EPA Level III Ecoregion
948 native plants for the Central Appalachians ecoregion (Johnstown area).
The Central Appalachians cover the steep forested plateau of West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, western Virginia, and the Pennsylvania highlands around Johnstown. Slopes are sharp, soils are thin and acidic, and elevation keeps summers cooler and winters longer than in the valleys on either side. Natives such as flame azalea, sweet azalea, heart-leaf foamflower, and bigleaf magnolia are forest-understory plants, which makes them a natural fit for the shaded, sloping yards that are normal here.
Conditions: Thin acidic soils on steep forested slopes, 40–50 inches of precipitation, cool summers and long cold winters at elevation.
Cities and areas: Johnstown, Charleston, Lexington, Morgantown, Beckley, Altoona.
HOA-friendly picks listed first. Pet-safety status varies by species; each plant page shows its sourced ASPCA status. Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

Echinacea purpurea

Schizachyrium scoparium

Asclepias incarnata

Monarda fistulosa

Lobelia cardinalis
Aquilegia canadensis

Rudbeckia hirta

Liatris spicata

Asclepias tuberosa

Lobelia siphilitica

Achillea millefolium

Zizia aurea

Helenium autumnale

Panicum virgatum

Heliopsis helianthoides

Ceanothus americanus

Allium cernuum

Rudbeckia triloba

Veronicastrum virginicum

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Symphyotrichum laeve
Phlox divaricata

Chasmanthium latifolium

Juncus effusus

Tradescantia ohiensis

Packera aurea

Carex vulpinoidea

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Sorghastrum nutans

Lindera benzoin

Fragaria virginiana

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Geranium maculatum

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Cornus sericea

Physocarpus opulifolius

Polemonium reptans

Hydrangea arborescens

Carex pensylvanica

Ilex verticillata

Hypericum prolificum

Betula nigra

Quercus rubra

Juniperus virginiana

Acer rubrum

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Carpinus caroliniana

Polystichum acrostichoides

Aronia melanocarpa

Solidago caesia

Nyssa sylvatica

Salvia lyrata

Anemone virginiana

Amelanchier laevis

Quercus alba

Tiarella cordifolia

Viburnum prunifolium

Monarda didyma

Calycanthus floridus

Acer saccharum

Quercus bicolor

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Polygonatum biflorum

Liriodendron tulipifera

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Phlox paniculata

Aronia arbutifolia

Corylus americana

Iris cristata

Solidago flexicaulis

Spiraea tomentosa

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Cornus alternifolia

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Liquidambar styraciflua

Sedum ternatum

Amelanchier canadensis

Diervilla lonicera

Adiantum pedatum

Elymus virginicus

Dryopteris marginalis

Tilia americana

Viola sororia

Fragaria vesca

Gentiana andrewsii

Blephilia ciliata
Maianthemum racemosum

Osmunda regalis

Aruncus dioicus
Carex appalachica

Zizia aptera

Scutellaria incana

Chionanthus virginicus

Carex plantaginea

Quercus palustris

Rhododendron viscosum

Teucrium canadense

Asarum canadense

Eurybia divaricata

Spiraea alba

Osmunda cinnamomea

Liatris scariosa

Solidago rigida

Blephilia hirsuta

Erigeron pulchellus

Senna hebecarpa

Desmodium canadense

Euthamia graminifolia

Heuchera americana

Celtis occidentalis

Cornus racemosa

Antennaria neglecta

Thuja occidentalis

Doellingeria umbellata

Mitchella repens

Carya ovata

Carex radiata

Quercus velutina

Uvularia grandiflora

Quercus muehlenbergii

Osmunda claytoniana

Carya glabra

Rhododendron arborescens

Silene virginica

Ostrya virginiana

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Carex albicans

Symphyotrichum shortii

Carex blanda

Magnolia macrophylla

Lobelia spicata

Gaylussacia baccata

Penstemon laevigatus

Tsuga canadensis

Packera obovata

Oenothera fruticosa

Penstemon pallidus

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

Helenium flexuosum

Viburnum rufidulum

Malus angustifolia

Betula alleghaniensis

Kalmia latifolia

Quercus michauxii

Oxydendrum arboreum

Lilium philadelphicum

Heuchera villosa

Castanea pumila

Quercus imbricaria

Scutellaria integrifolia

Helianthus decapetalus

Betula lenta

Magnolia acuminata

Picea glauca

Halesia carolina

Carex amphibola

Gleditsia triacanthos

Hypericum densiflorum

Eupatorium rotundifolium

Quercus montana

Rhododendron maximum

Silene caroliniana

Rhododendron calendulaceum

Meehania cordata

Picea rubens

Antennaria parlinii

Pycnanthemum verticillatum

Magnolia tripetala

Hypericum hypericoides

Justicia americana

Betula populifolia

Boehmeria cylindrica

Acer pensylvanicum

Ribes americanum

Malus coronaria

Carex sparganioides

Corylus cornuta

Solidago bicolor

Trichostema dichotomum

Sabatia angularis

Phlox stolonifera

Lysimachia quadrifolia

Dryopteris intermedia

Carex scoparia

Carex annectens

Taenidia integerrima

Symphyotrichum dumosum

Carya cordiformis

Lonicera dioica

Asplenium trichomanes

Carex gracillima

Solidago puberula

Cimicifuga racemosa

Monarda clinopodia

Coleataenia rigidula

Carex cephalophora
Diarrhena americana

Carex frankii

Hepatica americana

Carex tribuloides

Persicaria virginiana

Sambucus pubens

Salix humilis

Dryopteris goldiana

Carex laxiculmis

Festuca subverticillata

Carex bromoides

Dryopteris carthusiana

Thelypteris noveboracensis

Hypoxis hirsuta

Antennaria howellii

Symphyotrichum urophyllum

Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides

Geum canadense

Symphyotrichum patens

Asplenium rhizophyllum

Carex granularis

Pellaea atropurpurea

Rhododendron prinophyllum

Coreopsis pubescens

Asclepias quadrifolia

Symphyotrichum undulatum

Vaccinium pallidum

Carex bushii

Cystopteris bulbifera

Carex hirsutella

Osmunda spectabilis

Pinus echinata

Carex digitalis

Muhlenbergia schreberi

Phegopteris connectilis

Geum rivale

Vallisneria americana

Cystopteris fragilis

Solidago arguta

Amelanchier humilis

Cuphea viscosissima

Amelanchier stolonifera

Oxalis grandis

Dichanthelium columbianum

Carex debilis
Cuphea petiolata

Scutellaria elliptica

Poa saltuensis

Persicaria arifolia

Dichanthelium polyanthes

Muhlenbergia sylvatica

Carex gynandra

Gentiana linearis

Gillenia trifoliata

Carex communis

Carex tonsa

Crataegus punctata

Stenanthium gramineum

Deparia acrostichoides

Solidago erecta

Symphyotrichum racemosum

Viburnum cassinoides
Lycopus uniflorus
Polypodium virginianum

Galax urceolata

Carex prasina

Houstonia purpurea

Carex willdenowii

Dichanthelium lanuginosum

Lysimachia quadriflora

Lyonia ligustrina

Asplenium pinnatifidum

Carex leptonervia

Carya ovalis

Asplenium montanum

Ilex mucronata

Carex caroliniana

Elymus violaceus

Magnolia fraseri

Luzula multiflora

Muhlenbergia sobolifera

Carex swanii

Cystopteris protrusa

Ribes rotundifolium

Viola affinis

Oryzopsis asperifolia

Dichanthelium microcarpon

Antennaria neodioica

Carex virescens

Asplenium bradleyi

Carya alba

Athyrium asplenioides

Carex nigromarginata

Eurybia radula

Carex normalis

Scutellaria serrata

Asplenium platyneuron

Muhlenbergia frondosa

Carex jamesii

Thaspium trifoliatum

Carex argyrantha

Polygonatum pubescens
Avenella flexuosa

Lespedeza violacea

Carex trichocarpa

Carex albolutescens

Carex hitchcockiana

Carex atlantica

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Carex pedunculata

Chimaphila maculata

Geum virginianum

Juncus marginatus

Oenothera perennis

Rhus copallinum

Athyrium angustum

Luzula acuminata

Viburnum recognitum

Linum striatum

Carex platyphylla

Agrimonia gryposepala

Carex arctata

Dryopteris cristata

Coptis trifolia

Aureolaria virginica

Pinus resinosa

Carex oligocarpa

Ranunculus hispidus var. nitidus

Oclemena acuminata

Carex brunnescens

Polypodium appalachianum

Geum vernum

Lonicera canadensis

Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon

Arabis pycnocarpa

Lobelia puberula

Viola hastata

Danthonia compressa

Linum virginianum

Oenothera gaura

Dichanthelium dichotomum

Fraxinus nigra

Rhododendron catawbiense

Dryopteris campyloptera

Adiantum capillus-veneris

Sisyrinchium mucronatum

Epigaea repens

Antennaria solitaria

Carex festucacea

Carex laxiflora

Dichanthelium linearifolium

Polygala sanguinea

Carex laevivaginata

Andropogon gerardii

Penstemon digitalis

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Physostegia virginiana

Baptisia australis

Sambucus canadensis

Solidago nemoralis

Conoclinium coelestinum

Cercis canadensis

Chelone glabra

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Hamamelis virginiana

Asclepias syriaca

Verbena hastata

Rudbeckia laciniata

Asimina triloba

Viburnum dentatum

Eutrochium maculatum

Clematis virginiana

Mimulus ringens

Elymus hystrix

Prunus serotina

Cornus florida

Onoclea sensibilis

Eutrochium purpureum

Platanus occidentalis

Eutrochium fistulosum

Prunus virginiana

Prunus americana

Coreopsis tripteris

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Solidago rugosa

Rosa palustris

Rosa carolina

Rhus glabra

Andropogon virginicus

Juncus tenuis

Tridens flavus

Lupinus perennis

Carex stricta
Salix nigra

Staphylea trifolia

Bignonia capreolata

Pinus strobus

Scirpus atrovirens

Caltha palustris

Rubus odoratus

Eurybia macrophylla

Solidago odora

Salix discolor

Arisaema triphyllum

Morus rubra
Filipendula rubra

Cornus amomum

Carex crinita

Carex lurida

Prunella vulgaris

Comptonia peregrina

Vernonia noveboracensis

Podophyllum peltatum

Symphyotrichum puniceum

Scirpus cyperinus

Euonymus americanus

Sagittaria latifolia

Andropogon glomeratus

Sassafras albidum

Carex rosea

Rhus typhina

Carex lupulina

Actaea pachypoda

Verbesina alternifolia

Solidago juncea

Carex stipata

Aralia racemosa

Agastache nepetoides

Oenothera biennis

Euphorbia corollata

Helianthus divaricatus

Spartina pectinata

Aesculus flava

Ulmus americana

Populus tremuloides

Hypericum punctatum

Equisetum hyemale

Symphyotrichum pilosum

Scutellaria lateriflora

Ludwigia alternifolia

Ageratina altissima

Viburnum acerifolium
Angelica atropurpurea

Allium tricoccum

Acer negundo

Asclepias exaltata

Dicentra cucullaria

Castanea dentata

Calamagrostis canadensis

Cirsium discolor

Mitella diphylla

Trillium grandiflorum

Claytonia virginica

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Catalpa speciosa

Actaea rubra

Ilex opaca

Campsis radicans

Alnus serrulata

Danthonia spicata

Solidago ulmifolia

Apocynum cannabinum

Abies balsamea

Astragalus canadensis

Juglans nigra

Celastrus scandens

Lysimachia ciliata

Campanulastrum americanum

Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Prunus umbellata

Arnoglossum atriplicifolium

Glyceria striata

Euonymus atropurpureus

Aralia spinosa

Tephrosia virginiana

Acer saccharinum
Nymphaea odorata

Rubus occidentalis

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

Thalictrum pubescens

Sparganium americanum

Sparganium eurycarpum

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Eupatorium altissimum

Helianthus giganteus

Allium canadense

Dulichium arundinaceum

Hepatica acutiloba

Symphyotrichum praealtum

Pedicularis canadensis

Glyceria grandis

Solidago altissima

Sanguisorba canadensis

Trillium erectum

Leersia oryzoides

Castilleja coccinea

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Salix sericea

Bromus pubescens

Eupatorium serotinum

Collinsonia canadensis

Silphium asteriscus

Carex lacustris

Cornus canadensis

Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Phegopteris hexagonoptera

Helianthus tuberosus

Quercus prinoides

Apios americana

Alisma subcordatum

Erythronium americanum

Passiflora lutea

Osmorhiza claytonii

Lilium canadense

Verbena simplex

Corydalis sempervirens

Alnus incana

Scrophularia lanceolata

Arisaema dracontium

Cardamine concatenata

Agalinis tenuifolia

Lycopus americanus

Verbena urticifolia

Pinus virginiana

Pinus rigida

Acer spicatum

Pteridium aquilinum

Osmorhiza longistylis

Eleocharis palustris

Humulus lupulus

Cornus obliqua

Heracleum maximum

Scirpus microcarpus

Epilobium coloratum

Bromus ciliatus

Viola striata

Houstonia longifolia

Cryptotaenia canadensis

Thalictrum thalictroides

Persicaria amphibia

Ribes cynosbati

Rubus idaeus

Rhus copallina

Carex vesicaria

Mentha arvensis

Menispermum canadense

Solidago gigantea

Triosteum aurantiacum

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

Oxalis violacea

Schoenoplectus pungens

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Glyceria canadensis

Typha latifolia

Solidago uliginosa

Aralia nudicaulis

Cardamine diphylla

Cirsium muticum

Cirsium altissimum

Impatiens pallida

Rhynchospora capitellata

Elymus riparius

Sarracenia purpurea

Cypripedium acaule

Polymnia canadensis

Bidens frondosa

Drosera rotundifolia

Pogonia ophioglossoides

Potentilla simplex

Juncus bufonius

Agrimonia parviflora

Hydrophyllum canadense

Juncus dudleyi

Platanthera lacera

Potamogeton nodosus

Viola sagittata

Calopogon tuberosus

Quercus ilicifolia

Carex emoryi

Eriophorum virginicum

Stachys tenuifolia

Coleataenia anceps

Eleocharis acicularis

Menyanthes trifoliata

Rhexia virginica

Maianthemum canadense

Nuphar advena

Carex squarrosa

Triosteum perfoliatum

Impatiens capensis

Crataegus crus-galli

Cypripedium parviflorum

Carex utriculata

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Lobelia inflata

Equisetum arvense

Trientalis borealis

Triodanis perfoliata

Echinocystis lobata

Desmodium paniculatum

Diphasiastrum digitatum

Polygala senega

Chamaedaphne calyculata

Spiranthes cernua

Rubus allegheniensis
Veratrum viride

Aplectrum hyemale

Dioscorea villosa

Carex leptalea

Chamaelirium luteum

Hordeum jubatum

Sium suave

Juncus articulatus

Carex intumescens

Ranunculus hispidus

Rubus hispidus

Turritis glabra

Dirca palustris

Orontium aquaticum

Agrostis perennans

Erigeron philadelphicus

Acer nigrum

Arabidopsis lyrata

Panicum capillare

Gentianella quinquefolia

Scirpus pendulus

Tipularia discolor

Phytolacca americana

Galearis spectabilis

Lilium superbum

Goodyera pubescens

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Comandra umbellata

Polygala paucifolia

Salix bebbiana

Corallorhiza maculata

Agrostis hyemalis

Phryma leptostachya

Geum aleppicum

Epilobium ciliatum

Elephantopus carolinianus

Lespedeza hirta

Cuscuta gronovii

Lemna minor

Salix eriocephala

Scirpus atrocinctus

Elodea nuttallii

Vitis aestivalis

Eragrostis hypnoides

Persicaria sagittata

Doellingeria infirma

Scirpus hattorianus

Isotria verticillata

Sanicula canadensis

Carex folliculata

Rubus canadensis

Paronychia canadensis

Dendrolycopodium hickeyi

Equisetum fluviatile

Medeola virginiana

Milium effusum

Eurybia schreberi
Polytrichum piliferum

Veronica peregrina

Rubus frondosus
Potentilla canadensis

Monotropa uniflora
Dicranella varia

Cyperus lancastriensis

Oxalis dillenii

Plantago rugelii

Malaxis unifolia

Conopholis americana

Utricularia gibba

Najas gracillima

Micranthes micranthidifolia

Clintonia borealis

Juncus subcaudatus

Circaea alpina

Bidens vulgata

Scirpus polyphyllus

Conyza canadensis

Croton glandulosus

Physalis heterophylla

Agrimonia rostellata

Amphicarpaea bracteata

Aristolochia serpentaria

Fimbristylis autumnalis

Matricaria matricarioides

Galium obtusum

Diphasiastrum complanatum

Galium asprellum
Selaginella apoda

Lycopodium clavatum

Smilax tamnoides

Platanthera grandiflora

Glyceria septentrionalis

Prunus pensylvanica

Aralia hispida

Platanthera flava

Crataegus intricata

Boechera laevigata

Chrysosplenium americanum

Cystopteris tenuis

Lindernia dubia

Panax trifolius

Mentha canadensis

Lycopus virginicus

Bidens connata

Eragrostis frankii

Bartonia virginica

Hypericum mutilum

Podostemum ceratophyllum

Oenothera parviflora

Carex torta

Rubus pensilvanicus

Cubelium concolor

Angelica triquinata

Galium pilosum

Cardamine parviflora

Pseudognaphalium macounii

Sanicula marilandica

Spiranthes lacera

Acalypha virginica

Stellaria pubera

Aureolaria flava

Agrimonia striata

Botrychium matricariifolium

Cardamine pensylvanica

Bidens cernua

Platanthera ciliaris

Carex scabrata

Cyperus esculentus

Carex hirtifolia

Viola rostrata

Toxicodendron radicans

Nabalus crepidineus

Hieracium scabrum

Hackelia virginiana

Diodia teres

Cyperus odoratus

Krigia virginica

Dichanthelium boscii

Lespedeza repens

Geranium carolinianum

Smilax rotundifolia

Lepidium virginicum

Trautvetteria caroliniensis

Liparis liliifolia

Hypericum ellipticum

Hylodesmum nudiflorum

Scirpus georgianus

Convolvulus sepium

Oxalis florida

Desmodium marilandicum

Sicyos angulatus

Clintonia umbellulata

Galium triflorum

Crataegus macrosperma

Dendrolycopodium obscurum

Lactuca floridana

Carex tuckermanii

Solidago squarrosa

Chimaphila umbellata

Floerkea proserpinacoides

Sceptridium dissectum

Packera anonyma

Eragrostis capillaris

Veronica scutellata

Luzula echinata

Brasenia schreberi

Cyperus squarrosus

Sphenopholis nitida

Corydalis flavula
Cerastium nutans

Corallorhiza odontorhiza

Gamochaeta purpurea

Desmodium rotundifolium

Polytrichum juniperinum

Laportea canadensis

Toxicodendron vernix

Persicaria punctata

Nabalus albus
Rubus pubescens
Bidens bipinnata

Paronychia fastigiata

Bromus latiglumis

Scutellaria galericulata
Diplazium pycnocarpon

Erechtites hieraciifolius

Schoenoplectiella purshiana

Hieracium venosum

Epifagus virginiana

Panicum gattingeri

Claytonia caroliniana

Cicuta maculata

Bulbostylis capillaris

Botrypus virginianus

Isoetes engelmannii

Angelica venenosa

Leersia virginica

Physalis longifolia

Aphyllon uniflorum

Adlumia fungosa

Agrimonia pubescens

Fallopia scandens

Eragrostis pectinacea

Agrostis scabra

Dicentra canadensis

Callitriche heterophylla

Silene antirrhina

Xanthium strumarium

Campanula divaricata

Dichanthelium acuminatum

Spiranthes ochroleuca

Rubus argutus

Lygodium palmatum

Sparganium emersum

Hydrocotyle americana

Hypericum canadense

Trillium undulatum

Hylodesmum glutinosum

Ambrosia trifida

Salix lucida

Cunila origanoides

Platanthera orbiculata

Utricularia geminiscapa

Diphasiastrum tristachyum

Ludwigia palustris

Isotrema macrophyllum

Campanula aparinoides

Euphorbia nutans

Brachyelytrum erectum

Acalypha gracilens

Carex trisperma

Eleocharis tenuis

Torreyochloa pallida

Ranunculus abortivus

Calystegia spithamaea

Pyrola elliptica

Euphorbia dentata

Potamogeton berchtoldii

Solanum carolinense

Platanthera psycodes

Moehringia lateriflora

Sanicula trifoliata

Cinna latifolia

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Dichanthelium depauperatum

Geum laciniatum

Cardamine bulbosa

Fraxinus americana

Plantago virginica

Oxypolis rigidior

Parietaria pensylvanica

Hypopitys monotropa

Pilea pumila

Persicaria lapathifolia

Ribes glandulosum

Lycopodium annotinum

Eupatorium sessilifolium

Rubus flagellaris

Hylocomium splendens

Potentilla norvegica

Lechea racemulosa

Cirsium pumilum

Dichanthelium latifolium

Crataegus pruinosa
Rorippa palustris

Poa alsodes

Ipomoea pandurata

Obolaria virginica

Amaranthus retroflexus

Aureolaria pedicularia

Chaerophyllum procumbens

Hieracium gronovii

Euonymus obovatus

Ranunculus recurvatus

Persicaria hydropiperoides

Cyperus strigosus

Packera paupercula

Cyperus bipartitus

Circaea canadensis

Anemone quinquefolia

Erigeron annuus

Euphorbia maculata

Galium circaezans

Diplachne fusca

Chamaecrista nictitans

Platanthera clavellata

Najas flexilis

Melampyrum lineare

Carex echinata

Gratiola neglecta

Eleocharis obtusa

Hypericum gentianoides

Paspalum laeve

Saxifraga pensylvanica

Galium lanceolatum

Anomodon rugelii

Sagittaria rigida

Spinulum annotinum

Salix interior

Cynoglossum virginianum

Rhynchospora alba

Nabalus serpentarius

Callitriche palustris

Myosotis laxa

Veronica americana

Vitis vulpina

Lycopodiella inundata

Carex canescens

Glyceria melicaria

Penstemon hirsutus

Iris versicolor

Viburnum lentago

Symphoricarpos albus

Anaphalis margaritacea

Vaccinium corymbosum

Amelanchier arborea

Sanguinaria canadensis

Thalictrum dioicum

Silene stellata

Sambucus racemosa

Baptisia tinctoria

Fagus grandifolia

Vaccinium angustifolium

Juglans cinerea

Phalaris arundinacea

Uvularia sessilifolia

Gaultheria procumbens

Viola pubescens

Salix caroliniana

Spiraea latifolia

Sorbus americana

Quercus coccinea

Vaccinium macrocarpon

Viola primulifolia

Triadenum fraseri

Viola pedata

Hypericum stragulum

Heuchera parviflora

Chrysopsis mariana

Xanthorhiza simplicissima

Robinia pseudoacacia

Vaccinium stamineum

Gaylussacia brachycera

Ulmus rubra

Lysimachia lanceolata

Rhododendron cumberlandense

Desmodium glabellum

Populus grandidentata
What to do right now for plants commonly grown here. Each links to the full regional care guide for that species, with sources.
Fall is Canada goldenrod's moment in Johnstown, with bright yellow blooms from August into October, right up to the average first frost in late September.
Fall is decision time on cleanup. Bloom continues until the first frost, usually in early to mid October, and the seed heads that follow are useful bird food through the colder months.
By fall, garden phlox in Johnstown has typically finished its main bloom window and is heading into dormancy, which arrives earlier here than in lower elevation parts of Pennsylvania.
Fall arrives earlier in this higher part of western Pennsylvania, and foxglove beardtongue starts winding down by early autumn. The seed capsules that formed over summer are still holding on the stalks and add some structure once other perennials have browned. This is a reasonable window to divide crowded clumps or direct sow fresh seed, since the plant handles our winters without trouble.
Fall comes early in Johnstown, with the average first frost around mid-October, so clean up bee balm before then.
Fall is spicebush's showiest season in Johnstown gardens, female plants carry shiny red berries into the yellow leaf color, and both fade as the area's first frost approaches in mid to late October.
In fall the spikes fade to tan and the foliage yellows as the plant heads into dormancy. Johnstown's growing season runs on the shorter side, with the average first fall frost landing around October 3, so fall planting works best done early, by mid September, to give roots time to settle before the ground cools. This is also when to decide whether to leave the seedheads standing for birds and winter shape.
Fall brings cooler nights and, on many years, a touch of bronze red color to the foliage before it dies back. The first fall frost on the Allegheny Plateau around Johnstown typically arrives by early October, so plan any final planting, dividing, or transplanting for early to mid fall while the soil is still workable and warm enough for roots to settle before the ground cools. Rake fallen tree leaves lightly over the crown rather than removing them entirely, since a thin natural leaf layer mimics the woodland floor mulch this plant is used to.
Fall arrives earlier and cooler in the Johnstown area than in warmer lowland regions. First frost typically lands by mid to late October, and foliage dies back soon after.
Fall arrives early in Johnstown compared to warmer climates, with the first frost typically landing in early to mid October. This is the season where you choose whether to cut coneflowers back or leave them standing for winter.
Pollinator Patch turns plants like these into a front-yard plan tuned for the soil, climate, and HOA expectations of the Johnstown area.