The flora of the Old Colony is a vital part of our past, present, and future. Beyond defining the aesthetics of our wilderness, native wildflowers attract pollinators which are fundamental to our ecosystem. Herbs, be they native or introduced, are not only used in cooking but also have medicinal properties sought by both the indigenous population and herbalists today. Vegetable crops, an important economic driver following European settlement, continue to sustain us to this day. This exhibit examines a selection of plant life that make up the unique landscape of the Old Colony.
Bean, Bush
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Days to Maturity: 50
Bean, Runner
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Days to Maturity: 75
Corn
Botanical Name: Zea mays
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1-2″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Days to Maturity: 70-80
Corn, Flint
Botanical Name: Zea mays indurata
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Days to Maturity: 110-120
Cucumber
Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow or start indoors
Days to Maturity: 65
Onion
Botanical Name: Allium cepa
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .25″
Sowing Method: Direct sow or start indoors
Days to Maturity: 90-120
Potato
Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosum
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: 2-3″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Days to Maturity: 100-125
Pumpkin
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Days to Maturity: 90-120
Tomato
Botanical Name: Lycopersicon esculentum
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .25-.5″
Sowing Method: Start indoors
Days to Maturity: 60-90
Basil
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .25″
Sowing Method: Direct sow or start indoors
Days to Maturity: 60-90
Dill
Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .25″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Days to Maturity: 40-60
Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .125″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Mint
Botanical Name: Mentha
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun to part shade
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow or start indoors
Days to Maturity: 60
Nasturtium
Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majus
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun to part shade
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Parsley
Botanical Name: Petroselinum crispum latifolium
Life Cycle: Biennial
Light: Full sun to part shade
Planting Depth: .25″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Days to Maturity: 60-75
Sage (lyre-leafed)
Botanical Name: Salvia lyrata
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun to part shade
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
St. John’s Wort
Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .125″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Days to Maturity: 60-90
Thyme
Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .125″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Days to Maturity: 180-200
Wild Chamomile
Botanical Name: Matricaria recutita
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun
Planting Depth: .125″
Sowing Method: Start indoors or direct sow
Days to Maturity: 60-90
Beard Tongue
Botanical Name: Penstemon digitalis
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 36″
Bloom Season: Spring
Black-eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 30″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Blazing Star
Botanical Name: Liatris spicata
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light : Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 48″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Brown-eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia triloba
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 60″
Bloom Season: Fall
Butterfly Weed
Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial Sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 36″
Bloom Season: Summer
Eastern Red Columbine
Botanical Name: Aquilegia canadensis
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/ Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct Sow
Height: 24″
Bloom Season: Summer
Evening Primrose
Botanical Name: Oenothera biennis
Life Cycle: Biennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 48″
Bloom Season: Summer
Indian Blanket
Botanical Name: Gaillardia pulchella
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 24″
Bloom Season: Summer
Lance-Leaf Coreopsis
Botanical Name: Coreopsis lanceolata
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 48″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
New England Aster
Botanical Name: Aster novae angliae
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 48″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Ox-Eye Sunflower
Botanical Name: Heliopsis helianthoides
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 72″
Bloom Season: Summer
Patridge Pea
Botanical Name: Chamaecrista fasciculata
Life Cycle: Annual
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 36″
Bloom Season: Spring
Rigid Goldenrod
Botanical Name: Solidago rigida
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 60″
Bloom Season: Summer
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Botanical Name: Eupatorium maculatum
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 96″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Swamp Milkweed
Botanical Name: Asclepias incarnata
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/ Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct Sow
Height: 48″
Bloom Season: Summer
Sweet Black-Eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia submentosa
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 30″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Wild Bergamot
Botanical Name: Monarda fistulosa
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 48″
Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
Wild Lupine
Botanical Name: Lupinus perennis
Life Cycle: Perennial
Light: Full sun/Partial sun
Planting Depth: .5″
Sowing Method: Direct sow
Height: 36″
Bloom Season: Spring, Summer