainage. Beautiful scarlet red blooms in July is great for rockgardens.

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Silphium integrifolium

Common Name: Rosinweed

Rosinweed is the shortest of all Silphiums. Rosinweed has textured leaves that have the feel of sandpaper. In July to August, clusters of yellow flowers bloom atop stems. The seed is enjoyed by birds.

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Silphium laciniatum

Common Name: Compass Plant

Compass Plant is a Plants of Merit winner. This tall sturdy plant with deeply cut basal leaves adds form and texture to the landscape. Compass Plant leaves resemble pinoak. In summer, large yellow sunflower-like flowers bloom on stiff spikes nine f

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Silphium terebinthinaceum

Common Name: Prairie Dock

In late summer, this robust perennial blooms with sunflower-like yellow flowers on eight foot tall stalks. Prairie Dock's big, bold, basal leaves grow 24-36 inches tall and make this a worthy addition to the landscape even without the summer blooms.

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Solidago drummondii

Common Name: Cliff Goldenrod

Cliff Goldenrod has graceful, arching stems that are crowded with tiny, bright yellow, daisylike flowers in late summer to fall. Flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Basal leaves generally dry up and disappear by flowering time but leav

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Solidago nemoralis

Common Name: Old Field Goldenrod

Old-field, or Gray, Goldenrod is one of the smallest of the solidagos. Gray-green stem and rounded leaves are distinctive in this goldenrod. Flowers tend to cluster near the stem, and do not form large sprays as they do in Canada Goldenrod.

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Solidago rigida

Common Name: Stiff Goldenrod

Stiff Goldenrod is a rhizomatous, native perennial. It is found in open woods and prairies, and around glades throughout the Midwest. Stiff Goldenrod features tiny, bright yellow, daisy-like flowers dense, erect, flat-topped clusters atop stiff, bro

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Solidago speciosa

Common Name: Showy Goldenrod

Showy Goldenrod is a Midwest native found on dry sites. Features tiny, bright late summer yellow flowers borne in dense, erect clusters atop stiff reddish stems. Showy Goldenrod flowers bloom mid to late summer. One of the showiest of the many golden

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Sorghastrum nutans

Common Name: Indian Grass

Upright clumps of slender, blue-green Indian Grass leaves turn golden yellow in the fall. In late summer, vertical flowering stems are topped with 12-inch long light brown flower panicles that have yellow stamens. Indian Grass is an excellent grass

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Spartina pectinata

Common Name: Prairie Cordgrass

Not a shrub, but one of our best selling native grasses. Prairie Cordgrass has a multitude of applications. It forms a dense sod with its heavy, multi-branched root system, which can reach a depth of ten feet. Offers desirable food and cover for w

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Spiraea alba

Common Name: Meadow-sweet Spirea

Meadow-sweet Spirea is great for rock gardens, borders and mixing into the perennial garden. Finely branched with small, white spring flowers.

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Spiraea betulifolia

Common Name: Birchleaf Spirea

Easy-to-grow with a compact attractive habit. Flat clusters of white flowers in late spring are framed by tiny birch-like leaves. In autumn, leaf shades of orange, red and purple add sparkle to the end of the season.

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Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound'

Common Name: Goldmound Spirea

Goldmound Spiraea is a low-growing, compact cultivar. Lights up the summer landscape with bright yellow summer foliage and light pink summer blooms.

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Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess'

Common Name: Little Princess Spirea

'Little Princess' is a low-growing cultivar. Pale green foliage and light pink summer blooms.

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Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash'

Common Name: Neon Flash Spirea

'Neon Flash' Spiraea is a compact Spiraea cultivar with neon red flower clusters. New leaves have a purplish tint as they emerge, then turn green and change to dark burgundy in fall.

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Spiraea nipponica 'Shirobana'

Common Name: Shirobana Spirea

Shirobana Spiraea is a low-growing cultivar with bright green foliage and white, pink and red blooms.

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Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound'

Common Name: Snowmound Spirea

Snowmound Spirea blooms late spring into summer and has a dense habit.

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Spiraea tomentosa

Common Name: Hardhack Spirea

Hardback Spirea has white to pink flowers that bloom on compact plants all summer.

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Spiraea X bumalda 'Anthony Waterer'

Common Name: Anthony Waterer Spirea

'Anthony Waterer' has rose-pink flowers complemented by chartreuse foliage.

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Spiraea X bumalda 'Goldflame'

Common Name: Goldflame Spirea

Goldflame Spirea has bright red flowers that contrast nicely with its golden-bronze foliage. Compact plants are useful in many landscapes.

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Spiraea X bumalda 'Gumball'

Common Name: Gumball Spirea

Compact 'Gumball' has hot pink flowers and deep green foliage. Useful in many landscapes.

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Spiraea X vanhouttei

Common Name: Vanhoutte Spirea

Vanhoutte Spirea has slender arching branches and a compact habit. Dark green leaves are scalloped and toothed with a blue green underside. Small, white summer flowers are held in dense clusters.

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Sporobolus heterolepis

Common Name: Prairie Dropseed

Prairie Dropseed is one of the most beautiful native grasses. Very thin, emerald green leaves form a dense arching tuft. Prairie Dropseed seed heads form in August and give off a distinct aroma. The graceful clumps turn yellow or deep orange in fall.

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Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'

Common Name: Lambs' Ears

A large and diverse genus in the Mint family that includes a number of valuable landscape plants. Bold leaves are so densely felted with white hairs that they appear gray or silver. This species does flower, throwing silver wands capped with small, p

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Stylophorum distichum

Common Name: Celandine Poppy

Celandine Poppy is an early spring bloomer perfect for the shade garden with showy, yellow flowers above lobed green leaves. Celandine Poppy foliage is attractive into the summer.

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Symphoricarpos albus

Common Name: Snowberry

White Coralberry, or Snowberry, is an introduced, deciduous shrub. In autumn, it produces small white, globe-shaped berries, which last well into winter.

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Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Common Name: Coralberry

Coralberry is a dense, suckering shrub. Occurs in open woods, old fields and thickets. Bell-shaped, white summer flowers are followed by clusters of fall fruits.

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Symphoricarpos X doorenbosii

Common Name: Magic Berry Coralberry

'Magic Berry' is a hybrid with more compact habit than native species. Fruits produced midsummer until fall. Use as specimen, massed planting and erosion control.

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Syringa bailbelle 'Tinkerbelle'

Common Name: Tinkerbelle Lilac

New dwarf lilac with improved color over 'Palibin'. Wine colored buds open to a pleasing deep pink. It's a strong bloomer with spicy fragrance. Small dark green leaves show good mildew resistance.

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Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'

Common Name: Dwarf Korean Lilac

'Palibin' is a slow-growing, dense and uniform lilac. New foliage has a purple margin. Fragrant lavender spring flowers are densely clustered and attract butterflies.

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Syringa patula 'Miss Kim'

Common Name: Miss Kim Lilac

'Miss Kim' Lilac is one of the most beautiful and fragrant of all lilac bushes. Lavender blooms contrast well against its dark, glossy green foliage. Foliage turns deep burgundy red in fall.

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Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk'

Common Name: Ivory Silk Lilac

'Ivory Silk' Lilac has sturdy, compact growth habit. Small white flower clusters create a wonderful complement to the dense dark green foliage.

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Syringa vulgaris

Common Name: Old-fashioned Lilac

Old-fashioned Lilac has fragrant lavender blooms that adorn this old-fashioned, classic shrub.

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Syringa X oblata 'Betsy Ross'

Common Name: Betsy Ross Lilac

A real winner! 'Betsy Ross' is the first true warm climate lilac with tolerance to powdery mildew. Selected for its abundant pure white fragrant flowers and compact rounded growth habit.

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